NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 May 2017 – Astronauts Prepare for Contingency Spacewalk

Astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer are getting ready for a contingency spacewalk Tuesday morning. Whitson and Fischer are set to begin the spacewalk at 8 a.m. Tuesday for about two hours of maintenance work. NASA Television coverage will begin at 6:30 a.m.
The spacewalkers are gathering their tools and checking their spacesuits today with assistance from Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet. The trio are also reviewing the contingency spacewalk procedures.

The spacewalk’s primary task is the removal and replacement of a data relay box, known as a Multiplexer-Demultiplexer (MDM), which failed Saturday morning. The MDM controls the functionality of station components such as the solar arrays, radiators, cooling loops and other systems.

Whitson will replace the failed MDM with a spare unit on the Starboard Zero truss. The truss is attached to the space-facing side of the U.S. Destiny lab module and is the centerpiece of the station’s truss structure which houses the solar arrays, radiators and cooling loops. Fischer will install a pair of wireless communications antennas on the Destiny Lab, a task that was postponed during the May 12 spacewalk.

Tuesday’s spacewalk will be the 201st in support of station assembly and maintenance. This will be Commander Whitson’s 10th spacewalk likely moving her to third place all-time in cumulative spacewalking time. Flight Engineer Fischer will be embarking on his 2nd spacewalk.

On-Orbit Status Report

External (EXT) Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM)-1 Failure: On Saturday EXT MDM-1 experienced an anomaly. Attempts to recover the MDM remotely were unsuccessful. Ground Teams configured EXT MDM-2 as primary and set up systems for the next worse failure per established Flight Rules. An IMMT was held Sunday and directed Team 4 to assess the feasibility of performing an Extravehicular Activity (EVA) to remove and replace (R&R) the failed unit. Team 4 recommended an EVA tomorrow, May 23rd. Today, the crew prepared for the EVA by configuring and auditing EVA Tools, reviewing procedures, performing an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge, and configuring the Airlock.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS and maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to perform a video and imagery survey of the Latching End Effector B (LEE-B) snare cables using the P1 Upper Outboard (UPOB) External High Definition Camera (EHDC). Once the survey was completed the Ground Controllers maneuvered the SSRMS to a park position. The plan was to walk the SSRMS off Mobile Base System (MBS) Power Data Grapple Fixture 4 (PDGF4) onto the Node 2 PDGF but it was decided to delay this until after the External Multiplexer/Demultiplexer 1 (EXT-MDM 1) EVA.

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutron (RaDI-N): After retrieving the eight Space Bubble Detectors from the Russian crew, the USOS crew deployed the detectors in Node 3 for the Radi-N2 experiment. The Canadian Space Agency’s RaDI-N investigation uses the bubble detectors to measure neutron radiation levels in the ISS.

Grip Commissioning: The crew deployed Grip hardware in the Columbus module central aisle. With support from a second crew member, they attached a chair on a seat track and the first crewmember performed commissioning tasks in the seated configuration. The Grip investigation tests how the nervous system takes into account the forces due to gravity and inertia when manipulating objects. Results may provide insight into potential hazards for astronauts as they manipulate objects in different gravitational environments, support design and control of haptic interfaces to be used in challenging environments such as space, and provide information about motor control that will be useful for the evaluation and rehabilitation of impaired upper limb control in patients with neurological diseases.

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

Personal Data Prep for Return
MAG3D Extra Crew time
Transfer of Thermal Protection Jackets [???] from Soyuz 733
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Reminder for EVA In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Preparation
MORZE. SPRUT-2 examination. Specialist conference
Inspect [???-??] [??-?] connection behind ASU panel 139, [??2], [??4], [??5] behind [????] panel 454 and the transparent 5182-03 hose running from [????] to [???]
SPLANH. Photography during the science operation
MORZE. Psychophysical examination. adjustment, SENSOR
On MCC Go ??? ?1 absorption cartridge cycling (start)
Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound 2 Data Export Alternate
MATRYOSHKA-R. Memory card prep for return and BUBBLE dosimeter initialization
KORREKTSIYA. Liquid and food (medicine) intake parameter logging
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover
MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE dosimeter handover to USOS
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons
MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE dosimeter initialization and deployment for exposure
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound 2 Data Export Alternate
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review
Pille Sensor prep for USOS EVA
SPLANH. [????] recording term and closeout Specialist conference
MORZE. Psychophysical examination. adjustment, SENSOR
??? sampling from ???-?2? down to ??? using ROS samplers – init
ISS Crew departure preparation
Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Termination
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Audit.
JPM Window Shutter Close
Adjusting ??????? protective suit
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
Conference of ???? specialists with returning crew
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Lab Setup
KORREKTSIYA. Liquid and food (medicine) intake parameter logging
Photo TV GoPro Setup
FAGEN. MSK #6 sample fixing and deployment in SM, photography
[???] niche and payload container stow under 49S central seat. Refer to comment 7
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) iPad Contingency Procedures preparation
FGB interior panel grids vacuuming (panels 201, 301, 401)
Delta file prep
CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
Equipment Lock (E-LK) Preparation
Evening Preparation Work
LAB BelAir Wireless Access Point (WAP) Verification
ISS HAM Radio Power Down
On MCC Go ??? ?1 absorption cartridge cycling (end)
Reminder 1 Fine Motor Skills
KORREKTSIYA. Liquid and food (medicine) intake parameter logging
Completed Task List Items

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap [Completed GMT 140]
PAO EduTECH recorded downlink message [Completed GMT 140]
Veggie 03 Pillow Watering and Photo [Completed GMT 140]
Cygnus Saffire and Cargo Photo take [Completed GMT 141]
EESA PAO items pregather for OA-7 disposal [Completed GMT 141]
ESA Active Dosimeter Area Monitoring Mobile Unit Stow [Completed GMT 141]
Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination [Completed GMT 141]
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Airlock Unstow [Completed GMT 141]
Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination [Completed GMT 141]
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cuff Checklist Print [Completed GMT 141]
Portable Onboard Computers (POC) Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) Software Review [Completed GMT 141]
US EVA EXT MDM Procedure Review [Completed GMT 141]
EVA IDA Cable Stow [Completed GMT 141]
EMU Long Life Battery (LLB)/Metal Oxide (METOX) Installation [Completed GMT 141]
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate [Completed GMT 141]
Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Initiation [Completed GMT 141]
Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Powered Hardware Checkout [Completed GMT 141]
EVA RET Inspection [Completed GMT 141]
Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue GN2 Check [Completed GMT 141]
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring [Completed GMT 141]
Google Street View Cupola Photo Operations [Completed GMT 141]
HRF Ultrasound 2 Battery install [Completed GMT 141]
HRF Ultrasound 2 Remove Swap [Completed GMT 141]
JEM Stowage Consolidation Follow-up [Completed GMT 141]
USB Jumpdrive Restow at MagVector Front Panel [Completed GMT 141]
Optional Microscopy Session [Completed GMT 141]
OA-7 Trash Gather [Completed GMT 141]
Charging EVA Camera D4 Battery [Completed GMT 141]
Photo/TV EVA Camera Configuration [Completed GMT 141]
Veggie 03 Pillow Watering and Photo [Completed GMT 141]

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
EVA preparation support
49S TPS survey

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 05/23: EXT MDM-1 R&R EVA
Wednesday, 05/24: Dragon OBT, ELF UV lamp bulb R&R/gas unit setup, ExPCA stow
Thursday, 05/25: EMU conductivity test, GRASP stow, Dragon RoBOT OBT

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”) – Off
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 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off