NASA Space Station Status Report 16 May, 2022 – More Robotics, Life Science and Station Orbit Boost
Robotics and human research were the dominant research themes aboard the International Space Station on Monday.
The Expedition 67 crew also began the workweek maintaining a variety of exercise equipment and life support gear aboard the orbiting lab.
NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren turned on the Astrobee robotic free-flyers and let them roam around inside the Kibo laboratory module on Monday. The cube-shaped devices, powered by fans and programmed using algorithms, photographed imagery of Kibo’s racks and systems to demonstrate their ability to autonomously monitor and maintain spacecraft systems. Lindgren also tended to the XROOTS space botany study before tightening gas connections on the Combustion Integrated Rack.
NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins wore the Bio-Monitor’s vest and headband today testing its ability to monitor crew health without interfering with crew activities. Watkins also assisted NASA astronaut Bob Hines who began the six-month maintenance and inspection tasks on the COLBERT treadmill located in the Tranquility module.
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti spent Monday testing the rHEALTH ONE medical device demonstrating its ability to identify cells, microorganisms, and proteins in microgravity. She also shared photographs of the lunar eclipse from the station as it orbited above the Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand.
Station Commander Oleg Artemyev joined Flight Engineer Denis Matveev on Monday on ventilation systems and radiation detection tasks in the orbiting lab’s Russian segment. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov started his day exploring future planetary piloting techniques before servicing a Russian oxygen generator.
The space station is orbiting higher after the ISS Progress 79 cargo craft fired its engines on Saturday afternoon. The orbital reboost places the station at the correct altitude for Russia’s next cargo craft, the ISS Progress 81, slated to launches on June 3 and docks to the Zvezda service module’s rear port about three-and-a-half hours later.
NASA and Boeing are still proceeding toward the launch of the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 mission at 6:54 p.m. EDT on Thursday. Boeing’s Starliner crew ship is targeted to dock to the Harmony module’s forward port about 24 hours later where it will stay for up to 10 days of cargo and test operations.
On-Orbit Status Report
ISS Reboost: On Saturday, the ISS performed a reboost using the aft Progress 79P R&D thrusters. The purpose of the reboost was to set up phasing conditions for the 81P 2-orbit rendezvous on June 3 (GMT 154). The burn duration was 11 minutes 25 seconds with a Delta-V of 1.1 m/s.
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Maintenance: On Saturday, after performing several component remove and replace (R&R) activities to address improper WHC operation, the crew discovered a cap gasket that was blocking the flow path at the connector from the pre-treat tank. A spare dose pump was installed on Sunday and the WHC was recovered.
Payloads:
Astrobee: ISS video hardware was set up in preparation of autonomous Astrobee operations. Astrobee is made up of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots which are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the space station. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew monitoring, sampling, logistics management, and accommodate up to three investigations.
Cold Atom Lab (CAL): A crewmember performed a visual inspection of the CAL Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL) Jumper to check for leaks and reported the observed leakage. The crew will continue to perform periodic leak checks until a spare MTL jumper is flown. The CAL produces clouds of atoms that are chilled to about one ten-billionth of a degree above absolute zero — much colder than the average temperature of deep space. At these low temperatures, atoms have almost no motion, allowing scientists to study fundamental behaviors and quantum characteristics that are difficult or impossible to probe at higher temperatures. In microgravity, researchers may be able to achieve even colder temperatures than what is possible on the ground, and observe these cold atom clouds for longer periods of time.
Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): The CIR Optics bench was rotated out from the rack and the Chamber Pump gas connections were retightened prior to rotating bench back into the rack. The CIR includes an optics bench, combustion chamber, fuel and oxidizer control, and five different cameras for performing combustion investigations in microgravity.
rHEALTH: A crewmember operated the rHEALTH Analyzer for the rHEALTH Hardware Demo in order to determine flow cytometry in microgravity. The rHEALTH ONE Microgravity Demonstration (rHEALTH) is intended to establish whether the technology used by this modified, commercial off-the-shelf device can identify and analyze biomarkers, cells, microorganisms, and proteins in the spaceflight environment. The device uses flow cytometry technology to sort and identify cells. This technology could be used to provide quick and accurate measurements of biological indicators related to disease, infection, or environmental exposure on future long-duration exploration missions.
Standard Measures: Saliva hardware setup was completed for specified crewmembers and a cognition test was performed. Spaceflight Standard Measures (Standard Measures) collects a set of core measurements related to many human spaceflight risks from astronauts before, during, and after long-duration missions. The aim is to ensure consistent capture of an optimized, minimal set of measures from crew members until the end of the ISS Program in order to characterize the adaptive responses to and risks of living in space. These measures populate a data repository to enable high-level monitoring of countermeasure effectiveness and meaningful interpretation of health and performance outcomes, and support future research on planetary missions.
Vascular Aging: A crewmember donned the Bio-Monitor Garment and Headband and connected the hardware to the Data Unit. A calibration was performed, and a 48-hour data collection session was initiated. Emerging data point towards linkages among cardiovascular health risk, carotid artery aging, bone metabolism and blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation. Data indicate that aging-like changes are accelerated in many ISS crew members, particularly with respect to their arteries. As part of the Space Environment Causes Acceleration of Vascular Aging: Roles of Hypogravity, Nutrition, and Radiation (Vascular Aging) investigation, ultrasounds of the arteries, blood samples, oral glucose tolerance, and wearable sensors from ISS crewmembers are analyzed.
Systems:
Treadmill 2 (T2) Yearly Maintenance: The crew performed both the 6-month and yearly T2 preventative inspections and maintenance actions. During these tasks, the crew inspected the tread belt slats and screws, cleaned the treadmill drive shaft, greased forward and rear axles, vacuumed inside the rack and around the treadmill, and inspected the umbilical panel and the bungee shackle key mount witness marks. The MTL hoses were also inspected to provide long-term trending of previously-completed repair work. An unmanned activation and checkout was completed and ground specialists are reviewing the data to verify T2 remains GO for exercise.
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.
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
PPS High Beta Operations
T2 Ground Commanding for Maintenance
Look Ahead Plan
Tuesday, May 17 (GMT 137)
Payloads:
Astrobee off (NASA)
Gas Heater Facility Insulation Measurement (JAXA)
Standard Measures saliva collect and fecal setup and cognition test (NASA)
Surface Avatar USB install and stow (ESA)
Vascular-Aging BioMonitor Wearable changeout and Blood Pressure (CSA)
XROOTS light setup and plant install (NASA)
Systems:
EHS PWD Sample Collect
EMU Swap
EMU Flip
EMU SOP Swap
OBT ROBoT T&C Self Study
EHS Coliform Water Processing
Wednesday, May 18 (GMT 138)
Payloads:
Snowcone HW install (NASA)
Standard Measures Blood urine, body fecal urine collect (NASA)
Vascular-Aging BioMonitor removal and stow (CSA)
Systems:
EHS TOCA WRS Sample Analysis
Regenerative ECLSS Recycle Tank Drain/Fill
Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap
OBT CST-100 OFT-2 Rendezvous Monitoring CBT 2/Conference
Treadmill MTL Hose Inspection
Crew Dragon Tablet Sync
CHeCS Emergency Health Maintenance System Contingency Drill Training
Thursday, May 19 (GMT 139)
Payloads:
ANITA-NL Sample (ESA)
LUMINA data transfer (ESA)
Standard Measures Blood, saliva, urine, body, fecal collect (NASA)
Vascular-Aging BioMonitor stow and Glucose setup (CSA)
WICO Ballistocardiography don and doff and questionnaire (ESA)
XROOTS fluid (NASA)
Systems:
Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations
IFM WRS Hardware Gather
EHS – Coliform Water Sample Analysis 44 +/- 4 hours post processing
PCS Laptop Relocate
OFT2 Station Support Computer Relocate
CST Russian Laptop Setup
Setup for Monitoring CST-100 Rendezvous Operations (Lab) (Cup)
WHC Stall Volume Cleanup
IMS Conference
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 (T2) Yearly and 6 Month Maintenance
Actiwatch Plus Watch Doff
Nutrient Solution Mixing
Standard Measures Cognition Testing
Vascular Aging Bio-Monitor 48-Hour Measurement Big Picture Words Review
Bio-Monitor Hardware Setup
Countermeasures System (CMS) T2 Greasing
XROOTS System Flush and Fill
Astrobee Undock Operations
Treadmill MTL Hose Inspection
Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
Station Support Computer (SSC) 7 Power Check
Bio-Monitor Wearables Setup
Bio-Monitor Breathing Volume Calibration
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
Video Recording of Greetings
Onboard Training (OBT) Robotics On-board Trainer (ROBoT) Setup
VEGGIE Hardware On-Board Training
Astrobee OBT Review
rHEALTH Hardware Demo Operations
Astrobee Stowage Clear
Configure Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) to Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)
Combustion Integrated Rack Connection Tight
Acoustic Monitor Setup for Static Measurements
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 (T2) Uncrewed Activation and Checkout (ACO)
Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in JEM
Combustion Integrated Rack Doors Close/Open
rHEALTH Hardware Demo Stow
Cold Atom Lab MTL Jumper Leak Check
Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
HRF Generic Saliva Collection
