Zebrafish Muscle 2: Following the fixation and stowing of experiment units (EUs) from Group A earlier this week, today the crew performed fixation on the EUs from Groups B and C and then stowed them in the refrigerator of the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The results from Zebrafish Muscle 2 operations will help to determine whether atrophy of muscles under microgravity also occurs in zebrafish, and why that muscle atrophy occurs in microgravity. Physical exercise and control of posture are important for maintaining muscle mass and strength. In microgravity conditions, the postural, known as anti-gravity muscles, undergo atrophy because of prominent decrease in their gravity-dependent activity.

APEX-05 Operations: APEX-05 petri plates were installed into the VEGGIE facility to begin the growth process of the plants. 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.

Synthetic Bone BioCell Operations: During today’s scheduled microscope operations for BioCell Habitats A and B, microscope issues inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) prevented ground teams from viewing video footage of the growing bone cells from the BioCells. With the deferment of today’s fixation of BioCell Habitat A, the crew was able to accelerate one of tomorrow’s media exchanges to today. Ground teams will continue to resolve the issue with the microscopy video downlink and are rescheduling tomorrow’s activities. Synthetic Bone uses BioCell habitats A, B, and C. The BioCell habitats will be used to test the functionality and effectiveness of new material that can assist in recovery from bone injuries or dental work during long-term space travel. Determining how well Tetranite integrates with bone cell cultures can also inform general strategies for addressing bone loss in space. Synthetic Bone examines the cellular response to a new type of bone adhesive in the microgravity environment of space. This experiment uses facilities aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to grow bone cells in the presence of a commercially available bone adhesive, and a new product called Tetranite. Sets of bone cell cultures grow with the different adhesives for 20 days and are then fixed, frozen, and returned to Earth for detailed analysis in a fully equipped biological laboratory.

Arthrospira-B (Batch Culture) Assembly: Four Arthrospira experiment containers were retrieved from a Glacier and transferred to the Columbus module where they were assembled and installed into the 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.

JAXA Low Temperature (LT) Protein Crystal Growth (PCG): PCG samples were retrieved from the Freezer-Refrigerator Of STirling cycle (FROST) and then the crew initiated the crystallization of the samples before inserting them back into the FROST where crystallization is continuing at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. The samples will remain in the FROST until they are returned on SpX-13 for evaluation by ground teams. The goal of the JAXA LT PCG experiment is to make high quality protein crystals in a microgravity environment at a low temperature.

Dose Distribution Inside the ISS – 3D (DOSIS 3D): Passive radiation detectors were installed in the Columbus module in support of European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) DOSIS 3D investigation. This experiment uses several active and passive detectors to determine the radiation doses inside the ISS and provides documentation of the actual nature and distribution of the radiation fields. A concise three dimensional (3D) dose distribution map of all the segments of the ISS will be developed based on this data and data from JAXA and NASA monitoring devices.

Japanese Experiment Module Airlock (JEM A/L) Depress: The crew depressurized the JEM A/L and vented the remaining air in preparation for upcoming NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) activities.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



Arthrospira-B On Board Training

ISS Crew Adaptation

JEM Airlock Depressurization

SABLE 2 CO2 Meter Setup

On MCC GO Regeneration of БМП Ф2 Micropurification Cartridge (start)

ISS CREW/SSIPC CONFERENCE

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

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

MSG Glove Setup

Dragon Locker Removal

Rodent Research Locker Preperation

ARED Handover Video Review

ARED Crew Handover

СОЖ maintenance

Rodent Research Transporter Stow

Charging of SM-AGAT-U55 external batteries (2) in Soyuz 737 (start)

Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position

Arthrospira EC Glacier Removal

Arthrospira EC Assembly

Replacement of БД-2 Treadmill belt (Procedure and R/g review, equipment gathering).

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check

Preventive maintenance of MRM1 АСП Hatch Sealing Mechanism and Soyuz 737 hatch

Bringing ODF up to date using Soyuz 737 delivered files

Synthetic Bone BioCell Habitat Tape Removal

Environmental Health System (EHS) – Radiation Area Monitors (RAM) Deployment

Synthetic Bone Microscope Operations – Augmented

Photo of a trace left by the Active Docking Mechanism probe on the MRM1 Passive Mechanism Receiving Cone

Download docking cone internal surface photos to OCA

JEM Airlock Vent

ISS Crew Orientation

JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation

APEX-05 On-Board Training

On MCC GO ISS O2 Repress from Progress 436 [AO] СРПК Section 1, start

APEX-05 Procedure Review #1

On MCC GO ISS O2 Repress from Progress 436 [AO] СрПК Section 1, terminate

JAXA LT PCG Sample Preparation

Synthetic Bone Biocells Fixation

Test activation of Vozdukh Atmosphere Purification System Emergency Vacuum Valves

Soyuz 737 Transfers and IMS Ops

Treadmill 2 (T2) Handover Video Review

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain

UDOD. Experiment Ops with DYKNANIYE-1 and SPRUT-2 Sets. Tagup with specialists

APEX-05 Hardware Gather #1

Fixation Preparation of Zebrafish Muscle2 samples

APEX-05 MELFI Sample Removal #1

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain Part 2

APEX-05 Science Insertion

Fixation of Zebrafish Muscle 2 1G samples in Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF).

MELFI Sample Return Bag Insertion

MELFI BioCell Habitat Insertion

MELFI Fixative Return Bag Insertion

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Calibration Check Data Record

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

PAO Preparation

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) – Lab

Zebrafish Muscle2 MELFI Insertion

Charging of SM-AGAT-U55 external batteries (2) in Soyuz 737 (end)

Fixation of Zebrafish Muscle 2 Micro-G samples in Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF).

T2 Crew Handover

DOSIS 3D Passive Detector Pouch handover after upload of dosimeters with Soyuz.

Transfer and Handover of DOSIS 3D Passive Detector Pouch from Soyuz 737 to USOS

Installation of the DOSIS 3D passive detector packs in Columbus and photodocumentation.

Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Setup – Subject

CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup

Fixation Closeout of Zebrafish Muscle2 samples

Space Headaches – Daily Questionnaire

Regeneration Micropurification Unit (БМП) Ф2 Absorption Cartridge (end)

Completed Task List Activities

None

Ground Activities

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.



SSRMS maneuver to cupola viewing position

JEMRMS: NREP unstow (overnight)

Standard commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 12/21: Marrow-2, EMER Role & Resp Review, Zebra, Synthetic Bone, STP-H5, Dragon Emer OBT, APEX-5, JAXA Area Dosimeter Install

Friday, 12/22: IMV Flow Measurement, FIR maintenance, Emer H/W OBT, CBM N2N Bolt Inspect, Cell Science Validation, JPM gas trap reconfig, JAXA Camera Robot, Blood Collection, APEX-5, STP-H5 ICE Photos, Space Headaches

Saturday, 12/23: Off duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: