NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 August 2017 – SpaceX Cargo Resupply Mission on Track for Monday Launch

The Expedition 52 crew members pulled out their medical hardware today for a variety of eye checks and other biomedical research. The station residents are also making space and packing up gear for next week’s cargo delivery aboard the SpaceX Dragon.
The crew each participated in a series of eye exams throughout Thursday working with optical coherence tomography (OCT) gear. OCT is a medical imaging technique that captures imagery of the retina using light waves. A pair of cosmonauts then peered into a fundoscope for a more detailed look at the eye’s interior. The regularly scheduled eye checks were conducted with real-time input from doctors on the ground.

SpaceX completed a static fire test of its Falcon 9 rocket today at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon cargo craft will be perched atop the Falcon 9 for a targeted launch Monday at 12:31 p.m. EDT.

Once in space, Dragon will conduct a series of orbital maneuvers navigating its way to the station Wednesday morning. Finally, Dragon will reach its capture point ten meters away from the complex. From there, astronauts Jack Fischer and Paolo Nespoli will command the Canadarm2 to reach out and grapple Dragon. Next, ground controllers remotely guide Dragon still attached to the Canadarm2 and install it to the Harmony module.

The crew is clearing space on the International Space Station today and packing gear to stow on Dragon after it arrives next week. NASA TV begins its pre-launch coverage Sunday covering Dragon’s science payloads. Monday’s launch coverage begins at noon. NASA TV will also broadcast Dragon’s arrival Wednesday beginning at 5:30 a.m.

On-Orbit Status Report

Circadian Rhythms: A crewmember removed the Armband Monitor and the Thermolab Unit mounted to their belt, completing 36 hours of monitoring for the Circadian Rhythms investigation. Circadian Rhythms investigates the role of synchronized circadian rhythms, or the “biological clock,” and how it changes during long-duration spaceflight. Researchers hypothesize that a non-24-hour cycle of light and dark affects crew members’ circadian clocks. The investigation also addresses the effects of reduced physical activity, microgravity and an artificially controlled environment. Changes in body composition and body temperature, which also occur in microgravity, can affect crew members’ circadian rhythms as well. Understanding how these phenomena affect the biological clock will improve performance and health for future crew members.

Utilization Preparations for SpaceX-12 Arrival: In preparation for SpX-12 arrival scheduled for August 16th, crewmembers relocated all three Space Automated Bioproduct Lab (SABL) units and the Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Experiment Laptop Terminal. They also removed the Phase Change Heat eXchanger (PCHX) locker for return.

Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis: The crew completed a final inventory audit for RR-5. They then stowed some items and trashed others.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday and overnight, Robotics Ground Controllers translated the Mobile Transporter (MT) from Worksite 7 (WS7) to WS3. The team then powered up the MSS and maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) to use SPDM Arm2 to transfer the empty Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM) from SPDM Enhanced Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Temporary Platform (EOTP) Side 2 to External Stowage Platform 2 (ESP2) Site 4. Finally, controllers stowed the SPDM on Mobile Base System (MBS) Power Data Grapple Fixture 2 (PDGF2).

Ku Band Contingency Command and Telemetry (CCT) Checkout: In response to the loss of S-Band redundancy due to the loss of power to the S-Band-2 transponder, ground teams completed a checkout of the Ku-Band CCT command and voice capability. During the test all control centers, including Sp-X Mission Control, successfully sent test commands to ISS via Ku-Band. Additionally, Ku-Band voice between ISS and MCC-Moscow was verified in the event this is needed during the upcoming Russian Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA).

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

Video recording for KOROLYOV TV channel
Greetings Video Recording
Test video recording for RT channel
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos web site and social media
URAGAN. Observation and Photography
ECON-M. Observation and photography
Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Setup
Circadian Rhythms Deinstrumentation w. Armband
JEM Airlock Press
Space Automated Bioproduct Lab Unit Relocate
Photography of the ??-2 treadmill belt edge and screen form of Belt tab
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
Phase Change HX Circuit Breaker OFF
Measuring CO level in RS using US portable CSA-CP device
Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject
Fine Motor Skills Historical Documentation Photography
Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron or ???-??.
JEM Airlock Leak Check
EVA Medical Kit Configuration
Health Maintenance System (HMS) – OCT Exam
Preparing Orlan Comm and Telemetry Assets
Checkout of BETA-08 Data Output Device (???) using Gamma-1M Equipment
Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Removal
Orlan and ??? Telemetry Check. Orlan comm check and medical parameter test
JEM TEPC Ethernet Cable Reconfiguration
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Coliform Water Sample Analysis 44 +/- 4 hours post processing
Node 2 Nadir Hatch Unlatch
CMS Max CEVIS with PPFS Power Up
Comm reconfig into initial after Orlan comm. check
Kazbek-?? Fit Check in Soyuz 735
Robotics Work Station (RWS) Display and Control Panel (DCP) Powerup
Health Maintenance System (HMS) – OCT Exam
MSPR ELT Relocation
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Subject
Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) Nitrogen Manual Valve Open/Close
Handover of Increment 52 Crew
Ku-band Contingency Command and Telemetry Checkout
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Partial Stow
Circadian Rhythms Armband Stow
Health Maintenance System (HMS) – OCT Exam
Symbolic Activity
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Kit Sample Collection
Handover of Increment 52 Crew
Phase Change HX Locker Remove
Payload NAS Hard Drive Swap
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Surface Sample Kit (SSK) Collection/Incubation
Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Stow
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Stow Operation
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Setup
Rodent Research MELFI Insert [ACTIVE]
Space Automated Bioproduct Lab 3, Unit Relocation
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Prep
ISS Crew Orientation
Health Maintenance System (HMS) CMO – Fundoscope
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Exam – Fundoscope
Max Cycle Ergometer w/ Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Partial Set Up
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Tear Down and Stow

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
50S EHDC Survey
SSRMS walkoff to N2 [ACTIVE]
Ku-Band Contingency Command and Telemetry Checkout

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 08/11: CMS MAX CEVIS, SPHERES ops, 51S unpack, mobiPV checkout
Saturday, 08/12: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 08/13: Crew off duty

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 – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off