NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 September 2018 – Japan’s HTV7 Docked to the Space Station

Ground controllers successfully installed the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Kounotori 7 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-7) to the International Space Station’s Earth-facing port of the Harmony module at 10:09 a.m. EDT.
The spacecraft’s arrival supports the crew members’ research off the Earth to benefit the Earth. The cargo spacecraft began its trip on an H-IIB rocket at 1:52 p.m. EDT (2:52 a.m. Japan time) on Saturday, Sat. 22 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.

The early Thursday morning cargo delivery includes more than five tons of supplies, water, spare parts and experiments for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The spacecraft also is carrying a half dozen new lithium-ion batteries to continue upgrades to the station’s power system.

On-Orbit Status Report

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-7 Capture and Berthing: Yesterday evening, Robotics Ground Controllers performed a survey of the Node 2 Nadir Active Common Berthing Mechanism (ACBM) sealing surface as required prior to HTV berthing. Today, the ISS Crew (Feustel, Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst) monitored the HTV-7 approach from the Cupola Robotic Workstation (RWS) and, at approximately 11:34 GMT, with Feustel at the controls, they successfully captured HTV using the SSRMS. Next, the Robotics Ground Controllers used the SSRMS to maneuver HTV-7 into position to support the inspection of the HTV-7 Passive CBM and then to maneuver the HTV-7 to and install it on the Node2 Nadir Active CBM at approximately 13:42 GMT. Node2 Nadir Active CBM was Ground commanded to capture and bolt the HTV-7 to the ISS. The Robotic Ground Controllers then released the HTV-7 and maneuvered the SSRMS to grapple the HTV-7 External Platform (EP). Here, HTV Berthing Camera System (HBCS) was checked out on both cameras and SSRMS is now providing heater power to the EP.

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-7 Ingress: Following a successful berthing by Houston Flight Controllers, the crew pressurized the Node 2 Nadir vestibule and preformed a leak check. Following the successful leak check, the crew outfitted the vestibule by removing the Center Disk Cover and HTV Hatch Thermal Blanket, mating power and data jumpers to HTV, installing IMV Supply jumpers, and installing closeout panels after removing the CBM Controller Panel Assembly. Ingress into HTV-7 was accomplished shortly thereafter; HTV Cargo Operations will begin tomorrow morning.

Atomization: Today the crew performed closeout activities for the Atomization experiment. As of GMT 269, all the planned runs for Increment 56 have been completed. The Atomization experiment is performed in the JEM. It investigates the liquid spraying process in microgravity in order to confirm the new atomization concept developed from drop tower experiments on Earth. The knowledge gained can be applied to improve various engines utilizing spray combustion.

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): The crew removed and replaced the CIR manifold bottle #4. The new manifold bottle contains a mixture of ethylene fuel and nitrogen diluent to support the Electric-Field Effects on Laminar Diffusion Flames (E-Field flames) investigation, part 2. The Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) includes an optics bench, combustion chamber, fuel and oxidizer control, and five different cameras for performing combustion experiments in microgravity.

Fluidics: Today Run 3 was completed, followed by the closeout activities for the experiment. The closeout included removal of the Fluidics tank, removal of the Fluidics hardware from seat-tracks, and stow. Fluidics is a fluid mechanics experiment with two main objectives: perform a Slosh study to investigate fluid behavior under microgravity during satellite maneuvers, and a Wave Turbulence study to investigate the impact of capillary effect on wave turbulence without being masked by the effect of gravity.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge: A water dump and fill was completed for EMUs 3003 and 3008 to satisfy maintenance requirements for on-orbit stowage. In addition, a water sample was obtained from the In-Flight Refill Unit (IRU) to verify continued adherence to EMU water quality requirements. During the activity, ground teams lost EMU data on EMU 3003 and the activity was completed on the alternate radio. Since EMU 3003 is planned to be used for the upcoming EVAs in October, teams will meet tomorrow to discuss the anomaly and determine the forward plan.

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Events: Today Ricky Arnold recorded a downlink message for future use at an event with the Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) on Wednesday, October 3. Serena Auñón-Chancellor, a University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) alumnus, participated in a live event with the McGovern Medical School. One of six schools that make up UTHealth, students, faculty and staff of the University attended the event and disused the importance of medicine in space and how it relates to medicine on Earth.

Completed Task List Activities:
Education Payload Operations (EPO) Gerst Flying Classroom 2 – Crystallization of Charged Particles

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
HTV-7 Rendezvous and Berthing support

Two-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 09/28:

Payloads
LT PCG Transfer

Systems
Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) Removal
Node 2 Nadir to HTV Vestibule Outfitting Part 2
HTV Ingress
HTV Cargo Transfer
SSRMS Ops: Extract EP from HTV and Stow on POA

Saturday, 09/29: Housekeeping and Off Duty

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

Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry
Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation Setup
USOS Window Shutter Close
Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation
RWS Setup for HTV
Check shutter closure on windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14. Note 8
СТТС Configuration for MRM1
SEPARATSIYA. Flushing Centrifugal Multi-Purpose Vacuum Distiller (ЦМВД) and Urine Circulation Loop. Auto distillation of water with pre-treat solution.
Soyuz 738 Cargo Ops
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink
Portable Computer System (PCS) Command Verification
HTV Approach Monitoring
Comm reconfig for nominal ops
СОЖ maintenance
Periodic Health Status (PHS) Stow Hardware
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
HTV Approach Monitoring
ISS Crew departure preparation
Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position
SSRMS HTV Grapple
MRM1-FGB Screw Clamp Maintenance
Fluidics Run 3 execution
LBNP Training (PRELIMINARY)
H-Bolt Cleaning Tools Review
OTKLIK. Hardware Check
Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) Powerup on Node 2 Nadir
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Component Deactivation for Atomization
Atomization closeout
Fluidics Closeout Activities
FAGEN. Application of Fixative Solution to MSK No.05 Samples and setup on SM Panel 328
Rodent Research Inventory Audit
Fluidics Ending of data copy and T61p Laptop stowage
FAGEN. Photography during fixation of samples
Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open
Transfer of emergency equipment (БНП, ИПК-1М (3)) from Soyuz 738 to MRM2
COLUMBUS Deck 1 and 2 restow
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement
Soyuz 738 Transfer Ops
Node 2 to HTV Pressurization and Leak Check Part 1
Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Close
Remove Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) from Node 2 Nadir Hatch
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
PCS Laptop Relocate
PAO Preparation
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops at the expense of БД-2 Exercise
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
PCS Laptop Relocate
IDENTIFICATION. Copy ИМУ-Ц micro-accelerometer data to laptop
Node 2 to HTV Pressurization and Leak Check Part 2
NODE2 RFID Ember Power Chain Move
Binary Colloidal Alloy – Cohesive Sedimentation Camera Check
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
IDENTIFIKATSIYA. Copy ИМУ-Ц Micro-Accelerometer Data to HDD for return (start)
Node 2 Nadir to HTV Vestibule Outfitting Part 1
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) Biomolecule Sequencer Stow
Photo TV Robotic Workstation Monitor Deactivation
IDENTIFIKATSIYA. Copy ИМУ-Ц Micro-Accelerometer Data to HDD for return (terminate)