NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 4 December 2015

Today: Orbital ATK (OA)-4 Launch Attempt: Today’s planned launch of OA-4 from Cape Canaveral, Florida was scrubbed due to ground wind violations.
The next attempt will be on Saturday, December 5th at 4:11 pm CST. The Enhanced Cygnus spacecraft will be launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket and will be delivering approximately 3,500 kg of pressurized cargo to the ISS. A successful Saturday launch sets the stage for ISS rendezvous and capture on Wednesday, December 9th.

Microbiome: For his Return Minus 14 day (R-14) Microbiome session, Yui collected body samples this morning. He answered survey questionnaires over the previous two days. Microbiome investigates the impact of space travel on both the human immune system and an individual’s microbiome (the collection of microbes that live in and on the human body at any given time).

Dynamic Surf 3: Yui exchanged the Video Recording Unit (VRU) hard disk drive in JAXA’s Image Processing Unit (IPU) for the Dynamic Surf 3 investigation. A disk drive filled with data generated from the experiment will be replaced with a fresh drive for continued recording. The Dynamic Surf 3 investigation is part of a series of JAXA experiments designed to provide insight into the underlying principles of Marangoni convection. These experiments demonstrate in microgravity the flow transition phenomena from steady to oscillatory, chaotic, and finally turbulent. Observations are made of fluid convection during formation of a silicone oil liquid bridge that is generated by differential heating of two discs within the Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF). The results of this investigation could ultimately drive the design and development of more efficient fluid flow based systems and devices.

Twins Study: In support of the Twins Study, Kelly completed another Flight Day 240 saliva collection, stowing samples in a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). This investigation is an integrated compilation of ten different studies led by multiple investigators. The studies take advantage of a unique opportunity to look at the effects of space travel on identical twins, with one of them experiencing space travel for a year while the other remains earth-bound for that same year. The study looks at changes in the human body that are important in the fields of genetics, psychology, physiology, microbiology, and immunology.

Sleep Log: Kelly recorded a Sleep Log entry today after waking. The Sleep ISS-12 experiment monitors ambient light exposure and crew member activity and collects subjective evaluations of sleep and alertness. The investigation examines the effects of space flight and ambient light exposure on sleep during a year-long mission on the ISS.

Space Headaches: Yui completed his weekly Space Headaches questionnaires. Headaches can be a common complaint during spaceflight. The Space Headaches experiment will provide information that may help in the development of methods to alleviate associated symptoms and improvement in the well-being and performance of crew members in space.

Crew Departure Preparation: Yui and Lindgren continued packing their personal items in preparation for crew return to Earth on Soyuz 43 (43S) on December 11th. The items will return on 43S, SpX-8, and SpX-9.

Orbital-ATK 4 (OA-4) Preparation: Kelly and Lindgren completed their 2nd Dragon Robot On-Board Training (OBT) session. The purpose was to perform three Capture Point (CP) hold runs, allowing the Crew to practice free drift timing, malfunctions, nominal rate approaches, and as many 2 meter approaches as time allows.

Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)3 Ingress/Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) Retrieval: Earlier this morning, Kelly removed items from the Node 3 (N3) Port Endcone to access PMA3. Lindgren then ingressed the PMA3 and retrieved the spare SSU that will be used for the SSU 1B Extravehicular Activity (EVA). Kelly subsequently restowed the items that were removed from N3.

Radiation Area Monitors (RAM) Retrieval: Today, Lindgren retrieved 24 RAMs which were placed in various locations throughout the ISS. Twenty three of these RAMs arrived on 42S, and one arrived on 43S. They are all scheduled to return on 43S.

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

TWIN – Sample Collection
HRF – Sample Collection and Prep for Stowage
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
SLEEP Questionnaire
BIOME – Questionnaire and sample collection
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
Daily Planning Conference (S-band)
HRF Urine Sample Collection
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
ISS crew and ???? (RSA Flight Control Management Team) weekly conf r/g 0736
IMS Tagup (S-band)
RGN – Initiate drain into EDV
SSIPC Management / ISS Crew Tagup
On MCC GO ???2?14 (????2-12 system) R&R. r/g 0766
N3 Endcone cleanout
Life On The Station Photo and Video / r/g 0290
SSU removal from PMA3
UDOD. Experiment Ops. r/g 0770
RGN – Terminate water drain into EDV
USB Pantry gather
HAM radio session from Columbus
Installation of Radiation Area Monitors
N3 Endcone restow
Progress 428 (DC1) Stowage Ops with IMS Support / r/g 0500, 0763
LBNP Exercise (PRELIMINARY). r/g 0773
Assisting with LBNP Training / r/g 0773
BIOME – Perspiration Collection Setup
Recharging ?? 717 IRIDIUM Phone – Setup, Start Charging
Recharging ?? 717 IRIDIUM Phone – Battery Status Check
Recharging TK 710 IRIDIUM Phone – Terminate Charge
BIOME – Perspiration Sampling
FAGEN. Deactivation of MSK Kit No.5 / r/g 0771
FAGEN. Kit Photography / r/g 0772
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
Gathering Cygnus Vestibule Outfitting Equipment
Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Power Down
??? Maintenance
Transfer brine (urine) from EDV-U into Progress 428 (DC1) Rodnik tank / r/g 0774
BIOME – Equipment Stowage
Crew Departure Prep
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Rendezvous Review
?? 717 Stowage Ops / r/g 0624
?? 718 IRIDIUM Phone Charging – Initiate Charge
Recharging ?? 718 IRIDIUM Phone – Battery Status Check
Recharging ?K 715 IRIDIUM Phone – Terminate Charge
Image Processing Unit (IPU) Hard Disk Exchange
OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring / r/g 0030
Progress 428 (DC1) Stowage Ops with IMS Support / r/g 0500, 0763
Soyuz 717 Transfers Complete Report / r/g 0624
IMS Delta File Prep
On MCC GO ISS Repress Using Air from ??? 428 (DC1) ???? Section 2 – (start)
On MCC GO ISS Repress from ??? 428 (DC1) ???? Section 2 (terminate)
SREDA. Mounting Photo Equipment on window and starting the session / r/g 0775
Daily Planning Conference (S-band)
SREDA. Hardware Teardown and Saving Data / r/g 0775

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.
Robot OBT Monitoring
PMA3 ingress/egress equalization

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 12/05: Cygnus Prep, Crew Off Duty, Weekly Cleaning
Sunday, 12/06: Cygnus Prep, Crew Off Duty
Monday, 12/07: TBD

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