NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 14 May 2018 – Wednesday’s Spacewalk Will be the ISS’s 210th

Veteran astronauts Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel will embark on the 210th spacewalk Wednesday at the International Space Station to swap out thermal control gear.
The experienced spacewalkers have a combined 10 spacewalks between them with Feustel having conducted seven and Arnold with a total of three.

Flight Engineer Scott Tingle assisted the duo today getting spacewalk tools ready and recharging the U.S. spacesuits inside the U.S. Quest airlock. Tingle and Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai will assist the spacewalkers in and out of the airlock Wednesday and guide the duo during their tasks.

Orbital ATK will launch their Cygnus space freighter on Sunday at 5:04 a.m. EDT to resupply the Expedition 55 crew just four days after Feustel and Arnold complete their fourth spacewalk together. After a four-day trip in space, Cygnus will deliver crew supplies, station hardware and experiments exploring a variety of subjects including life science and space physics.

Arnold and Tingle practiced the robotics maneuvers today on a computer they will use to capture Cygnus after its approach and rendezvous with the station on May 24 at 5:20 a.m. NASA TV will broadcast the Cygnus launch and capture activities live at the orbital laboratory.

On-Orbit Status Report

ISS Reboost: On Saturday, May 12th, at 05:07:00 pm CDT the ISS performed a nominal 2 minute and 52 second reboost using the 69P thrusters. The purpose of the reboost was to set up proper phasing for the 53S landing in June and the 70P 2-orbit rendezvous in July.

Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) #2: The crew brought the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock (JEMAL) Slide Table into the JEM this morning and replaced the J-SSOD deployers with the Handhold Experiment Platform (HXP) Adapter on the Multipurpose Experiment Platform (MPEP). They then returned the slide table to the Airlock and depressed and vented the Airlock. Later today the crew will extend the slide table to the exterior of the ISS. Tonight ground robotics controllers will use the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) Small Fine Arm (SFA) to transfer the HXP from the JEM External Facility to the Slide Table. On Wednesday the Slide Table will be brought back into the JEM and ExHAM samples will be exchanged before the HXP is returned to the JEM External Facility.

Veggie Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS): On May 9th the crew reported what appeared to be mold growing on some of the plants. Today the crew aborted the Veggie PONDS run, photographed the plants and harvested some of them for return to the ground for evaluation. After removing the plants, the crew cleaned the Veggie PONDS hardware and set it up for drying. Organisms grow differently in space, from single-celled bacteria to plants and humans. Future long-duration space missions will require crew members to grow their own food. Understanding how plants respond to microgravity and demonstrating reliable vegetable production on orbit are important steps toward that goal. Veggie PONDS uses a newly developed passive nutrient delivery system and the Veggie plant growth facility aboard the ISS to cultivate lettuce and mizuna greens which are to be harvested on-orbit, and consumed, with samples returned to Earth for analysis.

Vascular Echo: Earlier today a 53S subject collected blood samples for the Vascular Echo investigation. Using the CardioLab Portable Doppler (PDOP), the crewmember donned the femoral probe and performed a 1-minute exercise followed by a resting period during which data was collected. Vascular Echo examines changes in blood vessels and the heart while the crew members are in space, and then follow their recovery on return to Earth. The results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health, and quality of life for everyone.

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): The crew replaced CIR manifold bottles today to support the ongoing microgravity combustion research operations in the CIR. They also replaced a seal as part of routine CIR maintenance. The Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) experiments being performed in the CIR include five independent studies of gaseous flames. The primary goals of ACME are to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollutant production in routine fuel combustion activities on Earth. Its secondary goal is to improve spacecraft fire prevention through innovative research focused on materials flammability.

Cygnus OA-9 Capture On-board Training (OBT): Today the crew reviewed the OA-9 mission profile, rendezvous crew procedures, and interfaces necessary for monitoring and commanding to the Cygnus vehicle. Once completed, they participated in a conference with ground specialists to discuss the overall capture training plan and reviewed the Backaway and Capture Cue Cards. OA-9 is scheduled to arrive at the ISS on 24-May.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Urine Receptacle Remove and Replace (R&R): Today the crew Removed and Replaced (R&R) the WHC Urine Receptacle and Insert Filter. After the R&R, the crew performed a functionality test with nominal results.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: In preparation for Wednesday’s US EVA 50 Pump and Flow Control Subassembly (PFCS) Relocate, the crew completed additional EVA tool configuration and performed an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 3003 and 3006 water recharge and ullage dump.

Public Affairs (PAO) Event: Today the crew participated in an educational event with the Tulsa Air and Space Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Participants in the Live Downlink were Oklahoma students in 5-12th grades that competed in an essay contest. Student essays described what they would ask an astronaut and how that question relates to their own life on earth.

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

CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection
CSA Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Configure
Atmosphere Revitalization System (ARS) Lab Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Jumper Install
Veggie Ponds MWA Preparation
CSA Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Regeneration of ??? ?1 Micropurification Cartridge (start)
CSA Generic Sample MELFI Insertion
CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude And Stow
Veggie Ponds Growth Abort
FAZOPEREKHOD. Experiment Setup and Start Ops.
Opening of Lab MCA Hand Valve 01
JEM Airlock Press
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Experiment setup.
Auxiliary Laptop Computer System Virus Definition File Update
Veggie Ponds MELFI Insertion
Veggie Ponds Clean and Dry
XF305 Camcorder Setup
JEM Airlock Leak Check
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Assistance with ??-3 Test.
JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) onto Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform Removal
Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Experiment Ops on ??-2 Treadmill (MO-3 Test in Passive Mode).
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops.
Handhold Exp Platform Adapter installation
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Robotics Review
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Hygiene procedure
FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops.
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
FAZOPEREKHOD. Experiment Setup and Start Ops.
JEM Airlock Depressurization
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Rendezvous Review
Preparing to monitor condition of RS structural surfaces using ???-2? device.
Checking ??-2 treadmill carriage position. Photograph position of ??-2 carriage relative to pullout roller by lifting ??-2 curtain. Downlink photo via OCA.
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Rendezvous Review
Exercise Data Downlink via OCA
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
On-Board Training (OBT) Cygnus Conference
Vascular Echo Exercise PDOP Measurement – Subject
FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops.
VIZIR. Preparation Steps and ???? Science Hardware Calibration.
Urine Receptacle (UR) and Insert Filter (IF) Remove and Replace
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron-VM or ???-??
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
??? maintenance
Monitoring RS structural shell surfaces using Multipurpose Eddy Current Device ???-2?. Combustion Integrated Rack Doors Open
HRF MARES Power Interface Unit Stow
Combustion Integrated Rack Front End Cap Open
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring
Combustion Integrated Rack Chamber Seal Replacement
JEM Airlock Vent
Preparation for downlink data on monitoring RS structural surfaces
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops.
JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation
Combustion Integrated Rack Front End Cap Close
MOTOCARD. Operator Assistance with Experiment
Closure of Lab MCA Hand Valve 01
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Full Fill
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #2 Bottle Replacement
MELFI 3 Ice Brick Insert 1
Delta file prep
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement
Combustion Integrated Rack Doors Close
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
AMS Laptop Battery Replace
External Television Camera Group Reconfiguration Part 1
VIZIR. Closeout Ops
External Television Camera Group Reconfiguration Part 2
Micropurification Unit (???) ?1 Absorption Cartridge Regeneration (end)

Completed Task List Activities
None

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
ESA COL-CC 2018 Patch
JEMAL Depress
JEMRMS HXP Transfer
Lab MCA Activation Pt 3

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 05/15: EVA Prep (Cuff Checklist print, EVA Tool Config, Equip Lock Prep, Procedure Rvw/Conf), CGBA relocate, Water samples, Two Phase Flow Experiment, MCA Jumper Teardown
Wednesday, 05/16: US EVA #50 with Robotics Support (Swap PFCS, R&R CP13 ETVCG, R&R SGTRC), CSA-CP maintenance
Thursday, 05/17: Cygnus OBT, Post EVA Ops (A/L deconfg/restow, EMU Water recharge, debrief), PFCS XFER, Team Task Switching, HXP2 Sample Detach, HRF samples, KU cable swap

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[???] 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) – Process
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off