NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 April 2019 – Emergency Drill Today

The six-member Expedition 59 crew conducted a routine, periodic drill for response to emergencies today in the middle of a science-packed day. The astronauts also researched space biology while preparing for next week’s SpaceX Dragon cargo mission.
The space residents practiced communications, roles and responsibilities, and evacuating the station in the unlikely event of an emergency. The crew would split up, board their Soyuz spacecraft and undock quickly for a ride back to Earth. The two Soyuz crew ships docked to the International Space Station each hold three crewmembers.

NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Anne McClain set up the ultrasound and optometry instruments today for more Fluid Shifts studies. Flight surgeons are exploring what happens to an astronaut’s veins and eyes due to the head-ward flow of fluids caused by microgravity.

Hague later checked out command and communications gear he and astronaut David Saint-Jacques will use when the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship arrives next week. Saint-Jacques will command the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture Dragon early Friday, May 3, two days after it launches from Florida. Hague will monitor Dragon’s telemetry during its approach and rendezvous. NASA TV is broadcasting the pre-flight activities and mission events live.

Saint-Jacques and Flight Engineer Christina Koch also split the day feeding mice and cleaning cages for the Rodent Research-12 experiment. The study is investigating the immune system’s response to the conditions of long-term spaceflight.

Commander Oleg Kononenko focused much of his attention today on life support maintenance in the Russian segment of the orbital lab. Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin studied ways to maximize the effectiveness of exercise in the weightless environment of microgravity.

On-Orbit Status Report

SpX-17 Launch Status: SpX-17 is now scheduled to launch on Wednesday, May 1 with capture/berthing on Saturday, May 4.

Rodent Research-12 (RR-12): The crew restocked all four Rodent Habitats by adding new food bars, and cleaning the interior lid and camera lenses. The access unit was also cleaned. Rodent Research-12, Tetanus Antibody Response by B cells in Space (TARBIS), examines the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory. Spaceflight is known to have a dramatic influence on immune response, but there is little research on its effect following an actual challenge to the body’s immune system. Using a mouse model makes this possible, as the mouse immune system closely parallels that of humans.

Astrobee: The crew removed and deactivated the Astrobee Docking Station. Astrobee is a series of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots. The robots are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the ISS. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew monitoring, sampling, logistics management, and accommodate up to three investigations.

Fluid Shifts: Crewmembers continued Fluid Shifts ultrasound operations, Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure (CCFP), Distortion-product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) and Ocular Structure (OCT) measurements. The purpose of this study is to characterize fluid distribution and compartmentalization associated with long-duration space flight, and to correlate these findings with vision changes and other elements of the SANS syndrome.

Emergency Response On-Board Training (OBT): All crewmembers participated in today’s simulator drill to practice emergency response with ground controllers using information provided by simulator displays. Over the course of several sessions, the crew practiced the following:

Physically translating through ISS to the appropriate response locations to visualize the use of station emergency response equipment and interfaces.
Procedure execution, and the associated decision making, based on cues provided by simulator.
Communication and coordination with MCC-H and MCC-M as required for a given emergency scenario.
Following the drill, the crew completed a conference with ground teams to discuss results of the OBT.

Commercial Orbital Transport Services (COTS) UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Checkout: In preparation for the upcoming arrival of SpaceX-17 planned on May 4, the crew coordinated with ground teams to activate the CUCU system and perform a Crew Command Panel (CCP) checkout. CUCU provides a command and telemetry communications link between ISS and Dragon during free flight operations near ISS.

Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion (CSA-CP) Checkout: The crew completed this routine maintenance today by replacing batteries in the CSA-CP units and updating internal clock settings. The CSA-CPs are used by the crew to detect evidence of fire and/or hazardous environment.

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Live Event: Saint-Jacques participated in a live PAO event with approximately 800 grade 7-9 students from Prince Edward Island featuring the Exploring Earth initiative which showcases photos of our planet taken by David from space. During the event, students discussed some of the things they have learned about our planet using David’s pictures and about our impact on the environment and the importance of protecting our planet.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) video system for Materials ISS Experiment (MISSE) transfer operations day 4. They maneuvered the MSS from the Park position to MISSE Sample Carriers (MSC) transfer position. Then, they commanded the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm2 to extract the MSC17 from MISSE Transfer Tray (MTT) slot T5 and to insert it in the Flight Facility (FF) W3 slot. The operations are progressing with the MSS maneuver in preparation for the MT translation from Worksite (WS)2 to WS7 and the stowing of MTT onto Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock. The MSS will be parked and powered down.

Completed Task List Activities:
PCS Relocate [Completed GMT 115]
PCS HD Image [Completed GMT 115]
Dragon pre-pack
HUNCH downlink message
NORS O2 install

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Emergency Response OBT
JEMAL Support – Install ORU on JOTI
Battery 4A3 Capacity Check

Look Ahead:
Saturday, 04/27 (GMT 117):

Payloads:
No Payload activities

Systems:
Crew off duty – housekeeping

Sunday, 04/28 (GMT 118):

Payloads:
Veggie PONDS Germination Cap removal (NASA)

Systems:
Crew off duty

Monday, 04/29 (GMT 119):

Payloads:
RADIN Retrieve and Handover (CSA)
Food Acceptability (NASA)
Fiber Optics Production H/W setup (NASA)
ISS Experience Log Recording and relocate and stow (NASA)
Behavioral Core Measures tests (NASA)
Z-Book on ER8 update (NASA)
HRF1 drawer reconfig and HRF2 drawer install (NASA)
Astrobee Battery swap (NASA)
HRF Post Centrifuge Install setup (NASA)
HRF Centrifuge counterweight tube removal (NASA)

Systems:
N3 filter R&R
SpX-17 arrival prep

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

Fluid Shifts OCT2 Baseline Setup
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On
ISS Crew and ???? (RSA Flight Control Team) weekly conference
Fluid Shifts CDL Holter Arterial BP Hardware Don
Inventory Management System (IMS) conference
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Baseline Scan Subject
Perform the experiment IN ROTATION MODE per ????????????-2 and ??-3
Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Baseline Scan Operator
PROFILAKTIKA-2. MO-3 Test Operator
Rodent Research Habitat 1 & 2 Restock
Fluid Shifts CCFP Baseline Test
???? Reconfiguration in MRM2
On MCC GO Replacing ???-3 Smoke Detectors in MRM2 with ???-4
Fluid Shifts OCT2 Baseline Exam Operator
Fluid Shifts OCT2 Baseline Exam Subject
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops
Fluid Shifts DPOAE Baseline Test
Fluid Shifts OCT2 Baseline Stow
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion (CSA-CP) Checkout
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Hygiene Procedures
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Setup
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Exam Operator
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Exam Subject
Fluid Shifts CDL Holter Arterial BP Hardware Doff
Fluid Shifts Tonometry Baseline Stow
Fluid Shifts CCFP Baseline Stow
ISS Emergency Response Training
Training for Emergency Response On-board ISS
OBT ISS Emergency Drill Debrief Restoring Nominal Comm Configuration
OBT ISS Emergency Drill Debrief
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Infrared (IR) Camera Swap
Rodent Research Habitat 3 & 4 Restock
Nikon still camera sync with station time
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
PAO Preparation
ISS Experience Message Review
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
PILLE Dosimeter Reading
Removal of the instrument and ????-1? (?304) patch-cable
Installing Storage Battery Current Converter ????-2 in ?304 location, securing temperature sensor and mating connectors of 800? unit
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Medical Accessories Kit (IMAK) Unpack from NG-11
IDENTIFIKATSIYA. Copy ???-? micro-accelerometer data to laptop
Influence of Vibration on Diffusion of Liquids (IVIDIL) Vibration Mechanism Hardware Locate
Astrobee Docking Station Power Down
Photo/TV CUCU SD Video Setup
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Activation
Rodent Research Access Unit Clean
COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Crew Command Panel (CCP) Checkout
On-board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Drill Conference
COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Crew Command Panel (CCP) Stow
Photo/TV CUCU SD Video Deactivation