NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 July 2018 – Life Science Research Continues
Life science took precedence today aboard the International Space Station as the crew explored how microgravity impacts rodent physiology. The space research can help scientists improve astronaut health and treat humans on Earth.
Four Expedition 56 crew members worked together throughout the day examining mice for the Rodent Research-7 study. The experiment observes how microbes affect the gastrointestinal, immune, metabolic, circadian, and sleep systems. Results may help doctors implement programs to keep astronauts healthy on deep space missions. Patients on Earth may also benefit from newer advanced therapies that treat internal disorders.
Commander Drew Feustel joined Flight Engineers Serena Auñón-Chancellor, Ricky Arnold and Alexander Gerst for the rodent study on Tuesday. The orbital lab researchers examined bone structure, collected blood samples and processed and stowed biological samples in science freezers.
Those samples will be returned to Earth inside the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft Aug. 3 for analysis on Earth. Dragon will be packed with station hardware and research gear when it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. It will be retrieved by SpaceX and NASA personnel for examination by engineers and scientists.
On-Orbit Status Report
Rodent Research-7 (RR-7): The crew completed the first of two days of rodent operations for the RR-7 investigation today. Crewmembers performed bone densitometer scans, blood draws, fecal pellet collections, and sampling operations. RR-7 examines how the space environment affects the community of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of mice (also known as the microbiota). It also looks at microgravity’s effects on multiple physiological systems known to be affected by the microbiota, including the gastrointestinal, immune, metabolic, circadian, and sleep systems. These studies should help explain mechanisms underlying interactions between these systems and the role of the microbiota in these interactions.
Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) #1: Tonight robotic specialists in Tsukuba will use the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) with the Small Fine Arm (SFA) to transfer the Handhold Experiment Platform (HXP) from the JEM Airlock Slide Table to the JEM Exposed Facility handrail.
Treadmill 2 (T2) Status: This morning, the crew replaced the T2 Station Support Computer (SSC) and the ground team configured it for T2 use. The subsequent rack activation was nominal and T2 is now operational and ‘Go’ for the crew’s use.
Dragon Cargo Ops: Today the crew completed approximately four hours of cargo operations as they continued to pack and load items slated for return on the SpaceX-15 Dragon vehicle. Only a few steps remain in the current Cargo Message and specialists hope to upload the next message tomorrow. An estimated fifteen hours of activities remain to finish loading the vehicle prior to the planned departure date of 3 August.
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Rodent Research Node 2 Camcorder Video Setup
Rodent Research Animal Transfer
Rodent Research Dissection 1A
PK-4 Video Monitor Installation
Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position
PAO hardware setup in COL. Audi/Video check with Glavny
Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan
Crew Prep for PAO
TV Conference with the participants of International Youth Science School in COL
Rodent Research Dissection 1B
PK-4 Video Monitor Checkout
SEPARATSIYA. Recovery of [ВН-1] vacuum pump in СРВ-У-РС
PK-4 Gas Connection Check
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 1
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Setup
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan
Rodent Research Dissection 1B
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 1
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Stow
Replacement of storage battery 800А module No.2 (A102), No.4 (A104).
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan
Rodent Research Dissection 1B
Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Setup
SM Internal Wireless Instrumentation System (IWIS) Remote Sensing Unit (RSU) s/n 1027 antenna/power chain check and power cycle
Polar Desiccant Swap
File retrieval of the Sample 8 Re-Run
Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
Rodent Research Hand Over
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Rodent Research Dissection 2A
Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan
Troubleshooting EVA Support Panel ПОВ-2 failure to deactivate in DC1 when pressing OFF/ОТКЛ key.
Rodent Research Dissection 2B
Polar Desiccant Swap
Plant Habitat-01 Glacier to MELFI Sample Transfer #3
СТТС Configuration for MRM1
Cleaning fan screens on FGB interior panels 116, 231, 316, 431.
SEPARATSIYA. Distillation in auto (manual) mode.
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan
Rodent Research Animal Transfer 2
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Rodent Research Dissection 2B
Comm reconfig for nominal ops
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude Final
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3
Completed Task List Activities:
STCE-2 CTB Audit
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Lab MCA Zero Calibration
Amine Swingbed Startup
Lab CDRA Half Cycle time change to 144 min
SSRMS: EarthKAM clearance maneuver
JEMRMS: ExHAM#1 transfer from JEM AL to JEF
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 07/25: RR-7, Aerosol Sampler, PK-4 Ops
Thursday, 07/26: AC Inverter Deploy, BCAT, Dragon Cargo, PK-4 Ops, RR-7, MICS, CPA4 Cable C/O, EarthKAM, BEST, Potable Water Flush
Friday, 07/27: Micro-11, MICS, Dragon Cargo, Eye Exams, Plant Habitat, RR-7, MSFO stow, ESA EPO GV-Earth, LMM Biophysics Plate Removal, Pretreat Tank R&R, JEMAL Leak Check, AngieX Cancer, Aerosol Samplers, PK-4 Ops
