NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 May 2019 – Kidney Cells Experiment

The Expedition 59 crew focused intensely on human research today to improve the health of people on Earth and in space.
The residents aboard the International Space Station are busy exploring how the human body and other organisms adapt to space helping NASA prepare to go to the moon by 2024.

Astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain split Friday checking on the Kidney Cells experiment seeking innovative treatments for kidney stones, osteoporosis and toxic chemical exposures. Counteracting the space-exacerbated symptoms is critical to the success of a long-term spaceflight to the moon and Mars.

McClain started her day with Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Alexey Ovchinin researching space-caused head and eye pressure. The quartet tested a specialized suit, the Lower Body Negative Pressure suit, that reverses the upward flow of blood and other fluids toward an astronaut’s head. The crewmates also participated in ultrasound scans of their eyes and veins for the long-running Fluid Shifts study.

In addition, a pair of Canadian and Japanese robotic arms on the station are coordinating to swap external payloads over the weekend. Two Earth and space research facilities inside the SpaceX Dragon’s trunk are being removed for installation on the station. An older atmospheric experiment that has completed its mission will be placed back in Dragon’s trunk.

The Canadarm2 robotic arm removed the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) from the Dragon’s unpressurized trunk. It handed off the OCO-3, a global carbon detection device, to Japan’s smaller robotic arm for installation on the Kibo lab module’s external pallet. Next, the Canadarm2 will extract and install the Space Test Program-Houston 6 hardware for space physics research on the station’s truss structure.

Finally, Japan’s robotic arm attached to Kibo will hand off the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) to the Canadarm2 for installation in Dragon’s trunk. Before Dragon splashes down in the Pacific at the end of May, its trunk with CATS inside will separate during reentry and burn up over Earth’s atmosphere.

A SpaceX Dragon resupply ship delivered CATS in January of 2015 for robotic installation on Kibo’s external pallet. CATS successfully demonstrated low cost atmospheric monitoring techniques from the station.

On-Orbit Status Report

CSA/Bioanalyzer: Using the Cellular Labeling and Biomarker instruments of the Bio-Analyzer, the crew initiated an analysis of a control sample.The hardware was powered and the crew ran a control sample. Although the International Space Station (ISS) is equipped with health and life sciences research tools, existing instrumentation for the analysis of biological samples is almost completely lacking as compared to capabilities found in laboratories on Earth. To address this issue, the Bio-Analyzer Commissioning activity tests the Bio-Analyzer facility, which was specifically developed to quantify molecules and cells in body fluids such as blood, urine or saliva. The analysis is conducted on blood samples collected through a finger prick and the instrument provides the data within 2 hours after blood collection.

Combustion Integration Rack (CIR)/Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME): The crew replaced the ACME Igniter Tip and installed the ACME Short Thermocouple Array, which will allow the continuation of the ACME/Flame Design investigation.The Flame Design investigation studies the production and control of soot to optimize oxygen-enriched combustion and the design of robust, soot-free flames. Soot can adversely affect efficiency, emissions, and equipment lifetime, so this may lead to more efficient and cleaner burner designs. The experiment is conducted with spherical flames of gaseous fuels in the CIR as part of the ACME project. Flame Design is one of five experiments hosted by CIR/ACME.

Cryo chiller Desiccant Remove: The crew removed one desiccant pouch from each of the four openings of the Cryo Chiller Sample Cartridge. Cryo Chiller operates in an EXPRESS Rack and provides a configurable interface at -185°C that accommodates a variety of sample types plus provides flexibility for custom sample configurations if desired. It provides convenient ambient temperature stowage adjacent to the cold volume, so additional hardware may be co-located during crew operations. The unit provides capability for transportation using Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) vehicles at temperatures currently unavailable (approximately -160°C at 75W).

Fluid Shifts Chibis Ops: Two crewmembers performed the second of two days of their Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) data collection. Fluid Shifts is a NASA investigation, divided into Dilution Measurements, Baseline Imaging, and Imaging with Chibis. The Chibis hardware is used to perform the LBNP part of the experiment. The Fluid Shifts experiment investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronauts’ eyes. Because the headward fluid shift is a hypothesized contributor to these changes, reversing this fluid shift with a LBNP device is being evaluated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and prevention of eye damage.

Kidney cells: The crew removed Kidney Cells hardware from Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory (SABL) and performed the media change inside Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG). Effects of Microgravity on the Structure and Function of Proximal and Distal Tubule Microphysiological System (MPS), or Kidney Cells, examines how kidney health is affected by microgravity and other factors of space travel, including increased chemical exposure, water conservation and recycling, and altered dietary intake. Serious medical conditions caused by poor kidney health, including protein in the urine (proteinuria), osteoporosis, and kidney stones, occur more often and more quickly in space. Knowledge gained can help protect the health of astronauts and also contribute to better treatments for kidney related conditions on Earth.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)-3: Last night Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) and maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) to extract OCO-3 from the Dragon trunk. The MSS then handed off OCO-3 to the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Remote Manipulator System (RMS) which was used to install OCO-3 on the JEM Exposed Facility (JEM-EF). The payload was subsequently activated successfully. Commissioning activities have begun and will continue for 90 days. The OCO-3 will enable carbon dioxide (CO2) observations from the JEM-EF aboard the ISS. The space instrument is designed to investigate questions about the distribution of carbon dioxide on Earth as it relates to growing urban populations and changing patterns of fossil fuel combustion.

Completed Task List Activities:
None

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
OCO-3 robotics
JEMAL ops

Look Ahead:
Saturday, 05/11 (GMT 131):

Payloads:
HRF/Repository
LSG decontamination
Microalgae
JAXA/Mouse Mission maintenance

Systems:
Crew off duty; housekeeping
PAO Symbolic

Sunday, 05/12 (GMT 132):

Payloads:
Astrobee
BCM
Genes in Space-6
Kidney Cells
Microalgae
MVP Cell-01
PAUL
Repository

Systems:
None

Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Kidney Cells Media Kit Retrieve
FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting Ultrasound Equipment to РБС and РБС power up
ISS Experience Solid State Drive Changeout
FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment
MICRO ALGAE Culture Bag Daily Deploy
ISS Experience JEM Setup
Environmental Health System (EHS) Personal CO2 Monitor Data Transfer and Stow
On MCC GO FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage
JEM Airlock Depressurization
FLUID SHIFTS. Don Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance with LBNP vacuum set (ПВК) CHIBIS and [KMA-01] Medical Hardware Set operations
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Power On And Preparation
ПХО and DC1 config for EVA
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan Operator 1
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan Subject
ISS Experience Introduction Recording
Kidney Cells Media Change
FLUID SHIFTS. Doff Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Don Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance with LBNP vacuum set (ПВК) CHIBIS and [KMA-01] Medical Hardware Set operations
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Preparation
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan Operator
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan Subject
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Fluid Shifts RSOS Operations Historical Documentation Photography
Combustion Integrated Rack Hardware Gather
FLUID SHIFTS. Doff Chibis
Bio-Analyzer Sample MELFI Retrieval
Kidney Cells MELFI Insert 1
Bio-Analyzer Session Setup Partial
Kidney Cells Post-Media Change Ops
FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of РБС and Disconnecting USND P/L from РБС
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Bio-Anaylzer Maintenance Work Area Preparation
JEM Airlock Vent
Bio-Analyzer Microchip Preparation And Control Sample Analysis
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Stow
Kidney Cells Media Kit Retrieve
Bio-Analyzer Historical Documentation Photography
ISS Experience Hardware Relocate
JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation
ПХО and DC1 config for EVA
FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of КСПЭ Equipment and Closing Applications on Central Post SSC
FLUID SHIFTS. Comm reconfig for nominal ops
Preventive Maintenance of FS1 Laptop (Cleaning and rebooting)
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
Semi-annual BRI maintenance
PAO Preparation
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
Combustion Integrated Rack Rack Doors Open
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
Combustion Integrated Rack Front End Cap Open
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Kidney Cells Media Change
ACME Hardware Replace
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Testing Inter-modular connectivity (after semi-annual BRI maintenance)
Emergency RS ISS VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS
Water Resource Management Condensate Tank Offload Initialization
MPEG-2 Multicast Video Streaming Test, Deactivation of КСПЭ Equipment and Closing Applications on Central Post SSC (without broadcasting vide data to MCC)
Water Resource Management Condensate Tank Offload Termination
Fluid Shifts Hardware Final Gather
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Hardware Transfer
Kidney Cells MELFI Insert 1
Fluid Shifts Hardware USOS Transfer
Kidney Cells Post-Media Change Ops
Combustion Integrated Rack Front End Cap Close
Fluid Shifts HRF PC 3 Reconnect
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Setup And Power On From Cargo Transfer Bag
Combustion Integrated Rack Rack Doors Close
Combustion Integrated Rack Hardware Return
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Bio-Analyzer Biomarker Microchip Analysis
Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination
CONTROL. Switching Indicator-ISS P/L measuring modes
Prep for Commemorative Activity
Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Termination
MICRO ALGAE Culture Bag Daily Stow
Cryo Desiccant Remove
Fluid Shifts Hardware Stow
ISS Experience Hardware Stow
Bio-Analyzer Session Conclude