NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 13 November 2013
Today: US Segment Crew Handover: Hopkins continued a handover with newly arrived crewmembers Flight Engineer (FE)-5 Mastracchio and FE-6 Wakata. Topics included recommendations for on-orbit practices, lessons learned, and familiarization of ISS Systems and Payloads within each USOS module.
Ocular Health (OH): As part of his Flight Day 10 session, Wakata completed his vision test and with assistance from FE-3 Hopkins as an operator, his blood pressure was measured. Hopkins, performing as the Crew Medical Officer (CMO), next practiced using the Tonometer on an eye simulator and then conducted a Tonometry examination of Wakata’s eyes with support from Ground personnel. The Ocular Health protocol calls for a systematic gathering of physiological data to characterize the risk of microgravity-induced visual impairment/intracranial pressure in ISS crewmembers. Researchers believe that the measurement of visual, vascular and central nervous system changes over the course of this experiment and during the subsequent postflight recovery will assist in the development of countermeasures, clinical monitoring strategies and clinical practice guidelines.
Replacement of Igniter Tips for the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) Flame Extinguishment (FLEX) Experiment: Today FE-3 Hopkins replaced MDCA igniter tips with tips brought up on the 37 Soyuz (37S) vehicle. This activity is in support of the FLEX experiment, which uses small droplets of fuel to study the special burning characteristics of fire in space. Observations are made of the rate and manner in which fuel is burned, the conditions that are necessary for soot to form, and the way in which a mixture of fuels evaporate before burning. The results from these experiments will provide insight into how fires behave in space and will provide important information that may be useful in increasing the fuel efficiency of engines using liquid fuels.
Elektron Status: In preparation for Russian Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #36 this past weekend, the oxygen generation system (Elektron) in the Russian Segment was turned off. On Sunday, the Elektron failed to restart on both the primary and back up micropumps. The crew attempted to restart the Elektron again today, but both micropumps failed again. Ground teams asked the crew to stand down from further Elektron operations while they assess future troubleshooting. Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) within Node 3 is currently operating nominally and is able to support a full crew on its own.
Conjunction with Object 28862 (CZ-4B Debris) Status: Ground teams are tracking a possible conjunction with Object 28862 (CZ-4B Debris). The conjunction is of Medium concern due to the relatively low radial miss distance and limited data. If a PDAM is required, downstream visiting vehicle traffic will not be impacted. Ground teams are collecting additional tracking data. Object 28862 (CZ-4B Debris) is a rocket body from a Chinese “Earth Resources” satellite (ZIYUAN-2 3) launched on a Long March 4B rocket on November 6, 2004 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern Shanxi province.
Today’s Planned Tasks
SM ??? (Caution & Warning Panel) Test [Complete]
Laptop RS2(1) Reboot [Complete]
TORU test with mated ??? 420. [Complete]
CIR – Hardware Gather [Complete]
ISS Crew/SSIPC FD Conference [Complete]
MSG – Visual inspection [Complete]
Regeneration of ??? ?1 Micropurification Cartridge (start) [Complete]
Handover [Complete]
EVA tool stow, update IMS [Complete]
Elektron Repair and Recovery [Complete]
VIRTUAL. Set up, Conduct Experiment and Closeout Ops [Complete]
HMS Visual Testing Activity [Complete]
WRS Water Sample Analysis [Complete]
INSPACEE3 – Hardware Stowage [Complete]
G1 – Camcorder Setup [Complete]
FACET – Cell Removal [Complete]
ICE CRYSTAL2. Ice Cell Installation [Complete]
SPHERES – Hardware Stow after the experiment
MSG – Hardware Deactivation [Complete]
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation [Complete]
Ocular Health (OH) Blood Pressure Operations [Complete]
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Tonometry Test Setup [Complete]
Ocular Health (OH) Blood Pressure Operations [Complete]
Ocular Health (OH) Tonometry Test – assistance [Complete]
Tonometry Exam [Complete]
??? Maintenance [Complete]
Tonometry Test, Stowage [Complete]
G1 – Closeout Ops [Complete]
TOCA Data Recording [Complete]
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation [Complete]
PAO Hardware Setup [Complete]
Crew Prep for PAO [Complete]
PAO Event [Complete]
CIR – Maintenance Work Area Prep [Complete]
4K Camera Operations [Complete]
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation [Complete]
??? 710 Rassvet ??? System Checkout(via S-band) [Complete]
Terminate 1st Orlan 825?3 Battery Pack discharge [Complete]
CIR – Video Setup and Rack Doors Open [Complete]
CIR Front End Cap Open [Complete]
MDCA – Hardware Replacement [Complete]
SHD – Weekly Questionnaire [Complete]
CIR Front End Cap Close [Complete]
CIR – Rack Doors Close [Complete]
Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation [Complete]
EKAM Lens Change [Complete]
Daily Questionnaire [Complete]
HAM Radio Session [Complete]
??? ?1 Absorption Cartridge Regeneration (termination) [Complete]
Task List
ARED Cylinder Evacuation [Complete]
???-? R&R
KTO Replace
EVA Tool Stow
ECON-M. Observations and Photography
URAGAN. Observations and Photography
Preparation of reports for Roskosmos site
Cygnus Pregather [In Work]
D2X Camera Sensor Cleaning
Ground
Nominal Commanding [Complete]
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 11/14: Crew orientation, OBT-emergency mask review, emergency hardware familiarization, 37S unpack, EVA cleanup, Ocular Health, SODI DCS Setup
Friday, 11/15: Crew handover/orientation, Ocular Health, SSOD install/prep, J-4K encoder c/o
Saturday, 11/16: Crew Off Duty
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – Off
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 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 – Off
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
