NASA Space Station Status Report 10 August, 2022 – Space Physics Research

Human research, nanosatellites, and space physics topped the research operations aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday.

The Expedition 67 crew also continued packing a U.S. cargo craft while servicing Russian spacesuits.

NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins peered at tissue stem cells through a microscope in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module today to understand how the human immune system ages in space. Observations may provide insights into the biological aging process and tissue regeneration possibly informing new ways to keeps astronauts healthy in space and treat medical conditions on Earth. Watkins then spent the afternoon readying cargo packed inside the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship for return to Earth in mid-August.

A small satellite deployer loaded with CubeSats has been installed on an external science platform and placed inside the Kibo laboratory module’s airlock by NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren today. The deployer will soon be moved into the vacuum of space where the CubeSats will be released into low-Earth orbit for a variety of research programs. Lindgren later set up an AstroBee robotic free-flyer to rehearse pre-programmed maneuvers for the upcoming student-based Kibo Robotic Programming Challenge 3.

Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) explored the dynamics of foams, droplets, and granular materials with implications for future planetary travel and industries on Earth. She swapped the samples inside the Fluid Science Laboratory’s Soft Matter Dynamics experiment container.

NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines started his day transferring U.S. spacewalking gear into the orbiting lab’s Russian segment. During the afternoon, he serviced hardware supporting the Ring Sheared Drop fluid physics study that could lead to a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and the development of advanced materials.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev took the U.S. spacewalk components, including tools and video cameras, Hines delivered today and installed them on a pair of Russian Orlan spacesuits. The duo will conduct a spacewalk on Aug. 17 to continue outfitting the European robotic arm. Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov focused on network cable connections inside the Nauka and Zvezda modules.

On-Orbit Status Report

ISS Reboost: Today, the ISS performed a reboost using the Aft Progress 81P R&D thrusters. This reboost was the first of three reboosts to set up proper conditions for 68S 2-orbit rendezvous on September 21 and 67S landing on September 29. The burn duration was 2 minutes 45 seconds with a Delta-V of 0.3 m/s.

Payloads:

Fluid Science Laboratory/Soft Matter Dynamics (FSL/SMD): The crew exchanged four Particle STAbilised Emulsions and Foams (PASTA) Sample Cell Units and a single reference sample with five Foam Coarsening #2 Samples in the SMD Experiment Container. On Earth, the mixture of gas and liquid that makes up a foam quickly starts to change. Gravity pulls the liquid between the bubbles downwards, and the small bubbles shrink while the larger ones tend to grow at the expense of others. Due to drainage, coarsening (or enlarging) and rupture of the bubbles, a foam starts to collapse back to a liquid state. In space, foams are more stable because there is no drainage in weightlessness. This allows scientists to study the slower phenomena of a bubble becoming bigger and bursting, which on Earth are masked by the drainage that destabilizes the foam.

International Commercial Experiment (ICE) Cubes: Experiment Cubes #0, #3, #8, #9 were removed from the ICE Cubes Facility and prepared for return to the ground. During these activities, Experiment Cube #10 was relocated to slot J05 in the facility. The ICE Cubes facility is a capable experiment platform that offers flexibility to host many different experiments for research, technology demonstration or educational objectives. During flight, users are able to have near real-time telemetry and telecommanding capabilities with the Experiment Cube from any location with an internet connection. The ICE Cubes service provides fast and direct access to the ISS for any country, institute, or entity.

Immunosenescence: The crew set up the appropriate microscope and performed observations of the cells growing in each BioCell. Microgravity as a Model for Immunological Senescence and its Impact on Tissue Stem Cells and Regeneration (Immunosenescence) studies the effects of microgravity on cells involved in tissue regeneration and whether recovery occurs post-flight. Results could provide insight into whether effects of the biological aging process can be reversed.

ISS Ham Radio: The crew participated in an ISS HAM pass with Kopernik Observatory & Science Center (KOSC), Vestal, N.Y., USA. Opened in 1974, Kopernik has offered hundreds of thousands of students of all ages the opportunity to learn about their world and the universe surrounding them. Kopernik’s resources include three permanent telescopes, a heliostat, weather station, three classrooms, computer lab, portable planetarium, and amateur radio station. Since the earliest space station expeditions, ISS Ham Radio has allowed groups of students in schools, camps, museums, and planetariums to hold a conversation with the people living in space. As the ISS passes overhead, students have approximately 9 minutes to ask crew members 10 to 20 questions.

JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer-22 (J-SSOD-22): The J-SSOD hardware preparation for the Friday deploy was concluded with the removal of the launch lock cover, installation of the Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI), retraction of the slide table, etc. J-SSOD provides a novel and safe small satellite launching capability to the ISS. The J-SSOD is a unique satellite launcher, handled by the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), which provides containment and deployment mechanisms for several individual small satellites. Once J-SSOD, including satellite cases with small satellites, is installed onto the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) by crew members, it is passed through the JEM Airlock for retrieval, positioning, and deployment by the JEMRMS.

Ring Sheared Drop (RSD): The processed sample syringe was removed, and a new sample syringe was installed. The RSD investigation examines the formation and flow of amyloids without the complications associated with the solid walls of a container, because in microgravity, surface tension provides containment of the liquid. Amyloids – fibrous, extracellular protein deposits found in organs and tissues – are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Results could contribute to better understanding of these diseases as well as to development of advanced materials.

Systems:

SpX-25 Thermal protection System (TPS) Survey: Yesterday and today, Robotics Ground Controllers completed the SpX-25 TPS survey using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM). TPS inspections are performed on returning vehicles prior to undock from the ISS to ensure the vehicle is in a good configuration for re-entry.

RS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) 54 Preparations: The crew continued preparation activities for the upcoming RS EVA 54, beginning with termination of charging and removal of Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Li-Ion batteries. US EVA tools were also transferred from the USOS to the RS. The Russian EVA is planned for Wednesday, August 17.

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis & Data Record: The crew performed an analysis of the Water Processing Assembly (WPA) using the TOCA. The TOCA unit oxidizes organic carbon species present in the water to carbon dioxide gas and measures the concentration using nondispersive infrared spectroscopy. Analysis of the potable water using the TOCA occurs on a weekly basis.

On-orbit Hearing Assessment (OOHA): Today the crew performed an auditory test using the OOHA headset and KUDUwave software. The assessment measures hearing function while crewmembers are exposed to noise and microgravity during long-duration spaceflight.

Completed Task List Activities:

• None

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

• ACS MCS Configuration for Reboost
• SSOD Checkout In JPM
• JEMRMS Deactivation/Activation After Cable Reconfiguration
• JEM Airlock Depressurization and Vent
• MSS Survey of SPX-25
• Crew Dragon System Checkout
• JEM MAXI File Uplink

Look Ahead Plan

Thursday, August 11 (GMT 223)
Payloads:

• Astrobee Off
• CAL GSC Sample
• HRP/Repository
• LSG Cleanup
• MERLIN Sample Transfer
• MSPR LT Cable Connect
• Plant Habitat Facility Maintenance
• XROOTS

Systems:

• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• IFM PrK IWIS RSU Cable Swap
• RS Water Transfers

Friday, August 12 (GMT 224)
Payloads:

• Butterfly IQ USND
• Cold Stowage DCB Gather
• ELT2 Cable Connect
• Iceberg Drawer T/S
• HRP/Repository
• J-SSOD-22 Deploy
• LSG Ops
• Lumina Data Transfer
• POLAR Transfers
• Thermal Amine Scrubber

Systems:

• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• JEM WIS Environmental Monitor RSU Battery R&R
• ARS TAS Sample

Saturday, August 13 (GMT 225)
Payloads:

• No Utilization Activities

Systems:

• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations

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

• Acoustic Monitor Setup for Crew Worn Measurements
• JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to/Retraction from JPM Side
• FSL Facility Core Element locking at the end of scientific operations
• JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) Checkout Prep
• FSL Soft Matter Dynamics Experiment Container Sample Cell Unit Exchange
• LAB Rack Front Audit
• EVA Battery Operations Terminal Terminate/Removal
• JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD)  Single (1 Deployer) onto Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Installation
• Immunosenescence Microscopy Ops
• Repack of FSL items for return with SpX-25
• JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) Checkout Cleanup
• HDD Board Exchanges for the Video Management Unit MkII (VMU2)
• FSL Facility Core Element release in preparation of SMD or RUBI operations
• Rodent Research Gather-2
• JEM CAM1 And JEM CAM2 Setting for Event Rehearsal
• Russian Segment EDV Handover
• Microscope Hardware Setup via SABL Power
• Actiwatch Plus HRF Rack 1 Swap/Stow
• Transferring US EVA tools from the USOS to the RS in preparation for EVA 54
• Robot Programming Challenge 3 Event Rehearsal
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• COL Payload Laptop3 LAN Connection
• Removal of Experiment Cubes #0, #3, #8, #9 and relocation of Experiment Cube #10
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check/Data Record
• VIP Crew Conference Preparation
• Payload VIP Crew Conference
• ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood
• HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion
• HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Hardware Setup
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) Tonometry Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) Retrieval/Stow
• Ring Sheared Drop Procedure Review
• HMS Tonometry Test Crew Medical Officer (CMO)
• HMS Tonometry Test Subject
• Ring-Sheared Drop Syringe and Test Cell Removal and Install
• On-orbit Hearing Assessment (OOHA) with Kuduwave Software Setup and Test
• RSD MELFI Sample Insertion
• Acoustic Monitor Battery Swap
• Crew Choice Event
• HRF Generic Urine Collection