A Cosmic Flower Blooms and Sends Its Seeds Into the Void

ISS Daily Summary Report – 08/18/2016

Mouse Epigenetics Cage Unit Maintenance: The crew completed standard maintenance activities for the Mouse Epigenetics experiment by refilling the Transportation Cage Units with water and checking the water nozzles of the individual cages. The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space. Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew spent most of the day preparing for tomorrow’s EVA,  completing the following: Configured/audited tools and prepared the Equipment Lock (EL), Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) and ancillary hardware. Removed/relocated stowage from the Node 2 forward port endcone to access the forward International Docking Adapter (IDA) control panel. Set up the IDA control panel and 2 multimeters for the Modified Androgynous Peripheral Attachment System (MAPAS) installation. Copied EMU/Airlock contingency procedures to their iPads in the event the Station Support Computer (SSC) goes down. Pre-EVA health check. Pre-EVA conference with ground teams. International Docking Adapter (IDA): Ground controllers used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to inspect the sealing surface of IDA2, and then successfully extracted the IDA from the Dragon trunk overnight.   There was a delay in the removal when a tethered pyro bolt from the Latch B Flight Support Equipment (FSE) floated very close to the IDA handrail.  A video inspection of the handrail confirmed that the tether was not looped around or through the handrail.  The ground team continued with the IDA extraction but the FSE bolt interfered with the bottom of the handrail and the IDA structure.   The FSE bolt was freed after a sequence of adjustments with the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) robotic arm.  The adjustments were very minor and positive margin between the IDA and Dragon were verified prior to each adjustments.  The IDA was maneuvered to position for the installation on Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA) 2 during the spacewalk tomorrow morning.  MERLIN-1 False Fire Indication:  MERLIN-1 was unpowered following a false fire indication.  Crew members took Compound Specific Analyzer- Combustion Products (CSA-CP) readings which were all zero.  Ground teams are investigating the cause.  No loss of science was incurred, as MERLIN-1 is located in the Node 1 Galley area and is used primarily for crew preference items. Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. ISS crew and ГОГУ (RSA Flight Control Management Team) weekly conference r/g 3090 FAGEN. Photography during fixation of samples / r/g 3118 FAGEN. Fixation of samples from MCK No.4 and setup in SM r/g 3117 CARDIOVECTOR. Experiment Ops r/g 3115 MOUSE Hardware Setup ABOUT GAGARIN FROM SPACE. HAM Radio Session Leaders Club / r/g 3114 Pre-EVA Crew Health Status – Prep Pre-EVA Crew Health Status – CMO Pre-EVA Crew Health Status – Subject Pille Sensors setup for USOS EVA / r/g 3120 CARDIOVECTOR. Photography of the Experiment Ops / r/g 3116 UDOD. Experiment Ops with DYKNANIYE-1 and SPRUT-2 Sets r/g 3119 Collecting surface samples from SM equipment and structures / r/g 3084 PHS hardware stow (Periodic Health Status) ABOUT GAGARIN FROM SPACE. HAM Radio Session Leaders Club / r/g 3114 XF305 Camcorder Settings Adjustment Mouse Epigenetics, Transportation Cage Unit, Troubleshooting, Part 1 Kulonovskiy Kristall Experiment Run. Tagup with specialists / r/g 3123 EVA Tool Config KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Copy and Downlink Data / r/g 3123 EVA Procedure Review On MCC Go Installation of a new upgraded СЗУ-ЦУ8 device at FGB БР-9ЦУ-8 system ЗУ1А operation site r/g 3095 Equipment Lock Preparation USOS EVA Tool Audit Final printout of EVA procedures EVA Procedure Conference On MCC Go: Replacement of ЗУ1Б ЭА025М device with the upgraded FGB БР-9ЦУ-8 device r/g 3095 Collecting surface samples from SM equipment and structures / r/g 3084 US EVA, NODE2 Ops in Preparation for International Docking Adapter (IDA) Installation OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring / r/g 1588 СОЖ Maintenance Private medical conference before EVA from USOS Replacement of CO2 Filter Unit ИК0501 ISS-HAM Radio Session On-orbit hearing assessment using EARQ Progress 432 [OA] Stowage Ops with IMS Support / r/g 3122 CUCU EVA Inhibits Countermeasures System (CMS), Sprint Exercise, Optional Multimeter and Camcorder Setup in N2 in preparation for IDA Installation Physical Fitness Evaluation (on the treadmill) r/g 3100 IDENTIFICATION. Copy ИМУ-Ц micro-accelerometer data to laptop / r/g 1589 INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops / r/g 3113 ISS HAM RADIO Power Down Private medical conference before EVA from USOS On-orbit hearing assessment using EARQ  Completed Task List Items None  Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. EVA procedures review IDA multimeter startup Nominal ground commanding Three-Day Look Ahead: Friday, 08/19: IDA2 EVA Saturday, 08/20: Post EVA cleanup activities, EVA debrief, Heart Cells media change, Mouse cage maintenance, CMO OBT Sunday, 08/21: Crew off duty QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:                               Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) On [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 Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up

August 19, 2016 at 12:00AM
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Perseid Night at Yosemite

The 2016 Perseid meteor shower performed well on the night of August 11/12. The sky on that memorable evening was recorded from a perch overlooking Yosemite Valley, planet Earth, in this scene composed of 25 separate images selected from an all-night set of sequential exposures. Each image contains a single meteor and was placed in alignment using the background stars. The digital manipulation accounts for the Earth's rotation throughout the night and allows the explosion of colorful trails to be viewed in perspective toward the shower's radiant in the constellation Perseus. The fading alpenglow gently lights the west face of El Capitan just after sunset. Just before sunrise, a faint band zodiacal light, or the false dawn, shines upward from the east, left of Half Dome at the valley's far horizon. Car lights illuminate the valley road. Of course, the image is filled with other celestial sights from that Perseid night, including the Milky Way and the Pleiades star cluster. via NASA http://ift.tt/2bE9HTf

Today's Version Of NASA's Future Plans For ISS

NASA hopes to hand the International Space Station to a commercial owner by mid 2020s, TechCrunch

"NASA's trying to develop economic development in low-earth orbit," [NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Bill] Hill said, speaking on a panel of NASA staff assembled to discuss the upcoming Mars mission. "Ultimately, our desire is to hand the space station over to either a commercial entity or some other commercial capability so that research can continue in low-earth orbit, so that research can continue in low-earth orbit. ... NASA didn't specify any potential buyer, but two commercial entities are about to add significant real estate to the ISS: a new docking adapter is being put in place to support crew shuttle missions from Boeing and SpaceX, both of which are set to start shuttling personnel to the station in 2017."

Keith's note: Every time someone from NASA talks about the future of ISS and the #JourneyToMars thing they contradict themselves and further muddy the issue.

1. CASIS is supposed to be doing this commercial stuff already with the U.S. portion of the ISS - NASA doesn't mention that very often.
2. The ISS is owned by more countries/agencies than just NASA. So how can NASA hand the ISS over to anyone?
3. "Buyer"? NASA is going to sell the ISS? (see #2)
4. Boeing and SpaceX own their visiting spacecraft - "real estate" that comes and goes.

NASA's Plan For Commercializing Low Earth Orbit Is Still A Mystery, earlier post
NASA: We're on a #JourneyToMars - But Don't Ask Us How, earlier post
Dazed and Confused About Space Commerce At NASA, earlier post
A Closer Look At The CASIS "Space Is In It" Endorsement, earlier post

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Plugging Away Inside Massive SLS Fuel Tank: Welders Complete Final Plug Fusion Welds on SLS Liquid Hydrogen Tank

Welders inside a large liquid hydrogen tank for NASA's Space Launch System at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans are plugging holes left after the tank was assembled. via NASA http://ift.tt/2b3ycaU

So What Exactly Is an “Alien Megastructure”?

ISS Daily Summary Report – 08/17/2016

Fluid Shifts Operations In the Service Module: With ground team assistance, crewmembers performed Fluid Shifts Imaging exams by configuring the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and the Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) hardware, before completing a DPOAE test, OCT exam, and a Tonometry exam. The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the space flight-induced fluid shift, including intra- and extravascular shifts, intra- and extracellular shifts, changes in total body water and lower vs. upper body shifts. Results from this investigation are expected to help define the causes of the ocular structure and vision changes associated with long duration space flight, and assist in the development of countermeasures.  Biological Research in Canisters Natural Products (BRIC-NP) Cold Stowage Preparation: The crew retrieved the BRIC-NP canisters from EXPRESS Rack 2 and inserted them in the Glacier for return on SpX-9. The BRIC-NP investigation, radiation-tolerant fungal strains isolated from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant are exposed to spaceflight conditions on board the ISS, then screened for the biological production of beneficial medical or agricultural substances.  eValuatIon And monitoring of microBiofiLms insidE the ISS (ViABLE) Payload Return:  The crew photographed all four ViABLE Bags inside the Functional Cargo Block (FGB) locker before removing and inserting each one into separate ViABLE Return Bags and placing them into Ziploc bags for return on SpX-9. ViABLE involves the evaluation of microbial biofilm development on metallic and textile space materials located inside and on the cover of Nomex pouches. Microbial biofilms are known for causing damage and contamination on the Mir space station and the ISS.  The potential application of novel methodologies and products to treat space materials may lead to improvements in the environmental quality of confined human habitats in space and on earth. Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations: The crew recorded and submitted a walk-through video documenting observations of life onboard ISS, providing insight related to human factors and habitability. The Habitability investigation collects observations about the relationship between crew members and their environment on the ISS. Observations can help spacecraft designers understand how much habitable volume is required, and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crew members need. Dose Tracker: The Dose Tracker app was configured and the crew completed entries for medication tracking on an iPad. This investigation documents the medication usage of crewmembers before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities. The data is expected to either support or counter anecdotal evidence of medication ineffectiveness during flight and unusual side effects experienced during flight. It is also expected that specific, near-real-time questioning about symptom relief and side effects will provide the data required to establish whether spaceflight-associated alterations in pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD) is occurring during missions.  Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Hydrogen (H2) Sensor Remove & Replace (R&R): The crew completed OGS H2 sensor Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) purge adapter operations, R&R of the H2 sensor ORU and AAA cleaning with inlet inspection and cleaning. This activity was scheduled due to ORU end-of-life.  Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Sample Collection: The UPA Distillate Filter and Purge Filter were removed and replaced for return samples in support of the UPA elevated conductivity investigation.  The preceding UPA process cycle had elevated conductivity levels and the samples will help ground teams understand the difference in conductivity with the purge line reconnected.  Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Check Separator Light: To isolate the cause of Check Separator Light illumination, the crew performed an inspection of the hoses and electrical connections on the Urine Receptacle. They reported that the electrical cable on the Urine Receptacle was coiled tightly and may be kinked. They removed the zip tie that was holding the cable together to allow more slack and demated/remated the XT2 connector. Additional troubleshooting steps are in work for the crew to perform as a result of yesterday’s Flight Investigation Team (FIT) recommendations. Extravehicular Robotics Operations: Yesterday afternoon, Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to unstow the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM).  Following SPDM unstow, they maneuvered the SSRMS to position it over the SpX-9 Dragon Trunk and configured the SPDM to extract the International Docking Adapter 2 (IDA2) from the trunk later today. SPDM checkouts were also completed in preparation for the IDA2 Extravehicular Activity (EVA) this Friday. Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Calf Volume Measurement / r/g 3080 FLUID SHIFTS. Comm configuration for the experiment /  r/g 9995 FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering and Connecting Equipment for TV coverage Soyuz 731 Samsung Tablet Recharge, initiate Biological Research in Canisters Natural Products Stowage Preparation Study of veins in lower extremities / r/g 3081 Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Video file transfer to flash drive BRICNP. Sample Insertion into Glacier OGA Hydrogen Sensor R&R Collecting surface samples from FGB equipment and structures / r/g 3083 Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Hydrogen Sensor ORU Purge Adapter (HOPA) Operations FLUID SHIFTS. OCT Hardware Setup in SM FLUID SHIFTS. Connecting [OCT] Laptop to BRI r/g 3104 DOSETRK iPad data entry DRAGON. Transfers RSS2 Laptop SW Upgrade for Auto Data Downlink via RSPI r/g 3105 FLUID SHIFTS. OCT Power up in SM Printing Housekeeping Procedure DOSETRK Questionnaire Completion Soyuz 720 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Initiate Soyuz 731 Samsung Tablet Recharge, – Terminate FLUID SHIFTS. DPOAE Setup in SM FLUID SHIFTS. Operator Assistance with Chibis and Gamma-1 r/g 3103 FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Setup / r/g 3103 FLUID SHIFTS. TONO Hardware setup in SM OGA Hydrogen Sensor R&R, Part 2 FLUID SHIFTS. Data Gathering in the SM, Subject FLUID SHIFTS. Gathering Data in SM, Operator Installation of ЗУ1А and Replacement of ЗУ1Б БР-9ЦУ-8 in FGB, Prep for Work, Clearing FGB panels r/g 3095 Fluid Shifts DPOAE Data Recovery FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Closeout Ops / r/g 3103 Water Recovery System Waste Water Tank Drain, Initiate IMS Delta File Prep IFM IMV Cleaning FLUID SHIFTS. TONO SM Stowage FLUID SHIFTS. OCT Power off in SM OGA Hydrogen Sensor Cleaning FLUID SHIFTS. Disconnecting OCT Laptop r/g 3106 DRAGON. Cargo Transfer Tagup […]

August 18, 2016 at 12:00AM
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