NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 July 2019 – One Day to New Crew Launch

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, teams are making final preparations for the launch of NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) and Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos to the International Space Station.
Their journey to the station will begin with a lift off at 12:28 p.m. EDT Saturday (9:28 p.m. in Baikonur), 50 years to the day that astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the Moon in a giant leap for humanity.

Live launch coverage will begin Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

The three will join NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Christina Koch and Expedition 60 Commander Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos.

The Expedition 60 crew will spend more than six months conducting about 250 science investigations in fields such as biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences, and technology development. Work on the unique microgravity laboratory advances scientific knowledge and demonstrates new technologies, making research breakthroughs that will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Some of the investigations they will conduct are sponsored by the U.S. National Laboratory on the space station, which Congress designated in 2005 to maximize its use for improving quality of life on Earth. Highlights of upcoming investigations the crew will facilitate on the orbiting laboratory in the unique microgravity environment include the growth of moss aboard the station, a platform to attempt successful printing of biological tissues and bio-mining in space.

Below is the crew’s launch timeline in EDT:

Saturday, July 20

3:28:21am 9:00 Crew wakeup at Cosmonaut Hotel
6:28:21am 6:00 Crew departs Cosmonaut Hotel
6:43:21am 5:45 Batteries installed in booster
7:13:21am 5:15 Crew arrives at Site 254
7:28:21am 5:00 Tanking begins
7:58:21am 4:30 Crew suit up
8:23:21am 4:05 Booster loaded with liquid Oxygen
8:58:21am 3:30 Crew meets family members on other side of the glass
9:23:21am 3:05 First and second stage oxygen fueling complete
9:28:21am 3:00 Crew walkout from 254 and boards bus for launch pad
9:33:21am 2:55 Crew departs for launch pad (Site 1)
9:53:21am 2:35 Crew arrives at launch pad (Site 1)
10:03:21am 2:25 Crew boards Soyuz; strapped in to the Descent module
10:53:21am 1:35 Descent module hardware tested
11:08:21am 1:20 Hatch closed; leak checks begin
11:28:21am 1:00 Launch vehicle control system prep; gyro activation
11:30:00am :58:21 NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE BEGINS
11:43:21am :45:00 Pad service structure components lowered
11:44:21am :44:00 Clamshell gantry service towers retracted
11:45:00am :43:21 NASA TV: Crew prelaunch activities B-roll played
11:51:21am :37:00 Suit leak checks begin; descent module testing complete
11:54:21am :34:00 Emergency escape system armed
12:13:21pm :15:00 Suit leak checks complete; escape system to auto
12:18:21pm :10:00 Gyros in flight readiness and recorders activated
12:21:21pm :07:00 Pre-launch operations complete
12:22:21pm :06:00 Launch countdown operations to auto; vehicle ready
12:23:21pm :05:00 Commander’s controls activated
12:23:53pm :04:28 ISS flies directly over the Baikonur Cosmodrome
12:24:21pm :04:00 Combustion chamber nitrogen purge
12:25:21pm :03:00 Propellant drainback
12:25:38pm :02:43 Booster propellant tank pressurization
12:26:51pm :01:30 Ground propellant feed terminated
12:27:21pm :01:00 Vehicle to internal power
12:27:46pm :00:35 First umbilical tower separates

Auto sequence start

12:27:51pm :00:30 Ground umbilical to third stage disconnected
12:28:06pm :00:15 Second umbilical tower separates
12:28:09pm :00:12 Launch command issued

Engine Start Sequence Begins

12:28:11pm :00:10 Engine turbo pumps at flight speed
12:28:16pm :00:05 Engines at maximum thrust
12:28:21pm :00:00 LAUNCH OF SOYUZ MS-13 TO THE ISS
12:37:06pm +8:45 3RD STAGE SHUTDOWN; SOYUZ ORBITAL INSERTION

On-Orbit Status Report

59 Soyuz Launch/Dock: 59S is scheduled to launch tomorrow, July 20, from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 11:28 AM CT carrying Aleksandr Skvortsov, Luca Parmitano and Andrew Morgan to the ISS. Docking to the SM aft port is scheduled at 5:50 PM CT with hatch opening at 8:04 PM CT followed by an ISS Safety Briefing with all 6 crewmembers.

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF): The crew configured the video cable connection for the CBEF facility in preparation for Space Moss operations after SpX-18 arrival. The CBEF is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) sub rack facility, which contains an incubator with an artificial gravity generator.

LSG (Life Sciences Glovebox): The crew setup the LSG decontamination system into the LSG in preparation for Cell Science-02 arriving on SpX-18. LSG is a sealed work area that accommodates life science and technology investigations in a “workbench” type environment. Due to its larger size design, two crewmembers can work in the LSG simultaneously.

Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR-1): The crew replaced the older T61P laptops with the new Z-Book laptops and performed the software load. The MSRR-1 is used for basic materials research in the microgravity environment of the ISS. MSRR-1 can accommodate and support diverse Experiment Modules (EMs). Many material types, such as metals, alloys, polymers, semiconductors, ceramics, crystals, and glasses, can be studied to discover new applications for existing materials and new or improved materials.

Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4): The crew reviewed procedures for the Pk-4 Experiment Campaign. PK-4 is a scientific collaboration between the ESA and the Roscosmos, performing research in the field of low temperature gaseous mixtures composed of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles.

Lab Low Temperature (LT) Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Flow Increase: The Lab LT Pump Package Assembly (PPA) speed was increased from 18900 rpm to 19843 rpm to increase available coolant flow for payload operations from now through the SpaceX-18 mission. This is the first of several enhanced flow configurations to be approved following on-orbit testing performed in June.

On-Board Training (OBT) Emergency Procedure Review: The crew reviewed emergency roles and procedures in preparation for 59S docking. 59S will dock to the SM Aft port to allow 60S unmanned technical demonstration docking to MRM2 next month.

Completed Task List Activities:
BEAM IMV flow measurement
CQ SSC hard drive setup

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
LSR commanding
Payloads ops support

Look Ahead:
Saturday, 7/20 (GMT 201)

Payloads:
Experience 59S arrival Recording (NASA)
59S AWS donning (NASA)

Systems:
Crew off duty; housekeeping

Sunday, 7/21 (GMT 202)

Payloads:
No utilization activities

Systems:
Crew off duty

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

Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Setup
CBEF and Image Processing Unit (IPU) Video Cable Connection
MSRR-1 ZBook Setup
Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Sealing
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Swap
JEMRMS Backup Drive System (BDS) Reconfiguration to configuration #1
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Setup
JEM 120 VDC Cable Swap
Node 1 Forward Intermodule Ventillation Remote Manual Override Clear
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Swap
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Team Task Switching Experiment Survey
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Swap
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Lighting Effects Visual Performance Tests Light Setting
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF Rack 1 Stow
MSRR-1 ZBook Setup
Team Task Switching Experiment Survey
Alternate Glacier Desiccant Swap
??? Maintenance
Alternate Glacier Desiccant Swap
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
LSG Work Volume Deploy
Cell Science-02 LSG LSAH Setup
Plasma Kristal (PK-4). Familiarization. Session 7
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Stow
LSG Work Volume Stow
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Pre-Treat Tank Remove & Replace
TREK Software Troubleshoot
Overlay Camera Calibration
Polar Desiccant Swap
OBT Emergency Procedure Review
Crew Discretionary Event