NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 May 2019 – Ongoing Immunology Research

Immunology research has been keeping the Expedition 59 astronauts busy since the SpaceX Dragon space freighter delivered new science gear in early May. Two cosmonauts are also one week away from starting the fourth spacewalk this year at the International Space Station.
NASA astronaut Anne McClain was back inside Japan’s Kibo laboratory module today observing how the immune systems of mice, which are similar to humans, respond to the lack of gravity. She teamed up with Flight Engineers Christina Koch and David Saint-Jacques for the on-orbit research to help doctors improve astronauts’ immunity in space. The potential for advanced vaccines and therapies may also benefit Earthlings as well as future astronauts exploring the Moon and beyond.

A variety of other space biology and human research took place today as Flight Engineer Nick Hague collected and stowed his blood and urine samples for later scientific analysis. He also worked on the Biolab hardware before stowing the Biomolecule Sequencer that sequences DNA aboard the space station. The advanced science gear is part of the Genes In Space-6 experiment researching how space radiation impacts DNA and the cell repair mechanism.

Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin were back on spacesuit duty today. The Roscosmos cosmonauts transferred their Orlan spacesuits to the Pirs airlock and installed portable repressurization tanks in the Russian lab module. Next week they will review procedures and timelines for their approximately six-hour spacewalk for external maintenance scheduled for Wednesday, May 29.

A docked Russian Progress cargo craft will fire its engines for 20 minutes raising the station’s orbit on Thursday. The reboost will place the orbiting complex in the correct trajectory for the undocking and landing of three Expedition 59 crewmembers June 24.

On-Orbit Status Report

Biological Experiment Laboratory (BioLab): The crew installed Experiment Containers (ECs) on the Biolab Centrifuge Rotors inside the incubator. The BioLab is a multiuser research facility located in the Columbus laboratory. It is used to perform space biology experiments on microorganisms, cells, tissue cultures, small plants, and small invertebrates. BioLab allows scientists to gain a better understanding of the effects of microgravity and space radiation on biological organisms.

Genes in Space-6 (GIS-6): The crew stowed the Biomolecular Sequencer hardware which was used for the Freeze and Fly part 2 portion of GIS-6 activities. 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 ISS.

Rodent Research-12 (RR-12): The crew completed rodent operations as well as Access Unit Cleaning and Mass Measurement Device (MMD) stow activities. 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.

Node 3 Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Shutdown: The Node 3 CDRA was activated this morning following an unexpected shutdown of the Thermal Amine Scrubber (TAS) payload to retain proper CO2 scrubbing capability while ground teams assess the data for TAS. However, the Flight Control Team commanded a Node 3 CDRA shutdown after observing an off-nominal pump down sequence. Lab CDRA was activated and it is currently operating nominally. Ground teams successfully completed a nominal restart of the Pump Motor Controller (PMC) and will configure the Node 3 CDRA to run several half-cycles while teams monitor performance.

Completed Task List Activities:
HRFC Rack 1 troubleshooting
PFS hardware trash
Glass cloth tape audit

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Rodent Research ops support

Look Ahead:
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)

Systems:
Handhold Experiment Platform item checking/pre-gather

Friday, 05/24 (GMT 144)

Payloads:
BioAnalyzer Cell-2 Analysis (CSA)
HXP2 Sample ops (JAXA)
Mouse Mission Blood Draws (JAXA)
Probiotics fecal ops (JAXA)
MVP Cell-01 Cell -01 replace and photo (NASA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)
MicroAlgae ops (NASA)
FOP sample exchange (NASA)
Team Task Switching survey (NASA)
Standard Measures cognition test (NASA)
BCM RoBOT test (NASA)
Sextant Ops (NASA)

Systems:
Handhold Experiment Platform detach from JEMAL Slide Table

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

JAXA Mouse Mission Item Gathering
ISS Crew and ???? (RSA Flight Control Team) weekly conference
TOCA Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
TOCA Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Preparation for pressurized Orlan suits transfer from DC1 to ??? Training
MICRO ALGAE Culture Bag Daily Deploy
Water Recovery Management (WRM) JEM Sample Setup
Transfer of two Pressurized Orlan Suits to ???
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Glove Box Bench Setup
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
Behavioral Core Measures Journals Entry
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Assist
Configuring ??? to Initial State post-Training
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Setup
Installation of Portable Repress Tank
CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Session
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup Configure
Installation of additional portable repress tank (???) in DC1
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
DC1 EV1 hatch pusher checkout and safing Protective Ring [??]
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
Rodent Research ops
Biolab Reference Experiment Container Installation
Rodent Research Assist-1
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
RR Cryo Chiller Sample Transfer to MELFI
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
Team Task Switching Experiment Survey
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3
Water Recovery Management (WRM) JEM Sample Check
Rodent Research Sample Relocation
Team Task Switching Experiment Survey
TOCA Sample Data Record
Progress 440 [AO] Transfers and IMS Ops
COSMOCARD. Closeout Ops
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male
Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop. Downlink Log-files via OCA
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Assist
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
Systems Operations Data File (SODF) Update
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
SM Air Sampling for CO using ??? Samplers
Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup Configure
Collecting SM and FGB Air Samples Using ??-1? Sampler
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research ops
Medical Kit config for EVA
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Vacuum Pressure Gauge Readings Check
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
PAO Preparation
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
Rodent Research Dissection 1B
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config Columbus Setup
Rodent Research Assist-1
??? maintenance
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) in Columbus
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Genes in Space 6 Biomolecule Sequencer Stow
Rodent Research ops
Rodent Research Cryochiller Insert-2
IMS Delta File Prep
Progress 440 [AO] stowage completion report
RR Cryo Chiller Sample Transfer to MELFI
Rodent Research Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude Final
ISS Experience Hardware Stow
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3
Rodent Research Sample Relocation
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male
Actiwatch Plus Evaluation Display Check
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup
LSG Work Volume Stow
LSG Crew Restraint Removal (Primary and Secondary)
Water Recovery Management (WRM) JEM Sample Check
MICRO ALGAE Culture Bag Daily Stow