NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 October 2019 – Spacewalk Battery Replacement

Expedition 61 Flight Engineers Andrew Morgan and Christina Koch of NASA will continue the series of spacewalks outside of the International Space Station at about 7:50 a.m. EDT to upgrade the station’s solar array batteries.
This is the second of five battery replacement spacewalks in October. Koch and Morgan performed the first spacewalk on Oct. 6. This series of spacewalks is dedicated to replacing batteries on the far end of the station’s port truss. The existing nickel-hydrogen batteries will be upgraded with newer, more powerful lithium-ion batteries transported to the station aboard the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, which arrived Saturday, Sept. 28. These spacewalks continue the overall upgrade of the station’s power system that began with similar battery replacement during spacewalks in January 2017.

This will be the 220th spacewalk in support of space station assembly and maintenance. Morgan will be designated extravehicular crewmember 1 (EV 1), wearing the suit with red stripes. Koch will be designated extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), wearing the suit with no stripes. Morgan’s helmet camera will carry the number 18 and Koch’s helmet camera will carry the number 11.

NASA is preparing to conduct as many as 10 spacewalks in the next three months, a pace that has not been experienced since International Space Station assembly was completed in 2011. Both the crew and the equipment they need has been prepared to meet this demand.

The next spacewalks dedicated to the battery upgrades are scheduled on Oct. 16, 21 and 25.

After completion of the battery spacewalks, the second half of this sequence of spacewalks will focus on repairs to the space station’s Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. Dates for those spacewalks still are being discussed, but they are expected to begin in November.

All of the U.S. segment crewmembers that will be in space during this time – Christina Koch, Jessica Meir, Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano – are expected to take part in conducting the spacewalks.

On-Orbit Status Report

P6 Battery Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #2 (US EVA#57) Preparations: Today, the ISS crew completed multiple road-to activities in preparation for the P6 Battery EVA that is planned for Friday, October 11. The P6 Battery EVA#2 will focus on upgrading the Solar Array Channel 2B with a third and final Li-Ion battery. Today’s preparations included the Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) installation and checkout as well as preparing the Equipment Lock and Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU) suits. Other activities included participating in a EVA procedure conference and a tool audit.

Remote Power Control Module Replacement (RPCM): Today, the ISS crew completed the replacement of a failed RPCM located in the Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA)/Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Thermal Control System (TCS) Rack that failed on October 5, which will restore full functionally to the CCAA system.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) operations: Yesterday, the Robotic Ground Controllers powered up the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) and maneuvered the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) arms to remove the two Robo Micro-Conical Tools (RMCT) from the SPDMs Tool Holster Assembly (THA) in preparation for the upcoming S34B-E Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) replacement.

Payloads:

BEST (Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology): The crew transferred BEST Cell samples into the new Media Tubes using pipettes. The Tubes will be temp stowed for 5-10 days. The BEST investigation studies the use of sequencing for identification of unknown microbial organisms living on the ISS, and how humans, plants and microbes adapt to living on the ISS.

Cerebral Autoregulation: The crew performed measurements using the Cardiolab Portable Doppler unit and the Blood Pressure device. As the body’s most important organ, the brain needs a strong and reliable blood supply, so the brain is capable of self-regulating blood flow even when the heart and blood vessels cannot maintain an ideal blood pressure. The Cerebral Autoregulation investigation tests whether this self-regulation improves in the microgravity environment of space.

Microgravity Crystals (MGC): The crew removed the Microgravity Crystals samples Plate Set C, session 5 from Cold Stowage as part of Day 20 sample observations and photography using the microscope. Samples were returned to Cold stowage. The Microgravity Crystals investigation crystallizes a membrane protein that is integral to tumor growth and cancer survival. Although crystallization of this protein has yielded unsatisfactory results on Earth, this investigation leverages extensive protein crystallization work on the space station, significantly increasing the likelihood of successful crystal growth. Results may support development of cancer treatments that target the protein more effectively and with fewer side effects.

Completed Task List Activities:
EVA Procedure Reviews
HTV Cargo Ops
SpX Return Bag Config

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Payload Support Operations
Mobile Servicing System RPCM R&R support

Look Ahead:
Friday, 10/11 (GMT 284)

Payloads:
No payload activities

Systems:
P6 Battery EVA#2 (US EVA#57)

Saturday, 10/12 (GMT 284)

Payloads:
½ Off-duty day

Systems:
EVA: P6 EVA Debriefs, OFVs, and EMU H2O recharge.

Sunday, 10/13 (GMT 285)

Payloads:
Off-duty day

Systems:
Off-duty day

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

Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Cerebral Autoregulation Data Measurement
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Installation/ Checkout
Microscope Reposition Preparation
PILLE ISS sensors gathering and setup prior to USOS EVA
Microgravity Crystals Microscopy Plate Set C, Session 5 (Day 20)
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Flush Tank Partial Fill
EML experiment, Installation of reprogramming cable
INTER-MAI-75. HAM radio activation
CARDIOMED-LBNP. CARDIOMED functionality checkout
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Stow Operation
ESA Weekly crew conference
FGB Acoustic Monitor Noise Survey
Microscope Reposition Post Ops
Water Storage System Resupply Storage Tank Swap
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) EMU Glove RTV Trimming
ISS Crew Orientation
Tropical Cyclone Operations Review
Equipment Lock (E-LK) Preparation
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) iPad Preparation
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
EML experiment, Removal of Reprogramming Cable
Photo TV Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Camera Turnaround
Recharging Soyuz 746 GoPro HERO3 Batteries
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MWA Preparation
VEG-04B Plant Check/Watering for each Plant Pillow with 20 cm setting
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MELFI Sample Retrieve
Portable Onboard Computers (POC) Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) Setup
Photography of space behind SM panel 447
Preventive Maintenance of SM Ventilation Subsystem. Group B2
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) Experiment
INTER-MAI-75. Equipment deactivation and cleanup
IMS audit of EVA ODF and DVD.
In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) LAB1S6 Remove and Replace
СОЖ maintenance Urine filter replacement in Urine Water Regeneration System [СРВ-У-РС]. ЕДВ-Д Replacement
Tropical Cyclone Untended Operations
Recharging Soyuz 746 GoPro HERO3 Batteries (6), – end
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Audits and Procedure Conference
External Wireless Instrumentation System Network Control Unit EVA Inhibit
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Reminder for EVA In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Preparation