Orbital ATK (OA)-4 Launch: The Enhanced Cygnus spacecraft was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket on Sunday at 3:44pm CST. Sunday’s launch sets the stage for ISS rendezvous and capture on Wednesday, December 9th. Cygnus will be delivering approximately 3,500 kg of pressurized cargo to the ISS.
Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Troubleshooting: Kelly and Yui performed troubleshooting to restore the MSG slide mechanism to proper alignment today. The slide mechanism initially malfunctioned on November 17th, preventing the work volume from being extended for crew access.
Microbiome: For his Return Minus Zero day (R-0) Microbiome session, Yui collected saliva samples Saturday, Sunday and today. Microbiome 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).
Fine Motor Skills: One year crewmembers Kelly and Kornienko each completed a session of the Fine Motor Skills experiment today. During the experiment they performed a series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet. This investigation is the first fine motor skills study to measure long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of microgravity adaptation, and sensorimotor recovery after returning to Earth gravity. Fine Motor Skills sessions completed by Kelly and Kornienko will provide data for identification of trends or variations in fine motor performance in microgravity over the duration of their year-long space mission and upon their return to earth.
Twins Study: In support of the Twins Study, Kelly continued his week-long Flight Day 240 daily saliva collections. This investigation is an integrated compilation of ten different studies led by multiple investigators. The studies take advantage of a unique opportunity to look at the effects of space travel on identical twins, with one of them experiencing space travel for a year while the other remains earth-bound for that same year. The study looks at changes in the human body that are important in the fields of genetics, psychology, physiology, microbiology, and immunology.
Veg-01: On Saturday Kelly refilled the Veg-01 plant pillows with water. Lindgren also refilled them today. The Veg-01 investigation is used to assess on-orbit function and performance of the Veggie facility, focusing on the growth and development of seedlings in the spaceflight environment and the composition of microbial flora on the plants and the facility. For this run, Zinnias will be grown for 60 days and are expected to produce flowers.
Sleep Log: Both Kelly and Kornienko recorded Sleep Log entries Saturday and Sunday after waking. Kornienko also recorded an entry this morning. The Sleep ISS-12 experiment monitors ambient light exposure and crew member activity and collects subjective evaluations of sleep and alertness. The investigation examines the effects of space flight and ambient light exposure on sleep during a year-long mission on the ISS.
Crew Departure Preparation: Yui and Lindgren continued packing their personal items in preparation for crew return to Earth on Soyuz 43 (43S) on December 11th. The items will return by way of 43S, SpX-8, and SpX-9 vehicles.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
- TWIN – Sample Collection
- SM ПСС (Caution & Warning Panel) Test
- Inspection of СМ-У, РУ2, РУ4, РУ5 connector on [МНР-НС] separator pump
- Acoustic Dosimeter Reminder
- SLEEP – Questionnaire
- HRF – Sample MELFI Insertion
- Work Prep
- CORRECTSIA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake
- Charging GoPro HERO3 Camcorder Battery
- Acoustic Dosimeter Setup
- Return item stowage in Soyuz #717
- FINEMOTR- Experiment execution
- Experiment Fine Motor Skills
- Crew Departure Prep
- Searching for cable PS-120
- Exercise Data Downlink via OCA
- BODYM – Measurements for the experiment
- ИП-1 sensors positioning check
- MPEP Platform – Fasteners maintenance
- LBNP Training (PRELIMINARY)
- Auxiliary Laptop Anti-Virus Update
- Sony HVR-Z7ECamcorder Setup in SM
- Charging GoPro HERO3 Camcorder Battery – terminate
- EXPRESS-1 – Install DVD with s/w for payload
- ARED – Flywheel cylinder evacuation
- VEG-01- Filling water to plant pillow
- Video camera GoPro HERO3 Prep for ТК 717 Descent Recording. Camera Adjustment. Tagup with specialists
- EML gas valve opening
- Installation of “Relocation and TORU” simulator SW version 1.11 on RSK1 Laptop. Tagup with specialists as necessary (S-band)
- Columbus cargo consolidation – Part 1 of 3
- Soyuz 717 Samsung Tablet Charge – initiate
- WRS – Water samples analysis
- Columbus cargo consolidation – Part 2 of 3 [Deferred]
- Filling (separation) EDV-SV lid 1002 p.37 (00053403R, ФГБ1ПГО_1_107)
- CORRECTSIA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake
- Soyuz #717 Return Cargo Stowage Ops
- ALGOMETRIA. Experiment Ops
- IMAX – H/w final packing and stowage for return
- EXPRESS 1 – Installation of DVD with s/w for payload – disk replacement
- HMS – Psychological Questionnaire
- СОЖ Maintenance
- Columbus cargo consolidation – Part 3 of 3 [Deferred]
- PILOT-T. Experiment Ops
- EXPRESS 1 – Installation of DVD with s/w for payload – disk replacement
- Sony HVR-Z7E Camcorder Power Off in SM)
- VSG box trouble shooting
- Cleaning ПФ1, ПФ2 Dust Filters and В1, В2, Fan Screens in MRM2
- Tightening of QD Screw Clamps between DC1 and Progress 428
- PILOT-T. Closeout Ops
- MPEG2 Video Test prior to ТПК 719 (45S) Docking
- VIZIR. Experiment Ops
- VSG box trouble shooting
- Soyuz #717 Samsung tablet charging – terminate
- Evening Work Prep
- EXPRESS 1 – Installation of DVD with s/w for payload – disk replacement
- INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops
- TOCA – Data Recording
- EXPRESS 1- Installation of DVD with s/w for payload – disk replacement
- EHS – BOSE head set quality evaluation ( S/N 1013, 1023 и 1024.)
- Replacement of FGB Dust Collector ПС1, ПС2 Filters (ФГБ1ПГО_4_419_1, bag 429-16 (00068131R)). Discard the removed items. Reflect changes in IMS
- Daily Planning Conference (S-band)
- Reading Reminder about saliva samples installation in MELFI
- CORRECTSIA. Logging Liquid and Food (Medication) Intake
- Reading Reminder about saliva sampling
- Preparing for Antivirus scan on Auxiliary Computer Laptops
- Reading Reminder about saliva samples installation in MELFI
- HABIT – Reading Reminder
- Reading Reminder about saliva sampling
- IMS Delta File Prep
- Personal Data Prep for Return
- Installation of inserts to ease opening of SM interior panel latches (Prepare “Элементы конструкции” (Structural Elements) kit (004890R), ФГБ1ПГО_4_427_1, СТВ No.1112 (004106J)
- Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media / r/g 0293
- ECON-M. Observation and Photography
- URAGAN Observations and Photography
- Video Recording for All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (ВГТРК)
Completed Task List Items
- None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
- PROX GPS Activation
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 12/08: Cygnus Capture Review, Crew Departure Prep, Soyuz Descent Drill, Microbiome, Twin Studies
Wednesday, 12/09: Cygnus Rendezvous, Capture and Berth, Crew Departure Prep, Twin Studies
Thursday, 12/10: PILOT-T, SPRINT, Crew Departure Prep
QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:
| Component | Status |
| Elektron | On |
| Vozdukh | Manual |
| [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) | Off |
| [СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) | On |
| Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab | Standby |
| Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 | Operate |
| Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab | Idle |
| Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 | Operate |
| Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) | Process |
| Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) | Standby |
| Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab | Full Up |
| Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 | Off |