ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/04/2018

SpX-14 Mission:  At 5:40 am CDT this morning, the ISS crew used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to capture the Dragon vehicle. This capture marked the first use of Forced Based Capture, a software enhancement to the Latching End Effector (LEE) that reduces loads on the snare cables, during SpaceX operations. Ground specialists maneuvered the Dragon to the preinstall position and performed an inspection of the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM) prior to installation at Node2 Nadir at 9:07 AM CDT. Successful vestibule pressurization, leak checks, vestibule outfitting, and CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) rotation support tomorrow morning’s scheduled ingress.

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Tether Slosh: Today the crew set up the SPHERES Tether Slosh hardware but communication issues between the antenna and the SPHERES robots prevented successful completion of all of the test sessions.  Ground teams are investigating.  SPHERES Tether Slosh combines fluid dynamics equipment with robotic capabilities aboard the International Space Station to investigate automated strategies for steering passive cargo that contain fluids. In space, the fluid fuels used by spacecraft can slosh around in unpredictable ways making space maneuvers difficult. This investigation uses two SPHERES robots tethered to a fluid-filled container covered in sensors to test strategies for safely steering spacecraft such as dead satellites that might still have fuel in the tank. 

Space Test Program – H5 (STP-H5) Innovative Coatings Experiment (ICE): The crew photographed the external ICE material strips on STP-H5 through the Cupola and Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) windows today.  The harsh radiation and extreme temperatures of space can corrode the paint and coatings that protect spacecraft exteriors, potentially damaging a spacecraft’s hull. Optical coatings are also important for robotic and human navigators, who would rely on specialized markings to capture or repair spacecraft. The STP-H5 ICE investigation studies new coatings for use on spacecraft in low Earth orbit, determining their stability after 2 years in space.  Photographs are taken at 60 day intervals.  

Veg-03: Today the crew watered the plants and continued with the photo-documentation of plant growth for the Veg-03 investigation. Veg-03 supports the proof-of concept for the Veggie plant growth chamber and the planting pillows. Future long duration space missions will require a fresh food supply grown in space to supplement crew diets.

Lighting Effects: The crew obtained light meter readings in Node 2 and the Columbus module today.  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.

Microbial Tracking-2 (MT-2): To support the MT-2 investigation, a 53S crewmember collected his Flight Day 105 saliva samples and inserted them into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). 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 are collected to identify any associations between the microbial content of the samples, as well as potential health effects. 

Food Acceptability: A crewmember completed a Food Acceptability questionnaire today. The Food Acceptability investigation seeks to determine the impact of repetitive consumption of food currently available from the spaceflight food system.  Results will be used in developing strategies to improve food system composition to support crew health and performance on long duration missions. 

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

  • Microbial Tracking-2 Body Sample Collection
  • Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Retrieval Insert
  • Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Route and Checkout
  • USOS Window Shutter Close
  • Regeneration of БМП Ф1 Micropurification Cartridge (start)
  • Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
  • Check to see that shutters are closed on windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14. 
  • Mouse Stress Defense Cage Watering for M3
  • Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink Setup
  • FAZOPEREKHOD. Preparation steps and starting the experiment.
  • Photo/TV Ghost Camera in Cuopla on SSC power recording
  • Mouse Stress Defense Pre-mission Transfer Familiarization 1
  • Robotics Workstation (RWS) Dragon Configuration
  • Routine monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop (RS1).  Laptop Log-File Downlink.
  • Dragon R Bar Approach
  • UPA Brine Filter Gather
  • Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Brine Filter Changeout
  • Test activation of Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System Emergency Vacuum Valves
  • EarthKAM AC Inverter Deploy in NOD1
  • Filling (separation) of ЕДВ (КОВ) for Elektron-VM or ЕДВ-СВ
  • Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review 1
  • ISS Crew Orientation
  • СОЖ maintenance
  • Dragon R Bar Approach
  • SREDA-ISS. Preparation Steps and Start Imagery Ops.  
  • Scheduled ВП-2 Pilot’s Sight Test
  • Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Dragon Capture
  • Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
  • FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops.
  • Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check Equipment Setup
  • Scheduled PUMA Test (001497R,ФГБ1ПГО_2_219_1, 0.5 СТВ No.1174, container 228-4
  • SREDA-ISS. Closeout Ops
  • Polar and TCU Transfer from Dragon Overview
  • Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Deactivation
  • Ghost camera teardown in Cupola
  • Photo TV High Definition (HD) Dragon Video Setup
  • MELFI Overview OBT
  • VEG-03 Dual Facility Watering for each Plant Pillow
  • Photography of FGB space behind panels 311, 421 to accommodate devices for comm quality enhancement (УУКС).
  • Precision Vertical Wide Angle Sight (ВШТВ) Checkout
  • Lighting Effects Light Meter Setup
  • VEG-03E &  F Plant Photo
  • Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review 2
  • Lighting Effects Light Meter Readings
  • SPHERES Test Session Setup
  • Food Acceptability Questionnaire – Subject
  • JEM Common Gas Support Equipment (CGSE) Gas Supply Start
  • Photography of SM windows  26, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 
  • Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position
  • Lighting Effects Light Meter Stow
  • SPHERES TSLOSH Run
  • MATRYOSHKA-R. Monitoring Tritel Readings
  • Cyclops ICE Experiment Photos
  • Air Quality Monitor (AQM) Troubleshooting
  • Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill
  • Robotic Workstation (RWS) Teardown
  • Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Deroute
  • Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check
  • Dragon Vestibule Outfitting
  • Node 2 Nadir Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) Removal/Rotation
  • Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
  • SPHERES Test Session Shutdown
  • SPHERES USB Stow
  • On-Board Training (OBT) Dragon Emergency Review
  • CONTENT. Experiment Ops
  • Regeneration Micropurification Unit (БМП) Ф1 Absorption Cartridge (end)

Completed Task List Activities

  • None 

Ground Activities
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

  • Dragon Capture Support
  • Robotic Dragon Installation
  • Dragon Activation
  • Standard Commanding 

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Thursday, 04/05: Dragon Cargo Ops, Mouse Stress Defense, TangoLab 2 Install, TangoLab 1 Card R&R, POLAR Sample Xfr, MVP Install, NanoRacks Plate Reader2 Ops
  • Friday, 04/06: Veg03 Ops, Metabolic Tracking Setup, Mouse Stress Defense Ops, STP-H5 Imagery, Medical Contingency OBT, MVP Insertion Ops, Made-In-Space Setup, METEOR Ops
  • Saturday, 04/07: Housekeeping, 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”)

Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab

Operate

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3

Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab

Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3

Standby

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