Biorock: The crew removed the Biorock container samples from Kubik 5 and 6 and placed them into cold stowage after imagery was taken. The interaction between microbes and rocks in a liquid phase can be affected by reduced gravity in several ways. The reduction of thermal convection in low-gravity, and its absence in microgravity, minimizes the natural stirring in liquids and gases, and may restrict the supply of food and oxygen to the bacteria – leading to a suppression of growth, proliferation and mining performance. The goals of the Biorock investigation is to verify and quantify this assumption, and to find out if morphological and genetic changes occur in the biofilms.
Micro-15: The crew performed Session C of Drug Injection activities for the Micro-15 sample bags. The goal of this investigation is to better understand the effects of gravity on the differentiation of mammalian cells using 3-D cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells. Past flight experiments and ground-based simulations have demonstrated that microgravity influences gene expression, cell proliferation, and differentiation in stem cells but the mechanism behind these observations is not clearly understood. This study investigates how exposure to microgravity fundamentally alters cell regulation and how these changes can affect the timing, progression, and outcomes of cell differentiation.
International Docking Adapter (IDA)3 Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew completed the following in preparation for tomorrow’s planned EVA:
- Conference with ground teams for reminders, emergency briefing, helpful tips and procedures to be used
- Equipment Lock preparation
- Degassed Liquid Cooling Venting Garment (LCVG) S/N 3270 and Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 3008
- Multimeter setup at Node 2 Zenith IDA Control Panel
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday evening and this morning, Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS then grappled and extracted International Docking Adapter 3 (IDA-3) from the SpaceX-18 trunk. Using the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) and the Space Station Robotic Manipulator System (SSRMS), they maneuvered IDA-3 to the starting configuration for the EVA tomorrow.
Completed Task List Activities:
- AstroPi IR status check
Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
- EVA preparation support
- Payloads ops support
Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 8/22 (GMT 233)
Payloads:
- Micro-15 Sample Fixation (NASA)
- HRF Repository Urine (NASA)
- Standard Measures Saliva Collect (NASA)
Systems:
- IDA3 Install EVA
Thursday, 8/22 (GMT 234)
Payloads:
- Vascular Aging Blood Pressure (CSA)
- NUTRISS Setup and Measurement (ESA)
- MSPR2 cable attachment (JAXA)
- RR-17 Habitat Restock and Access Unit Clean (NASA)
- NanoRacks MOD-9 Ops 4 (NASA)
- LSG Front Glove Swap (NASA)
- Goodyear Sample Termination (NASA)
- Micro-15 Drug Injection session D (NASA)
- HRF Repository Frozen blood setup (NASA)
Systems:
- EVA debrief
- EMU water ops
Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
- TOCA Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
- On MCC GO Regeneration of Micropurification Unit (БМП) Ф2 Cartridge, initiate
- Periodic Health Status (PHS) Pre EVA Examination – Subject
- Unmanned Soyuz 743 rendezvous monitoring OBT
- Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation – Subject
- Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review
- TOCA Sample Data Record
- FOTOBIOREACTOR. Activation of Bench Cleaning
- International Docking Adapter (IDA) Stowage Removal
- FOTOBIOREACTOR. Equipment Reconfig in the Bench
- International Docking Adapter (IDA) Multimeter Setup
- Equipment Lock (E-LK) Preparation
- Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Audit
- FOTOBIOREACTOR. Medium replacement in Glovebox-S
- Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference
- PILOT-T. Experiment Ops
- Extravehicular Activity (EVA) iPad Contingency Procedures preparation
- International Docking Adapter (IDA) Multimeter Video Setup
- PILOT-T. Closeout Ops
- VELO, Day 4
- On MCC GO Regeneration of Micropurification Unit (БМП) Ф2 Absorption Cartridge (end)