67 Progress (67P) Undock: This evening, 67P is scheduled to undock from the Service Module (SM) aft port at 7:03 PM CST.

Arthrospira-B (Batch Culture) Assembly: Four Arthrospira experiment containers were removed from the Biolab Incubator to exchange the reservoirs inside the Biolab. Following the exchange of the reservoirs, the ECs were reinstalled back onto Biolab Incubator. The Arthrospira B experiment is an important step in making improvements in the area of closed regenerative life support systems in space which will help in making future human exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit become a reality. The cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp. strain PCC8005 is a candidate for use in spacecraft biological life support systems, for CO2 and nitrate removal, and oxygen and biomass production. However, to ensure the reliability of such a biological life support system it is necessary to characterize the response of Arthrospira sp. PCC8005 to in situ spaceflight conditions.

Space Technology and Advanced Research Systems (STaARS) BioScience-2 Experiment Container (EC) Transfers: After being stowed in the STaARS facility for over 170 hours at 25 degrees Celsius, the crew transferred the STaARS BioScience-2 ECs from the facility into a +4 degrees Celsius Glacier. BioScience-2 encompasses two experiments, Experiment Grimm and Experiment Ulrich, which is performed by three investigation teams, all utilizing the same hardware, but processing different biological samples. The principle aim of Experiment Grimm is to investigate how thyroid carcinoma cells react, when they are exposed to real microgravity. The expected information may help to improve in vitro cancer studies such as antitumor drug or transendothelial migration tests. Experiment Ulrich will investigate microgravity-associated long-term alterations in primary human macrophages, the most important effector cells of the immune system, which are responsible for attacking and killing bacteria and other foreign and pathogenic intruders in the human body. The aim of the experiment is to analyze surface molecules, which are required for recognition of bacteria and cell-cell-communication, and to investigate the cytoskeletal architecture after several days in microgravity.

Amyloid Sample Transfer: The Amyloid samples were retrieved from the +2 degree Celsius Dewar of MELFI, installed in the measurement experiment unit and then attached to the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) where they were incubated for 6 hours. After the incubation was complete, the experiment units were detached from the CBEF and the samples were removed and stowed in the MELFI at -95 degrees Celsius. Amyloid fibril is the protein aggregation that is known to be associated with various diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. To develop treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to elucidate the mechanism of amyloid fibril formation. In this study, aiming to elucidate the mechanism of amyloid fibril formation, we will prepare the high-quality homogeneous amyloid fibrils using microgravity environment, and bring back the samples to characterize the fibrillation process and intermediate structure by NMR and electron microscopic analyses.

Human Research Program (HRP) Collections (Biochemical Profile, Repository): A 53S subject completed his Flight Day (FD)-15 blood and urine sample collections to support the Biochemical Profile and Repository experiments. The samples were placed in the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI).

The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples are obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results, which scientists can use to study the effects of spaceflight on the body.

Repository is a storage bank used to maintain biological specimens over extended periods of time and under well-controlled conditions. This repository supports scientific discovery that contributes to our fundamental knowledge in the area of human physiological changes and adaptation to a microgravity environment and provides unique opportunities to study longitudinal changes in human physiology spanning many missions.

Microbial Tracking-2: A 52S subject completed body and saliva sample collections in support of the Microbial Tracking-2 investigation. The Microbial Tracking series-2 continues the monitoring of the types of microbes that are present on the International Space Station (ISS). It seeks to catalog and characterize potential disease-causing microorganisms aboard the ISS. Crew samples from pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight times in addition to environmental samples from ISS surface and air locations will be collected to analyze any associations between the microbial content of the samples, as well as potential health effects.

APEX-05 Operations: The crew photographed the spare petri plates that are secured to the Advanced Biology Research Facility (ABRS) photo-grid on the maintenance work area. When plants are grown in the confines of the International Space Station (ISS), they do not seem to get enough air and as a result, exhibit a stress response in their genes and proteins. The Spaceflight-induced Hypoxic/ROS Signaling (APEX-05) experiment grows different wild and mutant varieties of Arabidopsis thaliana, in order to understand how their genetic and molecular stress response systems work in space. The plants grow from seeds in the Veggie plant growth facility aboard the ISS, are frozen, and returned to Earth for detailed laboratory analysis.

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutron (RaDI-N): After retrieving the RaDI-N hardware from a Russian crewmember, a USOS crewmember deployed eight Space Bubble Detectors around the ISS for the RaDI-N experiment. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) RaDI-N investigation will be conducted by measuring neutron radiation levels while onboard the ISS. RaDI-N uses bubble detectors as neutron monitors which have been designed to only detect neutrons and ignore all other radiation.

Earth Imagery from ISS Target Operations: Using the RED camera, the crew took images of the New Guinea River Inlets. This investigation creates a series of videos, showcasing Earth from space. These videos are taken with cameras on the ISS in 6K hi-resolution and integrated into videos for screensavers for public enjoyment, exploration, and engagement.

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Camera Robot Activation: Today the crew relocated the JEM Camera Robot Target Marker. They also activated the JEM Camera Robot and set the position in the JEM before taking video using the camera.

Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) Gas Trap Manual Valves Reconfiguration: The crew set the Thermal Control Assembly Low Temperature Loop (TCA L) Gas Trap Manual Valves for Gas Trap operations. They also activated the heater for Gas Trap.

Dragon Cargo Transfer: Today the crew completed the planned Dragon cargo operations. In the coming days, the crew will continue packing and loading the cargo that will be returned on Dragon.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Life On The Station Photo and Video

Application of Cyrillic keyboard stickers on RSE1 laptop

Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media

SCENARIO. Observations and photography

URAGAN. Observation and photography

ECON-M. Observation and photography

Microbial Tracking-2 Body Sample Collection

Reminder HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection

HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject

Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Insert

Microbial Tracking-2 Reminder for Body Collection

HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations

HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection 30 Minutes – Subject

HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection – Operator

Daily Planning Conference

Space Technology and Advanced Research Systems BioScience-2 Experiment Container Transfer into MELFI

HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Configuration

Rodent Research Access Unit Clean

STaARS BioScience-2 Glacier Sample Insertion

MORNING PREPARATION WORK

Postsleep

HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Spin Conclude

HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion

Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation

Microbial Tracking-2 Body Sample Collection

Pressurization of Elektron-VM Liquid Unit before Activation

SSIPC Management Conference

Cargo Transfer to Dragon

Replacement of LF Data Receiver (БПИ НЧ). Tagup with specialists

JEM Camera Robot Activation

JAXA Video Taking Part 3

Max Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Power Up

Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Insert

Removal of [СА] TV Cameras 1, 2 and ССД-302 Light Units in Soyuz 737 [CA]

HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude And Stow

HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject

MATRYOSHKA-R. Prep and Initialization of Bubble-Dosimeter Detectors

HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations

Arthrosphira EC S/N2 and S/N3 Exchange 1

JEM Camera Robot Deactivation

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover

MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeters to USOS

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons

MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter initialization and deployment for exposure

Arthrosphira EC S/N2 and S/N3 Exchange 2

XF305 Camcorder Setup

Amyloid sample Retrieval from MELFI +2 degrees C.

Amyloid Sample Attachment

APEX-05 Spare Petri Plate Photo

Familiarization with Auxiliary Computer System [ВКС]. Tagup with specialists as necessary

Replacement of RSE1 Laptop Shell. Tagup with specialists

JPM Thermal Control Assembly for Low Temperature Loop (TCA L) Gas Trap Manual Valves Reconfiguration

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Education Imagery

HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject

Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop. Downlink Log-files from Laptop п.5.2, стр.5-3 and 5-5 via ОСА- H/O

Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop. Laptop log-file downlink via OCA. Tagup with specialists as necessary

TangoLab-2 Card Cube Remove

ISS Crew Orientation

HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations

TangoLab-2 MELFI Sample Insertion

Personal CO2 Monitor iPad Data Collect

ELECTRONIC NOSE. Preparation for the Experiment

PILOT-T. Preparation for the experiment. Tagup with specialists as necessary

ISS HAM Radio and Video Power Down in Columbus

ISS HAM Radio Power Down in Service Module

PILOT-T. Experiment Ops. Tagup with specialists as necessary

MELFI 1 Desiccant Remove

MELFI 1 Electronic Unit Swap

Cargo Transfer to Dragon

PILOT-T. Experiment Ops. Tagup with specialists as necessary

PILOT-T. Photography of the Experiment Ops

Cargo Transfer to Dragon

Handover of Increment XX Crew

HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject

JPM Thermal Control Assembly for low temperature loop (TCA L) Gas Trap Manual Valves reconfiguration

PILOT-T. Closeout Ops Tagup with specialists as necessary

Amyloid Sample Detachment First

HRF Generic Sample MELFI Retrieval And Insertion Operations

СОЖ Maintenance

Amyloid sample Insertion into MELFI -95 degrees C.

Environmental Health System (EHS) – Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Analysis T+5

Dragon Cargo Operations Conference

Daily Planning Conference

Completed Task List Activities

None

Ground Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Standard commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 12/28: EVA SLE Rotation, IFM N2 Nadir Bolt 1-3 R&R, EVA Safer Swap, Cell Science Validation, APEX-5 Harvest, Marrow Air

Friday, 12/29: Dragon Cargo Ops, CIR Ops, NH3 Chip Replacement, HRF Collections, Synthetic Bone, Crew Handover, BRIC LED, Personal CO2 Sensor Cal, EIISS, Cell Science Validation

Saturday, 12/30: Cell Science Validation, Amyloid Experiment, Crew Off Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: