NASA Space Station Status Report 24 June, 2022 – Harvesting Radishes and Mizuna Greens

Human research and space botany were the main research activities aboard the International Space Station today helping NASA and its international partners keep astronauts healthy on long-term missions.
The seven Expedition 67 crew members also ensured the orbiting lab continues operating in tip-top shape at the end of the workweek.

NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren continued investigating why microgravity accelerates aging-like symptoms in humans. He processed blood and urine samples then stowed them in a science freezer for the Phospho-Aging study. Living in space affects molecular mechanisms that speed up the loss of bone and muscle mass. Results may inform countermeasures to keep astronauts healthier longer in space and improve the lives of aging citizens on Earth.

NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins began harvesting radishes and mizuna greens growing without soil for the XROOTS space gardening study today. The experiment uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow edible plants so future crews can sustain themselves on longer spaceflight missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines activated the Astrobee robotic free-flyers today to test their ability to autonomously navigate and maneuver inside the Kibo laboratory module using smartphone technology. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut spent her day servicing orbital plumbing components inside the Tranquility module.

In the station’s Russian segment, Commander Oleg Artemyev programmed a camera for an Earth observation study while Flight Engineer Denis Matveev transferred air and water from the Progress 81 cargo craft into the station. Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov closed out test operations of the European robotic arm then moved on to ventilation system work.

On Saturday, June 25, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft will perform its first limited reboost of the International Space Station. Cygnus’ gimbaled delta velocity engine will be used to adjust the space station’s orbit through a reboost of the altitude of the space station. This Cygnus mission is the first to feature this enhanced capability as a standard service for NASA, following a test of the maneuver which was performed in 2018 during Cygnus’ ninth resupply mission. Cygnus arrived to the orbital outpost in February and is slated to depart from space station Tuesday, June 28, where it will burn up harmlessly in the Earth’s atmosphere. NASA TV coverage for the unberthing will begin at 5:45 am EDT on NASA TV, the agency’s website, and the NASA app.

This reboost follows an initial attempted reboost on June 20 which was terminated early as a conservative measure due to system parameters that differed from Cygnus flight operations. Investigation by engineers showed that these parameters were acceptable for the reboost and the limits were adjusted for Saturday’s attempt.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF-L): The CBEF Vent Fan Cable Checkout was completed. CBEF-L is a JAXA new subrack facility, which is an upgraded facility of the original CBEF currently aboard the ISS. CBEF-L provides new capabilities with additional new resources such as Full High Definition video interface, Ethernet, 24 VDC power supply, and a larger diameter centrifugal test environment. By using the original CBEF and CBEF-L as one facility for the same experiment, the payload user is provided with an upgraded experimental environment that can handle the processing of more experimental samples for a wider array of experiments.

Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction – Growth and Extinction Limit (SoFIE-GEL): Troubleshooting efforts for the SoFIE rotating sample container was performed. The SoFIE-GEL investigation studies burning in microgravity, measuring the amount of heating in a fuel sample to determine how fuel temperature affects material flammability. The results could improve understanding of early fire growth behavior and help determine optimal fire suppression techniques, improving crew safety in future space facilities.

Smartphone Video Guidance Sensor (SVGS): SVGS LED Targets were installed onto specified JEM rack locations and the crew assisted the ground team in conducting science maneuvers. SVGS demonstrates the use of a photogrammetric vision-based technology for guidance, navigation, and control of a small spacecraft. Developed by NASA, the vision-based sensor computes the position and orientation vector of a target relative to a coordinate system attached to a camera in the host platform, in this case the ISS free-flying robot Astrobee. This demonstration consists of five maneuvers involving motion control and data capture for one, two, and three Astrobee robots.

Systems:

SpaceX Crew Dragon Emergency Response Training: Today, the Freedom crew reviewed the emergency deorbit entry and landing contingencies refresher. The onboard reviews will make sure the crew’s training is fresh in the event there is an emergency on the space station.

Toilet System Noise Survey: Today, the crew inspected locations on toilet where a pre-treat leak previously occurred and had since been cleaned. The toilet air filter was removed for photo inspections. The crew took acoustic measurements during toilet operation using acoustic monitor. This activity captures both sound level data for every second as well as an audio recording for the duration of the measurement. The purpose of the survey was to measure the acoustic environment in the habitable areas with and without the toilet acoustic cover sound abatement hardware to determining if the hardware is effective.

Nanoracks Airlock (NRAL) Trash Audit: Today, the crew audited trash that is expected to be loaded in the NRAL Trash Bag for disposal. The NRAL Airlock Trash Deploy is planned for July 2nd.

Completed Task List Activities:

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

Attitude Control System (ACS) Optimized Propellant Maneuver (OPM) Execution
HRF Rack 2 Rack Power Down Commanding
SOFIE Sample Holder Troubleshooting
PRO Basic EXPRESS Rack 9B Activation Commanding in Columbus
Look Ahead Plan

Saturday, June 25 (GMT 176)
Payloads:

CEO Ops (NASA)
Systems:

Off Duty Day, NG-17 Reboost
Sunday, June 26 (GMT 177)
Payloads:

Astrobee Off (NASA)
Systems:

Off Duty Day
Monday, June 27 (GMT 178)
Payloads:

NutrISS Measurement (ESA)
FSL Photo (ESA)
ELF Item Gather (JAXA)
Standard Measures Presleep (NASA)
XROOTS Nutrient Mix and Fill and 2nd Plant Install (NASA)
SAMS Screen Clean (NASA)
EarthKam Node 2 Setup (NASA)
CBEF-M Cage Remove (JAXA)
BCM Test (NASA)
CAL Jumper Leak Check (NASA)
Toilet Survey (NASA)
Systems:

Cygnus Egress
Cygnus/Node 1 Vestibule Configuration for Demate
Crew Handover Recordings for Daily Crew-Life
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Verify Node 1 VAP and Emergency MPEV position prior to opening VRIV
Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) Oxygen Manual Valve Open
Astrobee Stowage Prep, Clear, Replace, Check
Cold Atom Lab Jumper Leak Check
CASA Stowage Shuffle
CBEF Vent Fan Cable Checkout
CBEF Configuration Change for Mouse Mission
Lab P6 CCAA MFCV Redraw
CEVIS Control Panel Time Synchronization
Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) Audit
Swap SSC 20 and 22 Swap
Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer
Crew Active Dosimeter Deploy
Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Stow Operation
EXPRESS Rack CLS Software Start and Finish
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS EveryWear (EVW) Nutrition Tracking
HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Activities
HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion
HRF Generic Urine Collection Male and Stow
ISS Stowage Photo
Nanoracks Airlock Trash Audit
SpX-CREW Dragon Emergency Departure & CG considerations
Phospho-Aging MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations
Photo/TV D5 Camera Sensor Cleaning
Life on the station photo/video chronicle
SOFIE Sample Holder Troubleshooting
Smartphone Video Guidance Sensor Test Operations
Toilet Acoustic Cover Activities
Toilet Urine Transfer System Mate and demate
Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Brine Filter Changeout
CWC Fill from Wastewater Tank
XROOTS Plant Harvest First Growout
VECTOR-T. Still Camera Installation on Window #9.