NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 29 September 2016

BEAM, the new expandable module attached to the International Space Station, was opened up today for tests and equipment checks. The Expedition 49 crew also explored eating right in space, adapting to new technology and studied a variety of other life science and physics research.
Flight Engineer Kate Rubins opened up and entered the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module this afternoon. She temporarily installed gear inside BEAM for a test to measure the loads and vibrations the module experiences. Rubins started her day with a performance test on a mobile tablet device then videotaped her observations of the living conditions aboard the space station.

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi started an 11-day run today to document his meals while wearing a monitor that will take water samples and measure his breathing. The ENERGY experiment will help doctor’s understand metabolism in space and ensure astronauts are properly nourished to maintain the energy required for a long-term mission. Onishi is also continuing to set up the Group Combustion fuel burning study and checked for pressure leaks in the experiment gear.

In the Russian side of the orbital laboratory, Commander Anatoly Ivanishin resumed studying charged particle systems trapped in a magnetic field. He also participated in a pair of Earth photography experiments observing how natural and man-made disasters including industrial activities affect the land and sea.

On-Orbit Status

Group Combustion Module (GCM) Installation: FE-5 continued with the third day of installation and preparation for the GCM experiment and was to perform two pressure decay leak checks. After the first check, a leak was detected in the Air/O2 line, thus aborting the second check until specialist can determine the cause and develop a solution. The Elucidation of Flame Spread and Group Combustion Excitation Mechanism of Randomly-distributed Droplet Clouds (Group Combustion) investigation by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) tests a theory that fuel sprays change from partial to group combustion as flames spread across a cloud of droplets. In the Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) in the Kibo module, droplets of decane, a component of gasoline or kerosene, are arranged randomly on thin-fiber lattice points, and the flame and droplet positions and temperature distribution are measured as the flame spreads. Microgravity blocks convection, which on Earth would quickly disperse the droplets and combustion products before such measurements could be made.

Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM): FE-6 ingressed BEAM and temporarily installed the Internal Wireless Instrumentation System (IWIS) Remote Sensing Unit (RSU) in Node 3 and the Triaxial Accelerometer (TAA) in BEAM. Following the instrument installation, FE-6 performed a modal test by imparting loads onto BEAM and measuring the acceleration throughout the module. Expandable habitats, occasionally described as inflatable habitats, greatly decrease the amount of transport volume for future space missions. These “expandables” weigh less and take up less room on a rocket while allowing additional space for living and working. They also provide protection from solar and cosmic radiation, space debris, and other contaminants. Crews traveling to the moon, Mars, asteroids, or other destinations could potentially use them as habitable structures

ENERGY (Astronaut’s Energy Requirement for Long-Term Space Flight: FE-5 began the first day of the 11 day ENERGY experiment. Intended to measure an Astronaut’s Energy Requirements, ENERGY will require FE-5 to consume standardized meals today and tomorrow, in addition to diet logging over the entire 11 day duration. Today FE-5 also setup the Armband Activity Monitor which will be worn through the duration of the experiment, took water samples, and setup the oxygen uptake measurements (XTP). Energy investigation measures an Astronaut’s Energy Requirements for Long-Term Space Flight, a crucial factor needed for sending the correct amount of the right types of food with space crews. Astronauts often lose body mass with extended stays in space for reasons that remain unclear, although increased exercise as a microgravity countermeasure may be a factor. Knowing details of astronaut metabolism and activity, combined with other conditions, will help ensure that crews are properly nourished on long missions.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.

Personal CO2 Monitor iPad Application Restart
Soyuz 731 Descent Procedure Update
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
URAGAN. Observation and photography
RS Photo Cameras Sync Up to Station Time
EKON-M. Observations and photography
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) Leak Check 1 [Cancelled]
Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject
Replacement ??-1 in ???
Hard To Wet Sample Module Inspection
Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)
Water Recovery System Waste Water Tank Drain Init
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
Mating New Control Panel Telemetry Cable to ????2-12
Group Combustion Module (GCM) Experiment Laptop Terminal 2 (ELT2) Setup
Replacement ??-1 Control Panel in [???]
Water Recovery System Waste Water Tank Drain Termination
MRM2 comm config to support the P/L Ops
Kulonovskiy Kristall Experiment Run
MRM2 Comm Reconfig for Nominal Ops
KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL
Habitability Human Factors Questionnaires – Subject
Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations – Subject
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
Remove Items in Front of N3A for Hatch Access
Photo/TV N3/BEAM Camcorder Setup
ARED Platform Fold
Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)
BEAM Ingress
Air sampling in BEAM module using AK-1M sampler before air duct installation
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) Leak Check 2
Replacement of CO2 Filter Unit ??0501
Personal CO2 Monitor Power Cycle
TAA Install in BEAM
??? maintenance
Tape Distributed Impact Detection System (DIDS) sensors
Modal Test
Armband Activity Monitor Setup
Progress 432 [OA] Stowage Ops with IMS Support
ENERGY Water Sample
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) pressure gauge check and Valve Operations.
PAO Preparation
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
Energy PFS Setup
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
Deconfigure IWIS
DDS Data Download to BEAM SSC
OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring
BEAM Cleanup and Egress
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
Return Items Back to N3A Location That Were Removed for BEAM Ingress
ARED Platform Unfold Back to Nominal Position
Ghost Camera Stow
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) pressure gauge check and Valve Operations.
CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
Flight Director/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
Crew Choice Event
Personal CO2 Monitor Power Cycle
Personal CO2 Monitor Doff and Charge

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.
Lab MCA Zero Calibration [Delayed]

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 09/30: Energy Experiment, PGT TAK Data Gather
Saturday, 10/01: Finemotor Skills, Hard to Wet Surfaces, Energy Conclude
Sunday, 10/02: Crew Off Duty

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 – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Standby
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Reprocess
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up