NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 January 2016

Preparation continues for Tim Peake and Tim Kopra for Friday’s 7:55 a.m. EST spacewalk. Today, they will be re-familiarizing themselves with the tools needed to perform the Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) change out.
Aside from spacewalk preparation, Commander Scott Kelly and Tim Peake will also be setting up the JAXA Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) equipment. It will be installed into the Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack 2 (MSPR2) work volume inside of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).

Commander Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko continue their fluid shift activities with help from Russian cosmonaut Sergey Volkov. Today’s activities are the third part of this experiment in which the Russian Chibis (Lower Body Negative Pressure – LBNP) is worn and ultrasound measurements of their eyes are taken.

On-Orbit Status Report

Electrostatic Levitation Furnaces 1 and 2 (ELF 1 & 2) Setup: Kelly and Peake set up the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) ELF equipment for installation in the Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack 2 (MSPR2) work volume in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). The crew was unable to complete all of the installation activities today. They will be completed at the earliest opportunity. The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials employing containerless processing techniques that use the electrostatic levitation method with charged samples and electrodes. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved.

Fluid Shifts Before, During and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment (Fluid Shifts): Kelly and Kornienko continued their Return minus 45 day (R-45) Fluid Shifts activities today in the Russian Segment with assistance from Volkov. This third part of the Fluid Shifts experiment utilizes the Russian Chibis (Lower Body Negative Pressure – LBNP) suit during ultrasound measurements. Fluid Shifts investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronaut’s eyes. Because the headward fluid shift is a hypothesized contributor to these changes, reversing this fluid shift with a lower body negative pressure device is investigated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock Pressurization and Leak Check: In preparation for removal of the Robotics Refueling Mission (RRM) Task Board 4 and the Robotic Micro Conical Tool (RMCT)-1 from the JEM Airlock Slide Table later this month, Kelly has pressurized the JEM Airlock and performed a leak check today.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Preparation: Kopra and Peake continued to prepare for Friday’s Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) EVA. Today, they re-familiarized themselves with the tools needed to perform the SSU change out, installed a long term tether onto the EPIC MDM Ethernet Cable bundle to allow for external stowage without being plugged in, if required. In addition, they packed the Internal Docking Adapter (IDA) EVA bag with the required cabling.

Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurements: As part of system health monitoring, Kopra utilized a Velocicalc tool in order to obtain measurements of selected ventilation inlets and outlets within the USOS. Today’s measurements took place within the Joint Airlock, Node1, Node 2, Node 3, Cupola, and the Lab.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: This afternoon, ground controllers are performing a periodic survey of the Scan Testbed Experiment on ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC)-3. Once the survey is complete, they will command an Mobile Transporter (MT) translation from Worksite (WS)-7 to WS-2. The move is required in order to provide camera support during Friday’s Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) 1B Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and to preposition the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) for next week’s Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) demonstation activity.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Morning Inspection. SM ??? (Caution & Warning Panel) Test
Laptop RS1(2) Reboot
RSS 1, 2 Reboot
Hematocrit Test
MO – Experiment Ops
Hematocrit Hardware Stowage
JEM Airlock Pressurization
On MCC GO Regeneration of ??? ?1 Micropurification Cartridge
???? Log-File Dump
RGN – Initiate drain into EDV
FLUID SHIFTS
ISS Crew Handover
JEM Airlock Leak Check
Fine Motor Skills – Examination
RGN – Terminate water drain into EDV
MELFI 3 TDR – Battery Swap
Collect SM and FGB Air Samples Using ??-1? Sampler
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
ELF S/U- Procedure Review
SM Air Sampling for FREON Using ??-1? Sampler
XF305 Camcorder Settings Adjustment
VEG-01 – Plant Photo
MSPR2 – Software Setup
??? Maintenance
MSPR2 – Configuration Setup
MSPR2 – Software Setup
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Experiment Ops
EVA Tool Config
ALGOMETRIA. Experiment Ops
IMS Delta File Prep
SM Ventilation System Preventive Maintenance. Group ?1
Evening Work Prep
EXPOSE-R. Copy and Downlink Data
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
IMV Flow Measurement
USND2 – Hardware installation and activation
URYSIS Setup for Operation
On MCC GO ??? ?1 Absorption Cartridge Regeneration
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
Video Recording for All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (?????)
ECON-M. Observation and Photography

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Scan Test Bed Survey with MSS
MT translation from WS-7 to WS-2

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 01/13: Fluid Shifts, Sprint Ultrsound, Circadian Rhythms, Medical Emergency Training, Cygnus Cargo Ops
Thursday, 01/14: EVA Procedure Review, EVA Tool Audit, Equipment Lock Preparation
Friday, 01/15: SSU 1B EVA

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[???] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off