NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 8 December 2018 – Dragon Docked

Three days after its launch from Florida, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft was installed on the Earth-facing side of the International Space Station’s Harmony module at 10:36 a.m. EST.
The 16th contracted commercial resupply mission from SpaceX delivers more than 5,600 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware to the orbiting laboratory. Among the research it will bring to station, science investigations and technology demonstrations aboard Dragon include:

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) will provide high-quality laser ranging observations of the Earth’s forests and topography required to advance the understanding of important carbon and water cycling processes, biodiversity, and habitat. GEDI will be mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module’s Exposed Facility and provide the first high-resolution observations of forest vertical structure at a global scale. These observations will quantify the aboveground carbon stored in vegetation and changes that result from vegetation disturbance and recovery, the potential for forests to sequester carbon in the future, and habitat structure and its influence on habitat quality and biodiversity.

A small satellite deployment mechanism, called SlingShot, will be ride up in Dragon and then be installed in a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft prior to its departure from the space station. SlingShot can accommodate as many as 18 CubeSats of any format. After the Cygnus cargo ship departs from station, the spacecraft navigates to an altitude of 280 to 310 miles (an orbit higher than that of the space station) to deploy the satellites.

Robotic Refueling Mission-3 (RRM3) will demonstrate the first transfer and long-term storage of liquid methane, a cryogenic fluid, in microgravity. The ability to replenish and store cryogenic fluids, which can function as a fuel or coolant, will help enable long duration journeys to destinations, such as the Moon and Mars.

Growth of Large, Perfect Protein Crystals for Neutron Crystallography (Perfect Crystals) crystallizes an antioxidant protein found inside the human body to analyze its shape. This research may shed light on how the protein helps protect the human body from ionizing radiation and oxidants created as a byproduct of metabolism. For best results, analysis requires large crystals with minimal imperfections, which are more easily produced in the microgravity environment of the space station.

Dragon is scheduled to depart the station in January 2019 and return to Earth with more than 4,000 pounds of research, hardware and crew supplies.

On-Orbit Status Report

SpaceX (SpX)-16 Mission: At 6:21 AM CT, the ISS crew used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to successfully capture the SpX-16 Dragon vehicle. Capture was delayed from its originally planned time of 5:00AM CT due to an issue with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) 41 Space to Ground Link Terminal (SGLT) at White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico. Dragon capture was subsequently performed utilizing an alternate TDRS. After capture, Ground Robotic Flight Controllers maneuvered the spacecraft to the pre-install position where they performed an inspection of the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM). Dragon was then berthed to the Node2 Nadir port at ~9:36 AM CT. The crew is scheduled to complete vestibule pressurization, leak checks, vestibule outfitting, and CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) rotation later this afternoon in support of tomorrow morning’s ingress.

Marrow: Crewmembers performed a blood sample collection. Marrow looks at the effect of microgravity on bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on the bone marrow and the blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow.

Molecular Muscle: A crewmember performed preliminary checks on the Kubik incubator in preparation for Molecular Muscle experiment inserts. The Molecular Muscle investigation examines the molecular causes of muscle abnormalities during spaceflight in order to establish effective countermeasures.

Rodent Research-8 (RR-8): Today crewmembers participated in a conference to review animal transfer procedures. The RR-8 investigation utilizes mice flown aboard the ISS, and maintained on Earth, to investigate the physiology of aging in response to microgravity and the role of aging in the onset and progression of disease.

NanoRacks Module-9: Today a crewmember performed the on-board training for Module-9 operations. NanoRacks-NSL Satellites Ltd-Oil Bubbles is a student-designed investigation that explores whether microgravity affects this mixing phenomenon in space. Data from the investigation benefits materials research and future mixing methods in space.

Completed Task List Activities:
DC Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner UOP Cue Card Update (Completed GMT 341)
Enviromental Health Systems (EHS) Carbon Dioxide Monitor (CDM) Comparison (Completed GMT 341)
Found Ziplock Stowage (Completed GMT 341)
Medical Checklist pen & ink update (Completed GMT 341)

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
System commanding in support of SpX-16 Dragon capture and berth

Two Day Look Ahead:
Sunday, 12/09:

Payloads:
Molecular Muscle sample insert into Kubik (ESA)
NanoRacks Module-09 Ops (NASA)
PCG-17 Ambient Stow (NASA)
STaARS Container install (NASA)
FIR/LMM Wide-field Camera Inspection (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 78 and 80 install (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 74 activation (NASA)
TangoLab 1 and 2 cube insert (NASA)
RR-8 Habitat 2 and 4 install (NASA)

Systems:
SpX Dragon Ingress
Dragon Cargo Ops
Dragon Capture Debrief

Monday, 12/10:

Payloads:
Rodent Transfers (NASA)
Microbial tracking-2 kit unstow (NASA)
FIR/LMM Biophysic-06 removal and Camera replace (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 74 scans (NASA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)
NALCO Biofilms Act/Deact (NASA)
METEOR H/D swap (NASA)
SPACE PUP MELFI insert (JAXA)
ISS HAM (NASA)
MVP Module Remove (NASA)
Marrow Blood Sample (CSA)
APEX OBT (NASA)
Molecular Muscle Run Chk (ESA)

Systems:
ISS Orientation

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

Reminder 2 Marrow and JAXA CFE and JAXA Medical Proteomics CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection
Setup and connection of ???? camcorder in DC1 for TV coverage of Gathering EVA Equipment in MPEG2 format via Ku-band
MELFI Retrieval and Insert for JAXA Blood Samples
Verification of cover closure on windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14. Note 7
CSA Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
Photo TV High Definition (HD) Dragon Video Setup
Ghost camera setup in Cupola
Gather EVA Equipment and Tools. Photo/Video. Tagup with specialists
USOS Window Shutter Close
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude
MELFI Retrieval and Insert for JAXA Blood Samples
CSA Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
Photo/TV Ghost Camera in Cuopla on SSC power recording
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink
Robotics Workstation (RWS) Dragon Configuration
FOTOBIOREAKTOR Cleaning Activation
Dragon R Bar Approach
Gather EVA Equipment and Tools. Photo/Video. Tagup with specialists
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Conclude And Stow
NanoRacks Module-9 OBT
Dragon R Bar Approach
FOTOBIOREAKTOR. Reposition Glovebox gloves
Gather EVA Equipment and Tools. Photo/Video. Tagup with specialists
ISS Crew Orientation
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Dragon Capture
FOTOBIOREAKTOR. Replacement of nutrient medium container. Tagup with specialists
??? maintenance
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Deactivation
Polar and PAUL Transfer from Dragon Overview
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
Rodent Research Transfer Crew Conference
Installation of USOS add-on equipment on ORLAN-MKS.
Pressure Management Device (PMD) Equipment Setup
Magnetic 3D-Bioprinter. Thermostat Removal
Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review
Transfer Dragon Prep
KUBIK 5 Setup
Installation of USOS add-on equipment on ORLAN-MKS. Tagup with specialists
Transfer Operations – Prepack of US items to be loaded into Soyuz
KUBIK 6 Setup
Deactivation of camcorder, TV System monitoring equipment and closing applications
KUBIK 5 and KUBIK 6 Preheat and Functional Check for Molecular Muscle
Review EVA Translation Paths and Work Zones through ISS Windows
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Setup
Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review
Ghost camera teardown in Cupola
Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Deroute
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Swap
????????? ???????? ???????????
Pressure Management Device (PMD) Equipment Setup
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Stow
Review EVA Translation Paths and Work Zones using DOUG Application
Polar and PAUL Transfer from Dragon Overview
Pressure Managmenet Device (PMD) N2 Deck MPEV open
ARED Handover Video Review
Polar and PAUL Transfer from Dragon Overview
ARED Crew Handover
Pressure Management Device (PMD) Teardown
Kubiks Functional check for Molecular Muscle
Dragon Vestibule Outfitting
ISS Crew Orientation
Node 2 Nadir Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) Removal/Rotation