NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 December 2017 – New Cargo Launch Date Set

SpaceX has delayed the launch of its next Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station to no earlier than Dec. 12. Back on orbit, the Cygnus cargo craft is getting ready to leave the orbital lab and an experimental module has its stay in space extended for at least another three years.
NASA and our commercial cargo provider SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Dec. 12 at 11:46 a.m. EST for their 13th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. This new launch date takes into account pad readiness, requirements for science payloads, space station crew availability, and orbital mechanics. Carrying about 4,800 pounds of cargo including critical science and research, the Dragon spacecraft will spend a month attached to the space station.

The Cygnus cargo craft from Orbital ATK is leaving the station tomorrow after 22 days at the orbital lab. Astronauts Randy Bresnik, Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba closed its hatches today and disconnected its station power systems.

Ground controllers uninstalled Cygnus from the Unity module Tuesday morning with the Canadarm2 and are conducting a series of communications tests to assist NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Next, Vande Hei and Acaba will command the Canadarm2 to release Cygnus back into Earth orbit tomorrow at 8:10 a.m. EST where it will stay until Dec. 18.

BEAM, formally known as the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, is staying attached to the station for another three years with a potential to stay an extra year after that. While BEAM transitions to its new role as a cargo hold, engineers will continue studying its ability to resist radiation, space debris and microbes. Bigelow Aerospace and NASA signed the contract extension in November to continue demonstrating the reliability of expandable habitat technologies in space.

On-Orbit Status Report

Cygnus unberth: This morning, the crew egressed Cygnus. They then configured the vestibule and prepared to depressurize the vestibule. Ground teams identified EMI as the cause of the pressure probe anomaly and successfully depressurized the vestibule. Later, the Cygnus vehicle was unberthed and positioned it for the GPS shadowing (“photobomb”) Developmental Test Objective (DTO). Cygnus will be held in that position overnight and then repositioned for release tomorrow. Cygnus arrived at the ISS on the 14th of November carrying supplies, and is now departing with hardware and trash for disposal.

Earth Imagery from ISS Target Operations: Today the crew captured images of the Iberian peninsula. The Earth Imagery from ISS investigation creates a series of videos, showcasing Earth from space. These videos will be taken with cameras on the International Space Station in 6K hi-resolution, then integrated into videos for screensavers for public enjoyment, exploration, and engagement.

Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Configuration for Cell Science Validation: The crew set up the Life Science Ancillary Hardware (LSAH) in the MSG today to prepare for the Cell Science Validation activities. They installed the Decontamination System, Rear Standoff and Life Science filters. This flight of the Bioculture System is to validate the hardware by testing and checking out its engineering and operational capability to maintain cell cultures for a long duration in the space flight environment on the ISS. The new enabling capabilities and procedures to manually conduct experiments with the specimens cultured in the Bioculture System will also be demonstrated. The validation of the Bioculture System performance in the space flight environment is a critical step to insure the success of future space bioscience experiments that will be conducted on ISS using this facility.

51S Descent Drill: 51S crewmembers participated in onboard training to rehearse their upcoming descent and landing, planned for December 14th.

EHS SSK MAS analysis: Today the crew analyzed microbial samples which were taken on GMT day 334 (November 30) and incubated until today. This information gives medical personnel a gauge of microbial growth in the air and on surfaces of the ISS.

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

ARED Self-Monitoring Reminder
MORZE. Log Entry of Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake
Cygnus Cargo Closeout
Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization: Part1
JEM Cobalt Brick power Off and On
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF1 Setup
KENTAVR fit check
Cygnus Hatch Thermal Blanket Final Stow
??? maintenance
Cygnus Egress
Liquid condensate sampling up to ??? – end
Prep for Central Post Computer 2 (???2) Test (r/g review, equipment gathering).
CBM Controller Panel Assembly Rotation and Closeout
Central Post Computer 2 (???2) testing with MSG cartriges swapping.
Sampling condensate water [???] upstream of ???-?2? ??? (Water Purification Column Unit) – configuration set up, installing sampler
Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Configuration for Demate – Part 1
Pre-pack cargo items for return or disposal on Soyuz 736
Photo/TV (P/TV) Station Support Computer (SSC) Video Viewer Activation
Exercise ARED Self-Monitoring Day 2
Collecting condensate water samples [???] to [???-?2?] ???, sampler replacement
Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Configuration for Demate – Part 2
ICrew Departure Prep
Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization: Part 2
Lyophilization Sample Tray and Chamber Stow
LBNP Exercise (PRELIMINARY)
Actiwatch Spectrum HRF1 Stow
Columbus HD-VCA2 R&R
Deactivate VCA2
Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization: Part 3
Earth Imagery from ISS Nikon Target Operations
ISS HAM Video Power Down
Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization: Part4
Transfer Operations – Prepack of US items to be loaded into Soyuz
Soyuz 736 Descent OBT. Tagup with specialists
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Cattell’s Test
Cell Science Validation MSG LSAH Setup
Glacier Desiccant Swap
MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Strelau Test
Station Support Computer (SSC) ARED Conclude
Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Stow
EIISS Crew Preference RED Camera Target Operations
Progress 436 [AO] Stowage for Disposal and IMS Ops
Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization: Part 5
PCS Laptop Relocate
Sampling condensate water [???] upstream of ????-2? ???, removing sampler, equipment disassembly
Dragon Cargo Prep
IMS Update
Ghost camera setup in Cupola
MORZE. Experiment setup
Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Analysis T + 5
Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK)
Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Depress Teardown
Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Setup

Completed Task List Activities
Take contingency GSC and CDM reading
Payload Hardware Relocate

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
OA-8 demate and translate to DTO position.
Standard commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 12/06: Cygnus Departure, 51S Prepack, CQ Cleaning, Eye Ultrasound, Microscope Setup, Winscat, JEM Return Grill Clean, EVA Helmet Swap
Thursday, 12/07: PEPS Inspection, CQ Cleaning, Eye exams, ELF, EIISS, Crew Handover
Friday, 12/08: Soyuz OBT, Dragon OBT, RAM Retrieve, NASA Platform2, Arthrospira

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