NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 14 December 2018 – Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Installed

Today – Molecular Muscle: Crewmembers removed the Molecular Muscle samples from the Kubik-5 facility and inserted the samples into the MELFI-3 (Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS).
Telemetry data for Kubik-05 was downloaded and both the primary and back up units were deinstalled and stowed. The Molecular Muscle investigation examines the molecular causes of muscle abnormalities during spaceflight in order to establish effective countermeasures.

Microbial Tracking (MT) 2: Today a crewmember performed an extensive sample collection of ISS air sample and surface areas for the MT-2 study which will be placed in cold stowage and returned on Soyuz-55. MT-2 monitors the different types of microbes that are present on ISS over a 1-year period. After the samples are returned to Earth, a molecular analysis of the RNA and DNA will be conducted to identify the specific microbes that are present on ISS in order to understand the microbial flora diversity on the ISS and how it changes over time.

Micro-14: Today a crewmember removed the Micro-14 Group Activated Packets (GAPs 1,2,3) from the Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory (SABL-1) and used a hand-crack to terminate GAP-3. All three GAPs were then stowed into MELFI-3 (Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS). The Micro-14 (Characterizing the Effects of Spaceflight on the Candida albicans Adaptation Responses) life science research mission will investigate and evaluate the responses of the Candida albicans microorganism to microgravity conditions and, in particular, to assess changes at the physiological, cellular, and molecular level and to characterize virulence factors.

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI): Ground operations used the ISS Remote Manipulator Arms (MSS and JEMRMS) to extract the GEDI hardware from the SPX-16 Dragon and install it onto the Japanese Exposed Module Facility (JEM EFU-4). Ground teams confirmed activation telemetry. The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) provides high-quality laser ranging observations of the Earth’s forests and topography required to advance the understanding of important carbon and water cycling processes, biodiversity, and habitat.

Circadian Rhythms: Today a crewmember doffed the circadian Rhythms hardware and downlinked the telemetry data. 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 crewmembers’ circadian clocks.

On Board Training (OBT) Soyuz Descent Drill: In preparation for their departure from the ISS on December 19, the 55S Crew completed a nominal descent and landing drill earlier this morning. During this training, the crew was inside their Soyuz spacecraft reviewing and practicing undock and landing procedures.

Completed Task List Activities:
None

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
GEDI removal and activation
LSR activation and checkout

Three Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 12/15:

Payloads:
Probiotic Fecal and Saliva collections (JAXA)
MT2 saliva Collect and MELFI insert (NASA)
HRF Functional Immune (End of Mission) Saliva collections (NASA)
APEX-05 Plate (2) insert into LMM (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 74 plate scans (NASA)
RRM3 Extraction (SPDM) and handoff to MSS and MT translate (NASA)

Sunday, 12/16:

Payloads:
HRF-Functional Immune (End of Mission)Saliva collections (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 74 plate scans (NASA)
Lighting Effects Sleep log (NASA)

Systems:
Soyuz Descent Training

Monday, 12/17:

Payloads
RR-08 Restock (NASA)
Probiotics Saliva collect and Questionnaire (JAXA)
HRF- Functional Immune (End of Mission) Saliva Collections (NASA)
NanoRacks Module 74 plate scans (NASA)
MT-2 Saliva Collect (NASA)
Lighting Effects Log (NASA)
Airway Monitor setup (ESA)
CASIS PCG-16 Ops
ELF Gas Bottle Unit VLV close (JAXA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)

Systems
Crew departure prep

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

Airway Monitoring Hardware Location
Airway Monitoring Kit Consolidation
Actiwatch Plus Evaluation Display Check
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Setup
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Stow
Cerebral Autoregulation Data Measurement
CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
Circadian Rhythms
CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection
CSA Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
Data Preparation for Return
EPO crew message recording
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Laryngoscope Checkout
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
ISS Crew Handover Self Study for New Crewmembers
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
HRF Generic Saliva Collection
Delta file prep
International Procedure Viewer Tablet Questionnaire
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Collection – Subject
Micro-14 GAP Termination 1
MICRO 14 MELFI Insert
Molecular Muscle Experiment Container Deinstallation
Disconnection and Stowing of KUBIK 6
Kubik 5 Temperature and Centrifuge Data Copy
Insertion of Molecular Muscle Experiment Containers into MELFI at -80 °C
Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Insert
Microbial Tracking-2 Saliva Collection
Microbial Tracking-2 Environmental Sample Collection
Briefing on Soyuz 739 return cargo stowage plan and cargo list.
Soyuz descent training
Deactivation of camcorder, TV System monitoring equipment and closing applications
Polar Hardware Install into Express Rack
Plate Reader2 Module-74 Microplate
Microbial Tracking-2 Reminder for Saliva Collection
Microbial Tracking-2 Reminder for Surface sampling
Reminder 2A HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection
XF305 Camcorder Setup
PROBIOVIT. Insertion of Probiovit kit No.3 in Glovebox-S and turning the lights on.
PROBIOVIT. Setup of Probiovit kit No.4 in Glovebox-S.
PROBIOVIT. Filling Kit No.3 Water container from [СРВ-К2M].
PROBIOVIT. Filling Kit No. 3 “Product” container in Glovebox-S.
PROBIOVIT. Filling Kit No.4 Water container from [СРВ-К2М].
PROBIOVIT. Filling Kit No. 4 “Product” container in Glovebox-S.
PROBIOVIT. Kit retrieval from Glovebox-S. Tagup with specialists
PROBIOVIT. Kit retrieval from Glovebox-S, transfer and setup of Probiovit kits No.3 and No.4 in ТБУ-В No.02 at +37 deg C. Photography.
PROBIOVIT. Photography of water filling the container from [СРВ-2КM]
PROBIOVIT. Photography during filling in the Glovebox
End discharge of the 2nd Orlan-MKS battery 825М3 unit and start discharging the 3rd battery
Setup Disassembly and REMOTE RS LAPTOP stowage (Remote SM CP workstation).
Progress 440 and ПрК Interface Leak Check
ПрК-СУ Transfer Hatch Opening
Installation of Quick Release Screw Clamps on SM Aft side
Progress 421 (АО) Deactivation, Air Duct Installation / Installation of ИП-1 sensors
ТКГ-СУ transfer hatch open
COSMOCARD. Setup. Starting 24-hr ECG Recording
KENTAVR fit check
Regeneration of Micropurification Unit (БМП) Ф2 Absorber Cartridge
СОЖ maintenance
Visual inspection and leak monitoring using US ULD Leak Detector in Soyuz 739 БО.