NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 June 2017 – Dragon Being Packed for Sunday Departure
Onboard the International Space Station today, the Expedition 52 crew continued packing the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship for its departure Sunday morning. The crew is loading Dragon all week with scientific samples and station hardware for splashdown and retrieval in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX personnel will take a two-day boat ride with Dragon onboard and return it to port in southern California. NASA engineers will then unload Dragon on shore and ship the cargo back to Houston for analysis.
Meanwhile, the three station residents today continued exploring space science and gearing up for a Russian spacewalk. The trio also inspected safety gear and maintained station life support systems.
NASA astronaut Jack Fischer worked on the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace that levitates, melts and solidifies materials for physical research. He later joined Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson and stowed frozen science samples inside Dragon. Commander Fyodor replaced gear on a Russian spacesuit and checked it for leaks.
On-Orbit Status Report
Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis: The two animal habitats that will remain on ISS following SpX-11 departure were cleaned and restocked with new food bars. Because spaceflight has significant and rapid effects on the musculoskeletal system it is important to investigate targeted therapies that could ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of spaceflight. The NELL-1 drug being studied in the RR-5 investigation has the potential to slow or reverse bone loss during spaceflight.
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF): The crew exchanged sample holders in the ELF. They also removed samples that had been lost in the Holder Cartridge to prevent interference with the subsequent experiment. The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the Electrostatic Levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved.
Food Acceptability: The crew reviewed reference material and completed a Food Acceptability questionnaire. This investigation hopes to determine the impact of repeat consumption on food acceptability on ISS within the current closed-variety spaceflight food system. Results will be used in developing strategies to improve food system composition to support crew health and performance on long duration missions.
Portable Emergency Provisions (PEPs) Inspection: The crew completed this regularly scheduled maintenance to verify that Portable Fire Extinguishers (PFE), Extension Hose Tee Kits (EHTK), Portable Breathing Apparatuses (PBA) and pre-breathe masks are free of damage to ensure functionality.
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday evening, Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm1 to stow the Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM) in Dragon Trunk Site 2. SPDM Arm1 then released the ROSA FRAM Micro-Square Fixture (MSF) and the SSRMS lifted the SPDM out of the Dragon Trunk and maneuvered it to a park position.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Controlling and Charging of Soyuz 735 Samsung Tablets
Greetings Video Recording
Test Video Recording for Russia Today TV Channel
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
????. File Deletion from Onboard Memory Device (???)
URAGAN. Observation and Photography
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Removal
ORLAN-MK #6 Leg Shell Replacement
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Retrieval
Portable Emergency Provisions (PEPS) Inspection
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Holder Exchange
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Removal
ORLAN-MK #6 Leak Check
Hardware Restow
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Installation
Cleaning of FGB Central Fan ??1 Screens
O2 Repress from Section 2 of Progress 435 (DC1) Oxygen Supply Facility (????) – start
Polar Sample Transfer From MELFI
ISS O2 Repress from Section 2 of Progress 435 (DC1) Oxygen Supply Facility (????) – end
Monitoring of ??-1 Sensors Installation
Switch of ??? ?322/10 on CA325 Monounits of the First and Second REGUL-OS Radio Control and Communication System
Food Acceptability Reference Material Review
Cargo Transfer to Dragon
Food Acceptability Questionnaire – Subject
Rodent Research Node 2 Camcorder Video Setup
Rodent Research Habitat 1-4 Restock
Completed Task List Items
Genes in Space MWA Preparation
Genes in Space with Biomolecule Sequencer Hardware Gather
Genes in Space MELFI Retrieve
Genes in Space with Biomolecule Sequencer Proof on Concept Initialization
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
POLAR/MELFI transfer to Dragon
Rodent Research habitat restock
T2 ground power cycle
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 06/29: NanoRacks Module 48 ops, Rodent Research, Dragon departure OBT
Friday, 06/30: NanoRacks Module 9 ops, POLAR transfer to Dragon, StemCell media change
Saturday, 07/01: Rodent habitat stow, POLAR/DCB transfer to Dragon, Dragon egress, N2 CPA install
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
