NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 June 2017 – Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) Update
An experimental solar array demonstration was jettisoned while the Expedition 52 crew continued preparing the SpaceX Dragon for its release on Sunday. The three crew members also studied how microgravity impacts their bodies.
Following a week of successful science operations on the experiment for the Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA), attempts to retract the array were unsuccessful. The ISS Mission Management Team met Monday morning and made the decision to jettison ROSA directly from its location at the end of the space station’s robotic arm, where it remained fully deployed in a normal configuration.
The original plan called for ROSA to be stored back inside the trunk of SpaceX’s Dragon which is detached and burned up in the atmosphere during Dragon reentry. The Operations team executed the jettison procedure that was developed as part of the pre-flight planning process that covered various scenarios. Once jettisoned, ROSA will not present any risk to the International Space Station and will not impact any upcoming visiting vehicle traffic.
ROSA is an experiment to test a new type of solar panel that rolls open in space and is more compact than current rigid panel designs. The ROSA investigation tests deployment and retraction, shape changes when the Earth blocks the sun, and other physical challenges to determine the array’s strength and durability.
The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is one week away from departing the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson continued packing Dragon this morning with used hardware and research samples for analysis back on Earth. Dragon will be released from the Canadarm2 Sunday at 11:38 a.m. EDT and splash down in the Pacific Ocean about 5-1/2 hours later.
Whitson then joined Flight Engineer Jack Fischer in the afternoon to wrap up the Seedling Growth-3 experiment. The botanical study is exploring how the lack of gravity impacts light sensing and growth in plants. Plant samples from the study will be returned to Earth on Sunday inside the Dragon resupply ship.
Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, along with Whitson and Fischer, took body measurements today to help scientists understand how living in space affects body size. The crew also collected blood, urine, saliva and breath samples for more insight on astronaut health.
On-Orbit Status Report
Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA): On Sunday, three attempts to retract ROSA solar array were unsuccessful. Imagery showed the array was not lining up correctly (“telescoping”), preventing the locking of ROSA’s latches which is required for return in Dragon. Teams met and agreed to stand down on further retraction attempts due to the risk of getting stuck in an off nominal configuration with a partially retracted array. ROSA was left fully deployed following the last attempt and jettison was approved which was completed today at 4:15PM CDT to the nadir and aft of ISS.
Seedling Growth 3: The crew completed the second of two six-day growth sessions for Seedling Growth 3 today. They removed Experiment Containers from the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS), processed the samples, and stowed them in the Biolab Thermal Control Unit. The samples from this and the previous run will be returned on SpaceX-11. This is the third part of the Seedling Growth Experiment series using the small flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate the effects of gravity on the cellular signaling mechanisms of light sensing in plants (phototropism), and to investigate cell growth and proliferation responses to light stimulation under microgravity conditions.
Microbial Tracking-2 (MT-2): Yesterday the crew collected saliva samples for the Microbial Tracking-2 investigation and placed them in a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). MT-2 monitors the different types of microbes that are present on ISS over a 1 year period. After the samples are returned to Earth, a molecular analysis of the RNA and DNA will be conducted to identify the specific microbes that are present on ISS in order to understand the microbial flora diversity on the ISS and how it changes over time.
Human Research Program (HRP): A crewmember collected Flight Day 60 urine and blood samples yesterday and today for Biochem Profile and blood and air samples for Marrow.
The Biochem Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples obtained from astronauts before, during and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results which scientists can use in their study of the effects of spaceflight on the body.
The Marrow investigation identifies the effect of microgravity on bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on blood cell production in bone marrow.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Test Video Recording for Russia Today TV Channel
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
URAGAN. Observation and Photography
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Collection – Subject
Reminder HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection
MO-8. Hardware setup
Reminder HRF Generic Urine Collection End
Body Mass Measurement – BMMD
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Collection – Subject
Body Mass Measurement – BMMD
Body Mass Measurement – BMMD
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Collection – Operator
MO-8 Concluding ops
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Double Spin Configuration 1
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Double Spin Configuration 2
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Early unstow, priority, and US cargo transfers from Progress 436 (SM Aft) and IMS Ops
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude Stow
JEM Camera Robot Activation
HRF Generic Urine Collection Stow
Cargo Transfer to Dragon
Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2) Cable Reconfiguration 2
Examination of bio electrical activity of heart at rest
Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Experiment Laptop Terminal (ELT) Cables Connection
Seedling Growth-3 Maintenance Work Area Preparation.
Removal of 800? (?105) battery
Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Experiment Laptop Terminal (ELT) RS485 Converter Connection
Seedling Growth-3 Maintenance Work Area Configuration.
JEM Camera Robot Deactivation
Dragon Locker Remove 2
Removal of 800? (?101) battery
Re-install 800? battery from ?105 slot to ?101 slot
Seedling Growth 3 TCU removal
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 System (T2) Monthly Inspection
SPHERES USB Stow
EML Gas Valves Opening
Collecting SM and FGB Air Samples Using ??-1? Sampler
Seedling Growth-3 Camcorder Setup
Seedling Growth-3 Run 2 EC Removal from EMCS Rotor B
Request to RS1 with variable
Seedling Growth-3 Sample Processing of ECs Rotor B Run 2
Seedling Growth-3 Run 2 EC Removal from EMCS Rotor A
Seedling Growth-3 EMCS Cold Stowage Bag MELFI Insertion
Seedling Growth-3 Sample Processing of ECs from Rotor A Run 2
Seedling Growth-3 Sample Processing with FixBox Rotor A Run 2
Tightening of DC1 – Progress 435 QD screw clamps
Seedling Growth-3 EMCS Reference Experiment Container Insertion
Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Setup
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Analysis T + 5
Dragon Cargo Operations Conference
Seedling Growth 3 TCU insertion
Seedling Growth-3 Post-Sample Processing Cleanup after Run 2.
Evening Preparation Work
Habitability Narrated Task Video Setup – Subject
Seedling Growth-3 MWA Deconfigure.
Habitability Narrated Task Video End – Subject
Completed Task List Items
Columbus PK4 Hard Drive Pouch Trash [Completed GMT 176]
Crew Medical Officer (CMO) Proficiency Training [Completed GMT 176]
Empty three Double Cold bags and prepare them for SpX-11 return [Completed GMT 176]
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
P1UPOB ETVCG troubleshooting
Seedling Growth 3 Ops
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 06/27: StemCell media changeout, OBT CMO, Dragon LiOH filter bag R&R
Wednesday, 06/28: ELF sample holder exchange, sample transfer from MELFI to POLAR, WHC pre-treat tank R&R, Rodent Habitat restock
Thursday, 06/29: NanoRacks Module 48 ops, Rodent Research, Dragon departure 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”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off
