NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 23 August, 2021 – Spacewalk Potponed
The U.S. spacewalk outside the International Space Station originally planned for Tuesday, Aug. 24 with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide has been postponed due to a minor medical issue involving Vande Hei.
This issue is not a medical emergency. The spacewalk is not time-sensitive and crew members are continuing to move forward with other station work and activities. Teams are assessing the next available opportunity to conduct the spacewalk following the SpaceX CRS-23 cargo resupply launch planned for Aug. 28 and upcoming Russian spacewalks. The preview briefing Aug. 23 is also being rescheduled and will be announced at a later date.
On-Orbit Status Report
Payloads
Combustion Integrated Rack/Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments/Cool Flames Investigation with Gasses (CIR/ACME/CFI-G): A crewmember exchanged a used 100% propane bottle with a new bottle of the same composition. Cool diffusion flames were discovered during droplet combustion experiments aboard the ISS in 2012, and this initiated a rapidly growing field of combustion research. A cool flame is one that burns at about 600 degrees Celsius. A typical candle is about two times hotter, burning at around 1,400 degrees Celsius. Most internal combustion engines are designed using computer models that neglect cool flame chemistry, but ignition and flame propagation in engines depend on cool flame chemistry. Cool flame chemistry also has a significant impact on fuel octane and cetane numbers, whose understanding has large economic consequences.
ISS Experience Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Z-Camera: The crew participated in ISS Experience Cupola activities related to Earth observation and sunrise, while being filmed by the ISS Experience EVA Z-Camera. The ISS Experience is a cinematic Virtual Reality (VR) series documenting life and research aboard the space station. Filmed over multiple months, the immersive VR series documents different crew activities – from science conducted aboard the station to preparation for a spacewalk.
ISS Ham pass: The crew participated in an ISS Ham pass with Carl Fuhlrott-Gymnasium, Wuppertal, Germany. Some of the questions asked by the students included how astronauts brush their teeth, if astronauts take any personal items with them, and where oxygen on the ISS comes from. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents, and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground Ham radio units.
Ring Sheared Drop: The crew removed the processed syringe and installed a new syringe. Due to static issues partially affecting the processed sample, the crew will take additional steps designed to reduce any static charge buildup. The Ring Sheared Drop investigation examines the formation and flow of amyloids without the complications associated with the solid walls of a container, because in microgravity, surface tension provides containment of the liquid. Fibrous, extracellular protein deposits found in organs and tissues; amyloids are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Results could contribute to better understanding of these diseases as well as to development of advanced materials.
Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory (SABL): The crew installed SABL S/N 4 in the EXPRESS Rack 8, Locker 2 location in the JEM. SABL supports a wide variety of investigations in the life, physical and material sciences with a focus on supporting research of biological systems and processes. It has over 23 liters of temperature-controlled volume with LED lighting for scientific hardware and investigations. It can be fitted to provide 5% CO2 (or any required concentration of CO2) for cell cultures or other types of investigations and has two USB 2.0 ports and two Ethernet LAN connections. It also has switchable 28vdc and 5vdc power supplies for investigation use.
Systems
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: Tomorrow’s ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) 4A Prep EVA has been delayed, a new date for the EVA has not yet been set. Prior to the decision to delay tomorrow’s USOS EVA, the crew had completed the Equipment Lock prep and the final EVA tool configuration. Later in the day the crew did restow EVA hardware.
ISS Reboost – Saturday, August 21st, there was a successful reboost by the Russian Service Module thrusters. The reboost resulted in a ~0.7 m/sec velocity delta.
Completed Task List Activities:
IPAD updates (2OF4, 3OF4)
ESA PAO (5things, USA 40th, Food Day)
SSC Damaged Cable Audit
ESA EPO SDG
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Lab MCA Zero Calibration
ISS Experience Z-Cam Filming
Look Ahead Plan
Tuesday, August 24 (GMT 236) – currently being replanned due to the EVA deferral
Payloads:
Food Acceptability
LSG Cleaning
Systems:
HCOR Removal
HRM Removal
ARED Rope R&R
Cygnus Cargo Ops
CSA-CP Checkout Part 1
Wednesday, August 25 (GMT 237) – currently being replanned due to the EVA deferral
Payloads:
Actiwatch setup
Astrobee Perching Arm Install
Butterfly Ultrasound
CBEF Humidifier closeout
Eklosion message photo
Food Acceptability
Lumina Data Transfer
MELFI Icebrick transfers
POLAR3 desiccant swap
SAMS MSRR sensor relocate
Systems:
Gather USOS tools for RS EVA
Deck Airlock Stowage Platform (ASP) Replacement Access
Thursday, August 26 (GMT 238) – currently being replanned due to the EVA deferral
Payloads:
Astrobee/Astroporter Setup and C/O
Biolab health check
Cell Science-04 Algae Injection
Cubesat hardware deployer re-work
ESA Powerbank charge
Food Acceptability
Food Physiology
GLACIER2 desiccant swap
ManD Print removal
Myotones
POLAR11 desiccant swap
Redwire Regolith Print setup
Ring Sheared Drop
Standard Measures
STaARS BS-12 Sample Install
Veggie OBT
Systems:
Deck ASP Install
JSL Cable Test
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood
Relocate PBAs for upcoming EVA
Payload Data Router Power On
Space Automated Bioproduct Lab 4 Unit Setup
Combustion Integrated Rack Bottle Gather
Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement
Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Close
Equipment Lock (E-LK) Preparation
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Pistol Grip Tool (PGT) Battery (BATT) Install
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
ISS Experience EVA Z-cam Cupola Recording 1
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Audit
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring
Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap
ER6 ZBook HDD Swap
EXPRESS Rack 6 CLS11 Software Load Start
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review [Aborted]
Polar Desiccant Swap
MELFI 3 Ice Brick Insert 4
EXPRESS Rack 6 CLS11 Software Load Finish
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference [Aborted]
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) iPad Contingency Procedures preparation
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check Data Record
Ring-Sheared Drop Syringe and Test Cell Removal and Install
RSD MELFI Sample Insertion
ISS Experience Cupola Window Shutter Close
ISS Ham Kenwood Radio Power Down in Columbus
ISS Ham Radio Power Down in Service Module
