NASA Space Station Status Report 8 March, 2022 – Eye Research
A full day of eye research and treadmill maintenance kept the Expedition 66 crew members busy on Tuesday.
Two crew mates also had a light duty day aboard the International Space Station ahead of their return to Earth at the end of the month.
Three astronauts worked throughout the day continuing to research how living in space affects eye structure and visual function. NASA Flight Engineers Raja Chari and Kayla Barron were assisted by ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer in the Kibo laboratory module to help doctors understand why some astronauts have reported vision issues in microgravity and after returning to Earth. Results may help doctors develop treatments for eye conditions experienced by astronauts and Earthlings.
NASA Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn spent Tuesday working in the Tranquility module servicing the COLBERT treadmill. He started with a visual inspection before aligning components on the exercise device to ensure it remained centered inside Tranquility. COLBERT was delivered to the orbital lab over 12 years ago aboard space shuttle Discovery.
Two crew members had minimal duties on Tuesday as they near the end of their 355-day mission. NASA Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov are due to return to Earth on March 30 just 10 days short of a one-year stay on the space station. Vande Hei set up a camera for an ongoing archaeological experiment aboard the station while Dubrov conducted inspections in the Russian segment. The duo will ride alongside Commander Anton Shkaplerov, who has been aboard the station since October, inside the Soyuz MS-19 crew ship.
Shkaplerov will be completing his fourth space station mission, while Vande Hei will land with the NASA single spaceflight record surpassing astronaut Scott Kelly’s record of 340 days set back in 2016. Dubrov will be completing his first spaceflight.
On-Orbit Status Report
Payloads:
Electromagnetic Levitator (EML): The various helium and argon gas valves were cycled to verify correct routing of gas hoses. EML is a multi-user facility that provides containerless melting and solidification of electrically conductive, spherical samples, under ultra-high vacuum and/or high purity gas environments. Heating and positioning of the sample is achieved by electromagnetic fields generated by a coil system. The EML supports research in the field of meta-stable states and phases and in the field of measurement of highly accurate thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys in the stable and undercooled state.
UNIGLO (Universal Intelligent Glass Optics): Lab camera 2 orientation was performed to point the camera at the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) work volume. This was done in support of the UNIGLO experiment, which is currently installed in the MSG and performing calibrations. 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.
Rodent Research-18 (RR-18): The appropriate experiment hardware was set up earlier in the week, and the RR-18 activities continued today. 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.
Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE): The crew took photos of the SQuARE experiment sites located in the Node 1 Galley, JEM, Columbus, Node 2, and the US Lab. SQuARE is an investigation that aims to document items within six defined locations around the ISS over time. The idea is to look at the ISS as an archaeological site, and each of the Squares as a “test pit”.
Systems:
Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 System (T2) Activities: As a result of findings from monthly regular maintenance to ensure the T2 exercise device is in good operational condition, the crew inspected the T2 Vibration Isolation System (VIS) components for any off-nominal hardware conditions. The crew aligned the T2 snubbers and centered the T2 rack using the T2 isolators and performed a tool fit check of the rack sway space. These activities were performed in order to correct a misalignment with the snubber pins and return T2 to operating condition. T2 is now Go for use.
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Oxygen Generation Assembly Pump ORU Sample: As part of preventive maintenance, the crew sampled the OGA Pump ORU. Crewmembers took a 20mL sample from a spare OGA Pump ORU on the Maintenance Work Area (MWA), and then prepped additional hardware for a sample flush and temperary stow.
Completed Task List Activities:
None
Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
EFU 4 Capture Latch Close
JEMRMS Deactivation
JEM Exposed Facility Unit Heater Deactivation
JEM Airlock Deactivation
Look Ahead Plan
Wednesday, March 9 (GMT 68)
Payloads:
AWP setup
CCU ops
CIMON
CIR/SOFIE config (on-going)
EasyMotion/CEVIS
Food Acceptability
NREP slide table Module-13 install
NutrISS
Rodent Research-18
SCEM items gather
SQuARE
TangoLab CubeLab t/s
UNIGLO Probe exchange
Systems:
Emer Air Supply Assembly Finish
iWatch Charge for SpX CREW DRAGON
EVA ELL Install
EMU ECWS On-Board Training
WPA Sample Collection
Restore setting of VCA2
High Definition Video Camera Assembly 2 Activation in High Definition Mode
High Definition Video Camera Assembly 2 Switch to SD Mode
VRT EVA SAFER
SpX-CREW DRAGON Free Flight Contingencies and Emergencies Refresher
SpX-CREW DRAGON Deorbit Entry and Landing Contingencies Refresher
ECLSS PEPS Inspection
Remove SpX-CREW DRAGON iWatch from charger
Thursday, March 10 (GMT 69)
Payloads:
BCM-ROBoT
CCU ops
EXPRESS laptop 5 USB drive insert
LSG front glove swap
MSPR Cold Plate check
MSRR/MSL SCA exchange B3 #19
RR-18 LSG cleanup
SCEM Work Volume install
SQuARE
Touching Surfaces
UNIGLO probe exchange
Systems:
Photo/TV EVA Camera Configuration
EVA #1 Procedure Review for Extravehicular Crew
Insert/Remove USB thumb drive into/from PL NAS and Label
EVA LREBA OPS TERM
Photo/TV EVA Camera Configuration
EMU Swap
IWIS RSU Pre-gather/Re-install
EMU Resize
EVA Airlock Unstow
EVA Procedure Conference
IMS Conference
SSC 10 and 20 Swap
Transfer Hardware to Russian Segment
Friday, March 11 (GMT 70)
Payloads:
APM Node 3 install
BCM-ROBoT
CAL MTL leak check
CIMON t/s
CIR/ SOFIE insert config 2
EasyMotion/T2
Food Physiology
HRF PC1 software update
J-FROST-2 CCU2 install
LSG cleanup/config
Payload hardware trash
Retinal Diagnostics
SCEM insert
Space Biofilms-2 plate fixation
SQuARE
Systems:
SAFER Checkout
REBA Powered Hardware Checkout
EVA Cuff Checklist Print
JEM Stowage Consolidation
IFM WHC Pre-Treat Tank R&R/Fill
EVA Tool Configuring
Photo TV GoPro Setup
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Partial Off Duty: International Women’s Day
T2 Vibration Isolation System (VIS) Inspection
JEM Stowage Consolidation
LSG Primary Crew Restraint Unfold/Fold
Treadmill 2 (T2) Snubber Pin Alignment
Treadmill 2 (T2) Rack Centering
LSG-Front Glove-Swap
Rodent Research Fixative Swap
EML. Opening gas valves
SQuARE Flexible Daily Imagery
Rodent Research Ops
Photo/TV Treadmill 2 (T2) Activation & Checkout (ACO) Video Setup/Stow
In Flight Maintenance Oxygen Generation Assembly Pump ORU Sample
Rodent Research Cold Carrier Retrieve from POLAR
Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure
Rodent Research Cryo Chiller Insert
HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude
RR Cryo Chiller Sample Transfer to MELFI
Rodent Research MELFI Insert
Rodent Research Cold Carrier Dry Out
Rodent Research Access Unit Clean
Intelligent Glass Optics US Lab Camcorder Orientation
Crew Choice Event
