ISS Daily Summary Report – 8/16/2018

Russian ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) 45: Yesterday, Artemyev (EV1) and Prokopev (EV2) exited the Docking Compartment (DC)1 at 11:17 AM CDT and completed Russia EVA #45 with a Phased Elapsed Time (PET) of 7 hours and 46 minutes. The crew was able to complete the following tasks:

  • Deployment of 2 nanosatellites “Tanyusha-YuZGU”
  • Deployment of 2 nanosatellites “SiriusSat”
  • Installation of P/L “ICARUS” on URM-D work station on Pl.II of the Service Module (SM)
  • Removal of “Test” exposure cassettes #17 and 18 on DC1 

Bigelow Expandable Aerospace Module (BEAM) Ingress: Earlier today the crew ingressed BEAM and replaced one of the four Distributed Impact Detection System (DIDS) sensors located inside the BEAM.  DIDS sensors are used to triangulate an impact location and estimate the magnitude of the impact in the event of an MMOD event.  While the crew was in the BEAM they also upgrade the Wireless Temperature System (WTS) sensors with longer power cables. These new cables will allow the crew to relocate all of the sensor battery packs to a central location on the BEAM Forward Bulkhead, saving substantial crew time in the future to replace the batteries.  Finally, the crew replaced the temporary Kynar Bag that had been used to route Intermodular Ventilation (IMV) air from BEAM to Node 3 with a ground-manufactured coupling.  

Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)2 Hardware Gather: The crew ingressed the PMA2 to retrieve the left and right V-Guides. This hardware is scheduled to be taken outside during the next EVA, currently planned on 20-September, and stowed.  V-Guides are used to assist the crew in the event a radiator has to be retracted.

Chemical Gardens: The crew removed a Chemical Gardens ampoule kit from a Cargo Transfer Bag, break the seal between the ampoules and mix the contents of both. In the Chemical Gardens experiment, selected metal salts are added to an aqueous solution of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), resulting in the formation of inorganic structures that resemble plant growth in a time span ranging from minutes to hours. On Earth, gravity-induced flow due to buoyancy differences between the reactants complicates our understanding of the physics behind these “chemical gardens”. Conducting this experiment in the microgravity environment onboard the ISS removes the gravity effects, ensures diffusion-controlled growth, and allows researchers a better assessment of initiation and evolution of chemical gardens. 

Manufacturing Device (MD) 3D Printer: The crew removed and stowed a 3-dimensional printed item from the Manufacturing Device 3D printer today.  The MD 3D Printer supports the production of components on the ISS for both NASA and commercial objectives. It is capable of producing parts out of a wide variety of thermopolymers including engineered plastics.

Team Task Switching (TTS): A crewmember completed a TTS survey today.  When crewmembers are required to switch their attention between tasks frequently, performance on each of the tasks can be negatively affected. The objective of the TTS investigation is to gain knowledge about whether or not crewmembers have difficulty in switching tasks and determine the impacts of these switches, in order to both reduce any negative consequences and improve individual and team motivation and effectiveness.  

Russian EVA 45 Tool Inspection and Stow: The crew inspected and deconfigured the GoPro Cameras and Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Interchangeable Portable Light (EHIP) assemblies used by the Russian crew during yesterday’s EVA. Once complete, the crew stowed these items along with the other tools used by the Russian crew.

CrewNet Commissioning: Today the crew tested the newly deployed CrewNet system’s performance and bandwidth utilizing the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) 275. The CrewNet network is a new system allowing increased speed when connecting to ground resources and updating the iPad apps needed for day-to-day operations.

Split Atmosphere Test:  In order to characterize the current performance of the Lab Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Removal Assembly (CDRA), IMV was re-configured to facilitate air recirculation within the United States and Russian On-Orbit Segments separately.  Both segments will be able to collect data on CO2 removal hardware performance.  The plan is to remain in this configuration for at least 5 days.

Dedicated Thruster Firing Test: The ground performed a test today to gather data on structural modes during specific sets of thruster firings. The test lasted approximately 15 minutes with five periodic thruster firings that each last less than a second followed by a free drift period. There is a 3-second free drift period between the first two thruster firings, and a ~3 minute free drift period between the rest of the thruster firings.

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

  • ISS HAM Columbus Pass
  • ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Columbus
  • Combustion Integrated Rack FOMA Calibration Valve Close
  • ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
  • Photo/TV N3/BEAM Camcorder Setup
  • ARED Platform Fold
  • USOS Window Shutter Close
  • Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Node 3 Aft Unstow
  • Coliform Water Sample Analysis 44 +/- 4 hours post processing
  • Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Ingress
  • Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA) 2 Hardware Gather
  • Node 2 Endcone Cleanout
  • Chemical Gardens Procedure Review
  • Beam Cable Replace
  • Chemical Gardens MWA Preparation
  • Battery Charge Initiation for MetabolicSpace
  • Chemical Gardens Mix Ops
  • SUPVIS-JUSTIN Big Picture Words read
  • SUPVIS-JUSTIN Science Briefing
  • Cold Atom Lab Bracket Replace
  • BEAM to N3 Duct Coupling Installation
  • Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Brine Filter Changeout
  • PMA-2 Ingress
  • V-Guide Retrieval from PMA2
  • Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config Columbus Setup
  • Removal of US TV camera, Light, and REBA power unit from Orlan
  • Combustion Integrated Rack FOMA Calibration Valve Open
  • Chemical Gardens Mix Ops
  • PAO Preparation
  • PMA2 Egress
  • Splitting atmosphere in FGB ГА
  • Filling (separation) of ЕДВ (КОВ) for Elektron or ЕДВ-СВ
  • Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) in Columbus
  • Node2 Fwd Endcone Stowage Replace
  • Russian Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Transfer
  • Photo/TV EVA GOPRO Card Transfer – US CREW
  • Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Initiation
  • СОЖ maintenance
  • Team Task Switching Experiment Survey Subject
  • РАДИОСКАФ. Switch the radar equipment into retransmission mode
  • Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Helmet Interchangeable Portable Light (EHIP) Inspection
  • Manufacturing Device Print Removal, Clean and Stow
  • Restow equipment needed for egress of Pressurized Mating Adapter 2
  • Private Medical Conference before EVA
  • Countermeasures System (CMS) VELO Exercise session
  • Binary Colloidal Alloy Test – Battery Changeout
  • BEAM Data Recorder Replace
  • Extravehicular Activity Umbilical Interface Assembly Cover Stow
  • Post-EVA Pille Dosimeter Reading
  • BEAM Cleanup and Egress
  • US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tools Stow
  • ARED Platform Unfold Back to Nominal Position
  • Photo/TV Node 3 Camcorder Deactivation
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate
  • Post-EVA Medical Kits Restow
  • MELFI1 2 Icebrick Insertion
  • Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Split Configuration
  • Pressurization of Elektron-VM Liquid Unit before Activation
  • Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill

Completed Task List Activities:

  • None

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

  • ISS Dedicated Thruster Firing Testing

Three-Day Look Ahead:

  • Friday, 08/17: MD Granular Damping, BEAM Access cleanup, SPHERES RESWARM, PCG Microplate, SUPVIS Justin, CIR Valve Timers, BCAT, Sextant Ops
  • Saturday, 08/18: Housekeeping, BCAT Battery Changeout, Crew Off-Duty
  • Sunday, 08/19: 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 Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Idle
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