NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 December 2015

The Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo ship was bolted into place on the International Space Station’s Earth-facing port of the Unity module at 9:26 a.m. EST. Cygnus will be the first cargo ship to be berthed to the Earth-facing port on the Unity module.
The spacecraft’s arrival will support the crew members’ research off the Earth to benefit the Earth. The Cygnus is delivering more than 7,000 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory to support dozens of approximately 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 45 and 46. Science payloads aboard Cygnus will offer a new life science facility that will support studies on cell cultures, bacteria and other microorganisms; a microsatellite deployer and the first microsatellite that will be deployed from the space station; and experiments that will study the behavior of gases and liquids, clarify the thermo-physical properties of molten steel, and evaluate flame-resistant textiles.

Cygnus also will deliver replacement cargo items including a set of Microsoft HoloLens devices for use in NASA’s Sidekick project, a safety jet pack astronauts wear during spacewalks known as SAFER, and high pressure nitrogen and oxygen tanks to plug into the station’s air supply network.

The spacecraft will spend more than a month attached to the space station before its destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in January 2016, disposing of about 3,000 pounds of trash.

On-Orbit Status Report

Cygnus Rendezvous and Capture: This morning the crew monitored the Cygnus approach from the Cupola Robotic Workstation and successfully captured Cygnus using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) at approximately 5:19am CST. The Ground Robotics team maneuvered Cygnus into position to inspect the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM), and berthed Cygnus onto the Node-1 Nadir Active CBM. Later, Lindgren removed the Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) from the Node-1 Nadir hatch window. Kelly and Yui performed a leak check and configured the vestibule for ingress. Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) removal and hatch opening/ingress are scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, December 10th.

Twins Study: In support of the Twins Study, Kelly continued his week-long Flight Day 240 daily saliva collection and also made a urine collection. 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.

NeuroMapping: Yui completed a NeuroMapping Neurocognitive test on a Human Research Facility laptop. 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.

Microbiome, Telomeres and Salivary Markers: Lindgren collected ambient blood samples to support Microbiome, Telomeres and Salivary Markers. Yui and Kelly collected saliva samples to support Yui’s R-0 session and Kelly’s Flight Day 240 session of Microbiome. Kelly and Yui each completed Salivary Markers Health Questionnaires. 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). Telomeres investigates how telomeres and telomerase are affected by space travel. Salivary Markers data will be used to identify any risks of an adverse health event in crewmembers due to an impaired immune system.

Sleep Log: Kornienko 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.

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

SLEEP – Questionnaire
TWIN – Sample Collection
NEIROIMMUNITET. Saliva Collection and Questionnaire Filling out
HRF – Sample Collection and Prep for Stowage Insertion
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
TWIN – Urine Collection
MORZE. Measuring Bioimpedance using SPRUT-2
MORZE. NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIA. Blood Collection
NEIROIMMUNITET. Venous blood sample processing (smear)
MORZE. CORRECTSIA. Venous blood sample processing using Plasma-03 centrifuge
Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) Powerup
Power on Ghost Camera in Cupola
RWS configuration to monitor Cygnus approach
Camcorder Setup to View LAB RWS Monitor 3
MORZE. NEIROIMMUNITET. CORRECTSIA. Handover to USOS for MELFI Insertion
Crew Departure Prep
MELFI Sample Insertion
CORRECTSIA. Closeout Ops
ISS CREW/SSIPC CONFERENCE
Acoustic Dosimeter Ops
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
SALMARK – Questionnaire
Cygnus – PCS Command and PROX Link Verification
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Tsentrovka, SENSOR Tests
Cygnus – R-BAR Approach
Replacing PILLE flash card
Progress 428 (DC1) Stowage Ops with IMS Support
SSRMS – Cygnus Capture
NMAP – Test.
Power Off Ghost Camera in Cupola
SAL – Stowage
Microbial Sample Collection
OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring
Node 1 – Port CBM Pre-mate Status Verification
Crew Departure Prep
NEIROIMMUNITET. Hair Sample
CALCIUM. Experiment Session 17
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: SUPOS Test
Node 1 – Capture and Abolts
TWIN – Urine Collection
HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
FAGEN. Kit Photography
FAGEN. Kit Removal and Transfer to Soyuz 717
Node 3 – Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) – Removal
CALCIUM. Transfer of Calcium-? Kits No.3 and No.4 to ??? 717
?? 717 Return Cargo Stowage Ops / r/g 0704nu
PAO Event with the 1 Year Mission crew
FENIX. Transfer of Bioecologia kits to Soyuz 717
RWS Power Down
??-121/122? Monoblock test in PCE mode (receiving digital signal from MRM1 ??-108/109? monoblock)
Cygnus/Node 1 – Pressurization and leak check
PCS Laptop Relocation [Deferred]
Node 1, Nadir – Cygnus Outfitting Part 1
??? Maintenance
Soyuz 717 Return Cargo Ops
Switching Over the Onboard Cable Network (???) of Failed Navigation Receiver Module ???1 and Operational ???2 Followed by a Test Activation Of Satellite Navigation System (???-?)
IMS Delta File Prep
Cygnus – PROX Power OFF
NEIROIMMUNITET. Stress Test
NEIROIMMUNITET. Saliva Test
Installation of inserts to ease opening of SM interior panel latches
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Video Recording for All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (?????)

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
ISS Commanding in support of Cygnus berthing

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 12/10: Cygnus Ingress, SPRINT, Crew Departure Prep
Friday, 12/11: 43S Undock and Landing, Twin Study, Cygnus Cargo Ops,
Saturday, 12/12: Crew Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

Component – Status
Elektron – Off
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) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off