NASA Space Station Status Report 3 March, 2022 – Preparing for the Next Spacewalk
Two NASA astronauts are assembling gear today they will install on the International Space Station during an upcoming spacewalk.
The rest of the Expedition 66 crew focused on life science, space physics gear, and orbital maintenance.
NASA Flight Engineers Raja Chari and Kayla Barron began assembling modification kits today to ready the station’s truss structure for new roll-out solar arrays during the first spacewalk. The roll-out solar arrays will be delivered on an upcoming SpaceX Cargo Dragon mission and installed at a later date. The duo will set their U.S. spacesuits to battery power at 7:50 a.m. on March 15, signifying the beginning of their planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk. The second spacewalk on March 23 will see more roll-out solar array preparations by two yet to be named astronauts.
Roll-out solar array technology will not only augment the space station’s existing solar arrays and power system, they will also be used to power the Lunar Gateway. Gateway is a space station developed by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, ESA (European Space Agency), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency that will orbit the Moon and will serve as a hub for crew visiting the lunar surface and beyond. Gateway will enable new scientific investigations in the cis-lunar environment during crewed and uncrewed periods.
As usual, science is always ongoing aboard the space station, both remotely and with astronaut participation, as crew members explored how microgravity affects human physiology on Thursday. NASA Flight Engineers Mark Vande Hei and Tom Marshburn partnered together in the Kibo laboratory module to study what happens to eye structure and visual function in weightlessness. Research operations were conducted inside the Life Science Glovebox and may provide insights and inform treatments for eye conditions in space and on Earth.
Astronaut Matthias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency) collected his urine samples and stowed them in a science freezer for future analysis to understand how his body is adapting to the space environment. Maurer then moved on and replaced parts inside the Electromagnetic Levitator, a physics research facility that enables safe, high-temperature observations of the thermophysical properties of metallic alloys.
Vande Hei reached 328 days in space today passing NASA astronaut Christina Koch’s record set back on Feb. 6, 2020. He will break NASA’s all-time single spaceflight record of 340 days on March 15 set by NASA astronaut Scott Kelly back on March 1, 2016. Vande Hei will return to Earth on March 30 having achieved a NASA record-breaking 355 days on orbit.
Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos was on duty on Thursday replacing life support gear in the station’s Russian segment. Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov worked on computer and video gear then checked thermal hardware in the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.
On-Orbit Status Report
Payloads:
Cryo Chiller: An ambient Sample Cartridge was installed into the Cryo Chiller volume. Cryo Chiller is a single Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) locker replacement unit which provides rapid freezing capability in support of biological sciences, as well as temperature-controlled transfer to/from the ISS on visiting vehicles.
Electromagnetic Levitator (EML): The EML Experiment Module (EXM) was opened, and the defective gas circulation pump was replaced. EML is a facility composed of four inserts installed into the European Drawer Rack (EDR) for the electromagnetic levitation of samples. The experiment samples are installed in a dedicated Sample Chamber that is attached to EML, and can be replaced by new Sample Chambers for new experiment batches.
Rodent Research-18 (RR-18): Rodent Operations were conducted, the access unit was cleaned, the habitat was restocked, and the upcoming ops procedures were reviewed by the crew. Astronauts returning from space can experience eye problems, along with headaches and blurred vision. Scientists suspect environmental conditions during spaceflight lead to oxidative stress that adversely affects the eye structure and function. Space Flight Environment Induces Remodeling of Vascular Network and Glia-vascular Communication in Mouse Retina (Rodent Research-18) investigates how spaceflight affects visual function, examining changes in the vascular system of the retina, tissue remodeling and cell-cell interactions in mice.
Standard Measures: A crewmember performed the cognition test and set up the fecal collection hardware. The aim of the investigation is to ensure consistent capture of an optimized, minimal set of measures from crewmembers until the end of the ISS Program in order to characterize the adaptive responses to and risks of living in space. Among other things, the ground teams perform analyses for metabolic and chemistry panels, immune function, microbiome, etc. 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.
Systems:
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation Activities: In preparation for the IROSA Prep 3A EVA currently scheduled for March 15th, the crew assembled the IROSA Mod Kit Left Lower Strut and Right Lower Strut, and the Center Mast Canister Pad onto Right Upper Strut. The IPA Mod Kit Strut Bag was also configured and stowed. This strut assembly will be installed during the IROSA Prep 3A EVA in order to facilitate installation of additional IROSA hardware later this year.
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
MSS Maneuver to Park and Powerdown
VxWorks Update
HTV PROX HTV MODE
Battery Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU) 4A2 Preemptive Refresh
HTV PROX GPS MODE
JEMRMS ACTIVATION/SFA Joint Zeroing
JEM Airlock and ACDU-RC Activation
JEM Airlock Slide Table Extension to/Retraction from JEF Side
JEM Airlock Capture Mechanism Release EFU Adapter
EFU Adapter berthing to EFU 11
Look Ahead Plan
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
Sunday, March 6 (GMT 65)
Payloads:
Square (NASA)
Systems:
Crew Off-Duty
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
HRF Generic Saliva Collection
HRF Generic Urine Collection
HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations
Cell Biology Experiment Facility – Left (CBEF-L) Item Gathering
EVA IROSA Strut Assembly
Cell Biology Experiment Facility – Left Mouse Habitat Unit Cage and Interface Unit Install
EML Experiment Module (EXM) Removal/Insertion
EML Gas Circulation Pump Exchange
Cell Biology Experiment Facility – Left Video Cable Connection to IPU2
Polar Unit Label
Standard Measures Cognition Testing
LSG Work Volume Deploy/Stow
Astrobee Off
Standard Measures Fecal Collection Setup
Polar3 Sample Remove
Polar MELFI Insert
SQuARES Flexible Daily Imagery
Cryo Chiller Sample Cartridge Installation
IMS delta file prep
Rodent Research Gather-4
Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference
Rodent Research Activity Review
Swap SSC (Station Support Computer) 10 and 20 Swap
LSG Primary Crew Restraint Unfold/Fold
Rodent Research Habitat Restock
Rodent Research Operations
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Modification (Mod) Kit Bag Preparation
Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations
LSG UV-C Decontamination System Remove
Rodent Research Access Unit Clean
Rodent Research Crew Conference
Flight Director/ISS CREW CONFERENCE
CCE Preparation
Crew Choice Event
Collapsible Contingency Urinal Crew First Use
