Rodent Research-3 (RR-3) Transfer and Grip Strength Operations: The crew transferred rodents from their habitats to the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) and completed grip strength measurements. Operations were completed ahead of schedule and was the first time on-orbit use of the Grip Meter. This was the first of three RR-3 sessions conducted this week that will study the molecular and physical changes to the musculoskeletal system that happen in space. Results will expand scientists’ understanding of muscle atrophy and bone loss in space while testing an antibody that has been known to prevent muscle wasting in mice on Earth.
Fluid Shifts Baseline Imaging in the Russian Segment Preparation: The crew gathered and transferred hardware from the US Segment to the Russian Segment and configured Ultrasound 2 hardware in the Service Module to support Fluid Shifts data collections while the crewmember is wearing Chibis Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) device. Fluids Shift is divided into three one-week segments: Dilution Measures, Baseline Imaging, and Baseline Imaging using the Russian Chibis. The experiment measures how much fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body, in or out of cells and blood vessels, and determines the impact these shifts have on fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures.
Plant Gravity Sensing-3 (PGS-3) Closeout: Following yesterday’s successful PGS-3 Sample Fixation operations, today the Chemical Fixation Apparatus samples were inserted into the Minus Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) in preparation for return on SpaceX-8. This concludes a two week Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) PGS-3 experiment run which studies whether plants grown in microgravity conditions can sense the changes in the gravitational acceleration and the concentrations of calcium in plant cells changes. Gravity is a critical environmental factor affecting the morphology and functions of organisms on Earth.
Radiation Dosimeter inside ISS-Neutron (RaDI-N): After retrieving the RaDI-N hardware from the Russian crewmember, the USOS crew deployed all 8 Space Bubble Detectors in various locations in the ISS for the Radi-N2 experiment. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) investigation is conducted by measuring neutron radiation levels while onboard the ISS. RaDI-N uses bubble detectors as neutron monitors which have been designed to only detect neutrons and ignore all other radiation.
Dose Tracker: The crew configured the Dose Tracker app and completed entries for medication tracking. This investigation documents the medication usage of crew members before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities.
Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations: The crew recorded and submitted a walk-through video documenting observations of an area or activity providing insight related to human factors and habitability. The Habitability investigation collects observations about the relationship between crew members and their environment on the ISS.
Intra-module Ventilation (IMV) Reconfiguration: Yesterday, in an effort to reduce ppCO2 levels, ground commanding was performed to implement split ventilation between the USOS and Russian segments. The system has not yet reached a steady state, however, ppCO2 is trending lower than the Node 3 CDRA/Vozdukh combination was able to support in the previous configuration. Teams continue to monitor CO2 closely as they characterize the new configuration.
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) Survey: Robotics Ground Controllers are currently making preparations to survey the AMS using various cameras from various Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS)/Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) positions. The survey is being performed to understand the state of the payload as well as to obtain detailed views of the payload. Following the survey SPDM will be stowed on Mobile Base System 2 (MBS 2) and SSRMS will be maneuvered to a translate configuration.
Dragon Cargo Transfer Status: The crew has completed ~34.5 hours of cargo transfer with ~13.5 hours remaining to be completed.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
- Verification of anti-virus scan results on Auxiliary Computer System [ВКС] laptops / r/g 8247
- ESA Weekly Crew Conference
- Rodent Research (RR) Camcorder Setup
- Observation and photography using Photo Equipment / r/g 2137
- Monitoring hardware activation / r/g 2116
- ENERGY Closeout Ops
- PGS3 SMPL Sample Insertion into MELFI
- MRM1 Fan Screen Cleaning (Group C) / Ventilation and Air Conditioning System [СВКВ]
- PGS3 SMPL Sample Transfer from MELFI
- Complete the Dose Tracker application – Subject
- PILOT-T. Preparation for Experiment / r/g 2122
- RS ISS Module Photos (DC1, MRM1, MRM2) / r/g 2114
- Rodent Research (RR) Animal transfer to MSG and back
- Rodent Research (RR) Measurement Ops
- Rodent Research (RR) Animal transfer to MSG and back
- PILOT-T. Experiment Ops / r/g 2122
- Rodent Research (RR) Measurement Ops
- FLUID SHIFTS. USOS H/W Gathering
- PILOT-T. Experiment Ops / r/g 2123
- Rodent Research (RR) Animal transfer to MSG and back
- Life On The Station Photo and Video / r/g 2000
- FLUID SHIFTS. H/W Transfer to RS
- FLUID SHIFTS. Ultrasound 2 Setup in SM
- Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations
- FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting Ultrasound Equipment to РБС / r/g 2127
- HABIT Video Recording
- PILOT-T. Closeout Ops / r/g 2123
- HABIT Preparing for the experiment
- PAO Hardware Setup
- HABIT Procedure Review
- Water Resource Management (WRM) Initiate Condensate Sampling
- Disconnecting data cable from BRI / r/g 2126
- Crew Prep for PAO
- DOSETRK Data Export
- PAO Event
- Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Tank Drain
- Preventive Maintenance of FS1 Laptop (Cleaning and rebooting) Handover / r/g 1023
- MATRYOSHKA-R. Gathering and Initialization of Bubble-Dosimeter Detectors r/g 2117
- Preventive Maintenance of FS1 Laptop (Cleaning and rebooting) / r/g 1023
- Water Resource Management (WRM) Terminate Condensate Sampling
- BRI Cleaning (monthly) Handover / r/g 1841
- DRAGON Transfers
- BRI Monthly Maintenance r/g 1841
- Rodent Research (RR) Camcorder Setup
- Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Tank Drain Part 2
- RADIN Handover of detectors to USOS for deployment
- MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeters to USOS / r/g 2117
- RADIN Dosimeter Deployment
- MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter detector initialization and deployment for exposure r/g 2117
- WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
- HABIT Camcorder Setup
- Experiment Ops with СКПФУ Hardware r/g 2125
- Copy and Downlink Data / r/g 2116
- HABIT Video Recording
- WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV
- СОЖ Maintenance
- Configure power cables to XF305 for future use
- P/TV Photo/TV Additional Camcorder Setup
- IMS Delta File Prep
- Dragon Cargo Operations Conference
Completed Task List Items
- None
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
- C2V2 checkout
- SSRMS powerup/AMS survey
- Nominal ground commanding
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 05/04: RR CASIS ops, Fluid Shifts ops, FSL optical cable install
Thursday, 05/05: Fluid Shifts, Nano Racks Platform 2 module removal, Microbial sample collect
Friday, 05/06: RR CASIS ops, Nano Racks Module 9 ops, Fluid Shifts, Microbial sample collect
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 | Idle |
| Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 | Operate |
| Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) | Process |
| Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) | Norm |
| Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab | Off |
| Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 | Full Up |