NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 July 2017 – Testing New Health Equipment for Astronauts
One of the effects of living in space is the tendency of fluids to shift upward towards an astronaut’s head. This results in the common “puffy face” appearance astronauts experience when they escape Earth’s gravity. However, the more serious effects observed on orbit could include eye and vision damage.
The three Expedition 52 crew members are exploring a unique device that reverses some of these headward fluid shifts and could counter changes to vision in space. Peggy Whitson of NASA tried on the Lower Body Negative Pressure suit today with assistance from Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos. NASA astronaut Jack Fischer joined the commander and conducted brain/ear fluid pressure tests and eye exams on Whitson.
Back on Earth, three new Expedition 52-53 crew members will see their Soyuz MS-05 rocket roll out to its launch pad Wednesday. The trio from the United States, Russia and Italy will blast off inside the Soyuz rocket Friday at 11:41 a.m. EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Randy Bresnik of NASA, Sergey Ryazanskiy from Roscosmos and Paolo Nespoli from the European Space Agency will live on the orbital complex until mid-December.
On-Orbit Status Report
Fluid Shifts: A crew member completed the first of two days of Chibis operations in the Russian Segment for the Fluid Shifts investigation. They donned the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP/Chibis) device while the operator, with ground support in Moscow, assisted in taking measurements for Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure (CCFP) and performed a Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) test, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and a Tonometry examination. 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.
Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis: The crew cleaned and restocked the Animal Habitats in support of the RR-5 investigation. Because spaceflight has significant and rapid effects on the musculoskeletal system it is important to investigate targeted therapies that could ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of spaceflight. The NELL-1 drug being studied in the RR-5 investigation has the potential to slow or reverse bone loss during spaceflight.
Lighting Effects: The crew set up and configured the light meter hardware and took readings in the Cupola and the Columbus. The Lighting Effects investigation hopes to better quantify and qualify how lighting can effect habitability of spacecraft. The light bulbs on the ISS are being replaced with a new system designed for improved crew health and wellness. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance. Results from this investigation also have implications for people on Earth who use electric lights.
Crew Medical Officer (CMO) Training: FE-2 completed this training which is an onboard refresher for long duration missions. Medical procedures and hardware were reviewed to ensure continuing basic knowledge of the Health Maintenance System.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts Experiment
On MCC GO Regeneration of Micropurification Unit (???) ?2 Cartridge (start)
Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Install
Virus Definition File Update on Auxiliary Computer System (???) Laptops
RADIOSKAF. Disconnecting of ??? 120 nanosatellite from charger and connecting Tanysha-SWSU-1 and Tanysha-SWSU-2
Service Module Data Collection – Operator
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
Vacuum Cleaning of ??1 and ??2 air ducts in DC1
METEOR Hardware Check
JEM Wireless Instrumentation System Environmental Monitor Remote Sensor Unit Battery R&R
Microbial Tracking-2 Saliva Setup
Rodent Research Node 2 Camcorder Video Setup
Lighting Effects Light Meter Readings Alternate 1
Rodent Research Habitat 3 & 4 Restock
Rodent Research Access Unit Clean
SPLANH. Preparation for experiment
RADIOSKAF. Monitoring Tanysha-SWSU-1 and Tanysha-SWSU-2 nanosatellites charge level status. Photo/Video Ops
Antibody Conjugates MELFI Sample Retrieve
Completed Task List Items
None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts support
Rodent Research Support
SSRMS walkoff to MBS3/SPDM unstow
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 07/26: T2 monthly inspection, ELF sample swap, ADC B cell fixation
Thursday, 07/27: Spring VO2 ops, Capillary Structures, CBEF ops
Friday, 07/28: 51S Launch, RR gather/procedure review
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”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Standby
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off
