NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 15 April 2016

BEAM, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, will be removed from the back of the SpaceX Dragon late tonight before installation on the Tranquility module begins early Saturday. Expansion of the new habitat module won’t occur until late May for two years of habitability tests.
Meanwhile, the six-member Expedition 47 crew kept up its very busy pace of advanced space research this week to benefit life on Earth and crews in space.

More eye checks were on the schedule today as scientists continued exploring vision changes astronauts have experienced while on orbit. The crew also observed skeletal muscle cells with a microscope to help researchers identify gravity sensors that may prevent muscle atrophy in space. Saliva samples were collected for a Japanese experiment analyzing how an astronaut’s immune system adapts to long-term space missions.

The crew set up software for an experiment recording an astronaut’s cognitive performance during stressful conditions in space. They also answered questions about their station habitat providing insights to engineers to help them design spacecraft to meet the needs of future crews.

On-Orbit Status Report

Cell Mechanosensing 3 (CMS-3) Operations: Following yesterday’s successful observation obtained by repositioning the thermal sample container to allow enough lighting through the microscope for imaging, the crew completed another microscope observation setting for CMS-3. CMS-3 is a JAXA investigation that identifies gravity sensors in skeletal muscle cells to develop countermeasures to muscle atrophy. Scientists believe that the lack of mechanical stress from gravity causes tension fluctuations in the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle cells which changes the expression of key proteins and genes and allows muscles to atrophy.

Ocular Health Cardiac Echo and Ultrasound 2 Exams: Crewmembers performed Ocular Health activities by configuring the Ultrasound 2 hardware used to conduct the echocardiogram and the Ultrasound eye exams. Operator assistance with remote guidance from the Ocular Health ground teams. The investigation gathers data on crew members’ visual health during and after long-duration space station missions. Tests monitor microgravity-induced visual impairment as well as changes believed to arise from elevated intracranial pressure to characterize how living in microgravity can affect the visual, vascular and central nervous systems. The investigation also measures how long it takes for crew members to return to normal after return to Earth.

Multi-Omics Operations: The crew supported the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Multi-Omics investigation by collecting saliva samples and inserting them into a Box Module in the Minus Eight-degree Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts’ immune function by combining the data obtained from the measurements of changes in the microbiological composition, metabolites profiles, and the immune system.

Cognition Test Battery Operations: The crew powered on the HRF PC 3, launch the Cognition application and completed the Cognition test battery including pre-test questions and cognitive tests with performance feedback. Cognition measures how spaceflight-related physical changes, such as microgravity and lack of sleep, can affect cognitive performance. Cognition includes ten brief computerized tests that cover a wide range of cognitive functions and provides immediate feedback on current and past test results. The software allows for real-time measurement of cognitive performance while in space.

Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations: The crew recorded and submitted a walk-through video documenting observations of an area or activity providing insight related to human factors and habitability. The Habitability investigation collects observations about the relationship between crew members and their environment on the International Space Station. Observations can help spacecraft designers understand how much habitable volume is required, and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crew members need.

Wet Lab RNA SmartCycler Preparation: The crew completed hardware and software installations to support Wet Lab RNA SmartCycler operations by configuring the pantry T61p Laptop and SmartCycler hardware and loading the SmartCycler software onto the laptop. Wetlab RNA SmartCycler is a research platform for conducting real-time quantitative gene expression analysis aboard the ISS. The system enables spaceflight genomic studies involving a wide variety of biospecimen types in the unique microgravity environment of space.

Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Transfer: Tonight Robotics Ground Controllers will transfer BEAM from the SpX-8 Dragon trunk to the Node 3 Aft Port. Activities will include a Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Prep for Mate and inspection, BEAM extraction, maneuver to install position, CBM capture, and BEAM release. BEAM inflation is currently planned for late May.

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

EarthKAM. Camera Battery Swap
Multi Omics (MO) Sample Collection
Check position of MRM2 manual Circuit Breakers [???] on DC ??? panel and Fuse LED indication status
Checking fuse LED indication on ???-4, ???-7 Fuse Boxes in MRM1 / Power Supply System
Multi Omics (MO) MELFI Sample Insertion
Multi Omics (MO) Equipment Stowage
Multi Omics (MO) Survey Questionnaire Completion
HRF – Activation of Refrigerated Centrifuge
HRF Blood collection, Operator assistance
HRF Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
HRF Blood sample removal in preparation for cold stowage insertion
HRF MELFI Sample Insertion
ISS crew and ???? r/g 1932
Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3
IMS Tagup (S-band) / r/g 1962
HRF Closeout Ops
Rodent Research (RR) Video Setup
Rodent Research Checking water container and lights in rodents modules
Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM phone charge, setup, start charge
Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM phone charge, battery status check
Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM phone charge, terminate charge
RSS1 laptop BRI data download r/g 1961
Replacement of urine receptacle No.0750008 and ??? filter-insert No.1409279
[???] Activation after replacement
BIOCARD. Experiment Ops. r/g 1907
BIOCARD. Operator Assistance During the Experiment / r/g 1907
HABIT Survey Questionnaire Completion
Psychological Evaluation Program (WinSCAT)
SODF Deploy
IDENTIFICATION. Copy ???-? micro-accelerometer data to laptop / r/g 1589
USND2 Hardware Activation
Ultrasound Scanning Prep
FROST Ice Pack Questionnaire
Ocular Health Experiment, Ultrasound 2 Scan
Ocular Health Experiment, Ultrasound Scan
SEISMOPROGNOZ. Download Data from Control and Data Acquisition Module (????) HDD (Start) r/g 1595
Ultrasound Data Export
??? Maintenance
Ocular Health Experiment, Ultrasound 2 Scan
Ocular Health Experiment, Ultrasound 2 Scan
Ultrasound Data Export
Soyuz 720 IRIDIUM phone charge, initiate charge
CMS3- Setting MICROSCOPE
Ultrasound Scan
Soyuz 720 IRIDIUM phone charge, battery status check
Soyuz 720 IRIDIUM phone charge, terminate charge, setup teardown, closeout ops
Psychological Evaluation Program (WinSCAT)
Photography of Soyuz landing sites / r/g 1959
Food Frequency Questionnaire
SEISMOPROGNOZ. Downlink data from Control and Data Acquisition Module (????) HDD (end) and start file compression r/g 1595
INTER-MAI-75. Ham Radio Setup and Activation r/g 1955
SmartCycler (SCYC) Hardware Setup
INTER-MAI-75. Hardware status check / r/g 1955
Ocular Health (OH) CARDIAC device operations
EarthKAM. Camera Battery Swap
??-2 Maintenance r/g 1954
Urine Transfer from EDV-U to Progress 431 (DC1) Rodnik H2O Tank 2 r/g 1963
Ocular Health (OH) Vision Test Operator Assistance
Double Coldbag (DCB) Ice Brick Stow
Ocular Health (OH) CARDIAC device operations
Ocular Health (OH) Vision Test Operator Assistance
Double Coldbag Pack stowage
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Urine Receptacle and Insert Filter Changeout
INTER-MAI-75. Hardware status check / r/g 1955
IMS Delta File Prep
SmartCycler (SCYC) Hardware Checkout
USND2 Hardware Deactivation
HRF – Hardware Setup
SHD – Weekly Questionnaire
USOS Window Shutter Closure
INTER-MAI-75. Equipment deactivation and cleanup / r/g 1955
COGNITION. Battery Test Ops and Performance Feedback
COGNITION. Battery Installation, hardware activation, performance feedback
EarthKAM. Camera Battery Swap

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
BEAM ops [To be completed tonight]
Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 04/16: Crew off duty, N3 CBM bolt loading, housekeeping
Sunday, 04/17: Crew off duty
Monday, 04/18: SAM/MPEP install, Microchannel Diffusion config, CBCS stow following BEAM ops, OBT medical contingency drill

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – On
[???] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Override
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 – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up