SpX-14 Mission: At 5:40 am CDT this morning, the ISS crew used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to capture the Dragon vehicle. This capture marked the first use of Forced Based Capture, a software enhancement to the Latching End Effector (LEE) that reduces loads on the snare cables, during SpaceX operations. Ground specialists maneuvered the Dragon to the preinstall position and performed an inspection of the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM) prior to installation at Node2 Nadir at 9:07 AM CDT. Successful vestibule pressurization, leak checks, vestibule outfitting, and CBM Control Panel Assembly (CPA) rotation support tomorrow morning’s scheduled ingress.

Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Tether Slosh: Today the crew set up the SPHERES Tether Slosh hardware but communication issues between the antenna and the SPHERES robots prevented successful completion of all of the test sessions. Ground teams are investigating. SPHERES Tether Slosh combines fluid dynamics equipment with robotic capabilities aboard the International Space Station to investigate automated strategies for steering passive cargo that contain fluids. In space, the fluid fuels used by spacecraft can slosh around in unpredictable ways making space maneuvers difficult. This investigation uses two SPHERES robots tethered to a fluid-filled container covered in sensors to test strategies for safely steering spacecraft such as dead satellites that might still have fuel in the tank.

Space Test Program – H5 (STP-H5) Innovative Coatings Experiment (ICE): The crew photographed the external ICE material strips on STP-H5 through the Cupola and Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) windows today. The harsh radiation and extreme temperatures of space can corrode the paint and coatings that protect spacecraft exteriors, potentially damaging a spacecraft’s hull. Optical coatings are also important for robotic and human navigators, who would rely on specialized markings to capture or repair spacecraft. The STP-H5 ICE investigation studies new coatings for use on spacecraft in low Earth orbit, determining their stability after 2 years in space. Photographs are taken at 60 day intervals.

Veg-03: Today the crew watered the plants and continued with the photo-documentation of plant growth for the Veg-03 investigation. Veg-03 supports the proof-of concept for the Veggie plant growth chamber and the planting pillows. Future long duration space missions will require a fresh food supply grown in space to supplement crew diets.

Lighting Effects: The crew obtained light meter readings in Node 2 and the Columbus module today. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance.

Microbial Tracking-2 (MT-2): To support the MT-2 investigation, a 53S crewmember collected his Flight Day 105 saliva samples and inserted them into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The MT-2 series continues the monitoring of the types of microbes that are present on the ISS. It seeks to catalog and characterize potential disease-causing microorganisms onboard the ISS. Crew pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight samples and environmental samples are collected to identify any associations between the microbial content of the samples, as well as potential health effects.

Food Acceptability: A crewmember completed a Food Acceptability questionnaire today. The Food Acceptability investigation seeks to determine the impact of repetitive consumption of food currently available from the spaceflight food system. Results will be used in developing strategies to improve food system composition to support crew health and performance on long duration missions.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Microbial Tracking-2 Body Sample Collection

Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Retrieval Insert

Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Route and Checkout

USOS Window Shutter Close

Regeneration of БМП Ф1 Micropurification Cartridge (start)

Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis

Check to see that shutters are closed on windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14.

Mouse Stress Defense Cage Watering for M3

Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink Setup

FAZOPEREKHOD. Preparation steps and starting the experiment.

Photo/TV Ghost Camera in Cuopla on SSC power recording

Mouse Stress Defense Pre-mission Transfer Familiarization 1

Robotics Workstation (RWS) Dragon Configuration

Routine monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop (RS1). Laptop Log-File Downlink.

Dragon R Bar Approach

UPA Brine Filter Gather

Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Brine Filter Changeout

Test activation of Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System Emergency Vacuum Valves

EarthKAM AC Inverter Deploy in NOD1

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

Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review 1

ISS Crew Orientation

СОЖ maintenance

Dragon R Bar Approach

SREDA-ISS. Preparation Steps and Start Imagery Ops.

Scheduled ВП-2 Pilot’s Sight Test

Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Dragon Capture

Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test

FAZOPEREKHOD. Closeout Ops.

Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check Equipment Setup

Scheduled PUMA Test (001497R,ФГБ1ПГО_2_219_1, 0.5 СТВ No.1174, container 228-4

SREDA-ISS. Closeout Ops

Polar and TCU Transfer from Dragon Overview

Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Deactivation

Ghost camera teardown in Cupola

Photo TV High Definition (HD) Dragon Video Setup

MELFI Overview OBT

VEG-03 Dual Facility Watering for each Plant Pillow

Photography of FGB space behind panels 311, 421 to accommodate devices for comm quality enhancement (УУКС).

Precision Vertical Wide Angle Sight (ВШТВ) Checkout

Lighting Effects Light Meter Setup

VEG-03E & F Plant Photo

Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack Review 2

Lighting Effects Light Meter Readings

SPHERES Test Session Setup

Food Acceptability Questionnaire – Subject

JEM Common Gas Support Equipment (CGSE) Gas Supply Start

Photography of SM windows 26, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position

Lighting Effects Light Meter Stow

SPHERES TSLOSH Run

MATRYOSHKA-R. Monitoring Tritel Readings

Cyclops ICE Experiment Photos

Air Quality Monitor (AQM) Troubleshooting

Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill

Robotic Workstation (RWS) Teardown

Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Deroute

Node 2 to Dragon Pressurization and Leak Check

Dragon Vestibule Outfitting

Node 2 Nadir Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) Removal/Rotation

Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record

SPHERES Test Session Shutdown

SPHERES USB Stow

On-Board Training (OBT) Dragon Emergency Review

CONTENT. Experiment Ops

Regeneration Micropurification Unit (БМП) Ф1 Absorption Cartridge (end)

Completed Task List Activities

None

Ground Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Dragon Capture Support

Robotic Dragon Installation

Dragon Activation

Standard Commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 04/05: Dragon Cargo Ops, Mouse Stress Defense, TangoLab 2 Install, TangoLab 1 Card R&R, POLAR Sample Xfr, MVP Install, NanoRacks Plate Reader2 Ops

Friday, 04/06: Veg03 Ops, Metabolic Tracking Setup, Mouse Stress Defense Ops, STP-H5 Imagery, Medical Contingency OBT, MVP Insertion Ops, Made-In-Space Setup, METEOR Ops

Saturday, 04/07: Housekeeping, Crew Off-Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: