NanoRack Cubesat Deployer (NRCSD) #11 Deploy: Five Cubesats were deployed today from the ISS: Phoenix, Xcubesat, Qbee, Altair and SHARC. ALTAIR is a technology demonstration / risk reduction mission for critical subsystems for the ALTAIR product line of spacecraft. SHARC (Spacecraft for High Accuracy Radar Calibration) hosts a series of experimental payloads including a C-band transponder and GPS. The primary goal of SHARC is to contribute to the calibration of Department of Defense (DoD) tri-service C-band radar installations. The remaining three cubesats that are being launched today are from the QB50 constellation of CubeSats from countries around the world. The constellation aims to study the upper reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere over a period of 1 to 2 years. The QB50 satellites conduct coordinated measurements on a poorly studied and previously inaccessible zone of the atmosphere referred to as the thermosphere. The project monitors different gaseous molecules and electrical properties of the thermosphere to better understand space weather and its long term trends.

Fluid Shifts: A 50S crew member performed their second of their two days of Flight Day 180 Fluid Shifts Chibis operations in the Russian Segment. They donned the Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP/Chibis) device while the operator, with ground support in Moscow, assisted in the medical monitoring. Additionally, while the subject was in the LBNP and experiencing the negative pressure (pulling the fluid feetward), the Crew Medical Officer performed Ultrasound measurements. Fluid Shifts is a joint NASA-Russian experiment that investigates the causes of severe and lasting physical changes to astronauts’ 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.

Veg-03: The crew harvested leaves from Chinese Cabbage growing in the Veggie facility for crew consumption. The plants will be left in place to continue growing. The goal of Veg-03 is to further demonstrate the proof of concept for the Veggie plant growth chamber and planting pillows. Future long-duration missions into the solar system will require a fresh food supply to supplement crew diets, which entails growing crops in space. Previous investigations focused on improving productivity in controlled environments but the limited quarters of the space shuttle and ISS made it difficult to conduct large-scale crop production tests. Veg-03 expands on previous validation tests of the Veggie hardware to grow cabbage, lettuce and other fresh vegetables. Tests determine which types of microorganisms are present in space-grown cabbage, providing baseline data for future crop-growing efforts. Behavioral health surveys assess the impact of growing plants on crew morale and mood.

OsteoOmics: Crew fixated BioCells in Biocell Habitat 3 and insert the sample into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). Crewmembers experience bone loss in orbit, stemming from the lack of gravity acting on their bones. OsteoOmics investigates the molecular mechanisms that dictate this bone loss by examining osteoblasts, which form bone, and osteoclasts, which dissolve bone. Improved understanding of these mechanisms could lead to more effective countermeasures to prevent bone loss during space missions and in a wide range of disorders on Earth. This may lead to better preventative care or therapeutic treatments for people suffering bone loss as a result of bone diseases like osteopenia and osteoporosis, or for patients on prolonged bed rest.

Genes in Space 2: The crew completeed a session of the Genes in Space 2 experiment. They retrieved a sample from a General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator (GLACIER) and inserted it in the miniature Polymerase Chain Reaction (miniPCR) system for processing. Later they removed the sample and put it into a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Genes in Space 2 investigation is based on the winning student proposal from the second Genes in Space competition. It tests whether the polymerase chain reaction can be used to study deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) alterations on board 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.

Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA) 3 Ingress: Following the successful completion of gross and fine leak checks, the crew opened the Node 2 overhead to PMA 3 hatch in preparation for ingress. They then removed the Common Berthing Mechanism Center (CBM) Disc Cover, Controller Panel Assemblies (CPA) and the Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) which were used during the PMA 3 relocation from Node 3 Port to Node 2 Zenith in March. They also installed an Active CBM to Passive CBM ground strap.

ISS Reboost: Later this afternoon the ISS is scheduled to perform a reboost using the Service Module main engines. The purpose of the reboost is to set up planned conditions for 49S landing on June 2 and 67P launch on June 14.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Equipment Audit in the SM recess under ИнПУ (panel 214)

Personal Data Prep for Return

ECON-M. Observation and Photography

Reminder Crew Autonomous Scheduling Test

REMINDER – ESA ACTIVE DOSIMETER MOBILE UNIT SWAP

OsteoOmics MERLIN Removal

PAO Hardware Setup. Video/Audio Test with the Glavny

PMA 3 fine leak check term and equipment teardown

FLUID SHIFTS

NanoRacks Cubesat Video Setup

Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 (PMA 3) Node 2 Ovhd Hatch Open

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test

VEG-03 Consumption Harvest #2

Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth

Genes in Space MWA Preparation

Combustion Integrated Rack FOMA Calibration Valve Close

Recharging Soyuz 735 Samsung PC Battery (if charge level is below 80%)

Genes in Space MELFI Sample Retrieve

Genes in Space Sample Operations

Collecting surface samples from FGB equipment and structures

Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis

Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position

Genes in Space Sample End

Manufacturing Device Feedstock Canister Exchange

Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill

Orthostatic stability evaluation with LBNP

Orthostatic Stability Evaluation with LBNP (without PC)

Combustion Integrated Rack FOMA Calibration Valve Open

VEG-03 Data Logger Installation

EXPRESS Rack 5 Locker Removal

Genes in Space Hardware Stow

Genes in Space MELFI Insert

NanoRacks Cubesat Video Setup

Terminate Soyuz 735 Samsung PC Battery Charge (as necessary)

Node 2 Zenith Center Disk Cover and Controller Panel Assembly Removal

SG100 Cloud Computer Installation and Activation

FLUID SHIFTS. Deactivation of КСПЭ Equipment and Closing Applications on Central Post SSC

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

Replacement of E-K Pre-treat Container and Hose in АСУ System. [АСУ] Activation after Replacement

СОЖ Maintenance

Genes in Space/Biomolecule Sequencer Hardware Stow

OsteoOmics Media Relocate

Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record

Fluid Shifts Ultrasound 2 Data Export Alternate

CheCS OBT

On Board Training (OBT) International Space Station (ISS) Crew Health Care System (CHeCS) Drill

OsteoOmics Media Change

Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill [Aborted]

Centerline Berthing Camera System Pressurized Mating Adapter Target Remove

Pressurized Mating Adapter #3 Ground Strap Installation

WHC FLUSH WATER FLOW ADJUST

SPLANKH. Preparation for Experiment

USOS Window Shutter Close

Closing Window Shutters 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14.

Completed Task List Items

T2 Quarterly Maintenance

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

NRCSD Cube Sat deploy

EWC WAP checkout

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 05/18: Biolab rotor belt troubleshooting, OsteoOmics

Friday, 05/19: H2 sensor ORU R&R, Fluid Shifts, Neuro-Mapping, 49S photo inspection

Saturday, 05/20: Crew off duty, housekeeping

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: