ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/14/2018

Lighting Effects: Upon wakeup, a 53S subject provided a daily sleep log entry to track his sleep patterns and wakefulness. The Lighting Effects experiment hopes to better quantify and qualify how lighting can effect habitability of spacecraft. The light bulbs on the ISS are being replaced with a new system designed for improved crew health and wellness. 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. 

Plant Gravity Perception Operations European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS): The crew replaced the EMCS Thermal Control System (TCS) cold spot sponge before replacing the Experiment Containers (ECs) on the EMCS rotors with new ECs to begin the next Plant Gravity Perception experiment run. The Plant Gravity Perception investigation germinates normal and mutated forms of thale cress, a model research plant, to study the plants’ gravity and light perception. Results provide new information about plants’ ability to detect gravity and how they adapt to an environment without it, which benefits efforts to grow plants for food on future missions. The EMCS is an experiment facility that is dedicated to studying plant biology in a reduced gravity environment. It supports the cultivation, stimulation, and crew-assisted operation of biological experiments under controlled conditions. The facility has performed multi-generation (seed-to-seed) experiments and studies the effects of gravity and light on early development and growth, signal perception and transduction in plant tropisms. 

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Manifold #2 Bottle Replacement: The crew removed and replaced a CIR manifold #2 bottle on the front of the optics bench. CIR provides sustained, systematic microgravity combustion research and it houses hardware capable of performing combustion experiments to further research of combustion in microgravity. This is for the ACME investigation which is a set of five independent studies of gaseous flames to be conducted in the CIR. ACME’s primary goal is to improved fuel efficiency and reduced pollutant production in practical combustion on Earth. Its secondary goal is to improve spacecraft fire prevention through innovative research focused on materials flammability.

NanoRacks DreamUp Xtronaut Crystal Growth (DreamXCG): The crew continued to track the progression of the DreamXCG formation that was initiated two weeks ago, by taking photo and video images of each pouch to show any visible sugar crystal growth. This investigation teaches students about the effects of microgravity on crystal formations using near-identical flight kits flown and operated aboard the International Space Station (ISS). With access to crew member videos and data on the same experiment, students are able compare crystal formations in space to those in their classrooms. The investigation aims to promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields to the next generation of students.

Tropical Cyclone: The crew configured the camera settings in the Cupola to take untended images of the Category 3 Typhoon Gita, near the South Pacific island nation of Tonga. The Tropical Cyclone investigation is used to capture images of tropical cyclones and hurricanes that are rated at Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson scale. A pseudo-stereoscopic method is used to determine the altitudes of the cloud tops near the center (eye) of a cyclone by precisely tracking the apparent positions of cloud features with respect to the Earth and how those positions change over time as an observer (the ISS in this case) passes over the storm. The photographic images will be used to demonstrate that pseudo-spectroscopy can be used to measure the cloud altitudes to sufficient precision so that, when combined with other remote-sensing data, an accurate determination of the intensity of hurricane or cyclone can be made. 

Earth Imagery from ISS Target (EIISS): Using the RED camera, the crew captured images of the Amazon River, the Gulf of Thailand, and the Baja Peninsula. 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.

Columbus Mass Memory Unit (MMU) Memory Card Replacement: Today, the crew replaced one of the Memory Cards to restore internal redundancy in MMU2. To gain access to MMU2, the crew rotated the Human Research Facility 1 (HRF-1) rack and performed the memory card replacement.

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

  • Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry – Subject
  • MORZE. Evaluation using SPRUT-2.
  • MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Tsentrovka, SENSOR Tests
  • European Modular Cultivation System Gas Valve Open
  • European Modular Cultivation System Thermal Control System Sponge Replace
  • Weekly Cleaning
  • ISS CREW/SSIPC CONFERENCE
  • VEG-03E Plant Pillow Water
  • Cleanup HRF-1 rotation path.
  • Sampling condensate water [КАВ] upstream of СРВ-К2М Gas-liquid mixture filter (ФГС) to drink bags, end
  • Columbus MMU Memory Card pre-gather
  • MOTOCARD. Charging GoPro Camcorder Battery
  • Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Stow Alternate
  • MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: SUPOS Test
  • HRF-1 Rack Tilt Down at COL1F4
  • Sampling condensate water [КАВ] upstream of СРВ-К2М БКО (Water Purification Column Unit) – configuration set up, installing sampler
  • MORZE. Closeout Ops
  • Conference on specifics of Progress 438 docking.
  • Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
  • MMU2 Single Memory Card Remove and Replacement
  • NanoRacks Rock Candy Imagery
  • Biolab Incubator Cold Spot Sponge Removal
  • CO2 manual valve closing
  • Collecting condensate water samples [КАВ] to [СРВ-К2М] БКО, sampler replacement
  • Orthostatic Stability Evaluation with LBNP.
  • Evaluation of Orthostatic Stability with LBNP (assistance)
  • RED Camera Setup.
  • Earth Imagery from ISS RED Target Operations
  • Rodent Research Sample Relocation
  • Rodent Research MELFI Remove
  • Replacement of urine receptacle (МП) and filter-insert (Ф-В) in АСУ. [АСУ] Activation after Replacement
  • ISS HAM Service Module Pass
  • HRF-1 Rack Tilt Up at COL1F4
  • Plant Gravity Perception/European Modular Cultivation System Experiment Container Replace
  • Columbus MSD Restow
  • СОЖ maintenance
  • Columbus Bay4 Restore
  • Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth
  • In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Full Fill
  • ISS Crew departure preparation
  • СВО-ЗВ water sampling to Russian drink bags
  • Sampling condensate water [КАВ] to БКО [СРВ-К2М], removing sampler, equipment disassembly
  • MELFI 3 Ice Brick Insert 4
  • MELFI 2 Ice Brick Insert 7
  • MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops
  • Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open
  • Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #2 Bottle Replacement
  • RED Camera Deactivation.
  • Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Close
  • Tropical Cyclone Untended Check
  • Checking БД-2 treadmill carriage position.
  • Atmospheric Control System (ACS) Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) Oxygen Transfer to Low Pressure O2 Tank
  • Extravehicular Activity Station Support Computer Relocate
  • Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
  • Evening work prep, ТБУ- В No.5 Current Temperature Check
  • Tropical Cyclone Hardware Closeout

Completed Task List Activities

  • None

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

  • Standard Commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Thursday, 02/15: 69P docking, EVA prep
  • Friday, 02/16: USOS EVA #48 (swap POA LEE with ESP2 degraded LEE, return POA LEE to airlock, CLA swap, FMS grounding strap install)
  • Saturday, 02/17:  VEG-03, post-EVA activities, MT-2, ISS-HAM, Crew Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:

Component

Status

Elektron

On

Vozdukh

Manual

[СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”)

Off

[СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”)

On

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