NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 September 2016
NASA astronaut Jeff Williams and cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos landed their Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft in Kazakhstan at 9:13 p.m. EDT.
Russian recovery teams are helping the crew exit the Soyuz spacecraft and adjust to gravity after their stay in space. The trio will be transported by helicopter to Karaganda where they will split up, with Williams returning to Houston in a NASA jet, while Ovchinin and Skripochka are flown back to their training base at Star City, Russia.
Williams was instrumental in preparing the station for the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew spacecraft. The first International Docking Adapter was installed during a spacewalk by Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Kate Rubins Aug. 19. Outfitted with a host of sensors and systems, the adapter’s main purpose is to connect spacecraft bringing astronauts to the station in the future. Its first users are expected to be Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, now in development in partnership with NASA.
During his time on the orbital complex, Williams ventured outside the confines of the space station for a second spacewalk with Rubins to retract a spare thermal control radiator and install two new high-definition cameras.
Together, the Expedition 48 crew members contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science aboard humanity’s only orbiting laboratory.
The crew members also welcomed five cargo spacecraft during their stay. Williams was involved in the grapple of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft in March, the company’s fourth commercial resupply mission, and SpaceX’s eighth Dragon spacecraft cargo delivery in April, and welcomed a second Dragon delivery in July. Two Russian ISS Progress cargo craft also docked to the station in April and July delivering tons of supplies.
The Expedition 48 trio launched to the space station in March 2016. With the conclusion of his fourth trip to the International Space Station, Williams has accrued 534 days in space, the most by any U.S. astronaut in history.
Expedition 49 continues operating the station with Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos in command. He, Rubins, and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, will operate the station for more than two weeks until the arrival of three new crew members.
Shane Kimbrough of NASA and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch Sept. 23, U.S. time, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
On-Orbit Status Report
46 Soyuz (46S) Undock and Landing: Jeff Williams, Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka are scheduled to undock from the ISS today at 4:51PM CDT and land in Kazakhstan at 8:14PM CDT. The ISS will be in 3-crew operations until the arrival of 48S on September 9, 2016.
Human Research Program (HRP) Collections: Flight Engineer (FE)-6 assisted FE-5 with HRP operations in performing blood sample collections and configuring the Refrigerated Centrifuge for the first set of sample load operations. FE-5 performed urine sample collections and processed the blood samples by setting up Refrigerated Centrifuge for two sample spins. The urine and blood samples were stowed in the Minus Eighty-degree Freezer for ISS (MELFI). These sample collections will be used to support the HRP: Biochem Profile, Repository, and Cardio Ox investigations.
Cardio Ox Ultrasound and Blood Pressure Operations: With remote guidance from the Cardio Ox ground teams, FE-5 assisted FE-6 in conducting an ultrasound scan after attaching the ECG Electrodes and marking the arteries followed by blood pressure measurements using the Cardiolab Holter Arterial Blood Pressure Unit. The goal of the Cardio Ox investigation is to determine whether biological markers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after space flight and whether this results in an increased, long-term risk of atherosclerosis risk in astronauts. Twelve crewmembers provide blood and urine samples to assess biomarkers before launch, 15 and 60 days after launch, 15 days before returning to Earth, and within days after landing. Ultrasound scans of the carotid and brachial arteries are obtained at the same time points, as well as through 5 years after landing, as an indicator of cardiovascular health.
Marrow: FE-5 collected breath and ambient air samples in support of the Canadian Space Agency’s Marrow experiment. Marrow investigation looks at the effect of microgravity on the bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on the bone marrow and the blood cells that are produced in the marrow. The extent of this effect, and its recovery, are of interest to space research and healthcare providers on Earth.
Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Piping Replacement: The crew replaced the WHC piping between the pump separator and the dose pump. This is routine preventative maintenance performed every 6 months.
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
MARROW Air Samples
HRF Samples Collection
HRF Insertion of Samples into MELFI
HRF Centrifuge Setup and Collection of Blood Samples
HRF Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
Virus Definition File Update on Auxiliary Computer System (???) Laptops
BIOPLENKA. Removal from Thermostat and Transfer to Soyuz 720
Water Transfer from Soyuz 720 Kolos-?? to EDV
HRF Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration 2
USND2 Activation of Ultrasound Equipment
PRODUTSENT. Removal of Bioekologiya Case from Universal Bioengineering Thermostatic Container and Transfer to Soyuz
CASKAD. Removal of Bioreactor from ???-? No.04 and Setup in Anabioz incubator
Soyuz 720 Stowage Ops for Return
GoPro HERO3 camcorders adjustment and installation in Soyuz 720 prior to descent
Photography of Items for Return
ISS HAM Radio Sets deactivation in Columbus and SM
Fine Motor Skills (FINEMOTR) Experiment Ops
HRF Blood samples removal in preparation for cold stowage insertion
CASKAD. Deactivation of Anabioz Thermostat
CASKAD. Hardware Transfer to Soyuz 720
CARDOX Scanning
Measurements of Harmful Contaminants in SM Using CMS
Counter Measure System (CMS) Harmful Contaminant Measurements in SM
??? Maintenance
SM Ventilation Subsystem Preventive Maintenance. Group ?
CARDOX Measurements
HRF Equipment stowage after sample collection
CARDOX Post-ops hardware stowage
WRS Water Sample Analysis
Water Recovery System (WRS) WSTA Fill
CARDOX Ultrasound Scan Operations
CARDOX Photography
Soyuz 720 Stowage Complete Report
CARDOX Blood Pressure Operations
Photography of the external surface of Soyuz 720 [??] ?? hatch cover
CARDOX Blood Pressure Operations Closeout
HRF Refrigerated Centrifuge Closeout Ops
Downlink photos of the external surface of Soyuz [??] -?? Hatch Cover after completion of return cargo transfers
DOSETRK Saving data on iPad
Comm Config for Soyuz 720 Undocking and Descent
Comm check with Soyuz 720 via RSA2-S/G2
Soyuz 720 Activation
Closing Window Shutters 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
SSPCM EXPRESS 7 Replacement Conference
Setup and Activation of ???? Equipment to conduct Hatch Closure TV coverage from MRM2
USOS Window Shutter Close
Water Resource Management, Condensate Tank Offload
ECLSS (RGN). WSTA Fill
TOCA Data Recording
TOCA Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
Soyuz -MRM2 Hatch Closure
Hatch Closure TV Coverage
Soyuz 720-MRM2 Hatch Closure TV coverage
Soyuz 720 – MRM2 Hatch Leak Check
ER7 Equipment Gathering
Downlink Video Data Hatch Closure Coverage from MRM2
Crew Onboard Support System (????) Hardware Deactivation and Closing Applications on CP SSC
Soyuz 720 ODF Ops; Undocking and Descent Ops
Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Tank R&R
Switching MRM2-?? PEV to CLOSED position
ARED Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
ISTOCHNIK-M. Activation of Soyuz 720 TLM Recording Mode
Soyuz 720 Comm reconfig for nominal ops after landing
ISS HAM Radio Sets Activation in Columbus and SM
METEOR Rack Doors Open
Completed Task List Items
Lab/N2 LHA R&R – LAB1OS1, LAB1OP5, NOD2OP5
CPA Cap Restor
JEM Stowage Consolidation for OA-5 (In Work)
Ground Activities
All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.
46S undock/landing
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 09/07: Crew off duty
Thursday, 09/08: Express Rack 7 SSPCM R&R, EVA water conductivity test, ARED cable R&R, BEAM IMV flow measurement
Friday, 09/09: OBT 47S emergency drill, SABL relocate
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) – Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
