ISS ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) #56 P6 Battery R&R preparations: Today, the crew completed several activities in preparation for the first of five EVAs that will upgrade the P6 power channels from their original nickel hydrogen batteries to the newer li-ion batteries. These activities included an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) suit fit check, equipment lock preparations, and an EVA procedures conference. The first P6 battery EVA is planned for Sunday, October 6, 2019.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday and overnight, Ground Controllers maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to grapple External Pallet #7 (EP7), which was being held by the Japan Experiment Module – Remote Manipulator System (JEM-RMS). EP7 was released and the SSRMS stowed it in the HTV8 Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC). The SSRMS was then walked-off to the MSS Base System (MBS) Power & Data Grappled Fixture #4 (PDGF 4) where it grappled and unstowed the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) from the US Lab PDGF. Finally, the Mobile Transporter (MT) translated from Work Site 5 (WS 5) to WS 7. Tonight, ground controllers will begin breaking torques on EP8 battery bolts.

Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC) operations: Today, the crew performed a partial fill of the WHC flush tank along with removing excess pressure by using a post-flight analysis bag to capture any fluid during the venting. This task was performed in an effort to troubleshoot and exonerate the Water Valve Block as the faulty component.

Functional Immune: The crew performed saliva collections associated with the Functional Immune investigation. The Functional Immune Alterations, Latent Herpesvirus Reactivation, Physiological Stress and Clinical Incidence Onboard the International Space Station (Functional Immune) investigation analyzes blood and saliva samples to determine the changes taking place in crew members’ immune systems during flight.

GRIP: The crew performed the seated science 2 sessions. In these sessions, also known as the reference seated sessions, the crew sits in an upright seated posture, and performs the tasks: friction, discrete (with eyes open/closed) and collisions. The GRIP experiment consists of 3 protocols: Dynamics Seated, References Seated and References Supine. They are performed in 3 separate sub-sessions. ESA’s Grip investigation tests how the nervous system takes into account the forces due to gravity and inertia when manipulating objects. Results from this investigation may provide insight into potential hazards for astronauts as they manipulate objects in different gravitational environments. They also support design and control of haptic interfaces to be used in challenging environments such as space, and provide information about motor control that will be useful for the evaluation and rehabilitation of impaired upper limb control in patients with neurological diseases.

GPS/Wheel Demo Unit Removal: The crew completed removing GPS/Wheel Demo Unit from the EFU Adapter on the JEM airlock Slide Table. This mission was conducted to evaluate on-orbit performances of a small GPS receiver and Reaction wheel. It is planned to conduct this experiment more than 1 year in space environment. After this demonstration, it will be shown that these units have enough capability for small satellites’ navigation and control.

ISS HAM pass: The crew supported an ISS HAM pass with Sonoma County Main Library, Santa Rosa, CA, USA. Some of the questions involved what timekeeping system the crew uses in space, the strangest thing the crew has seen in space, and if any major, visible Earth changes are visible from space. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground HAM radio units.

Probiotics: The crew performed the questionnaire and saliva collection activities associated with the probiotics investigation. The objective of the Probiotics investigation is to study the impact of continuous consumption of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) on immune function and intestinal microbiota in astronauts in a closed microgravity environment. The results of this investigation may be used to support improvements in crewmembers’ intestinal microbiota and their immune function on long-duration space missions.

Standard Measures: The crew performed a cognition session and presleep questionnaire in support of the Standard Measures investigation. The aim of the investigation is to ensure consistent capture of an optimized, minimal set of measures from crewmembers until the end of the ISS Program in order to characterize the adaptive responses to and risks of living in space. Among other things, the ground teams perform analyses for metabolic and chemistry panels, immune function, microbiome, etc. These measures populate a data repository to enable high-level monitoring of countermeasure effectiveness and meaningful interpretation of health and performance outcomes, and support future research on planetary missions.

Story Time from Space: The crew read a passage from the book Khalifa and Amal and Trip to Earth. Story Time From Space combines science literacy outreach with simple demonstrations recorded aboard the ISS. Crewmembers videotape themselves reading the books and completing demonstrations. Video and data collected during the demonstrations are downlinked to the ground and posted in a video library with accompanying educational materials.

Veg-04B: The crew initiated the 56 day Veg-04B plant growth experiment. The investigation will be growing Mizuna mustard greens, which will be grown under 2 different light quality treatments. The Mizuna wll be harvested multiple times during the growth cycle. The Pick-and-Eat Salad-Crop Productivity, Nutritional Value, and Acceptability to Supplement the ISS Food System (Veg-04A, Veg-04B, and Veg-05) investigation is a phased research project to address the need for a continuous fresh-food production system in space. The research of Veg-04B focuses on the impact of light quality and fertilizer on leafy crop growth for a 56-day grow-out, microbial food safety, nutritional value, taste acceptability by the crew, and the overall behavioral health benefits of having plants and fresh food in space.

Completed Task List Activities:

EVA Socket Tape

PAO Symbolic Activity

PCS Relocation

Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Payloads ground support

EVA procedure conference with the crew

Node 3 MCA calibration

Look Ahead:

Wednesday (early crew day), 10/2 (GMT 275)

Payloads:



ISS Experience in the US Lab

GRIP science

Systems:

MSS P6 Battery EVA preparations

Wednesday/Thursday (overnight support for 58S undocking), 10/2-10/3 (GMT 276/276)

Payloads:

Acoustic Diagnostics

Actiwatch ops

ELF cartridge cleaning

Food Acceptability

Food Physiology

Functional Immune

GRIP

HRP blood ops

ISS Experience

Lighting Effects

Nanoracks Module 9

Rodent Research acoustic test

SOLISS install

STP-H5 ICE photo

Time Perception

ISS Experience

Microgravity Crystals

Systems:

EVA cuff checklist print

JEM A/L vent

Friday, 10/4 (GMT 276)

Payloads:



Crew off duty day

Systems:

Crew off duty day

Today’s Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

