NASA Space Station Status Report 4 March, 2022 – Researching How Microgravity Affects Eye Structure and Visual Function

The Expedition 66 crew is continuing its preparations for a pair of spacewalks at the International Space Station scheduled for later this month.
The seven orbital residents also pursued ongoing life science while maintaining operations at the orbital lab.

Three NASA astronauts and an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut participated in a fit check for a pair of U.S. spacesuits on Friday. Flight Engineers Raja Chari of NASA and Matthias Maurer of ESA started the work by readying spacesuits and tools inside the U.S. Quest airlock. In the afternoon, NASA Flight Engineers Mark Vande Hei and Tom Marshburn assisted the two astronauts as they verified the correct sizing of the suits ahead of a pair of spacewalks planned for March 15 and 23.

Vande Hei and Marshburn started their day pairing up inside the Kibo laboratory module researching how microgravity affects eye structure and visual function. The experiment that takes place in Kibo’s Life Science Glovebox and examines changes in the vascular system of the retina and tissue remodeling.

NASA Flight Engineer Kayla Barron took a break from today’s spacewalk preparations and installed computer hardware on combustion research gear located in the Kibo module. She also helped Vande Hei and Marshburn stow science gear after they wrapped up a half-a-day of visual function research.

Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos kept up this week’s maintenance in the station’s Russian segment as he replaced life support gear before checking on a space biology experiment. Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov focused on support work for a variety of electronics components and computer gear throughout the day.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Glovebox Freezer: The Glovebox Freezer was set up in the LSG in preparation of upcoming Rodent Research operations. The Glovebox Freezer integrates into the Life Science Glovebox (LSG) and Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) to provide rapid freeze capability in support of biological sciences.

Solid Combustion Experiment Module (SCEM): The SCEM CPU board was installed onto the power and communications unit. This new CPU is expected to recover the activation capability for the SCEM hardware. The SCEM is designed to acquire data on the limiting oxygen concentration that flame spread over solid fuels sustains. It is also possible to obtain the limiting electric current caused by self-ignition of the insulated wires due to short-circuit. Combustion characteristics of solid materials in the microgravity environment where no buoyancy-induced convection occurs will be identified, as well as the effect of gravity on the combustion limit of solid materials, through studies by SCEM.

Universal Intelligent Glass Optics (UNIGLO): The UNIGLO hardware setup was completed in the MSG with the setup of the internal cameras. 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:

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Mobility Unit (EMU) Preparation: In preparation for the iROSA Prep 3A EVA currently scheduled for March 15th, Equipment Lock (E-LK) Preparation activities were completed to prepare the equipment lock and EMUs for suit donning during On-orbit Fitcheck Verification (OFV). The crew then performed the OFV for the two suited crewmembers with the assistance of two intravehicular (IV) crewmembers. During the OFV, the crew donned their EMUs to ensure a proper fit before the upcoming EVA. Each EMU contains exchangeable components, allowing each astronaut to adjust EMU fit to their individual preference. It is important to ensure the EMU fits as expected before crew egress.

Completed Task List Activities:

EVA Tool Configuring
EasyMotion Imagery
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

JEMRMS EFU Adapter Stow
JEMRMS SFA maneuver to Joint Zero Position.
VxWorks Update
JEM Airlock and ACDU-RC Deactivation
ITCS Airlock LTL Flow Initiation/Terminate
IAS EVA OFV Communication Configuration/Deconfig
UHF 2 Activation/Deactivation
JPM PROX Range and Range rate CHECKOUT (Transponder mode) for B-String
HTV PROX Switch Ops
Look Ahead Plan

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
Monday, March 7 (GMT 66)
Payloads:

CIR Bench Configuration for SoFIE (NASA)
EasyMotion Charge (ESA)
GloveBox Freezer ECU Deploy (NASA)
IGO Lab Camera Orient (NASA)
CAL MTL Leak Chk (NASA)
CIR SOFIE Reconfiguration (NASA)
Square (NASA)
RR-18 Ops (NASA)
Systems:

Regenerative ECLSS Recycle Tank Drain/Fill
EVA BATT Removal
EVA LREBA Ops
EHS TOCA WRS Sample Analysis
Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap
Photo TV Battery Charge
IFM OGA Pump ORU Sample
Columbus HD-VCA2 R&R
Lab CCAA configuration crew steps for single CCAA operations
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

HRF Generic Saliva Collection
HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations
Standard Measures Ops
LSG Work Volume Deploy/Stow
EML Experiment Module (EXM) Cable Installation and Clean-Up
LSG Primary Crew Restraint Unfold/Fold
Glovebox Freezer – Life Science Glovebox – Setup
Solid Combustion (SCEM) Item Gathering
Solid Combustion (SCEM) CPU Install
Glovebox Freezer Leak Check
Rodent Research LSG Setup
Cold Atom Lab MTL Jumper Leak Check
NG-17 CD Transfer
Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Equipment Lock Preparation Part 1
Rodent Research Cold Carrier Cold Stowage Insert
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) On-orbit Fitcheck Verification (OFV) Extravehicular (EV) (IV)
Intelligent Glass Optics Hardware Install
Glovebox Freezer ECU Temp Stow
IMS Update
Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in JEM
DreamStar Hardware Operations
HTV PROX Switch OFF
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring
SQuARES Flexible Daily Imagery
Micro SD Card Exchange
EasyMotion Data Downlink
[aborted] CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE