ISS Daily Summary Report – 7/18/2017

Capillary Structures:  The crew set up hardware for the Capillary Structures investigation, then performed a stability assessment and transferred the hardware to the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).  Life-support systems on the ISS require special equipment to separate liquids and gases including rotating or moving devices that could cause contamination if they break or fail.  This investigation studies a new method using structures of specific shapes to manage fluid and gas mixtures.  It also studies water recycling and carbon dioxide removal, benefitting future efforts to design lightweight, more reliable life support systems for future space missions.

Crew Autonomous Scheduling Test (CAST): The crew completed the final of five CAST sessions today.  They scheduled their work day for this coming Thursday using an iPad, Playbook and a list of scheduling priorities. On Thursday they will execute their scheduled plan utilizing Playbook. They also completed a survey of this session.  Space missions beyond low-Earth orbit require new approaches to daily operations between ground and crew to account for significant communication delays. One approach is increased autonomy for crews, or Autonomous Mission Operations. The CAST investigation analyzes whether crews can develop plans in a reasonable period of time with appropriate input, whether proximity of planners to the planned operations increases efficiency, and if crew members are more satisfied when given a role in plan development.

Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis:  The crew performed injections of the RR-5 mice in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). Because spaceflight has significant and rapid effects on the musculoskeletal system it is important to investigate targeted therapies that could ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of spaceflight. The NELL-1 drug being studied in the RR-5 investigation has the potential to slow or reverse bone loss during spaceflight.The Bone Densitometer device measures the density of minerals in bone. Quantitative measures of bone loss in mice during orbital space flight provide data for the development of countermeasures for human crewmembers, as well as for bone-loss syndromes on Earth.  

JEM Smoke Detector Cleaning:  The crew cleaned JEM Cabin Smoke Detector B using a Connector Cleaner Tool Kit and N2 Cartridge to supply bursts of N2 to remove particles. This routine maintenance is performed in order to keep the Smoke Detectors working properly and preventing inadvertent alarm trips.   

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

  • JEM Airlock Depressurization
  • XF305 Camcorder Setup
  • Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Gas Bottle Unit Air (GBU) Retrieval
  • Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Gas Bottle Unit Air (GBU) Installation
  • Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Two-Phase Flow Experiment Equipment Deactivation
  • Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Nitrogen gas QD connection
  • JPM Cabin Smoke Detector B Cleaning
  • TV Session with the participants of Pan-Russian Youth Science School (Ku + S-band)
  • Locating EVA hardware and tools. Conference with EVA specialists
  • Crew Autonomous Scheduling Test – Self Scheduling Session #5
  • CAST Historical Photo
  • Crew Autonomous Scheduling Test – Questionnaire
  • Charging GoPro HERO3 Camcorder Battery (6) from Soyuz 735, start
  • JEM Airlock Vent
  • JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation
  • Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Initiation
  • On MCC Go ISS Repress with N2 from Progress 435 (DC1) СрПК Section 2 (start)
  • Emergency RS ISS VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS
  • Rodent Research Node 2 Camcorder Video Setup
  • Rodent Research 5 Injection 4A
  • Rodent Research MELFI Retrieve 4
  • Rodent Research MELFI Retrieve 8
  • On MCC Go ISS N2 repress from Progress 435 (DC1) СрПК Section 2 (terminate)
  • Rodent Research MELFI Retrieve 5
  • Rodent Research 5 Injection 4A
  • Soyuz 735 IRIDIUM Phone Recharging, Start Recharge (ФГБ1ПГО_2_224_1, CTB 1017 (002857J), Soft Container (00044322R))
  • Soyuz 735 IRIDIUM Phone Charging – Battery Status Check
  • Soyuz 735 IRIDIUM Phone Charge, Terminate Charge, Teardown of the Setup (equipment → stowage location)
  • Charging GoPro HERO3 Camcorder Battery (6) from Soyuz 735, end
  • Final Progress 435 (DC1) Stowage Ops with IMS Support.  Stowage complete call down
  • Countermeasures System (CMS) VELO Exercise session
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Setup
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Prep
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) CMO – Fundoscope
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Exam – Fundoscope
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Tear Down and Stow

Completed Task List Items

  • None

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

  • JEMAL Depress Support

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Wednesday, 07/19: Eye Imaging and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Antibody Conjugates Operations
  • Thursday, 07/20: 66P undock, Antibody Conjugates Operations, JEM Airlock Operations, Russian EVA Tool Gathering
  • Friday, 07/21: Node 2 Bacteria Filter R&R, CIR Rack Ops, Handheld External Platform Ops

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

  Component

Status

Elektron

Off

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)

Standby

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)

Standby

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab

Full up

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3

Off