NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 November 2019 – Analog-1 Science Session
Thanksgiving week starts with the Expedition 61 crew exploring the stresses microgravity imposes on organisms at the cellular level. The International Space Station is also ramping up for cargo traffic and another spacewalk in December.
The astronauts in the U.S. segment of the orbiting lab focused their attention today on identifying the cellular changes caused by weightlessness. Observations may provide doctors with advanced therapeutic insights into diseases afflicting humans on Earth and ailments that affect astronauts in space.
Two more spacewalks are scheduled to service an astrophysics device, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), searching for clues to the origin of the universe. Astronauts Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano will continue the complex work on Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:50 a.m. EST to replace the AMS thermal control system.
Russia’s Progress 73 cargo craft will compete its 121-day mission attached to the Pirs docking compartment this Friday and undock for a fiery disposal above the south Pacific. It will be replaced when the Progress 74 resupply ship launches Dec. 6 and docks to Pirs on Dec. 8.
SpaceX is targeting Dec. 4 for the launch if its 19th commercial cargo mission to the space station. The Dragon space freighter would arrive on Dec. 7 delivering a variety of brand new research gear including Japan’s Hyperspectral Imager Suite, or HISUI.
On-Orbit Status Report
AMS EVA preparation: The crew continued preparation for the third AMS repair EVA with procedure reviews. The multiple AMS-02 repair EVAs are being performed to recover a series of cooling pumps within the AMS-02 experiment. The first and second of the AMS EVAs were completed successfully and went very well. The third EVA is currently scheduled to occur next Monday, 02-December. AMS-02 is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector that uses the unique environment of space to advance knowledge of the universe and lead to the understanding of the universe’s origin by searching for antimatter, dark matter and measuring cosmic rays.
Analog-1 Science session: The crew performed the science session for Analog-1. In this session, the crew controlled and interacted with the rover to identify and describe rocks, and attempt collection of various rocks based on feedback from the ground team. The ground team is still looking over the data collected from the session, but believes the session went very well. Space is such a harsh place for humans and machines that future exploration of the Solar System may involve sending robotic explorers to “test the waters” on uncharted planets before sending humans. The parent METERON project is a European initiative to help prepare for future human-robotic exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. The project is organized around a series of experiments as preparatory steps towards gaining the experience needed, through adaptation of the traditional ways of working, to effectively and efficiently support operations of human and robotic combined elements on a planetary surface.
Standard Measures: Using the data collection on an available SSC (Station Support Computer), the crew performed their pre-sleep questionnaire. The aim of the investigation is to ensure consistent capture of an optimized, minimal set of measures from crewmembers until the end of the ISS Program in order to characterize the adaptive responses to and risks of living in space. Among other things, the ground teams perform analyses for metabolic and chemistry panels, immune function, microbiome, etc. These measures populate a data repository to enable high-level monitoring of countermeasure effectiveness and meaningful interpretation of health and performance outcomes, and support future research on planetary missions.
Rodent Research-14: The first day of the RR-14 science sessions was performed today. Rodent Research-14 focuses on microgravity as a disruptor of the 12-hour circatidal clock. The study uses mice to test the hypothesis that disruptions in a microgravity environment to the circadian rhythm sleep/wake cycle will affect the body on a cellular and key organ level. The importance of this 12-hour clock has been established as a mechanism that controls stress-responsive pathways. The unique environment of the ISS provides an ideal setting to challenge this. In short, exposing cellular systems in mice to the stress of microgravity provides an opportunity to study the response of the 12-hour body clock from cellular adaptation and its effect(s) on organismal behavior.
Systems:
Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Flush Water Hose Replacement: On GMT 298, the T-hose (S/N 7) which connects the EDV-CB, the Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Flush Water Tank Empty Pressure Sensor (“Empty Sensor”), and the Water Valve Block did not successfully mate to the empty sensor. Today, the crew performed a fit check with a new T-Hose (S/N 8) to the empty sensor and a new EDV. The S/N 8 T-hose did not mate with the installed empty tank sensor so the crew continued with the remaining operations including EDV full flush tank fill and inspection. The forward plan will be to swap the empty sensor with another spare on-board.
Completed Task List Activities:
WHC KTO Replace (GMT 327)
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
ISS Experience SSC Support
Tuesday, 11/26 (GMT 330)
Payloads:
AMS procedure review and training,
Rodent Research-14
Handhold Exp Platform Desiccant Installation
LSR Troubleshooting
Standard Measures
Veg-04B check
Systems:
JEMRMS BDS C/O Cleanup
Wednesday, 11/27 (GMT 331)
Payloads:
AMS procedure review
Analog-1 teardown
Food acceptability
Rodent Research-14
ESA/Photobioreactor remove
Veg-04B plant check
Systems:
IFM-WHC-UR/IF R&R
OBT TORU Drill
OBT TB Prep
Thursday, 11/28 (GMT 332)
Payloads:
AMS procedure review and training
Rodent Research-14
Space Moss
Veg-04B final harvest
Systems:
Endoscope Kit Prep
RGN Tank Drain/Fill/Process
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MELFI Sample Insertion into a Box Module Part 4
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MELFI Sample Retrieve Part 2
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MWA Preparation Part 1
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) Sample Transfer Part 3
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos web site and social media
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Virtual ATU Configure JEM
Rodent Research Dissection Assist
SPLANKH-2. Splankhograph Setup.
SPLANKH-2. Sonomed-K Setup.
Rodent Research 14 Dissection
SPLANKH-2. Ultrasound study before breakfast with the Electrogastroenterography (EGEG) running on the background.
Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup
Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Rodent Research Assist
Daily Planning Conference
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 1
JEMRMS Final Activation Before JEMRMS Console C/O
Rodent Research Dissection Assist
Rodent Research 14 Dissection
Check Closure of SM window shutters 6,8,9,12,13,14 Note 6
Pressurization of Elektron-VM Liquid Unit before Activation
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
SPLANKH-2. Ultrasound study after breakfast with the Electrogastroenterography (EGEG) running on the background. Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
JEMRMS Console Checkout
USOS Window Shutter Close
VEG-04B Plant Check/Watering for each Plant Pillow
Analog-1 Session Setup
Rodent Research Dissection Assist
Analog-1 Session 2 Video Recording
Analog-1 Task Overview Video
Rodent Research 14 Dissection
Analog-1 Session Protocol
Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
SPLANKH-2. Splankhograph Closeout Ops SPLANKH-2.
Sonomed-K Closeout Ops.
Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Analog-1 Questionnaire
Rodent Research Assist
Rodent Research MELFI Insert 1
Analog-1 Closeout
Analog-1 Session 2 Video Recording
JEMRMS Deactivation Preparation After JEMRMS C/O
Rodent Research Dissection Assist
Rodent Research 14 Dissection
SEPARATSIA. Mixing in the [???-?-??] urine circulation loop.
In-Flight Maintenance Waste and Hygiene Compartment Water Components Remove and Replace
Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
Glovebox Freezer Sample Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude Final
Rodent Research Assist
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config COL Setup
Replacement of Vozdukh soundproof cover.
PAO Preparation
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill Initiation
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – COL
In-Flight Maintenance Waste and Hygiene Compartment Flush Water Tank Inspection
Soyuz 744 Kazbek Fit Check
JEMRMS Backup Drive System (BDS) Reconfiguration
??? maintenance. Vozdukh [??? ???] valves service activation
SM Air Sampling for CO using ??? Samplers
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
Food Acceptability Survey
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference
PAO Preparation
Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Termination
IMS Delta File Prep
SM and FGB Air Sampling using ??-1? Sampler
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill Termination
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
PAO Preparation
On MCC Go Filling up Progress 442 (DC1) ???? Section 2 with N2
Auxiliary Laptop Computer System Virus Definition File Update
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
??-2 treadmill status check
AMS Procedure/video review
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config COL Setup
PAO Preparation
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – COL
Exercise Data Downlink via OCA
Daily Planning Conference
Standard Measures Pre-sleep Questionnaire
Standard Measures Pre-sleep Questionnaire
Preparing for SW Antivirus Scan on Auxiliary Computer System Laptops
Reminder Rodent Research Thermal Consideration
