NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 February 2019 – Preparing Cygnus for Small Satellites Deployment
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter is just a day away from completing its tenth mission to the International Space Station. The Expedition 58 crew is training today for Cygnus’ robotic release on Friday and preparing it for one more mission afterward.
Cygnus is in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm today still attached to the Unity module. Robotics controllers will uninstall Cygnus from Unity early Friday and remotely maneuver the space freighter to its release position.
NASA astronaut Anne McClain will take over the robotics controls as David Saint-Jacques from the Canadian Space Agency backs her up inside the cupola. She will command the Canadarm2 to release Cygnus back into space at 11:10 a.m. EST Friday. NASA TV will begin its live coverage of Cygnus’ release starting at 10:45 a.m.
The two astronauts practiced the release of Cygnus today and finished the installation of the Slingshot small satellite deployer inside the spacecraft. Slingshot will eject a set of CubeSats from Cygnus once the cargo vessel reaches a safe distance from the station about eight hours after its release.
Friday’s Cygnus departure will leave a pair of Russian spacecraft docked to the station including the Progress 71 cargo craft and the Soyuz MS-11 crew ship. Two more spaceships are due to visit in March including a demonstration version of SpaceX’s first crew Dragon and the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft with three new Expedition 59-60 crew members.
On-Orbit Status
SlingShot: Today crewmembers installed two Slingshot deployables (SEOPS-Quantum Radar -1 and -2s) on to the outer hatch of the Cygnus Spacecraft. Also installed in a deployable slot is the UbiquityLink-1 orbit to ground communications hardware. The two passive optical reflector satellites will be released after Cygnus moves away from the ISS. SEOPS’ SlingShot is a small satellite deployment system that fits inside the Cygnus spacecraft’s Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM). SlingShot can accommodate up to eighteen satellites that are deployed post Cygnus unberth.
Cygnus Departure Preparations: Today, the crew installed the starboard and port Controller Panel Assemblies (CPAs), re-installed the Node 1 Nadir thermal cover and closed the Node 1 Nadir hatch. The crew then completed the Pressure Management Device (PMD) setup in preparation for vestibule depress. Cygnus unberth is scheduled for tomorrow morning with release at 16:10 GMT (10:10 AM CT).
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Cygnus departure preparations
Two-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 02/08
Payloads:
Lighting Effects log (NASA)
Actiwatch data d/l (NASA)
Meteor H/D Swap (NASA)
MELFI 1-3 Icebrick insert (NASA)
Systems
Regenerative ECLSS Recycle Tank Drain and R&R
Node 1 CBM de-mate and Cygnus Release
SAFER Test Module Checkout
Saturday, 02/09
Payloads:
ISS Experience Node 2 Astronaut Log (NASA)
Systems:
None
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Record video for CSA about physical activity in space
Install SlingShot hardware in Node 1/Cygnus Vestibule
Install SlingShot Deployer and Ubiquitylink payload.
Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Configuration for Demate – Part 2
N1 Deck hatch MPEV open
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check & Data Record
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Training Review
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Delta file prep
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
ISS Experience Message Review
Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry Subject
Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK)
Node 1 Nadir CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) Installation
On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Release Session
PCS Laptop Relocate
Pressure Management Device (PMD) Equipment Setup and Power and Data connections
Pressure Management Device (PMD) Part 2
Polar 3/4 Hardware Install into Express Rack
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup
Station Support Computer (SSC) 13 Load Preparation
WORF Laptop Connect
DUBRAVA. Observation and Photography using VSS hardware
Photography of space behind SM panels 310, 339,338, 225
Photographing of RS modules.
PILOT-T. Experiment Ops. Tagup with specialists as necessary
??? maintenance
??? 71P transfer operations
Replacement of FGB Power Supply System Module ??5 800? Unit
