NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 10 March 2015

Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore handed over control of the International Space Station to NASA astronaut Terry Virts in a Change of Command Ceremony today.
Virts will lead Expedition 43 when Wilmore and Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev and Flight Engineer Elena Serova undock Wednesday at 6:44 p.m. EDT in their Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft.

– Check out the NASA TV of Expedition 42 undocking activities

Back on Earth, a new Expedition 43 trio is relaxing as they count down to their March 27 launch. Riding with Soyuz TMA-16M Commander Gennady Padalka are One-Year crew members Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko who will live in space until March 2016. Padalka will stay in space till September.

Meanwhile inside the station, Virts continues installing cables so future commercial crew vehicles can communicate with a pair of International Docking Adapters to be installed later this year. He and Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Samantha Cristoforetti also reviewed their emergency roles and responsibilities and practiced communication and coordination.

On-Orbit Status Report

Russian Joint Research (RJR) Augmented Microbial Sampling: Shkaplerov collected samples from various locations throughout the ISS that are prone to microbial contamination. Samples will be returned on 40S. The data gathered and monitoring technologies used in Augmented Microbial Sampling are shared between NASA and Roscosmos. The purpose is to provide a scientific basis for decisions about future microbial monitoring both on ISS through its extended life, and on other future human exploration spacecraft.

Airway Monitoring: Cristoforetti continues to stow Airway Monitoring hardware and returning EVA hardware that was removed from the AirLock in order to complete the Airway Monitoring operations.

General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator #5 (GLACIER #5): Virts performed desiccant pack swap on GLACIER #5 in preparation for SPX-6 cold stowage utilization.

Plant Rotation: Cristofotetti stowed the seeds to be used in the Plant Rotation experiment in the Freezer-Refrigerator Of STirling cycle (FROST) located in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR). This activity will decrease the ambient stowed germination rates until Plant Rotation runs #3 and #4 are scheduled in Inc 43/44.

Aniso Tubule: Cristoforetti prepared for the Aniso Tubule observations by retrieving a sample from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and setting up on the Aquatic Habitat microscope. The sample observation is started by ground commanding after sample installation and continues over 48 hours. Experimenters will examine growth modifications of Arabidopsis hypocotyls and the changing orientation of cortical microtubule under microgravity conditions in space. Scientists will further observe changes in dynamics of cortical microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins by observing Arabidopsis hypocotyls and microtubule-associated proteins with a fluorescence microscope

Area Passive Dosimeter for Life-Science Experiments in Space (Area PADLES): Cristoforetti removed 17 area dosimeters which have been attached in JPM and JLP and transferred the units to the Russian crew for return on 40S. JAXA Area PADLES is an investigation that uses area dosimeters to continuously monitor the radiation dose aboard the ISS. Radiation exposure can have significant biological effects on living organisms and on the biological investigations being done on ISS and on the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo. By installing area dosimeters at 17 fixed locations inside the Kibo Module, continuous area radiation monitoring can be provided throughout the ISS Kibo program. PADLES dosimeters measures absorbed doses, Linear Energy Transfer (LET) distributions and dose equivalents. The measurement of radiation environmental parameters in space is essential to support radiation risk assessment for astronauts and to be a benchmark of simulation codes of space radiation models for present and future human space activities.

Node 2 (N) Zenith International Docking Adapter (IDA) Cable Install: With assistance from Wilmore, Virts successfully completed the installation of the N2 IDA panel power cable, sensor cable, and ethernet cables in the N2 Forward Starboard and Port Endcones. The ISS Program plans to establish two docking ports on the US On-orbit Segment compatible with the International Docking System Standard (IDSS). In the future, the docking adapters will be installed onto the existing Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)-2 and PMA3 interfaces. Each adapter will permanently convert a passive Androgynous Peripheral Attachment System (APAS) docking interface into a passive IDSS interface.

Change of Command: A change of command ceremony was conducted to hand over command of the ISS from Wilmore to Virts. During this event, all 6 crew discussed with Mission Control Center (MCC)-Houston and MCC-Moscow flight control teams their roles and responsibilities for the timeframe between the change of command event and the departure of 40S.

Emergency Roles and Responsibilities Review: In preparation for 40S departure and 3-crew operations, Cristoforetti, Virts and Shkaplerov reviewed priorities during emergency response to achieve safety of the crew and safe configuration of the ISS. Topics included communication and coordination, ISS Commander responsibility, maintenance of Soyuz configuration and escape vehicle access.

False Smoke Alarm in Service Module (SM): At 5:45am CDT today, the “SM Smoke-RS” alarm annunciated. It cleared 35 seconds later. The crew confirmed no visual signs of smoke and no odors. Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustible Products (CSA-CP) readings were taken and were nominal. The RS crew was stowing the Local Commutator (???) that was removed from 40S on a neighboring panel which caused dust accumulation. MCC-M officially declared a false alarm.

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

HRF Saliva Collection
HRF Urine Sample Collection
Regeneration of ??? ?2 Micropurification Cartridge (start)
CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor
Russian Joint Research (RJR) – Collecting Surface Samples using SSK
Set up Video Equipment to Record Exercise Session
LBNP Exercise (CLOSEOUT).
RPDA Switch ESEM 3-2 OUT4 to FIX OFF
Stowage of Airway Monitoring Hardware
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
Crew Departure Prep
WRS Water Sample Analysis
Installation of Node 2 International Docking Adapter (IDA) Cables – Accessing
Plant Sample Insertion into FROST Freezer-Refrigerator
GLACIER5 – Desiccant Pack Swap
Data Prep for Return
Node 2 International Docking Adapter (IDA) Cables Installation
Dismantling ??? (??251??) and ROM from ?? 714 ??
Russian Joint Research (RJR) – ISS Microbial Air Samples
Handover of Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Samples
HRF – MELFI Sample Insertion
Prepacking of MAS/SSK Samples for Return
MSPR – Ultrasound Power On
Emergency Roles and Responsibilities Review
EHS – Handover of Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Samples
?? 714 Return Stowage
Microbial Sample Collection
BIOSIGNAL.
CQ Audio Reconfiguration
PAO Hardware Setup
Change of Command Ceremony
Sanitary-Epidemiological Status Monitoring
ANISO – Sample Prep for Observation
Node 2 International Docking Adapter (IDA) Cables Installation
HRF – Hardware Setup
IMS Delta File Prep
TOCA Data Recording
WRS – Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
CASKAD. Connecting Anabioz Incubator to ??? and Power Up
DOSIMETER – Area Dosimeter Removal
MATRYOSHKA-R. Transfer of PADLE Detectors and Handover for Return
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
CASKAD. Starting Anabioz No. 2 Battery Charge
?? 714 P/L Container Transfer Report
Signing ISS RS Handover Protocol
CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Node 2 International Docking Adapter (IDA) Cables Installation – Closeout Ops
Stowage of Camcorder for Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video
Check and maintain comm from ?? 714 via RGS (VHF2)
Regeneration of Micropurification unit (???) ?2 cartridge(end)
??? 714 [??] cool down prior to descent
Completed Task List Items

Crew departure prep (CDR)
Data prep return (CDR)
Journal Audio Entry (CDR)
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Battery Set 3B3 Capacity Test
GLACIER5 deactivation
JSL v5.1 transition [Scheduled this evening]
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Wednesday, 03/11: 40S undock, landing
Thursday, 03/12: Crew off duty
Friday, 03/13: JEM A/L leak check, MELFI3 cold box inspect
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – On
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – On
[???] 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) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full up