NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 April 2016

The International Space Station residents were back at work today continuing this week’s slate of life science experiments. The ongoing biomedical space research helps scientists understand how living in space long term affects astronauts. Results and observations have the potential to benefit future crews and citizens on Earth.
The new Genes in Space student experiment launched aboard the new SpaceX Dragon cargo craft began operations this week. The research is studying the link between DNA alterations and weakened immune systems caused by the lack of gravity.

The crew began WetLab-2 validation operations this week. WetLab-2 is a research platform for conducting real-time quantitative gene expression analysis aboard the space station. It will allow scientists and crew members to accelerate the pace of research aboard the orbiting laboratory while saving time and cost.

Exercise is necessary to counter the muscle and bone loss associated with long-term space missions. Doctors are exploring high intensity, low volume space exercise techniques to prevent this loss as NASA plans human journeys beyond low-Earth orbit. The Sprint study, with operations set to begin this weekend, allows doctors to observe an astronaut’s skeletomuscular and cardiovascular system during an exercise session.

Hardware and sensors are being attached to crew members this week and will give scientists insights into an astronaut’s energy usage and metabolic rate. The 10-day experiment will provide an assessment of the energy requirements necessary to support an astronaut on a mission farther out into space.

On-Orbit Status Report

Genes in Space: The crew completed the second of four planned sessions of the Genes in Space experiment by retrieving the miniPCR sample tubes from the Glacier and processing the samples in the miniPCR. Data will be transferred to a Space Station Computer (SSC) for downlink to the ground. The Genes in Space investigation is a winning student-designed experiment to test whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to study deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) alterations aboard the ISS. Spaceflight causes many changes to the human body, including alterations in DNA and a weakened immune system. Understanding whether these two processes are linked is important for safeguarding crew health, but DNA technology that can track these changes is relatively untested in space.

Energy: The crew set up the Pulmonary Function System (PFS) hardware and the Armband Activity Monitor to support the European Space Agency (ESA) Energy experiment. The PFS will be used to conduct 4 metabolic measurement sessions and the Armband Activity Monitor will be used during the 10-day experiment run to monitor activities and assess energy expenditures. The investigation assesses energy requirements of astronauts on long-duration missions. This is important for future planning of longer-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

JAXA Small Satellite Orbital Deployer MICROSAT (JSSOD-M1) Installation: In preparation for upcoming JSSOD-M1 deployment currently planned for April 27, the crew installed the JSSOD-M1 onto Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock (AL) slide table. The slide table was then retracted and the inner hatch closed, making the airlock ready for deployment activities. J-SSOD provides a safe, small satellite launching capability to the ISS as well as containment and deployment mechanisms for several individual small satellites.

MAGVECTOR: Crewmembers configured the portable power supply and connected the universal serial bus (USB) jump drive to the MAGVECTOR in preparation for automatic data transfer that began immediately after activation. MAGVECTOR investigates how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with an electrical conductor. Using extremely sensitive magnetic sensors placed around and above a conductor, researchers can gain insight into ways that the magnetic field influences how conductors work. This research not only helps improve future ISS experiments and electrical experiments, but it could offer insights into how magnetic fields influence electrical conductors in general, the backbone of our technology.

Sprint Portable Pulmonary Function System (PFS) Setup: In preparation for tomorrow’s Sprint VO2 operations, the crew set up the Portable PFS power, data, front panel, and gas connections and configured the Portable PFS Mixing Bag System (MBS). Sprint VO2 is a test that measures oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold, and other physiological parameters for evaluation of Sprint exercise prescription. It evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in ISS crew members during long-duration missions.

Fluid Shifts: Fluid Shifts operations continue today with the crew conducting body sample collections and stowing the samples in the Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). Fluid Shifts measures how much fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body, in or out of cells and blood vessels, and determines the impact these shifts have on fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures.

Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Air Selector Valve (ASV) 104 Remove & Replace (R&R): From January 21 to February 4, 2016, the Lab CDRA valve 104 failed to reach its commanded position on numerous occasions. Data indicates that the valve stalled in the intermediate position and repeatedly had slow transition times as well as frequent position dropouts resulting in CDRA shutdowns. Today the crew R&Rd the valve with one of two spares available on orbit and ground teams successfully commanded to the valve. The CDRA has been activated for a 24-hour checkout period.

Robotics Operations: Yesterday Robotics ground controllers successfully performed a FMS (Force Moment Sensor) characterization on LEE B, then picked up the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) to prepare for the HTV-6 battery get-ahead tasks to break torque and retorque bolts on S4 batteries that are planned for replacement with Lithium Ion batteries. When ORU Tool Changeout Mechanism 1 (OTCM #1) attempted to grasp the Robotic Offset Tool (ROST) to set up for the get-aheads, the OTCM stopped short of the expected gripper close range and was not able to perform the grasp. A second attempt was unsuccessful. The remainder of robotic operations for the day were postponed. Teams are meeting to discuss the anomaly and a forward plan.

Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) O2 Repress: Today the first O2 repress of the ISS cabin atmosphere was performed using O2 from the NORS tank. When the NORS tank is empty, it will be returned to ground for reflight.

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

FLUID SHIFTS. Saliva Test
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS. Urine Sample Collection
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS. Basic blood values
Fluid Shifts Blood Collection, Operator
FLUID SHIFTS Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
FLUID SHIFTS. Water Collection from the Galley and taking radioisotope marker
FLUID SHIFTS. Conclude spin
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
Genes in Space (GIS). Maintenance Work Area preparation for Payload use
??? Maintenance
JEMAL Slide Table extension
COSMOCARD. Closeout Ops / r/g 2013
ESA Weekly Crew Conference
Genes in Space (GIS). Sample Retrieval
XF305. Camcorder Setup
Genes in Space (GIS). Sample Processing
SSOD. Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform Installation
Water transfer from Progress 432 (Aft) Rodnik H2O Tank 1 to EDV r/g 2027
KUBUK 5 Fan Status Check
FLUID SHIFTS. Urine Sample Collection
KUBUK 5 Fan Status Check, Calldown
SPHEROIDS. Copy Temperature and Centrifuge Data
UDOD. Experiment Ops with DYKNANIYE-1 and SPRUT-2 Sets r/g 2022
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
FSL Optical Adapter Cable installation to O2 Second video line
Portable Power Supply 1 (PPS1) Configuration for MagVector
JEM System Laptop Terminal Reboot
Connecting USB jump drive to MagVector
DRAGON Transfers
FLUID SHIFTS. 3-hour blood collection
Fluid Shifts Blood Collection, Operator
FLUID SHIFTS. 3-hour saliva collection
FLUID SHIFTS Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
SSOD. Checkout and Prep
Genes in Space (GIS). Closeout Ops with samples
FLUID SHIFTS. Conclude Centrifuge Spin
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
VIZIR. MRM1 interior photos r/g 2028
Renaming Still Cameras Files r/g 2029
Genes in Space (GIS). Hardware Stowage
Genes in Space (GIS). MELFI Sample Insertion
SPRINT. Hardware Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. 5-hour saliva collection
Dragon Cargo Operations Conference
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS. Urine Sample Collection End
SSOD. Disconnecting Cable and Cleanup
FLUID SHIFTS. MELFI Urine Sample Insertion
COSMOCARD. Preparing for and Starting 24-hr ECG Recording / r/g 2024
SSOD. Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform Installation
JEMAL Slide Table Retraction
ENERGY PFS Setup
CDRA R&R Placeholder
Maintenance of Gas Analyzer ??0501 r/g 2023
CONSTANTA-2. Preparation and Execution 6. r/g 2021
MRM2 comm config to support the P/L Ops / Communications System
Kulonovskiy Kristall Experiment Run. r/g 2020
Armband Activity Monitor Short Setup
ENERGY Water Sampling
Perform data transfer from jump drive
Crew OBT, Crew Medical Officer (CMO), Computer-Based Training
MRM2 Comm Reconfig for Nominal Ops / Communications System
HABIT Post-Questionnaire Conference
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops. r/g 2025
HABIT Walkthrough Video
MOTOCARD. Operator Assistance with the Experiment / r/g 2026
HAM-VIDEO Power Up
Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System O2 Repress (Part 1)
USND2 Hardware Activation
PAO Hardware Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. Blood Sample collection conclusion and stowage
Crew Prep for PAO
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Copy and Downlink Data / r/g 2020
PAO Event
FLUID SHIFTS. Stowing urine sampling kit
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Hardware Teardown / r/g 2020
Eye Imaging, Ultrasound Scan Prep
DRAGON Unpack
Eye Imaging, Scan (CMO)
Eye Imaging, Scan (Subject)
IMS Delta File Prep
Eye Imaging, Data Export
Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System O2 Repress (Part 3)
Health Maintenance System (HMS), Ultrasound2 Scan, Post-exam ops
USND2 Equipment Deactivation and Stowage
Completed Task List Items

None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

JEMAL ops
NORS O2 repress
Nominal ground commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 04/22: SPRINT VO2, ENERGY, Protein Crystal Growth, BCAT, Smart Cycler
Saturday, 04/23: Crew off duty, housekeeping, ENERGY
Sunday, 04/24: Crew off duty, FE-6 runs the London Marathon on T2

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 – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Start Up
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