Sarcolab-3: With assistance from an operator, a USOS crewmember ingressed the Muscle Atrophy Research & Exercise System (MARES) chair in the Columbus module, installed the Electromyograph and Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation (PEMS) device and adjusted pads and constraints for the Sarcolab-3 ankle protocol. The operator then collected ultrasound images of the subject’s right leg during exercise activities. Ground experts are evaluating anomalies that occurred during the investigation that prevented completion of today’s session. Later in the day a crewmember installed the mechanisms specific to the knee configuration for Sarcolab-3 operations tomorrow. The data collected for Sarcolab-3 will be compared to pre and post flight measurements to assess the impact of hypothesized microgravity induced muscle loss. Myotendinous and Neuromuscular Adaptation to Long-term Spaceflight (Sarcolab) investigates the adaptation and deterioration of the soleus (calf muscle) where it joins the Achilles tendon, which links it to the heel and carries loads from the entire body. Muscle fiber samples are taken from crew members before and after flight and analyzed for changes in structural and chemical properties. MRI and ultrasound tests and electrode stimulation are conducted to help assess muscle and tendon changes caused by microgravity exposure.

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF): The crew replaced sample cartridges in the ELF, an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and 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.

NanoRacks Platforms 2 and 3: The crew installed NanoRacks Platform 2 and 3 in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) to support investigation hardware arriving on SpaceX-12. These NanoRack platforms are multipurpose research facilities that provide power and data transfer capabilities for NanoRacks Module investigations.

Improved Payload Ethernet Hub Gateway (iPEHG): The crew installed an iPEHG in Express Rack (ER) 4. The new iPEHG design corrects performance limitations often experienced by the older PEHGs.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday afternoon, Robotics Ground Controllers translated the Mobile Transporter (MT) from Worksite 8 (WS8) to WS4. They then stowed Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) on Mobile Base System (MBS) Power Data Grapple Fixture 2 (PDGF2) and walked the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) off MBS PDGF3 onto the Lab PDGF.

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Express Rack 4 Rotate Prep

Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject

Measuring Partial CO Pressure in RS using US portable CSA-CP device

Gathering EVA-43 Equipment and Tools. Consolidation of EVA bundles.

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Retrieval

MARES Ankle Shaving Preparation

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Chamber Clean

Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 2 Power On

MARES Ultrasound Session Assistance

MARES Ultrasound session

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Installation

PEHG Hardware Install

MARES subject electrodes equipment

Ultrasound 2 Guided Data Export

MARES subject electrodes equipment assistance

BIOCARD. Experiment Session (assist)

BIOCARD. Experiment Session

Space Automated Bioproduct Lab Filter Clean

Handover of Increment 52 Crew

Human Research Facility Ultrasound 2 power off and stowage

MARES Power On and Battery Charge

CALCIUM. Experiment Session 10

Inspection and photography of SM window shutters

SARCOLAB. MARES knee configuration installation

Express Rack 4 Umbilical Mate

Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations – Subject

Long Duration Sorbent Testbed Status Check.

Rodent Research Access Unit Clean

MARES Battery Charge control

MELFI 1 Switch Repair

CIR Hardware Gather

NanoRacks Platform-2 Install

NanoRacks Platform-3 Install

Two-Phase Flow (TPF) Experiment Laptop Terminal 2 (ELT2) Setup

Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Two-Phase Flow Experiment Equipment Activation

Robot Startup

Completed Task List Items

None

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

ER4 iPEHG install support

SSRMS 50S Starboard survey

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 08/04: Dragon OBT, RR5 fixative swap, Cupola window #6 scratch pane R&R

Saturday, 08/05: RR5 fixative swap, housekeeping

Sunday, 08/06: RR5 fixative swap, crew off duty

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: