NASA Space Station Status Report 24 May, 2022 – Starliner Set For Wednesday Departure

NASA astronauts living aboard the International Space Station closed the hatch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft at 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 25.
The uncrewed spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously undock from the space station to begin the journey home at 2:36 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 25. NASA and Boeing are targeting 6:49 p.m. for the landing and conclusion of Orbital Flight Test-2, wrapping up a six-day mission testing the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system.

Teams are targeting White Sands Space Harbor at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico as the primary landing site, with a backup White Sands opportunity Friday, May 27. The spacecraft will return with more than 600 pounds of cargo, including Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System reusable tanks that provide breathable air to station crew members. The tanks will be refurbished on Earth and sent back to station on a future flight.

NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website will continue provide live coverage of the upcoming return activities for OFT-2 Wednesday, Thursday, May 25, as Starliner prepares to undock and return to Earth. Return coverage on NASA TV is as follows and all times are subject to change based on mission operations (all times are Eastern):

Wednesday, May 25

2 p.m. – TV coverage begins for the 2:36 p.m. undocking. NASA will break coverage after the spacecraft exits joint operations with the space station.

5:45 p.m. – Coverage begins for 6:05 p.m. deorbit burn and 6:49 p.m. landing in the western United States.

9 p.m. – Return to Earth news conference on NASA TV from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston:

Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
Joel Montalbano, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
Suni Williams, NASA astronaut
Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Boeing

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF-L): The CBEF-L Motor Power Cable connections were swapped with the CBEF-L Motor Signal Cable connections in order to narrow down the turn table issue in the CBEF-L Incubator Unit. CBEF-L is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (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.

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): The connection of the CIR I/O Processor Cable #1 was inspected to ensure a proper seating as part of communication troubleshooting efforts. The CIR includes an optics bench, combustion chamber, fuel, and oxidizer control, and five different cameras for performing combustion investigations in microgravity.

DEvice for the study of Critical LIquids and Crystallization – Directional Solidification Insert-Reflight (DECLIC DSI-R):The DSI-R insert was installed. DECLIC is used to study crystal growth in transparent liquids. The DSI portion of DECLIC observes clear alloys that freeze like metals in microgravity. By providing real-time views of the crystal structures that form in the liquid, DECLIC-DSI sheds light on the physics that control the formation of solid materials.

Iceberg: The NanoRacks Module 102 was inserted into the Iceberg cold stowage facility. Iceberg is a Double Locker equivalent designed for EXPRESS Rack operation and provides additional cold stowage resources aboard the ISS. The units provide an operating range of -95°C to +4°C.

Metabolic Space: The AA batteries used for Metabolic Space sessions were removed, trashed and the Thermolab Kit was stowed in its final location. The aim of the Metabolic Space experiment is to perform a technology demonstration of cardio-pulmonary diagnosis in space during physical activities of astronauts living aboard the International Space Station, while maintaining unrestricted mobility. This is achieved with a wearable measurement system that is directly worn by an astronaut.

Surface Avatar: The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) setting was configured on the laptop and a software load was installed. The Surface Avatar hardware was setup. Several properties of the orbit-to-ground scenario are also applicable to terrestrial operation. For example, a high-latency data connection, the mix of structured and unstructured environments, and the types of tasks (e.g., traversing, manipulation of mechanical parts) are characteristic to scenarios such as arctic exploration, search and rescue in disaster zones and under-sea maintenance. Insights from these studies will be also applicable here. For example, gravity and wind act on objects on a planet’s surface which are not felt on orbit. In a similar way, when operating an object underwater, buoyancy, lift and drag forces act on the object which are not found in the operator’s environment.

Systems:

Orbital Flight Test 2 (OFT-2) Crew Space Transportation (CST-100) Hatch Closure Activities: The crew configure CST-100 for hatch closure by performing an egress and leak check. The crew closed the CST-100 intravehicular activity (IVA), Androgynous Peripheral Assembly System (APAS), and Node 2 hatches. The crew then performed a vestibule depressurization and a leak check of the IDA vestibule between the PMA and CST-100. The OFT-2 undocking is scheduled for tomorrow at 01:36 p.m. CT and landing at 5:49 p.m. CT.

OFT-2 Undock & Departure Monitoring Setup: Today, the crew setup to monitor the CST-100 undock operations in the Cupola and Node 3. The crew configured and checked out the CST-100 docking monitor application and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Program (RPOP). The monitoring laptops were configured in the Cupola, Node 3, and the Lab for undocking tomorrow.

ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) Maintenance Activities: Today, the crew prepared the EVA Helmet Interchangeable Portable Light (EHIP) for return on SpX-25 by removing the HD EMU camera assembly and other hardware and replaced it. The crew also degassed four Iodinated Contingency Water Container (CWC-I) in the EVA suits. The CWC-I degas will prepare the containers for consolidation in a later activity.

Boeing OFT-2 Cargo Transfer Activities: Today, the crew completed cargo operations in preparation for OFT-2 return tomorrow. The crew moved cargo out of CST-100, loaded cargo for return, and took photos of the cargo configuration as well as other areas of interest.

Completed Task List Activities:

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

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Hover Maneuver
Crew Dragon System Checkout
PRO CHeCS Commanding
Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, May 25 (GMT 145)
Payloads:

Astrobee Perch Arm Removal (NASA)
AstroPi Night Setting (ESA)
ECHO Maintenance Setup (ESA)
ELC2 RR File Transfer (NASA)
Repository Urine Collect (NASA)
Standard Measures Blood Setup (NASA)
Transparent Alloy Switch T/S (ESA)
XROOTS Fluid Recovery (NASA)
Systems:

OFT-2 Undock Activities
Express Rack 1 AAA Vent Inspection
Oxygen Generation Assembly Pump ORU Stow
Thursday, May 26 (GMT 146)
Payloads:

Astrobee Stowage Clear (NASA)
Cerebral Autoregulation Setup (JAXA)
Repository Urine Collect (NASA)
Robo Pro Challenge-3 Tech Rehearsal (JAXA)
Standard Measure Blood Collect and Presleep Questions (NASA)
XROOTS Plant Check (NASA)
Systems:

EVA Helmet Swish Test
EVA Helmet Water Flow Test
Transfer CST-100 Cargo Operations
Friday, May 27 (GMT 147)
Payloads:

Astrobee Prep and Stowage Replace (NASA)
AstroPi Relocate to COL and Camera Pointing & Imagery (ESA)
CAL MTL Jumper Leak Check (NASA)
Cerebral Autoregulation Measurement & Closeout (JAXA)
HRF1 Supply Inventory (NASA)
Optical NAV (Moon Imagery) Camera Ops (NASA)
POLAR-5 Transfer (NASA)
SABL-2 CO2 Cntl Valve (NASA)
Standard Measures Postsleep Question (NASA)
XROOTS Fluid Recovery (NASA)
ZR Units Test Ops (NASA)
Systems:

Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurement Survey
Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cable Arm Rope (CAR) Install
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Contingency Water Container – Iodinated (CWC-I) Consolidate [Deferred]
On-Board Training (OBT) CST-100 OFT Conference [Deferred]
Surface Avatar Robotic Control Terminal [Deferred]
On-Board Training (OBT) CST-100 OFT-2 Undocking Departure
Cargo Transfer from ISS to CST-100
Cell Biology Experiment Facility Left (CBEF-L) Motor Power and Signal Cable Reconfiguration
CIR Cable Inspection
Combustion Integrated Rack Rack Doors Open and Close
CST Switch Panel Verification
CST Tablet Preparation
CST-100 Hatch Closure
CST-100 Photo Transfer and Downlink
CST-100/Node 2 Vestibule Depressurization
DECLIC Directional Solidification Insert Installation & Express Rack Power and Data Cable Installation
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Helmet Light Prep
EVA CWC-I (Iodinated Contingency Water Container) Degas
Flight Test Objective (FTO) CST-100 Crew Feedback Conference
Flight Test Objective (FTO) Tablet Evaluation
Glacier Desiccant Swap
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Vision
HMS Vision Test Stow
HRF Generic Urine Collection
Iceberg Desiccant Activity
IMS delta file prep
MELFI 2 Ice Brick Gather
Polar 3 Science Activity
Setup for Monitoring CST-100 Undock & Departure Operations
Standoff Cross Install and Androgynous Peripheral Docking System (APAS) Hatch Closure
Surface Avatar Big Picture Words reading
Surface Avatar Laptop Software Setup
Treadmill MTL Hose Inspection
Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap
Vestibule Barrier Assembly Reseat