ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/17/2021

Payloads:

ISS HAM: The crew initiated a contact with Collège Albert Camus, La Norville and Université Paris-Saclay, Saint-Aubin, France. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground HAM radio units.

Manufacturing Device (MAND): The crew assembled the AstroRad prints, performed a flex test and integrated the AstroRad prints into the AstroRad vest. The Manufacturing Device enables the production of components on the ISS for both NASA and commercial objectives. Parts, entire experiments, and tools can be created on demand utilizing the MAND printer that is installed into an Express Rack locker location. MAND is capable of producing parts out of a wide variety of thermopolymers including engineered plastics.

Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer-20 (NRCSD-20): The crew removed the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer hardware from the MPEP (Multipurpose Experiment Platform). NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer-20 (NRCSD-20) will be used to launch 2 satellites:  RamSat and SOAR.  RamSat is a 20x10x10 cm satellite equipped with multispectral and near-infrared cameras to study large-scale disturbances to forests.  SOAR is a 30x10x10 cm satellite which looks at the effects various materials have on aerodynamic drag and performance, measures thermospheric winds, and demonstrates various maneuver capabilities.  NRCSD is a stackable, modular, ground loaded launch case. Each NRCSD accommodates up to six launch cases.  NRCSD is passed through the JEM Airlock, and manipulated robotically for to the satellite deployment position.

Oral Biofilms in Space (OBIS): The crew hydrated the OBiS Assembly Session Packs 6,7,9 and 10 with Fluid Bag 3 into the Fluid Chamber and then restowed them for incubation for 30 minutes. Session Pack 8 showed evidence of a leak and was trashed. Fluid Bag 3 is a fixative fluid medium, containing chemicals designed to arrest and preserve bacteriological growth within the Fluid Chamber. The crew then stopped the flow inside the remaining Session Packs and removed the Fluid Chambers from each Session Pack and stowed the packs in cold stowage.  Effect of Environmental Stressors on Oral Biofilm Growth and Treatment (Oral Biofilms in Space) studies the effect of gravity on the behavior of oral bacteria, including the structure of the bacterial community, and changes in bacterial response to common oral care agents. The findings could support development of novel treatments to fight oral diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The investigation also could provide insights into how microgravity affects the microbiome of other mucosal surfaces in the body.

Electromagnetic Levitator (EML Batch 3): The crew performed a replacement of EML Sample Chamber in support of Batch 3 sample experiments. EML is a multi-user facility that provides containerless melting and solidification of electrically conductive, spherical samples, under ultra-high vacuum and/or high gas-purity conditions. Heating and positioning of the sample is achieved by electromagnetic fields generated by a coil system. The EML supports research in the field of meta-stable states and phases. It also supports measurement of high-accurate thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys in the stable and undercooled state.

Lyophilization-2: The crew removed the processed sample tray from the sample chamber and stowed it for return to the ground and then inserted a new sample tray. Lyophilization-2 in Microgravity (Lyophilization-2) examines gravity’s effects on freeze-dried materials. Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is a common method for formulating pharmaceuticals with improved chemical and physical stability. On Earth, the process leads to formation of layers with structural differences, but if such stratification is due to gravity, it may not occur in microgravity. This investigation, which follows up on previous work, may result in improved freeze-drying processes for the pharmaceutical and other industries.

Systems:

Post-EVA Activities: The crew completed several post-EVA activities after yesterday’s spacewalk. The crew configured EVA tools, battery charge, and debriefed with the EVA ground team. Additionally, the crew completed an EMU water recharge and removed & replaced (R&R) the EMU Metal Oxide (METOX) Cartridge.

In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Pre-Treat Tank Remove & Replace: The crew R&R’d the Pre-Treat Tank as part of nominal WHC preventative maintenance. Each tank contains five liters of pre-treat solution, a mix of acid, chromium oxide, and water, used for toilet flushing and required for nominal WHC operation.

Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Quarterly Inspection: The crew completed this regularly scheduled inspection on ARED’s Vibration Isolation Stabilization (VIS) rails, VIS rollers, upper stop cables and X-rotation dashpots. They also gave feedback on ARED performance when the ARED lift bar is moved between lower stops and upper stops.

Completed Task List Activities:

  • None

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

  • Atmosphere Revitalization System (ARS) Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) 4 Half Cycles [Active]
  • Configure Airlock for METOX Regeneration
  • Payload Rack Officer Fluids Integrated Rack Activation Commanding

Look Ahead Plan:

Friday, June 18 (GMT 169)
Payloads:

  • JAXA Moderate Temp PCG Sample prep (JAXA)
  • AC Touch (NASA)
  • Food Acceptability (NASA)
  • NanoRacks Module-83 Photo (NASA)
  • Standard Measures Post Sleep Question (NASA)
  • PK-4 disk audit (Joint)

Systems:

  • EVA procedure review
  • EVA procedure conference
  • EVA tool configuration
  • IDA-Zenith MLI Velcro Inspection and Re-seat

Saturday, June 19 (GMT 170)
Payloads:

  • Repository Urine setup (NASA)

Systems:

  • EVA procedure review
  • EVA ROBO procedure review
  • EVA tool audit

Sunday, June 20 (GMT 171)
Payloads:

  • OBIS Bag1 init and activate (NASA)

Systems:

  • 2B Troubleshooting IROSA EVA

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

  • TV conference with the participants in the Space Lesson
  • Japanese Experiment Module NORS Tank Move
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB)/Metal Oxide (METOX) Installation
  • Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Installation
  • EVA Battery Operations Terminal Charge
  • Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge
  • To relocate bags and gather items as per Stowage Note
  • ISS Portable Glove Bag (IPGB) Setup
  • Manufacturing Device AstroRad Vest Print Ops
  • Oral Biofilms In Space (OBiS) MELFI OBiS Biofilms Session Pack
  • Checking ESA Pwr Bank charge level
  • EML. Sample swap
  • Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Debrief
  • Microgravity Science Glovebox Activation
  • Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Quarterly Inspection
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Resize
  • US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tether Inspection
  • Robotics Procedure Print
  • Reading post-EVA Pille dosimeter data
  • Lyophilization MELFI Sample Retrieve
  • Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
  • Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Post-EVA Activities
  • RSA Water transfer termination
  • Charging EVA Camera D4 Battery
  • Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Initiation
  • Crew Dragon Tablet Sync
  • In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Pre-Treat Tank Remove & Replace