NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 23 February 2017 – SpaceX Dragon Berthed

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft was berthed to the Harmony module of the International Space Station at 8:12 a.m. EST. The hatch between the newly arrived spacecraft and the Harmony module of the space station is scheduled to be opened this afternoon. The capsule will spend about four weeks attached to the station.
For an overview of the science delivered to station aboard Dragon, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/SX10_science

With Dragon now berthed to station, the Expedition 50 crew will focus on its next cargo delivery, which is scheduled to arrive in less than 24 hours. The Russian Progress 66 was launched on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from Kazakhstan. It will arrive on station Friday morning for an automated docking at 3:34 a.m. EST and remain on the station until June. NASA Television will cover its arrival beginning at 2:45 a.m. EST.

On-Orbit Status Report

66 Progress (66P) Launch: All 66P systems are performing nominally. One rendezvous maneuver, DV3, was performed nominally earlier today. Checkouts of the Progress TORU system and the Progress TV system 9 have been completed with nominal results. Docking is scheduled for Friday, February 24th at 2:35 am CST.

SpaceX (SpX)-10 Capture: After yesterday’s aborted rendezvous, a successful re-rendezvous and capture was performed this morning. The crew monitored the SpaceX-10 Dragon approach from the Cupola Robotic Workstation (RWS) Dragon vehicle was captured using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) at 04:44 am CST today. Robotics Ground Controllers then used the SSRMS to maneuver the Dragon to and install it on the Node-2 Nadir Active Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM). This afternoon, the crew performed vestibule outfitting, CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) removal, and ingressed the vehicle. After ingress, the crew removed the Center Stack then retrieved and unpacked the Dragon Cargo Transfer Bag (CTB) and Double Coldbags. The Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory (SABL) CO2 Incubator Installation and the Merlin Hardware Setup were done in preparation for Microgravity Extended Stem Cells (MESC) operations scheduled for early tomorrow. Installation of TangoLab Card Cube Replace, NanoRacks Mod9 Ops, Low Temperature (LT) Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) Sample Preparation and NanoRacks Module-71 were also performed.

NanoRacks Module 9: The crew retrieved the NanoRacks Module-9 from SpX-10 and activated five tubes of Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP)/National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) experiments. Supporting various schools and student designed experiments studying a range of objectives, the SSEP lets students design experiments that address real challenges of living and working in space. The program also is a key initiative for U.S. science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, educating and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers to work on the space program. Additionally, findings from student experiments such as those on bacteria growth, cell biology, food production and preservation, water quality, and seed and plant studies contribute to future experiments to benefit the space program. The following experiments were activated today:

The Effects of Microgravity on Muscle Tissue Regeneration (McNair Academic High School, Grade 12, Jersey City, NJ)
Shewanella oneidensis and Iron Ions in Microgravity (Bullis School, Grade 10, Potomac, MD)
The Effect of Microgravity on Preservation of Spam Using Lemon Juice (Lincoln Middle School, Grade 8, Santa Monica, CA)
Kidney Stone Conundrum (The Academy at Nola Dunn, Grade 5, Burleson, TX)
Microgravity’s Effects on the Turbidity of a Fluid Mixture of Cornstarch and Water (W.J. Keenan High School, Grade 9, Columbia, SC)
JAXA Low Temperature Protein Crystal Growth (LT PCG): The crew removed the samples from the Freezer-Refrigerator Of STirling cycle (FROST) then initiated the crystal growth. The crew activated the three different crystal sample containers then returned them to the FROST to maintain the optimal growth temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. The goal of the JAXA LT PCG experiment is to make high quality protein crystals under microgravity environmental conditions. Once growth is completed, the LT PCG experiment will be returned on SpX-10 for ground team evaluation and analysis.

NanoRacks Module-71/Platform 1 Installation: The crew installed NanoRacks Module-71 into Platform 1. Module-71 contains two plant growth experiments that will run onboard the ISS in the Platform-1 facility through the end of the SpX-10 mission. Module-71 contains two plant growth experiments, NanoRacks-Valley Christian High School-BAM-FX- Enhanced Broccoli Seed Germination, Plant Growth and Zinc Biofortification on Orbit (NanoRacks-VCHS-BAM-FX) and NanoRacks-Edith Stein School-Vegetative Propagation of Plants in Orbit (V3PO), that aim to investigate the capability for production of large quantities of high quality vegetables on a space station. Results from the experiment will aid researchers in developing methods to provide astronauts a continuous supply of fresh vegetables on long missions. NanoRacks-VCHS-BAM-FX studies the growth of broccoli plants fortified with zinc, looking at seed germination and growth in microgravity, determining whether a bioavailable mineral nutrient formula will help plant growth. The team responsible for V3PO is interested in vegetative plant propagation versus seeded propagation. In vegetative growth (cuttings) the desired characteristics are passed to subsequent generations of plants and ensures a uniform crop even when a few viable seeds are produced.

Payload Card-X: The crew retrieved the inserts from SpX-10 and installed them into the TangoLab facility. The inserts on Payload Card-X cover a wide spectrum of studies including:

Flatworms2.0: Follow up study to original flatworm regeneration study on SpX-5. Will include video and feeding capability.
Smooth Muscle Cell Stimulus Response: Study of — cell line after cultured in microgravity for 4 days will be hit with reagent then acetone to video response.
Tissue Mimetic: Looking at diffusion rates of different molecular compounds in tissue proxy. Precursor to advanced tissue cultures.
Methanogen Growth Characterization: Comparison of growth curves between Earth and microgravity of Methanogens.
Arabidopsis Study (Education): Arabidopsis study will be networked with real time control units in classrooms in San Francisco area of California. Precursor to larger undertaking with more schools on SpX-11 mission.
Pharmaceutical Compound Generation: Madagascar Periwinkle and Valeriana plants will be germinated on orbit to looking at mutation and generation of compounds used in synthesis of chemotherapies.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.

Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Route and Checkout
Closing Shutters on windows 6, 8, 12, 13, 14.
Photo/TV Ghost Camera in Cuopla on SSC power recording
Inventory Management System (IMS) conference
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink
Robotics Workstation (RWS) Dragon Configuration
CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Ops
Dragon R Bar Approach
DUBRAVA. Video of VSS P/L screen
CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Ops.
BIOPLENKA. Installation of Cryogem-03
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Dragon Capture
BIOPLENKA. Removal of ???-? No.04 Thermostat
Remote Workstation Monitor HD Video Downlink Deactivation RWS.
Ghost camera teardown in Cupola
PRODUTSENT. ???-? No.2 Incubator Setup
Photo TV High Definition (HD) Cygnus Video Setup
MICROVIR. Glovebox-S Setup
Air Heater Fan (???) Screen Cleaning in Soyuz 732
NanoRacks Module-9 OBT
Vacuum Cleaning area behind panels 405, 406 and MRM1 Interior
Video recording
Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Deroute
Water Recovery System (WRS) Waste Water (WW) Tank Drain Initiation
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate
ESA Weekly crew conference
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Initiate
Water Recovery System (WRS) Waste Water (WW) Tank Drain Termination
Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check Equipment Pregather
ISS HAM Radio Power Down
Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check
Dragon Vestibule Outfitting
Crew Quarters (CQ) Door Closing
Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) Removal
Dragon Ingress
USOS Window Shutter Close
Air sample collection using ??-1? adsorber in SpaceX
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Teardown
Dragon Arrival Photos
Transfer Center Stack
Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack
Dragon Cargo Transfer Bag Retrieve
MERLIN Hardware Setup
Space Automated Bioproduct Lab, CO2 Incubator Installation
NanoRacks Platform-1 Module Install
TANGOLAB CARD CUBE REPLACE
Microgravity Expanded Stem Cell Ice Brick MERLIN Insertion
NanoRacks Module 9 Ops Session 1
XF305 Camcorder Setup
JAXA LT PCG Sample Preparation

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.
Configure for Dragon capture
Return to nominal configuration

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 02/24: 66P Dock, 66P ingress, 66P transfer operations, SABLE CO2 Incubator Install, TangoLab-1 card replace, MERLIN3 install, Polar 1 transfer and install, Glacier 3 transfer and install, MESC first microscope ops,
Saturday, 02/25: RR-4 transfer
Sunday, 02/26: Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells (MESC)

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
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 – Standby
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Reprocess
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up