NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 2 December 2019 – AMS Repair Spacewalk Complete
Expedition 61 Commander Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan concluded their spacewalk at 12:33 p.m. EST.
During the six hour and two minute spacewalk, the two astronauts successfully installed a new cooling system for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS).
The crew completed the primary task to install the upgraded cooling system, called the upgraded tracker thermal pump system (UTTPS), completed the power and data cable connection for the system, and connected all eight cooling lines from the AMS to the new system. The intricate connection work required making a clean cut for each existing stainless steel tube connected to the AMS then connecting it to the new system through a process of metalworking known as swaging.
The astronauts also completed an additional task to install an insulating blanket on the nadir side of the AMS to replace the heat shield and blanket they removed during the first spacewalk to begin the repair work. The flight control team on Earth initiated power-up of the system and confirmed it is receiving power and data.
It is the first long day of a very busy several weeks for the space station crew, with two cargo resupply spacecraft launching to the station loaded with science investigations; a SpaceX Dragon is scheduled to lift off at 12:51 p.m. Wednesday, and a Russian Progress is set to launch Friday at 4:34 a.m. Crew members then will be focused on the spacecrafts’ arrivals and associated work. Meanwhile, teams on Earth will evaluate the date for the planned fourth spacewalk to conduct leak checks for the spectrometer’s refurbished cooling lines and complete the work to resume operations of the cosmic ray detector.
Parmitano has now conducted five spacewalks in his career for a total of 26 hours and 53 minutes, and Morgan has logged 39 hours and 32 minutes during six spacewalks since his arrival on the station in July. It was the 11th spacewalk at the station this year. Space station crew members have conducted a total of 224 spacewalks in support of assembly and maintenance of the orbiting laboratory. Spacewalkers have now spent a total of 58 days 15 hours and 43 minutes working outside the station.
On-Orbit Status Report
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #61 (AMS EVA3): Today, ISS CDR Luca Parmitano (EV-1) and FE-9 Drew Morgan (EV-2) completed US EVA #61 (AMS EVA #3) and performed the following tasks:
Upgraded Tracker Thermal Pump System (UTTPS) Install
Power and Data Cable Install
Open Refill Valve
Vertical Support Beam (VSB) Tube Clean Cut and Swage
Nadir Tube Routing
Nadir Tube Clean Cut and Swage
Nadir Blanket Installation (get ahead activity)
The AMS-02 repair EVAs are being performed with the goal of recovering a series of cooling pumps within the AMS-02 experiment. The first and second of the AMS EVAs were completed successfully and went very well. Today’s EVA3, installed the Upgraded Tracker Thermal Pump System (UTTPS), a key milestone in the AMS EVA series that will restore the AMS-02 instrument. The EVA duration time was 6 hours and 2 minutes. Following the installation of the UTTPS, ground teams verified nominal telemetry from the newly installed UTTPS. The next AMS EVA will focus on leak checks and the MLI tent installation.
AMS-02 is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector that uses the unique environment of space to advance knowledge of the universe and lead to the understanding of the universe’s origin by searching for antimatter, dark matter and measuring cosmic rays.
Bio-Monitor: The crew consolidated hardware for the Bio Monitor. Although the ISS is equipped with health and life sciences research tools, the existing instrumentation for continuous and simultaneous recording of several physiological parameters is lacking. To tackle this issue, the Bio-Monitor Commissioning activity tests the Bio-Monitor facility; a wearable garment capable of monitoring relevant physiological parameters for up to 48 hours in a non-invasive and non-interfering way. The physiological parameters which can be monitored consist of heart rate, respiration rate, ECG (Electrocardiogram), skin temperature, peripheral blood oxygen saturation, etc.
Systems:
Advanced Resistance Exercise Device (ARED): Today, the ISS crew completed the abbreviated ARED cylinder flywheel evacuation as part as of the normal inflight maintenance.
Mobile Servicing System Operations: Today, the Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) before the EVA start. EV1 ingressed the Worksite Interface Extension + Articulated Portable Foot Restraint (WIFEX+APFR) installed on the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and IV crew (Jessica) maneuvered the SSRMS to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) worksite. After EV 1 & 2 completed the planned tasks, they cleaned up the AMS worksite and IV crew maneuvered the SSRMS to the arm egress position. EV 1 egressed the WIFEX+APFR and de-configured the SSRMS (i.e. removed the WIFEX+APFR from the SSRMS). After EV crew ingressed the airlock the Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the SSRMS to park position. MSS is left in an operational state.
Completed Task List Activities:
AMS Procedure Review (GMT 335)
ISS Exp SOC Recording (GMT 335)
SSC16 Battery Reseat (GMT 334)
WHC KTO Replace (GMT 333)
ESA COLDEK RPACK Part 1 (GMT 332)
WRM CWC Trash (GMT 332)
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Payload Support
AMS EVA3 Support
Tuesday, 12/3 (GMT 337)
Payloads:
Standard Measures Pre Sleep (NASA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)
Rodent Research LSG clean and Teardown (NASA)
Fluid Physics Experiment facility IPU cable connect (JAXA)
IPU Video Recording Unit #3 H/D exchange (JAXA)
BFF Procedure review (NASA)
Systems:
EVA EDAR Start
EVA LLB/Metox Install
Wednesday, 12/4 (GMT 338)
Payloads:
Standard Measures Post Sleep (NASA)
Bio-Monitor Firmware Update (CSA)
ISS Experience Astronaut Log Review (NASA)
Systems:
IMS Edit
Thursday, 12/5 (GMT 339)
Payloads:
Bio-Monitor comm check (CSA)
CBEF Humidifier Setup, LTL install and initial setup (JAXA)
ISS Experience Astronaut Log (NASA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)
Food Physiology Briefing (NASA)
Fluid Shifts Delusion Measures Setup (NASA)
BFF Cassette inserts (NASA)
ISS HAM Pass (NASA)
Systems:
EVA Restow
RWS Overlay Camera Cal
Dragon VOK Gather
ARED Quarterly Maintenance
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MELFI Sample Insertion into a Box Module Part 4
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MELFI Sample Retrieve Part 2
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MWA Preparation Part 1
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) Sample Transfer Part 3
Columbus seat tracks distance measurement
IMS update
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Reminder for EVA In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Preparation
USOS EVA Comm Config
ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Columbus
ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Service Module
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) iPad Contingency Procedures preparation
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Preparation
SEPARATSIA. RS [???-?] Urine Circulation Loop Mixing Specialist conference when required
CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Ops.
Monitoring shutter closure on SM windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14. Refer to comment 6
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Purge
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Prebreathe
Extra-Vehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) In-Suit Light Exercise Prebreathe
Crewlock Depress
Exercise Data Downlink via OCA
Crewlock Post Depress
Crewlock Egress
SSRMS EVA Support
Inchworm Upgraded Tracker Thermal Pump System (UTTPS) to External Stowage Platform (EPS) 2
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Translation
SSRMS EVA Support
Translate to Worksite
Ground Control Assist
Upgraded Tracker Thermal Pump System (UTTPS) Installation
FGB [??? ] 1, 2, 3 removable screen cleaning
SSRMS EVA Support
Nikon Camera Time Sync
Power/Data Cable Installation
Preparation for Swage
Open Refill Valve
Ground Control Assist and Tool Preparation
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Translation
Ventilation grid cleaning at interior FGB panels (panel 116, 316, 231, 431)
Life On The Station Photo and Video
Vertical Support Beam (VSB) Tube Clean Cut and Swage
Emergency Operations (EMER) Chip Measurement System (CMS) Battery Changeout
Changeout of Dust Filter ??1-4 Cartridges in SM(???1???_4_424_1, bag 440-21 (00074645R) ??? 441-13 bag (00076073R)). Discard de-installed items. IMS update.
Vacuum Pressure Gauge Accuracy Check
Bio-Monitor Hardware Consolidate
Technical provision and repairs assets inventory
Ground Control Assist and Tool Preparation
SM ventilation systems preventive maintenance. Group ?1
Nadir Tube Routing
Nadir Tube Clean Cut and Swage
EVA Cleanup
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Deconfiguration
Environmental Health System (EHS) Day/Night Glasses Swap
EVA Glove Photo Setup
EVA Crew Lock Ingress
Crewlock Pre Repress
Crewlock Repress
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Post-EVA Activities
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) GoPro Downlink
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Camera Disassembly
Comm reconfig for nominal ops after USOS EVA
Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Initiation
