ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/26/2018

52Soyuz Landing Preparations:  Crew and ground teams continued to prepare for tomorrow’s planned 52S Undock and landing.  52S is scheduled to undock tomorrow at 5:09 PM CST with landing at 8:31 PM CST.  Today’s activities included packing 52S with return cargo, Emergency Roles and Responsibilities Review, and Change of Command Ceremony. 

Lighting Effects: Upon wake up the 53S subject completed the two week sleep session study by providing daily sleep log entries to track his sleep patterns and wakefulness. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance. Results from this investigation also have major implications for people on Earth who use electric lights.

Microbial Tracking-2 (MT-2): Over the weekend and today a 52S subject provided saliva samples to support the MT-2 investigation. The MT-2 series continues the monitoring of the types of microbes that are present on the ISS. It seeks to catalog and characterize potential disease-causing microorganisms onboard the ISS. Crew pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight samples and environmental samples from ISS surface and air locations are collected to identify any associations between the microbial content of the samples, as well as potential health effects.

Functional Immune: Over the weekend and today two 52S crewmembers continued to support a five-day Functional Immune session that began Friday by collecting saliva samples. The samples support the return minus zero day (R-0) compliment for the 52S crewmembers. The crew will also perform a dry saliva collection using the Saliva Collection Dry Book. The Functional Immune investigation analyzes blood and saliva samples to determine the changes taking place in crewmembers’ immune systems during flight. The changes in the immune system are also compared with crewmembers’ self-reported health information. Results are expected to provide new insight into the possible health risks of long-duration space travel, including future missions to Mars, asteroids, or other distant destinations.

Veg-03 Operations: The crew performed Veg-03 operations by watering each plant pillows and photo documenting the progression of the plant grow outs. The overall goal of Veg-03 is to further demonstrate proof-of concept for the Veggie plant growth chamber and the planting pillows. Future long-duration missions into the solar system, finally culminating on Mars, will require a fresh food supply to supplement crew diets, which means growing crops in space. Previous investigations focused on improving productivity in controlled environments, but the limited quarters of the space shuttle and International Space Station made it difficult to conduct large-scale crop production tests. Veg-03 expands on previous validation tests of the new Veggie hardware, which crew members will soon use to grow cabbage, lettuce and other fresh vegetables in space.

Device for the study of Critical Liquids and Crystallization (DECLIC): The crew removed the Directional Solidification Insert (DSI) from the DECLIC Experiment Locker (EXL), before installing and activating the ALICE-LIKE Insert (ALI) in the EXL. The crew also removed and replace the removable hard disk drive inside the EXL. DECLIC is a multi-user facility utilized to study transparent media and their phase transitions in microgravity onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

At Home in Space:  The crew took photographs to document ISS culture. This Canadian Space Agency investigation assesses culture, values, and psychosocial adaptation of astronauts to a space environment shared by multinational crews on long-duration missions. It is hypothesized that astronauts develop a shared space culture that is an adaptive strategy for handling cultural differences and they deal with the isolated confined environment of the spacecraft by creating a home in space. At Home in Space also uses questionnaires to investigate individual and culturally related differences, family functioning, values, coping with stress, and post-experience growth.

Earth Imagery from ISS Target (EIISS): Over the weekend, the crew used the Nikon camera to capture images of South Australia and Tasmania. Today, the crew captured Australia at night using the light from the moon and took images of the Australia Desert, the Southern tip of India, the USA East Coast and Ireland during the day.  EIISS is used to support creation of a series of videos showcasing Earth views taken from space. The videos are taken with cameras on the ISS in 6K hi-resolution and are integrated into videos for screensavers for public enjoyment, exploration, and engagement.

Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) Removal and Replace (R&R) – Today, the crew successfully R&Red RPCM N13B_A using the Hot Mate/Demate technique.  This is the second Intra-Vehicular Activity (IVA) RPCM Hot Mate/Demate replacement performed on-orbit, made possible by the updated firmware load which increases the boot delay time to 3 minutes.  Following the crew activity, ground teams recovered power to the External Stowage Platform -1 (ESP-1) Primary Heaters.  Power to these heaters was lost due to a trip in October 2017.

LAB1P1 Rack Flow Control Assembly (RFCA) Reconfiguration – Today, the crew relocated the LAB1P1 Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) rack Bypass Jumper from the Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL) to the Low Temperature Loop (LTL). This reconfiguration places the MTL ITCS lines on the RFCA to allow MTL rack flow control, which is required to support the Life Support Rack arriving on HTV-7 later this year.  The Lab ITCS was transitioned to Dual Loop Mode during the activity to mitigate impacts in the event of a water leak.

Today’s Planned Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

  • Functional Immune Saliva Collection Dry Book – Subject
  • HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes – Subject
  • Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry – Subject
  • Microbial Tracking-2 Body Sample Collection
  • HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations
  • Functional Immune Saliva Collection Dry Book – Subject
  • Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Retrieval Insert
  • HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes – Subject
  • JEM Airlock Valve Box Opening
  • RED Camera Setup.
  • At Home In Space Culture Photo
  • Signing ISS RS Handover Protocol
  • JEM Airlock Valve Box Remote Controller Inspection Part 1
  • Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
  • JEM Airlock Valve Box Closing
  • JEM Airlock Valve Box Remote Controller Inspection Part 2
  • Comm Check and Ops from Soyuz 734 via RGS
  • JEM Dragon 14 Stowage Reconfiguration Part 1
  • Sanitary & Hygiene Status Monitoring
  • Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
  • Microbial Tracking-2 Saliva Stow
  • HMS Food Intake Tracker (FIT) Screenshots
  • Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
  • HRF2 Drawer Audit
  • JEM Dragon 14 Stowage Reconfiguration Part 2
  • EIISS Crew Preference RED Camera Target Operations
  • LBNP Exercise (CLOSEOUT)
  • Station Support Computer (SSC) 9 Laptop Relocate
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire
  • Node 1 IFM-N13B RPCM-GTHR (RPCM) R&R Equipment Gather
  • EIISS Crew Preference RED Camera Target Operations
  • VEG-03 Dual Facility Watering for each Plant Pillow
  • RED Camera Deactivation.
  • Emergency Roles and Responsibilities Review
  • Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
  • Plug-in Plan (PiP) NOD1 Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) Power Down Prep
  • Microbial Air Sampling
  • Manufacturing Device ABS Print Removal, Clean and Stow
  • Node 1 Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) R&R Review Conference
  • Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
  • DECLIC Directional Solidification Insert Removal
  • Access NOD1D1 Closeout Area
  • Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
  • DECLIC ALICE-LIKE Insert Installation
  • N13B_A RPCM (Remote Power Control Module) R&R at NOD1D1 Location
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate
  • DECLIC Removable Hard Disk Drive Exchange
  • Closeout NOD1D1 Closeout Area
  • POLYGEN. Video of fruit flies w/blocked access to food
  • Cleanup Operations from Node 1 Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) Operations
  • HRF Generic Ambient Blood Collection Setup
  • Soyuz 734 Return Hardware Stowage Ops (This includes additional stowage of P/L container, Ф70, Ф900, ТВ-II, ТВ-IV)
  • Trash Expired Disinfectant Wipes
  • Payloads Network Attached Storage (NAS) Vent Cleaning
  • Microgravity Science Glovebox High Definition Monitor Checkout and Stow
  • Rack Flow Control Assembly (RFCA) Reconfiguration from Low Temperature Loop (LTL) to Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL). 
  • Plant Gravity Perception/European Modular Cultivation System On-Board Training
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit Helmet Cleaning Preparations.
  • Plant Gravity Perception/European Modular Cultivation System Procedure Review
  • LAB1D1 Rack Rotation Assist
  • Earth Imagery from ISS Nikon Target Operations
  • At Home In Space Culture Photo
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit Helmet Cleaning
  • LAB1D1 Rack Rotation Assist
  • Plug-in Plan (PiP) NOD1 Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) Power Up
  • ISS HAM Service Module Pass
  • Actiwatch Spectrum HRF1 Setup
  • Two-Phase Flow Experiment Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Video Compression And Recording Unit (MSPR VRU) Power Cycle
  • Communication and Tracking (C&T) On-Call Crew Quarters Configuration
  • Actiwatch Spectrum HRF1 Stow
  • Soyuz 734 transfer operations report
  • Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup
  • Change of Command

Completed Task List Activities

  • Data Prep Return
  • PMM1O4 Cleanout

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

  • RPCM N13B powerdown and powerup
  • Lab ITCS transition to dual loop
  • Lab ITCS transition to single loop
  • Standard Commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Tuesday, 02/27: 52S undock, HRF fluid collections, N3 IMV cleaning and reconfig, ARED rope R&R, EIISS
  • Wednesday, 02/28: Crew Off Duty
  • Thursday, 03/01: Node3 MCA VGA R&R, PGP, EIISS, Two Phase Flow

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

Operate

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3

Standby

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab

Idle

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3

Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)

Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)

Process

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab

Full Up

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3

Off