NASA Space Station Status Report 2 March, 2022 – Space Physics and Human Research

The seven-member Expedition 66 crew juggled a variety of science experiments on Wednesday including space physics and human research.
Four International Space Station astronauts also reviewed procedures for a pair of spacewalks set to begin in less than two weeks.

A new experiment on the space station is using artificial intelligence to help process complex glasses in microgravity. NASA Flight Engineer Kayla Barron began setting up hardware for the Intelligent Glass Optics investigation in the Microgravity Science Glovebox today. The advanced physics study may provide insights into manufacturing systems for Earth and space including communications, aerospace, and medical diagnostics.

Barron also joined fellow flight engineers Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn from NASA and Matthias Maurer from ESA (European Space Agency) to prepare for two upcoming spacewalks to continue modifying the orbiting lab’s power system. The quartet reviewed the tools and procedures that Barron and Chari will use on March 15 when they exit the U.S. Quest airlock to ready the station for its third roll-out solar array. The second excursion will be on March 23 with two astronauts yet to be named. NASA TV will begin its live spacewalk coverage at 7:50 a.m. EST on both days.

At the beginning of the day, Chari assisted Marshburn and Maurer as they collected their blood, saliva, and urine samples. The samples were stowed in a science freezer for later analysis as part of the long-running Repository investigation. That study looks at a bank of biological specimens collected from station astronauts over the years for insights into the physiological changes occurring in humans living in space.

NASA Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei worked throughout the day inside the Kibo laboratory module on payload hardware that will soon be placed outside the station in the harsh environment of space. Vande Hei is also on track to surpass two NASA single spaceflight records this month. He will pass NASA astronaut Christina Koch’s mark of 328 days on March 3, then he will break NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s record of 340 days on March 15. When Vande Hei returns to Earth on March 30, he will hold the NASA single spaceflight record having spent 355 days in space.

The orbiting lab’s two cosmonauts, Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov, replaced life support components in the station’s Russian segment.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): Tools and materials were gathered, and specific harnesses were disconnected from the Electro-magnetic Laboratory (EML) modules in preparation for Gas Circulation pump removal and replace. The EML is a multi-user facility is designed for containerless materials processing in space. It supports research in the areas of meta-stable states and phases, along with the measurement of high-accuracy thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys at high temperatures.

International Commercial Experiment (ICE) Cubes: The Ice Cubes Media Set was installed, activated, and checked out. The set was the de-installed and stowed. 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.

Smart1 (Intelligent Space System Interface Flight Qualification Experiment (iSSIFQE)): Smart One hardware was inspected and installed on the iSEEP (EFU Adapter-2) carrier on the JEM airlock slide table. The Intelligent Space System Interface Flight Qualification Experiment (iSSIFQE) demonstrates the ability of a standardized robotic connector, the iSSI, to transfer significant amounts of power, data, and thermal energy in space over an extended period of time. The iSSI units serve as connectors between two entities, both fixed-to-mobile and mobile-to-mobile, including robotic arms, satellites, and assets on the surface of the Moon. Standardization lowers the cost and increases the reusability and lifetime of space systems.

Universal Intelligent Glass Optics (UNIGLO): Intelligent Glass Optics Hardware was installed in the MSG Work Volume. MSG internal cameras did not get completed and will be rescheduled. UNIGLO tests the effects of microgravity on a glass optics module capable of processing various types of complex glasses. The module uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help adapt materials processing techniques to the microgravity environment and a sensor based on laser-Doppler interferometry to measure the effects of microgravity on processing complex glasses for a variety of applications in space and on Earth.

Systems:

Virtual Reality Training (VRT) EVA Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER): As part of the EVA Prep, the EVA crew performed their SAFER training by utilizing the VRT equipment. This lesson provides a review of the SAFER components and procedures, as well as hands-on experience in a virtual reality environment using SAFER to perform self-rescue operations.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) In Flight Maintenance (IFM): The crew performed a manual WHC flush tank fill. By using a post-flight analysis bag to capture any pressure relief, also known as the burp, they depressurized the flush water tank and water valve block to protect the dose pump. The pump is critical as it injects the pre-treat required to properly recycle waste urine.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review: In preparation for the iROSA Prep 3A EVA currently scheduled for March 15th, the crew completed the EVA Procedure Reviews and EVA Procedure Conference. The reviews cover several briefing packages, the detailed timeline procedure, a tool configuration summary, the Cribsheet, get-aheads, and cautions, warnings, and task data.

Completed Task List Activities:

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

JEM Airlock ST Extension to JPM Side
SPDM RRM MFT Unstow/Stow
Crew Dragon Awake Mode Checkout
JEM Airlock ST Retraction from JPM Side
JEM Airlock and ACDU-RC Deactivation/Activation
MBS POA LEE Inspection
JEM Airlock Depressurization and Vent
JEM EFU11 Motor Heater Activation
EFU11 Preparation for Mate
PRO RRM3 Heater Activation
MSS Maneuver to Park
Look Ahead Plan

Thursday, March 3 (GMT 62)
Payloads:

Astrobee Deact (NASA)
CCU Debrief (NASA)
Cryo Chiller Cartridge Install (NASA)
EML GCP Module Remove and R&R (ESA)
IGO Lab Camera Orient (NASA)
LSG Glove Swap (NASA)
Repository Saliva, Urine Collect (NASA)
RR-18 Restock Ops and Crew Conf and Access Unit Clean (NASA)
SQuARES Imagery (NASA)
Standard Measures Cognition test and Fecal Setup (NASA)
Systems:

EVA IROSA Strut Assembly
IMS Conference
SSC 10 and 20 Swap
EVA Mod Kit Bag Preparation
Friday, March 4 (GMT 63)
Payloads:

CAL MTL leak check (NASA)
CCU ops (NASA)
DreamStar JEM HW Ops (NASA)
EasyMotion Data D/L (ESA)
EML GCP Cleanup (ESA)
FLARE CPU Install (JAXA)
IGO Lab Camera Orient (NASA)
LSG Front Glove Swap and Setup for RR Ops (NASA)
Repository Saliva Collect (NASA)
Retina Ops (ESA)
RR-18 Hab Restock, Access Unit Clean and Ops (NASA)
Squares (NASA)
Standard Measures Body Survey and Collect and Fecal Collect (NASA)
Systems:

EVA Equipment Lock Preparation
EVA EMU OFV IV
EVA Tool Configuring
Saturday, March 5 (GMT 64)
Payloads:

CCU Ops (NASA)
Square (NASA)
Systems:

PBA and CTB Relocate
IFM KU Comm Unit Cable Swap
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

HRF Generic Saliva Collection
Phospho-Aging Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval And Insertion Operations
HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Ops
EML Gas Circulation Pump R&R Preparation
Intelligent Glass Optics Hardware Install
Ice Cubes Media Set Installation and Activation
Touching Event for the Touching Surfaces experiment
PMM1S4 Locker Cleanup
ESA Weekly crew conference
Ice Cubes Media Set Checkout
SMART ONE Installation Review
Food Acceptability Survey
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in JEM
HRF Generic Urine Collection
Rodent Research Activity Review
SMART ONE Installation for JEM RMS Small Fine Arm Deployment
DreamStar Crew Question and Answer
HTV PROX Switch ON
HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Ice Cubes Media Set Deactivation and Removal
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
Virtual Reality Training (VRT) Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER)
IMS updates
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill Initiate/Terminate
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in Columbus
All Solid State Li-ion Battery Installation
SQuARES Flexible Daily Imagery
Mini Coldbag Retrieve
Exposed Experiment Bracket Installation
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #1 Procedure Review for Extravehicular Crew
JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
Crew Dragon Forward Monthly PCS Checkout
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference