NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 September 2017 – Magvector Magnetic Field Experiment Setup

Today’s science tasks included an inspection on an advanced microscope and readying a magnetic field experiment. The crew also worked on a failed electrical device that was robotically transferred to the Kibo laboratory module in early August.
Commander Randy Bresnik and Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli removed a failed Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) from Kibo’s airlock today. The duo swapped out some electronics gear in the MBSU and tested the device while it was connected to a laptop computer.

Nespoli started his day setting up the Magvector magnetic field experiment for operations set to begin next week. The study investigates how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with an electrical conductor potentially improving electrical experiments in space.

As Bresnik was wrapping up his MBSU maintenance work, Nespoli began inspecting advanced microscope gear. The variety of new Light Microscopy Module gear had been recently launched and was being checked for shattered materials.

Three new Expedition 53 crew members are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome just five days away from their launch to the International Space Station. Two NASA astronauts and a Roscosmos cosmonaut are in final preparations checking their Sokol launch and entry suits and examining their Soyuz MS-06 spacecraft.

On-Orbit Status Report

MBSU I-Level Maintenance: In early August, ground teams successfully transferred a degraded Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) from External Stowage Platform 2 (ESP2) site 4 to the JEM Airlock. Today, the crew removed the MBSU from the JEM A/L and performed Intermediate Level (I-Level) maintenance on the unit. This MBSU is one of two failed units externally stowed on orbit that will be brought inside to undergo maintenance and repair.

Lighting Effects: This morning a crewmember provided a sleep log entry for the Lighting Effects investigation. The light bulbs on the ISS are being replaced with a new system designed for improved crew health and wellness. Fluorescent bulbs are being replaced with solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that have adjustable intensity and color. Investigators will determine if the new lights improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance. Results from this investigation also have implications for people on Earth who use electric lights.

Light Microscopy Module (LMM) Camera Inspections: After completing routine inspections of the LMM Confocal Unit, LMM Confocal Camera, LMM Wide-field Camera, and the LMM Observation Camera for shattered materials, the crew reported that no damage was found to the equipment. The Light Microscopy Module (LMM) is a modified commercial, highly flexible, state-of-the-art light imaging microscope facility that provides researchers with powerful diagnostic hardware and software onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The LMM enables novel research of microscopic phenomena in microgravity, with the capability of remotely acquiring and downloading digital images and videos across many levels of magnification. The way that matter is organized and moves on the microscopic level profoundly affects the macroscopic world and an understanding of such processes helps scientists and engineers build more efficient materials and machines both for both the earth and space environments.

MAGVECTOR: The crew configured the power supply and supporting equipment prior to initiating the 13th experiment run of the MAGVECTOR investigation, which ends Thursday of next week. MAGVECTOR investigates how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with an electrical conductor. Using extremely sensitive magnetic sensors placed around and above a conductor, researchers can gain insight into ways that the magnetic field influences how conductors work. This research not only helps improve future International Space Station experiments and electrical experiments, but it could offer insights into how magnetic fields influence electrical conductors in general, the backbone of our technology.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) Nitrogen Manual Valve Close
At Home In Space Culture Photo
CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Install
ESA Weekly crew conference
ESA-PAO-RAI PRIX
Handover Feedback Questions
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)
In Flight Maintenance Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) Check Out
In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) Repair
IMS Delta file prep
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
LMM Camera Inpsection
LMM Maintenance Work Area Containment System Setup
ACE MWA Preparation
Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry – Subject
Preparing For Upcoming MagVector Science Run
Joint Station Local Area Network (LAN) (JSL) Network Information for JSL Administration (NINJA) Print
Recorded Greeting Request
Structures & Mechanisms (S&M) JEM ORU XFER I/F INSPECTION
Structures and Mechanisms (S&M) JEM ORU Xfer I/F (JOTI) Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) Install
Structures and Mechanisms (S&M) JEM ORU Xfer I/F (JOTI) Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) Remove
Station Support Computer (SSC) 5 Return
Tropical Cyclone Hardware Closeout
Tropical Cyclone Untended Operations
Tear Down of Remote RS Laptop Setup. Tagup with specialists
Preparation and Configuration Setup for Remote RS Laptop on USOS. Tagup with specialists
On MCC GO Testing RS Remote Laptop with ???1 and ???2. Tagup with specialists
INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos web site and social media
Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron or ???-??
Measuring CO level in RS using US portable CSA-CP device
??? maintenance
Adjusting position of the regulator valve [??] in the Air Conditioning System [???1]. Tagup with specialists
MPEG-2 TV Downlink Test via KU-band prior to Soyuz 734 Docking to the ISS. Tagup with specialists
Cleaning FGB panel vent screens (116, 316, 231, 431)
ECON-M. Observation and photography

Completed Task List Activities
None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
None

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 09/08: Mouse TCU preparation, RR9 Habitat restock, ACME
Saturday, 09/09: Lung Tissue Media Fixation, Weekly Housekeeping, Off Duty
Sunday, 09/10: Lung Tissue sample ops, Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
Component – Status
Elektron – On
Vozdukh – Manual
[???] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) – On
[???] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) – On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab – Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 – Operate
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