ISS On-Orbit Status Report

Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): Today the crew exchanged sample cartridges to prepare for ground-commanded operations in the ELF. The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the electrostatic levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply …

Cygnus Unberth: On Saturday, the crew completed the Node1 vestibule depressurization and started the associated vestibule leak checks. On Sunday, once the crew completed leak check activities, robotics ground controllers used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to uninstall the Cygnus vehicle from the ISS at 5:04am CDT. At 7:36am CDT, the crew released …

Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Racks (ER) Health & Status: Yesterday, the Health & Status telemetry from ER 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 was reported to be toggling and extended telemetry from ER 7 and 8 was lost.  Overnight, the Lab Joint Station LAN (JSL) firewalls were power cycled …

Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Racks Health & Status Issues: This morning the Health & Status (H&S) telemetry from EXPRESS Racks (ER) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 was reported to be toggling and extended telemetry from ERs 7 and 8 were lost.  While a warm reset of the improved Payload …

Space Algae: The crew agitated and then installed an additional six Space Algae culture bags in the Veggie facility today.  The Space Algae investigation explores the genetic basis for productivity of algae cultivated in space and whether this requires genetic adaptations or not. Algae may perceive microgravity as an abiotic stress, which can trigger production …

70P Docking: Last night, 70P docked to the DC1 nadir port at 191/01:30:47 GMT and Progress hooks were closed at approximately 01:35:35 GMT. Following the successful docking, the Russian crew completed leak checks, opened the hatches, deactivated the 70P vehicle, and transferred time sensitive cargo.   Cygnus OA-9 Reboost Developmental Test Objective (DTO): Today ground controllers …

Progress (70P) Launch/Dock: 70P launched from the Baiknour Cosmodrome today at 4:51pm CDT. Following a 2-orbit rendezvous profile, the vehicle will dock to ISS at 8:39pm CDT.  SpX-15 External Cargo Status: Friday evening ground specialists used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to remove the empty Latching End Effector (LEE) Flight Support Equipment (FSE) …

SpX-15 External Cargo Status:  Last night ground specialists used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to extract ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) from the Dragon trunk and hand it off to the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS). The JEMRMS was then used to install ECOSTRESS at the Exposed …

Rodent Research-7 (RR-7): Yesterday the crew transferred the mice from the Transporter Units that arrived on the SpaceX-15 Dragon vehicle to the two Habitat units in which they will reside on ISS. They checked the water flow in each side of the Habitats and installed the rodent huts and food bars. The crew also stowed …

ISS crew activities are limited today to allow the crew to enjoy the US Independence Day holiday.  For Rodent Research-7 (RR-7) today the crew transferred the mice from Transporter Units that arrived on the SpaceX-15 Dragon vehicle to the two Habitat units in which they will reside on ISS.  They checked the water flow in …