NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 April 2018 – Materials Exposure Experiment

A wide variety of life science is being explored today aboard the International Space Station as Expedition 55 crew members prepare for a spacewalk planned for next month.
The space residents also continued the upkeep of the orbital lab while robotics controllers set up an external experiment.

Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai split his time today between tending mice and removing sensors attached to his arm. The rodents are being observed to detect the chemical signals that lead to muscle and bone loss in space and to provide therapies to keep astronauts healthy. Kanai also removed an armband monitor and sensors he wore for 36 hours that recorded alterations in his circadian rhythm caused by living in space.

Flight Engineers Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel are getting ready for a May 16 spacewalk to swap out thermal control gear that circulates ammonia to keep station systems cool. The duo readied their spacewalk tools today then dumped water and purged gases from a pair of U.S. spacesuits.

Scott Tingle of NASA worked inside the Harmony module today to replace a deteriorating Pump Package Assembly (PPA) with a spare device. The PPA is a thermal control system that provides water cooling to station payloads and critical systems avionics.

Science is also taking place outside the space station and robotics controllers are working to transfer a tray for the materials exposure experiment (MISSE-FF) outside of the Kibo lab module through the lab’s airlock for reconfiguration tomorrow. The complex robotic maneuvers are remotely controlled from the ground and use not only the Canadarm2 robotic arm but also the fine-tuning robotic hand known as Dextre. MISSE-FF will test materials, coatings, and components in the harsh environment of space.

Also, overnight, Russian flight controllers sent commands to deorbit the unpiloted ISS Progress 68 cargo craft that had been orbiting for the past month for engineering test following its undocking from the station March 28. It burned up harmlessly in the Earth’s atmosphere over the southern Pacific.

On-Orbit Status Report

NanoRacks Module-66: The crew removed NanoRacks Module-66 from the NanoRacks Platform-1 today for return on the SpaceX-14 vehicle. This investigation examines fibril formation and beta amyloid peptides in microgravity using a fluorescence spectrometer. Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible neurodegenerative process, is characterized by formation of neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein and plaques, or clumps of amyloid beta peptide, that kill brain cells. Research suggests that an intermediate stage in fibril formation is ten times more toxic and may play a greater role in cell death and development of Alzheimer’s disease. Results from this investigation could help identify a means to slow down the rate at which Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain or to eliminate toxic effects of the beta amyloid peptides.

Vascular Echo Mobil-O-Graph (MOG): The crew configured the MOG with the European Physiology Modules (EPM) laptop to prepare for future use of the MOG during 24-hour Vascular Echo blood pressure monitoring sessions. The MOG is an ambulatory blood pressure and pulse wave analysis monitoring and recording system that doesn’t interfere with other crew activities or sleep. The aim is to measure and quantify cardiac and vascular structural and functional changes during 6 months of spaceflight and up to one year of recovery. At the start of a session, the crewmember will connect the MOG to the EPM laptop, set up the MOG, and don the device for 24 hours.

Circadian Rhythms: A crewmember completed a Circadian Rhythms experiment session today and removed the armband monitor, watch and Thermolab double sensors, which were worn for 36 hours. The objective of the experiment is to get a better understanding of any alterations in circadian rhythms in humans during long-term space flights. Such knowledge will not only provide important insights into the adaptations of the human autonomic nervous system in space over time, but also has significant practical implications by helping to improve physical exercise, rest- and work shifts as well as fostering adequate workplace illumination in the sense of occupational healthcare in future space missions.

Meteor: The crew replacde the hard drive in the Meteor laptop today. The Meteor payload is a visible spectroscopy instrument used to observe meteors in Earth orbit. Meteor uses image analysis to provide information on the physical and chemical properties of the meteoroid dust, such as size, density, and chemical composition. Since the parent comets or asteroids for most of the meteor showers are identified, the study of the meteoroid dust on orbit provides information about the parent comets and asteroids.

TangoLab-1: The crew removed a card containing experiment cubes from the TangoLab-1 facility today. The TangoLab-1 locker is a reconfigurable general research facility designed for microgravity research and development and pilot manufacturing on the ISS.

Service Module Release 8.10 (SM 8.10): Overnight ground specialists in Moscow performed a update to the Russian Segment Service Module (SM) software. This update will allow for the integration of the new Russian Ku-band radio system called ??? (Broadband Communication System). The update also integrates the new US crew vehicles and adds the capability for performing Optimal Propellant attitude Maneuvers (OPM) under Russian segment control.

Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA) R&R: Today the crew completed an R&R of the Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA). This PPA was experiencing sudden drops in impeller speed when set to the higher speed needed to support an Internal Active Thermal Control System (IATCS) single loop configuration. Engineering teams determined that the PPA was deteriorating and needed to be replaced with an available spare. There are two of these pumps installed in the US Lab, Node 2 and Node 3 modules which provide water cooling to payloads and critical systems avionics.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: Today the crew swapped out Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU) on the EMU Don/Doff Assembly (EDDA) to perform an annual dump and fill of the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) water tank with iodinated water. This is required to protect the EMU water systems which are sensitive to contamination. The crew also gathered and configured tools and equipment required for the upcoming US EVA PFCS Relocate currently planned on 16-May.

Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) operations: Today ground robotics controllers used the SSRMS to install the Materials Transfer Tray (MTT) onto the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) ORU Transfer Interface (JOTI). JOTI was retracted into the JEM Airlock where it will remain until tomorrow morning for thermal conditioning. The crew is scheduled to remove the MTT from the slide table tomorrow.

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

Mouse Stress Defense Item Gathering
TangoLab-1 Card Cube Remove
Activation of Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System [???] (mode 3)
Circadian Rhythms Deinstrumentation w. Armband
Video Recording of Greetings
Meteor Hard Drive Swapout
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Mouse Stress Defense Cage Maintenance
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill [Aborted]
SPLANKH. Termination of EGEG Recording and Closeout Ops(Stow kits Splankh-1.Device and Splankh-1. Consumables in ???1???_2_224_1, 0.5 CTB No.1299 (010480J))
Nikon still camera sync with station time
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
Node 3 Endcone Stowage Cleanout in prep for the Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA) R&R
Mouse Stress Defense Transportation Cage Unit Spare Cage Replace [Aborted]
COSMOCARD. Preparing for and Starting 24-hr ECG Recording
NanoRacks Platform-1 Modules Removal
FAZOPEREKHOD. Preparation steps and starting the experiment
Airlock Rack Topology
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
PAO Preparation
Removal of Gamma-1M, Setup of KMA-01 Medical Hardware Facility and KMA-TM telemetry adapter. ???-01 Test Activation
VIZIR. ???? Battery Charge
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
???? Reconfiguration in MRM1
SEPARATION. Activation of the 3rd distillation
JEM Ethernet Extender Internal Activation
SM air sampling for CO using ??? samplers
JEM Ethernet Extender Internal Deactivation
Node 3 Camcorder Setup
??? Air Sample Collection for Ammonia in SM
Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA) Removal
Collecting SM and FGB Air Samples Using ??-1? Sampler
SM Air Sampling for FREON Using ??-1? Sampler
??? Maintenance
Lab Rack Topology
Node 2 Rack Topology
Circadian Rhythms Deinstrumentation w. Armband
SEPARATION. Activation of the 4th distillation
Transferring Node 3 Pump Package Assemblies (PPAs) to Node 2 Maintenance Work Area (MWA)
Node 3 Pump Package Assembly (PPA) Gas Trap Assembly Removal and Replacement (R&R)
FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops
Circadian Rhythms Downlink
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuration
Microgravity Measurement Apparatus (MMA) Laptop Terminal 2 (MLT2) Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Exchange 2
Node 3 Pump Package Assembly (PPA) Fine Filter Removal and Replacement (R&R)
Transferring Node 3 Pump Package Assembly (PPA) to Node 3 Port Alcove
Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA) Installation
IMS Update
Circadian Rhythms Armband Stow
CONTENT. Experiment Ops
Dragon Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) Filter Bag Installation
FAZOPEREKHOD. Preparation steps and starting the experiment
VIZIR. ???? Battery Charge
SEPARATION. Removal of ???-? and Downlink of Zipped File
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap
Node 3 Camcorder Deactivation
Stow hardware and tools for Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA) remove and replace (R&R)
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Full Water Tank Dump and Fill
Node 3 Endcone Stowage Replace post- Node 3 Low Temperature Loop (LTL) Pump Package Assembly (PPA) R&R.
SEPARATION. Sampling of collected water
Surface Pro 3 Stow
Comm reconfig for nominal ops
Mobil-O-Graph EPM Laptop Setup
Node 1 Rack Topology
EPM Laptop settings change
Dragon Locker Install
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap [Deferred]
FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops

Completed Task List Activities
None

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Node 3 LTL PPA checkout post R&R
SSRMS MT Translate and install the MTT in the JOTI
Nominal Ground Commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 04/27: N3 EWCS installation, Dragon Cargo Ops, N3 MCA ORU Removals, CUCU checkout, MISSE MTT Removal and Stow, JEM Camera Robot Checkout, Tangolab Card Swap, and RMCT/SPDM Stow for walkoff.
Saturday, 04/28: Housekeeping, DUST Sample Collection, SSRMS walkoff to Node 2 PDGF, Edge Router to BRI Troubleshooting, and Crew Off Duty
Sunday, 04/29: Crew Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
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 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Standby
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Reprocess
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Off