NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 13 March 2018
It’s a new day in space aboard the International Space Station, and three Expedition 55 crew members are prepping for an upcoming spacewalk and cargo-transfer activities while also sharing the wonders of our orbiting laboratory.
March 29 is the target date of the next U.S. spacewalk. To begin preparations for the excursion, the crew swapped out Extravehicular Mobility Units, or EMUs, and began resizing the suits. Also on the task list: packing up suit parts intended for return to Earth with SpaceX CRS-14.
In addition, the crewmates spent time reconfiguring the European Physiology Module rack for the future installation of ESA’s ICE Cubes Facility (ICF). The ICF will provide commercial entities simplified, low-cost access to the space station with individual experiment cubes–small investigations that could make large impacts within the scientific community.
NASA astronaut Scott Tingle and Norishige Kanai from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency shared how space station benefits humankind off the Earth, for the Earth, during two in-flight Public Affairs events live on NASA TV. The first interview was with KYW-TV in Philadelphia, while the second was with NPR’s 1A Broadcast on WAMU Radio in Washington, D.C.
Later, a reboost is planned using the Progress 69P spacecraft to lift station to the correct altitude for a Soyuz 53S undock and landing early this summer.
On-Orbit Status Report
Fluidics: Today the crew set up the Fluidics experiment hardware and executed Runs 2 and 3. Fluidics is a fluid mechanics experiment with two main objectives: perform a Slosh study to investigate fluid behavior under microgravity during satellite maneuvers, and a Wave Turbulence study to investigate the impact of capillary effect on wave turbulence without being masked by the effect of gravity. Two tanks with different filling rations (50% and 75%) for Slosh and one tank with water for Wave Turbulence will be used.
ICE Cubes Facility (ICF): The crew reconfigured the European Physiology Module (EPM) rack today in preparation for the installation of ESA’s ICF after it arrives on OA-9. The ICF provides a simplified, low-cost access service to the ISS for commercial entities. The ICF supports investigations contained in individual Experiment Cubes.
Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): On March 9th the crew was unable to complete installation of an ELF Sample Holder in a new Sample Cartridge due to a misalignment of the Cartridge Holder Rod. Today the ground reconfigured the Cartridge and the crew was able to install the Sample Holder inside it. ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the electrostatic levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured, and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved.
Veg-03: Today the crew watered the Veg-03 plants. Veg-03 supports the proof-of concept for the Veggie plant growth chamber and the planting pillows. Future long duration space missions will require a fresh food supply grown in space to supplement crew diets.
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap: In preparation for this month’s upcoming US EVA and the loop scrubs planned later this week, the crew swapped EMUs and begin resizing the suits. During this activity the crew also started packing parts of the EMU scheduled to be returned to the ground on SpX-14.
Node 3 Bacteria Filter Remove and Replace (R&R): Based on the photos Tingle took over the weekend, an activity was added to today’s timeline to have the crew R&R all four Bacteria Filters in Node 3.
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Events: Tingle and Kanai participated in two live-to-air PAO events today. The first event was with KYW-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the second event was with NPR’s 1A Broadcast on WAMU Radio, Washington, D.C.
Progress 69P ISS Reboost: Today, an ISS reboost is planned using the Progress 69P thrusters to begin phasing for Soyuz 53S undock and landing in June. Time of Ignition (TIG) is 21:25 GMT with a planned delta-V of 0.22 m/s and a duration of 108.2 seconds.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
??-8. Setup
Body Mass Measurement – BMMD
??-8. Closeout Ops
Acoustic Monitor Setup for Static Measurements
EPM Rack Reconfiguration
Regeneration of ??? ?2 Micropurification Cartridge (start)
EML High Speed Camera Lens Switch
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain
Soyuz 737 Samsung PC recharge before OBT, – start charge
Fluidics Run 2 execution
??-1? Control Panel SW Update.
On-Orbit Hearing Assessment (O-OHA) with EarQ Software Setup and Test
Audit of Penguin-3 and Penguin-3 with Load Measuring System [???].
Fluidics Run 3 execution
Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Video Equipment Setup
Download Pille Dosimeter Readings
Fluidics Closeout Activities
Fluidics Ending of data copy and T61p Laptop stowage
Dust collectors ?C1, ??1 filter cleaning by vacuum cleaner in FGB
COLUMBUS Deck 1 and 2 restow
Node 3 Bacterial Filter Remove & Replace
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Inspection
MELFI 3 Ice Brick Insert 8
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup
??? maintenance
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink
VEG-03 Dual Facility Watering for each Plant Pillow
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
Soyuz 737 Samsung PC recharge before OBT, End
PAO Preparation
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
Search and gathering of ??-? No.53001022 (00047873R, ???1???_2_221_1) for Orlan battery (Unit 825?3 No.1266132133 (00072380R, ???1???_2_221_1 )
XF305 Camcorder Setup
IDENTIFICATION. Copy ???-? micro-accelerometer data to laptop
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Retrieval
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Holder installation
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Installation
Monitoring shutter closure on SM windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
PAO Preparation
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap
Hematocrit Test Hardware Setup
Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
USOS Window Shutter Close
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Deactivation
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Teardown
Regeneration Micropurification Unit (???) ?2 Absorption Cartridge (end)
Completed Task List Activities
None
Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Reboost
N3 MCA Zero Calibration [Aborted]
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Camera Configuration Test
Standard Commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 03/14: 53S Emergency OBT, HMS Ultrasounds, EVA EMU Swap, METEOR Drive Swap
Thursday, 03/15: Eye Exams, LLB Battery Charging, JAXA Glovebox Setup, Neuromapping, RPCM P14BG R&R
Friday, 03/16: EVA Loop Scrub, LLB Autocycle, CBEF Reconfig, Veggie Harvest, JOTI reconfig
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – Off
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[???] 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 – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
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
