NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 17 September 2015

Human research studies continued on the orbital laboratory today, aiming to help scientists understand the long-term effects of living and working in space as NASA prepares for the Journey to Mars. Also, more small satellites were deployed outside the Kibo laboratory module.
The One-Year Crew members Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko continued the Fluid Shifts study with eye checks Thursday. The experiment studies pressure inside the head and visual impairment some astronauts have reported experiencing on long-term missions. NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren performed ultrasound scans for the Sprint exercise study to help keep astronauts in shape while living in space.

Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui was inside the Kibo lab monitoring the deployment of two sets of nanosatellites outside the lab module. The nanosatellites were delivered aboard the “Kounotori” HTV-5 resupply ship last month some of which will aid in air and vessel navigation, meteorology and meteor shower observation.

Cosmonauts Sergey Volkov, Oleg Kononenko and Kornienko worked on their complement of Russian research and maintenance. The trio explored new tools and techniques to locate pressure leaks inside the station. They also looked at ways to improve the performance of cosmonauts on such things as spacecraft piloting tasks.

On-Orbit Status Report

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock Preparation for JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (JSSOD) #4 Launch: In preparation for the deploy of two JSSOD satellites this morning, Yui opened the outer JEM Airlock hatch and extended the slide table to the outside of the ISS. Ground Controllers used the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) Small Fine Arm (SFA) to remove the JSSOD from the slide table and positioned it for deploy of two satellites. Both satellites were succesfully deployed approximately 10 minutes apart. The first satellite is designed to observe the Ultraviolet (UV) spectrum during the Orionid meteor shower in October. The second satellite, sponsored by the University of Brasilia and the Brazilian government, focuses on meteorological data collection.

Fluid Shifts Imaging Measurements with Russian Chibis: Kelly and Volkov, with assistance from Kornienko and remote guidance from a ground team, each used a Russian Chibis (Lower Body Negative Pressure – LBNP) device during examinations for Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure (CCFP), Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment that 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 under investigation to support development of preventative measures against a lasting change in vision.

Sprint Ultrasound: Yui performed his Flight Day 60 thigh and calf ultrasound scans today with guidance from the Sprint ground team. Ultrasound scans are used to evaluate spaceflight-induced changes in the muscle volume. The Sprint investigation evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in ISS crewmembers during long-duration missions. Upon completion of this study, investigators expect to provide an integrated resistance and aerobic exercise training protocol capable of maintaining muscle, bone and cardiovascular health while reducing total exercise time over the course of a long-duration space flight. This will provide valuable information in support of investigator’s long term goal of protecting human fitness for even longer space exploration missions.

HTV Cargo Transfer Status: Lindgren and Kelly continued working on HTV-5 Cargo transfer operations today. Cargo specialist estimate the crew will need approximately 5 hours to complete the HTV-5 cargo operations.

LAB1P5 Cleanout: Lindgren removed all stowage from LAB1P5 lockers in preparation for Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Locker removal and disposal tomorrow. This volume will eventually be used by Common Communications for Visiting Vehicle (C2V2) hardware, which will be installed during Increment 46.

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

FLUID SHIFTS. Comm Configuration for an Experiment Session
FLUID SHIFTS. Hardware Prep and Setup for TV coverage
Video Recording for Nauka 2.0
FS – OCT Hardware Setup in the ISS RS Service Module
SSIPC and Crew Conference
JEMAL External Hatch Opening and JEF Slide Table Extension.
FLUID SHIFTS. OCT Laptop Connection to ??? ? HRF PC Connection to ???-26 (instead of RSE-Med).
FS – OCT Hardware Activation in the ISS RS Service Module.
ISS Crew Orientation
FS – CCFP Activation and Setup in the ISS RS Service Module
FS- DPOAE Hardware Setup in the ISS RS Service Module
FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Prep
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1.Tagup with specialists
FS – TONO Hardware Setup in the ISS RS Service Module
ISS RS Lights Inspection in the SM, MRM1, MRM2, and DC1. Photography of a spare ??1-7 power unit
FS -DPOAE, OCT, Tonometer, and CCFP Examination
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance with DPOAE, OCT, Tonometer, and CCFP Examination
JEMRMS – SFA Release
XF305 Camcorder Setup
WRS Maintenance
HTV Cargo Transfer
FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Closeout Ops
FS- CCFP/DPOAE Data Transfer and Deactivation in the ISS RS Service Module
Monitoring of ??-1 Air Flow Sensors Installation
??? Maintenance
JEMAL Hardware Removal
FS – TONO Stowage in the ISS RS Service Module
HRF- Urine Samples
FS – OCT Deactivation in the ISS RS Service Module
On-Orbit Hearing Assessment with EARQ software
HTV Cargo Transfer
HRF – Sample Insertion in MELFI
WRS Maintenance
FLUID SHIFTS. OCT Laptop and HRF Deactivation. RSE-Med Activation.
JEMRMS – Hardware Checkup for Small Satellite Deployment
JEMRMS – Small Satellite Deployment Observation
SCOF – Cable Connection
HTV Cargo Transfer
PAO Hardware Setup
USND2 Hardware Setup and Activation
Crew Prep for PAO
One-Year Crew PAO
USND2 – Data Export
FS – OCT Hardware Stowage
SPRINT Hardware Prep and Setup
SPRINT- Experiment Session
HMS – Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)
LAB1P5 Cleanout
HABIT Experiment Session
BAR. Experiment Session.
FLUID SHIFTS. ???? Crew On-Orbit Support System Deactivation and closing SSC apps
IMS Update
JRNL- Journal Entry
FLUID SHIFTS. Restoration of Nominal Comm Config
PILOT-?. Experiment Session.
PILOT-?. Photography during the experiment session
BAR. Experiment Session.
HRF- Urine Samples
HRF – Samples Insertion in MELFI
HRF- Hardware Setup for Blood Samples
ISS Crew Orientation
HTV Cargo Transfer
USND2 Hardware Deactivation
HRF- Urine Samples
HTV Cargo Transfer Conference
HRF – Samples Insertion in MELFI

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
JEMRMS Operations associated with JSSOD #4 Deploy

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 09/18: Fluid Shifts, HTV Cargo Ops, MSS Locker Remove, WRS Recycle Tank Changeout
Saturday, 09/19: Weekly Cleaning, Crew Off Duty
Sunday, 09/20: Crew Off Duty

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 – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Shutdown
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