NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 August 2015

The Expedition 44 crew was back at work today continuing a series of biomedical studies, physics experiments and maintenance tasks. Meanwhile, more science is on its way to the International Space Station aboard Japan’s fifth space freighter.
Three cosmonauts studied magnetics, human digestion then participated in ultrasound scans and blood pressure checks today. The trio, consisting of Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineers Mikhail Kornienko and Oleg Kononenko, also subjected themselves to vision checks for the ongoing Ocular Health study.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly collected blood and urine samples and stored them in a science freezer for the Fluid Shifts study. New Flight Engineers Kimiya Yui and Kjell Lindgren continued practicing the robotic techniques they will use Monday morning to capture a new cargo craft and berth it to the Harmony module. Lindgren also checked out spacewalking tools.

The “Kounotori” H-II Transfer Vehicle-5 (HTV-5) from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is delivering more than 9,500 pounds of research and supplies for the six-person station crew. NASA TV will begin live coverage of the HTV-5 arrival Monday at 5:15 a.m. EDT with capture due at about 6:55 a.m.

On-Orbit Status Report

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-5 Capture and Berth Readiness Status: The Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) is in position. All required HTV and ISS system checkouts have been successfully completed. Capture is currently planned for ~5:55 am CDT Monday.

Human Research Program (HRP) Operations:

Ocular Health: Kornienko completed the ultrasound portions of his Flight Day (FD) 150 Ocular Health activities. With Padalka’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.
Fluid Shifts Before, During and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment (Fluid Shifts): Kelly began his FD 150 Fluid Shifts Dilution Measurements today. Upon wakeup he collected baseline saliva, blood and urine and inserted them into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) prior to ingesting a Sodium Bromide (NaBr) tracer. Throughout the day, he performed more urine, blood, and saliva collections and inserted those samples into MELFI as well. The Dilution Measurements are the first part in the series of FD150 Fluid Shifts measurements which investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronauts’ 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.

Try Zero-Gravity-Asia Education Payloads Operations (EPO): Yui set up several experiments to demonstrate and promote the understanding of space and microgravity. Video of the different experiments will be downlinked and distributed. The various experiment themes were proposed by various Asian countries.

Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) Closeout: Yui performed closeout steps following the ground software load in preparation for the Dynamic Surf-3 experiment. The investigation is part of a series of JAXA experiments addressing Marangoni convection driven by the presence of surface tension gradient as produced by a temperature difference at a liquid/gas interface. Fluid convection observations of a silicone oil liquid bridge that is generated by heating the one disc higher than the other within the Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) are also performed. By observing and understanding how such fluids move, researchers can learn how heat is transferred in microgravity, and ultimately drive the design and development of more efficient fluid flow based systems and devices.

Extravehicular Activities (EVA) Pistol Grip Tool (PGT) Torque Analyzer Kit (TAK) Data Gather: Lindgren completed this 6-month requirement for all on-orbit PGTs. He installed the TAK on the PGTs and recorded PGT output torque data for ground analysis.

On-Board Training (OBT) Robotics On-Board Trainer (ROBoT): The USOS crew completed a session of this training during which they completed three capture point hold runs which allows free drift timing practice, malfunction response, and nominal rate approaches. They also practiced two meter approaches. This activity is in preparation for HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV)5 capture and berthing planned for next Monday, August 24.

Crew Quarters Light Replaced – Yesterday the crew swapped the dim Lamp Housing Assembly (LHA) in Crew Quarters 1 with another that had been turned off to conserve it as a spare. 12 spare LHA’s will arrive on HTV5.

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

TV session with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
FLUID SHIFTS – Saliva Sample Collection
HRF Urine Sample Collection
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS – Urine Sample Collection
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS – Blood Collection
FLUID SHIFTS – Blood sample collection operator
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample Processing
FLUID SHIFTS – Centrifuge Setup
Prep for TV PAO coverage / r/g 9678
Downlink of MPEG2 Video Greetings r/g 9678
FLUID SHIFTS – Blood Sample Transfer
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
Camcorder Setup to View LAB RWS Monitor 3
Close-out ops after TV conference
Inventory Audit and Assessing Condition Of Main and Spare Quick Release Screw Clamps In SM r/g 9677
MRM2 comm config to support the P/L Ops
KULONOVSKYI KRISTALL. Experiment Ops. / r/g 9680
IMS Tagup (S-band)
Tropical Cyclone P/L Closeout Ops
FPS Tool Stowage
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
UDOD. Experiment Ops. / r/g 9679
SM Ventilation System Preventive Maintenance r/g 8393
MRM2 Comm Reconfig for Nominal Ops / Communications System
KULONOVSKYI KRISTALL. Hardware Teardown / r/g 9680
KULONOVSKYI KRISTALL. Data Transfer to Hard Drive / r/g 9680
FLUID SHIFTS – Blood Collection
FLUID SHIFTS – Blood sample collection operator
FLUID SHIFTS – Centrifuge Setup
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
FPS Tool Stowage
RWS Powerup
FLUID SHIFTS – Blood Sample Transfer
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
TRY ZERO G Experiment Ops
CARDIOLAB HEMATOCRIT Centrifuge Checkout
Swap condensation collection from the Lab Condensate Tank to the WPA WW tank while the Sabatier Jumper is installed
WRM. Condensate Pumping Initiation
FS – Saliva Sample Collection
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
FLUID SHIFTS – Urine Sample Collection
USND2 – Activation of Ultrasound Hardware and Camcorder
OH-CARDIAC – Preparation
FLUID SHIFTS – Sample MELFI Insertion
Ocular Health – Cardiac and Blood Pressure Operations (Subject)
WRM. Condensate Pumping Terminate
Ocular Health – Cardiac and Blood Pressure Operations (Operator)
CONTUR-2. Hardware Installation on panel 418
FPEF – Connector Removal
Ocular Health – Closeout Ops
CONTUR-2. Experiment Session Ops. / r/g 9675
Ocular Health – Data Export
GREAT START. Preparation for the Experiment Ops / r/g 9671
OBT – HTV Capture OBT
GREAT START. Video of the Experiment Ops / r/g 9671
SPHERES – Hardware Stow after the experiment
Transfer of IVA Tissue-Equivalent Proportional Counter (IV-TEPC)
On-orbit Hearing Assessment using EARQ
GREAT START. Closeout ops / r/g 9671
Ultrasound – Scanning Prep
HMS – Ultrasound2 – Scan by CMO
Ultrasound 2 – Scan
CONTUR-2. Experiment Session Ops.r/g 9675
Ultrasound Data Export
HTV Transfer List Review
CONTUR-2. Hardware Disassembly from panel 418
HMS – Ultrasound2 – Scan by CMO
HTV Transfer List Conference
Ultrasound 2 – Scan
Retrieve NOD1SD2 Lamp Housing Assembly (LHA) for installation in Deck Crew Quarters [Completed yesterday]
HMS – Food Frequency Questionnaire
SHD – Weekly Questionnaire
Ultrasound Data Export
Deck Crew Quarters LHA (Lamp Housing Assembly) R&R [Completed yesterday]
SHD – Weekly Questionnaire
HMS – Ultrasound 2 System – Scan Closeout Ops
Video Downlink End
HRF-URN-STOW
Install Lamp Housing Assembly (LHA) removed from Deck Crew Quarters at NOD1SD2 [Completed yesterday]
CONTENT. Experiment Ops / r/g 9676
USND2 – Hardware Deactivation and Closeout Ops

Completed Task List Items

None

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

ROBoT training support
Cardiac/Ultrasound ops
MSS powerup
Ground Camera Calibration Part 2

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Saturday, 08/22: Crew off duty, Housekeeping
Sunday, 08/23: Crew off duty, HTV Hardware Command Panel setup
Monday, 08/24: HTV5 capture/berthing

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