Space Stations

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 August 2019 – Spacewalk Completed and Soyuz Launches

By Marc Boucher
Status Report
August 25, 2019
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NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 August 2019 – Spacewalk Completed and Soyuz Launches
Spacewalkers Nick Hague (top) and Andrew Morgan install the International Docking Adapter (IDA-3) to the Pressurized Mating Adapter on top of the station’s Harmony module. Credit: NASA.
NASA

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan concluded today’s spacewalk at 2:59 p.m. EDT. During the six-hour and 32-minute spacewalk, the two astronauts successfully installed the second of two international docking adapters (IDAs).
The IDAs will be used for the future arrivals of Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon commercial crew spacecraft. NASA’s commercial crew partnership with Boeing and SpaceX will restore launches of American astronauts from American soil on American rockets and maximize the time U.S. crews can dedicate to scientific research and technological advances aboard the orbiting laboratory to enable the agency’s ambitious goals for the Artemis lunar exploration program and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Regular human space transportation to the space station is a critical step to opening the space station for commercial business to enable the growth of the U.S. commercial space sector and the development of a robust low-Earth orbit economy.

The spacewalkers also completed additional routing for the station’s wireless internet.

Space station crew members have spent a total of 56 days, 23 hours, and 26 minutes during 218 spacewalks in support of station assembly, maintenance and upgrades. It was the fifth spacewalk in 2019, and the first for Morgan. During three spacewalks, Hague has now spent a total of 19 hours and 59 minutes outside the space station.

Soyuz Launches

The Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft launched at 11:38 p.m. EDT (8:38 a.m. Aug. 22 Baikonur time) from Site 31 at the Cosmodrome on a Soyuz 2.1a booster, which has been used recently to launch uncrewed Russian Progress cargo resupply missions to the space station.

The Soyuz 2.1a booster, equipped with a new digital flight control system and upgraded engines, is replacing the Soyuz FG booster that has been used for decades to launch crews into space. The Soyuz spacecraft will have an upgraded motion control and navigation system, as well as a revamped descent control system.

Instead of crew members, the Soyuz will carry 1,450 pounds of cargo to the Expedition 60 crew currently residing on the orbital outpost.

The Soyuz will navigate to station for an automated docking on the space-facing Poisk module on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 1:30 a.m. After a two-week stay at the station, the Soyuz will be commanded to undock from the station on Friday, Sept. 6, at 2:13 p.m.

NASA TV coverage of the docking, and undocking activities is as follows:

Saturday, Aug. 24:
12:45 a.m. – Docking coverage (docking scheduled for 1:30 a.m.)

Friday, Sept. 6:
1:45 p.m. – Undocking coverage (undocking scheduled for 2:13 p.m.)

On-Orbit Status Report

International Docking Adapter (IDA)3 Extravehicular Activity (EVA): Crewmembers Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan successfully executed USOS EVA #55 within 6 hours and 31 minutes in order to accomplish the following tasks:

IDA3 cable routing and connections
IDA3 installation
IDA3 Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) removal
IDA3 outfitting.
Install Hemispherical (HEMI) reflectors (2)
Install H-Fixture MLI
Install PMA3 planar reflector cover
Connect second Truss Jumper and address ungrounded connector
EWC Ethernet Cable (W4300) routing
PMA3 Articulating Portable Foot Restraint (APFR) to Starboard CETA cart relocation
Port CETA APFR Ingress Aid (AIA) wire tie installation
Micro-15: The crew performed the Micro-15 fixation on the sample culture bags. The goal of this investigation is to better understand the effects of gravity on the differentiation of mammalian cells using 3-D cultures of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Past flight experiments and ground-based simulations have demonstrated that microgravity influences gene expression, cell proliferation, and differentiation in stem cells but the mechanism behind these observations is not clearly understood. This study investigates how exposure to microgravity fundamentally alters cell regulation and how these changes can affect the timing, progression, and outcomes of cell differentiation.

Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) Remote Power Controller (RPC) Trip: RPCM N32A2BE1 RPC-3, which powers the Node 3 Forward Port Intra-Module Ventilation (IMV) fan tripped open overnight. Ground teams are assessing telemetry and formulating a troubleshooting plan.

Completed Task List Activities:
None

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
EVA support
Payload ops support

Look Ahead:
Thursday, 8/22 (GMT 234)

Payloads:
Vascular Aging Blood Pressure (CSA)
NUTRISS Setup and Measurement (ESA)
MSPR2 cable attachment (JAXA)
RR-17 Habitat Restock and Access Unit Clean (NASA)
NanoRacks MOD-9 Ops 4 (NASA)
LSG Front Glove Swap (NASA)
Goodyear Sample Termination (NASA)
Micro-15 Drug Injection session D (NASA)
HRF Repository Frozen blood setup (NASA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)

Systems:
EVA debrief
EMU water ops

Friday, 8/23 (GMT 235)

Payloads:
Vascular Aging Blood Pressure data download (CSA)
Space Moss Sample fixation (JAXA)
ISS Experience in JEM (Space Moss) (NASA)
BioFabrication Facility Media Replace (NASA)
HRF Repository Urine and Blood Collect (NASA)
Standard Measures Saliva Collect (NASA)
RR habitat Water refill and Transporter setup(NASA)
ADSEP Photo (NASA)
Micro-15 Sample Fixation (NASA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)

Systems:
Dragon Release OBT
Dragon Cargo Operations
CUCU Crew Command Panel (CCP) Checkout

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

ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Columbus
ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Service Module
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Preparation
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Purge
CARDIOVECTOR. Photography of the Experiment Session
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Prebreathe
IMS Audit of SM-FOTO-HDD-USB
Crewlock Depress
24-hour ECG Recording (start)
Crewlock Post Depress
Crewlock Egress
24-hour Blood Pressure Recording (start)
IV IDA3 intall Support
IDA 3 Aft Cable Routing
Configuring [???1] Valves ??1 and ??2
IDA 3 Forward Cable Routing
IV Drive IDA Hooks
IV IDA3 intall Support
IDA 3 Forward Cable Routing
IV IDA3 intall Support
IDA 3 Aft Cable Routing
Preventive Maintenance of SM Ventilation Subsystem. Group C
IV IDA3 intall Support
IDA-3 EVA Cleanup
S0 Insulating Sleeve Installation
S0 Red Truss Jumper Install
EVA Glove Photo Setup
Spider Cable Route
IV IDA3 intall Support
EVA Get Ahead tasks
EVA Cleanup and Ingress Crewlock
FOTOBIOREACTOR. Visual inspection with photography
Crewlock Repress
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Crewlock Repress EVA PET end
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Post-EVA Activities
Return to nominal comm configuration after USOS EVA
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Post-EVA Glove Photos
EVA Glove Photo Downlink
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Camera Disassembly
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Teardown
Replace Cargo in Node 2 Forward after IDA3 Install

Marc Boucher

SpaceRef co-founder, entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, nature lover and deep thinker.

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