NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 3 September 2015

The six Expedition 44 crew members worked on a wide variety space research Thursday. They will welcome three extra crew members early Friday morning temporarily increasing the International Space Station’s population to nine residents.
The International Space Station’s newest astronauts, Kimiya Yui and Kjell Lindgren, worked on life science. Yui installed a new Mouse Habitat Unit in the Kibo laboratory. The mice will be delivered on a future cargo mission. Lindgren took body measurements before exploring the physics of a cup for drinking in space.

A veteran cosmonaut and two first time crew mates are on their way to the space station to swap spaceships. Soyuz Commander Sergey Volkov will dock the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft to the Poisk module Friday at 3:42 a.m. EDT. Volkov will stay in space until March. His fellow crew members Andreas Mogensen from Denmark and Aidyn Aimbetov from Kazakhstan will return to Earth Sept. 11 with station Commander Gennady Padalka inside the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft.

On-Orbit Status Report

44 Soyuz (44S) Docking: 44S, carrying Aidyn Aimbetov, Andreas Mogensen and Sergey Volkov, is scheduled to dock to the ISS tomorrow, Friday, September 4 at 2:42 am CDT.

Human Research Program (HRP) Operations:

– Body Measures: Lindgren, with Kelly as the operator, completed his Flight Day 45 (FD45) Body Measures data collection. Lindgren set up cameras and video and donned the body marker instrumentation, collected the calibration and body pose photographs and the circumference measurements, then doffed the body markers, and finally collected the Neutral Body Posture video with operator assistance. Currently, NASA does not have sufficient in-flight anthropometric data (body measurements) gathered to assess the impact of physical body shape and size changes on suit sizing. This study collects anthropometric data (body measurements) using digital still and video imagery and a tape measure to measure segmental length, height, depth, and circumference data for all body segments (i.e., chest, waist, hip, arms, legs, etc.) from astronauts for pre-, post-, and in-flight conditions.

– Cognition: Yui completed his FD46 Cognition. Individualized Real-Time Neurocognitive Assessment Toolkit for Space Flight Fatigue (Cognition) is a battery of tests that measures how spaceflight-related physical changes, such as microgravity and lack of sleep, can affect cognitive performance. Cognition includes ten brief computerized tests that cover a wide range of cognitive functions, and provides immediate feedback on current and past test results. The software allows for real-time measurement of cognitive performance while in space.

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Reconfiguration: Yui performed Day 4 of the CBEF reconfiguration, installing the Mouse Habitat Unit (MHU) into the CBEF. The JAXA operations team will now conduct functional checkout commanding.

Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack-2 (MSPR-2): Yui continued with MSPR-2 setup and commissioning. Today’s operations included connection and configuration of the Experiment Laptop Terminal (ELT), Local Area Network (LAN) checkout, and USB communication checkout.

NanoRack Cubesat Deployer (NRCSD) #6 Imaging: Kelly collected images of the NRCSD #6 delivered on HTV-5. Based on issues with previous NRCSDs, ground teams requested these images to capture the existing tolerances in the Secondary Release Mechanisms. Images were downlinked for ground analysis. NRCSD #6 is scheduled to be installed in the JEM Airlock (JEMAL) and deployed during Increment 45.

Area Passive Dosimeter for Life-Science Experiments in Space (PADLES) Removal: Yui removed the 17 Increment 43/44 PADLES from the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM) and Japanese Experiment Logistics Module – Pressurized Section (JLP) and provided them to Padalka for packing in the 42S for return. Area PADLES is an investigation that uses area dosimeters to continuously monitor the radiation dose aboard the ISS. Radiation exposure can have significant biological effects on living organisms including the biological investigations being done on ISS in the JEM/Kibo. By installing area dosimeters at 17 fixed locations inside the Kibo Module, continuous area radiation monitoring can be provided throughout the ISS Kibo program.

Capillary Effects of Drinking in the Microgravity Environment (Capillary Beverage): Kelly and Lindgren performed sessions of Capillary Beverage to observe fluid interface and critical wetting behavior during drinking and draining activities. Microgravity affects the way fluids behave, and as such, crew members must drink from special sealed bags instead of using straws or normal cups. Capillary Beverage studies the process of drinking from specially designed Space Cups that use fluid dynamics to mimic the effect of gravity.

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

SLEEP. Questionnaire data entry
Mouse Habitat Unit (MHU) – Hardware Setup
Body Measures – Equipment Setup
BRI Log Dump from RSS1
DOSIMETER – Area Dosimeter Removal
BIODEGRADATSIYA. Sample collection from structure surfaces and photography
Body Measures – Experiment Ops
MATRYOSHKA-R. Transfer of PADLE detectors for return
MATRYOSHKA-R. Photos of Transfer
XF305 – Camcorder Setup
CBEF – Hardware Setup
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops.
EXPOSE-R. Copy and Downlink Data
Water Recovery System (WRS). WPA Waste Water Tank Offload into CWC. Start
Columbus Jettison Stowage Bag Relocation
XF305 – Camcorder Setup
MSPR – Connecting Cables and Laptop Activation
BIODEGRADATSIYA. Sample collection from structure surfaces and photography
Water Recovery System (WRS). Terminate WPA Waste Water Tank Offload into CWC
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops.
MSPR2 – Closeout Ops
CBEF – Installation of Mouse Habitat Cage and CBEF
CAPBEV – Preparation of Maintenance Work Area surface
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
CAPBEV – Hardware Setup
MSPR2 – Memory Card Checkout
?? 716 Transfer Ops
??? maintenance
HTV Transfers Ops
MSPR2 – Closeout Ops
CAPBEV – Test Ops
HTV – Cargo Transfer Tagup
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill
CAPBEV – Hardware Setup
IMS and Stowage Conference
CAPBEV – Test Ops
JRNL – Journal Entry
Private Psychological Conference
Pre-pack US Cargo Items for Return in 42S
CAPBEV – Stowage
NRCSD-6 – Photography
Closing USOS Window Shutters
Private Exercise Conference (PEC)
JEM RSU Battery R&R [Deferred]
COGN – Experiment Ops and Filling Questionnaire
COGN – Documentation Photo

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Body Measures support
Capillary Beverage support
OPM to -XVV [In Work]

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 09/04: 44S dock, CBEF MHU removal, Body Measures, MSPR2 video recording unit checkout
Saturday, 09/05: Emergency roles & responsibilities review, Change of Command Ceremony
Sunday, 09/06: OBT Soyuz drill, 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 – Operate
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) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up