Metabolic Tracking (MT): The crew set up MT hardware and materials for thawing and inoculation. They then injected the thawed inoculum into multiwell BioCells, which were inserted into the NanoRacks Plate Reader-2. NanoRacks Plate Reader-2 is a laboratory instrument designed to detect biological, chemical or physical events of samples in microtiter plates. The Metabolic Tracking investigation evaluates a rapid, low-cost method for assessing the effects of therapeutic compounds in microgravity. The method contributes to development of custom plans for emergency medical treatment for crew members, using primary tissue samples. This investigation also determines the feasibility of developing improved pharmaceuticals in microgravity using a new method to test the metabolic impacts of drug compounds. This could lead to more effective, less expensive drugs.

Genes in Space-5: For the Genes in Space experiment the crew processed samples in the Miniature Polymerase Chain Reaction (miniPCR), and then transferred the data for downlink. The Genes in Space investigation is a winning student-designed experiment that tests whether the polymerase chain reaction can be used to study DNA alterations onboard the ISS. Spaceflight causes many changes to the human body, including alterations in DNA and a weakened immune system. Understanding whether these two processes are linked is important for safeguarding crew health, but DNA technology that can track these changes is relatively untested in space.

Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) Protein Crystal Growth (PCG)-9: The crew performed a final inspection of the eight CASIS PCG-9 sample bags for crystal growth and then inserted the sample bags into a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) for return on the SpaceX-14 vehicle. The Wisconsin Crystal Growing Contest-Wisconsin Space Crystal Mission (CASIS PCG 9) investigation provides student researchers the opportunity to explore crystal growth in the microgravity environment of the ISS. Crystals grown without the influence of gravity have shown to contain fewer imperfections and grow to larger sizes. Middle and high school students compete to grow the most perfect ground-based crystal, as judged by experts in the crystallography field. The students who present the crystals with the fewest imperfections have the opportunity to fly their experiments to the space station.

Mouse Stress Defense: The crew temporarily relocated the Mouse Habitat Cage Units from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) to the Glove Box to perform maintenance on the cage units. They replaced waste collecting equipment and odor filters. Microgravity provokes cellular mechanical stresses and perturbs cellular signaling, leading to reduction of muscle and bone density. To overcome these stresses, one of the promising strategies is to activate Nrf2, a master regulator of antioxidant pathway. Mouse Stress Defense investigates how Nrf2 contributes to effective prevention of space-originated stresses.

TangoLab-2: The crew removed cubes from a card taken out of the TangoLab-2 facility, placed them in ziploc bags and then put them in a General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator (GLACIER). TangoLab-2 is a reconfigurable general research facilities designed for microgravity research and development and pilot manufacturing aboard the ISS.

Multi-Use Variable-G Platform (MVP): The crew rotated the food chambers in each Drosophila module in the MVP today. MVP is used to conduct research in space with a wide variety of sample types, such as fruit flies, flatworms, plants, fish, cells, protein crystals and many others. It includes 2 internal carousels that simultaneously can produce up to 2 g of artificial gravity. Each carousel hosts 6 separate removable experiment modules on each carousel. Video and still imagery, including microscopy, can be included. The platform provides temperature and humidity controls and monitors and records oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Video Upgrade Equipment (VUE): This morning the crew and ground teams were unsuccessful in an attempt to boot up the MSG VUE from a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Flash Drive. The software on the flash drive had been updated following an analysis of the results from troubleshooting performed two days ago. The MSG VUE unit failed on March 1st. A replacement VUE will be flown up on the Orbital ATK-9 (OA-9) vehicle.

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Ultrasounds: Today the crew completed routine eye exams using an Ultrasound machine. Eye exams are performed regularly onboard in order to monitor crewmembers eye health. Eyesight is one of the many aspects of the human body that is affected by long-duration stays in a microgravity environment.

Solid State Lighting Assembly (SSLA) Installation: This morning the crew installed a SSLA at the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) 1 Deck Starboard location. Over the weekend, the crew reported the General Lighting Luminaire (GLA) at this location had failed providing the opportunity to upgrade the lighting assembly in this location. The SSLA was designed to replace the GLA in order to improve visual acuity and provide a crew health countermeasure for circadian rhythms. To accomplish these goals, SSLAs are designed to operate in three different modes and provide control over the amount of emitted blue light. Blue light impacts melatonin production in humans and controlling its presence can assist with sleep, alertness and performance.

Water Resource Management (WRM) Condensate Sample Collection: Today the crew collected a condensate sample from the Condensate Sample Port at the Water Recovery System (WSR) 2 Utility Interface Panel (UIP). This procedure captures condensate being collected into the Water Processor Assembly (WPA) Waste Tanks and contains the most recently collected condensate. A regularly scheduled activity, that collection is performed multiple times throughout the expedition to verify proper condensate quality and ensure optimum WRM performance.

Dragon Robotic Operations: Yesterday and overnight, ground controllers completed Monday’s deferred robotics tasks to remove the new Pump Flow Control Subsystem (PFCS), brought up on SpX-14, from the Flight Support Equipment (FSE) stowed on the Enhanced ORU Temporary Platform (EOTP). The failed PFCS (commonly referred to as ‘Trippy’ by flight controllers) was then removed from the P6 Long Spacer and the new PFCS was installed in its place. The new PFCS has been powered up and pressures and temperatures are within expected ranges. Tonight, ground operators will install ‘Trippy’ into the FSE, conduct a Mobile Transporter (MT) translation from Worksite (WS)8 to WS6, and Walkoff the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) from the MT to Node 2.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Plant Gravity Perception/European Modular Cultivation System On-Board Training

СОЖ maintenance

Genes in Space MWA Preparation

VEG-03F Hardware Deactivation

Download Pille Dosimeter Readings

First Inspection of Sample Bags for Crystal Growth

Genes in Space MELFI Sample Retrieve

Genes in Space Sample Operations

Mouse Stress Defense Cage Maintenance Familiarization

Insertion of PCG-9 Hardware into MELFI

ПРОФИЛАКТИКА-2.

Remove tape from AstroPi Vis camera lens

MTT/MSC Installation Review

P/TV RED Dragon Battery Discharge

Metabolic Tracking Inoculation Preparation

Genes in Space Payload Message Record

Water Resource Management (WRM) Condensate Sample Init

PROFILAKTIKA-2. Operator Assistance in Preparation for the Experiment

PMM1SD1 General Lighting Luminaire R&R with a Light

XF305 Camcorder Setup

Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Filter Case Attach

Metabolic Tracking MELFI Metabolic Tracking Group Retrieve

Metabolic Tracking Biocells Inoculation

Mouse Stress Defense Cage Maintenance for Micro-G 1

PROFILAKTIKA-2. Closeout Ops (Operator)

Water Resource Management (WRM) Condensate Sample Terminate

Rack Retention Net R&R

IMS Update

Plant Gravity Perception/European Modular Cultivation System Maintenance Work Area Configuration

ABOUT GAGARIN FROM SPACE. Hardware Setup and Activation.

Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Icebrick Stow

Metabolic Tracking Plate Reader Insertion/Removal

Metabolic Tracking Session Cleanup

Photo/TV RED Dragon Battery Discharge Swap 1

Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)

TV Conference With the participants of the symposium “Biofabrication in Space: New Opportunities for Biological Experiments” (Ku + S-band)

Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On

APEX-06 On-Board Training

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan

Installation of additional fans to improve thermal conditions of SM Electric Power Supply units 800А.

FAZOPEREXOD. Prepare.

Space Automated Bioproduct Lab, CO2 Meter Setup

APEX-06 Procedure Review#1

Mouse Stress Defense Cage Cleaning

Photo/TV RED Dragon Battery Discharge Swap 2

Food Acceptability Questionnaire – Subject

Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Deployment Operations

Genes in Space Sample End

Replacement of urine receptacle (МП) and filter-insert (Ф-В) in АСУ. [АСУ] Activation after Replacement

Early Mission Debrief Conference

Genes in Space Sample Remove

EarthKAM Node 1 85MM Lens Change- Russian

Genes in Space MELFI Sample Retrieve

Genes in Space Sample Operations

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) in Columbus

Plant Gravity Perception/European Modular Cultivation System Procedure Review

Control valve and the [СКВ1] heating valve [ВН1] position adjustment.

Multi-use Variable-g Platform Chamber Rotate

Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Educational Imagery Recording

Soyuz 738 IRIDIUM phone charge, setup, start charge

Recharging Soyuz 738 IRIDIUM Phone – Battery Status Check

Soyuz 738 IRIDIUM Phone Charge, Terminate Charge

Recharging ИРИДИУМ Satellite Phone

Acoustic Monitor Data Transfer and Stow

Genes in Space Sample End

TangoLab-2 Card Cube Remove

ИРИДИУМ Phone Charging – charging control

ИРИДИУМ Phone Charging – End and Disassembly

P/TV RED Dragon Battery

TangoLab-2 Glacier Sample Insertion

Genes in Space Hardware Stow

Genes in Space MELFI Insert

Completed Task List Activities

None

Ground Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



LAB CDRA Activation & N3 CDRA Standby

SpaceX Robotics Cargo Operations

Metabolic Tracking Support

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 04/12: Dragon Cargo Ops, EMCS PGP Ops, Metabolic Tracking Ops, APEX06 Petri Ops

Friday, 04/13: MISSE-FF Transfer Tray Install, GIS Ops, Eye Exams, Mouse Stress Defense Ops, Microbial Tracking 2 Ops, Metabolic Tracking Ops

Saturday, 04/14: Metabolic Tracking Ops, Crew Off-Duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: