NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 April 2017 – NanoRack External Platform Operations

Today: NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) Operations: The crew pressurized the Japanese Experiment Module Airlock (JEMAL), performed a leak check and extended the JEMAL Slide Table (ST) into the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM).
They then removed the Gumstix/Solar Cell payload and attached the NanoRacks-CID and Honeywell-Morehead-DM payloads to the NREP. The ST was then retracted with attached NREP back into the JEMAL and the hatch was closed. The JEMAL will be depressurized tomorrow and the JEMRMS will transfer the NREP to the JEM External Facility (JEM-EF) this Thursday. NREP is the first external commercial research capability for testing of scientific investigations, sensors, and electronic components in space. Dependable Multiprocessor (DM) technology developed for NASA increases the amount of science and autonomy processing for space missions by flying clusters of high performance commercial off the shelf (COTS) processors in space. Honeywell-Morehead-DM-7 includes a system-level radiation experiment to verify DM operation in a space environment. Charge injection Devices (CIDs) read light exposure information in individual pixels. The CID investigation evaluates a camera with image quality enhancements that can capture images of bright objects and extremely faint ones in the same field of view, such as stars and exoplanets. The investigation demonstrates that these cameras can work in the microgravity and high-radiation environment of space.

Fluid Shifts Baseline Imagery: 49S and 50S subjects began this week’s Fluid Shifts baseline imagery activities today. With support from ground teams, the crew performed an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) test, a Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) test, a Tonometry examination, took blood pressure measurements, and performed an Ultrasound 2 scan. This is the second of three weeks of Fluid Shifts activities for the 49S and 50S subjects. Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment 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 being 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.

Dose Tracker: The crew completed a weekly medication tracking entry in the Dose Tracker application. Dose Tracker documents the medication usage of crewmembers before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities. The investigation is expected to provide anecdotal evidence of medication effectiveness during flight and any unusual side effects experienced. It is also expected that specific, near-real-time questioning about symptom relief and side effects will provide the data required to establish whether spaceflight-associated alterations in pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics is occurring during missions.

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutron (RaDI-N): After retrieving the RaDI-N hardware from the Russian crewmembers, the USOS crew deployed eight Space Bubble Detectors in Node 2 for the Radi-N2 experiment. The Canadian Space Agency’s RaDI-N investigation measures neutron radiation levels on the ISS. RaDI-N uses bubble detectors as neutron monitors which have been designed to detect neutrons while ignoring all other radiation.

Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) 2 Loss of Communications (LOC): Overnight, MBSU 2 experienced a LOC. The ground is unable to command or get data insight into the MBSU. The unit continues to pass power to the downstream power buses 2A/2B DC-DC Converter Units (DDCU)s. The next worst failure is an MBSU 2 loss of power which would result in the downstream DDCUs losing power. Five of the 7 DDCUs have parallel DDCUs that can be used to manage and provide power to the loads. The other 2 standalone DDCUs can be powered using available contingency jumpers. The signature is similar to the previous MBSU 1 LOC failure requiring it to be replaced. There are two spare MBSUs on orbit. Teams met to discuss a recovery plan via Robotic operations or an EVA.

Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Status: The UPA was recovered yesterday, completing one process cycle. There were some minor Distillation Assembly (DA) belt slippages at startup but not enough to result in a Low DA Centrifuge Speed (S4) shutdown. The next UPA process cycle is expected tomorrow.

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

Reminder 1 and 2 Fluid Shifts Baseline Imaging Measures
Atmospheric Control System (ACS) Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) Oxygen Setup and Initiation.
IPAD ODF updates
URAGAN. Observation and photography
EKON-M. Observations and photography
ISS Crew Orientation
JEM Airlock Press
Changeout of [???-?2?] purification column assembly [???]
Environmental Health System (EHS) Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Sample Collect
Preventive maintenance of MRM2 ???-? Hatch Sealing Mechanism and Soyuz 735 hatch
EML Gas Valves Opening
JEM Airlock Leak Check
MATRYOSHKA-R. Prep and Initialization of Bubble-Dosimeter Detectors
Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron or ???-??.
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Sample Analysis
EML Sample Chamber Valve opening
NanoRacks External Platform Slide Table Remove
Fluid Shifts OCT Baseline Setup
NanoRacks External Platform Hardware Swap
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover
MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeters to USOS
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons
MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter initialization and deployment for exposure
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On
Fluid Shifts CDL Holter Arterial BP Hardware Don – Subject
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Baseline Scan – Subject
NanoRacks External Platform Slide Table Assist Capture
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Baseline Scan – Operator
Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations
Removal of GoPro cameras in Soyuz 735. Transfer of Video to Hard Drive. Flash card closeout ops. Recharging Batteries (6), initiate
Cygnus Cargo Operations Conference
24-hour ECG Recording (termination)
Fluid Shifts CCFP Baseline Test – Subject
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
24-hour BP recording (terminate)
Fluid Shifts OCT Baseline Exam – Operator
Fluid Shifts OCT Baseline Exam – Subject
Fluid Shifts DPOAE Baseline Test – Subject
Fluid Shifts OCT Baseline Stow
Verification of ??-1 Flow Indicator Position
EveryWear Biometric Patch setup for sleep assessment
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Setup
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Exam
Fluid Shifts CDL Holter Arterial BP Hardware Doff Alternate
Water Recovery and Management Condensate Pumping Initiation
CONTENT. Experiment Ops
Zero Boil-Off Tank Inspection
Data Transmission Radio Link (RSPI) Clearing files from Onboard Memory Storage (???).
CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor
PILOT-T. Preparation for the experiment
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Stow
ISS Crew Orientation
Environmental Health System (EHS) Coliform Water Processing
Water Recovery and Management Condensate Pumping Term
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops
Polar Samples to Cold Stowage – Transfer 2
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Full Fill
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Medical Accessories Kit (IMAK) Unpack from OA-7
Soyuz 735 HERO3 GoPro camera battery charge (6) termination and stowage
Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Full Fill
PILOT-T. Closeout Ops
CALCIUM. Experiment Session
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
Meteor Hard Disk Drive and Antivirus Update
Polar Desiccant Pack Swap

Completed Task List Items
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
NREP Hardware Swap Support

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 04/26: Fluid Shifts, sample transfer from Polars, National Assn. of Broadcasters 4K downlink
Thursday, 04/27: Fluid Shifts, P/TV 4K teardown, EVA DOUG review, Cygnus cargo transfer
Friday, 04/28: EVA procedures review, BEAM ingress, Genes In Space hardware checkout, EHS RAM deploy

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – Off
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 – Standby
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off