Sarcolab-3: After successfully completing three days of the ankle configuration exercises, today USOS and Russian subjects conducted the knee protocol for Sarcolab-3. The subjects ingressed the Muscle Atrophy Research & Exercise System (MARES) chair, installed the knee Electromyography (EMG) electrodes and began the knee exercise protocol, while an operator collected ultrasound images of the subject’s right leg. The data collected for Sarcolab-3 will be compared to pre and post flight measurements to assess the impact of hypothesized microgravity induced muscle loss. Myotendinous and Neuromuscular Adaptation to Long-term Spaceflight (Sarcolab) investigates the adaptation and deterioration of the soleus (calf muscle) where it joins the Achilles tendon, which links it to the heel and carries loads from the entire body. Muscle fiber samples are taken from crewmembers before and after flight, and analyzed for changes in structural and chemical properties. MRI and ultrasound tests and electrode stimulation are conducted to help assess muscle and tendon changes caused by microgravity exposure.

Payload On-Orbit Still Shots for Utilization and Maintenance (POSSUM) Payload Photo: The crew took digital photos of all payload racks in the US Lab, JEM Pressurized Module (JPM), and Columbus module to document configuration changes.

Fine Motor Skills (FMS): A crewmember completed a FMS session which was executed on a touchscreen tablet, where the subject performs a series of interactive tasks. The investigation studies how fine motor skills are affected by long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of microgravity adaptation, and sensorimotor recovery after returning to Earth gravity. The goal of FMS is to answer how fine motor performance in microgravity trend/vary over the duration of a six-month and year-long space mission; how fine motor performance on orbit compare with that of a closely matched participant on Earth; and how performance trend/vary before and after gravitational transitions, including the periods of early flight adaptation, and very early/near immediate post-flight periods.

Tropical Cyclone Maria: The crew setup and configured camera settings, before capturing images of Hurricane Maria to support the Tropical Cyclone investigation. The Tropical Cyclone investigation is used to capture images of tropical cyclones and hurricanes that are rated at Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson scale. A pseudo-stereoscopic method is used to determine the altitudes of the cloud tops near the center (eye) of a cyclone by precisely tracking the apparent positions of cloud features with respect to the Earth and how those positions change over time as an observer (the ISS in this case) passes over the storm. The photographic images will be used to demonstrate that pseudo-spectroscopy can be used to measure the cloud altitudes to sufficient precision so that, when combined with other remote-sensing data, an accurate determination of the intensity of hurricane or cyclone can be made.

Marrow: Today a 51S crewmember completed breath and ambient air sample collections for the Marrow investigation, which looks at the effect of microgravity on bone marrow. It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on the bone marrow and the blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow.

Rodent Research 9 (RR-9): Today the crew completed an audit of the Rodent Research -9 hardware and supplies. The RR-9 investigation was successfully completed and returned on SpaceX-12 last week. The RR-9 experiment studies how microgravity affects the immune systems, muscles and bones of rodents during extended stays aboard the ISS. After approximately 30 days aboard the ISS, the mice will be returned to Earth where scientists on the ground will study how their time in space has affected various tissues, including brain, muscle, heart, joint, the eyes and the immune system.

Multi-Omics-Mouse Closeout The crew performed Multi-Omics closeout activities by removing the Mouse Habitat Units from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF), cleaning and taking photos of the glove box, and reconfiguring the video cables between the Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2) and the CBEF.

Manufacturing Device (MD) Operations: The crew removed and replaced the MD feedstock canister, extruder, and print tray. The Manufacturing Device – Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) enables the production of components on the ISS for both NASA and commercial objectives. Parts, entire experiments, and tools can be created on demand utilizing the AMF that is installed into an Express Rack locker location. The AMF is capable of producing parts out of a wide variety of thermopolymers including engineered plastics.

N3 Aft Port Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Fan Inlet Cleaning: The crew cleaned this location to remove Foreign Object Debris (FOD) from IMV fan inlets and silencers.

Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) Training: In preparation for the upcoming EVAs in October, two US crewmembers were scheduled to perform virtual reality (VR) training simulating emergency recovery using SAFER. In the event a crew member becomes untethered while conducting an EVA, SAFER can be used to safely maneuver for recovery. During the first session, there were some configuration issues, but once the configuration issues were resolved there were still some issues with executing the session. Both of today’s sessions were deferred until the ground specialists can further review.

Advance Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Upper Rack Cable Kinked: Today, the crew reported a reoccurrence of the ARED Upper Rack cable kinking. No cable damage was reported. The crew straightened the cable and took imagery for ground review. This is the second instance of this cable kinking this week. There are spare cables on-orbit.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.

Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Collection – Subject

SARCOLAB-3 day 3 reminder

Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject

СРВ-К2М Line 1 Recovery. Tagup with specialists as necessary

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) or ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)

MARES Knee Shaving Preparation

ISS Crew Orientation

Tropical Cyclone Operations Review

Multi-Omics-Mouse Closeout

Columbus Video Camera Assembly 2 (VCA2) Adjustment

Tropical Cyclone Untended Operations

EMG electrodes installation and Sarcolab knee protocol execution

MARES subject electrodes equipment assistance

Glove Box Closeout

Filling (separation) of ЕДВ (КОВ) for Elektron or ЕДВ-СВ

Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation

СОЖ Maintenance

Mouse Habitat Unit (MHU) Interface Unit Removal

MARES knee setting adjustments

On-Orbit Hearing Assessment (O-OHA) with EarQ Software Setup and Test

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Wipe Post Multi-Omics-Mouse 1

MARES Knee configuration fit check

USB Camera Relocation

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check Data Record

Combustion Integrated Rack Hardware Return

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout

Manufacturing Device Feedstock Canister, Extruder And Print Tray Exchange

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2) Cable Reconfiguration 2

Environmental Health System (EHS) – Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Stow Operation

Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurement Survey Part 1

ESA Weekly crew conference

DUBRAVA. Observation and Photography using [ВСС] hardware.

In-flight Maintenance (IFM) Node 3 Aft Port Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Fan Cleaning

Rodent Research Inventory Audit

Photo/TV RED Camera firmware update

CHANGE OUT SM PRINTER COLOR CARTRIDGE

Functional check of FGB РБС-10/3 А16 and А17 based on connector 3А.

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Transfer On-bord Training

JEM Common Gas Support Equipment (CGSE) Gas Supply Stop

Virtual Reality Training (VRT) Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) [Aborted]

SARCOLAB MARES and Laptop Power OFF

Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurement Survey Part 2

EVA Worksite Interface Adapter Prep

Tropical Cyclone Hardware Closeout

EVA Systems book and cue card updates

HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup

EPM Laptop relocation for files downlink preparation

Payload On-Orbit Still Shots for Utilization and Maintenance (POSSUM) Payload Photo

EPM Laptop relocation to MARES

CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE

Flight Director/ISS CREW CONFERENCE

Completed Task List Activities

PMM Endcone Cleanup

AC Vac Extension Cord Assembly and Use

Transfer 52 Soyuz USOS Unpack

Ground Activities

All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted.

Standard commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 09/22: Sarcolab, ELF Sample Refill, PEPS Audit, Advanced NanoStep, FIR Troubleshooting

Saturday, 09/23: Housekeeping, Crew Off-Duty

Sunday, 09/24: Crew Off-Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: