NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 December 2017 – Progress 67P Leaves the Station

Filled with trash, the unpiloted ISS Progress 67 Russian cargo ship undocked from the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station at 8:03 p.m. EST.
Just after 11 p.m., Russian flight controllers will send commands to fire the Progress’ engines and deorbit the space freighter, sending it to a destructive entry over the unpopulated south Pacific Ocean.

On-Orbit Status Report

67 Progress (67P) Undock: 67P undocked from the Service Module (SM) aft port at 7:03 PM CST on Wednesday evening. The Deorbit burn was completed at 10:10 PM CST.

Spaceflight-induced Hypoxic/ROS Signaling (APEX-05): The crew harvested thale cress from all 20 Petri plates in which the plants have been growing in the Veggie facility for the APEX-05 experiment. They took close-up photos of each plate and inserted samples from the plants into fixation tubes, which were placed into cold stowage. The Spaceflight-induced Hypoxic/ROS Signaling (APEX-05) experiment grows different wild and mutant varieties of Arabidopsis thaliana, in order to understand how their genetic and molecular stress response systems work in space. The plants are grown from seeds in the Veggie plant growth facility aboard the ISS. They are harvested and frozen samples are returned to Earth for detailed laboratory analysis.

Amyloid: The crew retrieved the second set of Amyloid samples from the measurement experiment unit on the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and placed them in a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). Amyloid fibrils prepared in the microgravity environment of the ISS are returned to Earth for analysis through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Amyloid fibrils are the peptide or protein aggregates known to be associated with various diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. It is expected that this study will provide additional insight into the mechanism of amyloid fibril formation.

MagVector: Today the crew set up a cable to transfer data from the 7-day MagVector #15 run #15 that was completed today. This European Space Agency investigation studies how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with an electrical conductor. Magnetic sensors placed around and above a conductor provide insight into ways that the Earth’s magnetic field influences how conductors work. This research may help improve future ISS experiments and offer insights into how magnetic fields influence electrical conductors in general.

Earth Imagery from ISS Target Operations: Using the RED camera, the crew took images of the Australian desert today. This investigation creates a series of videos showcasing Earth from space. These videos are taken with cameras on the ISS in 6K hi-resolution and are integrated into videos for screensavers for public enjoyment, exploration, and engagement.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap and Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-2 Feasibility Assessment: The crew will review an overview of the EMU swap plan. EMU 3004 launched to ISS on Dragon in the Short EMU (SEMU) Launch Enclosure (SLE) and EMU 3010 will be returning. The crew will transfer the SLE with EMU 3004 to Node 1 and remove the EMU. They will swap the Vent Port and Battery Connector Covers between EMU 3004 and 3010. The SLE will be reinstalled into Dragon using new upper mounting pins and then EMU 3010 will be installed into the SLE in the Dragon cabin. The hatch for CRS-2 will be too small to allow the SLE to be transferred to Node 1, so EMU rotations will need to occur in the CRS-2 Dragon cabin. Performing the installation of EMU 3010 into the SLE in the Dragon cabin will build confidence and provide feedback for performing the swaps on CRS-2.

Simplified Aid for Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Rescue (SAFER) Swap: SAFER 1016, on orbit has expired and SAFER 1018 was delivered on Dragon. The crew will unpack SAFER 1018, install the battery, and perform a checkout. They will pack SAFER 1016 for return on Dragon.

Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Bolt R&R: The crew will removed the failed CBM Powered Bolt 1-3 on the Node 2 Nadir Bulkhead and will replace it with a new bolt. The bolt showed anomalous signature during SpaceX-12 berthing and was masked for the SpaceX-13 berthing.

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

Life On The Station Photo and Video
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media
ECON-M. Observation and photography
Reminder HRF Generic Urine Collection End
Reminder Max CEVIS Exercise
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject
Reminder 1A HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations
Daily Planning Conference
Photo TV Standard Definition Node 2 Video Setup
Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Powered Bolt Assembly 1-3 Remove and Replace
Wanted Poster for EMU Arm Sizing Rings
ISS Crew Orientation
On MCC Go Switch ???-?? PEV to CLOSED position
Central post computer 2 (???2) new version software setup
Wanted Poster for EMU Thigh Ring Protective Covers
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Preparation for the experiment
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Operator Assistance in Preparation for the Experiment
APEX-05 Procedure Review #2
APEX-05 Hardware Gather #2
ISS HAM Radio and Video Power Up
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Experiment Ops on ??-2 Treadmill (Individual Strategy Test).
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Close-out ops (Operator)
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops
Lab PS-120 Junction Box Swap
XF305 Camcorder Setup for Recording
Amyloid Sample Detachment Second
Amyloid sample Insertion into MELFI -95 degrees C.
Amyloid Video Taking
Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Compatible Water Container Iodine (CWC-I) Degas
SM Atmosphere analysis using Freon Leak Analyzer/Detector (???)
SM Atmosphere analysis using Freon Leak Analyzer/Detector (???) (Handover)
Photography of Plume Impingement and Deposit Monitoring Unit (????) position on MRM2 through SM window No.13 – preparation
MATRYOSHKA-R. Monitoring Tritel Readings
Photography of Plume Impingement and Deposit Monitoring Unit (????) position on MRM2 from SM window No.13
USB Jumpdrive Return and PPS Reconfiguration
Photography of Plume Impingement and Deposit Monitoring Unit (????) position on MRM2 through SM window No.13, Closeout Ops
Soyuz 734 Kazbek Fit Check
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER) Installation & Checkout
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Personal CO2 Monitor iPad Data Termination
ELECTRONIC NOSE. Experiment Ops Part 1
Cleaning of TVS LIV voltage converter vent grille
APEX-05 Petri Plate Harvest
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Vacuum Pressure Gauge Accuracy Check
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Short Extravehicular Mobility Unit (SEMU) Launch Enclosure (SLE) Briefing
Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Setup – Subject
ELECTRONIC NOSE. Experiment Ops Part 2
Maintenance Activation of Spare Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System Emergency Vacuum Valves [??? ???]
Columbus Foam Bag Restow
Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Setup Historical Photo
Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Sample Insert/Retrieve
Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Icebrick Stow
HRF Hardware Locate
??? Maintenance
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Short Extravehicular Mobility Unit (SEMU) Launch Enclosure (SLE) Rotation.
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Overview
HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup
CONTROL. Switching Indicator-ISS P/L measuring modes
??-3? cradle pocket transfer
AIRWAY-MONITORING-PPFS-RECONFIG
Cell Science Validation Bag Change Out Ops Session1
Portable PFS Conclude
MSG Glove Swap
Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System Hardware Deactivation
Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) Nitrogen Manual Valve Open
Flight Director/ISS CREW CONFERENCE

Completed Task List Activities
None

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Cell Science Validation support
NORS N2 Repress
Standard commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 12/29: Dragon Cargo Ops, CIR Ops, NH3 Chip Replacement, HRF Collections, Synthetic Bone, Crew Handover, BRIC LED, Personal CO2 Sensor Cal, EIISS, Cell Science Validation
Saturday, 12/30: Weekly Housekeeping, Crew Off Duty, Cell Science Validation, Amyloid Experiment, HRF Collections
Sunday, 12/31: Crew Off Duty, HRF Collections, APEX-5

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 – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) – Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) – Reprocess
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab – Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 – Full Up