International Space Station (Updates)

7,776 · July 26, 2016

Is there a website or an app that offers enthusiasts a chance to track space debris? I've heard there's a ton of garbage from past missions just floating around outside our atmosphere but in an orbit around Earth.

thanks. sorry to disrupt the conversation

6,181 · July 26, 2016

@chrisj1968

There are professional based websites and licensed software for various uses but are expensive or academically restricted. There are a few sites around though.

One site is Stuffin.space website, a web site that uses the Space-Track database. It works well in Windows 7 and 8.1 but is subject to settings (scripts) in Windows 10. All modern browsers can display the images.

This is a 3D graphical representation where one can scroll around and investigate data on particular items, it's actually not too bad.

Google Earth is also able to import KMZ database files, but is a bit limited. ( needs to be set up)

As for satellites....

http://www.n2yo.com/

Near Earth "rocks"

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/

Reentries.....

http://www.aerospace.org/cords/reentry-predictions/upcoming-reentries-2-2/

and

http://www.satview.org/spacejunk.php

Hope that helps...try the stuffin.space on Win 7 or 8.1, you may like it...

6,181 · July 27, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 25 July 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_072516_9

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins (left) and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (right) prepare to open the hatch to SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft. The vehicle delivered nearly 5,000 pounds of supplies, hardware and experiments to the Expedition 48 crew. It is standard procedure for crew members to wear personal protective equipment, including masks, goggles and sometimes gloves, when entering recently arrived spacecraft. This protects them from any potential debris that may have been shaken loose during the launch and ascent phases of the flight to orbit. Credit: NASA 07/20/2016.

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Expedition 48 is moving ahead with preparations for an upcoming spacewalk. New science also is under way aboard the International Space Station after being delivered last week.

A new U.S. spacesuit was unpacked from inside Dragon and will be used during an August spacewalk to install a Commercial Crew docking port. An older U.S. spacesuit will be returned to Earth inside the Dragon for refurbishment.

Housed inside the trunk of the Dragon space freighter is the International Docking Adapter. The new docking adapter will be installed to the Harmony module during next month's spacewalk. It will enable future crew spacecraft from Boeing and SpaceX to dock to the station.

The new Heart Cells study got under way last week to observe how heart muscle tissue adapts to microgravity. Another life science experiment, Mouse Epigenetics, is being set up this week to explore how living in space affects gene expression. The hardware and mice for both experiments were delivered last week inside Dragon.

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Biological Research In Canisters (BRIC) 23: Over the weekend, the crew transferred all four of the BRIC-23 canisters that were actuated last week to the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). Two of the four canisters were transferred to MELFI following a 24-hour growth period and the remaining two canisters were transferred following a 48-hour growth period. The BRIC-23 investigation studies Bacillus subtilis spores and Staphylococcus aureus cells to understand how they respond to the stressful environment of space. Results from this investigation improve the understanding of how microbes adapt to spaceflight, including whether their adaptations change antibiotic effectiveness, which benefits efforts to maintain crew member health.

NanoRacks Module 9: Over the weekend the crew completed the second session of the NanoRacks Module-9 experiment by activating, shaking, and deactivating the mixture tubes. The NanoRacks Module-9 experiment is a collection of student research projects utilizing the NanoRacks Mixsticks. Student teams from across the United States design their own experiments using flight approved fluids and materials. The investigation consists of several science experiments flown in a NanoRacks Module on board the ISS.

"Road To" Extravehicular Activity (EVA): This week begins preparation tasks for the IDA2 EVA currently scheduled for August 18. Today the crew was scheduled to complete the following EVA Mobility Unit (EMU) tasks, but only completed the first three due to scheduling constraints:

Remove EMU 3008 from the Fwd EMU Don/Doff Assembly (EDDA) and stow in the Crew Lock (CL).
Remove EMU 3006, which was delivered on SpX-9, from the SEMU Launch Enclosure (SLE), install on the Fwd EDDA and configure for on-orbit operations.
Configure and install EMU 3005 in the SLE for return on SpX-9.
Retrieve EMU 3003 from the CL and install on Aft EDDA. [Deferred]
Remove EMU 3006 from Fwd EDDA and install EMU 3008. [Deferred]

Potable Water Dispenser Filter Maintenance: The crew R&Rd the PWD filter and cleaned the fan filter areas behind the PWD. This preventive maintenance is required every 18 months.

Transition to the Power Management Control Application (PMCA) and Photovoltaic Control Application (PVCA) R5 (PMPV R5) software suite - The X2 PMPV R5 software transition began over the weekend and will continue into Tuesday. PMCA and PVCA R5 contains new software to manage the Li-Ion batteries that will arrive on HTV-6. In addition to the PMCA and PVCA updates, there also are updates to the Command and Control (C&C) and Portable Computer System (PCS) software. All software has good health signatures to date.

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Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Cargo transfer support
EVA tasks support
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 07/26: SAM removal from JEMAL ST, PEPS inspection, Fluid Shifts
Wednesday, 07/27: Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance, Fine Motor Skills, Airway Monitoring hardware locate
Thursday, 07/28: Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring hardware deploy, EMU resize, Active Dosimeter install/checkout

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-25-july-2016.html

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NASA Seeks Commercial Ideas for Space Station

International Space Station (Credit: NASA)

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WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — The International Space Station is a resource unlike any other. Already designated a U.S. National Laboratory with more than 300 active research experiments on board, NASA is seeking creative input from industry for new uses of the space station’s one-of-a-kind capabilities.

A request for information (RFI) released this month seeks to understand which unique ISS capabilities can be used to boost commercial activity and foster a self-sustaining marketplace in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The agency also is looking for industry recommendations on potential contract or agreement structures to make it simpler to enable use of these capabilities.

“The space station was designed with what we thought was a full set of utilization capabilities. However, we are finding that industry is more innovative than we’d imagined and has ideas to use station in ways we never envisioned for research or commercial activities,” said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. “We’re asking industry to help us understand how best to offer these unique capabilities, such as unused attachment ports or non-standard attachment sites, to commercial users. I’m looking forward to seeing how the private sector responds.”

This is a request for information only and does not guarantee a future request for proposals; however, NASA will use the results of the RFI to guide strategic planning to meet the agency’s objective for developing a robust, self-sustaining marketplace in LEO.

Respondents should consider current International Space Station resources, market demand and private funding considerations. RFI responses are requested by 5 p.m. EDT July 29, 2016.

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/07/26/nasa-seeks-commercial-ideas-space-station/

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Orbital Parking Practice With A Progress Cargo Droid

The undocked Russian Progress 62 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station for redocking during a test of the upgraded tele-robotically operated rendezvous system, or the TORU manual docking system. NASA

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/orbital-parking-practice-with-a-progress-cargo-droid.html

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6,181 · July 28, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 26 July 2016

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JEM Airlock (JEM AL) Operations: With assistance from the ground team, the crew completed Airlock Control and Display Unit-Remote Control (ACDU-RC) checkout and JEM AL labeling activities. They also removed the Handhold Experiment Platform Adapter from the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) prior to removing MPEP from the Small Fine Arm (SFA) Airlock Attachment Mechanism (SAM) which is on the JEMAL slide table. This is in preparation for next week's planned installation of NanoRacks External Platform (NREP).

Microbial Check Valve (MCV) Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Remove & Replace (R&R): The Water Processing Assembly (WPA) has been experiencing high pressure faults when in reprocess mode due to high delta pressure across the MCV. The old MCV was installed following a failed R&R in 2015 and was degraded. Today the crew replaced the MCV with a spare delivered on SpX-9. The WPA is currently in process mode and data indicates the delta pressure has returned to normal levels.

Transition to the Power Management Control Application (PMCA) and Photovoltaic Control Application (PVCA) R5 Software Suite: The X2 PMPV R5 software transition began over the weekend and continued through today. Yesterday the software was pushed to the Backup Photovoltaic Control Unit (PVCU) Multiplexer-Demultiplexers (MDMs) [PVCU-3B, PVCU-3A, PVCU-4A and PVCU-2B], which were then transitioned to Primary. Today the software was pushed to the remaining PVCU MDMs [PVCU-1A, PVCU-1B, PVCU-2A, and PVCU-4B]. After the software loads were completed, the MDMs were transitioned from backup to primary. This returned the MDMs in their final desired Prime/Backup configuration.

Dragon Cargo Operations: The crew has unloaded all cargo from the vehicle. The crew completed 2.5 hours of cargo packing and loading for return.

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Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
JEMAL ops
PVCU R5 Software load

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 07/27: Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance, Fine Motor Skills, Airway Monitoring hardware locate, PEPS inspection
Thursday, 07/28: Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring hardware deploy, EMU resize, Active Dosimeter install/checkout
Friday, 07/29: EVA SAFER maintenance, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring A/L setup, MSL LGF sample cartridge exchange

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - Off
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-26-july-2016.html

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New Heart and DNA Research in Space Benefiting Health

Astronaut Kate Rubins works to set up a new microscope for the Heart Cells study. Credit: NASA TV

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New science unloaded from the latest SpaceX Dragon to visit the International Space Station is under way. The variety of new and ongoing space research is designed to benefit life on Earth and astronauts on long duration missions.

Astronaut Kate Rubins, a biological researcher on Earth, is lifting her science expertise to new heights today setting up a microscope in space for the first time. The new microscope will observe heart cells to help doctors understand how the human heart adapts in space and improve crew health.

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi checked the habitat for the Mouse Epigenetics experiment today. That study is researching how microgravity alters the gene expression in mice and DNA in their offspring.

Commander Jeff Williams joined cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin for ultrasound scans today to investigate how fluids shift from the lower body to the upper body. The study is exploring how these fluid shifts affect fluid pressure in an astronaut’s head and eyes potentially affecting vision.

Cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Anatoly Ivanishin partnered together for a study of the upper body that observes changes in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The research explores breathing and blood pressure in microgravity to maintain the health of crews living in space.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/07/27/new-heart-and-dna-research-in-space-benefiting-health/

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Japan’s sixth HTV cargo mission slated for Sept. 30 launch

Two of the six lithium-ion batteries set for launch on Japan’s sixth HTV cargo mission are seen in a clean room at the Tanegashima Space Center. The HTV’s exposed pallet in the background already holds four of the batteries in this image taken in June. Credit: JAXA

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Japan’s space agency has set Sept. 30 as the target launch date for the country’s sixth resupply mission to the International Space Station, carrying cargo, experiments and six lithium-ion batteries to kick off a major upgrade of the lab’s electrical system.

The cylinder-shaped cargo craft is set for liftoff at 1716 GMT (1:16 p.m. EDT) Sept. 30 from the Tanegashima Space Center, a facility nestled on the southern coast of Tanegashima Island in southern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced Tuesday.

The launch of the sixth H-2 Transfer Vehicle will occur in the predawn hours Oct. 1, Japanese time.

Japan has nicknamed the mission Kounotori 6, which means white stork. It will transport about 9,365 (4,248 kilograms) of cargo in separate pressurized and unpressurized modules, according to the latest payload manifest.

The Kounotori 6 spacecraft will reach the space station Oct. 4, when astronauts will snare the approaching supply ship with a robotic arm.

It will stay attached to the space station’s Harmony module until around Nov. 11, during which time astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Takuya Onishi will go outside on two spacewalks to help install six lithium-ion batteries, lighter and more efficient replacements for the station’s existing nickel-hydrogen batteries.

The space station’s Canadian-built robotic handyman, Dextre, will remove the outpost’s nickel-hydrogen batteries mounted on the lab’s power truss before the spacewalks. The robot will also help place the lithium-ion batteries into their new homes on the station’s power truss, while Kimbrough and Onishi will route electrical connections and install adapter plates.

Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said this week that the two-armed, tool-carrying Dextre robot began preparing for the arrival of the new batteries earlier this year by breaking torque on bolts.

“We’ll actually remove the batteries before the crew goes out, so they’ll actually be pulled out with the SPDM (Dextre), so then all they have got to do is go install the new one,” Gerstenmaier told members the NASA Advisory Council on Monday.

more at the link...

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/07/27/japans-sixth-htv-cargo-mission-slated-for-sept-30-launch/

Technicians lift one of the six lithium-ion batteries set to launch Sept. 30 for installation into the HTV’s exposed pallet. Credit: JAXA

Technicians add cargo to the HTV 6 spacecraft’s pressurized module at the Tanegashima Space Center. Credit: JAXA

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Orbital View Of California Fires

California Fires NASA/KATE RAMSAYER

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In late July 2016, wildfire burned along Soberanes Creek, Garrapata State Park, and north of Big Sur in Monterey County, California.

On July 24, 2016, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the Soberanes fire.

According to InciWeb, the fire started on July 22. As of July 25, it had burned 14,897 acres and was 5 percent contained by firefighters. Twenty homes and two other buildings have been destroyed. High temperatures and low humidity, coupled with long-term drought, have fueled the blaze.

NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response, using VIIRS data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite. Suomi NPP is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense.

http://spaceref.com/earth/orbital-view-of-california-fires.html

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38,268 · July 28, 2016

More on the commercialization of ISS post upthread

Remember when Bob Bigelow proposed installing a B330 on ISS after BEAM is disposed of in 2 years? He called it XBASE. He wasn't blowing smoke.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/bigelow-wants-bigger-b330-module-attached-to-iss

There are already other proposals, one being by Axiom Space - run by former NASA ISS Manager Michael Suffredini, proposing new commercial modules which would be used for commercial purposes.

After ISS is retired the new module(s) would fly off to become part of a new commercial station.

This is very real.

http://spacenews.com/nasa-seeking-ideas-for-use-of-space-station-docking-port/

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@jeff_foust
Gerst says the RFI is one of the most important ones they've issued for a long time.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/757577367942422528

@jeff_foust
Gerst talking about RFI for use of an ISS docking port: http://bit.ly/2a16Vav Deadline July 29. but he suggests it may be extended a bit.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/757577135435296769

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=203c8f1a3a4f0497cdea6dbf205ee2b1&tab=core&_cview=0

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Advancing Economic Development in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) via Commercial Use of Limited Availability, Unique International Space Station Capabilities

[...] NASA is seeking industry ideas to stimulate economic development through the use of unique ISS capabilities such as unused common berthing mechanism (CBM) attachment ports, non-standard attachment sites or any other capability which can be used in a way not previously envisioned. NASA is also interested in operating approaches. [...]

Information Requested from Responders:

NASA is interested in understanding the following information from responders:

Unique ISS capabilities the responder is interested in with a description of proposed use.

Need dates and minimum durations that the capability would be required.

How this activity will advance economic development and private sector demand for research in space. Results of market studies, if available.

Suggested approaches for NASA to evaluate the plans for achieving and maintaining an appropriate balance between the responders' commercial objectives and the Agency's broader objectives of advancing economic development and private sector demand for research in space.

Minimum criteria to be met in order to retain on-going use of the capability and timelines for terminating use of the capabilities if ongoing evaluation indicates the use of the capability is no longer meeting the minimum criteria.

How the offeror plans to fund and sustain their asset on ISS. What is the business case to sustain the asset after ISS end of life?

How the offeror plans to obtain crew or cargo transportation, if required? If the offeror expects to obtain these or other resources through NASA or CASIS, please indicate the magnitude of resources expected.

Suggestion of ways NASA can incentivize a partner to stimulate economic development in LEO with minimal to no unique NASA direct investment.

Identification of specific barriers to proposed commercial use of these capabilities.

A discussion on how this activity would intersect with the CASIS role to foster use of the National Laboratory and how CASIS could best support your efforts.

http://www.iss-casis.org/About/AboutCASIS.aspx

Edited July 28, 2016 by DocM

6,181 · July 29, 2016

It would be great if Bigelow and Axiom are ready for 2020 and have a starting base of customers. This would allow lots of time, prior to decommissioning of the ISS, to plan for a self sustaining station.

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 27 July 2016

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New science unloaded from the latest SpaceX Dragon to visit the International Space Station is under way. The variety of new and ongoing space research is designed to benefit life on Earth and astronauts on long duration missions.

Astronaut Kate Rubins, a biological researcher on Earth, is lifting her science expertise to new heights today setting up a microscope in space for the first time. The new microscope will observe heart cells to help doctors understand how the human heart adapts in space and improve crew health.

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi checked the habitat for the Mouse Epigenetics experiment today. That study is researching how microgravity alters the gene expression in mice and DNA in their offspring.

Commander Jeff Williams joined cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin for ultrasound scans today to investigate how fluids shift from the lower body to the upper body. The study is exploring how these fluid shifts affect fluid pressure in an astronaut's head and eyes potentially affecting vision.

Cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Anatoly Ivanishin partnered together for a study of the upper body that observes changes in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The research explores breathing and blood pressure in microgravity to maintain the health of crews living in space.

Quote

Heart Cells Microscope Operations: The crew set up the Heart Cells microscope and removed the BioCell Habitat from the Space Automated Bioproduct Lab (SABL) and the Multiwell BioCell from the BioCell Habitat. These items were inserted into the microscope before conducting Heart Cells operations and placing the Multiwell BioCell back into BioCell Habitat and stowing the BioCell habitat inside SABL-1. The investigation studies the human heart, specifically how heart muscle tissue, contracts, grows and changes (gene expression) in microgravity and how those changes vary between subjects. Understanding how heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, change in space improves efforts for studying disease, screening drugs and conducting cell replacement therapy for future space missions.

Mouse Epigenetics Maintenance Operations: The crew conducted standard maintenance operations by exchanging the food cartridge of the Mouse Habitat Cage Unit and completing Transportation Cage Unit dryout activities. The investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space as well as changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space.

Portable Emergency Provisions (PEPS) Inspection: The crew inspected and confirmed that the Portable Fire Extinguishers (PFEs), Extension Hose Tee Kits (EHTKs), Portable Breathing Apparatuses (PBAs) and Pre-Breathe Masks are all free of damage. This maintenance is scheduled every 45 days to ensure continuous functionality of the units.

SSRMS Operations for Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA2) Androgynous Peripheral Attachment System (APAS) Inspection - SSRMS ungrappled from SpaceX-9 and used the SSRMS Latch End Effector (LEE) camera to complete the PMA2 APAS inspection in preparation for the International Docking Adapter (IDA) ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) installation in August. No significant items were noted in the inspection. The PMA2 APAS is Go for IDA installation. Following the PMA2 APAS inspection, the SSRMS was maneuvered to its park position at the pre-grapple for Dragon Flight Release Grapple Fixture (FRGF).

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Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 07/28: Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring hardware deploy, EMU resize, Active Dosimeter install/checkout
Friday, 07/29: EVA SAFER maintenance, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring A/L setup, MSL LGF sample cartridge exchange
Saturday, 07/30: Crew off duty, housekeeping

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-27-july-2016.html

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Human Research and Suit Preps before Mid-August Spacewalk

NASA astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins work on a pair of U.S. spacesuits in the Quest airlock. Credit: NASA TV

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The Expedition 48 crew continued researching how living in space affects the eyes and the brain today. Two NASA astronauts also are getting ready for a mid-August spacewalk to install a new docking port.

Commander Jeff Williams and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin participated in the Fluid Shifts experiment today. They used an ultrasound scan and a tonometer to monitor the fluid pressure in an astronaut’s head and eyes. Microgravity tends to shift fluids to the upper body increasing pressure in the head with some astronauts experiencing vision problems.

Williams then joined Flight Engineer Kate Rubins in the U.S. Quest airlock to resize a pair of spacesuits. The duo are scheduled for an Aug. 19 spacewalk to install an International Docking Adapter on the Harmony module.

The adapter will be removed from the SpaceX Dragon Aug. 17 during a six-hour robotic maneuver to place it in installation position. The adapters will enable future commercial crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX to dock to the International Space Station.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/07/28/human-research-and-suit-preps-before-mid-august-spacewalk/

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Deep Space Radiation: Apollo Astronauts Experiencing Higher Rates of Cardiovascular-related Deaths

Apollo Command Service Module NASA

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Members of the successful Apollo space program are experiencing higher rates of cardiovascular problems that are thought to be caused by their exposure to deep space radiation, according to a Florida State University researcher.

In a new paper in Scientific Reports, FSU Dean of the College of Human Sciences and Professor Michael Delp explains that the men who traveled into deep space as part of the lunar missions were exposed to levels of galactic cosmic radiation that have not been experienced by any other astronauts or cosmonauts. That exposure is now manifesting itself as cardiovascular problems.

"We know very little about the effects of deep space radiation on human health, particularly on the cardiovascular system," Delp said. "This gives us the first glimpse into its adverse effects on humans."

This is the first study looking at the mortality of Apollo astronauts. The Apollo program ran from 1961 to 1972, with 11 manned flights into space between 1968 and 1972. Nine of those flew beyond Earth's orbit into deep space. The program is most notable for landing men on the moon as well as the failed mission of Apollo 13 that inspired the popular 1995 Ron Howard film.

Delp's research is of special interest now as the United States and other nations, plus private organizations, make plans for deep space travel. NASA has unveiled plans for U.S. orbital missions around the moon from 2020 to 2030 in preparation for a manned flight to Mars. Russia, China and the European Space Agency are all looking at lunar missions. And SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, has proposed landing humans on Mars by 2026.

As a group, astronauts are highly educated and have access to top medical care, meaning their healthcare outcomes are generally better than the general population. But the group of men in the Apollo program experienced different environmental conditions than anyone else in the world when they traveled into deep space.

Delp found that 43 percent of deceased Apollo astronauts died from a cardiovascular problem. That is four to five times higher than non-flight astronauts and astronauts who have traveled in low Earth orbit.

Of the 24 men who flew into deep space on the Apollo lunar missions, eight have died and seven were included in the study. The eighth -- Edgar Mitchell -- died after the data analysis had been completed.

Delp and his colleagues also exposed mice to the type of radiation that Apollo astronauts would have experienced. After six months -- the equivalent of 20 human years -- the mice demonstrated an impairment of arteries that is known to lead to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in humans.

"What the mouse data show is that deep space radiation is harmful to vascular health," Delp said.

Delp is working with NASA to conduct additional studies on the Apollo astronauts regarding their cardiovascular health.

This research was funded by National Space and Biomedical Research Institute and the NASA Space Biology Program. Other authors on the paper include Jacqueline Charvat from Johnson Space Center, Charles Limoli from University of California Irvine, Ruth Globus from the NASA Ames Research Center and FSU postdoctoral researcher Payal Ghosh.

http://spaceref.com/space-medicine/deep-space-radiation-apollo-astronauts-experiencing-higher-rates-of-cardiovascular-related-deaths.html

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Bright Australian Auroras

aurora-south-australia.jpg?interpolation

Thursday, July 28, 2016: A stunning aurora danced over south Australian on June 24, 2016. This image, captured by NASA Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams, was taken from the International Space Station orbiting Earth. — Samantha Mathewson

http://www.space.com/34-image-day.html

6,181 · July 29, 2016

Lots of good data here...

image link

derived from.....

ISS Status July 2016, 32 page pdf from NASA

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/3-scimemi_status_of_iss.pdf

contains mission data as well...good read.

6,181 · July 30, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 July 2016

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The Expedition 48 crew continued researching how living in space affects the eyes and the brain today. Two NASA astronauts also are getting ready for a mid-August spacewalk to install a new docking port.

Commander Jeff Williams and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin participated in the Fluid Shifts experiment today. They used an ultrasound scan and a tonometer to monitor the fluid pressure in an astronaut's head and eyes. Microgravity tends to shift fluids to the upper body increasing pressure in the head with some astronauts experiencing vision problems.

Williams then joined Flight Engineer Kate Rubins in the U.S. Quest airlock to resize a pair of spacesuits. The duo are scheduled for an Aug. 19 spacewalk to install an International Docking Adapter on the Harmony module.

The adapter will be removed from the SpaceX Dragon Aug. 17 during a six-hour robotic maneuver to place it in installation position. The adapters will enable future commercial crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX to dock to the International Space Station.

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Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Resize: Preparation activities for the EVA currently planned for August 18 continued today. The crew resized EMU 3003 to fit Williams and EMU 3008 was resized to fit Rubins. The crew also gathered suit components to be returned to ground and replaced a frayed Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment on one of the EVA Helmet Interchangeable Portable Lights (EHIP).

Cyclic Load Management (CLM) Not Being Applied to Shell Heaters Following Software Transition: As part of the Software Transition that occurred on Sunday July 24, an update was made for Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Day/Night Cycling and Shell Heater Cyclic Load Delta to be avoided during periods of high beta. Prior to the software transition, a delta would be applied to adjust set points which allowed the heaters to use more power when it was available to warm the shell heaters. Temperatures are currently maintaining above dew point and there is no concern that will change, but there could be an impact for extended power downs.

Remote Power Control Modules (RPCM) S11A-C and S14B-G Checkout: To restore capability to integrate S1 radiator flow path using S1-3-1 Integrated Motor Controller Assembly (IMCA) there are plans to robotically perform a swap of RPCM S11A_C with S14B_G. In order to verify that the swapped RPCMs will properly operate in the new positions, ground teams performed a checkout of the affected RPCMs that are presently in active slot positions. This activity screens for an RPCM Field Effect Transistor (FET) Controller Hybrid (FCH) failure which can occur without any external indication from the RPCM (no trip, RPCM Power-On Reset (POR), etc.), should that FCH be controlling an unused RPCM output which has occurred on orbit in the past. The checkout was completed nominally with no issues reported.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts ops
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 07/29: EVA SAFER maintenance, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring A/L setup, MSL LGF sample cartridge exchange
Saturday, 07/30: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 07/31: Crew off duty

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-28-july-2016.html

-------------------

NASA ISS Space to Ground Weekly Report - 29 July 2016

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NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station.

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-iss-space-to-ground-weekly-report---29-july-2016.html

Space to Ground: From The Heart: 07/29/2016

video is 2:25 min.

---------------------------------

NASA Orders Second Operational Mission for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon

Quote

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program placed an order for the second operational mission to carry astronauts to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. The order means that eight vehicles are now in different levels of planning for Commercial Crew flight tests and operational missions by SpaceX and by Boeing, which also is developing the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for human-rated missions to the space station. The eight missions in process are:

2 uncrewed flight tests, one for each company,

2 crewed flight tests, one each,

4 operational missions ordered to date.

The order was placed now because of the long lead time to build a spacecraft, test it and process it for launch.

“The order of a second crew rotation mission from SpaceX, paired with the two ordered from Boeing will help ensure reliable access to the station on American spacecraft and rockets,” said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “These systems will ensure reliable U.S. crew rotation services to the station, and will serve as a lifeboat for the space station for up to seven months.”

This is the fourth and final guaranteed order NASA will make under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contracts. Boeing received its two orders in May and December of 2015, and SpaceX received its first order in November 2015. Both companies have started planning for, building and testing the necessary hardware and assets to carry out their first flight tests, and ultimately missions for the agency. NASA will identify at a later time which company will fly the first post-certification mission to the space station.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2016/07/29/nasa-orders-second-operational-mission-for-spacexs-crew-dragon/

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Space Station View of the Chesapeake Bay

iss048-e-28526.jpg?itok=PSMX0HQa

On July 21, 2016, Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams of NASA shared this photograph of sunglint illuminating the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, writing, "Morning passing over the Chesapeake Bay heading across the Atlantic."

Image Credit: NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/space-station-view-of-the-chesapeake-bay

----------------------

6,181 · August 2, 2016

Crew Kicks off August on Variety of Advanced Space Research

The South Pacific Ocean was pictured as the station orbited at an altitude of 220 nautical miles and over a thousand miles away from the coast of South America. Credit: Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth

Quote

The six-member Expedition 48 crew participated in a series of experiments today exploring how living in space affects the human body. Also, a set of bowling ball-sized experimental satellites was set up for a student contest.

Scientists are sampling crew respiration today to understand the health impacts of living in the International Space Station’s closed atmosphere. Astronauts Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi used a portable device measuring the amount of nitrogen that is exhaled and diffused in the blood.

Onishi also collected biological samples for the Multi-Omics study that is observing how the human immune system functions in space. Commander Jeff Williams set up hardware to research how upper body fluid shifts affect a crew member’s head and eye structure.

Williams then joined cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka configuring tiny internal satellites for a planned high school student competition next week. The contest, known as SPHERES Zero Robotics, uses student written algorithms to control small SPHERES satellites performing functions similar to a space mission.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/01/crew-kicks-off-august-on-variety-of-advanced-space-research/

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Researchers Measure, Monitor and Mitigate Potential Health Risks of Long Duration Spaceflight

Quote

NASA closely monitors astronaut health during missions and throughout their lifetime. These medical monitoring programs, as well as prospective studies and medical research, help understand potential health risks related to long duration spaceflight, including the agency's Journey to Mars.

Biomedical research that aims to prevent heart disease is an important part of the NASA Human Research Program. One example is the Cardio Ox study, which uses the unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station to understand changes to the cardiovascular system in astronauts living and working in low-Earth orbit.

Radiation is another top health concern for astronauts. Crew members who travel beyond low-Earth orbit will be exposed to more and different types of radiation because they will not be protected by Earth's magnetosphere. The National Space Biomedical Research Institute, a non-governmental organization with funding from NASA's Human Research Program, supported a recent study published in Scientific Reports that looked at the rate of cardiovascular disease among Apollo astronauts.

With the current limited astronaut data referenced in the study it is not possible to determine whether cosmic ray radiation affected the Apollo astronauts. The study group comprised seven of the 24 men who flew in the Apollo program; five women and 30 men who have flown in low-Earth orbit; and 33 astronauts-three women and 32 men-who have not flown on missions.

In addition to the small study size, limitations of the research include lifestyle factors that cannot be quantified, such as family genetics and diet, which are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Researchers_Measure_Monitor_and_Mitigate_Potential_Health_Risks_of_Long_Duration_Spaceflight_999.html

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NASA Announces Changes to International Space Station Coverage

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WASHINGTON, July 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In September, NASA will bring its online audience inside the world of human spaceflight as never before, from its Johnson Space Center in Houston -- home to NASA's astronaut corps, the storied mission control and several human spaceflight programs.

New and unique stories from the International Space Station, Orion spacecraft program, and other human spaceflight projects, will take viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking science taking place off the Earth, for the Earth, and the technology NASA is developing to prepare for its journey to Mars. This programming will be available to a worldwide audience on various NASA social media accounts, including YouTube.

NASA Television's Space Station Live program will be phased out in August and discontinued Sept. 1. However, NASA TV will continue to air live coverage of dynamic space station operations, including launches, dockings, landings, spacewalks and briefings. NASA TV also will continue to air weekly highlights of life onboard station in the short-format Space to Ground program, also available on YouTube and via podcast.

Daily updates on space station research and operations will continue to be posted to the International Space Station blog, as will more detailed daily rundowns of crew activities on the in-orbit status report blog.

Digital audiences also have the option of receiving weekly video highlights by subscribing to Johnson's news release email list. To receive this weekly highlights email, and other news and updates from Johnson, email jsc-news-request@lists.nasa.gov with "subscribe" in the subject line. Or, check out the hundreds of hours of raw video from the station that is available for download from Johnson's video collection archive, with additional video added daily.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/prnewswire-space-news.html?rkey=20160729DC58747&filter=1639

----------------------

Deep Space Optical Communications

A NASA JPL artist imagines a group of satellites around Mars providing navigation and communication for robots and humans down on the Red Planet, while a larger spacecraft ensures the Mars-Earth connection. (Credit: NASA)

Quote

In May 2016, the Game Changing Development Program’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project completed TRL 6 milestone testing on its key deliverable, an integrated deep-space flight laser transmitter assembly. Proposed on several Discovery missions, the technology undergoes a transition review in June and is expected to advance to NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) program.

“The technical achievement of this team has caught the eye of several Discovery mission proposers and we look forward to a successful transition to the TDM program and ultimately an infusion to a Discovery mission,” says Mary Beth Wusk, Game Changing’s program manager [acting].

DSOC seeks to increase by at least 10 times data return volumes from deep-space missions to enable larger science returns. Current optical communications for the lunar range will not perform sufficiently to communicate with spacecraft, particularly high resolution science data via downlink.

Completion of this milestone involved performing comprehensive testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory after taking delivery of the laser from Fibertek, Inc., last fall. In addition to independent verification of laser characteristics, test patterns delivered over representative flight-like interfaces were successfully demonstrated for a number of operating points.

Laser transmitter assembly with module on the left in the laser optical module; the laser electrical module is shown on the right. (Credit: NASA)

Quote

“Deep space communications requires high efficiency to achieve high data-rate returns from destinations like Mars,” explains Abi Biswas, DSOC project manager. “High efficiency communications requires lasers that can transmit narrow pulses with 100’s of watts peak power even though they utilize only 10’s of watts of electrical power. The Fibertek-developed laser transmitter can transmit peak powers approaching a kilowatt while utilizing approximately 50 W of electrical power.”

Testing at JPL revealed that the laser meets all design requirements. These include specifications on power, pulse-width and spectral characteristics, and passing initial environmental requirements such as thermal vacuum, vibration and radiation.

“The success in meeting performance specifications and passing initial environmental tests verifies that the deep-space optical communication signaling architecture can be practically implemented for an initial risk-retiring technology demonstration followed by operational mission implementation,” says Biswas. “The development will also spur more detailed reliability and redundancy studies for the proven architecture.”

After transitioning to TDM, Biswas says the team will start preparing for a preliminary design review of the DSOC flight lasers that will build on lessons learned, replacing non–flight electronics, and flight packaging of the flight module.

Along with Discovery missions, other potential uses for the technology are an optical communications terminal on a future Mars telecommunication orbiter, with the Asteroid Retrieval Mission, and maintaining communications with the Europa Clipper during cruise prior to arriving at Jupiter.

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/08/01/deep-space-optical-communications/

--------------------

Orbital View Of Cloud Formation Near Sicily

The International Space Station's Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams tweeted this photo recently with the caption "Uniquely beautiful cloud formation south of Sicily." NASA

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/orbital-view-of-cloud-formation-near-sicily.html

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6,181 · August 4, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 01 August 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 01 August 2016 NASA

Quote

The six-member Expedition 48 crew participated in a series of experiments today exploring how living in space affects the human body. Also, a set of bowling ball-sized experimental satellites was set up for a student contest.

Scientists are sampling crew respiration today to understand the health impacts of living in the International Space Station's closed atmosphere. Astronauts Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi used a portable device measuring the amount of nitrogen that is exhaled and diffused in the blood.

Onishi also collected biological samples for the Multi-Omics study that is observing how the human immune system functions in space. Commander Jeff Williams set up hardware to research how upper body fluid shifts affect a crew member's head and eye structure.

Williams then joined cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka configuring tiny internal satellites for a planned high school student competition next week. The contest, known as SPHERES Zero Robotics, uses student written algorithms to control small SPHERES satellites performing functions similar to a space mission.

Quote

Airway Monitoring Ambient and Reduced Pressure Operations: The crew completed part of today's session of the European Space Agency (ESA) Airway Monitoring experiment in the US Airlock.

- The protocol was successfully performed at ambient pressure. The crew was scheduled to repeat the protocol at a low pressure (10.2 psi) during which oxygen concentration in the Airlock would be increased to 27.5% but the low pressure portion was not performed and will be rescheduled.
- The second part of the experiment was to be performed at a pressure of 10.2 psi (700 mbar) with closed hatch. Both crew members would wear an Oxygen Finger Clip on the index finger prior to hatch closure for monitoring heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the blood and the clip would not removed until the hatch was reopened. This portion of the experiment was not completed and will be rescheduled.

Airway Monitoring is the first experiment to use the US Airlock as a hypobaric facility for performing science which allows unique opportunities for the study of gravity, ambient pressure interactions, and their effect on the Human Body. This investigation studies the occurrence and indicators of airway inflammation in crewmembers using ultra-sensitive gas analyzers to analyze exhaled air. This helps to highlight health impacts and to maintain crewmember well-being on future human spaceflight missions, especially longer-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, where crewmembers will have to be more self-sufficient in highlighting and avoiding such conditions.

Onboard Training (OBT) Emergency Event: All six crewmembers participated in this training covering required response during depress, ammonia, US fire and Russian Segment fire events. The crew practiced procedure management, equipment gather (what would be used and from where), hatch closures and communication with the ground. This is in preparation for tomorrow's planned OBT ISS emergency simulation.

Water Processor Assembly (WPA) Microbial Check Valve (MCV) Intermittent Checking: On July 26th, the MCV in the WPA was Removed and Replaced (R&Rd). The WPA had been experiencing high pressure faults when in reprocess mode due to high delta-pressure (dP) values across the MCV. After the second processing run following the R&R, the newly installed MCV began experiencing intermittent checking. This is an issue that the previously installed MCV also encountered. Over the weekend, the Flight Control Team successfully implemented a workaround in which the 3-way valve upstream of the MCV was cycled to relieve enough pressure that the MCV was able to check. Since the new MCV was installed, the WPA has not experienced any high dP faults.

Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) Reconfiguration and Samples: In an attempt to understand the root cause of high conductivity observed in the distillate, the engineering team requested a series of return-to-ground samples be taken from the UPA during various times during two separate Recycle Tank concentration cycles. The first of the activities supporting these samples was performed this afternoon. The crew reconfigured the UPA back to the nominal configuration by tearing down the CWC-I setup that has been in place to collect Separator Plumbing Assembly (SPA) effluent, and reconnecting the SPA. Additionally, the 100 Micron Distillate Filter was R&Rd. Both the CWC-I and Distillate Filter will be returned on SpX-9 for analysis.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Airway Monitoring support
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 08/02: Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance, Airway Monitoring Airlock stow, OBT Emergency simulation
Wednesday, 08/03: Fluid Shifts, Heart Cells, OBT CheCS drill, EVA Airlock restow
Thursday, 08/04: NREP hardware assembly/install to JEMAL, Fluid Shifts, EVA tool config

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-01-august-2016.html

----------------------------

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 02 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_080216_9

Expedition 48 crew members Kate Rubins (left) and Jeff Williams (right) of NASA outfit spacesuits inside of the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station. Rubins and Williams will conduct a spacewalk in August 2016 to install the first International Docking Adapter, the new docking port that will enable the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew spacecraft. Credit: NASA.

Quote

The crew aboard the International Space Station continued exploring the numerous ways living in space affects the human body and other organisms. The station residents also participated in an emergency simulation exercise.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka this week are exploring fluid shifts from an astronaut's lower body to the upper body during long-term space missions. This phenomena that occurs in microgravity increases pressure on a crew member's brain and eye structure potentially affecting vision.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins relocated an incubator that houses Heart Cells research samples from one science rack to another. Those samples will be analyzed on Earth when the SpaceX Dragon returns the research at the end of August. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi continued the upkeep of an experiment that is researching genetic alteration in mice and their offspring due to the microgravity environment.

All six Expedition 48 crew members joined each other in the afternoon to practice their response to an unlikely emergency situation. The astronauts and cosmonauts practiced communication and coordination in conjunction with Houston and Moscow control centers in response to emergency simulators.

Quote

Frozen in Time, Jeff Williams and MELFI: Ten years ago today, then Flight Engineer Jeff Williams placed the first science samples into the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for the International Space Station (MELFI) Flight Unit 1 (FU1) in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny during Expedition 13. MELFI is a cold storage unit that maintains experiment samples at temperatures ranging from just above freezing to ultra-cold. Expedition 13 was the beginning of many years of science collaboration between Williams and MELFI. Williams arrived at the ISS on April 1, 2006, and the MELFI FU1 arrived on July 6 of the same year. Jeff then activated MELFI for the first time on July 19. As Flight Engineer during Expedition 21, Williams performed maintenance on MELFI by replacing a failed Electronics Unit. Now, as commander of Expedition 48, he is using all three MELFI flight units onboard ISS to further the science goals of ISS. Over the last ten years, Williams and MELFI have provided a wide range of support to life science experiments and enhanced research capabilities on the ISS. To say the least, Jeff has had an interesting 10 year history with MELFI.

Mouse Epigenetics Cage Unit Maintenance: The crew performed maintenance activities for the Mouse Epigenetics Habitat Cage Units by transferring the mice from one habitat cage unit to another and refilling the cage units with water. The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation: In preparation for US EVA #35 currently scheduled for August 19, the crew inspected Retractable Equipment Tethers (RETs) for damaged cords. Each RET cord must be inspected prio to EVA use, then stowed in a protective bag to prevent potential damage.

On Board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Simulation: Following yesterday's training review covering depress, ammonia, US fire and Russian Segment fire events, today all crew members, with support from ground teams, completed a training exercise with the following objectives:

Practice ISS emergency response with crew and ground roles based on information provided by simulator displays.
Physically translate through ISS to the appropriate response locations to visualize the use of Station equipment and interfaces.
Practice procedure execution and associated decision making based on cues provided by simulator.
Practice communication and coordination with Houston and Moscow Control Centers as required for a given emergency scenario.
Upon completion of the training session, the crew and ground teams participated in a debrief to discuss results and address comments and questions.

Deck Crew Quarters Fan Fault - The Deck Crew Quarters (CQ) annunciated a single fan failure fault yesterday. The crew reported that they found no blockage at the inlets and were asked to take the fan from low to high, which cleared the caution. The fan was brought to medium overnight and will be taken to low on Wednesday morning to test it out. Each CQ rack is outfitted with two fans, although one fan operating in the lowest flow setting provides sufficient flow for smoke detection and CO2 removal. This type of caution has been seen in the past when debris has impeded the flow sensors. Cleaning is nominally performed every 6 months, and was last performed on May 13th. Teams will continue to monitor in order to determine whether or not additional actions are required.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts support [Partially completed]
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 08/03: Fluid Shifts, Heart Cells, OBT CheCS drill, EVA Airlock restow
Thursday, 08/04: NREP hardware assembly/install to JEMAL, Fluid Shifts, EVA tool config
Friday, 08/05: EVA prep, Vascular Echo resting ultrasound, SPHERES-Zero Robotics Dry Run, SkinB, Heart Cells media change, Mouse Transportation

Cage Unit prep

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-02-august-2016.html

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Spacesuit Checks amid Life Science and Emergency Training

Astronauts Kate Rubins and Jeff Williams work on spacesuits in the Quest airlock.

Quote

Two astronauts are getting ready for a spacewalk amidst ongoing heart and genetics research this week. The crew also practiced the techniques necessary to care for a crew member during a medical emergency in space.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins are due to complete the installation of a new International Docking Adapter during a spacewalk Aug. 19. The duo are setting up their spacesuits today, including a new one delivered on the SpaceX Dragon, and verifying the functionality of the suit systems.

Rubins started her day peering into a microscope exploring cell samples for the Heart Cells experiment. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi kept the Mouse Epigenetics habitat stocked with food and water for the experiment observing genetic alterations in mice and DNA changes in their offspring.

Rubins and Onishi joined cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin in the afternoon for a medical emergency training session. The crew members familiarized themselves with medical gear and locations, chest compression techniques and practiced communication and coordination.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/03/spacesuit-checks-amid-life-science-and-emergency-training/

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Astronauts Exploring Head, Eye Pressure and Genetic Alterations

Quote

The crew aboard the International Space Station continued exploring the numerous ways living in space affects the human body and other organisms. The station residents also participated in an emergency simulation exercise.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka this week are exploring fluid shifts from an astronaut’s lower body to the upper body during long-term space missions. This phenomena that occurs in microgravity increases pressure on a crew member’s brain and eye structure potentially affecting vision.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins relocated an incubator that houses Heart Cells research samples from one science rack to another. Those samples will be analyzed on Earth when the SpaceX Dragon returns the research at the end of August. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi continued the upkeep of an experiment that is researching genetic alteration in mice and their offspring due to the microgravity environment.

All six Expedition 48 crew members joined each other in the afternoon to practice their response to an unlikely emergency situation. The astronauts and cosmonauts practiced communication and coordination in conjunction with Houston and Moscow control centers in response to emergency simulators.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/02/astronauts-exploring-head-eye-pressure-and-genetic-alterations/

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---------------------------

Singapore Strait, Singapore July 29, 2016

Dozens of enormous container ships are anchored near the Port of Singapore. The small nation-state has limited access natural resources. As a result, Singapore’s economy relies on heavily on international shipping.

https://www.planet.com/gallery/singapore-20160729/

6,181 · August 6, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 4 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_080416_9

Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams monitors bowling ball-sized internal satellites known as SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) during a maintenance run in the Japanese Kibo Laboratory Module. Credit: NASA.

Quote

Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams has accumulated 500 days of living in space over four missions as of today. Williams, who is scheduled to return to Earth Sept. 6, will break NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's record of 520 days on Aug. 24.

While Williams marked his milestone, he spent most of the day researching fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body caused by microgravity. The fluid shifts increase pressure on the head and eyes potentially affecting an astronaut's vision. Cosmonauts OIeg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin assisted Williams during experiment operations.

Flight Engineer Kate Rubins continued her preparations for an Aug. 19 spacewalk with Williams to install a new International Docking Adapter. She worked in the Quest airlock today gathering tools and equipment the duo will use during their 6.5-hour spacewalk. She also spent some time with Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi transferring cargo from the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft.

Quote

NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) and Gumstix Installation: The NREP was prepared for installation on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock (JEMAL) Slide Table. During the NREP assembly, the NanoRacks-Gumstix experiment was installed onto the NREP. Two crewmembers installed NREP on JEMAL Slide Table. One crewmember held NREP in place to keep the capture cones aligned with the NREP receptacles and the other operated the capture mechanism. The Slide Table was then retracted from the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM) side into the JEMAL and the inner hatch was closed. The NanoRacks External Platform represents the first external commercial research capability for the testing of scientific investigations, sensors, and electronic components in space. The NanoRacks External Platform will be installed on a payload required basis on the outside of the ISS on the JEM External Facility (JEM-EF). The NanoRacks-Evaluation of Gumstix Performance in Low-Earth Orbit (NanoRacks-Gumstix) investigation tests small computers called Gumstix modules, which are based on open-source software, as an alternative off-the-shelf option for use in space. The investigation studies whether the Gumstix microprocessors can withstand the radiation environment on board the ISS. The NREP will be deployed from the JEMAL and installed on the JEM-EF tomorrow.

Space Headaches: The crew completed the European Space Agency (ESA) Space Headaches questionnaire to provide information that may help in the development of methods to alleviate associated symptoms and improvement in the well-being and performance of crew members in space. Headaches during space flight can negatively affect mental and physical capacities of crew members which can influence performance during a space mission.

Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations: The crew recorded and submitted a walk-through video documenting observations of life onboard ISS, providing insight related to human factors and habitability. The Habitability investigation collects observations about the relationship between crew members and their environment on the ISS. Observations can help spacecraft designers understand how much habitable volume is required, and whether a mission's duration impacts how much space crew members need.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuration: In preparation for the EVA currently planned for August 19, the crew gathered and configured required tools.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts ops
JEMAL ops
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Friday, 08/05: EVA prep, Vascular Echo resting ultrasound, SPHERES-Zero Robotics Dry Run, SkinB, Heart Cells media change, Mouse Transportation Cage Unit prep
Saturday, 08/06: Crew off duty, housekeeping, Mouse Cage maintenance, Fluid Shifts
Sunday, 08/07: Crew off duty

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab -Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-4-august-2016.html

--------------------------

NASA ISS Space to Ground Weekly Report - 5 August 2016

nasa_iss_space_to_ground_report_080516_9

NASA ISS Space to Ground Weekly Report - 5 August 2016. NASA

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-iss-space-to-ground-weekly-report---5-august-2016.html

Space to Ground: Taking a Breather: 08/05/2016

video is 2:10 min.

-------------------------

Crew Inspects Spacesuits and Preps for Student Contest

Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka works with the free-floating, bowling ball-sized satellites (in orange and red) also known as SPHERES.

Quote

Two NASA astronauts are readying their spacesuits and gear ahead of an Aug. 19 spacewalk. More life science, including heart and DNA research, continued Friday. Finally, tiny internal satellites were tested before next week’s student competition.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins inspected the spacesuits they will wear in two weeks during a 6.5 hour spacewalk. The duo will complete the installation of an International Docking Adapter to the Harmony module. The first of two new adapters will allow Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock in the future.

Rubins continued more work on the Heart Cells experiment today while Takuya Onishi, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, tended to the Mouse Epigenetics hardware. Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin joined Williams during the morning collecting and stowing biological samples for the Fluid Shifts study.

Next week, high school students will compete for the best algorithm to control self-contained, bowling ball-sized satellites inside the station. The algorithms control the tiny satellites and test mission and research functions to advance future space missions. Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka tested the satellites inside the Destiny lab module today for the SPHERES Zero Robotics competition.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/05/crew-inspects-spacesuits-and-preps-for-student-contest/

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Williams Marks 500 Days in Space, Set to Break Kelly’s Record

Commander Jeff Williams monitors bowling ball-sized internal satellites known as SPHERES during a maintenance run in the Japanese Kibo Laboratory Module.

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Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams has accumulated 500 days of living in space over four missions as of today. Williams, who is scheduled to return to Earth Sept. 6, will break NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s record of 520 days on Aug. 24.

While Williams marked his milestone, he spent most of the day researching fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body caused by microgravity. The fluid shifts increase pressure on the head and eyes potentially affecting an astronaut’s vision. Cosmonauts OIeg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin assisted Williams during experiment operations.

Flight Engineer Kate Rubins continued her preparations for an Aug. 19 spacewalk with Williams to install a new International Docking Adapter. She worked in the Quest airlock today gathering tools and equipment the duo will use during their 6.5-hour spacewalk. She also spent some time with Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi transferring cargo from the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/04/williams-marks-500-days-in-space-set-to-break-kellys-record/

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CubeSat Launch Initiative Opens Space to Educators, Nonprofits

Cubesats NASA

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Accredited education institutions, nonprofit organizations and NASA centers can join the adventure and challenges of space while helping the agency achieve its exploration goals through the next round of the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI).

Applicants must submit proposals by 4:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 22.

The CSLI provides CubeSat developers with a low-cost pathway to space to conduct research that advances NASA's strategic goals in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education and operations. The initiative provides students, teachers and faculty with the chance to get hands-on flight hardware development experience designing, building and operating these small research satellites.

NASA will make selections by Feb. 17, 2017, but selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity. Selected experiments will be considered as auxiliary payloads on agency launches or for deployment from the International Space Station beginning in 2017 through 2020. If chosen, U.S. nonproﬁt and accredited educational organizations are entirely responsible for funding the development of the small satellites.

To date, NASA has selected 119 CubeSat missions, 46 of which have been launched into space. NASA has offered a launch opportunity to 95 percent of those selected through previous announcements, with 29 scheduled for launch within the next 12 months. The selected CubeSats represent participants from 32 states, demonstrating the significant progress NASA has made on a remarkable goal established during the 2015 White House Maker Faire, to launch a small satellite from at least one participant in every state during the next five years.

more at the link...

http://spaceref.com/nasa-hack-space/cubesat-launch-initiative-opens-space-to-educators-nonprofits.html

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Quote

# MKSfotoDnya : Rio de Janeiro, where in a few hours will start the Summer Olympic Games. Photo by Oleg fiddle.

Quote

At # ISS planned Russian security tests for space stations -http: // the www. roscosmos.ru/22505/

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Mt. Kilimanjaro As Seen From Orbit

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams captured this image of Mt. Kilimanjaro as the space station orbited over Tanzania in the eastern part of Africa.

Credits: NASA/Jeff Williams

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/mt-kilimanjaro-as-seen-from-orbit.html

6,181 · August 9, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 5 August 2016

Quote

Two NASA astronauts are readying their spacesuits and gear ahead of an Aug. 19 spacewalk. More life science, including heart and DNA research, continued Friday. Finally, tiny internal satellites were tested before next week's student competition.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins inspected the spacesuits they will wear in two weeks during a 6.5 hour spacewalk. The duo will complete the installation of an International Docking Adapter to the Harmony module. The first of two new adapters will allow Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock in the future.

Rubins continued more work on the Heart Cells experiment today while Takuya Onishi, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, tended to the Mouse Epigenetics hardware. Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin joined Williams during the morning collecting and stowing biological samples for the Fluid Shifts study.

Next week, high school students will compete for the best algorithm to control self-contained, bowling ball-sized satellites inside the station. The algorithms control the tiny satellites and test mission and research functions to advance future space missions. Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka tested the satellites inside the Destiny lab module today for the SPHERES Zero Robotics competition.

Quote

European Crew Personal Active Dosimeter (EuCPAD) Mobile Unit Check-out and De-installation: The crew completed closeout activities and de-installed the mobile units that were installed and activated last week. The EuCPAD is an active device worn by crewmembers in orbit to measure radiation exposure. This device, coupled with other dosimeters in the European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus Laboratory, provides radiation dosage information that can be used to support risk assessment and dose management. The future goal is to enable the verification of radiation monitoring systems for future medical monitoring of crew members in space.

NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) Operations: Following yesterday's installation of the NanoRacks-Gumstix experiment onto NREP, and the installation of NREP on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock (JEM A/L) slide table, today NREP was deployed from the JEM A/L, installed on the JEM Exposed Facility (JEF), and activated. NREP then connected to the External Wireless Communication (EWC) for communicating wirelessly to ISS data handling system. This represents the first usage of the EWC since its initial activation in May. The NanoRacks External Platform represents the first external commercial research capability for the testing of scientific investigations, sensors, and electronic components in space. The NanoRacks-Evaluation of Gumstix Performance in Low-Earth Orbit (NanoRacks-Gumstix) investigation tests small computers called Gumstix modules which are based on open-source software as an alternative off-the-shelf option for use in space. The investigation studies whether the Gumstix microprocessors can withstand the radiation environment on board the ISS.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew continued preparation for the EVA planned for August 19 by performing the following:

Cooling loop maintenance on EMUs 3003 and 3008 including ionic and particulate filtration (scrubbing) and biocidal maintenance (iodination). A water sample was taken from the loops for subsequent conductivity testing.
Continued tool gather and config.
Inspected EMU sublimator for water leakage using water test strips.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Heart Cells ops
Fluid Shifts ops
EMU prep support
JEMAL/NREP ops
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 08/06: Crew off duty, housekeeping, Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance
Sunday, 08/07: Crew off duty
Monday, 08/07: Fluid Shifts, Tonometry exams, EVA DOUG/procedure review, Mouse cage maintenance

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-5-august-2016.html

--------------------

Duo Reviews Spacewalk After Crew Vision Tests

The Okavango Delta in Botswana was photographed Aug. 2 as the space station orbited over the southern part of the African continent. Credit: Gateway to Astronaut Photography

Quote

Two astronauts called down to Mission Control today and reviewed next week’s spacewalk. In the Russian segment of the International Space Station, a pair of cosmonauts replaced outdated communications gear. Crew members also collected blood samples and conducted vision tests for a variety of space research.

Commander Jeff Williams joined Flight Engineer Kate Rubins for more spacesuit work and a conference with flight controllers in Houston to review plans for next week’s 6.5 hour spacewalk. On Aug. 19 the duo will work outside the station to complete the installation of an International Docking Adapter to the Harmony module. The first of two adapters will enable Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock in the future.

The entire Expedition 48 crew conducted vision tests throughout the morning. Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi then collected blood, urine and saliva samples for the Fluid Shifts experiment. That study observes how microgravity affects intra-cranial pressure and changes the shape of the eye.

In the afternoon, cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Anatoly Ivanishin worked in the Zvezda service module replacing older gear that communicates with systems throughout the Russian segment. Ovchinin also joined fellow Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka to explore how living in space changes the human heart.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/08/duo-reviews-spacewalk-after-crew-vision-tests/

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NASA TV to Air US Spacewalk, Briefing on Installation of Space Station Docking Port

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA Television will bring to viewers around the world live coverage Friday, Aug. 19, as two NASA astronauts install a new gateway for American commercial crew spacecraft at the International Space Station -- a significant milestone in NASA's work to return crew launches to U.S. soil.

Coverage of the spacewalk will begin at 6:30 a.m. EDT Aug. 19, on NASA TV and the agency's website, with the spacewalk scheduled to begin at 8:05 a.m.

Leading up to the spacewalk, NASA TV will air a briefing from the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, during which station and commercial crew experts will discuss the process and significance of installing and connecting the first of two international docking adapters (IDAs) that will be used for the future arrivals of Boeing and SpaceX commercial crew spacecraft.

The briefing participants are:

Kenneth Todd, International Space Station Operations Integration manager
Steve Stich, deputy manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program
Zeb Scoville, spacewalk flight director
Glenda Brown, lead spacewalk officer

Reporters may attend the briefing at Johnson or ask questions by calling the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Aug. 15.

The adapter was launched on a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and arrived at the station July 20. Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA will conduct the spacewalk to install the equipment. This will be the fourth spacewalk in Williams' career, the first for Rubins, and the 194th for the space station.

The two astronauts will venture outside the space station's Quest airlock to install the first IDA onto Pressurized Mating Adapter-2, located on the forward end of the Harmony module. On Wednesday, Aug. 17, ground controllers will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm, and its attached "Dextre" Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, to extract the IDA from the trunk of Dragon, and position it just inches away from PMA-2. There will be no live coverage of the trunk removal and IDA positioning.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/prnewswire-space-news.html?rkey=20160808DC64663&filter=1639

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SpaceVR to Launch First Virtual Reality Satellite

Quote

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 08, 2016 (SpaceVR PR) — SpaceVR, a platform for creating cinematic, live, virtual space tourism, announced today that it has signed a launch agreement with NanoRacks LLC to send Overview 1, the world’s first virtual reality camera satellite, into space. Overview 1 will be delivered to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX CRS-12 Mission. The satellite will then be deployed into Low Earth Orbit from the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD).

SpaceVR aims to give everyone the opportunity to experience the truly infinite, boundless Universe through virtual reality. Its debut satellite, Overview 1, will use 4K sensors to capture extremely high resolution, fully immersive, 360-degree video of every breathtaking moment that occurs on our home planet. The content will be viewable on any virtual reality device, ranging from smartphones to Oculus Rift to extreme resolution devices such as the StarVR.

more at the link...

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/08/08/spacevr-launch-virtual-reality-satellite/#more-59085

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Quote

# History : 55 years ago, German Titov first photographed the Earth from space.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 6, 2016

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—captured on Day One of the 2016 Olympic Games. At the time this image was captured, crew teams were rowing qualifying races in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the mens cycling road race was winding through the lush mountain greenery of Tijuca National Park (left), and beach volleyball qualifications were underway on Copacabana Beach (middle). Image: RapidEye satellite.

https://www.planet.com/gallery/rio-day-one-20160806/

6,181 · August 10, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 8 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_080816_9

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi performs eye scans inside of the U.S. Destiny laboratory aboard the International Space Station. Crew members' bodies change in a variety of ways during space flight, and some experience impaired vision. To help develop countermeasures, crew members record their visual health during and after long-duration space station missions. Credit: NASA.

Quote

Two astronauts called down to Mission Control today and reviewed next week's spacewalk. In the Russian segment of the International Space Station, a pair of cosmonauts replaced outdated communications gear. Crew members also collected blood samples and conducted vision tests for a variety of space research.

Commander Jeff Williams joined Flight Engineer Kate Rubins for more spacesuit work and a conference with flight controllers in Houston to review plans for next week's 6.5 hour spacewalk. On Aug. 19 the duo will work outside the station to complete the installation of an International Docking Adapter to the Harmony module. The first of two adapters will enable Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock in the future.

The entire Expedition 48 crew conducted vision tests throughout the morning. Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi then collected blood, urine and saliva samples for the Fluid Shifts experiment. That study observes how microgravity affects intra-cranial pressure and changes the shape of the eye.

In the afternoon, cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Anatoly Ivanishin worked in the Zvezda service module replacing older gear that communicates with systems throughout the Russian segment. Ovchinin also joined fellow Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka to explore how living in space changes the human heart.

Quote

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: In preparation for the IDA2 EVA, the crew performed the following:

Started and configured the Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) software to receive and display real time Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) joint angle telemetry from a Portable Computer System (PCS) laptop. They also configured the system without real time SSRMS joint angle telemetry.
Procedures review including detailed timeline, overall IDA2 installation plan and tool config.
Procedures conference with ground teams.

Tonometer Eye Simulator Cornea - This morning the crew successfully replaced the artificial cornea in the Tonometer Eye Simulator and all subsequent eye exams were completed nominally. The Tonometer Eye Simulator failed to hold pressure on August 5th, requiring a replacement of the cornea. The eye simulator is used by the on-orbit Chief Medical Officer to practice their tonometry technique before performing exams on another crewmate's eye.

N3 MCA Ion Pump Spikes - On Friday, ground teams reported an increase in frequency and amplitude of the ion pump spikes for the past 2 months. The FDIR limit has not yet been exceeded. Trend data of previous units has indicated that once the ion pump spikes began, a failure of the Mass Spectrometer (ORU2) will likely occur within several months. N3 MCA ORU2 has been in operation for ~3 years, which is twice the average lifetime of the unit. There is currently one spare ORU2 on-orbit. The Lab MCA was successfully activated at the beginning of July post an R&R of ORU2, however it still requires a pump down of prior to startup and calibration.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts ops
DOUG review support
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 08/09: Tonometry exams, Fluid Shifts, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance, WHC pretreat tank R&R, EVA equipment lock prep/SAFER checkout/tool config
Wednesday, 08/10: EMU fit check, Fine Motor Skills, METEOR hard drive swap, Fluid Shifts, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance, Circadian Rhythms
Thursday, 08/11: USOS crew holiday (Japan's Mountain Day)

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-8-august-2016.html

----------------------

Eye Exams and Spacesuit Checks Today

Fluids shift toward the upper body in space since they don’t have to fight against gravity. This results in familiar phenomena such as a puffy face. The fluid shifts also affect intra-cranial pressure and eye shape. Credit: NASA Johnson YouTube

Quote

The Expedition 48 crew continued more eye exams and ongoing research to understand how microgravity shifts body fluids toward the upper body. Two NASA astronauts also checked out U.S. spacesuit safety gear and tools.

All six crew members participated in variety of eye exams throughout the day. Some of the eye checks also coincided with the Fluid Shifts study. That research observes how fluid pressure in space affects a crew member’s head and eyes, possibly affecting vision.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins are getting ready for an Aug. 19 spacewalk to install an International Docking Adapter. The docking port, delivered by the SpaceX Dragon last month, will enable future commercial crew spacecraft from Boeing and SpaceX dock to the station. The spacewalkers checked their spacesuit safety jetpacks they would use in the unlikely event they became separated from the International Space Station.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/09/eye-exams-and-spacesuit-checks-today/

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NASA FISO Presentation: New Estimates of Space Radiation Risks are Favorable for Human Exploration of Mars

Quote

Now available is the July 13, 2016 NASA Future In-Space Operations (FISO) telecon material. The speaker was Francis Cucinotta (UNLV) who discussed "New Estimates of Space Radiation Risks are Favorable for Human Exploration of Mars".

more at the link...

http://spaceref.com/missions-and-programs/nasa/nasa-fiso-presentation-new-estimates-of-space-radiation-risks-are-favorable-for-human-exploration-of.html

68 page pdf presentation points

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Orbital View of Tropical Storm Conson

This Composite image of Tropical Storm Conson in the Pacific was taken at 06:00 UTC on Tuesday, 9 August 2016.

Infrared data from the geostationary satellites of EUMETSAT, JMA and NOAA overlays a computer-generated model of the Earth, containing NASA's Blue Marble Next Generation imagery. Copyright: 2016 EUMETSAT

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/orbital-view-of-tropical-storm-conson.html

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Rio Grande, Texas, USA August 4, 2016

The famed Rio Grande twists through a complex wetlands system before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. The river serves as a natural border, dividing the southernmost tip of Texas (north) from the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico (south).

https://www.planet.com/gallery/rio-grande-20160804/

August 10, 2016

Funny how well you can see the big SpaceX lot cleared out

38,268 · August 10, 2016

That lot is gonna be a busy place. I wonder how long they'll wait to put in the application to modify the EIS for BFR/BFS?

With Raptor hitting the stand this week they're going to need a pad for the big gun sooner than later.

6,181 · August 11, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 9 August 2016

Quote

The Expedition 48 crew continued more eye exams and ongoing research to understand how microgravity shifts body fluids toward the upper body. Two NASA astronauts also checked out U.S. spacesuit safety gear and tools.

All six crew members participated in variety of eye exams throughout the day. Some of the eye checks also coincided with the Fluid Shifts study. That research observes how fluid pressure in space affects a crew member's head and eyes, possibly affecting vision.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins are getting ready for an Aug. 19 spacewalk to install an International Docking Adapter. The docking port, delivered by the SpaceX Dragon last month, will enable future commercial crew spacecraft from Boeing and SpaceX dock to the station. The spacewalkers checked their spacesuit safety jetpacks they would use in the unlikely event they became separated from the International Space Station.

Quote

Mouse Epigenetics Cage Unit Maintenance: Today, the Mouse Habitat Unit #3 was cleaned, and the crew exchanged filters and collected samples. The food cartridges were exchanged and the MHU was returned to its stowage location The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space.

Dose Tracker: The Dose Tracker app was configured and the crewmember completed entries for medication tracking on an iPad. This investigation documents the medication usage of crewmembers before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities. The data is expected to either support or counter anecdotal evidence of medication ineffectiveness during flight and unusual side effects experienced during flight. It is also expected that specific, near-real-time questioning about symptom relief and side effects will provide the data required to establish whether spaceflight-associated alterations in pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD) is occurring during missions.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew completed the following in preparation for the IDA2 EVA planned on August 19:

Prepared the Equipment Lock (EL), Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) and ancillary hardware to support EVA prep activities.
Verified that the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) is functional.
Continued configuring required tools.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Fluid Shifts support
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 08/10: EMU fit check, METEOR hard drive swap, Fluid Shifts, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance, Circadian Rhythms
Thursday, 08/11: USOS crew holiday (Japan's Mountain Day)
Friday, 08/12: NanoRacks Module 9 ops, Heart Cells media change, SPHERES-Zero Robotics competition, Neuro Mapping, HMS Ultrasound, Circadian Rhythms, Fine Motor Skills

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-9-august-2016.html

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ESA's mobiPV Wearable System Enhances Astronaut Productivity

mobiPV Wearable System ESA

Quote

The life of an astronaut in space consists of following many step-by-step procedures.

We've all wished we had an extra arm when following the instructions to self-assembly furniture and for astronauts it is no different - except their procedures, instructions and hardware are more complex as well as their lives often depending on following the instructions correctly.

ESA has developed a system that improves on the basic step-by-step procedures used on the International Space Station that are displayed on a computer. The current system requires constant floating back and forth from the computer to the workplace to check the next step, and mission control cannot easily follow progress.

The mobile procedure viewer or 'mobiPV' is a wearable system that displays each step in a task, synchronises between the astronaut, ground control and third parties, automatically logs steps and communication and allows for video conferencing, note-taking and text chat.

In this image, ESA's Matthias Maurer is testing the system during a simulated space mission 20 m underwater off the coast of Florida, USA, during NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO).

The main part of the equipment is the smartphone and camera on a 3D-printed wrist-band. mobiPV can display the procedure on a separate tablet to see more information. Here Matthias has connected a third device for testing - all three screens are synchronised.

Versions of mobiPV have been tested during NEEMO before and even in space during ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen's 'iriss' mission last year. This version, branded mobiPV++, uses a redesigned system and tests the device without a head-mounted display.

The NEEMO crew used mobiPV to run a new way of sampling water that shows promise for use on the International Space Station, called Aquapad. The procedure was displayed on the tablet with ground control following from the coast and the mobiPV team watching from ESTEC, ESA's technical heart in the Netherlands. The astronauts and NEEMO crew were very positive with the results.

The mobiPV team is continuing to refine the system and hope to have a second test on the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet during his six-month Proxima mission starting later this year.

http://spaceref.com/nasa-hack-space/esas-mobipv-wearable-system-enhances-astronaut-productivity.html

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Crew Tries On Spacesuits, Conducts Heart and Meteor Research

Astronauts Kate Rubins and Jeff Williams try on their U.S. spacesuits. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin assisted the duo. Credit: NASA TV

Quote

A pair of astronauts tried on U.S. spacesuits this morning ahead of a spacewalk next week. Afterward, the crew explored heart cells, fluid pressure in the head and the eyes and the composition of meteors.

NASA astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins are due to work outside the International Space Station on Aug. 19 for 6.5 hours. The duo tried on the spacesuits today they will wear during the spacewalk to complete the installation of the first of two International Docking Adapters to the Harmony module. Commercial Crew vehicles are being developed by Boeing and SpaceX that will dock to the new adapters in the future.

Rubins then moved on to observing heart cells with a specialized microscope. The heart cells are derived from stem cells that were manufactured from human skin cells.

Williams joined cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin for ultrasound scans and vision checks. That work was part of the Fluid Shifts study that is exploring how the lack of gravity influences head pressure and eye shape possibly affecting an astronaut’s vision.

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi replaced a hard drive on a laptop computer that collects data on the composition of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere. Cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin participated in a study that seeks to improve the ability of a crew member to pilot a spacecraft.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/10/crew-tries-on-spacesuits-conducts-heart-and-meteor-research/

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Science in Short: Station Offers Diverse Research Opportunities

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins (L) and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (R) participated in the ESA Airway Monitoring investigation last week. Credits: NASA

Quote

Three dramatically different experiments on the International Space Station last week show what an amazing and diverse platform we have for technology demonstrations, improving health on Earth and helping us understand our place in the universe.

Last Friday the first operations of a technology demonstration experiment called the Long Duration Sorbent Testbed (LDST) began on the orbiting laboratory. This project is an example of the way we are making the space station a place to quickly test new technologies that are important for future space exploration. It exposes desiccants and CO2 sorbents to the station atmosphere for about a year before returning them to Earth to be analyzed. The effort was completed under an engineering process we call 1E that allows streamlined certifications and rules that keep the station and crew safe, but reduce paperwork, turnaround time and costs. These are a model for ways to better do new experiments and fly new kinds of hardware.

Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi completed an ambient environment session of the ESA Airway Monitoring (Airway Monitoring) experiment. This experiment studies airway inflammation which can be caused by being in a closed environment, and could be much worse someday on future missions to the moon or Mars. A special small monitor measures the nitrous oxide (NO) that is exhaled by each crew member. The European technology built for this experiment is also being used in asthma centers back here on Earth in a device called NIOX MINO™ which helps to measure the level of airway inflammation in patients here on earth.

Word has also come to us from the Meteor project team that they have captured their first observation of a meteor re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. The Meteor instrument currently on the space station is the third unit built, as the first two were lost on Orb-3 Cygnus and Space X-7. The first images of re-entering meteors were captured in late July. The METEOR camera has a special filter that allows determining the atomic emission lines of the major elements so not only does it see the flash of light when a meteor re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, it can tell scientists what the meteor is made of. Iron, calcium, magnesium or sodium elements can all be detected. Southwest Research Institute collaboratied with the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan to fly the instrument, and we are currently working with the investigators on a English-language press release.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/ISS_Science_Blog/2016/08/10/science-in-short-station-offers-diverse-research-opportunities/

A bright meteor is seen on July 15, over Tasmania.

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Station cargo ship delays clear way for needed spacewalk

File photo of an Orbital ATK Cygnus supply ship. Credit: NASA

File photo of a Japanese HTV cargo craft. Credit: NASA

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The Japanese space agency has delayed the planned Sept. 30 launch of an HTV space station cargo ship to repair a leak in the vehicle, clearing the way for Orbital ATK to slip the launch of its Cygnus supply ship from Aug. 22 to the second half of September to complete tests and analysis of its re-engined Antares rocket, officials said Wednesday.

The HTV, carrying a fresh set of batteries for the International Space Station’s solar arrays, was scheduled for liftoff from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center on Sept. 30. But in a short press release, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency said the flight was on hold pending repairs of a “slight leak” found during a pressure test.

The leak is located in the cargo ship’s propulsion system and sources said extensive work may be required to fix it. But Bill Gerstenmaier, director of space operations at NASA Headquarters, said in an interview it may be possible to launch the HTV sometime in October.

“We have not seen a timeline for them when they’ll be back,” he told CBS News. “It’s a little early to speculate where that sits, but we know they are not going to make their Sept. 30 launch. They might still be able to make October, but everything’s got to break just the right way.”

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Orbital ATK, meanwhile, was gearing up for launch of its Antares rocket, the first featuring new Russian-built RD-181 engines, on Aug. 22 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Island, Va., flight test facility.

But NASA sources say analysis of test firing data indicated unusual vibrations that have prompted engineers to reassess the booster’s throttle settings.

That on-going analysis, along with other issues, made a launch delay almost certain, and the HTV slip will give the company more time to complete its launch preparations. Had the HTV launch stayed on track for Sept. 30, the Cygnus cargo ship atop the Antares would have had to be launched, berthed and unberthed by Sept. 10 to make way for the HTV.

As it now stands, the Cygnus will be berthed at the Unity module’s Earth-facing port no earlier than Sept. 19. That will give the station crew time to wrap up work associated with two upcoming spacewalks and the departure of Expedition 48 commander Jeff Williams and his two Soyuz TMA-20M crewmates, Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka, on Sept. 6 U.S. time. Three fresh crew members are scheduled to arrive Sept 25.

“Due to a variety of interrelated factors, including the company’s continuing processing, inspection and testing of the flight vehicle at Wallops Island, and NASA’s scheduling of crew activities on the International Space Station … Orbital ATK is currently working with NASA to target a window in the second half of September for the launch of the OA-5 (Cygnus) mission,” Orbital said in a statement Wednesday. “A more specific launch date will be identified in the coming weeks.”

more at the link...

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/08/10/station-cargo-ship-delays-clear-way-for-needed-spacewalk/

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Night View of Egypt and the Sahara Seen From Orbit

Night View of Egypt and the Sahara NASA/ESA

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/night-view-of-egypt-and-the-sahara-seen-from-orbit.html

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# MKSfotoDnya : River Delta # Volga - the largest river delta in Europe, photo Oleg Artemyev on board # ISS .

6,181 · August 12, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_081016_9

Expedition 48 crew members Kate Rubins (left) and Jeff Williams (right) of NASA outfit spacesuits inside of the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station. Rubins and Williams will conduct a spacewalk in August 2016 to install the first International Docking Adapter, the new docking port that will enable the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew spacecraft. Credit: NASA.

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A pair of astronauts tried on U.S. spacesuits this morning ahead of a spacewalk next week. Afterward, the crew explored heart cells, fluid pressure in the head and the eyes and the composition of meteors.

NASA astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins are due to work outside the International Space Station on Aug. 19 for 6.5 hours. The duo tried on the spacesuits today they will wear during the spacewalk to complete the installation of the first of two International Docking Adapters to the Harmony module. Commercial Crew vehicles are being developed by Boeing and SpaceX that will dock to the new adapters in the future.

Rubins then moved on to observing heart cells with a specialized microscope. The heart cells are derived from stem cells that were manufactured from human skin cells.

Williams joined cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin for ultrasound scans and vision checks. That work was part of the Fluid Shifts study that is exploring how the lack of gravity influences head pressure and eye shape possibly affecting an astronaut's vision.

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi replaced a hard drive on a laptop computer that collects data on the composition of meteors entering Earth's atmosphere. Cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin participated in a study that seeks to improve the ability of a crew member to pilot a spacecraft.

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Meteor Hard Drive Change: The crew R&Rd the hard drive in the Meteor Laptop located in the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) in preparation for upcoming meteor showers. The Meteor investigation provides the first space-based measurement of meteor flux. It also allows for the monitoring of carbon-based compounds. Continuous measurement of meteor interactions with the Earth's atmosphere could also spot previously unforeseen meteor showers.

Dose Tracker: The crew completed entries for medication. This investigation documents the medication usage of crewmembers before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities. The data is expected to either support or counter anecdotal evidence of medication ineffectiveness during flight and unusual side effects experienced during flight. It is also expected that specific, near-real-time questioning about symptom relief and side effects will provide the data required to establish whether spaceflight-associated alterations in pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD) is occurring during missions.

MSG Video File Transfer Issues - Yesterday, the Microgravity Sciences Glovebox (MSG) experienced an issue with the Video Unit Equipment (VUE). Ground teams were unable to access the solid state storage devices during HeartCell video downlink operations. A soft reboot was attempted with no success. A power cycle was then conducted and the drives were recovered. In addition, ground teams are having difficulties in downlinking large files associated with the payload. The HeartCell data is being recorded, so no loss of science at this time. If required, the current work-around is to have the crew utilize a thumb drive to allow the files to be downlink. Currently, the VUE is functional except for downlinking large files. Ground teams are investigating.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew continued preparations for the IDA2 EVA scheduled on August 19. This morning they performed pressurized Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) On Orbit Fit Check Verification (OFV) of EMUs 3003 and 3008 to assess fit and feel of the suits prior to the EVA.

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Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
EMU checkout ops
Fluid Shifts support
Nominal ground commanding.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 08/11: USOS crew holiday (Japan's Mountain Day)
Friday, 08/12: NanoRacks Module 9 ops, Heart Cells media change, SPHERES-Zero Robotics competition, Neuro Mapping, HMS Ultrasound, Circadian Rhythms
Saturday, 08/13: Crew off duty

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-10-august-2016.html

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Cosmonauts Busy Today as Rest of Crew Takes Day Off

All six Expedition 48 crew members gather in the Zvezda service module sharing a light moment and a meal. From left are Anatoly Ivanishin, Oleg Skripochka, Kate Rubins, Commander Jeff Williams, Takuya Onishi and Alexey Ovchinin.

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Three astronauts are relaxing today in recognition of Mountain Day, an annual Japanese holiday in effect as of 2016. The three cosmonauts stayed busy with their set of Russian science and maintenance tasks aboard the International Space Station.

Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineers Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi took the day off Thursday. Williams and Rubin, both NASA astronauts, will be getting ready for an Aug. 19 spacewalk to install the first of two International Docking Adapters. The two adapters will allow new Commercial Crew vehicles being designed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock at the station. Onishi will assist the spacewalkers and monitor their activities.

Veteran cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, on his second station mission, sampled the air and surfaces in the station’s Russian segment checking for microbes and quality today. His fellow cosmonauts, Alexey Ovchinin and Anatoly Ivanishin, worked on communication connections between systems in the Russian modules.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/11/cosmonauts-busy-today-as-rest-of-crew-takes-day-off/

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Site of 2016 Summer Olympic Games Viewed From Orbit

Olympic Games NASA

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The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite passed directly over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 2, 2016, just prior to the opening of the Summer Olympic Games.

On the left is an image from MISR's nadir (downward-looking) camera; the width of the image is 235 miles (378 kilometers), and Rio de Janeiro is visible as the large gray area on the coast in the center. The black asterisk marks the location of the Maracanã Stadium in downtown, where the opening ceremonies were held.

In the weeks leading up to the Aug. 5 opening ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro, there have been reports of elevated levels of particulate matter in the region. Particulate matter refers to tiny airborne droplets or pieces of soot and dust that can end up in the lungs, comprising an all-too-common problem for many cities around the world.

MISR data are routinely used to estimate the amount of air pollution via measurements of aerosol optical depth, which is a measure of how much incoming light from the sun is blocked by particles in the atmosphere. On the right, a map of aerosol optical depth is superimposed on the image. Individual squares making up this map measure 2.7 miles (4.4 kilometers) on a side, and holes in the map occur where an aerosol amount could not be determined, such as where clouds are present. Optical depth over Rio is slightly elevated compared to its surroundings, most likely due to the presence of air pollution, with values from 0.15-0.25. For reference, an optical depth of 0.2 corresponds to light haze.

The product shown here is a prototype of a new version of the MISR aerosol product to be publicly released in the near future, and increases the spatial resolution of the aerosol information by a factor of 16 compared to the currently available product, making it possible to observe the fine details of optical depth over urban areas.

http://spaceref.com/earth/site-of-2016-summer-olympic-games-viewed-from-orbit.html

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Quote

# MKSfotoDnya : fires in the south of France. Cosmonaut O.Skripochka photographed from the ISS is one of the centers near Marseille.

6,181 · August 13, 2016

NASA ISS Space to Ground Weekly Report - 12 August 2016

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NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station.

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-iss-space-to-ground-weekly-report---12-august-2016.html

Space to Ground: Well-Suited For A Spacewalk: 08/11/2016

video is 2:10 min.

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SAGE III to Look Back at Earth’s Atmospheric ‘Sunscreen’

In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, operations are underway to close out processing of NASA’s Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III, or SAGE, III instrument. On May 16, 2016, an engineer is working in a super-clean ‘tent’ built in the SSPF high bay to protect SAGE III’s special optics. The class ’10K,’ or 10,000, clean room provides an environment in which there is less than 10,000 particles of less than a half micron inside. That’s about 150 times cleaner than the air in the average living room.
Photo credit: NASA/Charles Babir

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On the upcoming SpaceX CRS-10 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), a Dragon spacecraft will deliver the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III instrument to further study ozone in the atmosphere.

Once mounted on the space station, SAGE III will measure the Earth’s sunscreen, or ozone, along with other gases and aerosols, or tiny particles in the atmosphere. SAGE will make its measurements by locking onto the sun or moon and scanning the limb, or thin profile of the atmosphere from that unique vantage point.

During the late 1970s, scientists began tracking a steady decline of ozone in the Earth’s stratosphere. It was determined this was caused by extensive use of human-produced chemicals. Following years of global efforts to significantly reduce the number of ozone-depleting substances, experts now are optimistic the ozone layer will recover.

Launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket currently is scheduled for late fall this year.

Since the instrument arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, engineers at the Florida spaceport have assisted SAGE team members from the Langley Research Center in Virginia in preparing it for launch.

According to Rob Kuczajda, a Kennedy project manager in the ISS Utilization and Life Sciences Office, this SAGE III effort has been underway for several years.

“Our role actually began back in September 2011,” he said. “We sent a small delegation of engineers to Langley to meet with the SAGE team and learn about the payload. Our message was that Kennedy had years of expertise processing ISS payloads and that we were available to assist with SAGE III. Over the next four years, Kennedy engineers helped assemble and test parts of the payload.”

SAGE III now is being stored in the high bay of Kennedy’s Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF), a world-class processing laboratory. Every American-launched element for construction of the ISS, all cargo and each experiment is prepared and checked out in the SSPF, a crucial part of a premier multi-user spaceport.

To ensure SAGE III will be ready to go to work once it arrives at the ISS, extensive checkouts have been taking place in the special processing area of the SSPF.

more at the link...

https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2016/08/11/sage-iii-to-look-back-at-earths-atmospheric-sunscreen/

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NanoRacks External Platform Deployed Outside International Space Station

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NanoRacks' commercial gateway to space is officially open for business. The NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) has been placed outside of the International Space Station (ISS) on the JEM Exposed Facility.

The self-funded NREP is the first-ever commercial gateway-and-return to the extreme environment of space. Following the CubeSat form factor, payloads can now experience the microgravity, radiation and other harsh elements native to the space environment, observe earth, test sensors, materials, and electronics, all while having the opportunity to return the payload back to Earth.

"Free flyers are now not the only option," says NanoRacks External Payloads Manager, Kirk Woellert.

"With NREP, a customer can do just about anything they can with a free flyer, but now have the opportunity to return those materials to Earth at competitive prices and understand the effects of the space environment. This will completely transform the way we understand the true effects of microgravity."

The External Platform was manufactured by Airbus whose Houston office also works with NanoRacks' on customer development.

For NanoRacks this is the Company's first major step for owning and operating major commercial hardware in low-Earth orbit.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NanoRacks_External_Platform_Deployed_Outside_International_Space_Station_999.html

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Quote

The members of the main and backup crews of the ISS-49/50 have passed a series of exams training - http: // the www. roscosmos.ru/22534/

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Orbital View of Fires on Madeira Island

Smoke from several large fires burning on Portugal's Madeira Island were seen blowing over the Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 10 when NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead.

Madeira is an archipelago of four islands located off the northwest coast of Africa. They are an autonomous region of Portugal.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite captured this natural-color image at 8:25 a.m. EDT (12:05 UTC). Places where MODIS detected active fire are located in red.

Image Credit: NASA Goddard's Rapid Response Team, Jeff Schmaltz

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/orbital-view-of-fires-on-madeira-island.html

4,806 · August 14, 2016

On 8/10/2016 at 2:31 AM, DocM said:

That lot is gonna be a busy place. I wonder how long they'll wait to put in the application to modify the EIS for BFR/BFS?

With Raptor hitting the stand this week they're going to need a pad for the big gun sooner than later.

Makes ya wonder how soon we'll be hearing "feet wet" on the loop ... can't wait, personally. It'll be a great day when we're hearing those words from LC-1 at BCAS.

6,181 · August 16, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 August 2016

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Today: Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Zero Robotics (ZR) Competition: A USOS and Russian crewmember set up the SPHERES hardware and executed the SPHERES Zero Robotics tests with participation from students on the ground.

The investigation provides an opportunity for high school students to design research for the ISS. As part of a competition, students write algorithms for the SPHERES satellites to accomplish tasks relevant to future space missions. The algorithms are tested by the SPHERES team and the best designs are selected for the competition to operate the SPHERES satellites on board the ISS.

Thermolab Deinstrumentation for Circadian Rhythms: The crew removed the double sensors and the Thermolab Unit before cleaning and stowing the equipment following completion of the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Circadian Rhythm experiment measurement process which took 36 hours over a three day period to complete. The objective of the experiment is to get a better basic understanding of alterations in circadian rhythms in humans during long-term space flights.

Mouse Epigenetics Cage Unit Maintenance: The crew performed standard maintenance activities for the Mouse Epigenetics experiment by exchanging the food cartridge of the Mouse Habitat Cage Unit and checking the fan and LED light of the Transportation Cage Unit). The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space.

Waste Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Sample - Last week, the contents of the WSTA was emptied into a ЕДВ for the purpose of obtaining a sample for return on SpaceX 9. Today, the crew successfully obtained a sample from the ЕДВ. This sample is part of an overall plan for troubleshooting the elevated conductivity of the Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) water.

Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Activation - The Lab CDRA was activated to provide supplemental CO2 removal during a Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) session today. The SPHEREs payload uses CO2 for propulsion and in order to maintain desired 24hour ppCO2 average, the Lab CDRA can be activated as necessary. Today's activation is also being used as the periodic activation of Lab CDRA (required every 30 days). The Node3 CDRA has been brought to standby and the Lab CDRA will be run for 24 hours.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
SPHERES Zero Robotics ops
Ultrasound scans
Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 08/13: Crew off duty
Sunday, 08/14: Crew off duty
Monday, 08/15: EVA procedures review and conference/tool config, Fluid Shifts, Mouse cage maintenance

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 -Standby
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-12-august-2016.html

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NASA to Air Spacewalk to Install New Space Station Docking Port

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HOUSTON (NASA PR) — NASA Television will bring to viewers around the world live coverage Friday, Aug. 19, as two NASA astronauts install a new gateway for American commercial crew spacecraft at the International Space Station — a significant milestone in NASA’s work to return crew launches to U.S. soil.

Coverage of the spacewalk will begin at 6:30 a.m. EDT Aug. 19, on NASA TV and the agency’s website, with the spacewalk scheduled to begin at 8:05 a.m.

Leading up to the spacewalk, NASA TV will air a briefing from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, during which station and commercial crew experts will discuss the process and significance of installing and connecting the first of two international docking adapters (IDAs) that will be used for the future arrivals of Boeing and SpaceX commercial crew spacecraft.

The briefing participants are:

Kenneth Todd, International Space Station Operations Integration manager
Steve Stich, deputy manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
Zeb Scoville, spacewalk flight director
Glenda Brown, lead spacewalk officer

Reporters may attend the briefing at Johnson or ask questions by calling the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Aug. 15.

The adapter was launched on a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and arrived at the station July 20. Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA will conduct the spacewalk to install the equipment. This will be the fourth spacewalk in Williams’ career, the first for Rubins, and the 194th for the space station.

The two astronauts will venture outside the space station’s Quest airlock to install the first IDA onto Pressurized Mating Adapter-2, located on the forward end of the Harmony module. On Wednesday, Aug. 17, ground controllers will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm, and its attached “Dextre” Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, to extract the IDA from the trunk of Dragon, and position it just inches away from PMA-2. There will be no live coverage of the trunk removal and IDA positioning.

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/08/15/nasa-air-spacewalk-install-space-station-docking-port/

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Oldest U.S. Spacewalker Set to Lead Commercial Crew EVA on Friday

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Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins will venture outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, 19 August, to install the first of two Boeing-built International Docking Adapters (IDA-2) onto the orbital outpost. These mechanisms will be attached to the forward and space-facing (or “zenith”) sides of the Harmony node and will provide critical primary and backup docking interfaces for NASA’s two Commercial Crew providers: Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon from fall 2017 onwards. In readiness for the upcoming EVA-36, mission controllers will robotically remove IDA-2 from the unpressurized “trunk” on Wednesday and position it close to Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)-2 on the forward end of Harmony. This will allow Williams and Rubins to install what has been described as the space station’s “gateway” for Commercial Crew operations.

Friday’s spacewalk is designated “U.S. EVA-36” and marks the 36th excursion performed outside the space station, in U.S.-built Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), and conducted without the presence of an attendant Space Shuttle. Since U.S. EVA-1, way back in February 2002, these “Stage” EVAs have played a critical role in preparing the ISS for future expansion, as well as removing and replacing a failed ammonia pump module and a Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) and tending to ammonia leakages and the deterioration of several pieces of hardware. EVA-36 was described by ISS Operations Integration Manager Kenny Todd as a “very significant milestone”, in that the addition of IDA-2 will permit the first Commercial Crew vehicles to visit the station in an unpiloted and later crewed capacity at some stage in the fall of 2017 and into the spring of 2018.

The second International Docking Adapter (IDA-2) will provide the primary docking interface for Commercial Crew. The adapter was built to the specifications of the International Docking Standards, and it will be a connection point for commercial crew spacecraft visiting the orbiting laboratory.
Photo Credit: NASA/Cory Huston

Indepth analysis of EVA procedures at the link...

http://www.americaspace.com/?p=94808

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Gold-Medal Views! Incredible Images Show Rio Summer Olympics from Space

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Multiple satellites orbiting high above Earth have captured spectacular images of Rio de Janeiro, the city hosting this summer's Olympic Games.

The streets of Rio and the massive structures built to house the games are visible in snapshots of Rio from orbit taken by Earth-observing sensors named Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and Deimos-2, operated by the Vancouver-based UrtheCast, an Earth imagery company that operates satellites and two HD cameras on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS).

The Maracanã Stadium, which housed the opening ceremony on Aug. 5 and will host the closing ceremony on Aug. 21, is one structure that is clearly visible in a video that brings together multiple images taken by the UrtheCast sensors. [Summer Olympics Cities Seen From Space (Gallery)]

A cool GIF of UrtheCast imagery shows cars traveling around the stadium and throughout the city. The Maracanã Stadium is also where matches of the men's and women's football (what Americans call "soccer") tournaments are held.

This is a high-resolution GIF captured by UrtheCast's Deimos-2 satellite. It shows the Maracanã Stadium, which housed the opening ceremony on Aug. 5 and will host the closing ceremony on Aug. 21.
Credit: UrtheCast

Quote

Another spectacular GIF released by UrtheCast shows clouds passing over the city of São Paulo, Brazil's largest city. The venue photographed in the center of this image is where pre-Olympic and Paralympic training camps are held.

The images of São Paulo were captured by UrtheCast's high-resolution camera IRIS, which is mounted on the ISS. IRIS can record full-color videos up to 60 seconds long.

Sao-Paulo-UrtheCast-Iris.gif?1471293656?

UrtheCast's high-resolution camera aboard the International Space Station captured clouds passing over the city of São Paulo, where pre-Olympic and Paralympic training camps are held.
Credit: UrtheCast

http://www.space.com/33747-rio-summer-olympics-stadiums-space-photos.html

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6,181 · August 16, 2016

These images were taken by JAXA's Takuya Onishi.

Album of JAXA's Takuya Onishi

credit Takuya Onishi.

6,181 · August 17, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 15 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_011816_9

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 15 August 2016. NASA

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Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew completed a procedures review in preparation for next Friday's planned International Docking Adapter (IDA)2 EVA. Topics covered included prebreathe protocol review, Equipment Lock activities and suit donning plan, egress/ingress plan and EVA extension considerations. Following the review the crew participatet in a debrief with ground teams to discuss questions or concerns. The crew also verified that the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) glove heaters are functional and that the EMU TV is receiving power from the Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA).

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC): This morning the crew reported the WHC fan powered off during use which was followed by a "Check Separator Light" illumination. The crew performed the standard troubleshooting procedure to clear the Check Separator Light. The WHC was returned to normal use upon completion of the malfunction procedure. Additionally, the crew reported they have been seeing the "Check Separator Light" on previous use. The engineering team has scheduled a coordination meeting tomorrow to discuss these developments.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Mobile Transporter (MT) Translation: Today, ground controllers moved the MSS MT from work station 4 to workstation 6 in preparation for the removal of IDA2 from the SpaceX-9 trunk on Wednesday, and the installation of IDA2 onto PMA2 during the EVA on Friday.

LA Multiplexer/De-multiplexer (MDM) Patch - Ground Controllers successfully loaded a patch to the LA 1 MDM in preparation for IDA installation.

Payload MDM Transition - Ground Controllers were performing a scheduled PLMDM-2 High Rate Data Link (HRDL) reset which resulted in a complete lockup of the PLMDM-2 HRDL card. To recover from the HRDL card lockup, ground controllers performed a PLMDM transition. PLMDM-1 was subsequently powered ON and reconfigured as the primary PLMDM. All payload Health and Status (H&S) indications pre- and post-recovery were nominal. The PLMDM transition resulted in a loss of Health and Status for ~57 minutes.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
EVA prep
MT translate from WS4 to WS6
Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Tuesday, 08/16: Fluid Shifts, FIR ACE T1 install, Microbial Air Sample pack for return, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance
Wednesday, 08/17: Fluid Shifts, OGA H2 sensor R&R, Dragon cargo ops
Thursday, 08/18: EVA procedures review/tool config/Equipment Lock prep, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-15-august-2016.html

The Road to IDA

video is 2:58 min.

---------------------------------

Crew Gets Ready for New Commercial Crew Port

This computer rendering depicts a spacewalker performing installation activities for the International Docking Adapter. Credit: NASA Johnson YouTube

Quote

Space station and Commercial Crew managers wrapped up a spacewalk briefing Monday afternoon discussing the installation of a new International Docking Adapter at the end of the week. Spacewalkers Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins will begin the installation work Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT to enable future crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX to dock in the future.

The first major task begins Wednesday evening when the docking adapter is extracted from the rear of the SpaceX Dragon space freighter. The Canadarm2 will then maneuver the new adapter just a few inches away from the forward end of the Harmony module. It will stay there until Friday when Williams and Rubins will complete the installation during a 6.5 hour spacewalk.

Meanwhile, Williams is loading gear into Dragon for return to Earth and retrieval by NASA and SpaceX engineers. Dragon’s last day at the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module is Aug. 26 when it will be grappled and then released by the Canadarm2 for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The crew also explored a wide variety of space research today amidst the spacewalk preparations. A pair of cosmonauts studied how microgravity impacts fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body. Rubins researched the physics of tiny particles suspended in water possibly benefiting materials manufacturing on Earth. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi observed altered gene expression and DNA changes in mice and their offspring living in space.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/16/crew-gets-ready-for-new-commercial-crew-port/

------------------------------

Commercial Crew Docking Adapter to be installed on ISS via complex Robotics & Spacewalk

Quote

A critical docking adapter installation is on tap aboard the International Space Station this week with an ambitious task outline split between robotic work completed remotely from the ground and a spacewalk to be carried out on Friday by Station Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins.

International Docking Adapter 2 is to be installed on Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 to convert the docking port after being in use for 35 Space Shuttle missions to a usable port for upcoming Commercial Crew vehicles that are planned to begin flying to Station in late 2017.

The installation of at least two International Docking Adapters is critical for the remainder of the International Space Station’s life because they will allow any spacecraft using the International Docking Standard to arrive at ISS.

A very indepth analysis of procedures to be carried out. Some great images to help, as well, at the link...

http://spaceflight101.com/eva-36-docking-adapter-installation/

----------------------

Russia evaluates Space Station Crew Reduction

Quote

Russia is evaluating a reduction of its three-person International Space Station crew complement to only two Cosmonauts staffing the Russian segment of the orbiting laboratory.

The Roscosmos State Corporation brought forward plans to the international partners to reduce the Russian crew in order to make the operation of the Russian segment more cost-efficient based on the current workload for the Russian crew.

This proposal came forward based on a number of factors including cost-cutting measures as well as the delay to the launch of the Multipurpose Laboratory Module MLM that would increase the amount of experiments performed at any given time and justify a permanent crew of three.

Over the Space Station’s early life, the resident crew was comprised of two or three members from NASA and Russia with ESA/JAXA crew participation starting later in the program. ISS transitioned to six permanent crew members with Expedition 23 in 2010 comprised of three Russians, two NASA and one international crew members from ESA, ASI or JAXA. Per the long-term plan, the crew size of ISS was to increase to seven when Commercial Crew vehicles start flying to add a permanent crew member to the U.S. Segment to deal with a very busy scientific schedule.

The picture on the Russian segment is basically the opposite – while the USOS crew members work full days supporting a packed scientific program, the scientific workload on the Russian segment is significantly lower. Typically, the number of experiments completed on the Russian side during a Station increment barely reaches 25% of the experiments performed on the USOS. This would change with the arrival of the MLM, giving the Russian segment a large laboratory and a third crew quarters – one RS crew member is currently sleeping in the fourth bunk of Node 2 which will only be available until the start of Commercial Crew.

more at the link...

http://spaceflight101.com/russia-evaluates-space-station-crew-reduction/

NASA mulls Russian idea to cut staff at space station

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_mulls_Russian_idea_to_cut_staff_at_space_station_999.html

---------------------------

Quote

The astronauts Roscosmos G.Padalka O.Kononenko and found eligible to undergo new training in the ISS crew.

This is great news,,,Gennady Padalka could be going up next year.

Quote

Astronauts primary and backup crews # ISS -49/50 successfully qualified for space flight.

----------------------

Nile River Valley, Egypt August 13, 2016

Agriculture has thrived in the Nile River Valley for thousands of years. Today, rice and cereal crops grow in the moist, silty soil along the river’s fertile banks. Planet.com

https://www.planet.com/gallery/nile-20160813/

6,181 · August 18, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_081616_9

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 16 August 2016. NASA

Quote

Space station and Commercial Crew managers wrapped up a spacewalk briefing Monday afternoon discussing the installation of a new International Docking Adapter at the end of the week. Spacewalkers Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins will begin the installation work Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT to enable future crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX to dock in the future.

The first major task begins Wednesday evening when the docking adapter is extracted from the rear of the SpaceX Dragon space freighter. The Canadarm2 will then maneuver the new adapter just a few inches away from the forward end of the Harmony module. It will stay there until Friday when Williams and Rubins will complete the installation during a 6.5 hour spacewalk.

Meanwhile, Williams is loading gear into Dragon for return to Earth and retrieval by NASA and SpaceX engineers. Dragon's last day at the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module is Aug. 26 when it will be grappled and then released by the Canadarm2 for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The crew also explored a wide variety of space research today amidst the spacewalk preparations. A pair of cosmonauts studied how microgravity impacts fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body. Rubins researched the physics of tiny particles suspended in water possibly benefiting materials manufacturing on Earth. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi observed altered gene expression and DNA changes in mice and their offspring living in space.

Quote

Mouse Epigenetics Habitat Cage Unit Maintenance: The food cartridges of Mouse Habitat Cage Units were exchanged and then the cage units containing the mice were transferred to and from the glove box located in the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) to complete standard maintenance activities. The Mouse Epigenetics investigation studies altered gene expression patterns in the organs of male mice that spend one month in space, and also examines changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of their offspring. Results from the investigation identify genetic alterations that happen after exposure to the microgravity environment of space.

Advanced Colloids Experiment Temperature control-1 (ACE-T1) Configuration: The crew accessed the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) and removed the Micro-channel Diffusion Plate and Bio Base from inside the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) Auxiliary Fluids Container (ACE) before installing the LMM Control Base, ACE Module, and Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) surveillance camera in preparation for the ACE-T1 experiment. ACE-T-1 studies tiny suspended particles designed by scientists to connect themselves in a specific way to form organized structures in water. Materials having complex structures and unique properties potentially can be made with more knowledge of how these particles are joined together and the conditions which control their behaviors. The microgravity environment on the ISS provides researchers insight into the fundamental physics of micro particle self-assembly and the kinds of colloidal structures that are possible to fabricate. This in turn helps manufacturers on Earth in choosing which high-value material is worth investigating.

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Fuel Oxidizer Management Assembly (FOMA) Calibration: The crew performed the FOMA Calibration by closing the bottle valves and relieving the pressure in the manifolds. The FOMA Calibration Unit (FCU) was powered to collect pressure transducer data with the bottle pressure transducers at ambient pressure and the rack was powered down. The crew then opened the bottle valves before closing up the rack. CIR provides sustained, systematic microgravity combustion research and it houses hardware capable of performing combustion experiments to further research of combustion in microgravity.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
SPDM unstow
Fluid Shifts support
Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 08/17: Fluid Shifts, OGA H2 sensor R&R, Dragon cargo ops
Thursday, 08/18: EVA procedures review/tool config/Equipment Lock prep, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance
Friday, 08/19: IDA2 EVA

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-16-august-2016.html

-----------------------

New International Docking Adapter Being Prepped for Installation

Astronaut Kate Rubins checks a U.S. spacesuit she will wear during a spacewalk planned for Aug. 19, 2016. NASA

Quote

Flight controllers and the Expedition 48 crew are preparing for tonight’s International Docking Adapter extraction work and Friday morning’s installation spacewalk. The orbital residents are also continuing to load the SpaceX Dragon with gear and science for return to Earth.

Controllers on the ground checked the Canadian robotics systems they will use to remove the International Docking Adapter from the rear of the SpaceX Dragon tonight. The new adapter will be extracted with the Canadarm2 then maneuvered to a point about three feet away from its installation point. It will then be installed on the Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 which is attached to the forward end of the Harmony module.

The final and intricate installation work will be done during a 6.5 hour spacewalk scheduled to begin Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT with astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins . The new adapter, the first of two, will enable new Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock at the International Space Station in the future.

In the meantime, the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is still being loaded with gear ahead of its return to Earth on Aug. 26. Rubins spent the morning packing Dragon with research samples and used hardware for analysis back on Earth.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/17/new-international-docking-adapter-being-prepped-for-installation/

--------------------------

----------------------

Lake Powell As Seen From Orbit By EarthKAM

Lake Powell EARTHKAM/NASA

Quote

The remotely controlled Sally Ride EarthKAM aboard the International Space Station acquired this photograph on July 14, 2016, as the orbiting laboratory flew over Lake Powell and the border of Utah and Arizona.

Located on the Colorado River, Lake Powell (annotated image) is the second largest artificial reservoir in the United States.

The EarthKAM program allows students to request photographs of specific Earth features, which are taken by a special camera mounted on the space station when it passes over those features. The images are posted online for the public and students in participating classrooms around the world to view.

EarthKAM is the only program providing students with such direct control of an instrument on a spacecraft orbiting Earth, teaching them about environmental science, geography and space communications. The project was initiated by Dr. Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, in 1995 and called KidSat; the camera flew on five space shuttle flights before moving to the space station on Expedition 1 in 2001.

http://spaceref.com/onorbit/lake-powell-as-seen-from-orbit-by-earthkam.html

6,181 · August 19, 2016

NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 17 August 2016

nasa_iss_on_orbit_status_report_081716_9

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins prepares for a spacewalk (EVA) on board the International Space Station. She and partner crewmember Jeff Williams also of NASA will work on installation of a new International Docking Adapter. The work is scheduled to start on Aug 19, 2016.. The work of spacewalkers Williams and Rubins will enable future crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX to dock on the station. Credit: NASA.

Quote

Flight controllers and the Expedition 48 crew are preparing for tonight's International Docking Adapter extraction work and Friday morning's installation spacewalk. The orbital residents are also continuing to load the SpaceX Dragon with gear and science for return to Earth.

Controllers on the ground checked the Canadian robotics systems they will use to remove the International Docking Adapter from the rear of the SpaceX Dragon tonight. The new adapter will be extracted with the Canadarm2 then maneuvered to a point about three feet away from its installation point. It will then be installed on the Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 which is attached to the forward end of the Harmony module.

The final and intricate installation work will be done during a 6.5 hour spacewalk scheduled to begin Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT with astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins . The new adapter, the first of two, will enable new Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock at the International Space Station in the future.

In the meantime, the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is still being loaded with gear ahead of its return to Earth on Aug. 26. Rubins spent the morning packing Dragon with research samples and used hardware for analysis back on Earth.

Quote

Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Hydrogen (H2) Sensor Remove & Replace (R&R): The crew completed OGS H2 sensor Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) purge adapter operations, R&R of the H2 sensor ORU and AAA cleaning with inlet inspection and cleaning. This activity was scheduled due to ORU end-of-life.

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Sample Collection: The UPA Distillate Filter and Purge Filter were removed and replaced for return samples in support of the UPA elevated conductivity investigation. The preceding UPA process cycle had elevated conductivity levels and the samples will help ground teams understand the difference in conductivity with the purge line reconnected.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Check Separator Light: To isolate the cause of Check Separator Light illumination, the crew performed an inspection of the hoses and electrical connections on the Urine Receptacle. They reported that the electrical cable on the Urine Receptacle was coiled tightly and may be kinked. They removed the zip tie that was holding the cable together to allow more slack and demated/remated the XT2 connector. Additional troubleshooting steps are in work for the crew to perform as a result of yesterday's Flight Investigation Team (FIT) recommendations.

Extravehicular Robotics Operations: Yesterday afternoon, Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to unstow the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM). Following SPDM unstow, they maneuvered the SSRMS to position it over the SpX-9 Dragon Trunk and configured the SPDM to extract the International Docking Adapter 2 (IDA2) from the trunk later today. SPDM checkouts were also completed in preparation for the IDA2 Extravehicular Activity (EVA) this Friday.

Quote

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
MSS ops
ORU sensor R&R support
Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 08/18: EVA procedures review/tool config/Equipment Lock prep, Mouse Epigenetics cage maintenance
Friday, 08/19: IDA2 EVA

Saturday, 08/20: Post EVA cleanup activities, EVA debrief, Heart Cells media change, Mouse cage maintenance, CMO OBT

QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:
Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[СКВ] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[СКВ] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Idle
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Process
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Norm
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-17-august-2016.html

---------------------

New International Docking Adapter Being Prepped for Installation

Quote

Flight controllers and the Expedition 48 crew are preparing for tonight’s International Docking Adapter extraction work and Friday morning’s installation spacewalk. The orbital residents are also continuing to load the SpaceX Dragon with gear and science for return to Earth.

Controllers on the ground checked the Canadian robotics systems they will use to remove the International Docking Adapter from the rear of the SpaceX Dragon tonight. The new adapter will be extracted with the Canadarm2 then maneuvered to a point about three feet away from its installation point. It will then be installed on the Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 which is attached to the forward end of the Harmony module.

The final and intricate installation work will be done during a 6.5 hour spacewalk scheduled to begin Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT with astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins . The new adapter, the first of two, will enable new Commercial Crew vehicles being developed by Boeing and SpaceX to dock at the International Space Station in the future.

In the meantime, the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is still being loaded with gear ahead of its return to Earth on Aug. 26. Rubins spent the morning packing Dragon with research samples and used hardware for analysis back on Earth.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/17/new-international-docking-adapter-being-prepped-for-installation/

-------------------------

ISS Robots position International Docking Adapter for Friday Installation Spacewalk

Quote

The International Space Station’s robotic duo was in action throughout Wednesday night and on Thursday to pre-position a critical docking adapter to be installed during a spacewalk on Friday to give ISS a new parking spot to be utilized by Commercial Crew vehicles docking at the orbiting outpost.

The installation of the International Docking Adapters is a requirement prior to the start of Commercial Crew to convert the APAS-95 docking system to the International Docking Standard used by both Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Dragon 2 spacecraft. The standard may be used by any government and private entity who wish to do so as all technical information is available freely on the web.

analysis at the link...

http://spaceflight101.com/iss-robots-position-ida-2-for-installation-spacewalk/

-----------------------

New Docking Adapter in Position for Spacewalk Friday Morning

Quote

A new port for commercial crew vehicles was robotically removed from the back of the SpaceX Dragon Wednesday night. The International Docking Adapter was placed in position for its installation Friday morning to a pressurized mating adapter attached to the Harmony module.

Two spacewalkers, Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins, will complete the installation work during a spacewalk scheduled to begin Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT. The NASA astronauts will install cables and outfit the docking port that will enable future Boeing and SpaceX crew vehicles to dock at the International Space Station.

While the spacewalk preparations were under way, a Japanese astronaut and three cosmonauts conducted a variety of space research. Takuya Onishi tended to the mice being observed for the Mouse Epigenetics study. That experiment is researching altered gene expression and DNA changes in mice and their offspring living in space.

Cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin explored ways of detecting micrometeoroid impacts on the outside of the station. He also joined Oleg Skripochka and studied how galactic and solar radiation genetically affects viruses that infect bacteria. Veteran cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin investigated how coulomb crystals and liquids are formed by charged macroparticles and researched how the heart beats in space.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/08/18/new-docking-adapter-in-position-for-spacewalk-friday-morning/

International Docking Adapter Is Extracted From SpaceX Dragon

video is 0:48 min.

--------------------

NanoRacks platform placed outside International Space Station

CpgJdHQVIAA7i4v.jpg-e1471537685198.jpg

The NanoRacks platform is placed outside the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA

An artist’s rendering of the NanoRacks External Platform Photo Credit: NanoRacks

Quote

On Aug. 9, 2016, the NanoRacks External Platform (NREP) was placed on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). It was completely self-funded by the company and is the first-ever commercial gateway-and-return to the extreme environment of space. It was designed in-house and manufactured by Airbus.

Spaceflight Insider recently spoke with a few people at NanoRacks about this important milestone.

“NREP provides a commercial gateway to the extreme environment of space,” said Abby Dickes, NanoRacks’ marketing and communications manager. “The NREP is a hosted payload platform where experiments are housed in enclosures similar to the CubeSat form factor. It’s ideal for small size hosted payloads and requires no additional subsystems. [It] provides all the power and communications services of a conventional spacecraft bus. The NREP can host up to five active and four passive payloads each mission. Active payloads can draw up to 30 watts of power at 28 VDC each, share a data link up to 8 Mbit/s for file transfers and real-time data streaming.”

To understand what a major development this is, it helps to know what a spacecraft bus does. It provides all the support that the payload needs – power, communications, thermal control, and data handling. Normally, any organization that wants to put a payload into low-Earth orbit would have to build not just the payload, but also the whole spacecraft. Having the NREP as a destination would tremendously save on development costs. It can support payload operations in the following categories:

Earth remote sensing
Space research
Astrophysics
Technology demonstration
On-orbit assembly
Commercial utilization
Sample return
Space environment exposure

To help with payload operation, the NREP is the first platform to utilize the ISS’s external Wi-Fi system.

more at the link...

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/nanoracks-platform-placed-outside-international-space-station/

------------------------

Quote

Crews 49/50 minutes long expedition to # ISS complete exams in # CPC -http: // the www. roscosmos.ru/22557/

----------------------

Orbital View: A Nearly Ice-Free Northwest Passage

Northwest Passage Canada NASA

Quote

The Northwest Passage is a famed high-latitude sea route in the Arctic. The route meanders through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

For most of the year, its waters are choked with sea ice. But by mid-August 2016, the passage was nearly ice-free.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the Northwest Passage on August 9, 2016. A path of open water can be traced almost the entire distance from the Amundsen Gulf to Baffin Bay, encountering a scattering of broken ice just east of Victoria Island.

This is not the first Arctic summer with so much open water. According to NOAA, the more frequent opening of the Northwest Passage means that it is becoming an increasingly viable route for shipping.

http://spaceref.com/arctic-2/orbital-view-a-nearly-ice-free-northwest-passage.html

6,493 · August 19, 2016

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