NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 July 2018 – ECOSTRESS Installed
More research gear continues to be unloaded from inside and outside of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft today. Back on Earth, another resupply ship is poised to blast off Monday on a quick delivery mission to the International Space Station.
Overnight, mission controllers commanded the Canadarm2 robotic arm to extract a new Earth-observing experiment from the rear of the Dragon space freighter. The new ECOSTRESS gear was then remotely installed on the outside of the Kibo laboratory module. ECOSTRESS will provide thermal infrared measurements of Earth’s surface helping scientists assess water and vegetation changes on agriculture.
Astronauts Serena Auñón-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst processed and stowed their blood samples today for the Myotones muscle study. Observations may help doctors develop strategies to keep astronauts healthy in space and improve conditions for patients on Earth with mobility or aging issues.
The Progress 70 resupply ship from Roscosmos is being processed for launch Monday at 5:51 p.m. EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Russian mission controllers are planning a short 3 hour and 48 minute delivery trip, or just two orbits, to the station’s Pirs docking compartment. NASA TV will broadcast the launch and automated docking live beginning Monday at 5:30 p.m. and again at 9 p.m.
On-Orbit Status Report
SpX-15 External Cargo Status: Last night ground specialists used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to extract ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) from the Dragon trunk and hand it off to the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS). The JEMRMS was then used to install ECOSTRESS at the Exposed Facility Unit (EFU)10 location. Ground specialists successfully activated ECOSTRESS. Tonight ground controllers will use the SSRMS to remove the empty Latching End Effector (LEE) Flight Support Equipment (FSE) from External Stowage Platform (ESP)-2 which will be installed in the trunk on Sunday, and then will extract the Launch on Need (LON) LEE from the Dragon trunk and install it at ESP-2.
Aerosol Samplers: Today the crew installed Passive Aerosol Samplers (PASs) to inlet and outlet vents in different locations in the ISS. The PAS have individual drawer-like surfaces covered with sticky carbon tape that will capture aerosols in the ISS air. Aerosols are small particles suspended in the air. In the Earth’s atmosphere they include soot, dust, pollen and a wide range of other natural and human-made materials. Because smoke and dust do not move in microgravity the way they do on Earth, aerosols in the ISS air pose hazards for crew members. The Aerosol Samplers investigation collects airborne particles in the ISS cabin air and returns them to Earth so scientists can study the particles with powerful microscopes.
Micro-11: The crew performed the first of thirteen runs for the Micro-11 investigation. They checked out, configured and calibrated the Micro-11 microscope, thawed samples removed from a Glacier, fixed those samples and loaded them into the microscope for imaging. They inserted the samples into a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Micro-11 investigation examines whether spaceflight alters human sperm, by tracking the swimming patterns of human and bull sperm during spaceflight. This investigation also assesses other aspects of sperm functionality related to male fertility. As a result, Micro-11 provides fundamental data indicating whether successful human reproduction beyond Earth is possible, and whether countermeasures are needed to protect sperm function in space.
Active Tissue Equivalent Dosimeter Sensor (ATED): The crew will deploy the ATED today. Crewmembers and instruments onboard spacecraft experience constant exposure to space radiation. The ATED investigation uses an active tissue-equivalent dosimeter to collect data on crew radiation exposure and to characterize the space radiation environment.
NanoRacks Module-79: The crew took photographs of the NanoRacks Module-79 crystalline structures today. NanoRacks Module-79, also referred to as Qucopartex – Precious (QUANTUM), observes the effects of entropy outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. Materials with tight, intense crystalline structures are exposed to the space environment to observe even small changes and differences between materials onboard the ISS and those on Earth.
Myotones: Today the crew completed the second session for the Myotones investigation. They collected blood samples, processed them in the centrifuge, and placed the samples in a MELFI. They marked the skin and took measurements using the Myotones device and performed ultrasound scanning. ESA’s Myotones investigation observes the biochemical properties of muscles during long-term exposure to the spaceflight environment. Results from this investigation are expected to provide insight into principles of human resting muscle tone, which could lead to the development of new strategies for alternative treatments for rehabilitation both on Earth and for future space missions.
Bone Densitometer: To prepare the Bone Densitometer for upcoming support of the Rodent Research-7 investigation, the crew changed out the Imaging unit and X-ray source on the Bone Densitometer.
Probiotics: Today a crewmember collected saliva samples for the Probiotics investigation. Some species of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella grow stronger and more virulent in the microgravity environment of space. At the same time, the human immune system is weaker in space, leading to increased health risks. The objective of the Probiotics investigation is to study the impact of continuous consumption of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) on immune function and intestinal microbiota in astronauts in a closed microgravity environment. The results of this investigation may be used to support improvements in crew members’ intestinal microbiota and their immune function on long-duration space missions.
Velocicalc Airflow Measurement Survey: The crew used the velocicalc tool to take measurements of airflow at USOS ventilation inlets and outlets. The crew took measurements in the Airlock, Node1, Cupola, Node 3, USOS Lab, and Node 2. Flow measurements are taken at different IMV diffusers to verify that the IMV flow is sufficient to control carbon dioxide and humidity in the station. These measurements also show that the IMV fans are operating in a good flow condition.
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry
Myotones Blood Draw and centrifugation
Probiotics Saliva Operations
Probiotics Salive Sample MELFI Insertion
Myotones Blood Tube Centrifugation
Probiotics Question
Myotones Centrifuge Spin Conclude
Myotones Sample MELFI Insertion
NanoRacks Module-79 Photos
Myotones Blood Collection Conclude And Stow
Setup and configuration of КСПЭ equipment in SM for MPEG2 TV coverage of TORU OBT
Bone Densitometer On Board Training
TORU OBT and TV Coverage of TORU OBT.
Aerosol Passive Samplers Hardware Installation
Crew sets up Camcorder in Node 2 to capture HD video of Bone Densitometer operations on the MWA.
Bone Densitometer ORU Changeout
STaARS Cryotube Kit MELFI Insertion #4
ECHO Unit Setup for Myotones experiment
Myotones Device Setup with EPM Laptop
Deactivation of camcorder, TV System monitoring equipment and closing applications
Inspection of СРВ-К2М Sediment Trap Insert
Myotones Measurements
СОЖ maintenance
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 System (T2) Monthly Inspection
Made In Space Fiber Optics Locker and Cable Setup
Myotones Ultrasound scan using ECHO Unit
Radio Frequency Identification Logistics Power Cycle
Myotones Device Data Transfer
VIZIR. Experiment Ops using СКПФ-У PL.
Micro-11 Microscope Checkout
Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop. Laptop Log-File Downlink.
ECHO Unit Stowage
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops (Session 1) Preparation Ops.
Aerosol Charger Gather
Micro-11 Microscope Operations
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
MOTOCARD. Assistance with the Experiment. Video recording during locomotion test
Micro-11 Glacier Sample Removal 1
Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Video Equipment Setup
MICRO-11 Thaw Operations
Micro-11 Microscope Operations
MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops at the expense of БД-2 Exercise.
IMS Update
MOTOCARD. Termination of video recording and closeout ops.
Micro-11 MELFI Sample Return Bag Insertion
Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurement Survey
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Preventive Maintenance of SM Ventilation Subsystem. Group C
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Video Equipment Stow
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Micro-11 support
MSS Robotic Cargo Transfers
CDRA Blower Test
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 07/07: Weekly Housekeeping, Crew Off-Duty, RR7 H2O Check
Sunday, 07/08: Crew Off-Duty, HRF Urine Collection, STaRS Experiment Containers Move
Monday, 07/09: Atomization syringe replace, Camcorder Deploy, Air Sample Analysis, Dragon Cargo Transfer, MICS Sample Mix, Vision Testing, Plant Habitat Harvest, Aerosol Sampler Deploy, Biomolecule Sampler, ACE sample insert, AngieX Cancer Therapy
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – Off
[СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab – Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 – Idle
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
