NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 February 2016

Three International Space Station crew members, two of whom have been in orbit nearly a year, will complete their stay in space March 1. As they prepare for landing, the Expedition 46 crew is moving right along with human research, advanced space science and ongoing lab maintenance.
One-Year crew mates Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko will join Soyuz Commander Sergey Volkov for a ride back to Earth Tuesday. They will undock inside the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft and land in Kazakhstan carrying personal items and science for analysis.

Kelly joined NASA astronaut Tim Kopra for some plumbing work throughout Wednesday. Kelly also participated in blood, urine and saliva sample collections to help doctors understand how living in space affects the human body.

British astronaut Tim Peake, who will be staying in space till June, began checking out new science gear that will support new biology research. Peake also set up hardware for an experiment that explores the risk of airway inflammation in astronauts.

On-Orbit Status Report

Water Process Assembly (WPA) Status: Following yesterday’s WPA Catalytic Reactor replacement, the WPA successfully completed a process cycle and is working nominally. In addition, the crew returned Treadmill 2 (T2) and Water Recovery System (WRS)-1 Racks back to their nominal configuration.

Airway Monitoring: Peake completed setup of a camera and hardware for Airway Monitoring in the US Airlock in preparation for Kopra and Peake to complete an Airway Monitoring session tomorrow. The primary goal of the experiment is to determine how gravity and microgravity influence the turnover of Nitric Oxide (NO) in the lungs. During future manned missions to the Moon and to Mars, airway inflammation due to toxic dust inhalation is a risk factor. Since dust may cause airway inflammation and since such inflammation can be monitored by exhaled NO (Nitric Oxide) analysis, the present study is highly relevant for astronaut health in future space programs.

Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory (SABL): Today, Peake initiated a two week checkout of the new NASA SABL facility in the US Laboratory but the SABL hardware was powered off after the hardware temperature rose beyond the nominal range. Ground experts are investigating. SABL is required for use with the Micro-10 investigation that has hardware arriving on the SpaceX-8 vehicle. It is an upgrade to the long standing ISS incubator, Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA). SABL supports a wide variety of experiments in the life, physical and material sciences with a focus on supporting research of biological systems and processes. It is capable of supporting life science research on microorganisms, small organisms, animal cells, tissue cultures and small plants.

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF): JAXA’s Ground team was not successful yesterday in checking out the ELF levitation control function. Today’s checkout activities have been deferred while ground experts investigate the cause of the issues observed. The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials employing containerless processing techniques that use the electrostatic levitation method with charged samples and electrodes. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved.

Habitability: Kopra recorded a narrated video of a blood draw from Kelly for the Habitability investigation. He captured details such as hardware and tool interface issues, volume needed to perform the task, and other human factors concerns for task performance. The Habitability investigation results will be used to assess the relationship between crew members and their environment to better prepare for future long-duration spaceflights to destinations such as near earth asteroids and Mars. Observations recorded during 6 month and 1 year missions can help spacecraft designers determine how much habitable volume is required and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crew members need.

Twins Study: In support of the Twins Study, Kelly continued his week-long Return minus 14 day (R-14) daily saliva and urine collections. This investigation is an integrated compilation of ten different studies led by multiple investigators. The studies take advantage of a unique opportunity to look at the effects of space travel on identical twins, with one of them experiencing space travel for a year while the other remains earth-bound for that same year. The study looks at changes in the human body that are important in the fields of genetics, psychology, physiology, microbiology, and immunology.

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

NEIROIMMUNITET. Saliva Sample / r/g 1505
SLEEP – Questionnaire
Morning Inspection. SM ??? (Caution & Warning Panel)
RSS 1, 2 Reboot / r/g 1460
SLEEP Questionnaire
Morning Inspection, Laptop RS1(2) Reboot / Onboard Computer System (???)
HRF – Sample Collection and Prep for Stowage Insertion
TWIN – Sample Collection
NEIROIMMUNITET. Complete Questionnaire / r/g 1505
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIYA. Blood Sample / r/g 1505
TWIN – Urine Sample Collection
NEIROIMMUNITET. Venous blood sample processing (smear) / r/g 1505
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIYA. Venous blood sample processing using Plasma-03 centrifuge / r/g 1505
HRF Blood Sample Collection and Cold Stowage
CORRECTSIYA. Closeout Ops / r/g 1504
NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIYA. Handover to USOS for MELFI Insertion / r/g 1505
RUEXP – Blood Sample Insertion into MELFI
HABIT – Video Setup
HRF – Blood Sample collection operator assistance
Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop Tagup with specialists / r/g 1495
HABIT – Terminate Video
HRF Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
Scheduled maintenance of Central Post Laptop – Start Test 1 r/g 1495
Fine Motor Skills – Test
HRF – Blood Sample Collection Closeout Ops
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
Scheduled maintenance of Central Post Laptop – Terminating Test 1 and Starting Test 2. r/g 1495
Complete the Dose Tracker application – Subject
HRF Closeout Ops
WRS Filter Kit Installation
CORRECTSIYA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake / r/g 1509
P/TV – Hardware Checkout
AIRMON – Hardware Setup
Soyuz 718 (MRM2) Cargo Stowage for Disposal / r/g 1424
NEIROIMMUNITET. Hair Sample / r/g 1505
Scheduled maintenance of Central Post Laptop – Start Test 3 r/g 1495
Catalytic Reactor ORU prep for stowage
Progress 429 (Aft) Cargo Stowage for Disposal / r/g 1484
TWIN – Urine Sample Collection
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
Soyuz 718 (MRM2) cargo stowage for return / r/g 1444
Scheduled maintenance of Central Post Laptop – Terminating Test 3 and Starting Test 4 r/g 1495
DAN. Experiment Operator Assistance / r/g 0119
DAN. Experiment Ops. r/g 0119
Periodic Fitness Evaluation – Nom Ops (subject)
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) – WRS1 Filter Kit Removal
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) – WRS1 Rack Closeout
Scheduled maintenance of Central Post Laptop – Terminating Test 4 and Closeout Ops.r/g 1495
Crew Departure Prep
CIR Alignment Guide Removal
Airways Monitoring Briefing
Preparation for diagnostics of power supply system (???) and onboard complex control system (????) units in FGB, R/G review. r/g 1496, 1497
T2/WRS1 Nominal Reconfig
AIRMON – Hardware Powerdown
Space Automated Bioproduct Lab (SABL) – Activation and Checkout
Soyuz 718 (MRM2) Cargo Stowage for Return / r/g 1444
CORRECTSIYA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake / r/g 1509
Filling (separation) of EDV (KOV) for Elektron or EDV-SV
Crew Departure Prep
??? Maintenance
Gather IR camera batteries for subsequent use and temp stowage by RS crew
EDV – Hose Reconfig
TWIN – Urine Sample Collection
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) – Installation of Pivot Fitting
MORZE. NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIYA. Preparation for the Experiment / r/g 1507
IMS Delta File Prep
WRS Water Sample Analysis
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
FMK Deployment Ops
Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations
Soyuz 718 (MRM2) Cargo Stowage for Disposal / r/g 1424
PAO Hardware Setup
Crew Prep for PAO
PAO Event
Soyuz 718 (MRM2) Transfers Complete Report / r/g 1424
Recharging Soyuz 718 IRIDIUM Phone – Setup, Start Charging
Complete the Dose Tracker application – Subject
TWIN – Urine Sample Collection
Recharging Soyuz 718 IRIDIUM Phone – Battery Charge Status
Recharging Soyuz 718 IRIDIUM Phone – Terminate Charging
HRF – Sample Insertion into MELFI
Recharging Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM Phone – start charging
Recharging Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM Phone – Battery Charge Status
Recharging Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM Phone – terminate charge, teardown the setup, closeout ops
TOCA Data Recording
TOCA Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
Daily Planning Conference (S-band)
NEIROIMMUNITET. Completing Questionnaire / r/g 1505
CORRECTSIYA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake / r/g 1509
NEIROIMMUNITET. Saliva Sample / r/g 1505
NEIROIMMUNITET. Closeout Ops. / r/g 1505
NEIROIMMUNITET. Saliva Sample / r/g 1503

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Nominal System Commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 02/25: Crew Departure Prep, 44S Prepack, Airway Monitoring
Friday, 02/26: Crew Departure Prep, Airway Monitoring Cleanup, Soyuz Descent Drill, JEM Stowage Frame Install
Saturday, 02/27: Crew Off Duty, Weekly Cleaning, Airway Monitoring Cleanup, Soyuz Descent Drill, JEM Stowage Frame Install

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) – Shutdown
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Shutdown
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up