NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 29 September 2015
The latest Russian resupply ship, the Progress 61, rolled out to its launch pad today, getting set for a Thursday launch at 12:49 p.m. EDT (4:49 p.m. UTC) and a docking to the Zvezda service module at 6:54 p.m.
Meanwhile, Japan’s cargo craft, the “Kounotori” HTV-5, is descending to Earth this afternoon after completing a five-week delivery mission attached to the International Space Station’s Unity module.
The six-member Expedition 45 crew, including the One-Year Crew, worked a variety of science Tuesday looking at plants, performing eye exams and studying crew metabolism and the human respiratory system. The ongoing research is helping scientists and crews prepare for long-term deep space missions and NASA’s Journey to Mars. The space residents also worked on robotic inspections, replaced combustion experiment hardware and swapped batteries on a set of free-floating internal satellites known as SPHERES.
NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren are getting ready for the first of two U.S. spacewalks scheduled for Oct. 28. The duo will lubricate the Canadarm2’s leading end effector (LEE) systems. The LEE is used to grapple, maneuver and release cargo craft, as well as latch on to external station systems. Kelly photographed the LEE today from the seven-window cupola to document its condition and prepare for the upcoming spacewalk.
On-Orbit Status Report
Combustion Integration Rack (CIR) / FLame Extinguishment Experiment (FLEX)-2J Fiber Arm Replacement: Kelly replaced the FLEX-2J Fiber Arm today as part of routine maintenance operations for the CIR. He removed the Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) Chamber Insert Assembly (CIA) from the CIR Combustion Chamber, and restrained it on the Maintenance Work Area (MWA) work surface. After replacing the Fiber Arm, he reinstalled the MDCA CIA back into the CIR Combustion Chamber. FLEX-2J studies the interactions of flames on the motion and 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.
Journals: Kelly completed a Journal activity today. The Journals investigation obtains information on behavioral and human issues that are relevant to the design of equipment and procedures used during astronauts during extended-duration missions. Study results provide information used in preparation for future missions to low-Earth orbit and beyond.
Ras Labs-CASIS-ISS Project for Synthetic Muscle: Resistance to Radiation (Synthetic Muscle): Lindgren obtained a set of historical photos of the synthetic muscle samples. He then transfered the photos to a Station Support Computer (SSC) for downlink. The purpose of this investigation is to measure the effects of radiation on proprietary synthetic muscle materials in space and earth environments. Robots made of these materials could provide assistance to humans in space, enhance survivability of robots during deep space travel, and provide support in extreme radiation environments on Earth.
MAGVECTOR Experiment Run Completion: The fifth run of European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) MAGVECTOR investigation was completed and Lindgren transfered data from the run to a SSC for downlink. MAGVECTOR qualitatively investigates the interaction between a moving magnetic field and an electrical conductor. The expected changes in the magnetic field structure on the Ram and Wake side of the electrical conductor are of interest for technical applications as well as for astrophysical research.
Node 1 Nadir Berthing Port Preparation: As part of USOS Reconfiguration, Lindgren and Yui routed two power cables from the Lab Aft Starboard Endcone into the Overhead Starboard Standoff. Today’s activity required the crew to rotate the LAB1O6 rack. Although the power cables were not connected today, these cables will eventually provide power from Node 2 to the Node 1 Nadir Berthing Port and the Node 1 Galley Rack. Additional Lab cable routing is scheduled to occur tomorrow, September 30th.
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Ops: Overnight, Robotics Flight Controllers activated the MSS and performed a Space Station Remote Manipulator (SSRMS) walk off from Node 2 to Mobile Base System (MBS) Power Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF)-1. Once the walk off was complete, they maneuvered the SSRMS in preparation for a Latching End Effector (LEE) A survey by the crew. Kelly then performed a regularly scheduled snare cable inspection and an inspection of the latches as a follow up from the LEE-A lubrication performed during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA) in February 2015. Once the inspections were complete, Robotic Flight Controllers maneuvered the SSRMS in preparation for a Mobile Transporter (MT) translation from Worksite 5 to Worksite 2. The translation is currently in work.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
IMMUNO. Saliva Sample (Session 1)
Laptop RS1(2) Reboot
IMMUNO. First stress test, questionnaire data entry
Calf Volume Measurement
IMMUNO. Test-Tube Blood Collection (finger)
IMMUNO. Blood Sample Processing
IMMUNO. Equipment Stowage
??? Laptops Antivirus Scan Check and Status Report
EVA – Inspection of EVA Equipment Tethers
CORRECTSIA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Setup
VCA1 Camera Adjustment
COSMOCARD. Closeout Ops
WRS Water Sample Analysis
Life On The Station Photo and Video
Study of veins in lower extremities
Lab Forward and Power Cables Routing – Big Picture Words
PTV-LEE – Camera Setup for Inspection
PTV – SSRMS LEE Inspection Part One
OCT Eye Examination
LAB Power Cable Gathering
SPHERES – Battery Replacement
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops
PGS2 – Sample Retrieval
LAB Power Cable Routing
PGS2 – Setup Ops
Replacement of ?? ?? filter unit, CO sensors, fan in ?? 2106 ?? ??
PGS2 – Sample Insertion
OCT Hardware Stowage
LAB Power Cable Routing – Assistance
DAN. Experiment Ops
PTV – SSRMS LEE Inspection Part Two
PGS2 – Hardware Ops
SPHERES – Battery Replacement
Switching ?? 2106 to Operation mode
RELAKSATSIYA. Charging battery for Relaksatstiya experiment
JRNL – Journal Entry
?? 2106 Operation Monitoring via Laptop
HAM radio session from Columbus
Post-Exercise Hygiene Procedure
SPHERES – Battery Replacement
CIR – Rack Doors Open
CIR – Combustion Chamber Front Rack Door Open
???-? Tests Closeout Ops
CORRECTSIA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake
MORZE. NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIA. Experiment setup
Search for SM PCE Feeder Test Equipment
PTV – SSRMS LEE Inspection Part Three
TOCA Data Recording
TOCA Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
??? maintenance
Clearing Stowage from LAB Racks
MDCA – Hardware Replacement
Plant Gravity Sensing (PGS2) Operations
UBNT – Equipment Setup
IMS Delta File Prep
Performing SCU and EMU DCM Inspection
SYN_MUSCL – Photography
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
On-orbit hearing assessment using EARQ
MAGVEC – USB Transfer
RELAKSATSIYA. Mounting hardware on CQ window No.1
CIR – Combustion Integrated Rack Chamber Closure
Fundoscope – Dilation Drops
CIR – Rack Doors Closure
Fundoscope – Dilation Drops
PTV – SSRMS LEE Inspection Part Four
Fundoscope – OCT Eye Examination
RELAKSATSIYA. Parameter Settings
Post-Exercise Hygiene Procedure
RELAKSATSIYA. Observation
Fundoscope Removal and Stowage
IMMUNO. Saliva Sample (Session 2)
PGS2 – Hardware Ops
IMMUNO. Second stress test, questionnaire data entry
IMMUNO. Final Equipment Stowage
SPHERES – Battery Stowage
CIR – Viewing Introduction Video
RELAKSATSIYA. Closeout Ops
NEIROIMMUNITET. Saliva Sample
CORRECTSIA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake
Preparation of reports for Roscosmos site
ECON-M. Observations and Photography
Completed Task List Items
Inc. 44 Safety Video Follow-Up [In Work]
PMM Rack Front Cleanup [In Work]
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Robotic ops for SSRMS LEE Survey
MT Translation from Worksite 5 to Worksite 2 [In Work]
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 09/30: SPHERES, Node 1 Berthing Port / Galley rack power cable route, AMS Survey
Thursday, 10/01: 61P Launch and Dock, Cubesat Deployer install on MPEP, SPRINT VO2, NPV O-Ring Install, COL PWS R&R
Friday, 10/02: JEMAL Depress, MELFI 2 Troubleshooting, MF Bed, IX Bed, EFA & MCA R&Rs, Cap. Beverage, WRS Waste Water Filter replace, RRM Phase 2
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) – Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
