NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 8 November 2019 – Spacewalk Preparations

The Expedition 61 crew is focusing on a complex series of spacewalks set to start soon to repair a cosmic particle detector. The orbital residents also conducted an emergency drill aboard the International Space Station today.
Astronauts Luca Parmitano and Andrew Morgan are familiarizing themselves with new spacewalking gear delivered aboard the Cygnus space freighter. The duo will use the new tools and hardware on a series of spacewalks to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer’s (AMS) thermal control system.

The spacewalks will highlight advanced repair techniques, including cutting and reconnecting fluid lines, never performed during a spacewalk. Parmitano and Morgan are set to venture outside the station on Friday Nov. 15 to begin the first of at least four spacewalks to upgrade the AMS, a device that searches for dark matter and antimatter.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch joined the upcoming spacewalkers today and reviewed tools and procedures for the excursions. The quartet then called Mission Control for a conference with experts on the ground about their spacewalking duties.

At the end of the workday, all six crew members, including cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Skripochka, practiced responding to an emergency simulation. The crew reviewed safety and medical gear, translated evacuation paths, practiced chest compressions (CPR) and coordinated communications.

The space station raised its orbit during the crew’s sleep period Thursday night when Russia’s Progress 73 resupply ship fired its thrusters for six minutes and 45 seconds. Now orbiting a mile higher at its perigee, the orbital complex is at the correct altitude for Russia’s next resupply ship, Progress 74, to dock on Dec. 3 after it launches Dec. 1.

On-Orbit Status Report

BioFabrication Facility (BFF): The crew inserted a BFF Tissue Print Cassette sample into the BFF facility in order for the ground to perform a hardware checkout. The BFF is dedicated to manufacturing human organs and tissues in space, primarily for use by patients on Earth. Besides printing tissue, the BFF also can help maintain the health of deep space exploration crews by producing food and personalized pharmaceuticals on demand.

ADSEP (ADvanced Space Experiment Processor): The crew installed an ADSEP Tissue print Cassette sample into the ADSEP facility in order for the ground to perform a Hardware checkout and the crew took historical photos. ADSEP is a thermally controlled single-middeck-locker equivalent that accommodates up to three cassette-based experiments that can be independently operated. Its companion hardware consists of a collection of several experiment cassettes, each doubly or triply contained, that accommodate experiments in cell technology, model organisms, multiphase fluids, solution chemistry, separation science, microencapsulation, and crystal growth.

Materials on International Space Station Experiment (MISSE): Today, the ground robotics team, using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), will start the transfer of Material Service Centers (MSCs) between the MISSE Transfer Tray (MTT) to the MISSE-FF.

Systems:

Lab Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA): Yesterday, the crew installed a borescope into the Lab P6 CCAA Heat Exchanger (inactive CCAA) in preparation for the eventual installation of the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) snorkel. The CDRA snorkel is designed to be installed in a CCAA to protect CDRA and Sabatier from water carryover from the CCAA. Today, the crew performed a switchover of the active Lab CCAA from the Lab S6 CCAA to the Lab P6 CCAA. This will allow the ground characterize the baseline conditions inside the CCAA ducting. This baseline test requires the Lab cabin temperature to be lowered to 20 deg. C overnight. As a result, of the lowered temperatures, water may be observed on the Lab overhead diffusers and will be wiped up with a towel.

Galley Rack Troubleshooting: Today, the ISS crew performed the Galley Rack Troubleshooting Part 2. Today’s troubleshooting determined that the Galley Rack Power Supply was the source of the overcurrent trip and the crew replaced the Galley Rack Power Supply with a spare. The Galley Rack was restored to nominal operations.

ISS Emergency Training: The ISS crew participated in an Emergency preparation and simulation. The simulation is a practice ISS Emergency Response with the crew and ground team based on simulated conditions. In addition, the crew spent some time practicing medical contingencies and reviewed On-board Training (OBT) medical procedures and roles during a medical event requiring Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation: The ISS crew performed a checkout of the Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) to verify that Extravehicular Activity Mobility Unit (EMU) glove heaters and video systems are powered in preparation for upcoming EVAs.

Completed Task List Activities:
RWS Setup

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Payload Operations Support
MISSE MSCs Transfer

Saturday, 11/09 (GMT 313): Off-Duty Day

Payloads:
Standard Measures Saliva Collection (NASA)
VEG-04B chk (NASA)
ADSEP Cassette removal (NASA)
EarthKam Node2 Shutdown and stow (RS Joint)
PK-4 Video Monitor install (RS joint)

Systems:
CDRA Snorkel Inspection

Sunday, 11/10 (GMT 314): Off-Duty Day

Payloads:
Veg-04B Plant Check/Watering (NASA)

Systems:
CDRA Snorkel Inspection

Monday, 11/11 (GMT 315): Half Off-Duty

Payloads:
VEG-04B chk (NASA)
Standard Measures Saliva Collection (NASA)
Space Bioflims Sample GAP act and SABL insert (NASA)
BFF test print without cells (NASA)
CGBA4 Unit activate (NASA)
RR-14 HAB restock (NASA)
HRF-VEG-POMS questionnaire (NASA)
PK-4 Photo (RS Joint)
ISS HAM (NASA)

Systems:
Cygnus Cargo Transfers

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

KORREKTSIYA. Venous blood collection
KORREKTSIYA. Photography
KORREKTSIYA. Venous blood sample processing using Plasma-03 centrifuge
Insertion of Russian experiments blood samples into MELFI
KORREKTSIYA. Handover to USOS for MELFI Insertion
KORREKTSIYA. Closeout Ops
ISS Crew and ???? (RSA Flight Control Team) weekly conference
AMS MAD reconfiguration/training
Inventory Management System (IMS) conference
Standard Measures Cognition Testing HRF PC1
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Equipment setup
AMS Procedure/video review
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Preparation for the Experiment.
SEPARATION. Mixing in the [???-?-??] urine circulation loop.
KORREKTSIYA. Data transfer from Actimeter device to data storage device
PROFILAKTIKA-2. MO-3 Test Assistance.
AMS Procedure/video review
PROFILAKTIKA-2. ??-3 test in passive mode.
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops.
Station Support Computer (SSC) 16 Load Preparation
Health Maintenance System – Food Intake Tracker iPad photos
PROFILAKTIKA-2. Hygiene Procedures
VEG-04B Plant Check/Watering for each Plant Pillow
Installation of gas bleed line in Orlan-MKS No.5 ??-0702? CO2 line. Food Acceptability Survey
Galley Rack Troubleshooting
Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA) Swap
PK-4 Experiment Campaign 8 – Familiarization
Food Acceptability Survey
Health Maintenance System – Food Intake Tracker iPad photos
PK4. Hard Drive Audit
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
PAO Preparation
Biofabrication Facility Tissue Cassette Install
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
Cleaning of LIV TV system voltage converter vent screen
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Tissue Cassette Install Into ASDSEP
USOS Endoscope Camera Reposition
Health Maintenance System – Food Intake Tracker iPad photos
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB)/Metal Oxide (METOX) Installation
CHeCS Emergency Health Maintenance System Contingency Drill Training
Rodent Research Water Box and Light Check
??? Maintenance
Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination
Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Installation
Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Powered Hardware Checkout
Recharging Soyuz 746 Samsung PC after OBT, start recharge
On-board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Drill Conference