NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 January 2017 – Crew Studies Vision

The Expedition 50 crew is getting ready for Friday morning’s release of Japan’s sixth cargo craft to visit the International Space Station. The station residents are also continuing to explore how their eyes adapt to living in space for months at a time.
The Kounotori HTV-6 resupply ship, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is being disconnected from station systems today as it prepares for its departure Friday at 10:30 a.m. EST. Overnight, ground controllers will operate the Canadarm2 and maneuver the HTV-6 away from the Harmony module where it is attached.

European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA will then command the 57.7-foot-long robotic arm to release Kounotori back into orbit. After the HTV supports science experiments for a week, Japanese flight controllers will command the craft to deorbit on Feb. 5 for a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

More Fluid Shifts research took place today as astronauts study the possibility of using a special suit, the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) suit, to prevent the upward flow of fluids towards the head caused by microgravity. This headward flow may be causing pressure on the back of crew members’ eyes potentially causing damage and affecting vision.

During the afternoon, the crew also participated in ultrasound eye scans. Doctors on the ground assisted the crew to ensure good views of the optic nerve, cornea and back of the eye.

On-Orbit Status Report:

Fluid Shifts Chibis Imaging Day 2: Due to yesterday’s issues with the Joint Station LAN (JSL), the final Flight Day 45 Chibis session for the 49S crew was rescheduled and performed this morning. The subject donned the Chibis device, and while the crewmember was exposed to the negative pressure (pulling the fluid feetward), then with ground and onboard operator support they configured the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and the Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) hardware, before completing a DPOAE test, OCT exam, and a Tonometry exam. The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the space flight-induced fluid shift, including intra- and extravascular shifts, intra- and extracellular shifts, changes in total body water and lower vs. upper body shifts. Noninvasive techniques are used to assess arterial and venous dimensions and flow parameters, ocular pressure and structure, and changes in intracranial pressure. Lower body negative pressure is being investigated for its ability to mitigate some of the effects of the space flight-induced fluid shift. Results from this investigation are expected to help define the causes of the ocular structure and vision changes associated with long duration space flight, and assist in the development of countermeasures.

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) On-Board Training (OBT): Prior to participating in the SPHERES Zero Robotic Challenge activities on Friday, the crew viewed an OBT video to familiarize themselves with the SPHERES facility. The SPHERES Zero Robotics investigation establishes an opportunity for high school students to design research for the ISS. As part of a competition, students write algorithms for the SPHERES satellites to accomplish tasks relevant to future space missions. The algorithms are tested by the SPHERES team and the best designs are selected for the competition to operate the SPHERES satellites on board the ISS.

H-II Transfer Vehicle 6 (HTV6) Departure Preparations: Earlier today, the crew completed final cargo loading and egressed HTV6. The crew configured the vestibule for demate by removing Air Revitalization System (ARS) jumper, Intermodular Ventilation (IMV) supply jumper, 1553/ENET A and B jumper, and disconnecting the Node 2 HTV channel 2 power jumper. The also installed the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assemblies (CPAs). HTV-6 unberth activities are scheduled to start tomorrow morning at ~5:30 am CST with vehicle release at ~9:30 am CST.

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

FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment
Fluid Shifts Laptop RSOS Transfer
FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Setup
HTV Hatch Stowage Latch Override Knob Scavenge
FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting OCT Laptop to BRI and HRF PC to ???-26 (in lieu of RSE-MED)
HTV General Luminaire Assembly (GLA) Scavenge
Life On The Station Photo and Video
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Power On
Fluid Shifts CCFP Service Module Configuration
Fluid Shifts DPOAE Service Module Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. Don Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance during Operation with CHIBIS and GAMMA-1M.
FLUID SHIFTS. TONOMETRY Hardware setup in SM
HTV Smoke Detector Scavenge
FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering Data in SM, Operator
Fluid Shifts Experiment Service Module Data Collection – Subject
Node 2 Nadir Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK) Gather
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
WIRELESS LEAK DETECTOR ULTRASONIC SENSOR DEPLOYMENT
FLUID SHIFTS. Doff Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Copying Data from CCFP/DPOAE devices and their deactivation in RS
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Service Module Stow
AQM Sieve Cartridge Remove and Replace
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Power Off
FLUID SHIFTS. Disconnecting of Laptop OCT, HRF and connecting RSE-Med.
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject
FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of ???? Equipment and Closing Applications on Central Post SSC
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Stow
On-board Training (OBT) HTV Departure Review
ESA Nutritional Assessment EveryWear Application Conference
FLUID SHIFTS. DROUTE
Fluid Shifts CCFP HRF PC Service Module Stow
Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations – Subject
SPHERES Payload OBT
FLUID SHIFTS. Comm Reconfiguration to nominal on RS
Fluid Shifts Hardware Final Gather
Fluid Shifts Hardware USOS Transfer
H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Egress
Fluid Shifts OCT Laptop US Lab Setup
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Detent Remove and Replace [Aborted]
ESA Weekly crew conference
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
HTV Vestibule Configure for Demate – Part 1
Crew Prep for PAO
TV conference with RAN-TV journalists (Ku + S-band)
Node 2 Nadir CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) Installation
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
Recharging Soyuz 732 Samsung PC Battery (if charge level is below 80%)
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
PAO Preparation
MOTOCARD. Operator Assistance with the Experiment
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
Packed Bed Reactor Experiment Lab Video Setup
Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On
Habitability Walk-through Video – Subject
Life On The Station Photo and Video
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Fluid Shifts HRF PC 2 Reconnect
Fluid Shifts Hardware Stow
Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan Prep
Terminate Soyuz 732 Samsung PC Battery Recharge (as necessary)
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan
Ultrasound2 Scan, Ground Guided Data Export
Ultrasound2 Scan, Post-exam ops
Packed Bed Reactor Experiment Lab Video Return

Completed Task List Items
Manufacturing Device Print Removal, Clean and Stow
NOD1D2 Cleanup

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Sabatier Troubleshooting
N2N CBM Prep for Demate
S-Band String 2 activation

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 01/27: HTV Release and Departure, SPHERES Zero Robotics Run
Saturday, 01/28: Weekly Housekeeping, Crew Off Duty
Sunday, 01/29: Crew Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – Off
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[???] 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 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Startup
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