NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 December 2020 – Six Spacecraft Docked

While the International Space Station was traveling 268 miles over the southern Indian Ocean, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to the space-facing side of the orbiting laboratory’s Harmony module for the first time at 1:40 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 7.
NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Victor Glover monitored docking operations for Dragon.

Some of the science being delivered on this mission includes a study aimed at better understanding heart disease to support development of treatments for patients on Earth, research into how microbes can be used for biomining on asteroids, and a tool being tested for quick and accurate blood analysis in microgravity. The first commercially owned and operated airlock on the space station, the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock, arrives in the unpressurized trunk of the Dragon cargo spacecraft. Bishop will provide a variety of capabilities to the orbiting laboratory, including CubeSat deployment, and support of external payloads.

The Dragon launched on SpaceX’s 21st contracted commercial resupply mission at 11:17 a.m. EST Sunday, Dec. 6 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After Dragon spends approximately one month attached to the space station, the spacecraft will return to Earth with cargo and research.

On-Orbit Status Report

SpaceX (SpX)-21 Docking: Following yesterday’s successful launch, Dragon was captured today at 12:40 PM CT and docked successfully to Node 2 Zenith at 12:53 PM CT. Prior to docking the crew gathered and set up necessary tools required for the crew to monitor vehicle approach. After the vehicle docked, the crew completed Dragon International Docking Adapter (IDA) Vestibule pressurization and leak checks, opened Node 2 Overhead Forward Hatch, Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)3 Androgynas Peripheral Assembly (APAS) hatch, and ingressed the vehicle.

Payloads

Manufacturing Device (MAND): Over the weekend, the crew performed internal computer troubleshooting steps which recovered the hardware. The Manufacturing Device enables the production of components on the ISS for both NASA and commercial objectives. Parts, entire experiments, and tools can be created on demand utilizing the MAND printer that is installed into an Express Rack locker location. MAND is capable of producing parts out of a wide variety of thermopolymers including engineered plastics.

Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): The crew removed the failed samples from the current Round Robin cartridge and placed them into a debris bag. The ELF sample holder was then cleaned and the Round Robin ELF cartridge 4 was re-installed. ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and 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.

Biomole: The crew performed part 1 and 2 of ISS surface Sample collections and DNA extraction and amplification using the miniPCR16 hardware. The crew then stopped the run and stowed the sample tube and placed it in Cold Stowage. The Environmental Health System (EHS) Biomole Facility non-culture based samples are capable of providing microbial identification on-orbit within days of sampling. The goal of this Tech Demo is to conduct comparative analysis for possible replacement of current microbial monitoring systems.

Kubik Facility: The crew performed the setup of Kubik 5 and Kubik 6 facilities in preparation of Rotifer B2 operations. Kubik is a small controlled-temperature incubator or cooler with removable inserts designed for self-contained, automatic microgravity investigations such as those using seeds, cells, and small animals.

Fiber Optic Production (FOP): The crew performed one sample change out in the Fiber Optic Production facility. The Fiber Optic Production investigation creates optical fibers with high commercial value aboard the ISS using a blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, sodium, and aluminum called ZBLAN. It operates in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). Extensive theoretical studies along with a limited number of experimental studies suggest that ZBLAN optical fibers produced in microgravity should exhibit far superior qualities to those produced on Earth. The resulting optical fiber from Fiber Optic Production is expected to help verify these studies and guide further engineering efforts to manufacture high value optical fiber in large volume aboard the ISS.

Systems

Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Belt/Pulley Assembly Remove & Replace (R&R): Earlier this year, the crew reported the ARED right arm popped out of its detents during an exercise session and observed subsequent load imbalance signatures. Today the crew completed a belt/pulley R&R to restore ARED to a balanced loading configuration.

Extravehicular (EVA) Activities: The crew performed the following tasks in preparation for SpX-21 arrival. The primary goal was to restow the Crewlock, while leaving the Equipment Lock clear for EVA packing ops this week. Many of these items will be returned on SpX-21.

Changed the leg assembly on Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 3004 and prepared the removed leg assembly for return on SpX-21.
Removed EMU 3008 from Node 2 and placed on the EMU Don/Doff Assembly (EDDA) after removing EMU 3009 from the EDDA and stowing in the Crewlock.
NanoRacks Airlock (NRAL) Node 3 Screen Removal: The crew removed the Inter Module Ventilation (IMV) Screen from Node 3 Overhead Aft Alcove in preparation for planned Nanoracks Airlock IMV reconfiguration and operations. This location is being converted from an inlet to an outlet and removing the screen prevents Foreign Object Debris (FOD) from collecting behind the screen.

Completed Task List Activities:

ARED spreadsheet record
WHC KTO replace
T2 AR connect
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Dragon dock ops
ARED pully R&R support
Payloads support
Look Ahead Plan

Tuesday, 12/8 (GMT 343)
Payloads:

Vascular Echo Blood Pressure 13H run (CSA)
Rotifer B2 EC install into Kubik 5 and 6 (ESA)
Space Organogenesis sample rotation start (JAXA)
JAXA low temp PCG prep (JAXA)
MVP-2 historical photo and Cell-06 install (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 9 Ops1 (NASA)
ICE Cube #6 install (ESA)
Rodent Research Habitat installs (NASA)
Cardinal Heart relocate and sample insert and SABL CO2 cntrl install (NASA)
STaARS BS-4 installation (NASA)
PAUL hardware locker install
Systems:

Dragon transfer ops
Dragon OBT
Wednesday, 12/9 (GMT 344)
Payloads:

Space Organogenesis Medium changes and Microscope ops (JAXA)
Rodent Transfers (NASA)
EHS BioMole ops Part 3 (NASA)
Cardinal Heart medium exchange and MELFI insert (NASA)
Vascular Echo Blood Pressure 13H conclusion (CSA)
ISS HAM Pass (NASA)
Systems:

Dragon transfer ops
Thursday, 12/10 (GMT 345)
Payloads:

NanoRacks Module 9 Ops 2 (NASA)
Fiber Optics Sample exchange (NASA)
Medium Temp PCG sample prep (JAXA)
AstroRad Vest Fam (NASA)
ISS Experience Astronaut log (NASA)
Food Acceptability survey (NASA)
APM data transfer and Node 2 to Lab install (NASA)
MonoClonal Antibodies PCG card fills (NASA)
ACME CIR Bottle exchange (Joint)
Systems:

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

Hermes Foam Gather
Cargo Dragon Station Support Computer Relocate
ISS Experience Payload Review
Kubik Onboard Training
Hermes Facility Installation
Review of Big Picture Words for Rotifer B2
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Astrobee Stowage Clear
Kubik 5 setup on COL1D2 for Rotifer B2
Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Video Equipment Setup
Astrobee On
Kubik 6 setup on COL1D3 for Rotifer B2
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Belt/Pulley Assembly R&R
PMM Cleanup
Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Video Equipment Stow
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Belt/Pulley Assembly R&R
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Airlock Restow
Polar Dragon Uninstall, Transfer, And EXPRESS Rack Install Overview
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Test
Dragon Rendezvous Operations Conference
Docking Dragon Monitoring Tools Setup
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Questionnaire
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Belt/Pulley Assembly R&R
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Test
Docking Dragon Monitoring Tools Setup
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Questionnaire
Environmental Health System (EHS) Biomole Maintenance Work Area Prep
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Airlock Restow
NanoRacks Airlock (NRAL) Screen Gather
BioMole MELFI Retrieve
Fiber Optic Production Initial Sample Installation [Aborted]
BioMole Part 1: Surface Sampling and DNA Extraction
Urine receptacle (??) check
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Test
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Questionnaire
NanoRacks Airlock (NRAL) Node 3 Screen Removal
BioMole MELFI Retrieve
Synchronization of NIKON camera with station time
BioMole Part 2: DNA Cleanup and Amplification
EMU Helmet unpack and repack for return [Deferred]
ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood
NanoRacks Airlock (NRAL) Screen Restow
Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
EVA EMU 3008 Removal
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Test
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision Questionnaire
EVA ERCA Return
Photo TV High Definition (HD) Dragon Video Setup
Polar Dragon Uninstall, Transfer, And EXPRESS Rack Install Overview
USOS Window Shutter Close
Private Medical Conference (PMC)
Docking Dragon Monitoring Tools Setup
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap
??? 76P transfer operations
EVA EMU 3004 Removal
Dragon Zenith Approach Monitoring
Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review
Delta file prep
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate
Nanoracks Module-9 OBT
Astrobee Stowage Clear
Evening Preparation Work
Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check
Dragon Monitoring Tools Teardown
Cargo Dragon Station Support Computer Return
Node 2 to Dragon Final Pressurization and Vestibule prep for Ingress
??? Laptops Antivirus software checkout
Reminder to Clear IMV Inlet