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Thursday, September 10, 2015

ISS Daily Summary Report – 09/9/15

Human Research Program (HRP) Operations: Microbiome: Kelly collected saliva samples in support of the Flight Day 180 (FD 180) Microbiome activities.  The Microbiome experiment investigates the impact of space travel on both the human immune system and an individual’s microbiome (the collection of microbes that live in and on the human body at any given time).   Salivary Markers: Yui collected saliva samples in support of his FD 90 Salivary Markers and inserted them into MELFI.  Salivary Markers samples will be used to measure markers of latent viral reactivation (a global indicator of immune impairment and infection risk) in conjunction with salivary antimicrobial proteins and immune cell functional assays. This research study will help identify if there are any risks of an adverse health event in crewmembers due to an impaired immune system. Maintaining a robust immune system during prolonged spaceflight missions (i.e., to other planets or asteroids) will be important to ensure mission success. If any impairment in immunity is found due to spaceflight, this will allow the development of appropriate countermeasures to help mitigate the risks.   Integrated Resistance and Aerobic Training Study (Sprint) Volume of Oxygen Utilized (VO2) Max: Yui performed his FD45 Sprint VO2 Max exercise session on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS).  He donned Electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes, Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) hardware, and performed Portable Pulmonary Function System (PPFS) calibrations then executed the VO2 protocol.  The Sprint investigation evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in ISS crewmembers during long-duration missions. Upon completion of this study, investigators expect to provide an integrated resistance and aerobic exercise training protocol capable of maintaining muscle, bone and cardiovascular health while reducing total exercise time over the course of a long-duration space flight. This will provide valuable information in support of investigator’s long term goal of protecting human fitness for even longer space exploration missions.   JAXA-Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) #4 Install: Kelly installed the J-SSOD#4 on the Slide Table with the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) attached.  The J-SSOD #4 has two satellites that will be deployed next week.  The first satellite is designed to observe the Ultraviolet (UV) spectrum during the Orionid meteor shower in October.  The second satellite, sponsored by the University of Brasilia and the Brazilian government focuses on meteorological data collection.   Robonaut: Lindgren continued troubleshooting Robonaut’s Compact Peripheral Component Interface.  He unstowed and removed the softgoods from Robonaut, then accessed the internal workings to measure resistances and the CPCI Power supply.  Preliminary results are pointing to an issue with the Power Supply, and not the “brain stem”.  Future troubleshooting will likely include reseating the Power Supply to exonerate a connection issue.  Robonaut is a two-armed humanoid robot torso designed with the versatility and dexterity to manipulate hardware, work in high risk environments, and respond safely to unexpected obstacles. Robonaut is currently mounted inside the International Space Station (ISS); in the future, it will perform tasks both inside and outside the ISS.   Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations:  Last night, the Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS and translated the Mobile Transporter (MT) from Worksite 7 (WS7) to WS5.  They then walked the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) off Mobile Base System (MBS) Power Data Grapple Fixture 4 (PDGF4) onto the Node 2 PDGF.  During the walkoff, the Robotics Ground Controllers performed Gear Box Limping (GBL) Commissioning Task 3 for Latching End Effector A (LEE-A).  Finally the Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the SSRMS to the H-II Transfer Vehicle 5 (HTV5) External Platform (EP) handoff position in preparation for next Tuesday’s EP installation into HTV5.   HTV Cargo Transfer Status:  Yui completed 1.5 hours yesterday of HTV cargo operations. Cargo specialist estimate the crew will need approximately 20 hours to complete the HTV-5 cargo operations.   ESA Short Duration Mission THOR: Cloud Turrets (CT’s) and Transient Luminous Events (TLE’s) targets have been refined for the upcoming hard‐scheduled session today.  Yesterday we focused on Cloud Turrets observation. The first hard‐scheduled session went well, and during the GMT251 ESA crew conference, Mogensen confirmed he acquired some CT’s targets. 160 Images are now under assessment by science team.  The THOR experiment will improve our understanding how lightning activity powers cloud turrets, gravity waves, and improve our understanding of the structure of Transient Luminous Events above thunderstorms. If confirmed technically feasible, the photography technique used will also add valuable scientific data to ESA’s future ASIM project mission. Improving our understanding of the processes occurring in Earth’s lower layers of the atmosphere can improve atmospheric models and our understanding of earth’s climate and weather.   MARES: This morning Mogensen set up the rack and its ankle mechanism assembly. A small anomaly was encountered regarding a screw that was not touching the thread anymore. This was resolved realtime. The ESA Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System (MARES) is a physiological research facility that will be used to carry out research on musculoskeletal, biomechanical, and neuromuscular human physiology. The Commissioning Part#2 is the last step in this research rack check‐out activities. Its main goal is the performance of an integrated man‐in‐the‐loop technical protocol which characterizes all MARES sub‐systems and associated auxiliary measurement devices (ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and electromyogram).   MELONDAU: yesterday DEMES tasting session#4 and DEMES hedonic questionnaire #2 were completed nominally.  Current status of MCA/AQM measurements: ‐ MCA measurements have been received by BIOTESC for GMT248 to GMT250, GMT251 files are pending. ‐ AQM: confirmed that we have no measurements for either GMT 248 or 249. For GMT250, some files were acquired with AQM in speed mode (rather than autorun mode). For GMT251, the same speed mode was used. All Files are pending from NASA still. Long‐distance and long‐term human space travel will only be possible with adequate life support systems in place, allowing extensive recycling of water and the in situ production of oxygen and food, with closed regenerative systems the most ideal way of reducing launch mass and costs. […]

from ISS On-Orbit Status Report http://ift.tt/1OflZNd
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