August 2024 – Page 3 – Space Station

Crew Ends Week With Robotics, Cancer Study, and More Aboard Station

Still in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm, the Northrop Grumman Cygnus space freighter is pictured attached to the Unity module's Earth-facing port above the Pacific Ocean. — Still in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm, the Northrop Grumman Cygnus space freighter is pictured attached to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port above the Pacific Ocean.

The nine orbital residents living and working aboard the International Space Station wrapped up the work week with a science-filled day exploring space biology, physics, and robotics. Cargo transfers and lab inspections rounded out the day for the Expedition 71 and Boeing Crew Flight Test crews.

NASA Flight Engineer Jeanette Epps had a busy day on Friday supporting a pair of different experiments before leading an eye examination at the end of the day. She started her day in the Kibo laboratory module configuring a free-flying camera robot from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and the Astrobee robotic assistant for an upcoming educational challenge. Students on Earth compete to write software that is uploaded to the orbital outpost and controls and maneuvers the devices to encourage and promote the next generation of scientists, engineers, and leaders. Next, she installed research hardware into Kibo’s Cell Biology Experiment Facility to incubate and illuminate seeds for the Plant UV-B botany study. Finally, she peered into the eyes of Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore of NASA using standard medical imaging hardware to check the health of his retina, cornea, and lens.

Wilmore began his day continuing to unload new science and supplies packed inside the Cygnus space freighter that arrived early Tuesday. Afterward, he partnered with fellow crewmate and Starliner Pilot Suni Williams of NASA on standard safety inspections and photographed emergency hardware for further analysis on the ground. Earlier, Williams worked inside the Tranquility module filling water tanks, conducting leak checks, and installing new orbital plumbing gear in the station’s restroom, also known as the waste and hygiene compartment.

The orbital lab’s three other NASA astronauts, Tracy C. Dyson, Matthew Dominick, and Mike Barratt, serviced a variety advanced research hardware to ensure ongoing critical space research. Dyson set up the KERMIT state-of-the-art microscope in the Destiny laboratory module and imaged stem cell samples for a cancer treatment investigation. Dominick replaced components inside the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace that supports safe observations of microgravity’s effect on materials exposed to high temperatures. Barratt removed an outmoded sample processing device from Kibo, packed it for return to Earth, then replaced it with an updated sample processor recently delivered aboard Cygnus.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Nikolai Chub and Alexander Grebenkin continued a second day of digestion studies after their breakfast on Friday. Chub used an ultrasound device and scanned Grebenkin’s stomach following his first meal of the day to learn how the human digestion system adapts to long-term weightlessness. The duo then split up with Chub cleaning ventilations systems in the Zvezda service module and Grebenkin exploring futuristic planetary mission piloting techniques. Station Commander Oleg Kononenko spent his morning replacing life support hardware before wrapping up his day photographing the condition of lab windows inside Zvezda.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Science Fills Day Aboard Station as Cygnus Unpacking Continues

An orbital sunrise colorfully illuminates the Earth's atmosphere and highlights the boundary between night and day, also known as the terminator, in this photograph from the space station. — An orbital sunrise colorfully illuminates the Earth’s atmosphere and highlights the boundary between night and day, also known as the terminator, in this photograph from the space station.

It was a packed day aboard the International Space Station as the astronauts and cosmonauts conducted a wide array of space research and serviced a range of science hardware. The orbital residents also continued to unload a U.S. cargo craft, maintained a variety of life support gear, and participated in eye checks.

Stem cells were being analyzed today inside the Life Science Glovebox to explore their potential for disease treatments and commercial purposes both in space and on Earth. Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Tracy C. Dyson and Jeanette Epps from NASA worked together in the Kibo laboratory module harvesting stem cells and peering at the samples in a microscope. Dyson earlier installed new hardware in the Destiny laboratory module that can host a variety of science experiments and space manufacturing studies. Epps also watered plants growing for the Plant UV-B botany study then scanned the cornea, retina, and lens of NASA astronaut and Starliner Pilot Suni Williams using standard medical imaging hardware.

Williams spent the majority of her day with Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore of NASA, both from the Boeing Crew Flight Test, checking out life support components inside Destiny and the Harmony and Tranquility modules. The duo took turns working on thermal control gear and orbital plumbing hardware throughout the orbital outpost’s U.S. segment.

Wilmore also partnered with NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick unpacking some of the 8,200 pound of science and supplies packed inside the Cygnus space freighter that arrived at the space station on Aug. 6. Dominick also removed batteries from the CIMON artificial intelligence assistant then stowed double coldbags that contained research samples delivered aboard Cygnus.

NASA Flight Engineer Mike Barratt concentrated his activities inside Kibo attaching new science experiments on the NanoRacks External Platform that will be placed outside the space station in the vacuum of space. The external studies will explore ultra-high-resolution spectral imagery downloads to Earth (OPTICA), electromagnetic interference and radiation tolerance (ASTRID), and the performance of electronics components in the radiation environment (ENCORE).

The three cosmonauts representing Roscosmos also had a busy day with a schedule full of research and maintenance. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub studied a variety of topics on Thursday including Earth observations, how space affects the digestive system, and future planetary mission piloting techniques. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin worked in the Nauka science and Zvezda service modules transferring water and filling an oxygen generator. Finally, station Commander Oleg Kononenko focused primarily on computer maintenance task duties throughout the orbital lab’s Roscosmos segment.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Cygnus Unpacking and Research Continue as Managers Discuss Starliner Updates

The Cygnus cargo craft is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm as the International Space Station orbited 262 miles above the Mediterranean Sea.

The residents aboard the International Space Station continued unpacking several tons of science and supplies packed inside Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft on Wednesday. The seven-member Expedition 71 crew also studied an array of space research while the two Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts from NASA reviewed their Starliner spacecraft’s systems.

NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Jeanette Epps spent the afternoon transferring cargo out of the newly arrived Cygnus space freighter. Starliner Pilot Suni Williams started the cargo work during the morning beginning the job of replenishing the orbital outpost with food, fuel, supplies, and new science experiments.

Earlier in the day, Dominick and Barratt conducted science operations to learn more about Earth’s climate and install a new research incubator. Dominick photographed the Moon from inside the cupola to measure sunshine reflected from the Earth. Results may provide scientists insights into climate change. Barratt installed and activated the Space Automated Lab Incubator (SALI) inside the Kibo laboratory module. The SALI can host a variety of samples at a range of temperatures supporting numerous space investigations into biology and physics.

Epps and NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson also spent their day on a variety of station science and maintenance duties. Epps transferred water between life support systems, configured a radiation detector, then wrapped up her shift with biomedical checks. Dyson worked inside the Destiny laboratory module throughout Wednesday configuring research hardware to study stem cells for treatment purposes and commercial use.

Williams joined Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore and reviewed on a pair of tablet computers the Boeing Starliner crew flight procedures and systems to maintain their operational proficiency. NASA managers also provided mission updates and answered reporter’s questions about Starliner and space station operations during a media teleconference on Wednesday.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub tested the telerobotically operated rendezvous unit’s, or TORU, ability to communicate with the Progress 87 space freighter docked to the Zvezda service module’s rear port. The Progress 87 is due to depart the orbital outpost early next week making space for the arrival of the Progress 89 cargo craft with a fresh load of food, fuel, and supplies just over a week later. The TORU would be used to remotely control a Roscosmos spaceship in the unlikely event the spacecraft would be unable to complete its automated arrival or departure.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin spent a portion of his day on a host of orbital household duties including plumbing and camera battery charging. He later partnered with Kononenko and Chub and recorded a series of congratulatory and greeting videos for their home space agency.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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NASA Adjusts Crew-9 Launch Date for Operational Flexibility

Image of NASA Crew-9 mission patch — NASA, SpaceX Crew-9 mission patch

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24, for the launch of the agency’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station.

This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory. Starliner ground teams are taking their time to analyze the results of recent docked hot-fire testing, finalize flight rationale for the spacecraft’s integrated propulsion system, and confirm system reliability ahead of Starliner’s return to Earth. NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft’s readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner’s return.

The Crew-9 launch adjustment also deconflicts the next SpaceX rotation with the upcoming Soyuz handover targeted for no earlier than mid-September. Teams are working to prepare the Crew-9 mission to be ready to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to deconflict with pad preparations for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission beginning this September at nearby Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center. NASA also will adjust the launch of SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission to no earlier than mid-October.

The agency will host a media teleconference at 12:30 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Aug. 7, with agency leadership to discuss ongoing operations, including NASA’s Crew-9, Crew-8, and Crew Flight Test missions.

Cygnus Arrives at Station, Astronauts Unpack New Science

The Cygnus space freighter is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm shortly after its capture delivering 8,200 pounds of science and supplies to the orbital outpost. Credit: NASA TV

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft has arrived at its new home for the next six months and the International Space Station residents have begun unloading some of its 8,200 pounds of science and supplies.

NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick captured Cygnus with the Canadarm2 robotic arm at 3:11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday following its automated approach and rendezvous. The maneuver marked the 50^th free-flying capture for Canadarm2. Just over two hours later mission controllers on Earth remotely commanded the Canadarm2 and installed Cygnus to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port where it will stay until January. Cygnus began its trip to the orbital outpost with a launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida at 11:02 a.m. EDT on Sunday.

Dominick later joined NASA Flight Engineer Jeanette Epps and conducted cable connections and leak checks before opening Cygnus’ hatch and entering the space freighter for the first time. Next, the rest of the NASA astronauts including Tracy C. Dyson, Mike Barratt, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore started offloading research samples stowed in Cygnus and preserved in portable science freezers and double coldbags. Those samples were then placed inside station science freezers in preparation for upcoming research. The orbital residents will soon be exploring liquid and gas flows, centripetal force, DNA repair mechanisms, cellular expansion, and more.

During a break in the cargo activities Dominick set up photography gear in the cupola and took pictures of the Moon to measure sunshine reflected from the Earth. Dyson worked in the Destiny laboratory module and connected a microscope to an advanced research incubator to support space biology investigations.

The orbital lab’s three cosmonauts representing Roscosmos stayed focused on their science and maintenance schedule throughout Tuesday. Commander Oleg Kononenko began his morning setting up carbon dioxide monitors and installing Earth observation hardware. During the afternoon, the five-time station visitor studied futuristic planetary piloting techniques on a computer. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin attached sensors to himself measuring his heart activity during an hour-and-a-half long relaxation session. Next, he jogged on a treadmill for a fitness test before ending his day with computer maintenance in the Nauka science module. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub worked throughout the day servicing hardware batteries and exercise gear.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Cygnus Spacecraft Installed to Space Station; Cargo Ops Underway

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Earth-facing port of the space station's Unity module on Aug. 6, 2024. Credit: NASA TV — Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Earth-facing port of the space station’s Unity module on Aug. 6, 2024. Credit: NASA TV

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft installation on the International Space Station is complete at 5:33 a.m. EDT.

The spacecraft carried 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.

The mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Cygnus will remain at the space station until January when it departs the orbiting laboratory at which point it will dispose of several thousand pounds of debris through its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere where it will harmlessly burn up.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

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Live NASA Coverage of Cygnus Installation Underway

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm, moments after NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick maneuvered the robotic arm to capture the spacecraft ahead of installation to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. Credit: NASA TV — Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is pictured attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm, moments after NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick maneuvered the robotic arm to capture the spacecraft ahead of installation to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. Credit: NASA TV

NASA’s coverage is underway for the installation of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.

At 3:11 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps acting as backup, captured Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm as the station was flying about 260 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean.

The spacecraft is carrying 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.

The mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here: www.nasa.gov/subscribe

NASA Astronauts Capture Cygnus With Robotic Arm; Installation Soon

At 3:11 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, with NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps as backup, captured Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm as the station was flying about 260 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean.

Mission control in Houston will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to position Cygnus to its installation orientation and then will guide it in for installation on the station’s Unity module Earth-facing port.

NASA will provide coverage of the spacecraft’s installation beginning at 4:30 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.

NASA’s Northrop Grumman 21st commercial resupply mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

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Cygnus Spacecraft Approaching Space Station Live on NASA TV

The Northrop Grumman Cygnus space freighter approaches the International Space Station as both spacecraft orbited 272 miles above the southern Indian Ocean.

NASA’s coverage is underway for the capture of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft. At approximately 3:10 a.m. EDT, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick will capture Cygnus using the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, and NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps is backup. After capture, the spacecraft will be installed on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.

The spacecraft is carrying 8,200 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.

The mission launched at 11:02 a.m. Aug. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA will provide coverage of the spacecraft’s installation beginning at 4:30 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here: www.nasa.gov/subscribe

Station Awaits Cygnus Cargo Delivery During Science, Hardware Duties

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft launches atop a SpaceX 9 Falcon rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.

A U.S. cargo craft packed with 8,200 pounds of science and supplies is orbiting Earth today heading toward the International Space Station for a Tuesday morning cargo delivery. Meanwhile, the orbital residents started the work week with their normal complement of microgravity research and standard lab maintenance tasks.

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter lifted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:02 a.m. EDT on Sunday from Florida. The cargo craft is loaded with a range of new experiments to investigate liquid and gas flows, centripetal force, DNA repair mechanisms, cellular expansion, and more. The weightless environment of the orbital outpost allows investigators to explore phenomena and gain insights not possible in Earth’s gravity conditions.

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps will be on duty Tuesday morning as Cygnus nears the space station during its automated approach and rendezvous. Dominick will be at the controls of the robotics workstation ready to command the Canadarm2 robotic arm to reach out and grapple Cygnus. Epps will be at Dominick’s side backing him up as the spacecraft completes its slow and methodical space delivery. The two Cygnus teammates had a light-duty day on Monday and went to bed early to get a fresh start and prepare for the spacecraft’s early arrival. After Cygnus is captured, robotics controllers on the ground will take over and remotely command the Canadarm2 and guide Cygnus to a berthing on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.

The Cygnus spacecraft has completed two delta velocity burns, and it remains on track for a capture by the space station’s robotic arm slated for 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The Cygnus spacecraft is in a safe trajectory, and all other systems are operating normally.

Shortly after launch on Sunday, the spacecraft performed as designed by cancelling a scheduled engine burn due to a slightly low initial pressure reading flagged by the Cygnus onboard detection system. Engineers at Northrop Grumman’s mission control center in Dulles, Virginia evaluated the pressure reading, confirmed it was acceptable and re-worked the burn plan to arrive at the space station on the originally planned schedule.

NASA will provide live coverage of the spacecraft’s arrival beginning at 1:30 a.m. Aug. 6 on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, X, Facebook, and the agency’s website. Additional updates will be posted as needed.

The rest of the Expedition 71 and NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test crews spent Monday on an array of physics and biology studies, as well as hardware cleanup and life support duties.

NASA Flight Engineers Tracy C. Dyson and Mike Barratt participated in eye checks on Monday for the CIPHER suite of 14 human research experiments. Dyson peered into the eyes of Barratt using standard medical imaging hardware found on Earth with real-time assistance from flight surgeons on the ground. Doctors are exploring how living in space affects eye structure and function. Dyson also stowed spacesuit components in the Quest airlock. Barratt reorganized the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to make room for the new Cygnus cargo then replaced fuel bottles inside the Combustion Integrated Rack.

Boeing Starliner Pilot Suni Williams from NASA assisted Barratt inside the PMM before working throughout the day on orbital plumbing tasks. Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore, also from NASA, installed a light meter in the Veggie space botany facility, obtained light measurements, then adjusted the light settings inside the plant research device. The duo called down to Boeing flight controllers at the end of the day and discussed mission updates.

The three Roscosmos cosmonauts had their day full as the trio tested a pressure suit and serviced life support gear. Station Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin evaluated the lower body negative pressure suit and its ability to reverse the space-caused upward flow of body fluids in space crew members. The specialized suit may also help crews adapt faster to the return to Earth’s gravity. The duo then split up and serviced life support and ventilation systems in the Nauka science module. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub also worked in Nauka photographing plumbing components before replacing air flow sensors and inspecting video hardware throughout the orbital outpost’s Roscosmos segment.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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