NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 June 2019 – BEAM Commercial Module Environmental Sampling
The International Space Station’s BEAM opened up today for environmental sampling and cargo stowage activities as NASA continues to test the commercial module. The Expedition 59 crew also explored biotechnology and fluid physics to improve Earth applications and space habitability.
Astronauts Anne McClain, Christina Koch and David Saint-Jacques checked out BEAM, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, today to sample the air for microbes and stow spare hardware inside. BEAM had its stay at the station’s Tranquility module extended in November 2017 after a successful installation and expansion in the spring of 2016. The soft material module is providing extra storage space at the orbiting lab and additional technology demonstrations that may inform future missions.
After the BEAM work, McClain sampled algae grown inside the Photobioreactor to explore the viability of closed, hybrid life-support systems in space. Koch wrapped up a study observing how fluids slosh and wave in space to improve satellite fuel systems and increase knowledge of Earth’s oceans and climate.
Flight Engineer Nick Hague spent the majority of Thursday installing Water Storage System components in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module. The space plumbing work consisted of installing a variety of hoses including power and data cables to the main Potable Tank Assembly.
Commander Oleg Kononenko and Alexey Ovchinin started the morning taking breath and blood pressure measurements for a cardiopulmonary study. Next, they tested communication systems in the Soyuz MS-11 crew ship and spent the rest of the afternoon on a variety of Russian science and maintenance activities.
On-Orbit Status Report
Fluidics: As a continuation of the Fluidics session which began on Wednesday, the crew performed 3 additional experiment runs (2A, 2B, 3). The measurement of liquid displacement within a sphere in microgravity relates to a given kinematic representation of a spacecraft’s fuel tank. This investigation evaluates the Center of Mass (CoM) position regarding a temperature gradient on a representation of a fuel tank. The observation of capillary wave turbulence on the surface of a fluid layer in a low-gravity environment can provide insights into measuring the existing volume in a sphere.
Fiber Optic Production (FOP): As a continuation of the troubleshooting for the FOP system, the crew inspected and cleaned 3 of the ZBLAN preforms, attached new Teflon tails and inserted one of them into the FOP for a processing attempt. The preforms are cylinders of ZBLAN stock material from which the fiber is drawn after heating. FOP is designed to create optical fibers with high commercial value aboard the ISS using a blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, sodium, and aluminum called ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF). It operates within the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). Extensive theoretical studies along with a limited number of experimental studies suggest that ZBLAN optical fibers produced in microgravity should exhibit far superior qualities to those produced on Earth. The resulting optical fiber from Fiber Optic Production is expected to help verify these studies and guide further engineering efforts to manufacture high value optical fiber in large volume aboard the ISS.
HELIOS (Hardened Extremely Long-life Information in Optical Storage): As part of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) ingress today, the HELIOS hardware was transferred to the BEAM and stowed. HELIOS tests whether a data storage medium is resistant to space radiation. It contains samples of the media, which is applied to a glass substrate, and stowed in this location for approximately 6 months. On Earth, the atmosphere protects humans and electronics from radiation that, in space, can damage electronics, including memory devices such as hard drives and memory disks. This technology, similar to that used in early photography, could replace conventional solid state memory for recording critical data on spacecraft.
ISS HAM Pass: Today the crew participated in an ISS HAM pass with Moriah Central School, Port Henry, NY USA. This is a K-12 public school with nearly 800 students and 50 teachers. Some of the questions the students asked involved the purpose and value of the ISS, types of computers and operating systems used by the crew on ISS, favorite science experiment on ISS, and many more. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground HAM radio units.
PBR (Photobioreactor): Following some past difficulties, which were corrected with a software update, today the crew filled the PBR hardware with medium and algae to begin the experiment. The life support systems that sustain astronauts in space are based on physicochemical processes. The Photobioreactor investigation aims at demonstrating that microalgae (i.e. biological processes) can be used together with existing systems to improve recycling of resources, creating a hybrid life support system. This hybrid approach could be helpful in future long-duration exploration missions, as it could reduce the amount of consumables required from Earth.
Water Storage System (WSS) Assembly Part 2: In May, the crew installed shelf panels, ground straps, and rack internal power/data cables after rotating the Zero-G Stowage Rack (ZSR) shell at the LAB1D4 location. Rack rotation took longer than expected and several tasks had to be deferred. Today the crew completed the remaining tasks. WSS will add new capabilities to the existing Environmental Control and Life Support System. (ECLSS) Water Recovery and Management System (WRM) by providing an additional 75 liters of iodinated water storage as well as new methods of transporting water in the potable waterbus.
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Hardware Transfer: The crew gathered hardware from the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to be stored in BEAM. After a successful ingress of the module, they retrieved the failed T2 treadmill Remove and Replaced (R&Rd) last month for disposal on NG-11 and swapped various stowage to increase accessibility to key on-orbit spare hardware. The crew also took surface and air samples of the BEAM module for environmental analysis and stowed the hardware removed from BEAM after egressing the module.
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Hatch Guide Installation: After the crew had ingressed BEAM, a Hatch Handle Guide Ring was installed onto the Node 3 Aft hatch. Designed to prevent the Hatch Handle from being stowed incorrectly, this guide was developed to prevent the crew from inadvertently isolating themselves from their return vehicle.
H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) 8 Proximity Communication System (PROX) Checkout: Today the crew configured the PROX system for an initial set of systems checkouts in preparation of the upcoming HTV 8 mission in September. HTV missions use the PROX system for communication between HTV and ISS. Crew commanding to HTV via PROX utilizes a Portable Computer System (PCS) version of the Hardware Command Panel (HCP).
Completed Task List Activities:
WHC KTO replace [Completed GMT 156]
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
BEAM support
Payload support
LAB AVU Checkout
HTV Prox Checkout
Look Ahead:
Friday, 6/7 (GMT 158)
Payloads:
Actiwatch Spectrum
Capillary Structures
Veg-04A questionnaire and wick open
PBR file download
Systems:
Crew off duty
Saturday, 6/8 (GMT 159)
Payloads:
Capillary Structures
Standard Measures
Probiotics
Systems:
Crew off duty
Sunday, 6/9 (GMT 160)
Payloads:
Food Acceptability
Probiotics
Systems:
Crew off duty
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
ARED Platform Partial Fold
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Power Up
JEM Airlock Press
Obtaining extended diagnostic data from Wide-Band Communication System MDM2.
Photo/TV N3/BEAM Camcorder Setup
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Node 3 Aft Unstow
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Ingress
Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Gather
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Subject
HRF Veg Veggie Questionnaire
DAN. Experiment Session.
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Hardware Gather
Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer and Stow
JEM Airlock Leak Check
Video setup for Water Storage System operations
Water Storage System (WSS) Assembly – Part 2
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Corridor Clear
ISS Experience Solid State Drive Changeout
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Hardware Stow
Fluidics Run 2 preparation
SM and Soyuz 741 TV System Test in Proximity Link mode with issuing Soyuz 741 control action.
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Subject
Troubleshooting ???-MRM1.
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Surface Sample Kit (SSK) Collection/Incubation
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Hatch Guide Installation
Configuration Setup for Charger [??-?]
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Kit Sample Collection
On MCC GO Mating [??-?] telemetry connector of the charger.
On MCC GO Setup of the first power battery 825?3
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Corridor Stow
INTER-MAI-75. Moding HAM Radio Hardware to SSTV
HRF Veg Veggie Questionnaire
BEAM Cleanup and Egress
Fluidics Run 2 execution
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Node 3 Aft Stow
Comm Configuration from MRM1
SEPARATION. Water distillation from urine using a new [???-?-??] control algorithm
BEAM MAS/SSK Sample Stow
Removal of PBR syringes from MELFI
ARED Platform Unfold Back to Nominal Position
Photobioreactor
Photo/TV Node 3 Camcorder Deactivation
HRF Veg Veggie Questionnaire
HTV PROX Switch ON
Capillary Structures Camera Check
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Partial Stow
Fluidics Run 3 execution
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 (T2) High Definition (HD)Video Survey
Monitoring Condition of RS Hull Structural Element Surfaces Using ???-2? Multipurpose Eddy Current Device ???-2?
SEPARATION. Water distillation from urine using a new [???-?-??] control algorithm
INTER-MAI-75. Equipment deactivation and cleanup
Oreo Service Pack (SP) Plan Review
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup [Aborted]
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Conclude
Recorded Greeting Request
Removal of PBR syringes from MELFI
Oreo Service Pack (SP) Plan Review
Photobioreactor
Oreo Service Pack (SP) Plan Review
Actiwatch Plus Evaluation Display Check
ISS Experience Hardware Stow
SEPARATION. Closeout ops and log-file downlink
SEPARATION. Closeout ops and log-file downlink (Handover)
Fluidics Closeout Activities
ISS HAM Service Module Pass
Fluidics Ending of data copy and T61p Laptop stowage
PBR MELFI Insert
Oreo Service Pack (SP) Plan Review
Comm reconfig for nominal ops
COLUMBUS Deck 2 restow
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
HTV PCS HCP Selfcheck (Side B)
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
HTV PCS HCP Selfcheck (Side A)
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Equipment setup
EXPRESS Rack ZBook Setup Start
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
(ACS) Oxygen Manual Valve Close
HTV PROX Switch OFF
EXPRESS Rack ZBook Setup Finish
SSC OREO SP Conference
