NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 8 May 2018 – Preparing for CubeSat Launches Scheduled for Friday

Today – Japanese Small Satellite Orbital Deployer 8 (J-SSOD#8): Today the crew depressurized and vented the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock in support of J-SSOD#8 operations this week. The launch of small satellites from the J-SSOD#8 deployers is planned for Friday, May 11th.
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutron (RaDI-N): After retrieving the RaDI-N hardware from a Russian crewmember, a USOS crewmember deployed the eight Space Bubble Detectors in the US Laboratory module. This Canadian Space Agency (CSA) investigation measures neutron radiation levels in the ISS. Bubble detectors are designed to only detect neutrons and ignore all other radiation.

Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): The crew exchanged the sample holders and installed a new sample cartridge within ELF to prepare for upcoming ground commanded operations. ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the electrostatic levitation method. With this facility thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved.

At Home in Space: The crew completed a questionnaire for the At Home in Space investigation. This Canadian Space Agency investigation assesses culture, values, and psychosocial adaptation of astronauts to a space environment shared by multinational crews on long-duration missions. It is hypothesized that astronauts develop a shared space culture that is an adaptive strategy for handling cultural differences and they deal with the isolated confined environment of the spacecraft by creating a home in space. At Home in Space also uses questionnaires to investigate individual and culturally related differences, family functioning, values, coping with stress, and post-experience growth.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: Today the crew reviewed the EVA Systems Briefing Package for the upcoming US EVA Pump Flow Control System (PFCS) relocate EVA currently planned on 16-May. The briefing contains crew reminders, an emergency briefing, helpful tips, and specific procedures for the upcoming EVA; this information was reviewed, and crew questions addressed, during this afternoon’s Procedures Conference with EVA ground specialists. After completion of this conference, the crew configured EVA tools per the briefing package and continued with Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Batteries (LLB) charging operations.

Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Operations: Last night Robotic Ground Controllers performed the data gathering for characterization of the SSRMS Latching End Effector A (LEE-A) Force-Moment Sensor (FMS), on both SSRMS string. They performed first the Thermal Drift Filter Checkout and the Wrist Roll (WR) Compensation Checkout while unloaded on prime string. They next maneuvered SSRMS as required to unstow Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) and performed the same data gathering while loaded with SPDM. They then swap SSRMS string to redundant and performed Thermal Drift Filter Checkout and the Wrist Roll (WR) Compensation Checkout while SSRMS was loaded with SPDM and then unloaded after having stowed SPDM. Data will be reviewed and will help to decide if software configuration file update is required. MSS performance was nominal.

This evening, Robotics Ground Controllers will begin operations to configure for the PFCS relocate EVA. They will power up the system, walk off the SSRMS to Mobile Base System (MBS) PDGF 3 and then unstow the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM). They will then perform a Mobile Transporter (MT) pre-translation survey and MT checkout before translating to Worksite (WS)8.

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

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2) Cable Reconfiguration 2
iPad Air 2 Charge
FAZOPEREKHOD. Preparation steps and starting the experiment.
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) configure to Internal
Air Heater Fan (???) Screen Cleaning in Soyuz 737
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Charging EVA Camera D4 Battery
Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Preparation for the experiment.
??? maintenance
JEM Airlock Depressurization
Glacier Desiccant Swap
XF305 Camcorder Setup
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Operator Assistance in Preparation for the Experiment
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack 2(MSPR2) Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) Water QD Connect
Glacier Desiccant Swap
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Retrieval
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Experiment Ops on ??-2 Treadmill (Individual strategy test).
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Cleaning
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops.
EML Gas Valves Closing
WRS High Flow Water Transfer Pump Inspection
FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops.
WRS High Flow Water Pump re-assembly
FAZOPEREKHOD. Preparation steps and starting the experiment
Photo TV EVA Go Pro Battery Charging
R&R of EDV Transfer Hose
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Hygiene Procedures
At Home In Space Questionnaire
URAGAN. Completion of Icarus PL Cable Installation.
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Holder Exchange
Remove and Replace Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) ???-Y
MATRYOSHKA-R. Prep and Initialization of Bubble-Dosimeter Detectors
Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Installation
JEM Airlock Vent
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover
MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeters to USOS
Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons
MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter initialization and deployment for exposure
Veggie Ponds Plant Photo
JEM Common Gas Support Equipment (CGSE) CO2 Gas Supply Stop
Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
URAGAN. Connecting Cables to Onboard Measurement System (???).
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire
JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation
URAGAN. Completion of Icarus PL Cable Installation.
Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Setup
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review
FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops.
Health Maintenance System (HMS) – OCT Exam
Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Stow
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
Delta file prep
Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference
Restore setting of VCA1
SSC-12 and SSC-16 Logout
Water Transfer to ??? from Progress 438 [AO] Rodnik H2O Tank 1 using compressor and tank bladder compression
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Training Session Using ???-01-? Set
High Definition Video Camera Assembly 1 Activation in High Definition Mode
Robotics On-board Trainer (ROBoT) Setup
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Stow
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Initiate
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
High Definition Video Camera Assembly 1 Switch to SD Mode
CONTENT. Experiment Ops
Cleanup ops after water transfer to ??? from Progress 438 [AO] Rodnik H2O Tank 1
Soyuz 737 Samsung PC Charging (if charge level is below 80%)

Completed Task List Activities
JAXA report part 7 and 9
AstroPi Wireless Dongle installation on AstroPi Vis

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Lab MCA Full Calibration
JEMAL Depress
MT Translation

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 05/09: Crew Holiday
Thursday, 05/10: EVA Prep (SAFER C/O and Training, Go-Pro S/U, LLB, Camera Config, ROBO Procedure Review, ROBOT OBT), JAXA Event, AstroPi Relocate, AHIS Questionnaire, Eye Fundoscope
Friday, 05/11: EVA Prep (DOUG review, EVA Procedure Review and Conference, REBA install and C/O), OCT, Eye ultrasound, JSSOD 8 Deploy

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 – 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