NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 20 August 2015
Japan’s fifth “Kounotori” cargo craft (HTV-5) is on orbit today chasing the International Space Station before Monday’s rendezvous and capture.
The Expedition 44 crew is working normal science and maintenance activities today after a momentary power loss to some station systems Wednesday afternoon.
The HTV-5 is delivering science gear to support several experiments including the CALET dark matter study and a series of 10 investigations for the Twins Study. The HTV-5 will be grappled with the Canadarm2 and berthed to the Harmony module for a month of cargo activities.
The cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, Mikhail Kornienko and Oleg Kononenko worked Thursday on their set of Russian maintenance and microgravity research. They explored the physics of magnetism, internet control of a robotic arm and the human digestive system.
The astronauts on the U.S. side of the space station, Scott Kelly, Kjell Lindgren and Kimiya Yui, had their list of daily upkeep and science tasks. More Ocular Health exams were on the schedule today as well as magnetic resonance imaging of the brain for the NeuroMapping study. The orbiting residents also worked on the maintenance of laboratory gear.
On-Orbit Status Report
Human Research Program (HRP) Operations:
Ocular Health: Kelly perform the ultrasound portions of his Flight Day (FD) 150 Ocular Health activities. With Lindgren’s assistance he executed a cardiac ultrasound, and with Padalka as the operator, he performed an ocular ultrasound. The ultrasound images will be used to identify changes in globe morphology, including flattening of the posterior globe, and document optic nerve sheath diameter, optic nerve sheath tortuosity, globe axial measurements, and choroidal engorgement. The Ocular Health protocol calls for a systematic gathering of physiological data to characterize the risk of microgravity-induced visual impairment/intracranial pressure in ISS crewmembers.
Biochemical Profile/Repository: Lindgren completed his 24 hour collections, and Yui initiated his 24 hour collections in support of Biochemical Profile, stowing the samples in Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) for return on a later flight. The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results, which scientists can use to study the effects of spaceflight on the body.
Fluid Shifts Setup: Kelly set up for the upcoming FD 150 Dilution Measurements. 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 utilized as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.
NeuroMapping: Yui completed his FD 30 NeuroMapping Neurocognitive Test. After connecting a control pad to the HRF laptop, Virts launched the NeuroMapping application and completed the Mental Rotation I Test, the Sensorimotor Adaptation Test, the Dual Task Test while tethered, and the Mental Rotation II Test while free-floating. The Neuromapping experiment studies whether long-duration spaceflight causes any changes to the brain, including brain structure and function, motor control, and multi-tasking; as well as measuring how long it takes for the brain and body to recover from those possible changes.
Combustion Integration Rack (CIR)/FLame Extinguishment Experiment (FLEX)-2J Fiber Replace: Lindgren replaced the FLEX-2J Fiber Arm. He removed the Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) CIA Chamber Insert Assembly (CIA) from the CIR Combustion Chamber and restrained it to the Maintenance Work Area (MWA) Work Surface Area. After replacing the Fiber Arm, Lindgren reinstalled the MDCA CIA back into the CIR Combustion Chamber. Once these repairs are complete, teams will perform checkouts and begin the FLEX-2J experiment. FLEX-2J studies the interactions of flames on the motion and ignition (or non-ignition) of millimeter-sized droplets. Results can provide fundamental insight into the physics of fuel burning, which improves computer models designed to reduce emissions and improve fuel consumption efficiency in space and on Earth.
Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) Setup: Yui connected a cable to the FPEF and ground controllers updated the software in support of Dynamic Surf-3, scheduled to begin in Increment 45.
Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Sampling: Yui collected ITCS fluid samples from the Columbus module for Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) biocide concentration testing and results were nominal. This completes ITCS sampling activities that were begun last week.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
SPLANH. REFLOTRON-4 Analyzer Setup, Biochemistry Study Ops, Start EGEG Recording
HRF Urine Sample Collection
HRF. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
TV Conference with Roscosmos Management
HRF. Operations with Samples
HRF. Frozen Blood Samples Ops
Close-out ops after TV conference
HRF. Centrifuge Configuration
HRF. Conclusion of Centrifuge Spin
CIR – Video Setup and Rack Doors Open
HRF. MELFI Sample Insertion
CIR – Combustion Chamber Front Rack Door Open
GREAT START. Script Review. I r/g 9671
MDCA – Equipment Transfer
NMAP. Test Ops
Fine Motor Skills – Experiment Ops
KULONOVSKYI KRISTALL. Hardware Setup and Configuration. / r/g 9664
OGS Hydrogen Sensor Operations
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops. / r/g 9659
DAN. Experiment Ops. I r/g 9543
DAN. Experiment Ops Operator / r/g 9543
NOD3 UOP1 & UOP 4 Hardware Powerdown
HABIT – Experiment Ops
COL ITCS Sample Collection
RPCM Maintenance
SPLANH. Blood Biochemistry Analysis Repeat. I r/g 9663
CIR – CIR Front End Cap Close
ITCS – Sample Stowage
SPLANH. Closeout Ops. I r/g 9663
On-orbit Hearing Assessment using EARQ
CIR – Rack Doors Close
NOD3 UOP1 & UOP 4 Hardware Powerup
OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring / r/g 8408
MRM2 comm config to support the P/L Ops
KULONOVSKYI KRISTALL. Experiment Ops. I r/g 9664
HMS – Food Frequency Questionnaire
USND2 – activation of Ultrasound Hardware and Camcorder
MRM2 Comm Reconfig for Nominal Ops
HMS – Food Frequency Questionnaire
CIR – Post-Experiment Hardware Stowage
Ocular Health – Cardiac and Blood Pressure Operations (Subject)
HRF Urine Sample Collection
HMS Defibrillator Inspection
OH-CARDIAC – Operator
HRF. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
HRF. Sample Ops Conclusion
Transfer of Urine from RS EDV-U and of Brine from USOS EDV to Progress 428 Rodnik Tank 2 and Flushing with Water from EDV / r/g 9669
KULONOVSKYI KRISTALL. Data Transfer to Hard Drive / r/g 9664
FPEF – FPEF connector insertion
JRNL – Journal Entry
FPEF – Cable Connection
Fluid Shifts – Blood Collection Hardware Setup
On-orbit Hearing Assessment using EARQ
HRF Urine Sample Collection
CONTUR-2. Hardware Installation on panel 418
Ultrasound – Scan Prep
HRF. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
Ultrasound2 – Scan by CMO
Ultrasound 2 – Scan
CONTUR-2. Experiment Session Ops. / r/g 9665
ZERO G – Equipment Setup
Ultrasound Data Export
IMS Delta File Prep
AWS Configuration
Tropical Cyclone P/L Ops
HRF Urine Sample Collection
OGS Activation
HRF. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
CONTUR-2. Experiment Session Ops. I r/g 9665
Ultrasound 2 – Scan
HMS – Ultrasound2 – Scan by CMO
Ultrasound Data Export
Ultrasound Scanning
Crew conference with Astronaut Office
Flight Director / ISS Crew Tagup
USND2 – Hardware Deactivation and Closeout Ops
CONTUR-2. Hardware Disassembly from panel 418
Completed Task List Items
Deck CQ LHA R&R
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
CIR video
Ocular Health Cardiac Ops
HMS Ultrasound ops
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 08/21: OH cardiac ops, HMS Fundoscope, HTV OBT, HTV Transfer Conf, EVA PGT TAK Cal, JAXA Try Zero-G
Saturday, 08/22: Crew off duty, Housekeeping
Sunday, 08/23: Crew off duty, HTV Hardware Command Panel setup
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”) – On
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
