NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 13 June 2018 – Human Research and Physics Experiments Today
The Expedition 56 astronauts huddled together today finalizing preparations for Thursday’s spacewalk to ready the International Space Station for commercial crew vehicles.
The crew members also managed to squeeze in some human research and physics experiments today.
Commander Drew Feustel and Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold went over their spacewalk procedures again today with fellow crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst. The quartet worked throughout the day to configure the robotics workstation, ready spacesuits and set up the Quest airlock before tomorrow’s spacewalk set to begin at 8:10 a.m. EDT.
Feustel and Arnold will install new high definition cameras during tomorrow’s 6.5-hour spacewalk to support upcoming commercial crew missions from SpaceX and Boeing to the orbital laboratory. The duo will be supported in and out of their spacesuits by Gerst while Auñón-Chancellor will maneuver the Canadarm2 to support tomorrow’s activities. NASA TV begins its live broadcast of the sixth spacewalk this year at 6:30 a.m.
Gerst, who has been on the station for less than a week, worked a pair of experiments today helping scientists understand the effects of living and working in space. He laid down in a face-up position in the morning for the Grip study that is researching the nervous system. Observations may improve the design of safer space habitats and help patients on Earth with neurological diseases. Gerst later installed sample gear in the Electromagnetic Levitator, a furnace that enables observations of the properties of materials exposed to extremely high temperatures.
On-orbit Status Report
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: In preparation for tomorrow’s US EVA #51 Node 2 External Wireless Communications (EWC), the crew finalized their EVA tool configurations and completed an audit of EVA equipment. After a final review of the EVA briefing package, the crew participated in an EVA Procedures Conference, configured the Robotics Work Stations (RWSs), and readied the Equipment Lock and EMUs for tomorrow morning’s EVA activities. EV hatch opening is scheduled at ~7:05 AM CDT Thursday morning.
Grip: The crew completed the third of three Grip operations in the supine position. ESA’s Grip investigation tests how the nervous system takes into account the forces due to gravity and inertia when manipulating objects. Results from this investigation may provide insight into potential hazards for astronauts as they manipulate objects in different gravitational environments, support design and control of haptic interfaces to be used in challenging environments such as space, and provide information about motor control that will be useful for the evaluation and rehabilitation of impaired upper limb control in patients with neurological diseases.
Electromagnetic Levitator (EML): The crew installed a new sample and process chamber in the EML today. Valves were opened between the two chambers. The EML is a multi-user facility is designed for containerless materials processing in space. It supports research in the areas of meta-stable states and phases along with the measurement of high-accurate thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys at high temperatures.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): The crew installed 11 RFID Logistics marker tags in Nodes 2 and 3 today. RFID Logistics aims to utilize RFID enabled tags on hardware throughout the ISS to assist in the tracking of the hardware as it is moved around the ISS.
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Configuration
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude
GRIP science performance in supine position
Periodic Health Status (PHS) Pre EVA Examination Setup
CSA Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
Periodic Health Status (PHS) Pre EVA Examination
SEPARATION. Distillation in an Automatic Mode
Pre-EVA Periodic Health Status Examination – Stow
EML Sample Chamber Valve opening
HTV PROX Switch ON
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring
GRIP partial stowage
Restore Nominal Comm Config
Pille Preparation and Deployment Prior to the USOS EVA
Replace BRI Config File with Version 7.1
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Audit
ISS Crew Orientation
Installation of Updated Software on RSS1 and FS1 for an Automatic Downlink of BRI Log Files
BIOCARD. Assistance during the Experiment
BIOCARD. Experiment Operations
Food Acceptability Questionnaire Subject
Radio Frequency Identification Logistics Marker Tag Installation in Node2 and Node 3
Early Mission Debrief Conference
HTV PCS HCP Selfcheck (Side B)
ISS Crew Handover
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review
Filling In (Degassing) of EDV (KOV) for Elektron-VM or EDV-SV
HTV PCS HCP Selfcheck (Side A)
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference
ИП-1 Sensors Installation Monitoring
СОЖ maintenance
Cargo Transfer from 55S (Soyuz #739). IMS Update
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Quarterly Inspection
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Conclude And Stow
Extravehicular Activity Station Support Computer Relocate
HTV PROX Switch OFF
Lab External Wireless Controller (EWC) Connector Safing
Equipment Lock (E-LK) Preparation
IMS Delta File Prep
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
HTV PROX Checkout
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 06/14: EVA 51 (N2 EWC power and Ethernet cable routing from Lab to N2, Install WIF #16 and #17 Booms with HD Camera and EWC Connections, CP3 Light R&R, CP3 HD Camera R&R, CATS Door Closure)
Friday, 06/15: Post EVA (EVA tool stow, EVA Debrief, EMU Water Recharge), GRASP, Acoustic Monitoring Survey
Saturday, 06/16: Crew Off Duty, Housekeeping
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Standby
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Idle
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off
