NASA Space Station Status Report 26 July, 2022 – Cargo Transfer Operations

The Expedition 67 crew members aboard the International Space Station spent Tuesday predominantly on research, maintenance, and cargo transfer operations.

Research beneficial to humans on Earth and future crews in space is happening around the clock aboard the orbiting laboratory. NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren used a majority of his day to service samples for the Immunosenescence investigation inside the Life Science Glovebox. Results from this study may one day inform treatments for accelerated aging processes commonly observed in microgravity and contribute to countermeasures for normal aging progression.

NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines inspected the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) Moderate Temperature Loop Jumper to check for leaks. In the CAL, atoms are chilled to temperatures near absolute zero, allowing scientists to observe fundamental behaviors and quantum characteristics not possible on the ground.

Meanwhile, NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins set up hardware and worked on the Space Fibers-3 space manufacturing study. ESA (European Space Agency) Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti took over Space Fiber-3 study runs later in the day.

Early in the day, Cristoforetti swapped samples inside the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace, an advanced research device that enables high-temperature thermophysics studies.

A larger contingent of the crew — Cristoforetti, Hines, Lindgren, and Watkins — took turns transferring cargo from the SpaceX CRS-25 Dragon spacecraft.

Maintenance tasks continued in the Russian segment, with Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos checking for leaks in the Zvezda service module and Flight Engineer Denis Matveev refilling freon bottles to maintain the orbiting laboratory’s air-conditioning system. Matveev also set up dosimeters for a long-running radiation detection experiment while cosmonaut Sergey Korsakov worked on the Cardiovector study.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Cold Atom Lab (CAL): Leaking compression fittings were tightened on the Cold Atom Lab MTL Jumper hoses and routine maintenance was performed on the Parker Quick Disconnect (QD) hardware. The CAL produces clouds of atoms that are chilled to about one ten billionth of a degree above absolute zero — much colder than the average temperature of deep space. At these low temperatures, atoms have almost no motion, allowing scientists to study fundamental behaviors and quantum characteristics that are difficult or impossible to probe at higher temperatures. In microgravity, researchers may be able to achieve even colder temperatures than what is possible on the ground, and observe these cold atom clouds for longer periods of time.

Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): The previous sample was removed from the experiment volume of the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace and a new Sample Holder Cartridge was inserted. The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate/melt/solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the Electrostatic Levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured, and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved. The ELF is located in the JEM Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) in Kibo.

Genes in Space-9 (GIS-9): The dedicated GIS-9 iPad was charged prior to upcoming operations. Cell-free technology is a platform for protein production that does not include living cells. GIS-9 evaluates two approaches for using this technology in microgravity: cell-free protein production and biosensors that can detect specific target molecules. The technology could provide a portable, low-resource, and low-cost tool with potential applications for medical diagnostics, on-demand production of medicine and vaccines, and environmental monitoring on future space missions.

Immunosenescence: Media was changed for each of the samples housed in the three Immunosenescence BioCells. Microgravity as a Model for Immunological Senescence and its Impact on Tissue Stem Cells and Regeneration (Immunosenescence) studies the effects of microgravity on cells involved in tissue regeneration and whether recovery occurs post-flight. Results could provide insight into whether effects of the biological aging process can be reversed.

Materials International Space Station Experiment-16 (MISSE-16): Material Science Containers (MSC) for MISSE-16 and MISSE Transfer Tray (MTT) Hardware were gathered in support of JEM airlock installation operations. MISSE-16 is part of a suite of experiments that test how space affects a variety of materials and components. This mission tests a fabric with imbedded sensors, 3D printed polymers, spacecraft materials, radiation protection biomaterials, BioPellets made from dried microbes, paraffin wax thermal protection, and thin solar cells. If able to stand up to the harsh environment outside the ISS, these materials could help improve equipment for future space exploration.

Fixed radio frequency identification (RFID) Smart Sensing: Crew power cycled non-responsive RFID Embers sensors. RFID readers and antennas have operated on the ISS since 2017 and a reader and antennas were installed on a robotic free-flying Astrobee in January 2021. RFID-Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management-3 (REALM-3) (RFID Smart Sensing) builds on this work, extending reach of RFID signals behind stowage racks and placing motion sensors imbedded in RFID tags on rack doors. Results could increase the accuracy of RFID inventory and item location.

Space Fibers-3: Crew completed installation of Space Fibers-3 hardware in the MSG. Manufacturing Fiber Optic Cable in Microgravity (Space Fibers) evaluates a method for producing fiber optic cable from a blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, sodium, and aluminum, called ZBLAN, in space. ZBLAN produces glass one hundred times more transparent than silica-based glass, exceptional for fiber optics. Microgravity suppresses mechanisms that commonly degrade fiber, and previous studies showed improved properties in fiber drawn in microgravity compared to that fabricated on the ground.

TangoLab Mission-27: The Powered Ascent Utility Locker (PAUL) was powered down and TangoLab Mission-27 cube UFLA_TOC02 (Muscle Tissue on Chip)was removed for photography and then placed into the ICEBERG-2 cold stowage facility. Muscle Tissue on Chip will test the feasibility of microfluidic devices embedded with muscle bundles derived from human cells to track muscle function over time in a space environment.

Systems:

Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Maintenance: Today, the crew evacuated the ARED Cylinder Flywheel and Vacuum Slider Track. They also tightened and torqued set screws within the ARED Cylinder Flywheel and Main Arm Fasteners.

Hardware Power Cycling: Several components were power cycled today in an effort to recover various issues related to hardware performance, including the Atmosphere Revitalization System Thermal Amine Scrubber (TAS), the Environmental Health System (EHS) Air Quality Monitoring (AQM), and the Radio Frequency Identification Logistics (RFID).

Node 3 Nadir Hatch Seal Inspection: A detailed inspection of two areas of interest on the Node 3 Nadir Hatch Seal was performed and photos of the new Node 3 Nadir Hatch Seal Cover were taken. The hatch seal cover is designed to keep hatch seals free of debris and remove the need for periodic cleanings by the crew.

Completed Task List Activities:

• None

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

• JEMRMS EFU Adapter Stow
• JEM Airlock Pressurization
• JEM Airlock and ACDU-RC Deactivation
• JEMRMS TVCs, SFA TVC and JEMRMS Ground Control Main Arm Final Activation
• JEF SSE Activation For SFA Install
• JEMRMS Preparation Maneuver  for SFA Installation to SSE
• JEF SSE Close for SFA Capture
• SFA grasping SSE Tool Fixture 2

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, July 27 (GMT 208)
Payloads:

• ANITA Screen Mate (NASA)
• ARS-FBCO2 Sample (NASA)
• BCM Robot Test (NASA)
• CAL Jumper Leak Check (NASA)
• DOSIS LED Check (ESA)
• GIS-9 Run (NASA)
• J-MDR PM HDD R&R (JAXA)
• MISSE-MTT and MSC Install (NASA)
• SF-3 MSG Ops (NASA)
• TREK Video Setup (NASA)
• WICO BCF Donning and Reading (ESA)
• XROOTS Nutrient, Fluid Recover, and Check (NASA)

Systems:

• JEM ORU Xfer I/F Install for MISSE Transfer Tray
• CWC-I Degas
• Water Sample CTB Audit
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• Hygiene Cover Panel Audit
• ARS Four Bed Carbon Dioxide Scrubber Samples

Thursday, July 28 (GMT 209)
Payloads:

• BCM Robot Test (NASA)
• Butterfly US Ops (NASA)
• CAL Jumper Leak Check (NASA)
• CBEF-M Cage Installs (JAXA)
• CIR Placeholder (NASA)
• GIS-9 Runs (NASA)
• ICE Cubes Exchange (ESA)
• ISS HAM Pass (NASA)
• PGTIDE Procedure Review (NASA)
• Protein Manf. MELFI Insert (NASA)
• SALI-1 SBRIO Reset and Unit Reinstall (NASA)
• SF-3 MSG Ops (NASA)
• SOFIE GEL Hardware Config (NASA)
• TREK Setup (NASA)

Systems:

• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• ESA PAO message recording
• HMS IMAK Unpack from SPX-25

Friday, July 29 (GMT 210)
Payloads:

• ANITA Calib and Measurement (ESA)
• CAL Jumper Leak Check (NASA)
• MSL SCA Exchange #2 (ESA)
• PGTD Cup Photo and SRO Sample (NASA)
• SF-3 MSG Ops (NASA)
• TangoLab-3 Cardcube Replace (NASA)
• TREK Video S/D (NASA)

Systems:

• IFM IRU R&R
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• EMU Swap
• EVA IRU Check Out
• SLE Rotation
• BPA Photo Activity

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

• LSG Work Volume Deploy/Stow
• Start/Terminate transfer from CWC-I into ЕДВ and Stow
• LSG-Front Glove-Swap
• Cold Atom Lab MTL Jumper Repair
• Space Fibers-3 Crew Procedures Review
• Space Fibers-3 Hardware Set Up and Checkout in MSG
• Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Video Setup in Node 2
• Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) Item Gathering
• Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) Sample Holder Change
• Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE) MSC Hardware Gather
• Structures and Mechanisms (S&M) JEM ORU Xfer I/F (JOTI) Gather
• Immunosenescence MELFI Sample Retrieve
• Immunosenescence SALBL Insert
• MTT/MSC Installation Review
• Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in Columbus
• LSG Primary Crew Restraint Unfold/Fold
• Immunosenescence Media Change Ops
• Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
• Atmosphere Revitalization System Thermal Amine Scrubber Power Cycle
• Radio Frequency Identification Logistics Power Cycle
• Environmental Health System (EHS) – Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) Power Cycle
• GIS9 iPAD Charge
• Powered Ascent Utility Locker Power Down Card Cube Remove
• Powered Ascent Utility Locker Iceberg Sample Insert
• In Flight Maintenence (IFM) DeWalt Battery Charging Test Part 2
• Node 3 Nadir Hatch Seal Inspection
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• Reorganize the CWC-Is in the NOD1D2 location into one CTB
• Space Fibers-3 MSG Operations
• CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
• Cold Atom Lab Jumper Leak Check