NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 18 April 2017 – Cargo Resupply Spacecraft Launches

Today: Orbital 7 (OA-7) Launch: OA-7 launched successfully from Cape Canaveral at 10:11AM CDT today. Capture and berthing to Node 1 Nadir is planned for Saturday, April 22 starting at 5:05AM CDT. The spacecraft will deliver ~1023 kgs of supplies to support the ongoing ISS Research Program.
JEM (Japanese Experiment Module) Airlock (JEMAL) Operations: In preparation for the NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) activities planned for next week, the crew opened the inner hatch in the JEMAL and extended the airlock slide table into the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM). They replaced the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) on the Slide Table (ST) with the Cyclops to support the EVA contingency tie-down during NREP transfer to and from the ST via the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS). The crew then retracted the JEMAL slide table back into the airlock and closed the inner hatch.

Fluid Shifts Dilution Measurements: The 49S subjects initiated their Return minus 45 (R-45) Fluid Shifts Dilution Measurements activities today, collecting saliva, blood and urine and inserting them into Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) prior to ingesting a Sodium Bromide (NaBr) tracer. Throughout the day, the crew will perform more collections, storing them in MELFI as well. Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment that is divided into Dilution Measurements, Baseline Imaging, and Baseline Imaging with Chibis (Lower Body Negative Pressure). The Fluid Shifts experiment investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronaut’s eyes. Because the headward fluid shift is a hypothesized contributor to these changes, reversing this fluid shift with a lower body negative pressure device is evaluated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and to prevention of eye damage.

JAXA Freezer-Refrigerator Of STirling cycle 2 (J-FROST2) Troubleshooting: The crew continued troubleshooting steps to identify the source of telemetry anomalies experienced in the facility after it was installed on March 31st of this year. FROST2 will provide conditioned stowage capability for the Moderate Temperature Protein Crystal Growth (MT PCG) experiment scheduled to arrive on SpX-11.

Echo Commissioning: The crew retrieved and set up Echo hardware in the Columbus module and performed an Echograph commissioning session on the Electrocardiogram (ECG). The purpose of the ECHO investigation is to evaluate a tele-operated ultrasound system, equipped with motorized probes that are controlled by flight controllers on the ground. Additionally, this investigation supports the commissioning of the Echo instrument which is planned for use with the Vascular Echo experiment on ISS in the future. Several tele-operated ultrasound systems have been developed and tested on Earth and on board the ISS. The Echo investigation tests a more powerful, easy to use ultrasound system that could provide new opportunities for experimentation aboard the ISS. In the field of telemedicine on Earth, tele-operated scanners can bring improved progress in the medical management of persons in remote areas.

Visiting Vehicle On-Board Training (OBT)/Offset Grapple: M1 Pesquet and M2 Whitson practiced grapple approaches in preparation for OA-7 capture and berthing planned this Saturday. On the last approach of the session, ground teams sent the Safing command for the crew to practice a hot backup transition and execute a back away to the high hover position. During the session the crew focused on equipment setup and how to best manage the volumetric constraints in the Cupola.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

FIR White Light Reset
Fluids Integrated Rack Doors Open/Close
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
URAGAN. Observation and photography
EKON-M. Observations and photography
FLUID SHIFTS. Saliva, Urine, and Blood Sample Collection
Reminder ESA Nutritional Assessment
FLUID SHIFTS. Galley Water Collection and Tracer Ingestion Ops
Auxiliary Laptop Computer System Virus Scan Checkout and Report
FLUID SHIFTS. Sample Insertion into MELFI
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Handhold Exp Platform Adapter removal.
Photo/TV SAW Mast Starboard Survey
Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Removal from Small Fine Arm (SFA) Airlock Attachment Mechanism (SAM) Part 1
JEM Airlock Capture Mechanism Release
Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Removal from Small Fine Arm (SFA) Airlock Attachment Mechanism (SAM)
Small Fine Arm (SFA) Airlock Attachment Mechanism (SAM) removal from JEM Airlock (AL) Slide Table
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Session
Voice check on S/G1 from Baikonur
Cyclops Single Tether Loop Installation
Solar Array Survey Equipment Stow
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
FROST2 Troubleshoot Part 2
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
Echo setup
Echo commissioning
Photography of Windows #2, 14 in SM, ??1 in DC1
Environmental Health System (EHS) RAD Detector USB Cable Install
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Offset Grapple
Onboard Training (OBT) SSRMS Debrief Conference
Health Maintenance System (HMS) – ESA Nutritional Assessment
Echo uninstall and stowage
IMS Delta File Prep

Completed Task List Items
Veggie 03 Pillow Watering
Joint Station LAN Category 6 Cable Install
Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
OBT Offset Grapple support
SSRMS joint test

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 04/19: Fluid Shifts, OBT Cygnus RoBOT, EVA EMU swap
Thursday, 04/20: 50S launch/dock, OBT Cygnus vehicle ops review, CBCS install/checkout, WHC pre-treat tank R&R
Friday, 04/21: Fluid Shifts, OBT Cygnus attached phase ops review, OBT Cygnus RoBOT, Cygnus cargo transfer conference

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”) – Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Standby
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