ISS Daily Summary Report – 11/28/2018

Cemsica Sample Exchange:  Today the crew removed the calibration cartridge from the SUBSA facility and inserted the first Cemsica science cartridge for processing. Cemsica tests a novel approach of using particles of calcium-silicate (C-S) to synthesize nanoporous membranes (those with pores 100 nanometers or smaller) that can separate carbon dioxide molecules from air or other gases. Synthesizing the materials in microgravity may resolve existing challenges in membrane manufacturing and lead to development of lower-cost membranes with improved flux and high-temperature stability. SUBSA offers a gradient freeze furnace for materials science investigations that can reach 850°C.

NanoRacks External Platform Inserts (NREP) Hardware Swap: The crew installed the new experiment plate and Hyperspectral Earth Imaging System Trial (HEIST) onto the NREP. Due to an unexpected L-bracket configuration on the HEIST hardware, it was mounted to an alternate location, but no science impacts are expected. HEIST is a compact hyperspectral sensor system for commercial Earth observation. Hyperspectral data from hundreds of narrow spectral bands result in extremely high spectral resolution and a contiguous reflectance spectrum of each pixel in the image, from visible light all the way through infrared. NanoRacks-ISS-HEIST offers a less expensive and smaller option for a commercial hyperspectral sensor deployed in space. The NREP represents the first external commercial research capability for testing in support of scientific investigations, sensors, and electronic components in space.

Veg-03G Harvest: The crew harvested the Dragoon lettuce and Red Russian Kale plants that have been growing since October 25. Part of the harvest was packed for return for ground analysis and the rest of the harvest was made available for crew consumption.  The crew also performed microbial sampling and cleaning/drying of the Veggie facility hardware. The primary goal of the Veg-03 G/H/I testing is to demonstrate plant growth in the Veggie hardware using leafy green vegetables as a test crops.

Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) 3003 and 3008 H20 Recharge, Loop Scrub, and Iodination: In preparation for the potential of upcoming ExtraVehicular Activities (EVAs), the crew refilled both EMUs feedwater tanks. The crew then performed EMU water loop scrubs and then acquired and tested water samples for conductivity. EMU Loop Scrubs are required preventive maintenance needed to remove any chemical and biological contaminants from the EMU Transport Loop.

Completed Task List Activities:

  • None

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

  • JEM Airlock Depressurization in support of NREP Exchange

Two-Day Look Ahead: 

Thursday, 11/29:
Payloads

  • Myotones
  • Cemsica Sample exchange

Systems:

  • Surface and Air Sampling
  • ARED Cylinder Evac

Friday, 11/30:
Payloads:

  • Cemsica Sample exchange
  • PCG-16 microscope observations
  • MVP Module Remove (Cell-05)
  • WICO SD Card Delete

Systems:

  • Dragon RoBOT OBT
  • CUCU Activation and Checkout

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

  • JEM Airlock Press
  • Dragon Prepack
  • Study preliminary EVA timeline and ODF, View EVA-45A video footage
  • NREP XF305 Video Setup
  • JEM Airlock Leak Check
  • JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side
  • NanoRacks External Platform Slide Table Remove
  • NanoRacks External Platform Hardware SWAP
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge
  • NanoRacks External Platform Slide Table Assist Capture
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Scrub Initiation
  • JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side
  • СОЖ maintenance
  • CEMSICA Sample Exchange
  • Soyuz 739 Pre-pack Ops
  • PHOTOBIOREACTOR. Sterilization Activation
  • Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Maintenance Iodination
  • Soyuz 739 Stowage Ops
  • VEG-03 MWA Preparation
  • VEG-03G Harvest
  • PHOTOBIOREACTOR. Replacement of medium container.  Tagup with specialists
  • VEG-03G MELFI Insertion #2
  • VEG-03G Harvest
  • Columbus cleanup for Myotones
  • Myotones Kit Gathering
  • EVA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Cooling Loop Scrub Deconfiguration