NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 December 2019

Boeing is ramping up for the launch of its first commercial crew vehicle to the International Space Station this week.
The Expedition 61 crew is preparing for the new U.S. crew ship’s arrival while working human research and space biology today.

Boeing is targeting 6:36 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 20, for the launch of its first CST-100 Starliner crew ship to the orbiting lab. It will dock to the forward-facing port of the Harmony module on Dec. 21 and return to Earth on Dec. 28. This will be an uncrewed orbital flight test of Boeing’s new spaceship and sets the stage for launching crews once again from the United States.

NASA Flight Engineer Christina Koch activated communications gear that will link up with the Boeing Starliner when it arrives Saturday. The C2V2 device (Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles) transmits telemetry from the approaching spacecraft to crew and ground controllers. The C2V2, used by the U.S. Dragon and Cygnus resupply ships, also enables an astronaut to remotely control a spacecraft if necessary.

ESA (European Space Agency) Commander Luca Parmitano and NASA Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan started Monday with hearing checks. The duo set up gear for the Acoustic Diagnostics study that measures hearing before, during and after a mission and assesses the noisy environment aboard the orbiting lab.

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir began her day on an exercise bike for a study measuring her aerobic and cardiovascular output. She then joined Koch in the afternoon feeding lab mice and cleaning their habitats.

Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Skripochka focused on life support and lab maintenance today. Skvortsov synchronized computers and cameras to station time and serviced an oxygen generator. Skripochka also checked out Russian laptop computers and radiation detection gear.

On-Orbit Status Report

Acoustic Diagnostics: The crew set up the appropriate hardware, performed the audio measurements, and used the EveryWear application to answer the questionnaires. The investigation tests the hearing of ISS crew members before, during, and after flight. This study assesses the possible adverse effects of noise and the microgravity environment aboard the ISS on human hearing. The investigation compares the relationship between the detection of otoacoustic emissions, sounds naturally generated from within the inner ear, and hearing loss levels when exposed to noisy environments.

Japanese Small Satellite Orbital Deployer-12 (J-SSOD-12) removal and JEMAL slide table repair: The crew extended the JEM airlock (JEMAL) slide table into the ISS pressurized volume and performed the activities needed to remove the J-SSOD-12 hardware. J-SSOD-12 successfully deployed its 3 satellites last month and this activity prepares us to install the NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) later in the week. While the slide table was extended, the crew also performed repairs on the JEM Active Mechanism Tether Loop (JAT), and replaced a damaged helicoil on the JEM AL Slide Table Active Capture Mechanism. The JEMAL allows items to be transferred from the Pressurized Module to the Exposed Facility where they can then be manipulated robotically. The next planned operation for the JEMAL slide table is December 19 with the installation of the NanoRacks External Platform (NREP).

Rodent Research-19: The crew performed routine habitat restocking and other activities to continue the RR-19 investigation. Mighty Mice in Space: Preclinical Evaluation of a Broad Spectrum Myostatin Inhibitor to Prevent Muscle and Bone Loss Due to Disuse uses rodent models on the ISS to investigate the potential benefits of targeting the myostatin (MSTN) and activin signaling pathways to prevent skeletal muscle and bone loss during spaceflight. It also looks at the effect on the recovery of muscle and bone following return to Earth. This research could provide valuable preclinical data to support clinical trials for MSTN therapies for a wide range of conditions that affect muscle and bone health. Such research is particularly important for conditions that involve disuse muscle atrophy (muscle wasting due to immobility or lessened activity)–for example, patients recovering from hip fracture surgery, intensive care patients, and the elderly.

Time Perception: Using a head-mounted Oculus Rift display/headphones, a finger trackball, and support computer, the crew performed the Time Perception experiment sessions. In this experiment, a program on the laptop induces visual and audio stimuli to measure a subject’s response to spatial and time perception in a microgravity environment. The experiment is broken into 7 tasks which look at time reproduction, reaction time, characterizing how long a minute is, and questionnaires. The accurate perception of objects in the environment is a prerequisite for spatial orientation and reliable performance of motor tasks. Time is fundamental to motion perception, sound localization, speech, and fine motor coordination.

Systems:

Boeing OFT Preparations: Today, the ISS prepared for the Boeing OFT mission arrival and performed a check-out of the commanding function of the CST-100 Command Panel PCS display.

SSC Battery Swap: The crew completed the change-out of the CMOS Battery on the ZBook Laptop. CMOS Battery swap will allow the BIOS settings and clock time to revert to default.

Completed Task List Activities:
No completed task list activities.

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Payload Operations Support

Monday, 12/16 (GMT 350)
Payloads:
Time Perception sessions (ESA)
FSL core element locking and release (ESA)
JSSOD-12 removal (JAXA)
RR-19 Habitat restock and weekly injections
JAT Bolt R&R and H/W install (JAXA)
Standard Measures Fecal Collect setup (NASA)

Systems:
CST-C2V2 PCS Checkout
JEM Airlock Helicoil R&R
CMS ARED Cylinder Evac
SSC-HV5 CMOS Battery Swap

Tuesday, 12/17 (GMT 351)
Payloads:
BEST
CBEF
ECHO maintenance
FNS relocate
Standard Measures
JWRS
Nanoracks Zero-G oven
NutrISS
Polymer Convection gather
Rotifer-B1
Rodent Research-19

Systems:
Polar Dragon Transfer
IFM P6 Endoscope R&R
WHC operations
Columbus VCA R&R

Wednesday, 12/18 (GMT 352)
Payloads:
Actiwatch plus
CBEF
MSRR/MSL SCA exchange
NREP review
Polymer Convection
Rotifer-B1
Standard Measures

Systems:
CST Prepack Transfer
Col HDVAC
ECL PEPS Inspection

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

Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Soyuz 746 Samsung Tablet PC Charging (if Current Charge <80%) Max Cycle Ergometer w/ Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Partial Set Up VOZDUKH switching unit R&R. VOZDUKH deactivation On MCC GO Demating of Vozdukh TLM connector ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Columbus Weekly ISS RS Video HW functional check Acoustic Monitor Setup for Crew Worn Measurements VOZDUKH switching unit R&R. Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Power Up Acoustic Diagnostics Instruments Set-Up Portable Oxygen Monitor (POM) Setup LSG Secondary Crew Restraint Fold On MCC GO Mating of Vozdukh TLM connector VOZDUKH switching unit R&R. VOZDUKH Activation Acoustic Diagnostics Operations - Calibration and Measurement CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Ops. Acoustic Monitor Equipment Swap Acoustic Diagnostics EveryWear Questionnaire Acoustic Diagnostics Operations - Calibration and Measurement Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Subject FSL Facility Core Element locking at the end of scientific operations Acoustic Diagnostics EveryWear Questionnaire FSL Facility Core Element release in preparation of scientific operations ISS HAM Radio Power Up XF305 Camcorder Setup Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side Acoustic Diagnostics Data Copy JEM SSOD(Small Satellite Orbital Deployer) Multi (3 Deployers) Removal from MPEP Acoustic Diagnostics Instrument Deinstallation and Stowage ??-2 sheet replacement - preparation. JEM Airlock Slide Table Active Capture Mechanism Helicoil R&R Procedure Review RSE-Med Laptop replacement with ZBOOK and testing. Nikon Camera Time Sync USOS Endoscope Gather Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Test Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Removal JEM Airlock Slide Table Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Questionnaire Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Removal JEM Airlock Slide Table Support Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis PAO hardware setup. Video and Audio check Crew Prep for PAO TV-Session with ISS Online Project Participants JEM Airlock Slide Table Active Capture Mechanism Helicoil R&R Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron or ???-?? JAT Hardware Retrieve Station Support Computer - Hypervisor 5 Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Battery Swap Radiation auditing facilities. A? and ??? units installation and connection. ??? maintenance Rodent Research Habitat Restock Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT) JAT MWA Preparation Time experiment science CST-100 Crew PCS Command Panel Checkout via C2V2 without RF Transmission to Ground Site JAT Repair Operations On MCC GO Mating of ?? and ??? units TLM connectors. CST-100 Crew PCS Command Panel Checkout via C2V2 without RF Transmission to Ground Site Radiation auditing facilities. A? and ??? units installation and connection. Closeout Ops. Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record IMS update JEM Active Mechanism Tether Loop Installation JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side Portable Oxygen Monitor (POM) Stow Rodent Research Habitat Restock Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Partial Stow Time experiment science LSG Secondary Crew Restraint Unfold VZAIMODEISTVIYE-2. Experiment Ops Rodent Research Polar Sample Removal Rodent Research Weekly Injection BIOMAG-M. Transfer for stowage to ???-? No.07 at +4 deg ? BIOMAG-M. Deactivation and Disassembly of ???-? No.04 Thermostat (+ 29 deg C) Exercise Data Downlink via OCA HMS. On-Orbit Hearing Assessment (O-OHA) with EarQ Software Standard Measures Fecal Collection Setup Countermeasures System (CMS) Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Conclude