ISS Daily Summary Report – 1/4/2021

Payloads

Cardinal Heart: The crew performed a periodic cell culture media exchange in the various cell culture chambers. Cardinal Heart studies the effects of change in gravitational force on cardiovascular cells at the cellular and tissue level using engineered heart tissues (EHTs). Microgravity significantly affects heart tissues that perform work and exert an opposite force to gravity and is known to cause molecular and structural abnormalities in cells and tissues that can lead to disease. The investigation could provide new understanding of similar heart issues on Earth and help identify new treatments.

SUBSA (Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules): The crew performed the remaining SUBSA hardware installation steps and performed the first sample exchange. The objective of the SUBSA investigation is to advance understanding of the processes involved in semiconductor crystal growth. It offers a gradient freeze furnace for materials science investigations that can reach 850°C. Samples are contained in transparent quartz or ceramic ampoules with high definition video imaging available in real-time along with remote commanding of thermal control parameters.

Veg-03: The crew installed the Veggie-03 root mat and small plant pillows in the VEGGIE facility and initiated the experiment. Organisms grow differently in space, from single-celled bacteria to plants and humans. But future long-duration space missions will require crew members to grow their own food, so understanding how plants respond to microgravity is an important step toward that goal. Veg-03 uses the Veggie plant growth facility to cultivate Extra Dwarf Pak Choi, Amara Mustard and Red Romaine Lettuce using Seed Film which are harvested on-orbit with samples returned to Earth for testing.

Antimicrobial Coatings: The crew deployed the Antimicrobial Coatings experiment, and performed the first touch application operations to initiate the experiment. The investigation tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health and spacecraft systems as well as creating the possibility of contaminating other planetary bodies. The samples remain in space approximately six months then return to Earth for analysis.

Rodent Research-23 (RR-23): The crew performed fixation swaps on the Rodent samples. The Rodent Access unit was then cleaned. Effects of Microgravity on Ocular Vascular Hydrodynamics, or Rodent Research-23 (RR-23), studies function of arteries, veins, and lymphatic structures in the eye and changes in the retina before and after spaceflight. The aim is to clarify whether these vascular changes impair visual function. At least 40 percent of astronauts experience vision impairment known as Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) on long-duration spaceflights, which could adversely affect mission success.

Systems

Robotics On-Board Trainer (RoBOT) On-Board Training (OBT): FE-6 configured and completed a training session to enhance Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) proficiency. Robotics instructors observed the activity real time. She also completed an on-board review of the ground control Cygnus release procedure and training video in preparation for NG-14 departure planned for January 6.

Completed Task List Activities:

  • Rodent Research gather
  • ARED spreadsheet record
  • Battery powered portable fan ops
  • VEG-03 OBT
  • VEGGIE display OBT

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

  • OBT support
  • SSRMS Elbow Pitch joint test
  • MSS maneuver for SSRMS walkoff to N2 PDGF
  • SSRMS Cygnus grapple
  • Payloads ops support

Look Ahead Plan
Tuesday, January 5 (GMT 005)

  • FLUIDICS run 1 (ESA)
  • Moderate Temp PCG icebrick install (JAXA)
  • Repository: Urine Collect and saliva setup (NASA)
  • Food physiology Blood setup
  • SAFFIRE Diagnostics prep (NASA)
  • Rodent Hab restock and access unit clean and fixative (NASA)
  • Bacterial Adhesion and Corrosion inoculation 3 (NASA)
  • Cardinal Heart Chamber fixation (NASA)

Systems:

  • Dragon cargo transfer ops
  • Cygnus egress

Wednesday, January 6 (GMT 006)

  • FLUIDICS run 2 and 3 and closeout (ESA)
  • Food Physiology Blood collect,
  • Repository: urine, saliva collect (NASA)
  • NanoRack Module 9 mixture ops 4 (NASA)
  • HRF VEGGIE questionnaire (NASA)
  • Rodent Habitat Stow (NASA)
  • ACE Module Reconfiguration (NASA)
  • SUBSA Sample exchange and photo (NASA)
  • CommuBios (Icebricks into SABL 3) (NASA)
  • Antimicrobial Coatings pad touch ops(NASA)
  • Actiwatch Hardware return (NASA)
  • Cardinal Heart Chamber fixation and microscopy ops and data download (NASA)
  • Thermal Amine Effluent sampling part 1 and 2 (NASA)

Systems:

  • NG-14 departure
  • EVA DOUG review, Airlock unstow, CWC-I degas

Thursday, January 7 (GMT 007)

  • VEG-03 wick open (NASA)
  • Food Physiology Saliva collect (NASA)
  • BAC Cell fixation (NASA)
  • Food Acceptability (NASA)

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

  • Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules Hardware Setup
  • TOCA Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
  • On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Review
  • Payload Laptop Terminal 3(PLT3) Relocation
  • VEGGIE Display On-Board Training
  • VEG Series Experiment On-Board Training.
  • Cargo Transfer to Dragon
  • VEG-03 MWA Preparation
  • On Board Training (OBT) Cygnus Ground Control Release Self Study
  • VEG-03 Experiment Install
  • Water Recovery System (WRS) Waste Tank Sample
  • LSG Decon Reconfig
  • PCS Laptop Relocate
  • Rodent Research MELFI Remove
  • PCS Laptop Relocate
  • Rodent Research Fixative Swap
  • VEG-03 Experiment Install
  • Gather Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK)
  • SAFFIRE Diagnostic Prep Procedure Review
  • Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3
  • Cargo Transfer to Dragon
  • SLAMMD Hardware Review Body Mass Measurement
  • SLAMMD Bag Gather
  • Antimicrobial Coatings Deploy
  • Systems Operations Data File (SODF) Update
  • Antimicrobial Coatings Photo [Aborted]
  • Antimicrobial Coatings Placard Touch [Aborted]
  • On Board Training (OBT) ROBoT T&C Self Study
  • Rodent Research Access Unit Clean
  • Cardinal Heart Tissue Chamber Media Change and Fixation
  • Cargo Transfer to Dragon
  • Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules Sample Exchange
  • TOCA Sample Data Record
  • Cygnus Cargo Closeout
  • Nikon Camera Time Synch with the ISS Time
  • Packing of Non-Recoverable Cargo in DC1 Progress 444 (76P). IMS Update
  • Cargo Transfer to Dragon
  • Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device (SLAMMD) Hardware Setup
  • Cardinal Heart MELFI Sample Insertion Operations Session 2
  • Cardinal Heart Tissue Chamber Media Change and Sample
  • Photography of ВЛ1 and ВЛ2 EVA Hatch Windows in MRM2 and ВЛ1 EVA Hatch Window in DC1
  • SLAMMD Bag Mass Measurement
  • SLAMMD Hardware Stow
  • HRF Generic Urine Collection Setup
  • SLAMMD Bag Stow
  • Cardinal Heart MELFI Sample Insertion Operations Session 1
  • Reminder HRF Generic Urine Collection
  • Reminder Rodent Research Thermal Consideration
  • UV-ATMOSPHERE. Hardware Monitoring