Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Operations: Monday afternoon and overnight, Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the Mobile Serving System (MSS) and configured the SSRMS and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm2 for translation. They then translated the Mobile Transporter (MT) translation from Worksite(WS)7 to WS5, stowed the SPDM on the Lab, and walked the SSRMS onto Node 2. As part of HTV-6 pre-launch checkouts, Diagnostics and Checkouts of the Payload Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Accommodation (POA) (on Prime String) and SSRMS LEE were performed along with the brakes Diagnostics (on both Strings). Afterward, a checkout of the SSRMS Latch End Effector (LEE) Dual Stage Carriage Rates (DSCR) and the POA diagnostics and checkouts on the redundant power string were performed.

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Onboard Training (OBT): Today, the Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS in preparation for the HTV-6 Offset Grapples Practice Session. During the training session, the crew practiced maneuvering the SSRMS into the grapple envelope of the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) PDGF. They performed this maneuver several times and then performed a run during which the Robotics Ground Controllers safed the SSRMS to simulate a failure. After the Offset Grapples practice session, the SSRMS was maneuvered to the HTV-6 High Hover position ready for HTV-6 capture scheduled for 13-December.

Fluid Shifts: Today was the first of two days of Flight Day 45 (FD45) Fluid Shifts operations performed in the Russian Segment, utilizing the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP/Chibis). The subject donned the Chibis device, and while the crewmember was exposed to the negative pressure (pulling the fluid feetward), the operator, with remote guidance from Houston, performed arterial and venous measurements of the head and neck; cardiac, ophthalmic, and portal vein measurements; and tissue thickness of various body parts using the Human Research Facility (HRF) ultrasound. The crew then deconfigured the ultrasound, and configured the Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure (CCFP) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) for tomorrow’s operations. Fluid Shifts investigates the causes for severe and lasting physical changes to astronaut’s eyes. Because the headward fluid shift is a hypothesized contributor to these changes, reversing this fluid shift with a lower body negative pressure device is investigated as a possible intervention. Results from this study may help to develop preventative measures against lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

Fine Motor Skills: The crew performed their FD20 Fine Motor Skills tests, performing a series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet. The investigation studies how fine motor skills are effected by long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of microgravity adaptation, and sensorimotor recovery after returning to Earth gravity. The goal of Fine Motor Skills 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.

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) Sample Holder Exchange: On December 2, the crew removed the samples from the ELF Work Volume and cleaned the internal chamber. Today, the sample cartridge was removed and replaced with a new sample and then reconnected and integrated in the ELF. The Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) is an experimental facility designed to levitate/melt/solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the Electrostatic Levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured, and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved. The ELF is located in the JEM Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) in Kibo.

Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS): Today, ground controllers will uplink a patch to the OPALS software, in an attempt to recover capability. In July 2016, the laser modulation card that supplies data input to the OPALS laser failed. The option of continuous wave laser operations (continuous ON rather than ON/OFF modulation) was investigated by the OPALS team and forward plan was approved by the Payload Safety Review Panel (PSRP). During an attempted pass in September 2016, the laser unit was powered on with telemetry indicating nominal performance. However, the OPALS flight software entered safe mode (with reboot) once the first laser command was sent. Further investigation determined that the RS-422 commanding interface to the laser unit is not initialized in Version 1.4 in the event the laser modulation card is not detected. The Version 1.5 update fixes this bug by initializing the RS-422 commanding interface when the laser modulation card is not detected. OPALS tests the potential for using a laser to transmit data to Earth from space. Instead of being broadcast on radio waves, data is packaged onto beams of laser light and hardware on the ISS will point the laser to a receiver station on the ground. Radio waves transmission is limited by the speed that it can transfer data, but beaming information packages with lasers can greatly increase the amount of information transmitted over the same period of time.

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock (AL) Repress: Following a week of Robotics External Leak Locator (RELL) operations, last weekend the Robotics Ground Team installed the RELL on the slide table followed by the slide table being retracted back into the JEM AL. Earlier today the crew pressurized and performed a leak check of the JEM AL. Tomorrow the crew is scheduled to remove the JEM ORU Xfer I/F (JOTI) and RELL from the slide table.

Oxygen Generator System (OGS) Flow Measurements: Last night the Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) was commanded to Standby due to low air flow in the rack as measured by crew. This morning the crew repeated the flow measurements for the OGS Avionics Air Assembly (AAA). Today’s readings indicated 6.6 cubic feet per minute (cfm) which is nominal. No AAA cleaning is required at this time, and OGS has been reactivated.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Acoustic Dosimeter Setup Day 2

Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject

FLUID SHIFTS. Comm Config for Experiment

XF305 Camcorder Setup

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Holder Exchange

FLUID SHIFTS. TV Hardware Prep and Setup

Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject

FLUID SHIFTS. РБС Activation for Ultrasound Hardware

Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Power On Preparation

Monitoring the Results of Nikon Digital Matrix Cleaning and File Name Changing.

EveryWear Biometric Patch setup for sleep assessment

In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Airlock Stowage Clear

FLUID SHIFTS. Chibis Countermeasures Vacuum Suit Setup

FLUID SHIFTS. Assistance during Operations with Chibis Countermeasures Vacuum Suit and Gamma-1.

In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Airlock (A/L) Smoke Detector (SD) Cleaning

Oxygen Generation System Flow Measure Placeholder

Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Scan

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Recycle Tank Fill

Robotic Workstation (RWS) Setup

FLUID SHIFTS. Closeout Ops with Chibis Countermeasures Vacuum Suit

FLUID SHIFTS. РБС Deactivation

Routine Maintenance of SM Audio Subsystem [СТТС] (LP Path and УКВ Functionality Checkout).

FLUID SHIFTS. Crew Onboard Support System (КСПЭ) Hardware Deactivation and Closing SSC Apps

Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Service Module Stow

FLUID SHIFTS. Nominal Comm Confit Restoration

Fluid Shifts HRF PC CCFP Service Module Setup

Delta file prep

FLUID SHIFTS. Cable Assembly Setup for Power Converter.

Fluid Shifts Ultrasound Hardware Transfer

FLUID SHIFTS. Connection of US Invertor to Onboard Equipment Control System (СУБА).

Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config Columbus Setup

PAO Preparation

JEM Airlock Press

VEG-03 Plant Photo

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

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) WSTA Fill

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Conductivity Test

Filling in (Degassing) of EDV (KOV) for Elektron or EDV-SV

Comm Config in MRM2 for the Experiment

On-board Training (OBT) HTV Offset Grapple

KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Experiment Ops.

JEM Airlock Leak Check

Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations – Subject

СОЖ maintenance

Restoration of Nominal Comm Config in MRM2

KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Data Transfer and Downlink

On-board Training (OBT) HTV Offset Grapple

ИП-1 Sensors Installation Monitoring

Onboard Training (OBT) SSRMS Debrief Conference

Measurement of CO Partial Pressure using CSA-CP near the Central Post (location: SM Central Post, Panel 208). Battery Changeout (if required) on MCC-H Go. Report the readings and CSA-CP number to MCC. Use one CSA-CP during the measurements

Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 (T2) Quarterly Maintenance

Crew Medical Officer (CMO) On Board Training (OBT)

Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 (T2) Exercise Session

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap

Stow Syringes used in H2O Conductivity Test

Completed Task List Items

ICE Brick Stow

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Inspection

T2 Monthly Inspection

EVA Payload Water Reservoir Degas

EVA On Orbit Measurements

MERLIN Desiccant Maintenance

Russian Segment IWIS RSU Connection and Configuration Survey

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

SSRMS Walkoff

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Wednesday, 12/07: IMV Flow Measurements, JEMAL Slide Table Extend and RELL Removal, Fluid Shifts

Thursday, 12/08: FSS ITCS Coolant Loop Refill, Solar Array Mast Imagery

Friday, 12/09: MSPR Combustion Chamber Installation, ITCS Coolant Loop Fill, HRF Samples, Fine Motor Skills

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: