NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 December 2016
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s H-IIB rocket launched at 8:26 a.m. EST (10:26 p.m. Japan time) on Friday, Dec. 9 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. At the time of launch, the space station was flying about 250 miles over the Philippine Sea south of Japan.
A little more than 15 minutes after launch, the HTV-6 cargo spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and began its four-day rendezvous with the International Space Station.
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the HTV-6 will approach the station from below, and slowly inch its way toward the complex. Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA and Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) will operate the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm from the station’s cupola to reach out and grapple the 12-ton spacecraft. Robotic ground controllers will then install it on the Earth-facing side of the Harmony module, where it will spend more than five weeks. Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson of NASA will monitor HTV-6 systems during the rendezvous and grapple.
NASA TV coverage of the Dec. 13 rendezvous and grapple will begin at 4:30 a.m. Capture of the spacecraft is scheduled around 6 a.m. Coverage of the final installation to Harmony will resume at 9:15 a.m.
On-Orbit Status Report
HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV)6 Launch: HTV6 launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan at 7:26 am CST today. Capture is scheduled for next Tuesday, December 13 at 5:00 am CST.
Group Combustion: The crew performed additional troubleshooting on JAXA’s Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) contained Group Combustion experiment. After removing the Combustion Chamber and installing it on the Work Bench, the crew verified that the air supply line joints of the Group Combustion Module were fully mated and tightened appropriately. The Group Combustion investigation tests a theory that fuel sprays change from partial to group combustion as flames spread across a cloud of droplets. In the Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack in the Kibo module, droplets of decane, a component of gasoline or kerosene, are arranged randomly on thin-fiber lattice points, and the flame and droplet positions and temperature distribution are measured as the flame spreads. Microgravity blocks convection, which on Earth would quickly disperse the droplets and combustion products before such measurements could be made.
Vascular Echo: Today the crew performed a portable Doppler leg ultrasound measurement in support of the Vascular Echo experiment. Twice, the crew exercised for one minute, then collected data, with a remote guider providing assistance from the ground. This Canadian Space Agency (CSA) investigation examines changes in blood vessels, and the heart, while the crew members are in space, and then follow their recovery on return to Earth. The results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health, and quality of life for everyone.
Veg-03 Harvest: The crew performed their second of four harvests of Outredgeous Red Romaine Lettuce from the Veggie facility. This harvest will be stowed in Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) for return on a future flight. The four harvests will occur over a 60-day growth period. The overall goal of Veg-03 is to further demonstrate proof-of concept for the Veggie plant growth chamber and the planting pillows using ‘Outredgeous’ Red Romaine lettuce. Future long-duration missions into the solar system, will require a fresh food supply to supplement crew diets, which means growing crops in space. Previous investigations focused on improving productivity in controlled environments, but the limited quarters of the space shuttle and ISS made it difficult to conduct large-scale crop production tests. Veg-03 expands on previous validation tests of the new Veggie hardware, which crew members will soon use to grow cabbage, lettuce and other fresh vegetables in space. Tests determine which types of microorganisms are present in space-grown cabbage, providing baseline data for future crop-growing efforts. Behavioral health surveys assess the impact of growing plants on crew morale and mood.
Cool Flames Investigation (CFI) Inspection: In preparation for the future installation of the Cool Flames Investigation into the Combustion Integration Rack (CIR), the crew performed an inspection of the three cameras and associated lenses, looking for shatterable/frangible material. The crew configured the Maintenance Work Area (MWA) and containment system with the vacuum attached, then inspected the Hi Bit-depth Multi-Spectral (HiBMS), Low Light Level Ultraviolet (LLL-UV), and Illumination Package cameras and lenses. Upon completion, the Imaging Packages were returned to their stowage location. CFI provides new insight into the phenomenon where some types of fuels initially burn very hot, then appear to go out — but they continue burning at a much lower temperature, with no visible flames (cool flames). Understanding cool flame combustion helps scientists develop new engines and fuels that are more efficient and less harmful to the environment.
HTV6 Preparations: The crew gathered the Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) and vestibule outfitting equipment. They installed the CBCS in the Node 2 Nadir hatch window and the ground performed a checkout.
Node 3 (N3) Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA): Overnight there was a true overcurrent trip to the N3 CDRA Valves (Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) N31A41B4A_A). This is a first for the N3 CDRA. The ground team commanded the N3 CDRA to standby and activated the Lab CDRA. The ground team commanded the N3 CDRA to standby and activated the Lab CDRA. During the day, the N3 CDRA RPC was successfully reclosed and N3 CDRA is operating. Lab CDRA will be commanded to standby after good N3 CDRA performance is verified.
Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Fluid System Servicer (FSS) Lab Refill: Yesterday, the crew used the FSS to add ITCS coolant to the Lab Low Temperature Loop (LTL) accumulators, Columbus Water Pump Assembly (WPA) accumulator, Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) ITCS Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL), and Node 1/Node 3 line. Today, the crew drained and stowed the FSS and associated jumpers.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
HRF Generic Urine Collection
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
ALGOMETRIYA. Pressure and Thermal Mode Algometry preparation for and measurement session
Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject
Inventory Management System (IMS) conference
Fluid System Servicer (FSS) Teardown and Stow
XF305 Camcorder Setup
BIOCARD. Operator Assistance During the Experiment
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) Retrieval.
Comm config for conference from SM via S/G 2 for UDOD experiment
UDOD. Assistance with DYKNANIYE-1 and SPRUT-2 Sets during the Experiment
Group Combustion Module (GCM) Air supply Line Retighten.
??? maintenance
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude Stow
Fluid System Servicer (FSS) Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Potable Water Reservoir (PWR) Stowage
EML Gas Valves Closing
Installation of valve 6969 as the second regulated bypass on separation assembly [??].
Combustion Chamber Top Plate Attachment.
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) Installation
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval Insertion Operations
Environmental Health System (EHS) Acoustic Dosimeters – Data Transfer and Stow
VEG-03 Science Harvest
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Rope Tensioning
SM Comm Reconfig for Nominal Ops
VEG-03 MELFI Insertion #2
Strata Status Check
Vascular Echo Exercise PDOP Measurement – Subject
Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) and Vestibule Outfitting Equipment Gather
Combustion Integrated Rack Inspection Hardware Gather
ALGOMETRIYA. Pressure Algometry Measurement Ops
Delta file prep
Storage Battery Current Converter ????-1? Temperature Check (pos. ?307).
Combustion Integrated Rack MWA Prep
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
????-1? Temperature Check (pos. ?307), assistance
Combustion Integrated Rack MWA Containment System Setup
Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) Installation and Checkout
PILOT-T. Preparation for the experiment.
Combustion Integrated Rack Lens Inspection
TV conference for Special Report program
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops.
Combustion Integrated Rack Inspection Hardware Return
????-1? Temperature Check (pos. ?307).
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
PILOT-T. Closeout Ops.
Aerosol Samplers Cartridge Removal
CONTENT. Experiment Ops
Space Headaches – Weekly Questionnaire
ALGOMETRIYA. Pressure and Thermal Algometry Measurement Session. Closeout Ops
Completed Task List Items
Veggie 03 Pillow Watering
HTV5 Trash Staging
EVA Medium ORU Bag Cam Buckle Inspection
EVA IDA Reflectory Bag Location
At Home In Space Addendum Questionnaire
Manufacturing Device Feedstock Trim
EVA Damaged Retractable Equipment Tether (RET) Stow
EVA Procedure Review
EPO Expo Message
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
CBCS Checkout
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 12/10: Housekeeping, Crew Off Duty, HRF Collection
Sunday, 12/11: Crew Off Duty, HRF Collection
Monday, 12/12: HTV Capture Preps, EVA Loop Scrub, HRF Blood/Urine Collection, Biolab TCU Cleaning
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 – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Idle
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up
