ISS Daily Summary Report – 12/12/14

Cardio Ox:  Virts setup and configured ultrasound hardware and acted as Crew Medical Officer (CMO) to support Cristoforetti’s flight day 15 Cardio Ox session.  With guidance from the Cardio Ox ground team, ultrasound scans and blood pressure measurements were performed on Cristoforetti.  The objective of Cardio Ox is to determine whether biological markers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after space flight and whether this results in an increased, long-term risk of atherosclerosis in astronauts. Twelve crewmembers will provide blood and urine samples to assess biomarkers before launch, 15 and 60 days after launch, 15 days before returning to Earth, and within days after landing. Ultrasound scans of the carotid and brachial arteries will be obtained at the same time points, as well as through 5 years after landing, as an indicator of cardiovascular health

Circadian Rhythms:  Cristoforetti doffed the Thermolab Double Sensors, Thermolab Control Unit and Armband and stowed items, completing this 36 hour Circadian Rhythms session. Circadian Rhythms investigates the role of synchronized circadian rhythms, or the “biological clock,” and how it changes during long-duration spaceflight. Researchers hypothesize that a non-24-hour cycle of light and dark affects crewmembers’ circadian clocks. The investigation also addresses the effects of reduced physical activity, microgravity and an artificially controlled environment. Changes in body composition and body temperature, which also occur in microgravity, can affect crewmembers’ circadian rhythms as well. Understanding how these phenomena affect the biological clock will improve performance and health for future crewmembers.

Aniso:  Virts will configured the fluorescence microscope, retrieved a sample from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and installed it on the microscope.  Observation was started by ground commanding after sample installation and will continue over 48 hours.  Experimenters will examine growth modifications of Arabidopsis hypocotyls and the changing orientation of cortical microtubule under microgravity conditions in space. Scientists will further observe changes in dynamics of cortical microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins by observing Arabidopsis hypocotyls and microtubule-associated proteins with a fluorescence microscope.

Nanoracks Module 27:  Virts utilized the Plate Reader to scan NanoRacks Module-27 samples (3 Microplates) at 24 hour intervals for the fifth of five planned scan sessions. The crew retrieves data for downlink via NanoRacks Platform after every session.  NanoRacks-Module-27 compares the growth rates of microbes isolated from samples collected from ground-based public venues both in the microgravity environment of the ISS and in the lab at UC Davis. This study also characterizes the microbial communities found on surfaces aboard the ISS using culture-independent methods.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 3005 Loop Scrub:  Today, Wilmore configured EMU Suit 3005 for loop scrubbing. Once the suit was configured, he initiated ionic and particulate filtration (scrubbing) and conducted biocidal maintenance (iodination) on the suit and Airlock cooling water loops.  Samples of the coolant water were obtained before and after the loop scrub activity to determine the effectiveness of the filtering.  A portion of the water sample was utilized for a conductivity test and the remaining water will be sent to the ground for chemical analysis.

SpaceX-5 Dragon Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Training:  All three crewmembers conducted a ROBoT Training session, including conference with ISS Ground Controllers.  This session used the ROBoT Trainer to practice approach and capture using the ROBoT simulator.  The crew may elect to perform additional familiarity sessions using the ROBoT simulator as the SpaceX berthing approaches.

Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Right Upper Stop Cable Frayed – Yesterday the crew attempted to replace the frayed ARED right upper stop cable with a new spare.  They were unable to install the lock nut on the new upper stop cable, so that task was not completed. The crew is No Go for ARED bar exercises until an upper stop cable is fully installed. A crew task is being planned for Saturday to either recover and install the new upper stop cable, or re-install the degraded/frayed upper stop cable.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

  • Regeneration of Micropurification Unit БМП Ф2
  • Thermolab Equipment Stowage
  • USND2 – Hardware Power On
  • MSPR Components Activation
  • ARED Upper Stop Cable Removal
  • CARDOX – Experiment Ops
  • PROBOY. Activity with penetration simulators and Acoustic Signal Converter Unit (БПАС) and Auto Recorder АР units.
  • SEISMOPROGNOZ. Data downlink from БСПН via RSS1
  • WRS – Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
  • CIR – Equipment Stowage
  • EMU Cooling Loop Scrub
  • USND2 – HRF1 Power OFF
  • HDD Stowage
  • BLB – Hardware packing
  • Video Recording for TV show “What?  Where?  When?”
  • ANISO – Observation prep
  • FENIX. Photography at Setup Location
  • HRF2 Data Management Unit File Update
  • ТКГ 424 (DC1) Transfers and IMS Ops
  • VIZIR. Experiment Ops.
  • CRHYT – Sensor Removal
  • WRS – Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
  • URAGAN. Observation and Photography using VSS. Tagup with specialists / r/g 7431
  • EMU – Conductivity Test
  • Circadian Rhythms Data Downlink
  • Preparing for Photography of RS Windows
  • Inspection and photography of EV1, EV2 hatch windows, in DC1 and MRM2, data file downlink
  • Procedure Review of the EMU SOP ORU Changeout
  • Installation of overlay plates on FGB interior panels (panel 408).
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) – Food Frequency Questionnaire
  • Nanoracks MOD27 – Plate Reader Scan
  • OBT – Dragon Rendezvous and Berthing Procedures Review
  • ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position Verification
  • Nanoracks MOD27 – MELFI Sample Insertion
  • Onboard Training (OBT) Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Debrief
  • Iodination on EMU 3005
  • CRHYT – Armband cleanup and stowage
  • Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) High Pressure Nominal Configuration
  • Cognition Test Operations
  • БМП Ф2 Absorption Cartridge Regeneration (termination)

Completed Task List Items

  • None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted

  • Nominal commanding
  • UHF Activation/Deactivation in support of EMU 3005 Loop Scrub
  • Battery Reconditioning for Battery Set 2B1

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Saturday, 12/13: Weekly Cleaning, Dragon Offset Grapple Session 1
  • Sunday, 12/14: Crew Day Off
  • Monday, 12/15: 3D printing, CBCS install, Seedling Growth-2, EMU SOP R&R, Dragon ROBOT OBT

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

                              Component

Status

Elektron

On

Vozdukh

On

[СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”)

On

[СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”)

Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab

Standby

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3

Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab

Stop

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3

Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)

Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)

Process

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab

Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3

Full up