NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status Report 5 January, 2022 – And More Space Biology

Space biology work and science hardware maintenance and were the main research goals for the Expedition 66 crew aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday.
The orbital residents also checked out life support gear and worked on cargo transfers.

Three NASA astronauts, Mark Vande Hei, Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron, joined each other in the Kibo laboratory module during the afternoon and set up external research components. Vande Hei installed the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) in Kibo’s airlock that will later be placed outside in the vacuum of space. Marshburn and Barron assisted with the MPEP installation work ahead of tiny satellites, or CubeSats, being deployed from the device into Earth orbit.

Marshburn then joined NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari for vein scans in the Columbus laboratory module. Chari once again led the biomedical activities as crew medical officer using the Ultrasound 2 device to scan Marshburn’s neck, shoulder, and leg veins. Doctors on Earth monitor the health checks in real time to gain insight into how long-term microgravity affects the human body.

Barron also tended to the oxygen generation system before analyzing microbe samples collected from inside BEAM, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Flight Engineer Matthias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency) installed the ANITA-2 cabin air analyzer then inspected the Muscle Atrophy Research Exercise System ahead of upcoming new component work.

Commander Anton Shkaplerov worked throughout Wednesday in the station’s Russian segment on electronics maintenance on cargo transfers from the ISS Progress 79 resupply ship. Shkaplerov also spent some time on a study researching how international crews and mission controllers relate during a long-duration spaceflight. Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov spent most of the day installing payload interface controller units while also finding time for immunity system research work.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2 (ANITA-2): ANITA-2 hardware was installed into an EXPRESS Rack. Power cables were mated, and the facility was powered up followed by photo documentation. The ANITA-2 is a compact gas analyzer which can analyze and quantify 33 trace contaminants in the atmosphere aboard the ISS automatically. ANITA-2 can also detect the presence of unknown substances which can be evaluated later on the ground.

BioMole: BioMole Amplified DNA was prepared for sequencing using the MinION unit. The Environmental Health System (EHS) BioMole Facility non-culture based samples are capable of providing microbial identification on-orbit within days of sampling. The goal of this Tech Demo is to conduct comparative analysis for possible replacement of current microbial monitoring systems.

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): CIR Manifold #4 bottle was replaced with a new Bottle containing 100% Ethane (C2H4). The CIR includes an optics bench, combustion chamber, fuel, and oxidizer control, and five different cameras for performing combustion investigations in microgravity.

Flow Boiling Condensation Experiment (FBCE): A crewmember performed a checkout of the FBCE hardware. FBCE seeks to validate a model for flow boiling Critical Heat Flux (CHF) and develop an integrated two-phase flow boiling and condensation facility for the ISS. Data from microgravity and the ground are compared to determine the influence of various forces and processes needed for gravity-independent flow boiling and condensation. Results could support development of boilers and heat exchangers that work in both microgravity and partial gravity.

Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP): The JAXA Experiment Module Airlock (JEMAL) Slide Table Passive Capture Mechanism and MPEP was installed on to the JEM AL Slide Table. Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform provides the structural backbone for deployers when being transferred to the outside of the ISS via the Kibo airlock and grasped by the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS).

Plant Habitat-05: A crewmember performed the hardware gather and procedure review in preparation for Plant Habitat-05 harvesting. Unlocking the Cotton Genome to Precision Genetics (Plant Habitat-05) cultivates several cotton genotypes that differ in their ability to regenerate into whole plants from undifferentiated masses of cells known as a calli. Cotton is highly resistant to the process of plant regeneration, which makes it difficult to create reproductive and stable plants that have specific or enhanced traits such as drought resistance. The investigation could provide a better understanding of this behavior and a pathway to avert this problem.

Systems:

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Robotics Operations: Yesterday, a Dragon trunk survey was performed to checkout trunk camera and light operation during day and night passes as well as provide a comparison to prelaunch cargo configuration images. Today, a Mobile Transporter (MT) translation was performed from worksite 7 to worksite 5. Continuing today will be a Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm1 stow of Robot Micro Conical Tool (RMCT)1 to Tool Holder Assembly (THA)1 and rotate the Enhanced Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Temporary Platform (EOTP) in preparation for the Space Test Program (STP)-H8 extraction which will be Friday, January 7.

In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Node 2 Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA) Water Separator Bracket Troubleshooting: During previous maintenance on the CCAA Water Separator the crew reported the Hinge Bracket Fastener was stuck in a partially engaged position. Today, the crew removed the CCAA closeout panel and attempted to fully engage the Fastener but were unsuccessful. Ground teams then asked the crew to stand down and leave the fastener as is. There is no operational impact to the CCAA and it is GO for use. The CCAA is the primary component responsible for the control of temperature and humidity in the USOS segment and consists of a fan, a condensing heat exchanger, an air/water separator, temperature and liquid sensors, and electrical controlling hardware.

IFM Brine Processor Assembly (BPA) Bladder Changeout: As part of regular maintenance, the crew completed a BPA bladder changeout. The BPA utilizes the forced convection of dry spacecraft cabin air coupled with a robust membrane distillation process to recover water from brine. The added water recovery from brine contributes directly to NASA’s goal to achieve an overall water recovery rate of 98% for future water recovery systems.

MARES Rack Checkout: The crew took photographs and measurements of the empty MARES rack in Columbus to provide data to ground teams. This information will aid in development of the upcoming European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) Vibration Isolation System (VIS), which will be installed in the MARES rack.

Completed Task List Activities:

None
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Crew Dragon power up and checkout
Mobile Transporter (MT) Translation
Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Robotics Micro Conical Tool (RMCT) stow
SPDM Enhanced ORU Temporary Platform (EOTP) rotation
MSS maneuver to setup for STP-H8 operations
JEMRMS maneuver to setup for STP-H8 handoff
Look Ahead Plan

Thursday, January 6 (GMT 6)
Payloads:

Acoustic Monitor Measurement (ESA)
AstroPi Mk2 Deployment (ESA)
Food Physiology Brief (NASA)
Plant Hab-05 Harvest (NASA)
RR-18 Restock and access unit clean (NASA)
Repository Blood and urine collect (NASA)
Systems:

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain
JEM Stowage Consolidation
On Board Training (OBT) ROBoT T&C Self Study
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill
Friday, January 7 (GMT 7)
Payloads:

Cytoskeleton De-install and POLAR insert (ESA)
Plant Hab-05 sample CS insert (NASA)
Systems:

Crew off-duty
Saturday, January 8 (GMT 8)
Payloads:

MVP desiccant (NASA)
Plant Hab-05 Photo (NASA)
Systems:

Crew off-duty
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

MPCC EICL Shell Replace
Brine Processor Bladder Changeout
SpX-24 Compact Disc Transfer
Activation of the European IP Communication Laptop
USOS BCR/RFID Reader Deploy
Environmental Health System (EHS) Biomole Maintenance Work Area Prep 2
BioMole Part 3: DNA Prep and Sequencing
EXPRESS Rack 8 ARIS Video J77 Umbilical Install
FBCE Power Filter Reconnection
OGS CTB Audit
Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air – 2 Hardware Install
Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement
Mochii Hardware Audit
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Node 2 Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA) Water Separator (WS) Troubleshooting
MPEP Retrieval from JLP1 Bay 2 Corridor
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
MPEP and Passive Capture Mechanism Installation to JEM Airlock Slide Table
European Enhanced Exercise Device (E4D) Vibration Isolation System (VIS) Rack Checkout
Handhold Exp Platform Adapter installation
LSG-Front Glove-Swap
Environmental Health System (EHS) – Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Analysis T + 5
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Venous Thromboembolism Scan
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
Environmental Health System (EHS) LAB Radiation Environment Monitor 2 (REM2) SSC12 Connect
Crew Dragon Forward Monthly PCS Checkout
Plant Habitat-05 Harvest #1 Hardware Gather
Plant Habitat-05 Plant Harvest #1 Procedure Review
HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations