NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 November 2017 – Preparing to Release Cygnus

The Cygnus resupply ship is in its final week at the International Space Station and two astronauts are training for its departure on Monday. Meanwhile, a leg muscle study and CubeSat deployment operations are wrapping up today.
Cygnus is now being filled with trash after delivering close to 7,400 pounds of research and supplies to the Expedition 53 crew on Nov. 14. NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba are training to release Cygnus from the Canadarm2 next week following a 20-day stay at the Unity module.

The duo will be inside the cupola commanding the Canadarm2 to release Cygnus back into Earth orbit on Dec. 4. Following its departure from the station, Cygnus will stay in orbit until Dec. 18 before re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere for a fiery demise over the Pacific Ocean.

Commander Randy Bresnik and cosmonaut Sergey Ryazanskiy are completing a final run of the Sarcolab-3 experiment today. That research is observing how leg muscles adapt to microgravity using magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound devices.

Finally, a satellite deployer that ejected a set of CubeSats last week, has been brought back inside the Kibo lab module. One of the CubeSats deployed, the EcAMSat that was delivered aboard Cygnus, is now orbiting Earth researching how the E. coli pathogen reacts to antibiotics in space.

On-Orbit Status Report

Earth Imagery from ISS Target Operations: Over the weekend, the crew captured images and video footage of the Australian Desert, Italy at night, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and Ireland to Moscow at night. The Earth Imagery from ISS investigation creates a series of videos, displaying Earth from space. These videos will be taken with cameras on the International Space Station in 6K hi-resolution, integrated into videos for screensavers for public enjoyment, exploration, and engagement.

Japanese Experiment Module Airlock (JEM A/L) Operations: After successfully deploying all five of the NRCSD#13 silos last week, today the CubeSat deployer was removed from the Multipurpose Experiment Platform (MPEP). The crew initiated the JEM A/L pressurization and performed a leak check before opening the JEMAL inner hatch and extending the slide table to the Japanese Experiment Module Pressurized Module (JPM) side to remove the deployer from the MPEP. The MPEP was then be removed from the side table before the slide table was retracted from the JPM and the inner hatch was closed.

Sarcolab-3: Today a USOS subject, with Russian operator assistance, conducted the final knee protocol for Sarcolab-3, by ingressing into the Muscle Atrophy Research & Exercise System (MARES) chair, installing the knee Electromyography (EMG) electrodes, and conducting the knee exercises. Today’s activity concludes the Sarcolab-3 session that began last week on GMT 324. The Sarcolab-3 data will be compared to pre and post flight measurements to assess the impact of hypothesized microgravity induced muscle loss. Myotendinous and Neuromuscular Adaptation to Long-term Spaceflight (Sarcolab) investigates the adaptation and deterioration of the soleus (calf muscle) where it joins the Achilles tendon, which links it to the heel and carries loads from the entire body. Muscle fiber samples are taken from crewmembers before and after flight, and analyzed for changes in structural and chemical properties. MRI and ultrasound tests and electrode stimulation are conducted to help assess muscle and tendon changes caused by microgravity exposure.

Probiotics Operations: Today a crewmember initiated the third of four sampling phases for the JAXA Probiotic investigation by collecting fecal samples and immediately stowing the samples into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). This sampling phase includes fecal and saliva sample collections and a questionnaire. The saliva sample collection and questionnaire will be conducted on GMT 334. Some species of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella grow stronger and more virulent in the microgravity environment of space. At the same time, the human immune system is weaker in space, leading to increased health risks. The objective of the Probiotics investigation is to study the impact of continuous consumption of probiotics on immune function and intestinal microbiota in astronauts under closed microgravity environment. This investigation studies the effects of beneficial bacteria (Probiotics) to improve crew members’ intestinal microbiota as well as their immune function on long-duration space missions.

Personal Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitor Installations: Using an iPad and readings from a Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) sample port, the crew performed a single point calibration of the Personal CO2 monitors. The Personal CO2 Monitor demonstrates a system capable of unobtrusively collecting and downlinking individual crewmembers’ CO2 exposure for weeks to months. This investigation evaluates wearability principles in microgravity and demonstrates Modular Wearable Architecture Base Board, allowing rapid certification of future wearable devices.

Zero Boil-Off Tank Particle Injection: The crew injected Digital Particle Imaging Velocimetry (DPIV) particles into the test section for an imaging test. Rocket fuel, spacecraft heating and cooling systems, and sensitive scientific instruments rely on very cold cryogenic fluids. Heat from the environment around cryogenic tanks can cause their pressures to rise, which requires dumping or “boiling off” fluid to release the excess pressure, or actively cooling the tanks in some way. ZBOT uses an experimental fluid to test active heat removal and forced jet mixing as alternative means for controlling tank pressure for volatile fluids.

Sabatier removal preparation: In preparation for the upcoming removal, return, and refurbishment of the Sabatier hardware, the crew performed velocicalc (airflow) measurements inside OGS, and reviewed procedures both on their own and via a crew conference with specialists on the ground. Sabatier is planned to be returned to the ground on SpaceX-13 in January.

Cygnus cargo ops and departure OBT: Today the crew continued cargo operations and unberth/release on board training in preparation for the upcoming departure of OA-8.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

JEM Airlock Press
Plant Checkout Prep
Regeneration of ??? ?1 Cartridge (start)
JEM Airlock Leak Check
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation
Periodic Health Status Data Entry and Stow
Auxiliary Laptop Computer System Virus Definition File Update
MARES Knee Shaving Preparation
Cygnus Russian Trash Handover
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
??? maintenance
Columbus Video Camera Assembly 2 Adjustment
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video
NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Removal from the MPEP
EMG electrodes installation and Sarcolab knee protocol execution
MARES subject electrodes equipment assistance
US Food warmer maintenance
Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Video
Cycle Ergometer ??-3? spares bag audit
DAN Experiment Ops
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Two-Phase Flow Experiment Equipment Deactivation
Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Removal JEM Airlock Slide Table
MARES knee configuration deinstallation
MRM1-FGB Screw Clamp Tightening
Passive Capture Mechanism Installation to JEM Airlock (AL) Slide Table
Replacement of RSE1 Laptop Network Cable
MARES battery discharge process initiation
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Personal CO2 Monitor Sensor Calibration
NanoRacks Microbial Growth Experiment Imagery
Intracranial Pressure & Visual Impairment (IPVI) Face Photo-taking
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Crew Medical Restraint System (CMRS) – Checkout
Payloads Network Attached Storage (NAS) Vent Cleaning
Exercise Data Downlink via OCA
Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Avionics Air Assembly (AAA) Flow Measurement
Intracranial Pressure & Visual Impairment (IPVI) Medical Conference
Probiotics Fecal Sample Operations
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
Inventory of docking and internal transfer system (????) kits with video recording
Probiotics Fecal Sample MELFI Insertion
Zero Boil-Off Tank Particle Injection
JEM MSPR ELT Relocate for FROST2 Temperature Monitor
VZAIMODEISTVIE-2. Experiment Ops
CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
In flight Maintenance (IFM) Sabatier Removal Big Picture Word (BPW) and Procedure Review
Multi Omics FOS Stow
Plant Habitat Waterbag Prep
MARES battery discharge status control
Multi Omics FOS Preparation
Periodic Fitness Evaluation (Treadmill Test)
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Review
MARES Guided data transfer
Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations
Countermeasures System (CMS) Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Set-Up
In flight Maintenance (IFM) Sabatier Crew Conference
CONTENT. Experiment Ops
Acoustic Dosimeter Setup Day 1
MARES files transfer verification and shutdown
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
Cygnus Cargo Operations Conference
Micropurification Unit (???) ?1 Absorption Cartridge Regeneration (end)
Preparation for Antivirus Scanning on [???] Laptops

Completed Task List Activities
Biolab Incubator Sign Print
ESA-PAO-MOON
ESA PAO Message Padova Space Night
ESA Skin-B Kit audit and relocate for OA-8 disposal.
Photo/TV D4 Camera Stow
Station Support Computer SM Printer Swap
Photos of harvested lettuce from VEG03-PLANT-HARVEST.

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Standard commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 11/28: Sabatier removal, MARES, SPHERES test run, Rodent Research habitat installation
Wednesday, 11/29: Sabatier removal, Dragon capture OBT, TangoLab retrieval, NR Vuze, Meteor, Circadian Rhythms, CIR maintenance, JEM camera robot checkout
Thursday, 11/30: HRF blood and urine sample collections, MAS and SSK sampling, Cygnus release OBT, Dragon Offset Grapple OBT, Manufacturing Device, Plant Habitat Sound Level Measurements

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 – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Standby
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
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