NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 9 October 2014

Today: Cardio Ox (Human Research): Wiseman, acting as the Crew Medical Officer operator, took flight day 15 Blood pressure and ultrasound measurements of Wilmore.
The objective of Cardio Ox is to determine whether biological markers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after space flight and whether this results in an increased, long-term risk of atherosclerosis in astronauts. Twelve crewmembers will provide blood and urine samples to assess biomarkers before launch, 15 and 60 days after launch, 15 days before returning to Earth, and within days after landing. Ultrasound scans of the carotid and brachial arteries will be obtained at the same time points, as well as through 5 years after landing, as an indicator of cardiovascular health.

Rodent Research-1: The Crew gathered tools and conducted a procedure review for this weekend’s Rodent Research activity.

Cygnus Hardware Command Panel (HCP) and PROX Checkout: Following yesterday’s successful checkout of Proximity Communications System (PROX) string “B”, Gerst worked with ground teams in order to checkout string “A”. PROX is a wireless communications system that enables direct communications between the Cygnus spacecraft and ISS. Utilizing the HCP, ISS Crew has the ability to send commands for Cygnus to retreat to 30m or 100m below ISS, hold approach, free drift, and even abort during its final approach to the ISS. Cygnus Launch Commit Criteria Flight Rules require verification of two fully functional ISS PROX equipment strings prior to launch.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation: Gerst deconfigured EVA hardware that was used during EVA 27 and started to configure the hardware in order to support upcoming EVA 28. In addition, he performed an inspection of all safety and waist tethers and D-ring extenders for structural integrity. EVA 28 is currently scheduled to occur on October 15th in order to carry out a replacement of the Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) 3A.

ISS Emergency Drill On-Board Training (OBT): All six crewmembers participated in two emergency drill scenarios then conducted a debrief with ground teams. Today’s training included a rapid depressurization in the FGB for the 1st session, followed by a fire in Node 1 scenario in the 2nd session. The purpose of these drills is to practice ISS emergency responses based on information provided by a simulator. The crew physically translates through ISS to appropriate locations in order to visualize the use of station equipment and interfaces. They also practiced procedure execution and associated decision making, all while exercising communication skills with Mission Control Center (MCC) Houston and Moscow.

Lab Starboard ETVCG Light Checkout: Yesterday evening, Flight Controllers activated the Lab Starboard External Television Camera Group (ETVCG) Luminaire, which was installed during US EVA 27. The Luminaire check out was successful with expected current draw and visual confirmation.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Black Flakes: Recent on-orbit photographs of the WHC Pressure Relief EDV have shown the presence of small black flakes. These flakes are a potential concern for the WHC dose pump, and a possible contributor or symptom of the WHC dose pump failure experienced on October 3rd. Ground teams are working on a forward plan to investigate, meanwhile WHC continues to operate nominally.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

RR-CASIS – Experiment Ops
Installation of ???-1? SW
DC1 and ??? preparation for EVA
CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor
D2XS Battery Charge
PTV – Starting Battery Charge
Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Battery Recharge Terminate
DC1 and ??? preparation for EVA
HAM Radio Session
USND2 – Hardware Setup and Activation
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS): Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
CARDOX – Preparation Steps, Hardware Setup, Parameter Setting, Scanning, & Blood Pressure Operations
RGN – Initiate drain into EDV
Communication checkout via JEM S/G from SSIPC and MCC-H
US EVA Tool Preparation
RGN – Terminate drain into EDV
EVA Tool Config
???-1. Relaksatsiya P/L Battery Charge
WRS Water Sample Analysis
DC1 and ??? preparation for EVA
Crew Prep for TV Conference
TV-Conference with Schoolchildren from Chuvashia and Kaluga (Ku+S-band)
PTV – Charger Battery Swap
D2XS Battery Charge
TV Conference with the Head of Roscosmos and Saturday News Show Host
Training for Emergency Response On-board ISS.
Emergency Response On-board ISS Crew Debrief
TOCA Data Recording
PTV – Charger Battery Swap
D2Xs EVA Camera Configuration for EVA [Aborted]
EVA Tool Config
EMU LIB battery Charge (end)
EMU Battery/Metal Oxide (METOX) Installation
RELAKSATSIYA. Mounting hardware on CQ window No.1.
Cygnus Hardware Command Panel (HCP) Checkout for BSP-A and TRX-A before Berthing
RR – Tool Gathering
IMS Delta File Prep
Cygnus PROX and ??? Power Activation
PTV – Charger batteries removal and temp stowage
OBT ISS Emergency Response Conference
Completed Task List Items

ISS Crew Handover [In Work]
Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

PROX String “A” Check Out
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 10/10: Zebra Fish Water Maintenance, EVA Doug and Procedure Review, Rodent Research
Saturday, 10/11: Crew Off Duty, EVA Tool config
Sunday, 10/12: EVA Tool Config, Rodent Research
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 – 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