NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 January 2017

The Expedition 50 crew is continuing its investigation into vision changes and eye damage some astronauts have experienced after long-term missions in space.
Living in the microgravity environment causes a headward fluid shift that may be causing pressure behind astronauts’ eyes resulting in visual and physical changes.

Two cosmonauts, Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko, and European astronaut Thomas Pesquet explored a possible solution to the upward fluid pressure. Borisenko donned the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) suit which pulls fluids down towards the feet. Ryzhikov and Pesquet then used an ultrasound scan and performed eye checks on Borisenko to determine the effectiveness of the LBNP suit.

On the station maintenance front, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson installed vacuum access ports in the Harmony module. Commander Shane Kimbrough connected gas and water umbilical hoses in the Columbus lab module. He also updated supplies for the Human Research Facility that enables scientists to learn how astronauts adapt to living in space.

On-Orbit Status Report

Vacuum Access Port (VAP) Installation and Leak Check: Today, the crew installed a VAP in Node 2 from the LAB Vent Relief Valve to provide vacuum access capability for Visiting Vehicles berthed to Node 2 Nadir after PMA3 is relocated to Node 2 Zenith. Once installed, the VAP and lines were depressed and a leak check started to verify their integrity. The VAP Mod Kit consists of a Vacuum Access Port, Vacuum Hoses, and Vacuum Access Port Adapters to support vacuum through LAB Vent Relief Valve.

Story Time From Space Heat Transfer Demonstration: The crew performed the Heat Transfer Experiment portion of the Story Time From Space experiment. They demonstrated radiative heat transfer through space by showing how the finish on surfaces affects the net heat absorption. The narrated video demonstration was recorded and downlinked for eventual distribution. Story Time From Space combines science literacy outreach with simple demonstrations recorded aboard the ISS. Crew members read five science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related children’s books in orbit, and complete simple science concept experiments. Crew members videotape themselves reading the books and completing demonstrations. Video and data collected during the demonstrations are downlinked to the ground and posted in a video library with accompanying educational materials. Today’s demonstration is based on the children’s book The Wizard Who Saved the World.

Fluid Shifts Before, During and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment (Fluid Shifts): The 48S crewmember and 49S crewmember performed their day 2 Chibis Imaging The subject donned the Chibis device, and while the crewmember was exposed to the negative pressure (pulling the fluid feetward), the operator, with remote guidance from Houston, performed arterial and venous measurements of the head and neck; cardiac, ophthalmic, and portal vein measurements; and tissue thickness of various body parts using the Human Research Facility (HRF) ultrasound. Fluid Shifts investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronaut’s eyes. Because the headward fluid shift is a hypothesized contributor to these changes, reversing this fluid shift with a lower body negative pressure device is investigated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

Aquapad Analysis: The crew performed an inspection and analysis of water samples collected on Tuesday. This is the third session of Aquapad collection and analysis, where the crew first verified colony growth and condensation levels on each of the Aquapad Containment Boxes then using the EveryWear application, the crew took pictures of the Containment Box for ground analysis. Aquapad is a new approach developed by France’s CNES space agency: paper impregnated with powdered growth medium creates a 3D petri dish. When water is added, the microbes form colored spots revealing their locations. Using a tablet computer application the crew will photograph the dots to calculate precisely how many bacteria are present.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm2, grasped the SPDM Enhanced Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Temporary Platform (EOTP), and rotated it in preparation SPDM stow. They then maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to remove the spare Camera, Light, Pan/Tilt Unit (PTU) Assembly (CLPA) installed on the Mobile Transporter Relay Assembly (MTRA) during USOS EVA 39 on Friday 13-January. After it was verified by video survey that the electrical connectors on both the MTRA and the CLPA appeared nominal, the Robotics Ground Controllers installed the CLPA on the SSRMS End B Boom. Upon powering up the SSRMS End B Video Distribution Unit (VDU) a CLPA Light electrical circuit trip message was received, same message was seen last Friday during the initial powerup. Finally the Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the SSRMS and SPDM to a park position. A CLPA checkout was completed, and as expected the CLPA Light did not work but the Camera functioned nominally.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment
FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage
Coliform Water Sample Analysis 44 +/- 4 hours post processing
FLUID SHIFTS. Activation of ??? for Ultrasound Equipment
Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject
Fine Motor Skills Historical Documentation Photography
FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound 2 Setup and Activation
Aerosol Samplers Cartridge Removal
FLUID SHIFTS. Don Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Operator Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1.
FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound Scan in SM, Operator 1
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan – Subject
Node 2 Vacuum Access Port (VAP) Installation
FLUID SHIFTS. Doff Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. Operator Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1. Tagup with specialists
De-Mating of MagVector Umbilicals from COL1F2 UIP
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Preparation
COL1F2_AFT Backfill
FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound Scan in SM, Subject
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan – Operator
FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Closeout Ops
HRF2 Supply Kit Resupply
FLUID SHIFTS. ??? Power Outlet Deactivation
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Stow
FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of ???? Equipment and Closing Applications on Central Post SSC
Fluid Shifts HRF PC CCFP Service Module Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. Restoring nominal comm config
FLUID SHIFTS. Installation of cable assembly for voltage converter.
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Hardware Transfer
FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting US-invertor to ????.
Private Psychological Conference (PPC)
POLAR 3 Hardware Remove
Mating of MagVector Umbilicals from COL1F2 UIP
VHF EMER COMM Checkout Requires CREW and IP support
ESA Weekly crew conference
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
Story Time from Space Heat Transfer Demonstration
PILOT-T. Preparation for the experiment.
Node 2 Vacuum Access Port (VAP) Leak Check Part 1
Soyuz 732 IRIDIUM Phone Charge, Initiate Charge
Aquapad Water double Analysis
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops.
Soyuz 732 IRIDIUM Phone Charging, Battery Status Check
Soyuz 732 IRIDIUM Phone Charge, Terminate Charge, Teardown of the Setup (Stow ???1???_2_224_1 0.5 CTB No.1017 Soft container 00044322R)
PAO Preparation
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
Node 2 Vacuum Access Port (VAP) Leak Check Part 2
Story Time From Space Historical Photo
Initiate EDV fill from PWD
PILOT-T. Closeout Ops.
Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
??? maintenance
Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject
EDV Fill from PWD Term
Bone Densitometer Locker Removal
SABLE Unit Remove
Glacier 5 Removal
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Flight Director/ISS CREW CONFERENCE

Completed Task List Items
SPHERES Battery Stow
Food Warmer Inspection

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
MSS Powerup Troubleshooting
VHF Emergency Comm Checkout

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 01/20: ER-7 IPEHG Install, EXT MDM Checkout, CDRA Troubleshooting Cable Install, ELF Sample Install
Saturday, 01/21: Weekly Housekeeping, Crew Off Duty
Sunday, 01/22: Crew Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – Off
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[???] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Idle
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up