NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 June 2019 – Expedition 59 Returns Safely to Earth

NASA astronaut Anne McClain and two of her Expedition 59 crewmates returned to Earth from the International Space Station Monday, landing safely in Kazakhstan at 10:47 p.m. EDT (8:47 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, local time) after months of science and four spacewalks aboard the microgravity laboratory.
McClain, Expedition 59/Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency launched Dec. 3, 2018. They arrived at the space station just six hours later to begin their 204-day mission, during which they orbited Earth 3,264 times traveling 86,430,555 miles.

After post-landing medical checks, McClain and Saint-Jacques will return to Houston and Kononenko to Star City, Russia.

The Expedition 59 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, including investigations into small devices that replicate the structure and function of human organs, editing DNA in space for the first time and recycling 3D-printed material.

McClain, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and native of Spokane, Washington, conducted two spacewalks totaling 13 hours and 8 minutes on her mission into space.

Saint-Jacques, also on his first space mission and only the sixth Canadian astronaut to perform a spacewalk, joined McClain on her second outing, which totaled 6 hours and 29 minutes. Kononenko, on his fourth mission, conducted two spacewalks totaling 13 hours and 46 minutes, bringing his career total to 32 hours and 13 minutes spread over five spacewalks.

When their Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft undocked at 7:25 p.m., Expedition 60 began aboard the station officially, with Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA as flight engineers, and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos as the station’s commander.

The next residents to arrive at the space station – Andrew Morgan of NASA, Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) and Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos – will launch aboard Soyuz MS-13 on July 20, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and join Expedition 60 after a six-hour flight.

On-Orbit Status Report

57 Soyuz (57S) Departure: The 57S crew is scheduled to depart the ISS and return to Earth today. Hatch closure occurred at 3:10 PM CT with undock scheduled at 6:25 PM CT and landing at 9:48 PM CT at the Kazakhstan landing site. On Sunday, Oleg Kononenko transferred command of ISS to Aleksey Ovchinin and the 58S crew completed a Roles and Responsibilities review in preparation for 3-crew operations.

Genes in Space-6 (GIS): The crew initiated part 5 of the Genes in Space 06 CRISPR biomolecule sequence run. 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.

The ISS Experience: This evening the crew will record the 57S crew departure from Node 1. The ISS Experience creates a virtual reality film documenting daily life aboard the ISS. The 8 to 10 minute videos created from footage taken during the six-month investigation cover different aspects of crew life, execution of science aboard the station, and the international partnerships involved. The ISS Experience uses a Z-CAM V1 Pro Cinematic Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree camera with nine 190° fisheye lenses.

JAXA-PCG (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Protein Crystallization Growth): The crew retrieved the two JAXA PCG samples from the FROST2 (Freezer-Refrigerator Of STirling cycle 2) facility and prepared them for 57S return. The objective of the JAXA PCG investigation is to grow high quality protein crystals in microgravity.

Veg-04A: The crew performed a water check and measured broken off leaves using the Mass Measurement Device. This investigation is a phased research project to address the need for a continuous fresh-food production system in space. A healthy, nutritious diet is essential for long-duration exploration missions, which means that the typical pre-packaged astronaut diet needs to be supplemented by fresh foods during flight. The Veggie Vegetable Production System (Veggie) has begun testing aboard the ISS to help meet this need, and validation tests have demonstrated that leafy greens can be grown in spaceflight. The research of Veg-04A focuses on the impact of light quality and fertilizer on leafy crop growth for a 28-day grow-out, microbial food safety, nutritional value, taste acceptability by the crew, and the overall behavioral health benefits of having plants and fresh food in space.

Completed Task List Activities:
Saturday
MELFI Icebrick install
Wanted Poster: broken multi-use brackets
WHC KTO replace
Wanted Poster: excess caps & plugs
Data prep for return – FE2, FE3
Crew departure prep
ISS Experience message review
ISS Experience movie
ISS Experience group exercise

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
57S departure ops
Payload ops support

Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 6/25 (GMT 176)
Crew off duty

Wednesday, 6/26 (GMT 177)

Payloads:
LTE Post sleep Entry (NASA)
ISS Experience Lab Log recording (NASA)
VEG-04 H2O check and Mass Measurement Ops (NASA)
LSR Flush and assembly (ESA)
GIS-6 BioMolecule Sequencer stow (NASA)
HRF Urine Setup (NASA)
FIR/LMM BioPhysics-06 Relocate
ISS HAM (NASA)

Systems:
EMU data recorder remove
EMU 3003 pack for return

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

HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes
Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry
HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
HRF Generic Saliva Collection Stow
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection Operator
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection 15 Minutes Subject
Functional Immune Historical Documentation Photography
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection Operator
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection 15 Minutes Subject
ISS Experience Hardware Stow
Stowage of the return equipment in Soyuz 741
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection Operator
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection 15 Minutes Subject
ISS Experience Node 1 Setup
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection Pack And Handover
HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection Stow
VEG-04 Water Check and Mass Measurement Device Operations
Actiwatch Spectrum Watch Doff
JAXA Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) Sample Retrieval
Actiwatch Spectrum Watch Doff
Descent Private Medical Conference (PMC, audio only)
JAXA PCG Sample Handover
KRISTALLIZATOR. Consolidated packing, handover of PCG kits, transfer to Soyuz 741 for return
KRISTALLIZATOR. Photo of PCG Kit Handover from USOS
EXPRESS Rack ZBook Setup
ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Columbus
PROBIOVIT. MICROVIR. BIOPLENKA. PRODUTSENT. Kit Transfers to Soyuz
ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Service Module
Stowage of the return equipment in Soyuz 741 / r/g 2370nu
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Genes in Space MWA Preparation
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Replacement of [СРВК-2М] Gas-Liquid Mixture Filter
Genes in Space 6 MELFI Sample Retrieve
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Two-Phase Flow Experiment Equipment Valves Setting
Genes in Space 6 CRISPR Run Part 3
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Water Recovery Management (WRM) Condensate Pumping Initiation
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
Filling (separation) of ЕДВ (КОВ) for Elektron or ЕДВ-СВ
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
Soyuz 741 Stowage Completion Report (S-band)
Water Recovery Management (WRM) Condensate Pumping Termination
Photography of the external surface of Soyuz 741 [СА] БО hatch cover
Downlink photos of the external surface of Soyuz 741 [СА] -БО Hatch Cover after completion of return cargo transfers (via OCA)
EXPRESS Rack ZBook Setup Start
Comm Config for Soyuz 741 Undocking and Descent
Functional Immune Health Questionnaire
ISS Experience Recording Preparation
Comm check with Soyuz 741 via RSA2-S/G2
Check Closure of SM window shutters 6,8,9,12,13,14 Note 7
Soyuz 741 Activation (w/o Gas Analyzer activation) Transfer of EMER-1a Book from Soyuz 741 to MRM2
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Respiratory Support Pack (RSP) – Checkout
Setup and Activation of КСПЭ Equipment in MRM2 to conduct Hatch Closure TV coverage in mpeg2 format via Ku-band (camcorder Sony HVR-Z7E)
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
EXPRESS Rack ZBook Setup Finish
PRODUTSENT. Deactivation of TBU No.05
On MCC GO Soyuz -MRM2 Hatch Closure
Closing of transitive hatches ТПК-МИМ2
USOS Window Shutter Close
On MCC GO Soyuz 741 – MRM2 Hatch Leak Check
On MCC GO Downlink of TV coverage Hatch Closure data from MRM2
ISS Experience Hardware Relocate
Deactivation of camcorder, TV System monitoring equipment and closing applications
ISS SAFETY VIDEO
Soyuz 741 ODF Procedure Ops
Activation of MPEG2 Multicast TV Signal Monitoring during Soyuz 741 undock
Deactivation of TV System monitoring equipment and closing applications
On MCC Go Switch DC-Soyuz HPV in MRM2 to CLOSED
ISTOCHNIK-M. Measurement preparation
ISTOCHNIK-M. Activation of TLM Recording mode from Soyuz 741
ISTOCHNIK-M. Closeout Ops
Comm reconfig for nominal ops after Soyuz 741 landing