NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 May 2017 – Training for a Dragon Arrival
The Expedition 51 crew trained today for the next SpaceX Dragon mission due early next month. The five crew members also explored how microgravity affects their bodies to help scientists keep astronauts healthy in space.
The next Dragon mission, SpaceX CRS-11, is scheduled to launch June 1 to deliver new space science gear to the International Space Station. The commercial cargo craft will arrive three days later to begin its stay attached to the Harmony module for cargo operations.
NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer trained today to familiarize themselves with the robotic procedures during Dragon’s rendezvous and approach. Fischer, with Whitson’s assistance, will command the Canadarm2 robotic arm to grapple Dragon when it reaches a point 10 meters away from the station. Ground controllers will then take over and remotely install Dragon to Harmony with the Canadarm2.
The crew began its day taking body size measurements studying how an astronaut’s shape changes during a spaceflight. Observations may result in new designs for space clothing and spacecraft work areas to improve mission effectiveness.
On-Orbit Status Report
Grasp Commissioning: To complete commissioning for the Grasp investigation hardware, Pesquet performed tasks in a seated position. Grasp is intended to provide insight into how the central nervous system integrates information from different sensory modalities encoded in different reference frames to coordinate movements of the hand with objects in the environment. Performed on the ISS, in conjunction with a series of experiments performed on the ground, Grasp explores the interaction between all of the various sensory cues.
NanoRack Cubesat Deployer (NRCSD) #12 Deploy: A total of 17 cubesats will be deployed from NRCSD #12. Nine CubeSats were successfully deployed today. The remaining 8 will be deployed tonight and tomorrow. All 17 are from the QB50 constellation of CubeSats that are provided by countries around the world. The constellation aims to study the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere over a period of 1 to 2 years. The QB50 satellites conduct coordinated measurements of the thermosphere, a poorly studied and previously inaccessible zone of the atmosphere. The project monitors different gaseous molecules and electrical properties of the thermosphere to better understand space weather and its long term trends.
OsteoOmics: A crewmember will fixate BioCells in two Biocell Habitats today and then inserted the samples into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). This completes the fourth and final week of OsteoOmics operations. Crewmembers experience bone loss in orbit, stemming from the lack of gravity acting on their bones. OsteoOmics investigates the molecular mechanisms that dictate this bone loss by examining osteoblasts, which form bone, and osteoclasts, which dissolve bone. Improved understanding of these mechanisms could lead to more effective countermeasures to prevent bone loss during space missions and in a wide range of disorders on Earth. This may lead to better preventative care or therapeutic treatments for people suffering bone loss as a result of bone diseases like osteopenia and osteoporosis, or for patients on prolonged bed rest.
Body Measures: Today a 50S subject performed the Body Measures Flight Day 184 session. The crewmember, with assistance from a trained operator, collected Body Measures data after configuring still and video cameras. NASA is collecting in-flight anthropometric data to assess the impact of physical body shape and size changes on suit sizing. Still and video imagery is captured and a tape measure is used to measure segmental length, height, depth, and circumference data for all body segments (chest, waist, hip, arms, legs, etc.) from astronauts before, during and after their flight missions.
Robotics On-Board Trainer (RoBOT): The crew performed a session of this training during which they completed a 30 meter approach, two Capture Point hold runs and 2 meter runs. This activity was in preparation for SpX-11 capture currently scheduled for June 4.
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday evening Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS and walked the Space Station Robotic Manipulator System (SSRMS) from Mobile Base System (MBS) Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) 4 to Node2 PDGF. They then translated the Mobile Transporter (MT) from work site (WS) 6 to WS4. MSS is now in configuration for the SpX-11 Crew Offset Grapples tomorrow.
Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) N21B4A_B Trip: Remote Power Controller (RPC) 2 on RPCM N21B4A_B tripped overnight. The RPC supplies power to the Node 2 Starboard Audio Terminal Unit (ATU) 1. An alternate ATU on the port side of Node 2 is still available for voice, caution and warning tones if needed. Preliminary review of telemetry did not indicate an overcurrent condition. Today, ground teams attempted to reclose the RPC without success. Teams are continuing to assess their forward plan.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
NEUROIMMUNITET. Saliva sample collection
Biochemical Urine Test
NEUROIMMUNITET. Closeout Ops
URISYS Hardware Stowage
Body Measures Equipment Gather
EHS Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Final unloading of Soyuz 735 container 11?732.?0052?17-0
Body Measures Experiment Operations – Subject
NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Photos
Body Measures Experiment Operations – Operator
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) gas supply line Leak Check 1
RFID Reader Relocate
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
OsteoOmics Fixation Operations
Replacement of IELK, [???] funnels ? (M) and ? (F) in Soyuz 733 and Soyuz 735. Seat liner and p/l container replacement
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
OsteoOmics MELFI Insertion 1
NanoRacks CubeSat Deployment Photos
OsteoOmics MELFI Insertion 1
Habitability Narrated Task Video Setup – Subject
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer HRDL Cable Move
Habitability Narrated Task Video End – Subject
HRF UCB Stow and Retrieval
On-board Training (OBT) Dragon Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Session 1
Reconnecting SM KURS-P cables from MRM2 port Antenna Feeder to DC1 port antenna feeder
Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Sensor PT1
??? maintenance
Loading container 11?732.?0052?17-0 with return items
IMS Update
European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) Air Mix Supply Module Replacement
European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) Gas Valve Open
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) gas supply line Leak Check 2
Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Sensor PT2
Robotics Onboard Training (ROBoT) Session for Dragon
Manufacturing Device Feedstock Canister, Extruder Exchange
EHS Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject
Completed Task List Items
Veggie 03 Pillow Watering and Photo
Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Filter Remove and Replace (R&R) with Fan Filter Cleaning
In-flight Maintenance Steady State Light Module
Galley Rack Re-label
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
JEMRMS/NanoRacks deploy
Dragon RoBOT ops
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 05/26: OBT Dragon Offset Grapple, EVA loops scrub/conductivity tests, OBT Soyuz drill
Saturday, 06/27: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 06/28: Crew off duty
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”) – Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Standby
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Stop
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off
