NASA Space Station Status Report 7 June, 2022 – Hearing Checks, Radiation Protection, and Space Botany
A variety of research operations were on the schedule for the Expedition 67 crew today including hearing checks, radiation protection, and space botany.
The four astronauts and three cosmonauts also focused on cargo operations and International Space Station maintenance throughout the day.
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than June 28 for the launch of the cargo Dragon spacecraft flight, designated CRS-25, to the International Space Station, pending variables, including availability on the Eastern Range and space station scheduling. The joint teams stood down from a launch attempt this week after elevated vapor readings were measured during propellant loading of the Dragon.
Flight Engineers Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) and Kjell Lindgren of NASA took turns monitoring the noise levels they are exposed to while working on the orbiting lab. Cristoforetti attached the Acoustic Diagnostics device to herself in the morning capturing and recording sound level data. She then handed over the audio hardware to Lindgren in the afternoon so he could begin his acoustic monitoring session.
NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins tried on the AstroRad radiation protection vest Tuesday morning. The specialized vest is being tested for its ability to protect against solar particle events while providing comfort during normal station activities.
NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines was back on gardening duty as he replaced seed cartridges and tended to radishes and mizuna greens growing for the XROOTS space botany study. Hines and Watkins then partnered together in the afternoon for packing activities inside the Cygnus space freighter ahead of its departure planned for late June.
Cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Sergey Korsakov continued their exercise research today learning how to maximize the effectiveness of a workout in microgravity. The duo then split up and serviced a variety of communications and life support gear. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Denis Matveev started his day with an Earth photography session then moved on to cargo transfer tasks inside the Progress 80 resupply ship docked to the Poisk module.
On-Orbit Status Report
Payloads:
AstroPi: Following the completion of the European AstroPi Challenge ‘Mission Zero’, the AstroPi Vis unit was returned to its default configuration and position. Two augmented Raspberry Pi computers (called AstroPis) were flown to the ISS and are both equipped with the mighty Sense Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) that measures the environment inside the ISS, detects how the station moves through space, and picks up the Earth’s magnetic field. Each AstroPi is also equipped with different types of cameras: one has an IR camera, and the other has a standard visible spectrum camera.
AstroRad Vest: The AstroRad vest was donned, worn for several hours during daily activities, doffed and a questionnaire filled out. Comfort and Human Factors AstroRad Radiation Garment Evaluation (CHARGE) tests a special vest designed to protect astronauts from radiation caused by unpredictable Solar Particle Events (SPEs). Astronauts provide input on the garment as they wear it while performing daily tasks, including how easy it is to put on, how it fits and feels, and the range of motion it allows. Garment developers can use this input to improve design, and the use of the vest will protect crew members on missions to the Moon and Mars.
Acoustic Diagnostics: The Acoustic Diagnostic instrument hardware was setup, calibrated and measurements were recorded. Following this, a questionnaire was filled out on the EveryWear device. The Acoustic Upgraded Diagnostics In-Orbit (Acoustic Diagnostics) investigation tests the hearing of ISS crew members before, during, and after flight. This study assesses the possible adverse effects of noise and the microgravity environment aboard the ISS on human hearing. The investigation compares the relationship between the detection of otoacoustic emissions, sounds naturally generated from within the inner ear, and hearing loss levels when exposed to noisy environments.
Nutrition Monitoring for the International Space Station (NutrISS): In support of the NutrISS investigation, an ESA Nutritional Assessment (ENA) was performed. In the NutrISS investigation, a periodic assessment of body composition (body weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass) during spaceflight aboard the ISS is carried out using a dedicated bio-impedance analysis device to allow for the measurement of long-term energy balance modification over time. It is hypothesized that an adjusted diet maintaining a near-neutral energy balance, and/or increasing protein, intake can limit microgravity-induced bone and muscle loss.
eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS): Last week, several seed cartridges were trashed in Root Module 1 (RM1) due to observed microbial growth. Today, new Cherry Belle Radish and Tokyo Cabbage seed cartridges were installed to allow plant growth RM1 to begin. The crew also opened the wicks in RM3. 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:
Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) Oxygen Transfer Termination and Initiation: Today, the crew installed the NORS O2 Recharge Tank and transferred oxygen to the ISS Airlock oxygen tanks via equalization. The NORS tanks are used for the gas transfer into either the external airlock tanks or directly into the internal N2/O2 lines for gas usage.
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Hard Upper Torso (HUT) Scrubber Deconfiguration: The crew removed the HUT Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Scrubber from a spare HUT, which is used to scrub and iodinate the spare HUT water lines. This will close out the Loop Scrub activities the crew performed yesterday for EMUs 3004 and 3015.
In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Hatch Seal Inspection: As part of periodic maintenance, the crew cleaned and inspected the USOS Hatch Seals and Hatch Plate Sealing Surface for the Node 1 Aft hatch. The crew also inspected the Crank Handle Mechanism, Hatch Seal Interlocking Joints and PMM Hatch Kicker Pins for foreign object debris (FOD) or damage.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Audit: The crew performed an audit of the PPE Warehouse located in PMA1 to ensure that all the safety equipment was there and accessible. The PPE warehouse is where all the spare PPE equipment is stowed and can be used to restock other PPE kits as necessary.
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Xoi SSC System Service Pack Deploy
Deactivation and Re-activation of the Four Bed CO2 Scrubber
Atmosphere Revitalization System (ARS) Lab Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Zero Calibration
Look Ahead Plan
Wednesday, June 8 (GMT 159)
Payloads:
Astrobee Prep
AstroRad Vest
KUBIK
MSG/Transparent Alloys Stow
NutrISS
Wireless Compose-2
XROOTS Manual Fluid Recover
Systems:
ARED Slider Assembly R&R
Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurement Survey
Hatch Seal Inspection – Lab (Fwd, Aft), N2 (Aft, Zenith)
Cupola Window #7 Scratch Pane Installation
Thursday, June 9 (GMT 160)
Payloads:
Astrobee
Astrorad Vest
CBEF-L
GHF Checkout
NutrISS
Systems:
NRAL Unstow
Node 3 Endcone Stowage Cleanout/Replace
Emergency RS ISS VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS
Friday, June 10 (GMT 161)
Payloads:
Biofilms BPW Review
CAL MTL Jumper Check
Mochii Review/Prep
Touching Surfaces Prep for Mochii
Suture in Space BPW Review
XROOTS
Systems:
Food Consolidate
Hatch Seal Inspection – Node 2 Forward
EVA Battery Operations Terminal Autocycle Terminate
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Acoustic Diagnostics Data Copy
Acoustic Diagnostics EveryWear Questionnaire
Acoustic Diagnostics Instrument Deinstallation and Stowage
Acoustic Diagnostics Instruments Set-Up
Acoustic Diagnostics Operations – Calibration and Measurement
Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer and Stow
Acoustic Monitor Equipment Swap
Acoustic Monitor Static Deploy for PMD operations
Apply RFID Tags to iPads
AstroRad Vest Don and Doff
ASTRORAD Vest Survey 1
Atmospheric Control System (ACS) Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) Oxygen Transfer Initiation and Termination
Brine Cargo Transfer Bag Reorganization
Cell Biology Experiment Facility – Left Mouse Habitat Unit Cage and Interface Unit Removal
Cell Biology Experiment Facility Left (CBEF-L) Motor Power and Signal Cable Reconfiguration 2
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 System (T2) Monthly Inspection
Dragon SpX-25 Prepack
Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Portable Emergency Provisions (PEPS) Inspection
EVA Battery Operations Terminal Initiation
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Hard Upper Torso (HUT) Scrubber Deconfiguration
Hatch Seal Inspection
Installs Li-Ion Batteries into Battery Stowage Compartment
ISS HAM Kenwood Radio Power Up and Power Down in Columbus
NutrISS – ESA Nutritional Assessment
Payloads Network Attached Storage (NAS) HDD Reseat
PPE Audit
Radio Frequency Identification Logistics Reader Troubleshooting
Restoring the AstroPi Default Configuration.
Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations
Vacuum System (VS) LAB1P4 Route
Wanted – Temp/Humidity Logger
XROOTS Seed Cartridge Remove and Replant
XROOTS Status Check
