NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 30 July 2019 – New Science Payloads

Microgravity research is ramping up aboard the International Space Station with brand new science payloads and an expanded Expedition 60 crew.
July will see one more mission going up to the orbiting lab as a Russian cargo craft counts down to a Wednesday launch and docking.

The Cell Science-02 experiment is underway on the station to explore bone-healing therapies. Astronauts Nick Hague and Luca Parmitano activated the Life Sciences Glovebox this morning to conduct the new bone research. Hague then retrieved bone cell samples to observe healing and tissue regeneration properties to promote human health on Earth and in space.

Parmitano then photographed samples inside the Kubik incubator for the new Biorock space-mining study. Harnessing the power of microbes could help future astronauts extract precious minerals from the surface of the Moon and Mars.

NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan completed setting up habitats housing mice shipped aboard the SpaceX Dragon space freighter. Scientists are comparing the space rodents to a sample of mice back on Earth to understand biological changes caused by microgravity.

Russia’s Progress 73 (73P) cargo craft is standing at its launch pad in Kazakhstan counting down to a liftoff Wednesday at 8:10 a.m. EDT. It will take a three-and-a-half-hour trip to the station’s Pirs Docking Compartment carrying almost three tons of food, fuel and supplies for the crew. NASA TV is broadcasting the fast-track launch and docking activities live starting at 7:45 a.m.

Cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Alexander Skvortsov will be monitoring the 73P’s automated approach and rendezvous Wednesday. Today, the veteran station residents split their time between human research, computer maintenance and hardware inspections.

On-Orbit Status Report

Biorock: The crew took photos of the biofilms in the Kubik 5 and Kubik 6 Biorock Experiment Containers. The interaction between microbes and rocks in a liquid phase can be affected by reduced gravity in several ways. The reduction of thermal convection in low-gravity, and its absence in microgravity, minimizes the natural stirring in liquids and gases, and may restrict the supply of food and oxygen to the bacteria – leading to a suppression of growth, proliferation and mining performance. The goals of the Biorock investigation is to verify and quantify this assumption, and to find out if morphological and genetic changes occur in the biofilms.

Cell Science-02 (CS-02): The crew performed a growth factor injection and manual feeding for the Cell CS-02 investigation which uses osteoblast progenitor cells isolated from mouse bones to investigate the effects of microgravity on osteoblast cellular processes at the molecular and biochemical level. CS-02 uses a computational biology omics approach to investigate how osteoblasts respond to treatment with two known osteo-inductive factors.

Combustion Integration Rack (CIR)/ Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) Manifold Bottle Exchange: The crew replaced the 40% O2 gas bottle with a 30% O2 bottle. They also replaced the ethylene fuel bottle with a hydrogen/methane mixture fuel bottle. Telemetry showed a slow leak in the hydrogen/methane bottle and teams are discussing a recovery plan. Flame Design part 1 investigation is complete and preparations are in work for transition to the s-Flame investigation. The purpose of s-Flame is to advance our ability to predict the structure and dynamics, including extinction and instabilities, of both soot-free and sooty flames. The results may contribute to the development of lean-burn engines for improved efficiency and reduced pollutant emissions here on Earth.

GRIP: The crew performed a seated science-2 session of the GRIP experiment which consists of 3 protocols: Dynamics Seated, References Seated and References Supine. They are performed in 3 separate sub-sessions. ESA’s Grip investigation tests how the nervous system takes into account the forces due to gravity and inertia when manipulating objects. Results from this investigation may provide insight into potential hazards for astronauts as they manipulate objects in different gravitational environments. They also support design and control of haptic interfaces to be used in challenging environments such as space, and provide information about motor control that will be useful for the evaluation and rehabilitation of impaired upper limb control in patients with neurological diseases.

ISS Experience: The crew set up the ISS Experience system, performed an introductory recording, and captured a GRIP seated science-2 session. The ISS Experience creates a virtual reality film documenting daily life aboard the ISS. The 8 to 10 minute videos created from footage taken during the six-month investigation cover different aspects of crew life, execution of science aboard the station, and the international partnerships involved. The ISS Experience uses a Z-CAM V1 Pro Cinematic Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree camera with nine 190° fisheye lenses.

Nanoracks Module 9: The crew performed the ops 2 session during which the crew interacted with groups of experiment tubes from several different bags, typically by opening clamps and shaking the tubes to mix the contents. Some of the experiments involve the effects of microgravity on saturated copper sulfate crystals, the growth of several organisms in microgravity, germination of peppermint seeds in space, the curing of oil-based paint, rust formation, etc.

Treadmill 2 (T2) Status: Following last Friday’s T2 over temperature caution and subsequent ground team commanded shutdown, the team reviewed associated telemetry and confirmed that no real over temperature condition occurred. The caution message has since been inhibited and T2 is go for crew use. The team continues to investigate the caution indication and why it went into alarm erroneously.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Dose Pump Changeout: The crew reported a WHC Pre-Treat bad quality light indication. Following troubleshooting with the ground team, the crew successfully changed out the Dose Pump to return WHC to nominal operations. The pump is a critical part of the WHC as it injects the pre-treat liquid required to properly recycle waste urine.

4A Pump/Flow Control Subassembly (PFCS) Reset: Today a Power On Reset (POR) occurred associated with the 4A PFCS and temporarily stopped external coolant flow to the 4A batteries. Ground teams quickly assessed telemetry then worked from established procedures to recover Photovoltaic Thermal Control System (PVTCS) coolant flow. 4A Channel cooling was down for approximately 22 minutes, during which time the battery temperatures never exceeded Flight Rule limits.

Dragon Cargo Transfer Ops Status: Working off the Task List, the crew continued transferring cargo from Dragon to the ISS.

Completed Task List Activities:
Biosystems troubleshooting
WHC KTO replace
Dragon transfer ops

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Payloads ops support

Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 7/31 (GMT 212)

Payloads:
Actiwatch setup/stow
BFF
Cell Science-02
ELF cartridge exchange
Food acceptability
GRIP
Ice Brick stow
ISS Experience stow
Lighting Effects
Nanoracks Mod-84 photo
SPHERES ZR unit test
TreK video setup

Systems:
73P launch/dock
Dragon LiOH filter bag remove
Dragon cargo transfer

Thursday, 8/1 (GMT 213)

Payloads:
BFF
Goodyear Tire
Standard Measures
JEMAL depress
Lighting Effects
TReK video s/u
Team Task Switching

Systems:
JEMAL depressurization and vent

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

KORREKTSIYA. Processing venous blood sample using Plasma-03 centrifuge
Insertion of Russian experiments blood samples into MELFI
KORREKTSIYA. Handover to USOS for MELFI Insertion
KORREKTSIYA. Centrifuge spin concluded.
LSG Crew Restraint Installation Subsequent (Primary)
Rodent Research Transporter Stow
Phototaking of Biorock Experiment Container
TOCA Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
ISS HAM Radio Power Up
CONTROL. Switching Indicator-ISS P/L measuring modes.
Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #2 Bottle Replacement
Сomm. check from Baikonur (S/G1)
PROFILAKTIKA-2. MO-3 Protocol Locomotion Test in Passive Mode.
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement
Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Close
Station Support Computer (SSC) Relocate
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Partial Fill
Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Setup
Polar Desiccant Swap
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops.
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Hygiene Procedures
Polar Sample Remove
Bioculture System Locker Cable Swap
Advanced Space Experiment Processor Overview On-Board Training
Cell Science MELFI Sample Retrieval
BioFabrication Facility On-Board Training
BioFabrication Facility Procedure Review1
Cell Science-02 Bag Operations Session 1
INTER-MAI-75. HAM Radio Hardware Activation
ЦП Laptop monthly maintenance
Command Laptop test1 – initiation
Scheduled Quarterly Maintenance of Central Post Laptop, end test 1 and start test 2. Creating reports
Central Post Laptop Quarterly Maintenance Ops, Start Test 3
Inspection and photography of [СРВ-К2М] hoses
NanoRacks Module-9 OBT
Central Post Laptop Quarterly Maintenance Ops, end test 3 and start test 4.
NanoRacks Maintenance Work Area Preparation
Vacuum cleaning ventilation grille on FGB interior panels (201, 301, 401)
NanoRacks Module-9 HD Video Setup
NanoRacks Module 9 Ops Session 2
NanoRacks Module 9 Imagery Transfer
Handover of Increment 60 Crew
Quarterly Maintenance of Central Post Laptop, End of test 4 and Closeout Ops
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
TOCA Sample Data Record
INTER-MAI-75. Equipment deactivation and cleanup
LSG Work Volume Stow
Reminder Rodent Research Thermal Consideration
Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry