Russian Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #43: Yurchikhin and Ryazanskiy performed a seven hour 30 minute EVA. Completed activities include manual deployment of 5 nanosatellites, collection of research samples and structural maintenance. During EVA ingress timeframe, Whitson and Fischer were isolated in 50 Soyuz. Bresnik and Nespoli had access to the FGB and USOS modules.

Multi-Omics-Mouse: The crew transferred mice for the Multi-Omics-Mouse investigation from the Animal Transfer Transportation Cage Unit that arrived on SpX-12 to Mouse Habitat Cage Units in the Glove Box. The Cage Units were then installed in the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) to start the experiment. The crew also transferred data from the Compact Flash Memory Card to a Station Support Computer (SSC). Several studies have reported space flight effects on the human immune system, but the relationship between microbiota and immune dysfunction during flight remains unclear. In the Multi-Omics-Mouse investigation, food with and without fructooligosaccharides (FOS) will be used as prebiotics, to determine if they improve the gut environment and immune function. After the flight, researchers will analyze the gut environment (microbiota and metabolites) and immune system of the mice by multi-omics analysis.

Kubik: The Crew installed Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) Biomission Experiment Containers into the Kubik 5 facility in the Columbus module. They also removed one of those containers and inserted it into a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) to preserve the scientific samples. Kubik 5 is supporting Biomission investigations by providing a small controlled-temperature incubator / cooler for the study of biological samples in a microgravity environment. Kubik is equipped with removable inserts designed for self-contained, automatic experiments using seeds, cells, and small animals.

NanoRacks Module 9: The crew activated mixture tubes for NanoRacks Module 9 in support of the NanoRacks-National Center for Earth and Space Science-Casper (NanoRacks-NCESSE-Casper) investigation. NCESSE supports various schools and student-designed experiments that address challenges of living and working in space. The program is also a key initiative for U.S. science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that strives to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to work on the space program.

Miniature Exercise Device (MED-2): A crewmember set up cameras to capture the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) work volume, placed markers on their body, powered on MED-2 and performed dead lifts and rowing. The microgravity environment of space weakens muscle and bone, so orbiting crew members spend significant amounts of time exercising with equipment that is large and bulky. MED-2 aims to demonstrate small robotic actuators can provide motion and resistance for crew workout sessions during long-duration space missions with exercise equipment that is smaller in size and mass.

Space Tango MultiLab Locker (TangoLab-1): The crew removed one investigation from a Card in the TangoLab-1 facility and attached two new ones to it. TangoLab-1 is a reconfigurable general research facility designed for microgravity research and development and pilot manufacturing aboard the ISS. TangoLab provides a standardized platform and open architecture for experimental modules called CubeLabs. CubeLab modules may be developed for use in 3-dimensional tissue and cell cultures.

Space Tango TangoLab-2 Locker (TangoLab-2): The crew installed the TangoLab-2 facility into Express Rack (ER) 6 but ground controllers were unable to establish communication with the facility. Ground experts are investigating the anomaly.

NanoRacks Platform-1: The crew installed Modules 67 (NanoRacks-NDC-Ames for Space-Bacteria Testing) and 72a (Quberider-1) into Nanoracks Platform-1. Module-67 determines whether bacteria mutate at a different rate in the microgravity environment of space. The experiments extend previous work on virulence in space by exposing different batches of bacteria to toxins known to cause mutations. Automated equipment tests and photographs batches of bacteria contained within different concentrations of toxins so that the observed mutation rates can be compared with those observed from control groups on Earth. Module-72a has a Raspberry Pi Zero board and several sensors. This is an educational payload that allows students to code their own software experiments and have them collect data on the ISS.

Fine Motor Skills (FMS): A crewmember completed a series of interactive tasks for this investigation which 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 the investigation is to determine how fine motor performance in microgravity varies over the duration of six-month and year-long space missions; how fine motor performance on orbit compares with that of a closely matched participant on Earth; and how performance varies before and after gravitational transitions, including periods of early flight adaptation and very early/near immediate post-flight periods.

Node 1 Port Hatch Unlatch Position: During Hatch Seal Inspections the crew was asked to recheck several of the USOS hatches for proper latch indicators. The crew confirmed that the Node 1 Port Hatch indicator was not in the “unlatched” position as expected. The crew cycled the hatch mechanism and confirmed it was physically in the “unlatched” position while the position indicator was off. Engineering is assessing the latch indicator to determine if the hardware will need to be replaced

Today’s Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

ASI Experiment Container insertion into MELFI

Experiment Container deinstallation

Experiment Container installation into KUBIK 5

Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold Bottle Valve Open

Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open/Close

ISS HAM Radio Power Down

Crew Quarters (CQ) Door Closing

Cold Stowage Double Coldbag Unpack & Review

CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection Setup

CTB Dragon Unpack

Dragon Locker Remove

Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK)

Environmental Health System (EHS) Acoustic Dosimeters – Data Transfer and Stow

Removes CUCU inhibits post EVA. Leaves CUCU in expected quiescent config.

COTS UHF Communications Unit (CUCU) Inhibits for EVA

Fine Motor Skills Experiment Test – Subject

Health Maintenance System (HMS) – ESA Nutritional Assessment

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) or ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)

iPad Air 2 Charge & Troubleshooting

Miniature Exercise Device Hardware Gather

Miniature Exercise Device Operations Session

Multi-Omics-Mouse Compact Flash Memory Card 64GB data transfer.

Multi-Omics-Mouse Item Gathering

Multi-Omics-Mouse Pre-experiment Animal Transfer

NanoRacks Module-9 OBT

NanoRacks Module 9 Ops Session 1

NanoRacks Platform-1 Module Install

Photo/TV iPad Video Setup

Polar Samples to Cold Stowage

EVA-43 Tasks

Surface Tension Containment MWA Assist

Surface Tension Containment MWA Operations

Surface Tension Containment MWA Preparation

TangoLab-1 Card Cube Replace

TangoLab-2 Activation and Checkout

Utility Outlet Panel (UOP) Activation

USOS Window Shutter Close

XF305 Camcorder Setup

Cargo Transfer to Dragon

Dragon Message Update

Biochemical Urine Test

DC1 БК-3М Check

ПхО БСС checkout

БСС Checkout in DC1.

Air duct disassembly in MRM2

Soyuz 735 Crew Isolation in MRM2 for RS EVA-43

MRM2-СУ (SM) Hatch Closure/Opening

MRM2 Preparation and Soyuz 735 Activation before EVA

RS ISS Reconfiguration for Nominal Ops

RS reconfiguration to initial state after EVA

ISS Onboard System Configuration before EVA (part 1)

ISS Onboard System Configuration before EVA (part 2)

Post-EVA Equipment Ops.

РО-ПхО, ПГО-СУ (SM) Hatch Closure

Air duct removal from DC1 (skip B3 fan removal)

Re-assemble air ducts in DC1 after EVA

Orlan Systems Check

Post-EVA Orlan-MKS No.4 servicing

Post-EVA Orlan-MK No.6 servicing

Final Inspection of Orlan and БСС.

Orlan, БСС, comm, and biomed parameter telemetry check.

Donning Gear.

DC1 and ПхО config for EVA

Comm config before EVA, reconfiguring ПСС (C&W) panel

Switching comm system to initial configuration, reconfiguring C&W indication from ПОВ [EVA Support Panel] in DC1 and ПхО

Soyuz 735 Deactivation, MRM2 Post-EVA Reconfiguration for Nominal Ops

Pre-EVA airlock operations

Post-EVA airlock operations

Post EVA Repress, assistance

Completed Task List Activities

None

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

RS EVA support

SpX cargo transfer ops

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 08/18: Rodent Research-9 (RR-9) transfer, Vascular Ultrasound, Mouse Habitat, RS EVA Cleanup

Saturday, 08/19: RR-9 access unit cleaning, TangoLab 2 installation/checkout, ADSEP cell transfer, Lung Media fixation, NanoRacks Module 9 ops, ADSEP cell transfer, POLAR desiccant pack swap

Sunday, 08/20: Crew off duty, ice brick/double cold bag stow

QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group: