NASA Space Station Status Report 9 August, 2022 – Microgravity Effects on Humans and Plants

Understanding how microgravity affects humans and plants is key to supporting not only astronauts on long-term space missions but also improving life on Earth.

The Expedition 67 crew explored those very subjects today while also working on U.S. cargo activities and checking Russian spacewalking gear aboard the International Space Station.

NASA Flight Engineers Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines worked a pair of different experiments on Tuesday with benefits for humans living on and off the Earth. Lindgren processed samples and explored how the immune system ages in microgravity to learn how to keep astronauts healthy on long term missions and treat immunity conditions on Earth. The two-time station visitor conducted the unique research operations using the Life Science Glovebox located in the Kibo laboratory module.

Hines replaced life support components inside the Plant Habitat, a space botany research device helping NASA and its international partners learn how to sustain crews on future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. He worked in the Harmony module swapping carbon dioxide bottles and filters inside the Plant Habitat ensuring ongoing commercial and fundamental plant experiments in weightlessness.

Astronauts Jessica Watkins of NASA and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) partnered together swapping cargo inside the SpaceX Dragon space freighter expected to depart the station in mid-August. Watkins also processed samples for an investigation exploring how space affects the skin healing process. Cristoforetti, on her second spaceflight, tested a specialized vest that wirelessly transmits health data then participated in a cognitive assessment aboard the orbiting lab.

Cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev continued maintenance on a pair of Russian Orlan spacesuits on Tuesday. The duo conducted leak checks and valve tests before testing the suit’s communications systems. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov photographed microbe samples growing inside the station’s Russian segment. Korsakov also continued ventilation maintenance inside the Nauka and Zvezda modules.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Immunosenescence: The fourth BioCell media exchange was performed for the Immunosenescence experiment. The media is replaced periodically as the cells consume the nutrients in the media and waste products accumulate. Microgravity as a Model for Immunological Senescence and its Impact on Tissue Stem Cells and Regeneration (Immunosenescence) studies the effects of microgravity on cells involved in tissue regeneration and whether recovery occurs post-flight. Results could provide insight into whether effects of the biological aging process can be reversed.

Kibo-Robot Programming Challenge 3: In preparation for the rehearsal session on Wednesday, the crew printed targets, powered on and/or docked the Astrobee free-fliers as needed, adjusted the JEM lighting, etc. The Kibo-Robot Programming Challenge 3 is an educational program in which students solve various given problems by using free-flying robots (NASA’s Astrobee and JAXA’s Internal Ball Camera) aboard the ISS. JAXA hosts this program in cooperation with NASA under the framework of the Japan-United States Open Platform Partnership Program (JP-US OP3). Robo-Pro Challenge 3 aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and world leaders by providing opportunities to learn cutting-edge methodologies in STEM subjects.

Plant Habitat (PHab) Facility: The crew continued the series of PHab maintenance activities by replacing the ethylene and carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubbers, CO2 bottles, filters, etc.  These activities are in preparation for the next plant experiment arriving on NG-18. The Advanced Plant Habitat (Plant Habitat) is a fully automated facility used to conduct plant bioscience research on the ISS. It occupies the lower half of the EXPRESS Rack and one powered ISIS drawer, providing a large, enclosed, environmentally controlled chamber.

Plasma Kristall-4: The crew exchanged the Plasma Kristall-4 experiment control system hard drive, and verified both system hard drives are located in the correct slots. PK-4 is a scientific collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), performing research in the field of Complex Plasmas (low temperature gaseous mixtures composed of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles). The micro-particles become highly charged in the plasma and interact strongly with each other, which can lead to a self-organized structure of the micro-particles, so-called plasma crystals. Experiments in the facility aim to study transport properties, thermodynamics, kinetics and statistical physics, and non-linear waves and instabilities in the plasmas.

Wireless Compose-2 (WiCo-2): The crew participated in a Ballistocardiography session using the WiCo-2 SmartTex-2 shirt. Ballistocardiography looks at body motion related to the pumping of blood by the heart. A questionnaire was also filled out to give feedback on the session. The main scientific goal of the WiCo-2 investigation is to provide a flexible and adaptable wireless network infrastructure to conduct and execute low-power, low-weight, and wireless experiments on the ISS. For this demonstration, WiCo-2 operates several experiments, including an experiment to examine the impact of the space environment on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, WiCo-2 demonstrates newly developed impulse radio ultra-wide-band (IR-UWB) hardware to enable precise localization applications and to analyze the energy harvesting potential on the ISS.

Systems:

Mobile Servicing Unit (MSS) Robotics Operations: Yesterday, MSS was powered up and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm 1 was maneuvered to stow the Robotic Micro Conical Tool (RMCT) 2 to the SPDM Tools Holster Assembly (THA). The Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) was maneuvered to stow the SPDM on Mobile Base System (MBS) Power and Data Grapple Fixture 2 (PDFG 2). The Mobile Transporter (MT) translated from Worksite 7 (WS 7) to WS6. After SSRMS joint diagnostics were performed nominally, the SSRMS was walked off from MBS PDGF 3 to the Node 2 PDGF. SPDM was unstowed from the MBS PDGF 2 before being maneuver to park, along with SSRMS. These maneuvers were performed in preparation for the survey of the SpX-25 Thermal Protection System (TPS) occurring today and tomorrow.

Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Maintenance: Today, the crew evacuated the ARED Cylinder Flywheel and Vacuum Slider track. The crew also tightened and torqued set screws within the ARED Cylinder Flywheel and Main Arm Fasteners.

Transfer Dragon Cargo Operations: The crew continued cargo operations by packing cargo into Cargo Dragon in preparation for SpX-25 undock.

Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test: The crew performed a monthly WinSCAT test. The test is a screen tool developed by NASA to monitor astronauts and their neuro-cognitive status while in space and alert NASA flight surgeons to any accuracy or reaction time changes in an astronaut’s performance. WinSCAT tests working memory, computational skills, attention, visual tracking and spatial processing.

Completed Task List Activities:

• None

Today’s Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

• Thermal Amine Scrubber (TAS) Vacuum Leak Check
• Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) 4 Half Cycles
• Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Survey of SPX-25
• Battery Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU) Firmware Load

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, August 10 (GMT 222)
Payloads:

• AWP
• FSL/SMD
• HRP/Repository Urine Collection
• Ice Cubes Exchange
• Immunosenescence Observation
• ISS Ham Pass
• J-SSOD-22 Install (Part 2 and 3)
• Ring Sheared Drop

Systems:

• EVA Battery Operations Terminal Terminate & Removal
• EVA Tool Transfer from USOS to the RS Segment
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• On-orbit Hearing Assessment (OOHA) Kuduwave Test
• HMS Tonometry Test Operations

Thursday, August 11 (GMT 223)
Payloads:

• Astrobee Off
• CAL GSC Sample
• HRP/Repository
• LSG Cleanup
• MERLIN Sample Transfer
• MSPR LT Cable Connect
• Plant Habitat Facility Maintenance
• XROOTS

Systems:

• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• In-Flight Maintenance PrK IWIS RSU Cable Swap
• On-orbit Hearing Assessment (OOHA) Kuduwave Test
• CWC-Iodine Fill Initialization and Teardown

Friday, August 12 (GMT 224)
Payloads:

• Butterfly IQ USND
• CAL MTL Jumper Check
• Cold Stowage DCB Gather
• ELT2 Cable Connect
• Iceberg Drawer T/S
• HRP/Repository
• J-SSOD-22 Deploy
• LSG Ops
• Lumina Data Transfer
• POLAR Transfers
• Thermal Amine Scrubber

Systems:

• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• T2 SSC Adapter Connection
• Photo/TV ARED Operations
• JEM WIS RSU Battery Replace

Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

• Acoustic Monitor Battery Swap
• Acoustic Monitor Setup for Crew Worn Measurements
• Astrobee Prep
• Cell Biology Experiment Facility(CBEF) Turn Table stopper Unlock
• Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
• HRF Generic Urine Collection Setup
• Iceberg Desiccant Swap
• Immunosenescence Media Change Ops
• Immunosenescence MELFI Sample Retrieve
• Immunosenescence SABL Insert
• LSG Primary Crew Restraint Fold
• [not statused] LSG Primary Crew Restraint Unfold
• LSG Work Volume Deploy
• [not statused] LSG Work Volume Stow
• PK-4 system hard drives exchange
• Plant Habitat Dual MWA Preparation
• Plant Habitat Facility Prep Operations
• Plant Habitat Hardware Gather
• Program Management/ISS Crew Conference
• Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in Columbus
• Ring-Sheared Drop MELFI Sample Retrieve
• RS and USOS voice loop check
• Target 1 and Target 2 Printing for Event Rehearsal
• Transfer Crew Dragon Cargo Operations
• Water Refill Kit Habitat H2O Fill
• Water Transfer from CWC-I to ЕДВ
• Wireless Compose-2 Questionnaire
• Wireless Compose-2 SmartTex-2 Shirt Donning, Experiment Execution and Doffing