NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 April 2019 – Post-spacewalk Medical Checkups Today

The Expedition 59 crew has switched focus from Monday’s spacewalk to microgravity science aboard the International Space Station. Soon, the orbital residents will be unpacking a pair of U.S. space freighters.
Astronauts Anne McClain of NASA and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency are conducting their post-spacewalk medical checkups today. The astronauts measured their temperature, blood pressure, respiration and ear condition. After the checkups, the spacewalkers had their eyes scanned with an ultrasound device by Flight Engineer Nick Hague.

The spacewalking duo along with NASA astronaut Christina Koch also had an hour-long video debrief session with specialists on the ground. The crew and mission controllers discussed lessons they learned that could inform the planning of future spacewalks.

Koch spent most of her day on maintenance replacing science hardware inside the Combustion Integrated Rack. The research device enables safe investigations of microgravity’s impacts on solid and gaseous fuel combustion aboard the orbital lab. Hague explored how blood flows to the brain for the Cerebral Autoregulation study. The brain research uses Doppler technology that measures blood flow waveforms to help doctors understand and treat space-caused lightheadedness.

With the recent series of spacewalks now complete, the crew will soon be turning its attention to the arrival of two resupply ships. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft and the SpaceX Dragon will each deliver science and supplies before the end of the month to replenish the space station crew. Cygnus is due to blast off for a three-month mission attached to the station’s Unity module April 17. Dragon is targeted to liftoff at the end of April for a month-long stay at the Harmony module.

On-Orbit Status Report

Combustion Integration Rack (CIR)/Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) Hardware Replacement: The crew changed the CIR/ACME system from the BRE (Burning Rate Emulator) experiment configuration to the Flame Design experiment configuration. The Flame Design investigation studies the production and control of soot to optimize oxygen-enriched combustion and the design of robust, soot-free flames. Soot can adversely affect efficiency, emissions, and equipment lifetime, so this may lead to more efficient and cleaner burner designs. The experiment is conducted with spherical flames of gaseous fuels in the CIR as part of the Advanced ACME project. Flame Design is one of five experiments hosted by CIR/ACME.

Probiotics: A crewmember performed saliva sample collections and completed a questionnaire in support of the JAXA Probiotics study. The objective of the Probiotics investigation is to study the impact of continuous consumption of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) on immune function and intestinal microbiota in astronauts in a closed microgravity environment. The results of this investigation may be used to support improvements in crew members’ intestinal microbiota and their immune function on long-duration space missions

SUBSA (Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules) sample exchange: The crew removed the completed Indium Iodide vapor deposition sample and inserted another sample cartridge to be processed. Indium iodide (InI) is ideal for space experiments in the SUBSA Transparent Furnace because it is non-toxic, has a relatively low melting point of only 365°C, and does not react or stick to the silica crucible. Directional solidification of InI from the melt can be performed at a rate of 5 mm/hour, and growth from the vapor can be performed at ~5 mm/week. This work advances the process of fabricating high-quality InI and other crystals on Earth for use as better and less expensive detectors of nuclear radiation.

Post Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Operations: Following yesterday’s EVA, today the crew completed the following activities.

Refilled water tanks in Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)s 3006 and 3008 using iodinated water to satisfy maintenance requirements for on-orbit stowage.
Airlock reconfig
Debrief with ground teams
Photo/TV camera disassembly
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday, Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS on the redundant string to allow the EVA to execute one of the tasks to install the truss jumpers that will provide Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) with an alternate power path in case of an upstream electronic box (Battery Charge Discharge Unit (BCDU), Direct Current to Direct Current Converter Unit (DDCU) or Pump Module (PM)) failure. During the EVA, the MSS provided camera viewing support. After the EV Crew installed the Spider Cable on the Lab, ROBO performed a successful connectivity checkout. Following the EVA, ROBO reconfigured MSS in a nominal Dual String Keep-alive state.

Compound Specific Analyzer: Combustion Products (CSA-CP) Maintenance: The crew completed this routine maintenance to zero calibrate and replace battery packs in all four units. The CSA-CPs are used by the crew to detect evidence of fire and/or hazardous environment.

Completed Task List Activities:
Item for trash found
Assessment for Thermal Amine install
Printed housekeeping list
Emergency fireport label update

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
EMU water ops support/post EVA ops
SSRMS walkoff to MBS PDGF 4

Wednesday, 4/10:

Payloads
Airway Monitoring setup
Actiwatch Plus check
BCM
Cerebral Autoregulation
Food Acceptability
ISS Experience
Team Task Switching
Veg-03H deactivation

Systems
EVA loop scrub
EVA Airlock unstow
Cygnus rendezvous OBT

Thursday, 4/11:

Payloads
Airway Monitoring airlock session
Cerebral Autoregulation
ISS Experience
ISS HAM pass
LMM/Biophysiics-6 config
Medical Proteomics
Repository
SUBSA sample exchange
Team Task Switching

Systems
Recycle tank drain
HRF collections

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

HEMATOCRIT. Mean circulating platelet volume measurement
Probiotics Saliva Operations
HEMATOCRIT. Equipment stowage
Probiotics Saliva Sample MELFI Insertion
SCENARIO. Visual observations and photography
Probiotics Question
ACME MWA Prep
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination Setup
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination – Subject
PILLE dosimeter readings after USOS EVA
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination – Crew Medical Officer (CMO)
Cerebral Autoregulation Data Measurement Item Gathering
EML Gas Valves Opening
Combustion Integrated Rack Rack Doors Open
FGB Lights Audit
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination – Subject
Vozdukh system deactivation
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination – Crew Medical Officer (CMO)
Combustion Integrated Rack Front End Cap Open
ISS HAM Radio Power Up
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Post-EVA Periodic Health Status Examination – Stow
Transfer of priority and US cargo from Progress 441 (DC1) with IMS update
ACME Chamber Insert Configuration
FGB GA vacuum cleaning
XF305 Camcorder Setup
Cerebral Autoregulation Equipment Setup
Desk Handrail R&R. Functional recovery of bonding points in SM
DUCKWEED. Cutlivation chamber photography
Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Session
Airway Monitoring Hardware Location
Photographing the position of the БКДО on MRM2 from the SM window №13 – preparation
Installation of handrail removable cases inside SM. Tagup with specialist if needed
ISS Experience Hardware Stow
Photography of БКДО Unit position on MRM2 exterior from SM Window No.13 (closeout ops)
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge
Transfer of priority and US cargo from Progress 441 (DC1) with IMS update
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Combustion Integrated Rack Front End Cap Close
Combustion Integrated Rack Rack Doors Close
Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules Sample Exchange
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Air Lock Deconfiguration
Prep ops for KOMPARUS R&R
Food Acceptability Questionnaire
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Debrief
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products (CSA-CP) Extended Maintanence
Video setup for БД-2 exercise filming
On MCC Call БД-2 Test (day 3)
INTERACTION-2. Experiment run
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 2 Power On
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan Prep
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan performed by a Crew Medical Officer (CMO)
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan
Video deinstall for БД-2 exercise filming. Data downlink
Filling ЕДВ (KOВ) for Elektron
Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) GoPro Downlink
PAO Preparation
СОЖ maintenance
MATRYOSHKA-R. Tritel unit checkup
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Camera Disassembly
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – JEM
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan performed by a Crew Medical Officer (CMO)
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan
Vozdukh system deactivation
Evening Preparation Work
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Post Exam