ISS Operations Update – January 7, 2016
Experiments:
Fine Motor Skills [Fine Motor Skills uses a tablet touchscreen application to monitor degradation in fine motor abilities over the course of an extended exposure to microgravity. A drop in fine motor skills can lead to problems when crew members are tasked with medical treatment, repairing sensitive equipment and interacting with touch-based equipment. Tests utilized by this study include multidirectional pointing, dragging, shape tracing, and object manipulation to create a knowledgebase that will allow scientists to evaluate the risk of fine motor performance decrements due to long-duration exposure to microgravity.]
Vascular Echo Hardware Checkout [Cardiac and Vessel Structure and Function with Long-Duration Space Flight and Recovery makes use of Echo Doppler Ultrasound measurements to investigate the stiffening of the arteries and increased blood pressure occurring during prolonged exposure to microgravity.]
Integrated Resistance and Aerobic Training Study (Sprint) [This study evaluates a high-intensity, low-volume exercise protocol to minimize the loss of muscle, bone and cardiovascular function but also minimizing the time spent with daily exercise. To asses the protocol, crew members conduct regular measurements of VO2max, heart rate (HR) response to submaximal exercise and ventilatory threshold. Monthly ultrasounds of the thigh and calf are used to evaluate spaceflight-induced changes in the muscle volume. Post-flight data on muscle and bone mass is compared to pre-flight measurements and to data from control subjects that use the regular exercise protocol.]
Habitability [Assessment of International Space Station Vehicle Habitability will see teams on the ground study video of the behavior of crew members within the habitable environment of ISS while the crew fills out questionnaires and collects video of areas of interest in order to provide an assessment of the habitability of ISS in its current state for a one-year mission. Results will be used to develop spacecraft with improved habitability properties to allow crew members to optimally utilize the onboard space.]
Interactions Experiment [‘Vzaimodeistviye’ (Interactions) looks at psychological aspects of long duration space flight during which different cultures come together aboard a Spacecraft such as ISS and seeks to improve crew interactions aboard ISS and with teams on the ground.]
KPT-10 – Kulonovskiy Kristall Hardware Setup & Experiment Ops [The KPT-10 telescience study examines “dynamic and structural characteristics of the Coulomb systems formed by charged dispersed diamagnetic macroparticles in a magnetic field (trap), investigating the following processes onboard the ISS RS (Russian Segment): condensed dust media, Coulomb crystals, and formation of Coulomb liquids due to charged macroparticles,” the NASA experiment overview notes.]
Biological Rhythms 48 Hours [The BLR48 and Circadian Rhythms Study will examine the role of synchronized circadian rhythms and possible maintenance during long-duration spaceflight and addresses the impacts to crew members’ health and wellbeing. Understanding how the dark/light cycle and sleep shifting affects circadian rhythms and with that the performance of the crew members will enable scientists to develop new sleep shifting techniques for crew members in space and shift workers on Earth.]
Maintenance/Systems:
Nominal Inspections/Servicing Tasks (Morning Inspection, Caution & Warning Panel Check, Sozh System Maintenance) (Russian Crew)
Waste and Hygiene Compartment Leak: The liquid carryover sensor of the WHC triggered a shutdown of the system due to a detection of an overflow condition. After opening the WHC panel, the crew reported a considerable leakage of pre-treated urine around the pump separator. Clean-up operations were performed with the crew making use of Personal Protective Gear and a replacement of the Pump Separator, Wiring Collector, carryover sensor and air hose will be conducted on Friday. The crew will use the Russian ASU until WHC is operational again.
Water Processor Assembly: The WPA experienced two aborted processing cycles due to off nominal signatures at the catalytic reactor. Investigation is underway.
Photography of Service Module interior panels
Other Activities:
EVA Preparations: EVA Procedures Review and conference with EVA specialists, Virtual Reality Trainer session for familiarization with EVA Rescue Operations
EMU Preparations: Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Installation
Robotics: Extension of Kibo Airlock Slide Table for transfer of Robotic Refueling Mission Task Board 4 and Robotic Micro Conical Tool 1 after Mobile Transporter Worksite translation. TM4 and RMCT-1 will return to Earth on SpX-8.
PAO Event
Progress MS Cargo Operations