NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 May 2019 – Preparing for the Next Russian Spacewalk

The Expedition 59 crew is spending all day Tuesday exploring how astronauts adjust with Earth’s gravity no longer bearing down on them. Spacewalk preparations and lab maintenance are also ongoing aboard the International Space Station.
Station crewmembers and future astronauts going to the Moon in 2024 have to adjust to the lack of a sunrise/sunset cycle humans experience everyday on Earth. As a result, time perception is impacted and may affect sleep and work patterns. Astronauts Anne McClain, Nick Hague and David Saint-Jacques started the day on a study, going on since July 2017, exploring subjective changes in time that can alter physical and cognitive performance.

Hague later sequenced DNA samples for a study exploring how increased exposure to space radiation impacts crew health. He used the Biomolecule Sequencer for the investigation to demonstrate DNA sequencing in space. The Genes In Space-6 experiment is researching how space radiation damages DNA and how the cell repair mechanism works in microgravity.

Immune system studies continued full speed ahead today to test the hypothesis the immune response decreases in space. Astronaut Christina Koch teamed up with McClain and Saint-Jacques throughout the day observing mice for the study. Observations may help scientists develop advanced vaccines and therapies benefiting both astronauts and Earthlings.

Commander Oleg Kononenko continues to set up a pair of Russian Orlan spacesuits and outfit the Pirs airlock as the May 29 spacewalk approaches. Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin worked on space cardiology research before switching to space plumbing and pumping urine into the Progress 71 cargo craft.

On-Orbit Status Report

Time Perception in Microgravity: The crew performed Time Perception sessions. A program on the laptop induces visual and audio stimuli to measure a subject’s response to spatial and time perception in a microgravity environment. The accurate perception of objects in the environment is a prerequisite for spatial orientation and reliable performance of motor tasks. Time is fundamental to motion perception, sound localization, speech, and fine motor coordination.

Rodent Research-12 (RR-12): The crew performed research ops today. Rodent Research-12, Tetanus Antibody Response by B cells in Space (TARBIS), examines the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory. Spaceflight is known to have a dramatic influence on immune response, but there is little research on its effect following an actual challenge to the body’s immune system. Using a mouse model makes this possible, as the mouse immune system closely parallels that of humans.

Genes in Space-6: The crew performed Genes in Space-6 operations by loading samples from Experiment kit 1 into the Biomolecule Sequencer and the analysis run was initiated. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) damage caused by increased exposure to radiation can affect the long-term health of astronauts. Genes in Space-6 determines the optimal DNA repair mechanisms that cells use in the spaceflight environment. The investigation evaluates the entire process in space for the first time by inducing DNA damage in cells and assessing mutation and repair at the molecular level using the miniPCR and the Biomolecule Sequencer tools aboard the space station.

Completed Task List Activities:
Rodent Research 12 Audit

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
JEMRMS maneuver to SFA overnight park
Rodent Research ops support

Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 05/22 (GMT 142):

Payloads:
BioLab Experiment container install (ESA)
Actiwatch Plus chk (NASA)
BCM Journal (NASA)
JAXA Mouse Mission H/W gather (JAXA)
Rodent Research Dissections (NASA)
Repository urine collections (NASA)
GIS-6 Biomolecular Sequencer stow (NASA)
Team Task Switching (NASA)
MicroAlgae (NASA)
ISS Experience H/W Stow (NASA)

Systems:
SODF update

Thursday, 05/23 (GMT 143):

Payloads:
Astrobee mapping (NASA)
Probiotics fecal collect (JAXA)
Repository Blood and Urine collections (NASA)
TTS survey (NASA)
MicroAlgae deploy and stow and photo(NASA)
Mouse Mission Blood Draws and water maint. (JAXA)
GIS-6 CRISPR Ops part 3 (NASA)
Fiber Optics Production (FOP) install into the MSG and Sample Exchange (NASA)
Rodent Research Access unit cleaning (NASA)

Systems:
Handhold Experiment Platform item checking/pre-gather

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

Biochemical Urine Test
URISYS Hardware Stowage
TIME experiment combined session (Setup + Science)
Water Recovery Management (WRM) JEM Purge Setup
CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Session
Deinstallation of Three-Channel Wave Angular Rate Sensor [?????] in Soyuz 741
LSG Crew Restraint Installation Subsequent (Primary and Secondary)
TIME experiment combined session (Science + Stowage)
Time experiment science only
Preparing Orlan Comm and Telemetry Assets
Orlan and ??? Telemetry Check. Orlan comm check and medical parameter test
Rodent Research Operations and Assist
Veggie Facilities Deactivation after Veggie Ponds Ops
Comm reconfig into initial after Orlan comm. check
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Genes in Space MWA Preparation
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) On-Board Training
Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup Configure
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Genes in Space 6 MELFI Sample Retrieve
Genes in Space 6 Freeze and Fly Run Part 2
Rodent Research Cryochiller Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research Cryochiller Sample Insert 2
COSMOCARD. Preparing for and Starting 24-hr ECG Recording
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
RR Cryo Chiller Sample Transfer to MELFI
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Rodent Research MELFI Sample Insert 3
Rodent Research Sample Relocation
Genes in Space MELFI Insert
Urine transfer from ??? to Progress 440 [AO] Rodnik H2O Tank 2
Contamination assessment and cleaning Progress 441 (DC1) Air Heater Fan Screen
Preventive maintenance of DC1 Passive Docking Assembly Axial (???-?) and Progress 441 Active Docking Assembly [ACA] hatch sealing mechanisms
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Progress 441 Activation, Air Duct Removal
Water Recovery Management (WRM) JEM Purge Check
EVA Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Pull Tab Extension
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Generic Urine Collection Setup
Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup Configure
Remove and Inspect ???? Quick Release Screw Clamps (???) on DC1- Progress 441 Interface. Video of the Interface
DC1-Progress 441 Hatch Closure
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
??-?? and Progress-?? hatch leak check
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 4
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research Cryochiller Sample Insert
RR Cryo Chiller Sample Transfer to MELFI
Weekly monitoring of video recording equipment performance on the ISS RS
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude Final
FGB ?? Vacuum Cleaning
Rodent Research Sample Relocation
ISS Experience Hardware Stow
ISS Experience Firmware Setup
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Water Recovery Management (WRM) JEM Purge Teardown
MICRO ALGAE Culture Bag Daily Stow