Month: March 2015

ISS Daily Summary Report – 03/31/15

Human Research Program (HRP) Collections: Kelly performed a suite of blood and saliva collections for the Microbiome, Salivary Markers, and Twins Study experiments.  He collected saliva and placed the collections into Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) for a week in support of Microbiome and Salivary markers.  Today’s blood collection satisfies both the Flight Day 7 (FD7) and FD10 requirements for both experiments. 

  • Salivary Markers experiment aims to identify if there are any risks of an adverse health event in crewmembers due to an impaired immune system. Maintaining a robust immune system during prolonged spaceflight missions is important to ensure mission success. If any impairment in immunity is found due to spaceflight, this will allow the development of appropriate countermeasures to help mitigate the risks. 
  • The Microbiome experiment investigates the impact of space travel on both the human immune system and an individual’s microbiome (the collection of microbes that live in and on the human body at any given time).

Gene, Immune and Cellular Responses to Single and Combined Space Flight Conditions-B (Triplelux-B): Following the successful completion of the Triplelux-B experiment, Cristoforetti removed the Biolab video tape, uninstalled the Automatic Ambient Stowage (AAS), and the Experiment Containers (ECs) from the Biolab facility.  The video tape will be returned for ground analysis.  Biolab will be configured for Triplelux-A which flies on SpaceX-6 launching next week. The objective of Triplelux-A is to investigate and compare the ability of hemocytes (from the blue mussel) to kill pathogens under normal gravity and microgravity condition. The goal is to quantify the anti-microbial action of the hemocytes, using the chemical reaction that results in emission of light. This light will be detected with photomultipliers. The experiment might lead to a better understanding of immune system depression in spaceflight.

Image Processing Unit (IPU) Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Remove and Replace (R&R): Cristoforetti R&Rd the IPU in the Ryutai Rack.  On GMT 84 (March 25, 2015) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) ground controllers encountered a problem downloading Dynamic Surf-2 images. Initial troubleshooting steps included rebooting the hardware and rack. Ground teams are evaluating the status of the R&R and will have more data by GMT 92 (April 2). 

Aniso Tubule: Cristoforetti retrieved the Aniso Tubule from the +4°C MELFI drawer and initiated a light treatment, exposing the sample to the cabin’s ambient light environment.  She then inserted the Aniso sample into the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF). The Aniso Tubule investigation seeks to understand the mechanisms that plants use in growing stems of the right thickness to support them against gravity. Microtubules, part of a plant cell’s molecular skeleton, align themselves with the local gravity field and thus produce short, thick bodies in hypergravity. This research will germinate Arabidopsis hypocotyls in space and then use a fluorescence microscope in the Kibo module to analyze the directions taken by tubules in the stem just below the leaves of new seedlings.

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons 2 (RADI-N2):  Cristoforetti collected the eight neutron bubble detectors and returned them to Shkaplerov. This investigation is to better characterize the ISS neutron environment and define the risk posed to the crewmembers’ health and provide the data necessary to develop advanced protective measures for future space flight.  For each session 8 detectors are initialized and deployed in predetermined locations for measurements: a set of 6 spectrometric detectors and two control ones are placed on a wall in the ISS Segment. After 7 days the detectors are collected and read using the BUBBLE reader.

Node 3 (N3) Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Status: Yesterday N3 CDRA shut down when Air Selector Valve (ASV)104 failed to transition from position A to B. Attempts to manually command the valve were unsuccessful. The Ground ran an Active Cool Down procedure for 30 minutes. ASV104 is now responding to commands and nominal N3 CDRA operations have been resumed. 

On-Board Training (OBT): Virts and the newly arrived 42S crew reviewed portable emergency equipment locations for gas masks and fire extinguishers. When finished, they demonstrated/evaluated the ability to communicate with Mission Control Centers (MCC) while wearing emergency masks.

SpaceX-6 (SpX-6) Preparation:  In preparation for SpX-6 launch scheduled for April 13, Robotics Ground Controllers are currently performing a Mobile Transporter (MT) translate from Work Site (WS) 2 to WS4. 

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

  • TWIN – Sample Collection and Prep for Stowage
  • HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
  • HRF – Preliminary steps before blood sample collection
  • HRF – Blood collection assistance
  • Verification of anti-virus scan results on Auxiliary Computer System (ВКС) laptops / r/g 8247
  • BIOSIGNAL.  Temperature check in Cryogem-03 / r/g 8342
  • HRF Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration
  • Regeneration of БМП Ф2 Micropurification Cartridge (start)
  • Periodic fitness evaluation – subject
  • Private Exercise Conference with exercise specialist
  • CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 8358
  • TPLXB. Unstow Hardware
  • HRF – Blood Sample Collection Closeout Ops
  • Locating unit 800А No.2395121201 
  • Deactivation of ТК 716 Gas Analyzer
  • CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Ops. / r/g 8374
  • HRF – Urine Sample MELFI Insertion
  • HRF Blood Collection Hardware Stowage
  • ТК 716 Transfers and IMS Ops / r/g 8356
  • CIR Alignment Guide Installation
  • CARDIOVECTOR. Photography of the Experiment Ops / r/g 8373
  • Image Processing Unit (IPU)  System Hard Disk Drive R&R
  • Installation of Easily Detachable Cargo r/g 8371
  • Deactivation of ТК 715 Gas Analyzer
  • ANISO – Retrieval of Ziploc bags with samples  from MELFI
  • Medical Ops OBT
  • MATRYOSHKA-R. r/g 8372
  • SEISMOPROGNOZ r/g 8267
  • ANISO – Attaching Ziploc bags with  samples for exposure
  • VHF1 Comm check from RS with MCC  (Houston, Huntsville, Munich, Tsukuba, Moscow) via US Ground Sites)
  • TV Greetings r/g 8376
  • OBT Emergency Hardware Familiarization
  • IDENTIFIKATSIYA r/g 8239
  • TPLXB. Video Tape Removal
  • TPLXB. Insert Removal and Reconfiguration
  • TPLXB. Container Reconfiguration
  • CUCU – Activation
  • Emergency Mask Drill
  • NANO –  Routing Ethernet Cable 
  • WRS – Recycle Tank Fill [Aborted]
  • CUCU Check
  • MATRYOSHKA-R. Installation r/g 8370
  • Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
  • MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter collection and measurements. / r/g 8369
  • TPLXB. Hardware Stowage for Final Experiment
  • Stem Cell Differentiation (SCD) – Hardware Temperature Check
  • RADIN – Removal of Bubble-Detectors
  • IMS Delta File Prep
  • MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeter detectors from USOS. / r/g 8369
  • RADIN – Handover of Bubble-Detectors
  • MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter collection and measurements. / r/g 8369
  • CUCU – Temporary Stowage
  • WRS Sample Collection
  • Photo of a scuff mark left by the Active Docking Mechanism probe on the MRM2 r/g 2664
  • Docking Cone Internal Surface Photos Downlink 
  • WRS – Recycle Tank Fill [Aborted]
  • Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
  • Dragon Pre-pack for disposal
  • Preventive maintenance of MRM2
  • TOCA Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Sample Analysis
  • ISS Crew Adaptation
  • Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation
  • Hematocrit  Hardware Setup
  • HMS Defibrillator Inspection
  • Water processing using MCD
  • SEISMOPROGNOZ. Downlink data from Control and Data Acquisition Module r/g 8267
  • ANISO – Sample Insertion into bags
  • CASKAD. Manual Mixing in Bioreactor / r/g 8358
  • TOCA Data Recording
  • Regenegation of Micropurification unit

Completed Task List Items

  • CHeCS hardware relocate

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

  • CUCU checkout
  • MSS powerup
  • MBS camera checkout
  • MT pre-translation checkout
  • MT pre-translation survey
  • MT translation from WS2 to WS4 [In Work]
  • MSS powerdown [Planned later this evening]

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Wednesday, 04/01: Ocular Health, water quality monitoring, T2 quarterly inspection, SSRMS walkoff to N2
  • Thursday, 04/02: Ocular Health, CIR imaging reconfig, WHC manual fill
  • Friday, 04/03: Ocular Health, ER7 cable connection, Rodent Research s/w load, Recycle tank QD reconfig

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

                              Component

Status

Elektron

On

Vozdukh

Manual

[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

Shutdown

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3

Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)

Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)

Standby

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab

Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3

Full Up