Space Stations

NASA Space Station Status Report 17 August, 2022 – Unexpected End to Spacewalk

By SpaceRef Editor

Status Report

SpaceRef

August 18, 2022

Filed under Expedition 67, ISS, ISS On-orbit status, NASA

NASA Space Station Status Report 17 August, 2022 – Unexpected End to Spacewalk — Flight Engineer Denis Matveev makes his way back inside the station after being instructed by Russian flight controllers to end the Aug. 17 spacewalk at the International Space Station due to a battery power issue on Artemyev’s Orlan spacesuit.

NASA TV

Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineer Denis Matveev, both of Roscosmos, concluded their spacewalk at 1:54 p.m. EDT after 4 hours and 1 minute.

During the spacewalk, the two cosmonauts completed the installation of two cameras on the European robotic arm prior to Artemyev’s Orlan spacesuit showing abnormal battery readings about 2 hours and 17 minutes into the extravehicular activity. Mission Control-Moscow instructed Artemeyev to return to the Poisk airlock to connect to the space station’s power supply. Cosmonaut Sergey Korsakov, inside the station, placed the European robotic arm in a safe configuration, and Matveev safely returned to the Poisk airlock after completing some final clean-up activities outside of the International Space Station. The duo was never in any danger during the operations.

NASA TV announces spacewalk is ending early (@Space_Station Twitter)

Additional spacewalks are planned to continue outfitting the European robotic arm and to activate Nauka’s airlock for future spacewalks. The work on the European robotic arm will be used to move spacewalkers and payloads around the Russian segment of the station.

This was the seventh spacewalk in Artemyev’s career, and the third for Matveev. It was the seventh spacewalk at the station in 2022 and the 252nd spacewalk for space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.

On-Orbit Status Report

RS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #54: Today, Oleg Artemyev (EV1) and Denis Matveev (EV2) performed RS EVA #54 with Sergey Korsakov supporting as the IV operator. Hatch opening occurred at 8:53 AM CT. The trio performed several tasks to configure and test the European Robotic Arm (ERA) for operations on the station’s Russian Segment; however, today’s EVA was terminated early due to a low voltage warning on EV1’s suit. The final duration was 4 hours and 1 minutes and the following tasks were completed:

Install CLU4 Elbow Camera onto ERA
Remove MLI and LFM Ring from ERA End Effector-2
Install CLU3 Elbow Camera onto ERA

Due to the early termination of the EVA, the following tasks were deferred from today’s EVA:

Relocate and Connect EMMI to БТЛ3 Basepoint
Test ERA Operation using EMMI Control Panel
Calibrate ERA End Effector-2 TRM Override
Calibrate ERA End Effector-1 TRM Override
Remove MLI and LFM Ring from ERA End Effector-1
Perform R&R of ERA End Effector-1 CLU1 Protective Window (time permitting)

Install Retainer on Strela-1 Boom (time permitting)
Extend Strela-2 Boom from FGB [ГА] to MRM2 (time permitting)

ERA was placed in the following configuration at the completion of the EVA:

End Effector-1 grappled to MLM БТЛ2 basepoint
End Effector-2 grappled to MLM БТЛ3 basepoint

Payloads:

Acoustic Diagnostics: The Acoustic Diagnostic instrument hardware was set up and calibrated, and measurements were recorded. Following this, a questionnaire was filled out on the EveryWear device. The Acoustic Upgraded Diagnostics In-Orbit (Acoustic Diagnostics) investigation tests the hearing of ISS crew members before, during, and after flight. This study assesses the possible adverse effects of noise and the microgravity environment aboard the ISS on human hearing. The investigation compares the relationship between the detection of otoacoustic emissions – sounds naturally generated from within the inner ear – and hearing loss levels when exposed to noisy environments.

BioSentinel: BioSentinel hardware and mounting plate were removed from SABL-3 (Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory). Hardware was packed for return and the mounting plate was trashed. BioSentinel ISS Control Experiment (BioSentinel) measures the effects of radiation and microgravity on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or budding yeast. This model biological organism, used for many years in academic research, industry, and biotechnology, has biology very similar to humans and has previously flown in space. Scientists plan to compare the effects of the space station environment on the yeast to those from a deep space mission.

eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS): The crew performed seed cartridge wick opening and plant inspections. The wick opening allows the seeds to be assessed for germination and gives them more room to grow during the 30 day growth cycle. The XROOTS investigation uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without soil or other growth media. Video and still images enable evaluation of multiple independent growth chambers for the entire plant life cycle from seed germination through maturity. Results could identify suitable methods to produce crops on a larger scale for future space missions.

Systems:

EHS Coliform Water Sample Analysis: Today, the crew completed post-processing analysis of the coliform detection bags. The water samples were acquired on Monday and allowed to incubate to check for the presence of Coliform bacteria. Following the incubation period, the crew visually analyzed the coliform detection bags and recorded the results. Visual confirmation must be performed within 40-48 hours of the initial sample collection.

Cargo Dragon Departure Preparations: The crew completed activities in preparation for SpX-25 undock on August 18. The crew transferred cargo, payloads and two Polar units to Cargo Dragon. The Lithium Ion Cartridge in Dragon was changed out and a Station Support Computer (SSC) was relocated from the JEM to the Cupola for undock monitoring operations.

Water Recovery System Contingency Water Container-Iodine (CWC-I) Fill: After the Russian water transfers yesterday, the USOScrew is refilling water from the Potable Bus back into the CWC-I using the Potable Water Dispenser (PWD). The Water Process Assembly (WPA) was configured to isolate the Potable Bus upon reaching a target offload. Crew monitors the offload time as a secondary control to protect the CWC-I from over pressurization. Once the crew finished filling the CWC-I, the equipment was torn down and stowed.

Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test: The crew performed a monthly WinSCAT test. The test is a screen tool developed by NASA to monitor astronauts and their neuro-cognitive status while in space and alert NASA flight surgeons to any accuracy or reaction time changes in an astronaut’s performance. WinSCAT tests working memory, computational skills, attention, visual tracking and spatial processing.

Completed Task List Activities: