NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 11 May 2015

The crew of Expedition 43 spent much of the day on Monday working on experiments that will be coming home on SpaceX’s Dragon vehicle later this month.
NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Terry Virts studied the effects of microgravity on living organisms for the Rodent Research experiment. They are looking at mice and how their body systems change in space. The results may promote the development of new drugs tackling the effects of aging and disease on Earth.

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti configured one of the station’s Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubators (MERLIN) for return on Dragon. She also transferred a number of other items into the unmanned cargo craft. Dragon is scheduled to depart the space station on May 21.

On-Orbit Status Report

Rodent Research-2 Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (RR-2 CASIS): Kelly and Virts successfully performed the third set of four sample collections, including use of the recently recovered Bone Densitometer. Kelly was the primary operator while Virts assisted, placing samples in containment then in Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer in ISS (MELFI). The crew completed their tasks ahead of schedule, and Virts executed tomorrow’s access unit cleaning today. The primary objective of this research is to monitor the effects of the space environment on the musculoskeletal and neurological systems of mice as model organisms of human health and disease.

Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/Incubator (MERLIN) Preparation for SpaceX (SpX)-6 Descent: Earlier this morning, Cristoforetti configured the MERLIN in Express Rack (ER)-6 Locker 2 for SpX-6 descent. She removed the internal items, disconnected power and data cables and double water lines. She then removed the MERLIN from the ER.

Node 3 (N3) Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Status: Last Friday, the crew installed new N3 CDRA beds and 2 new Air Selector Valves (ASV’s). Ground attempts to activate CDRA following completion of the maintenance were unsuccessful. The error message received during an Active Built-in-Test (ABIT) indicates that the Blower/Pre-Cooler fan, which was not one of the R&Rd items, is not responding. Troubleshooting will be scheduled on the crew later this week.

Dragon Transfer Operations: Cristoforetti spent a significant portion of her day performing Dragon transfer operations. SpX-6 is scheduled to unberth from the ISS on May 21.

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

Absorption Cartridge Regeneration (start) / SM Atmosphere Revitalization System
RGN REC-TNK – pressure release hose for nominal ops disposal
RR- experiment, part 1?
Rodent experiment ops overview
Antivirus software update on ??? laptops / r/g 8247
RR- experiment, part 1?
EDV (???) fill (separation) for Elektron r/g 8704
RR – freezer centrifuge setup
RR- rodent bones density scanning
Fine Motor Skills – experiment ops
RR- MELFI 1 sample insert
SOZh Maintenance
RR – MELFI sample insert 2
MRLN2 – hardware gather for return on Dragon
RR- rodent bones density scanning
RR- MELFI sample insert 3
ISS ROS crew clothes inventory / r/g 8777
RR – MELFI sample insert 4
RR – freezer centrifuge reconfiguration
RR- experiment, part 1?
CMS – HRM – files transfer from iPAD
Recycling tank fill [Aborted]
RR – final ops
RR – MELFI 5 sample insert
Dragon – cargo transfer ops
SEISMOPROGNOZ Data downlink from ???? HD (start) r/g 8755
Dust filters replacement in FGB
ISS ROS crew clothes inventory / r/g 8778
Life in ISS – photo/vodeo shooting / r/g 8544
Recycling Tank fill
WRS – water samples analyzes
Dragon – cargo transfer ops
RR- experiment ops, part 2?
RR- experiment ops, part 2?
ISS ROS crew clothes inventory / r/g 8779
?-? tank and [???] hose replacement, [???] activation after replacement / r/g 8786
SEISMOPROGNOZ Data downlink from ???? HD (end) r/g 8755
Greetings video shooting / r/g 8776
RR- rodent bone density scanning
Dragon – cargo transfer conference
???-3 Smoke Detectors Replacement in MRM1 r/g 8773
RR- MELFI sample insert 6
ARED rope lubricating
RR – MELFI sample insert 7
IMS update
RR- rodent bone density scanning
RR – MELFI sample insert 8
RR – MELFI sample insert 9
IRIDIUM?? #715 phone battery recharge – setup, recharge start
RR- rodent bone density scanning
RR – MELFI sample insert 10
IRIDIUM #715 phone battery recharge – batteries (???) recharge monitoring
IRIDIUM #715 phone battery recharge – termination
RR – MELFI sample insert 11
IRIDIUM #716 phone battery recharge – start
RR – freezer centrifuga reconfiguration
TOCA – data recording
RR- hardware stowage
IRIDIUM #716 phone battery recharge
IRIDIUM #716 phone battery recharge – termination
Stow hardware in ???1???_2_224_1, CTB ?1017 (002857J), Soft Container
RR- experiment ops, part 2?
RR – final ops
RR – MELFI 12 sample insertion
RGN – water drainage to EDV (start)
Exercise data downlink / r/g 6797
RGN – water drainage to EDV (term)
??? ?1 Absorption Cartridge Regeneration (term) / SM Atmosphere Revitalization System
Completed Task List Items

CCE-Galaxy Gala
Journals
COL XF305 camcorder troubleshooting
PAO downlink messages
SSC12 battery swap
Viable photo
WHC EDV lid torque
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Rodents Research ops
Battery 2B3 Reconditioning [In Work]
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Tuesday, 05/12: Twin Studies, Fine Motor Skills, RR fixative swap/unit cleaning, N2 charcoal filter install, RRM h/w removal, cargo transfer
Wednesday, 05/13: Twin Studies, RR habitat stow, MDCA h/w replace, SAM install
Thursday, 05/14: N3 Power reconfiguration, HXP sampling
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”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Standby
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 – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up