NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 3 June 2015 – 50 Years of Spacewalks

The six-member Expedition 43 crew conducted a variety of advanced microgravity science and performed spacesuit maintenance. U.S. astronauts Terry Virts and Scott Kelly also commemorated 50 years of operations in Houston’s Mission Control Center.
The orbital lab’s inhabitants explored a complex set of subjects in space including physics, biology and crew health. Flight Engineer Gennady Padalka studied plasma crystals which could benefit future spacecraft design. Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti continued her work with the Rodent Research experiment that could potentially lead to new drugs to treat diseases on Earth.

One-Year crew member Mikhail Kornienko was back at work on the Fluid Shifts study partnering with Kelly and Padalka. The trio took measurements as part of an investigation to better understand how microgravity impacts fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures.

On June 3, 1965, Mission Control Center in Houston began operations when Gemini IV lifted off for a four-day mission with astronauts James McDivitt and Ed White. America’s first spacewalk also took place during that mission when White floated out of the spacecraft attached to a 25-foot umbilical line and tether.

On-Orbit Status Report

Fluid Shifts: Fluid Shifts operations continued today in the Russian Service Module (SM). Kelly donned the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP/Chibis) device while Kornienko, with ground support in Moscow, assisted with medical monitoring. While Kelly was subjected to the negative pressure (pulling the fluid toward the feet), Padalka, with remote guidance in Houston, performed measurements with Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and Tonometry measurements. Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment that investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronaut’s eyes. Because the headward fluid shift is a hypothesized contributor to these changes, reversing this fluid shift with a lower body negative pressure device is investigated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

Haptics-2: Virts completed an On-Board Training (OBT) session and loaded the Haptics-2 software updates from Haptics-1 to Haptics-2. He then executed protocol one of two protocols. Haptics-2 is a technology demonstration experiment to validate for the first time a bilateral control interaction to take place between space and ground. Haptics-2 will compare the performance achievable through two different communication links: an IP forward link through Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) with substantial amount of time-delay and high bandwidth and, (B) a direct S-band link through the KONTUR-2 system which has a short time-delay and reduced bandwidth. Haptics-2 consists of 2 independent experiment protocols aimed at quantifying the performance characteristics of the two different communication channels between space and ground (pre-test) and aimed at demonstrating for the first time real bilateral teleoperation with force-feedback to take place between space and ground through both communication links.

Wearable Monitoring: Prior to sleep, Cristoforetti set up hardware and donned the Wearable Monitoring Vest for data acquisition during sleep. This is the final of six planned sessions. The experiment validates a new cloth vest that monitors astronaut heart rates and breathing patterns during sleep. It also collects data to investigate whether changes in heart activity are related to astronauts’ poor sleep quality. Current technology cannot check astronauts’ heart activity while they sleep because the test wakes them. The Wearable Monitor is a lightweight vest with silver wires and sensors embedded into the fabric, making it more comfortable to wear.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 3010 Fan Pump Separator (FPS) Remove & Replace (R&R): Virts and Cristoforetti completed Part 1 of 2 to R&R the failed FPS in EMU 3010. They set up the Airlock, retrieved and assembled the necessary equipment and prepared the EMU for the removal tomorrow. On Friday, the crew will pack the removed FPS for return on 41 Soyuz (41S).

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

FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Configure
FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage
HAPTICS-2 ops in rack mounted config
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Configure
Replace battery pack in CDM, activate and don CDM for CDM Crew Worn session
HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. RS HRF connection to ???-26 (instead of RSE-Med)
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
EDV (SV) Filling (Separation)
Fluid Shifts CCFP Service Module Configuration
EMU FPS R&R Part 1
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1
Fluid Shifts Experiment Service Module Data Collection Subject
Life On The Station Photo and Video
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Service Module Stow
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Power Off
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude And Stow
HRF Generic Urine Collection Stow
Replacement of Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System [???] Assemblies
On MCC Go Mating Vozdukh TLM-connectors
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
Cleaning FGB ??1 Circulation Fan Screens
European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) Pressure Relief Valve Check
LBNP Exercise (PRELIMINARY)
WPA Waste Water Tank Offload into CWC initiate
PAO HD config
PAO prep
PAO event
MELFI 2 Ice Brick Insert 2
Troubleshooting FGB Power Supply System and ???? devices
Rodent Research CASIS Dissection Gather
HAPTICS-2 1B and 2B protocols OBT
PK-4 Experiment Run
Hematocrit Hardware Setup
Configure ER5 laptop to point to the PEHG 2 Gateway to allow Remote Desktop access through Ku Forward
RGN Recycle Tank Fill
CB valve checkout
HAPTICS photo documentation
Crew departure prep
HAPTICS-2 protocol 1B ops [Aborted]
HAPTICS-2 ops conclude
Completed Task List Items

None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

FPS R&R ops
Fluid Shifts ops
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 06/04: FPS R&R Part 2, Fluid Shifts
Friday, 06/05: PMM cleanup, EVA FPS pack for return
Saturday, 06/06: Crew off duty, housekeeping
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) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up