Payloads Astrobee: The crew used the Astrobee Free Flyer to collect additional visual data to create a map of the Japanese Payload Module, and to calibrate Astrobee. Astrobee is made up of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots which are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts …
Payloads Actiwatch Plus: The crew removed Actiwatch Plus devices from a USB Hub connected to the HRF Payload Drawer on HRF Rack, verified the displays match the expected state of the hardware, and restowed them in the Actiwatch Plus Kit. Crew then stows remaining hardware. This is the charging and data download activity. The Actiwatch …
Payloads Confocal Space Microscopy: The crew removed the Confocal Space Microscopy Temp Logger and attached to a laptop to transfer data. Confocal Microscope is a JAXA facility that provides fluorescence images of biological samples aboard the International Space Station. Confocal microscopy uses spatial filtering techniques to eliminate out-of-focus light or glare in specimens whose thickness …
Payloads Plant Water Management: The crew set up cameras, MWA, and the Sorbent Test Stand Kit for Plant Water Management (3&4) operations. The Plant Water Management investigation demonstrates passive measures for controlling fluid delivery and uptake in plant growth systems. Reduced gravity creates challenges in providing adequate fluid and nutrition for plant growth. This investigation …
Payloads HRF-2 (Human Research Facility-2): The crew removed the failed BRP Rack Interface Controller (BRIC) from HRF Rack 2 and replaced with a new Rack Interface Controller (RIC). Human Research Facility-2 (HRF-2) provides an on-orbit laboratory that enables human life science researchers to study and evaluate the physiological, behavioral and chemical changes induced by spaceflight. …
Payloads Airborne Particulate Monitor (APM): The crew installed the APM hardware in Node 2. Air quality in crewed spacecraft is important for keeping astronauts healthy and comfortable. Although requirements exist for maximum allowable concentrations of particulate matter, currently no measurement capability verifies whether these requirements are met. The Airborne Particulate Monitor (APM) demonstrates an instrument …
Editor’s note: Updated on March 26 with more information on the Crew-1 Dragon status. Update: Early Wednesday morning, several alarms were triggered aboard the International Space Station and the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The crew stepped into emergency procedures in cooperation with flight controllers on the ground and determined that the alarms were false and …
Payloads Materials Science Research Rack-1 (MSRR-1): The crew installed the protective cover, closed the MSRR left faceplate and stowed the MSRR/MSL hardware. The MSRR-1 is used for basic materials research in the microgravity environment of the ISS. MSRR-1 can accommodate and support diverse Experiment Modules (EMs). Many material types, such as metals, alloys, polymers, semiconductors, …
63S Soyuz Port Relocation: Today, the 63S crew boarded the 63S Soyuz and undocked from the ISS Mini-Research Module (MRM)-1 at 11:39 AM CT and docked to the MRM-2 at 12:12 PM CT. Prior to undocking, the crew performed leak checks on the vestibule and hatches between the descent and habitation modules. Once docked to …
Payloads Asian Herbs in Space: The crew preserved samples in a Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) and closed out the Asian Herb 30-day plant growth experiment. Microgravity affects the growth of plants and understanding the nature of these changes is important for future missions that will rely on plants for food. Asian Herbs …
