ISS Daily Summary Report – 1/14/2019

SpaceX-16 Dragon Status: Early Sunday morning, the crew completed cargo loading into the Dragon vehicle in preparation for its departure. Later in the afternoon, they removed power connections, utility jumpers, and completed closeout of the Dragon vehicle prior to depressurization of the Node 2 Nadir vestibule. Robotics Ground Controllers then utilized the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to unberth Dragon then maneuver it to its release position. The crew monitored the ground controlled SSRMS release of Dragon at 5:33 PM CT. Dragon splashdown into the Pacific Ocean subsequently occurred at 11:10 PM CT.

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) imaging reconfiguration: Today the crew replaced a filter module and relay optics module. This is part of the reconfiguration to support the upcoming Burning Rate Emulator (BRE) series of experiments. These reconfiguration activities are expected to continue over the next two to three weeks. The BRE experiment runs are focused on spacecraft fire prevention. More specifically, BRE’s objective is to improve our fundamental understanding of materials flammability and to assess the relevance of existing flammability test methods for low and partial-gravity environments.

FIR/LMM/Biophysics-5 configuration: The crew configured the FIR/LMM (Fluids Integrated Rack/Light Microscopy Module/Light Microscopy Module) for the Biophysics-5 science runs. LMM/Biophyscs-5, more correctly known as Solution Convection and the Nucleation Precursors in Protein Crystallization, tests whether solution convection enhances or suppresses formation of the dense liquid clusters from which crystals form. This should help to determine why protein crystallization investigations in microgravity often generate unexpectedly low or high numbers of crystals.

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Zero Robotics Dry Run: The crew performed the dry run in preparation for the 2018 High School Tournament currently planned for late January. The dry run is performed prior to the actual competition and allows the ground to verify various aspects of the competition are working as intended. During the actual completion later this month, the teams will be tasked with dodging virtual space debris in low Earth orbit to retrieve a damaged SPHERES satellite. The SPHERES-Zero-Robotics investigation establishes an opportunity for high school students to design research for the ISS. As part of a competition, students write algorithms for the SPHERES satellites to accomplish tasks relevant to future space missions. The algorithms are tested by the SPHERES team and the best designs are selected for the competition to operate the SPHERES satellites on board the ISS.

Transition to (X2) R17 Software: Overnight, Flight Controllers started the R17 software transition by uplinking software files to Backup & Standby Command and Control (C&C) Multiplexer/Demultiplexers (MDMs) storage. Today, the crew gathered and installed Portable Computer System (PCS) R20 Hard Drives into deployed shells, while ground teams loaded BEP104 and R17 software to all three C&C MDMs,

New capabilities for X2_R17 software include:

• PCS Texting
  – Enables United States Crew Vehicle (USCV) and Soyuz crews to send 100-character (max) messages from their respective safe havens in the event of an emergency. MCC insight into texts and uplink capability will be available ~October 2019.

• New Boot Software for C&C MDMs
  – First time upgrading EPIC MDM Boot Software on-orbit

• Longeron Shadowing counter checkpointed in C&C MDM
  – Prevents a nuisance warning upon C&C transition for any array that had been shadowed at the time of the transition

• Updates to InterFace Heat Exchanger (IFHX) Leak Responses to Columbus, Lab, and Node 3
  – Closes Water On Off Valves in Columbus module and transitions Internal Thermal Control System to Dual (Lab and Node 3)

• Other Improvements
  – New Timeliner bundle will automate the commanding to radiation devices typically performed by the Biomedical Engineer (BME) console operator
  – Command/Telemetry updates to support the Water Storage System (WSS)

Completed Task List Activities:

• Insert AstroPi Micro SD Card to SSC for AstroPi OS update (Completed GMT 012)
• T2 Kit Audit (Completed GMT 012)
• Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) Gas Bottle Unit (GBU) valve opening (Completed GMT 012)
• Ethernet Cable Information Gather (Completed GMT 012)
• EVA Bag Restow (Completed GMT 012)
• EVA Decontaminiation Audit (Completed GMT 012)
• ISS Leak Kit Cleanup Follow-Up (Completed GMT 012)
• JEM Stowage Consolidation (Completed GMT 012)
• MELFI 1 Sample Trash (Completed GMT 012)
• Payload Inverter Audit (Completed GMT 012)
• Station Support Computer 6 Relocate (Completed GMT 012)
• Cyclops ICE Experiment Photos (Completed GMT 012)
• Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK) (Completed GMT 013)
• WHC KTO replacement (Completed GMT 013)
• Photo/TV XF305 Camcorder Deploy (Completed GMT 014)
• Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK) (Completed GMT 014)
• WHC KTO REPLACE (Completed GMT 014)
• SlingShot BPW Review (Completed GMT 014)
• Columbus Deck 2, 3 and 4 Rack Fronts repack (Completed GMT 014)

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

• X2R17 Software Transition (Ongoing)

Two Day Look Ahead:

Tuesday, 01/15:
Payloads:

• Biomonitor setup
• EML sample chamber remove/install
• Fluid Shifts
• MSPR ground strap installation
• Radi-N2 deploy

Systems

• ISS Emergency OBT
• X2_R17 Software Transition

Wednesday, 01/16:
Payloads:

• Actiwatch plus check
• Behavioral core measures
• Biomonitor commissioning
• Fluid Shifts

Systems

• WHC Urine Hydraulic Components R&R
• X2R17 Software Transition

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

• REGUL-PACKET reconfiguration to REGUL-OS String 1 [ABORTED]
• Reconnecting SM KURS-P cables from MRM2 port antenna feeder to DC1 port antenna feeder.
• Combustion Integrated Rack MWA Prep
• SPHERES Crew Conference
• Portable Computer System(PCS) R20 Hard Drive Pre-Gather
• Portable Computer System R20 Hard Drive Install
• SPHERES Zero Robotics Setup
• VEGGIE Display On-Board Training
• VEGGIE Move to EXPRESS Rack 3, Lockers 7 and 8
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis
• Fluids Integrated Rack Rack Doors Open
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
• LMM Biophysics-5 Configuration
• Food Acceptability Questionnaire
• Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Hydrogen Sensor R&R Part 1
• Fluids Integrated Rack Rack Doors Close
• SPHERES Zero Robotics Dry Run
• Food Acceptability Questionnaire
• Lighting Effects Visual Performance Tests Light Setting Subject
• Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab
• Robotic Workstation (RWS) Teardown
• COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Deactivation
• Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Hydrogen Sensor R&R Part 2
• Review Emergency OBT Simulator Functionality
• Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)
• SPHERES Zero Robotics Shutdown
• Review Emergency OBT Simulator Functionality
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record
• IMS delta file prep
• Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout
• X2R17 Portable Computer System (PCS) Connect
• Portable Computer System (PCS) Release 20 Deploy Part 2
• Exercise Data Downlink via OCA
• Review Emergency OBT Simulator Functionality