NASA Space Station Status Report 15 August, 2022 – Go for Russian Spacewalk

Mission managers have given the “go” for the seventh spacewalk of the year scheduled to take place in the middle of the week. A U.S. cargo craft is also nearing the end of its mission with its undocking and return to Earth planned for the end of the week.

Two cosmonauts are gearing up for a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk to continue setting up the European robotic arm (ERA) for operations on the outside of the International Space Station’s Russian segment. Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineer Denis Matveev will exit the Poisk module’s airlock at 9:20 a.m. EDT on Wednesday in their Russian Orlan spacesuits. The pair will install cameras on the ERA, move its external control panel, remove the robotic arm’s launch restraints, and test the arm’s grasping mechanism. NASA TV, on the agency’s app and website, will begin its live spacewalk coverage at 9 a.m.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov is assisting his fellow cosmonauts with the spacewalk preparations while also maintaining orbital lab systems and conducting space research. Today, he worked on ventilation systems inside the Nauka module then explored effective exercise techniques to maintain physical fitness in microgravity.

Meanwhile, the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship is nearing the end of its monthlong stay on the Harmony module’s forward port. Expedition 67 Flight Engineers Jessica Watkins of NASA and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) spent Monday afternoon packing Dragon with some of the more than 4,000 pounds of station gear and completed science experiments it will return to Earth. Dragon will undock at 11:05 a.m. on Thursday and parachute to a splashdown off the coast of Florida the following day for retrieval. Live undocking coverage on NASA TV begins at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.

NASA Flight Engineers Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines spent Monday focusing on life science to improve human health on and off the Earth. Lindgren set up tissue stem cell samples inside the Life Science Glovebox (LSG) to explore how weightlessness affects immunological aging possibly promoting therapies to protect astronauts and Earthlings. Afterward, Hines cleaned up the LSG in the Kibo laboratory module to prepare for experiment operations that will use the microgravity environment to develop new wound treatment techniques.

Depiction of the August 17th ISS Expedition 67 Russian Spacewalk

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Dynamics of Microbiomes in Space (DynaMoS): Sample T1 was placed into the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) facility. DynaMoS examines how microgravity affects metabolic interactions in communities of soil microbes. On Earth, communities of microorganisms carry out key functions in soil, including cycling carbon and other nutrients and supporting plant growth. This research focuses on the soil microorganism communities that decompose chitin, the second most abundant carbon polymer on Earth. Results could improve understanding of the function of soil microorganisms in space compared to on Earth.

Immunosenescence: Media Change and Sampling Operations were performed on Samples A, B and C. This completes all operations for this experiment. 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.

Ring Sheared Drop:  The Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) Sample and Test Cell was removed from the MicroGravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Work Volume (WV), but the RSD hardware will remain in the WV.  The Ring Sheared Drop investigation examines the formation and flow of amyloids without the complications associated with the solid walls of a container, because in microgravity, surface tension provides containment of the liquid. Amyloids – fibrous, extracellular protein deposits found in organs and tissues – are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Results could contribute to better understanding of these diseases as well as to development of advanced materials.

Systems:

Cargo Dragon Departure Preparations: Yesterday, the crew completed activities in preparation for SpX-25 undock on August 18. The crew transferred cargo, payloads and three Polar units to Cargo Dragon. Today, the crew continued cargo operations to finish packing the middle-center of the vehicle. The crew also inspected and cleaned the Dragon Docking System Forward Hatch prior to departure to ensure successful Forward Hatch closure and seal as well as avoid liberated Foreign Object Debris (FOD) compromising International Docking Adapter (IDA) seal surface during undock.

Environmental Health System (EHS) Sample Operations: The crew performed periodic EHS water sampling by collecting water samples from the Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) for in-flight and post-flight analysis. In-flight samples were used to perform a Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) analysis that measures the amount of organic constituents in the potable water. The crew also tested the water samples for the presence of Coliform bacteria utilizing a Coliform test bag. These tests are used to determine if the drinking water is still safe for crew consumption.

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain/Fill: Today, the crew set up the recycle tank to drain via the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Fill Drain Valve into a Brine EDV using the Urine Transfer System (UTS). Following the setup, the ground performed the tank drain using the UTS. Once the ground specialists completed the transfer, the crew verified the recycle tank was empty, terminated the drain, repositioned the fill/drain valve to force fill the recycle tank using UTS, and configured for nominal processing operations. The crew also swapped the EDV in the offload EDV spot of the UTS.

Completed Task List Activities:

• ARED Labeling
• Hypervisor Configuration Photo
• MSG W212 Cable Locate
• Node 3 Carbon Dioxide Sensor Relocate
• ROBO Cue Card Print and Replace

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

• PRO LSG Facility Activation & Deactivation Commanding
• Immunosenescence Media Change and Sampling Ops Support
• Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain Support

Look Ahead Plan

Tuesday, August 16 (GMT 228)
Payloads:

• Polar Sample Transfer (NASA)

Systems:

• VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS

Wednesday, August 17 (GMT 229)
Payloads:

• Acoustic Diagnostics Ops (ESA)
• HRF Saliva Collection and Blood Setup(NASA)
• JEM Microscope Checkout Prep (JAXA)
• XROOTS fluid recovery and inspection (NASA)

Systems:

• Environmental Health System (EHS) Coliform Water Sample Analysis
• Transfer Dragon Cargo Operations
• Water Recovery System CWC-Iodine Fill Operations
• Cargo Dragon Station Support Computer Relocate
• Cargo Dragon LiOH Swap

Thursday, August 18 (GMT 230)
Payloads:

• HRF Saliva and Blood Collect (NASA)
• ISS HAM Ops (NASA)
• JEM Microscope Sample Removal (JAXA)
• PLT4 Transfer 2 (JAXA)
• Standard Measures Pre-sleep (NASA)

Systems:

• SpX-25 Undock Prep
• SpX-25 Egress & Undock
• WINSCAT Test
• TOCA Analysis

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

• Confocal Space Microscopy (Microscope) Cover Removal
• Crew Arrival Preparation
• Dragon Forward Docking System Hatch Seal Inspection & Cleaning
• Dynamics of Micorbiomes in Space Sample Insert T1
• DynaMoS Hardware Retrieve
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Coliform Water Processing
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Sample Operations
• Gather CWC-Is that will be transferred to EDVs for the RS
• HRF Generic Saliva Collection Setup
• Immunosenescence Media Change and Sampling Operations
• ISS Motion Control System config for Cargo Dragon Undock  Big Picture Words
• JAXA Payload Laptop Terminal 4 (PLT4) Relocation
• JEM Network Storage (NeST) Mesh Cleaning
• LSG Primary Crew Restraint Unfold
• LSG UV-C Decontamination System Remove
• Microgravity Science Glovebox Power Down
• On-Board Training (OBT) Cargo Dragon Depart Review
• On-orbit Hearing Assessment (OOHA) with Kuduwave Test
• Photo TV EVA Go Pro Setup, Battery Charging and Transfer
• Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in Columbus
• Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain Operations
• Ring Sheared Drop Hardware Stow
• RSD MELFI Sample Insertion
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap
• [deferred] Virtual ATU Configure JEM
• Wanted Poster – Bracket Stock Materials Kit