NASA Space Station Status Report 22 June, 2022 – Cygnus Test Reboost Now Scheduled for Saturday
Space gardening and the human digestive system were at the top of the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday.
The seven Expedition 67 residents also worked throughout the day filming their activities, inspecting station hardware, and testing a new robotic arm.
Space agriculture is a way to sustain healthy astronauts on future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond without relying on packed cargo missions traveling farther in space. The XROOTS experiment on the orbiting lab is exploring growing radishes and mizuna greens using hydroponic and aeroponic techniques. NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines nourished those plants today and checked seed cartridges and wicks to ensure they germinate and grow.
Hines also inspected and photographed the condition of windows in the Destiny laboratory and the Kibo laboratory modules. NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren continued testing a headset that enables 3-D high definition holograms in real-time for immersive and innovative communication and research techniques. He also swapped hard drives on a station laptop computer.
Flight Engineers Jessica Watkins and Samantha Cristoforetti joined each other today inspecting and cleaning hatch components on the U.S. modules. Watkins also audited, inspected, and stowed hardware in the Tranquility module and the Quest airlock. Cristoforetti checked smoke detectors in the Columbus laboratory module and tested a specialized garment that can monitor an astronaut’s health wirelessly.
All four astronauts have also been filming their activities this week to prepare future crews training for upcoming station missions. The quartet have been recording, narrating, and downlinking videos documenting the operation of exercise equipment, network communications gear, and cargo stowage aboard the space station.
The lack of gravity affects the human body in a multitude of ways. Scientists observe station crew members during long-term missions to understand and counteract the undesired effects of weightlessness. Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineer Denis Matveev once again scanned their digestive system using an ultrasound device after breakfast. Researchers are exploring how organs and vessels in the gastrointestinal tract adapt to spaceflight.
Robotics testing is still ongoing this week in the station’s Russian segment. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov continued checking out and filming the European robotic arm, the station’s third and newest robotic manipulator, and its ability to maneuver on the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.
NASA and Northrop Grumman are continuing to work on a plan for Cygnus to try another reboost attempt as early as Saturday, June 25, that would lead to Cygnus potentially departing the station next Tuesday, June 28. The plan is being discussed with the International Space Station partners this week and a forward plan is expected as early as Thursday.
The reboost is designed to provide Cygnus with an enhanced capability for station operations as a standard service for NASA.
On-Orbit Status Report
European Robotic Arm (ERA) Operations: Today, by successfully grappling to base point 3, the ERA Mission 2 was completed. ERA Mission 2 was intended to be completed during RS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) # 53 which occurred in April; however, ERA was unable to complete the grapple to base point 3. In this position, ERA is in a good configuration for the Cygnus Reboost. ERA is located on MLM and is the intended to be the primary equipment for servicing the electromechanical systems on the Russian Segment once it completes commissioning.
Payloads:
EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments for Space Station Racks (EXPRESS Rack): Crew performed the Common Laptop Software (CLS) 14 installation setup on EXPRESS Laptop Computer 1 (ELC-1). The EXPRESS Racks support science experiments in any discipline by providing structural interfaces, power, data, cooling, water, and other items needed to operate science experiments in space.
ISS Ham Radio: An ISS HAM contact was initiated with Eaton Public Library, Eaton, CO. 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 about 9 minutes to ask crew members 10 to 20 questions.
NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer-21 (NRCSD-21): NRCSD-21 launchers were searched for again and found in the PMM (Permanent Multipurpose Module), as they are scheduled to return on SpX-25. The NRCSD is a self-contained CubeSat deployer system that mechanically and electrically isolates CubeSats and has been in operation since 2014. NRCSD-21 will be launching Cooling, Annealing, and Pointing Satellite (CAP Sat), Puerto Rico CubeSat NanoRocks-2 (PR-CuNa R2), and Science Program around Communications Engineering with High Achieving Undergraduate Cadres (SPACE HAUC).
Wireless Compose-2: A crewmember donned the Wireless Compose-2 SmartTex-2 shirt, executed the experiment run and completed a questionnaire. The main scientific goal of the Wireless Communication Network (Wireless Compose-2) investigation is to provide a flexible and adaptable wireless network infrastructure to conduct and execute low-power, light-weight, and wireless experiments on the ISS. For this demonstration, Wireless Compose-2 operates several experiments, including an experiment to examine the impact of the space environment on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, Wireless Compose-2 demonstrates the ability of newly developed impulse radio ultra-wide band (IR-UWB) hardware to enable precise localization applications and to analyze the energy harvesting potential on the ISS.
eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS): Fluid from Root Modules was recirculated back into Fluids Reservoir and the wicks were examined and opened when required. 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:
SpaceX Crew Dragon Emergency Response Training: Today, the Freedom crew reviewed the emergency departure and contingency considerations as well as the free-flight depress and fire response for the SpaceX Crew Dragon Vehicle. The onboard reviews will make sure the crew’s training is fresh in the event there is an emergency on the space station. Tomorrow, the crew will perform a deorbit entry and landing contingencies refresher.
Columbus Smoke Detector Inspection and Cleaning: The crew inspected and successfully cleaned the Columbus smoke detectors #1 and #2. The smoke detector samples the atmosphere for particles that might correspond to smoke from a fire. The smoke detectors sample the atmosphere within racks and in the open cabin and determine the amount of smoke using a light sensing sampling chamber or probe and rely on forced airflow to propagate any smoke particles that may be present in the atmosphere.
JEM and US Lab Window Inspection: The crew performed a JEM and US lab window inspections during which they documented contamination (smudges, particulates) and damage (scratches, cracks) that were on the window pane surfaces. Emphasis was placed on the exterior surface of the debris pane and interior surface of the pressure pane. Window inspections are performed on a routine basis to monitor window conditions.
Hatch Seal Inspection: As part of periodic maintenance, the crew cleaned and inspected the USOS hatch seals and hatch plate sealing surface for Node 3 Forward and PMM Aft. The crew inspected the hatch seal beads for FOD, nicks, burrs, cuts, or gouges that would impair a proper seal. The crew also inspected the crank handle mechanism and hatch seal interlocking joints for foreign object debris (FOD) or damage. The crew removed dust with ac vacuum and hatch seal brush.
Crew Handover Video: Today, the crew recorded videos for future crew handovers and pre-flight familiarization to help crew adjust to ISS daily life. In the recording, the crew gave tips for the life onboard, setting up Public Affair Events (PAOs), exercising, IT onboard, and any other topics at the crew’s discretion.
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Payload Rack Officer Fluids Integrated Rack Activation Commanding
Crew Dragon System Checkout
Node 3 Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Zero Calibration
ERA operations complete by MCC-M
Look Ahead Plan
Thursday, June 23 (GMT 174)
Payloads:
BioLab Rotor Belt Swap and Experiment Container Install (ESA)
Phospho-Aging Inserts (JAXA)
Repository Urine Collect and Blood Setup (NASA)
Systems:
WHC Urine Receptacle (UR) and Insert Filter (IF) Remove and Replace
Laptop Cargo Transfer Bag Reorganize
Crew Handover Video
Friday, June 24 (GMT 175)
Payloads:
CAL MTL Jumper Leak Check (NASA)
CBEF MHU Reconfigure and Fan Checkout (JAXA)
Phospho-Aging Inserts (JAXA)
Repository Urine and Blood Collect (NASA)
SOFIE T/S (NASA)
SVGS Test Ops (NASA)
Toilet Acoustic Survey (NASA)
XROOTS Fluid Recovery, Harvest (NASA)
Systems:
Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) Audit
Nanoracks Airlock Trash Organize
Photo/TV D5 Camera Sensor Cleaning
Saturday, June 25 (GMT 176)
Payloads:
CEO Ops (NASA)
Systems:
Crew Off Duty
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Airlock VRIV Inspection and Stowage Assessment
Columbus Smoke Detectors 1 and 2 Inspection and Cleaning
Crew Handover Recordings for Daily Crew-Life
Recording of Handovers for Daily Crew-Life
Air Quality Monitor (AQM) Powercycle
Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Deployment Operations
Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations
EXPRESS Rack CLS Software Start and Finish
Holoportation Medical Demo
Hatch Seal Inspection
ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood
ISS Node 3 Aft 2 Audit
JEM Fire Indicator Illumination Function Checkout
JPM Window Inspection – Fwd and Aft Window
LAB Window Inspection
LIDAL Temporary Move and Reinstall
NRCSD Hardware Locate
SpX-CREW DRAGON Free Flight Contingencies and Emergencies Refresher
SpX-CREW DRAGON Free-Flight Depress Response Refresher
SpX-CREW DRAGON Free-Flight Fire Response Refresher
Photo/TV Inspired Energy Battery Charger Deploy
Photo/TV 10.5mm Lens Trashing
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Social Media Event
Holoportation Gather and Charge
Station Support Computer 8/12 Hard Drive Swap
Urine Transfer System Backup EDV Swap
Wireless Compose-2 SmartTex-2 Shirt Doffing
Wireless Compose-2 SmartTex-2 Shirt Donning & Experiment Execution
LAB Window Inspection Review and Setup
XROOTS Water Refill
XROOTS Seed Cartridge Inspection and Wick Open
