NASA Space Station Status Report 12 July, 2022 – Space Agriculture

The Expedition 67 crew members kicked off Tuesday with health checks before moving on to space agriculture and spacewalk preparations. The International Space Station’s residents also worked on a host of life support systems and cargo operations.

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins began her day setting up the Health Maintenance System in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module. She and fellow astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, and Samantha Cristoforetti, took turns during the morning measuring their temperatures, blood pressures, pulses, and respiratory rates.

Afterward, Watkins replaced components on a life support device that ensures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels remain safe aboard the station. Hines restocked the Human Research Facility’s supply kit with sample tubes, gloves, and wipes. Watkins and Hines later partnered together stowing cargo inside the NanoRacks Bishop Airlock. Lindgren wrapped up work for the Intelligent Glass Optics experiment then checked radishes and mizuna greens growing for the XROOTS space gardening study that uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques.

Cristoforetti joined Commander Oleg Artemyev and checked telemetry and communications gear on a pair of Russian Orlan spacesuits they will wear for a spacewalk planned for July 21. The duo will exit the Poisk airlock at 10 a.m. EDT and spend about seven hours configuring the European robotic arm (ERA) for operations.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov and Denis Matveev spent Tuesday preparing the station’s Russian segment for next week’s spacewalk activities. Korsakov continued checking out the ERA and its components from inside the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module. Flight Engineer Denis Matveev readied the Poisk module’s airlock for the two spacewalkers and closed Poisk’s hatch to the ISS Progress 80 cargo craft.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Human Research Facility-1 (HRF-1): HRF Consumables Kit contents were transferred to the HRF-1 Supply Kit Purple and the HRF-1 Supply Kit Green. Crew photographed HRF Supply Kits and transferred photos to an SSC laptop for downlink. HRF-1 provides an on-orbit laboratory that enables scientists conducting human life science research to evaluate the physiological, behavioral, and chemical changes induced by space flight. Research performed using HRF-1 provides data to help scientists understand how the human body adapts to long-duration spaceflight.

Universal Intelligent Glass Optics (UNIGLO): The final preform/spool and IGO hardware was removed from Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) work volume. UNIGLO tests the effects of microgravity on a glass optics module capable of processing various types of complex glasses. The module uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help adapt materials processing techniques to the microgravity environment and a sensor based on laser-Doppler interferometry to measure the effects of microgravity on processing complex glasses for a variety of applications in space and on Earth.

eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS): Fluid from Root Modules was recirculated back into the Fluids Reservoir and the wicks were examined and opened when required. The XROOTS investigation uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without soil or other growth media. Video and still images enable evaluation of multiple independent growth chambers for the entire plant life cycle from seed germination through maturity. Results could identify suitable methods to produce crops on a larger scale for future space missions.

Systems:

RS EVA ESA Preparations: Crewmember Samantha Cristoforetti continued preparation activities for the upcoming RS EVA ESA, beginning with gear preparation for the Orlan suit including the cooling garment, communications cap, pressure gloves, thermal garments, and other crew-specific items. The crew also began telemetry checks for medical parameters and comm checks. The Russian EVA is planned for Thursday, July 21.

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis & Data Record: The crew performed an analysis of the Water Processing Assembly (WPA) using the TOCA. The TOCA unit oxidizes organic carbon species present in the water to carbon dioxide gas and measures the concentration using nondispersive infrared spectroscopy. Analysis of the potable water using the TOCA occurs on a weekly basis.

Lab Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Mass Spectrometer Remove and Replace (R&R): The Lab MCA Mass Spectrometer, also referred to as ORU-2, was R&Red after failure last week. The rack-front and rack-rear MCA utilities were disconnected to access the MCA Drawer and then replaced and closed out. The MCA mass spectrometer separates the constituents of a sample, and measures the percent concentrations of O₂, N₂, H₂O, H₂, CH₄, and CO₂. 

In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Activities: The crew completed IFM activities today, starting with the Node 3 Port Endcone and Nanoracks Airlock (NRAL) stowage replace after the NRAL Trash Jettison. Miscellaneous found items that were temp stowed during previous activities were stowed or trashed. A continuation of the ongoing USOS Common Hatch Window Cover Audits was also performed for installed Hatch Window Covers (Hyzod Covers) in multiple locations.

T2 Moderate temperature Loop (MTL) Internal Thermal Control Systems (ITCS) Line Wear Inspection: The crew inspected the T2 ITCS MTL Lines and surrounding areas using the USOS Endoscope for any damage/abrasion and Foreign Object Debris (FOD). The hoses had been previously damaged and repaired due to an unknown source of abrasion. The crew determined the effectiveness of the repair and whether the abrasion damage has continued. The ITCS provides equipment cooling and heat rejection through a combination of water loops and interface heat exchangers.

RS Water Transfers: Per documented agreements between the US and IP Russia, the crew began transferring water from the USOS to the RS. Surplus water in the USOS was transferred from the Contingency Water Container – Iodine (CWC-I) to an ЕДВ. An ЕДВ is intended for short-term storage and manual water transportation between facilities.

Completed Task List Activities:

• None

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

• PPS High Beta Operations
• JEMRMS EFU Adapter 2 Transfer to JEMAL
• JEM Airlock Capture Mechanism Capture EFU Adapter 2
• Lab MCA Checkout
• MSS File Uplink
• Cargo Dragon C2V2 Checkout without Ground Site for LCC
• SPDM OTCM Checkout
• SSRMS LEE Diagnostics
• JEM Airlock Pressurization

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, July 13 (GMT 194)
Payloads:

• MCU Battery and Controller Removal from EFU Adapter (JAXA)
• ISS HAM (NASA)
• LUMINA Reboot and Data Transfer (ESA)
• WICO Don Ops and Questionnaire (ESA)

Systems:

• Cargo Transfer to Dragon
• SpX-25 Dragon Rendezvous Review CBT
• EVA Battery Ops
• RS EVA ESA Prep

Thursday, July 14 (GMT 195)
Payloads:

• Astrobee Remote Ops (NASA)
• Biofilms Review (ESA)
• KUBIK MPCC Setup (ESA)

Systems:

• RS EVA ESA Prep

Friday, July 15 (GMT 196)
Payloads:

• Cold Atom Lab Check (NASA)
• FLARE (SCEM) Insert 2 Exchange (JAXA)
• J-FROST-2 Setting (JAXA)
• RR-22 Habitat Installs (NASA)
• TangoLab CubeLab Sat Checkout (NASA)
• XROOTS Nutrient Mix and Fill, Fluid recovery, Plant Check (NASA)

Systems:

• RS EVA ESA Prep
• Hygiene Cover Panel Audit
• Hatch Seal Inspection
• Dragon Cargo Operations Review and SpX-25 Vehicle Ops CBT

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

• CB/ISS Crew Conference
• Orlan gear prep
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis/Data Record
• Lab Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Mass Spectrometer Remove and Replace
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation – Subject Using EveryWear
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation – Crew Medical Officer (CMO)
• Orlan and БСС Telemetry Check. Orlan medical parameter and comm checks
• In Flight Maintenance (IFM) USOS Common Hatch Window Cover Audit
• HRF Facility Supply Kit Resupply
• T2 Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL) Hose Inspection
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS EveryWear (EVW) Nutrition Tracking
• [active] Intelligent Glass Optics Hardware Stow
• Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in JEM
• Node 3 Port Endcone and NRAL Stowage Replace
• ISS Safety Video
• XROOTS Water Refill
• XROOTS Status Check
• [active] Stow/Trash Miscellaneous Found Items
• CWC-I to EDV Transfer Initiation
• [deferred] In Flight Maintenance Airlock IV Hatch Cleaning
• CWC-I to EDV Transfer Termination