NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 May 2017 – How Living is Space Affects the Brain and Vision

Expedition 51 is wrapping up a week of ongoing research into how living in space affects an astronaut’s brain and vision. The International Space Station also boosted its orbit ahead of crew and cargo missions coming and going in June.
NASA astronaut Jack Fischer strapped himself in a device for the NeuroMapping experiment today that tests how the human brain structure and function changes in space. The study also compares brain changes, motor control and multi-tasking when an astronaut is in a free-floating state.

Doctors have noted how microgravity causes a headward fluid shift of blood and other body fluids. As a result, astronaut’s experience face-swelling and elevated head pressure.

The Fluid Shifts study is exploring a way to offset the upward flow using unique suit known as the Lower Body Negative Pressure suit. Commander Peggy Whitson wore the suit today and underwent ultrasound scans and eye checks to help scientists determine its effectiveness against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

The space station is orbiting a little higher above Earth this week to prepare for the departure of two crew members on June 2. The SpaceX Dragon is due to launch June 1 and arrive at the station three days later. Mission managers are working a plan dependent on an on-time Dragon launch that could see the Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo craft depart in early June or mid-July.

On-Orbit Status Report

Fluid Shifts: A 50S crewmember performed their Flight Day (FD) 180 Fluid Shifts Chibis operations in the Russian Segment. They donned the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP/Chibis) device while the operator, with ground support in Moscow, assisted in the medical monitoring. While the subject was in the LBNP and experiencing the negative pressure (pulling the fluid feetward), the USOS crewmember took measurements for Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure (CCFP), a Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) test, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and a Tonometry examination. Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment that 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 investigated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

NeuroMapping: The crew set up the Neuromapping hardware and executed testing in both a “strapped in” and “free floating” body configuration. During the test, the crew completed three Behavioral Assessments: mental rotation, sensorimotor adaptation, and motor-cognitive dual tasking. The NeuroMapping investigation studies whether long-duration spaceflight causes changes to the brain, including brain structure and function, motor control, and multi-tasking abilities. It also measures how long it would take for the brain and body to recover from possible changes. Previous research and anecdotal evidence from astronauts suggests movement control and cognition can be affected in microgravity. The investigation performs structural and functional magnetic resonance brain imaging (MRI and fMRI) to assess changes that occur after spending months on the ISS.

Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA) 3 Operations: Following this week’s operations, the crew restowed hardware and installed the PMA retention net to keep the Androgynous Peripheral Assembly System (APAS) hatch operational envelope clear of stowage. The crew then closed the PMA 3 hatch.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Operations: Following last week’s EVA #42, the crew performed suit maintenance including scrubbing and iodination of EMU and Airlock cooling water loops. A water sample was taken for subsequent conductivity testing which was also completed today.

Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) – Ground controllers successfully completed the five year CMG gimbal maintenance on CMG3 and CMG4. The gimbal maintenance is a 360-degree rotation of the inner gimbals to redistribute the lubricant amongst the gear teeth and to change the wear pattern of the CMG torquer gear train.

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

FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment
FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage
ECLSS Recycle Tank Drain
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Setup Alternate
Max CEVIS Exercise Video Setup.
Return equipment conference.
FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting PDU, OCT Ethernet, and HRF in lieu of RSE-Med
FROST2 Troubleshoot
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Power On
PMA3 Ingress Temperature Survey
CONTROL. Switching Indicator-ISS P/L measuring modes
Max CEVIS Exercise Video Stow
Crew Earth Observation Shutter Close
IMS Tagup
Fluid Shifts CCFP Service Module Configuration
NeuroMapping Experiment Neurocognitive Test Video – Subject
Hardware prepack for return and disposal on Soyuz 733
Fluid Shifts DPOAE Service Module Setup
FLUID SHIFTS. Don Chibis
FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance during Operation with CHIBIS and GAMMA-1M.
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Service Module Setup
Fluid Shifts Experiment Service Module Data Collection
RGN Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
FLUID SHIFTS. Doff Chibis
Fluid Shifts CCFP DPOAE Service Module End
Glisser inventory audit
EMU Cooling Loop Maintenance Scrub Initiation
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Service Module Stow
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Power Off
FLUID SHIFTS. Disconnecting PDU, OCT, and connecting RSE-Med
FLUID SHIFTS. De-route US inverter from ???? and cable assembly
Fluid Shifts OCT Service Module Stow
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) /Group Combustion Module (GCM) Component Deactivation
Photo TV Soyuz Imagery
Fluid Shifts CCFP HRF PC Service Module Stow
RGN Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of ???? Equipment and Closing Applications on Central Post SSC
FGB (??) Vacuum Cleaning
USOS Window Shutter Close
Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Removal
FLUID SHIFTS. Restoring nominal comm config
Fluid Shifts Hardware Final Gather
Fluid Shifts Hardware USOS Transfer
LBNP Training (PRELIMINARY) Tagup with specialists
LBNP (????) training (preliminary)
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Post Scrub Cooling Loop Water (H2O) Sample
PMA3 Cargo Restow
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Iodination
Complete packing of SCU 1009 for return on 49S
MERLIN 5 Desiccant Removal
Installation of the right crank lock spring and replacement of bushings on VELO.
??? maintenance
Long Duration Sorbent Testbed Status Check.
RGN Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Conductivity Test
Fluid Shifts HRF PC 3 Reconnect
Fluid Shifts OCT Laptop US Lab Setup
Crew Departure Prep
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
Tightening Soyuz 733 QD Screw Clamps
Fluidics laptop installation
PAO Preparation
Verification of the content on the Fluidics Data Hard Drive and LTU Stow
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
Node 2 Zenith Center Disk Cover Install
MRM1-FGB Screw Clamp Tightening
RGN Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
Node 2 Zenith Hatch Seal Inspection
PMA 3 desiccant installation
Node 2 Zenith Hatch Close
Fluid Shifts Hardware Stow
Meteor Shutter Open
EVA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Scrub Deconfiguration
Stow Syringes used in H2O Conductivity Test

Completed Task List Items
COL PWS SW Load
WHC KTO Replacement
MD Print Removal and Stow
Veg03 Plant Water/Photo
WRS WW sample

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
EMU maintenance support
JEMRMS maneuver
SSRMS walkoff to PDGF3, MT translate to WS6

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 05/20: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 05/21: Crew off duty
Monday, 05/22: CubeSat quad deployer swap, Magnetic 3D Cultures culture prep, COL Bays 1,2,3 cleanup, CardioOx Ultrasound

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