NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 4 August 2014

Today: Binary Colloidal Alloy Test (BCAT)-Canada 1 (C1) Image Transfer: Commander (CDR) Swanson transferred BCAT-C1 images, set the camera intervalometer and verified the camera was set up to take images of the BCAT-C1 samples.
The sample contains a more viscous fluid which requires more mixing on-orbit than previous samples. BCAT-KP provides a platform for material and industrial scientists to investigate colloid phase changes, providing results that may be used to develop new colloidal materials and formulations with unique properties. The results may support new applications, from new liquid crystals to consumer goods having longer shelf life and uses. BCAT-C1 studies nano-scale particles dispersed in liquid, known as a colloidal suspension, commonly found in such commercial commodities as paint, electronic polishing compounds and food products.

Radi-N2 Neutron Field Study (Radi-N2): Swanson deployed eight bubble detectors around the ISS for the Radi-N2 experiment. The objective of this investigation is to better characterize the ISS neutron environment and define the risk posed to the crewmembers’ health and provide the data necessary to develop advanced protective measures for future space flight.

Resist Tubule: Swanson retrieved resist tubule chambers from the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) and injected water into the tubule chambers. Afterward, the chambers were reinserted into MELFI. Resist Tubule clarifies the mechanisms of gravity resistance which is a principal gravity response in plants and plays an important role in the transition of plant ancestors from an aquatic environment to a terrestrial environment (about 450 million years ago), and in the consequent establishment of land plants. This present study clarifies the mechanisms of gravity resistance, in particular the processes from signal transformation and transduction, to response.

Burning and Suppression of Solids (BASS)-II Operations: Flight Engineer (FE)-6 Gerst completed flame tests for the BASS-II investigation which examines the burning and extinction characteristics of a wide variety of fuel samples in microgravity, and guide strategies for materials flammability screening for use in spacecraft as well as provide valuable data on solid fuel burning behavior in microgravity. Today, Gerst completed eight tests of seven previously burned samples made of fabric and acrylic. The tests were conducted at ambient ISS air. BASS-II results contribute to the combustion computational models used in the design of fire detection and suppression systems in microgravity and on Earth.

Capillary Channel Flow (CCF) Preparation: FE-5 Wiseman reviewed a CCF On-Board Training (OBT) prior to gathering CCF hardware. Tomorrow, BASS-II will be removed from the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) and CCF will be installed in its place.

Circadian Rhythms: Over the weekend Gerst donned the Circadian Rhythms hardware to start a 36 hour data take. The main objective of the experiment is to get a better basic understanding of any alterations in circadian rhythms in humans during long-term space flights. This data will provide important insights into the adaptations of the human autonomic nervous system in space over time, but also has significant practical implications by helping to improve physical exercise, rest- and work shifts as well as fostering adequate workplace illumination in the sense of occupational healthcare in future space missions.

FLame Extinguishment Experiment (FLEX)-2 Operations: Swanson removed the Combustion Integration Rack (CIR) alignment guides, which isolated the rack and allowed ground teams to start another FLEX-2 test point via ground commanding. FLEX-2 uses small droplets of fuel to study the special burning characteristics of fire in space. The FLEX-2 experiment studies 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 give scientists a better understanding how fires behave in space and will provide important information that will be useful in increasing the fuel efficiency of engines using liquid fuels.

Extravehicular Activity Preparations: Swanson and Wiseman reviewed the Portable Onboard Computers (POC) Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) software in preparation for Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) operations. They configured tools needed for EVA 27 and with assistance from Gerst, Swanson and Wiseman reviewed required steps to take if water in the helmet becomes an issue. Finally, they set up the Enhanced Caution and Warning System (ECWS) On Board Trainer and reviewed operation of Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) ECWS and practiced EVA cuff checklist procedures.

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)-5 Docking Preparations: Gerst and FE-1 Skvortsov performed a rendezvous and docking drill in preparation for ATV5 docking on August 12.

ATV Propulsion Drive Electronics PDE Status: An Off-nominal Operations Board (OOB) convened at ATV-Control Center (ATV-CC) Saturday to review the PDE Chain 1 shutdown that occurred on July 30. The ESA Engineering Support Team (EST) concluded that the cause of the automatic shutdown was a higher than expected voltage reading in the PDE avionics but that the PDE itself has full functionality. This morning, ATV-CC successfully re-integrated PDE1 in the chain and ATV is back in nominal configuration with 4 PDEs available.

Today’s Planned Tasks

RSS1, 2, Reboot / r/g 1009 [Complete]
Laptop RS1(2) Reboot [Complete]
SM ??? (Caution & Warning Panel) [Complete]
Daily Planning Conference (S-band) [Complete]
CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 6238 [Complete]
MSG – Visual inspection and activation [Complete]
CIR – Hardware Teardown [Complete]
Set up video equipment to record ARED exercise [Complete]
24-hour ECG (start) / r/g 6269 [Complete]
DC1 ??1 Hatch Push Tool R&R / r/g 6467 [Complete]
??? Maintenance [Complete]
Terminate BSA Battery Maintenance Cycle [Complete]
Start BSA Battery Maintenance Cycling [Complete]
RGN-REC TK – Transfer and Replacement [Complete]
EVA-39 procedures, preliminary timeline review, Viewing DVD. r/g 6268 [Complete]
??? 423 (DC1) Transfers and IMS Ops / ??? 423 Transfers (???) + r/g 6203 [Complete]
DOUG Software Review [Complete]
BASS Operations Preparation [Complete]
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification [Complete]
EMU – Wet Helmet Training [Complete]
??? 423 (DC1) Transfers and IMS Ops / ??? 423 Cargo Transfers (???) + r/g 6203 [Complete]
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification [Complete]
CCF – Hardware Gather [Complete]
BASS – Test Ops [Complete]
BCAT-C1 – Image Transfer and Camera Intervalometer Set [Complete]
Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-C1 SFU Sample Setup 2 [Complete]
EVA Tool Config [Complete]
ATV Approach and Docking T/L OBT. r/g 6255 [Complete]
Labeling Light Units in SM and MRM2 / r/g 6273 [Complete]
ATV Approach and Docking Malfunctions OBT. r/g 6253, 6256 [Complete]
VZAIMODEISTVIE. Experiment run/ r/g 5391 [Complete]
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification [Complete]
MATRYOSHKA-R. Gathering and Initialization of Bubble-Dosimeter Detectors. r/g 6280 [Complete]
RADIN – Handover of Detectors to RS [Complete]
MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeters to USOS / r/g 6280 [Complete]
RADIN – Deployment for Exposure [Complete]
MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter initialization and deployment for exposure. r/g 6280 [Complete]
EMU ECWS OBT [Complete]
RST – Kit Retrieval from MELFI [Complete]
RST – Filling samples with water [Complete]
RST – Sample MELFI Insertion [Complete]
Study of Cardiovascular System Under Graded Physical Load on VELO. [Complete]
Exercise data downlink / r/g 5929 [Complete]
BASS Closeout Ops [Complete]
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification [Complete]
ASEPTIC. Samples photo after incubation. r/g 6281 [Complete]
IMS Delta File Prep [Complete]
URISYS Hardware Setup [Complete]
ASEPTIC Photo Edit and Downlink / r/g 6281 [Complete]
CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 6238 [Complete]
Test activation of Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System Emergency Vacuum Valves [Complete]
JRNL – Journal Entry [Complete]
Daily Planning Conference (S-band) [Complete]
MSG – Glovebox Power Down [Complete]
Task List

ARED Cylinder Evac
Earth imagery
WHC KTO replace
WHC-???-? R&R
Roscosmos Report
COMMD Task Questions CDR, FE-5
3DA1 cam ops
ARED detent flip
Data prep return CDR, FE-1, FE-2
EHS IV TEPC T/S
NOD1OP4-LHA R&R [Complete]
US EVA procedures review
IWIS RSU check
SSCV5 USB card reader
ST Time read
56P unpack [Active]
Cygnus transfer cargo ops
Ground

Nominal commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Tuesday, 08/05: ATV OBT, SAFER OBT, BASS stow
Wednesday, 08/06: Robonaut
Thursday, 08/07: ATV OBT, ETVCG/light assembly for EVAs, Robonaut, BCAT
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 – Stop
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