NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 31 August 2015
An international crew of three is getting ready for a two-day ride to the International Space Station. The Soyuz rocket that will lift them to space rolled out to its launch pad today at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Veteran cosmonaut Sergei Volkov will command the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft that will launch Sept. 2 at 12:37 a.m. EDT. Joining him for the trip to the station will be first time flyers Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency and Aidyn Aimbetov from Kazcosmos, the National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan. NASA Television will broadcast the launch and docking activities live.
Onboard the orbital laboratory the One-Year crew members Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko took part in a variety of human research experiments. They studied how microgravity affects vision and explored how spacecraft design influences crew performance.
NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui unpacked the Multipurpose Small Payload Rack-2 (MSPR-2) from the new HTV-5 resupply ship today. The MSPR-2, which houses small science payloads, was installed in the Japanese Kibo laboratory module.
On-Orbit Status Report
ISS Reboost: This morning the ISS performed a reboost using 60 Progress (60P) thrusters. Delta-V was 0.55 meters/second, burn duration was 8 min 15 sec. This reboost was to set up for 42S landing in the primary landing zone on September 12. A second reboost is planned for September 7 to finalize setup for 42S landing opportunities and to set up phasing for 61P rendezvous on October 1.
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) 2 Transfer: Yui and Lindgren transferred MSPR2, which was delivered on HTV5, to the Japanese Experiment Module Pressurized Module (JPM). Lindgren then mated all MSPR2-to-module umbilicals. Rack checkout and activation will begin tomorrow.
Human Research Program (HRP) Operations:
– Fluid Shifts Flight Day 150 (FD150) Baseline Imaging Measurement: Kelly is performing his Flight Day 150 (FD150) baseline imaging for the Fluid Shifts experiment. With Padalka as the onboard imager and ground remote guidance, ultrasound imaging was taken of arterial and venous measures of the head and neck, cardiac, ophthalmic and portal vein, and tissue thickness of lower and upper body. Additional measurements using the Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure (CCFP), Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), ESA’s Cardiolab (CDL) Holter Arterial Blood Pressure Device, and Intraocular Pressure (IOP) using the tonometer will be taken later today. The imagery session was within the 10 day requirement following last week’s dilution measurements. Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment that investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronaut’s eyes.
– Habitability: Kelly collected the thirteenth of twenty-four potential observations for the Habitability experiment. Habitability assesses the relationship between crew members and their environment in order to better prepare for future long-duration spaceflights to destinations, such as Near Earth Asteroids (NEA) and Mars. The ultimate goal is to understand how much habitable volume is required for vehicle internal design and layout, and if mission duration impacts the volume needed.
– NeuroMapping: Kelly completed his FD150 NeuroMapping Neurocognitive Test. The Neuromapping experiment studies whether long-duration spaceflight causes any changes to the brain, including brain structure and function, motor control, and multi-tasking; as well as measuring how long it takes for the brain and body to recover from those possible changes. Previous research and anecdotal evidence from crewmembers returning from a long-duration spaceflight suggests that movement control and cognition are affected in microgravity. The NeuroMapping investigation utilizes structural and functional magnetic resonance brain imaging (MRI and FMRI) to assess any changes to crewmembers after a six-month mission on the ISS.
– Reaction Self-Test: Kelly and Kornienko performed their morning Reaction Self-Test and are scheduled to perform another session prior to sleep following the 42 Soyuz relocation last week. Reaction Self-Test aids crewmembers to objectively identify when their performance capability is degraded by various fatigue-related conditions that can occur as a result of ISS operations and time in space (e.g., acute and chronic sleep restriction, slam shifts, extravehicular activity (EVA), and residual sedation from sleep medications).
– Sleep Long: Kelly and Kornienko are performing a week of sleep logging. The Sleep ISS-12 experiment monitors ambient light exposure and crew member activity, and collects subjective evaluations of sleep and alertness, to examine the effects of space flight and ambient light exposure on sleep during a year-long mission on the International Space Station (ISS).
Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Reconfiguration: Today, Yui continued his operations on reconfiguring CBEF for the Mouse Habitat Unit (MHU), brought up on HTV5. He removed and replaced the CBEF Incubator Unit (IU) Micro-Gravity (Micro-G) Sample Tray, routed cables and exchanged the bolts. He will continue with CBEF reconfiguration Tuesday and Wednesday. The MHU has 3 features; individual breeding, artificial gravity and live return. It supports to evaluate more precise effects of the long-term microgravity exposure, which results can be applied to human being.
Observation Analysis of Smectic Islands in Space (OASIS) Sample Exchange: Kononenko performed a sample exchange, installing the second of four sample cartridges into the experiment housed in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). OASIS studies the unique behavior of liquid crystals in microgravity, including their overall motion and the merging of crystal layers known as smectic islands. Liquid crystals are used for display screens in televisions and clocks, and they also occur in soaps and in cell membranes. The experiment allows detailed studies of the behavior of these structures, and how microgravity affects their unique ability to act like both a liquid and a solid crystal.
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: On Saturday, Robotics Ground Controllers installed the Superconducting sub-Millimeter-wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) payload on the External Platform (EP) HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Exposed Facility Unit (HEFU)2. On Sunday, controllers installed the Multi-mission Consolidated Equipment (MCE) on EP HEFU1. Tonight the ground controllers will be transferring the STP-H4 to the EP.
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Upper Stop Cable Replacement: Yesterday, the crew reported that the ARED right upper stop cable broke during an exercise session. The crew was asked if they had noted any damage to this cable in their periodic inspections, but they reported they had not noticed any damage. Today Lindgren replaced the broken right upper stop cable with a new cable. The ARED is currently operational and available for crew use.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.
MORZE. Measuring Bioimpedance using SPRUT-2 / r/g 9759
Reaction Self-Test. Reaction Time Test (morning)
CORRECTSIA. MORZE. Venous blood collection / r/g 9759
CORRECTSIA. MORZE. Venous blood sample processing using Plasma-03 centrifuge. / r/g 9759
CORRECTSIA. Closeout ops / r/g 9759
RUEXP – Insertion of blood samples into MELFI
Removing Soft Dummy Panel from JPM
USND2 – Hardware activation
FS – Hardware Setup
Relocation of MSPR2
FS – Equipment Cleaning and Preparation for Measurements
Routine Maintenance of ??, ??, and ?? Valves in SM Rodnik Tanks
Fluid Shifts – Baseline Scan – Subject
Fluid Shifts – Scan Operator
Auxiliary Laptop Computer System Virus Definition File Update / r/g 8247
XF305 – Camcorder Setup
MSPR2 – Connect cables
CBEF – Hardware Checkout
Cleaning ventilation screens on FGB interior panels (panels 201, 301, 401)
CBEF – Experiment Ops Part 1
Harmful Contaminant Measurements in SM using CMS / r/g 9761
Analysis of SM Atmosphere for Freon Using Freon Leak Analyzer/Detector
Cleaning ventilation screens on FGB interior panels (panels 116, 316, 231, 431)
NMAP – Test Ops
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Tsentrovka, SENSOR Tests
Emergency Ammonia Hardware Deployment for direct handover
WRS. Recycle Tank Refill from EDV [Aborted]
Fluid Shifts – Exam Operator
Fluid Shifts – Test Subject
ESPANDER Exercise
Fluid Shifts – Photography
FS – OCT Equipment Stowage
Fluid Shifts – Hardware Connection and Power up
Fluid Shifts – Hardware Installation and Calibration Start
???31 Data Bus Power Check – Setup / r/g 9747
USND2 – Hardware Deactivation
Fluid Shifts – Camcorder and tonometer setup for measurement
Fluid Shifts – Tonometer Exam
???31 Data Bus Power Check. r/g 9747
Surface samples from FGB equipment and structures / r/g 9743
Fluid Shifts – Tonometer Exam
Fluid Shifts – Hardware Removal and Stowage
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation
FS – Tonometry Equipment Stowage
CBEF – Experiment Ops Part 2
Tropical Cyclone PL Ops
MORZE. Closeout ops / r/g 9759
Countermeasures System (CMS) – (HRM) Heart Rate Monitor Battery Changeout
CORRECTSIA. Photography of Questionnaires and Data Downlink / r/g 9759 step 6
ISS HAM RADIO Power Down
Crew Departure Prep
Filling (separation) of EDV (KOV) No.1132 (00061663R, Bag No.1028 (004394J)) for Elektron or EDV (SV) flush water container
WRS. Recycle Tank Refill from EDV
SDM – Hardware Gathering
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire
HABIT – Experiment Ops
HRF Blood Sample Draw and Photography
HTV Transfers Ops [Deferred]
OASIS – Sample swap
HTV – Cargo Transfer Tagup
Exercise data downlink / r/g 6797
Reaction Self-Test. Reaction Time Test (evening)
Preparing for Antivirus scan on Auxiliary Computer Laptops / r/g 8247
Reaction Self-Test. Reaction Time Test (evening)
Completed Task List Items
JAXA Report 4
Ground Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.
Reboost
Fundoscope Ultrasound support
Robotics Operations to transfer STP-H4 to EP [In Work]
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 09/01: 44S launch, CBEF 1G door replace, Fluid Shifts, MSPR2 post reconfig
Wednesday, 09/02: Sprint VO2, MSPR2 power checkout, KUBIK 5 sestup, NanoRacks CubeSat deployer removal from MPEP
Thursday, 09/03: CBEF Mouse Habitat Unit interface unit install, MSPR laptop setup and LAN, USB checkout
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) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
