Expedition 36 thread (May 14 - September 11, 2013)

[Nicolas PILLET]

Just wondering - what is the Russian pronunciation for BD-2?

Bay Day Dvah.

[catdlr]

May 31, 2013
 
MEDIA ADVISORY : M13-090
 
 
NASA TV Coverage Set for Space Station Cargo Ship Moves
 
 
WASHINGTON -- NASA Television will provide live coverage in June of the launch and docking of the European Space Agency's (ESA) fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo craft (ATV-4) to the International Space Station and the departure of a Russian Progress resupply ship from the orbiting laboratory.

Loaded with more than 7 tons of supplies for the space station crew, the 13-ton ATV-4 "Albert Einstein" spacecraft, named by ESA in honor of the 20th century theoretical physicist and icon of modern science, is scheduled to launch atop an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana at 5:52 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 5. Launch coverage with commentary from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and ESA's launch provider, Arianespace, will begin at 5:15 p.m.

The ATV-4 is scheduled for a 10-day trip to the station. Docking to the aft port of the Russian Zvezda Service Module is scheduled for Saturday, June 15. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 8 a.m., ahead of the planned docking at 9:46 a.m.

Before the ATV-4 arrives at the station, the Russian ISS Progress 51 cargo spacecraft will undock from the Zvezda port at 9:53 a.m., Tuesday, June 11. NASA TV coverage of the undocking will begin at 9:30 a.m.

As the Progress cargo craft departs, the ship's external cameras will focus on navigational sensors on the Zvezda docking port to gather imagery and confirm the sensors were not damaged April 26 when Progress docked to the station with one of its navigational antennas folded against its side. Those sensors are required for the ATV-4 to dock properly June 15.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information on the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

 
- end -

[Targeteer]

The ISS crew and MCC-H have been discussing an unexpected comm outage that Houston believes was from a network or satellite issue with the TDRS at 171W.  Houston believes they have identified/corrected the issue but alerted the crew that following a planned 21 minute LOS, comm may not be restored when the link is next attempted again with 171.  A VHF pass is available if that eventuality does occur.

[Lewis007]

Some high-res photos of the mission are posted on a special "Volare Mission" on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/volaremission/

[Targeteer]

Two notes from the morning DPC.  The Cosmonauts asked for a radiogram on charging/operating Go Pro (small, head mounted HD) cameras that arrived on the Soyuz.  It sounded like they will not be used until un-dock and re-entry. I'm curious whether these could be worn inside the Solkol suit helmets?

During to the current high beta angle period, the Ku band antenna may need to be parked periodically to stay in thermal constraints.  It is already being parked during planned LOS periods but that may prove insufficient.

[Space Pete]

The Cosmonauts asked for a radiogram on charging/operating Go Pro (small, head mounted HD) cameras that arrived on the Soyuz.  It sounded like they will not be used until un-dock and re-entry. I'm curious whether these could be worn inside the Solkol suit helmets?

Having HD video from inside a Soyuz during entry, descent and landing will be awesome! I imagine they will be worn on the outside of the Sokol (i.e. mounted to the outside of the suit itself).

I really hope the video finds its way into the public domain - I could speculate that this could be related to gathering footage for the ISS Olympic torch relay - in which case there is a good chance that we will get to see it.

I really think the ISS partners could explore GoPros on ISS much more deeply - why not have an astronaut wear one all day, then speed up the video and release it as a "first person view of a day in the life of an astronaut" style video. Or, even better, figure out a way to mount one to an EMU/Orlan during an EVA.

[Space Pete]

Chris Cassidy - the SEAL hairdresser.



First mohawk in space, I think?

[John44]

    Expedition 36 - In-Flight Interviews June 4
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8303

[Prober]

Chris Cassidy - the SEAL hairdresser.



First mohawk in space, I think?

the space "Flo bee"

[jacqmans]

Karen L. Nyberg‏@AstroKarenN

Our windows to the world. pic.twitter.com/6038QztcCT

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

Karen L. Nyberg‏@AstroKarenN

Sunday morning Space Coffee House. Double Mocha Cappuccino and a Cinnamon Scone. Life is good in LEO. pic.twitter.com/nYqzpo0IbI

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

Karen L. Nyberg‏@AstroKarenN

Celebrating 5th anniversary of launch on STS-124 Discovery to deliver the Japanese Lab to ISS. And now I work here! pic.twitter.com/gyj0Dk6fX6

[John44]

Launch of the European Space Agency’s "Albert Einstein" ATV-4
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8308

[Targeteer]

During the morning DPC, MCC-H advised there may be NO Ku coverage today due to the ongoing high beta angle thermal constraints requiring the antenna to be parked.

Availability will be evaluated on each TDRS access but the prospects are not positive.

[jacqmans]

International Space Station (ISS) Management Center (IMC) Daily Summary Report
Increment 36 Operations – Stage 36-6
06/05/13 6:30 pm Central Daylight Time (CDT)
156/23:30 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
 

New Status:
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)-4 Launch: ATV-4 Albert Einstein launched today at 4:52 p.m. CDT from Kourou, French Guiana. Solar array and antenna deployment occurred at 6:28 p.m. CDT.  The docking of ATV4 to the ISS Service Module Aft is scheduled for next Saturday, June 15 at 8:46 a.m. CDT.

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Mesh Cover-Return Grille Cleaning: Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Cassidy performed this routine maintenance today.  He removed the return grille mesh covers and cleaned inside the return grilles in JEM Pressurized Module (JPM) and the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module - Pressurized Section (JLP).

Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) Leak Check: Cassidy successfully completed the second of three leak checks, the CC leak check with negative pressure. Following the test, he recorded the pressure and took photos.  The first leak test, the nitrogen gas supply line check, was successfully performed last week.  The third test, the CC leak check with positive pressure, will be performed on Friday. 

eValuatIon And monitoring of microBiofiLms insidE (VIABLE) Experiment: Cassidy conducted the third session of this experiment today. The investigation provides data related to the biosafety and health quality of astronauts as well as maintenance of ISS hardware. This could lead to improved environmental quality of manned confined habitats in space and to specific bases and modules on Earth where humans have to stay long-term, particularly for scientific purposes.

Ocular Health (OH) Experiment: FE-6 Nyberg conducted a visual test on FE-5 Parmitano to test visual acuity, visual field, and contrast sensitivity. Following that activity, Parmitano received his first tonometry eye exam which measures introcular eye pressure. Later in the day, FE-3 Cassidy set up the new Fundoscope and conducted eye exams with the unit on Nyberg and Parmitano. This is the first use of the Fundoscope hardware and new vision testing software. Eye health activities will continue tomorrow when Cassidy performs ultrasound exams on Nyberg and Parmitano. This is a suite of eye exams to gather information on intraocular pressure and eye anatomy.

Microbiome Experiment: Nyberg began this experiment today by completing a questionnaire. Parmitano will complete a questionnaire tomorrow. On Friday and Saturday they will collect perspiration samples immediately after exercise and insert in cold stowage for return to ground. This activity will be executed twice during the increment. The study investigates the impact of space travel on the human immune system and an individual’s microbiome, the collection of microbes that live in and on the human body. This will help predict how long-term space travel may impact the human microbiome and health.

Three-Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 6/06: Ultrasound/cardiac ops, Node 3 HD Encoder install, MSPR Leak Checks
Friday, 6/07: 51P stow, RS EVA Prep, BIOME
Saturday, 6/08:  Crew off duty, BIOME, ARED cylinder evac

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M13-093

MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS SPEAK WITH SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS

WASHINGTON -- Expedition 36 crew members Chris Cassidy, Luca
Parmitano, and Karen Nyberg will speak from the International Space
Station to students at Douglas Public Schools in Massachusetts at
11:35 a.m. EDT, Monday, June 10.

Students will be able to ask the astronauts questions about life, work
and research aboard the orbiting laboratory. Media representatives
are invited to attend and cover the 20-minute space-to-ground event,
which will be broadcast on NASA Television and streamed on the
agency's website.

To attend the event, journalists must contact Beverly Bachelder at
508-476-3332 or [email protected]. The Douglas Public
School District is located at 21 Davis Street in Douglas, Mass.

NASA activities have been incorporated into classes at local schools
in preparation for the conversation with the space station
astronauts. Linking directly to the astronauts aboard the station
provides students with an authentic experience of space exploration,
space study, the scientific components of space travel, and
possibilities of life in space.

This in-flight downlink is one in a series with educational
organizations in the United States to improve science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning. It is an
integral component of NASA's Teaching From Space program, which
promotes learning opportunities and builds partnerships with the
education community using the unique environment of space and NASA's
human spaceflight program.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

To follow Twitter updates from Expedition 36 astronauts, visit:

http://twitter.com/AstroKarenN

and

http://twitter.com/astro_luca

[jacqmans]

Karen L. Nyberg‏@AstroKarenN

Taking images of interior surface of eye to study vision degradation associated w/ long duration spaceflight. pic.twitter.com/tZWi86Zgd7

[jacqmans]

Luca Parmitano‏@astro_luca

Un test oculare, con il supporto del collega Chris pic.twitter.com/oIBLwVub2C

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

Luca Parmitano‏@astro_luca

Performing an eye test with the support of crew mate Chris... pic.twitter.com/1PIJGuzJQD

[John44]

ISS Mission Control On-Console Interview with the Digital Learning Network - June 6
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8310

Expedition 36 - In-Flight Event with Italian Networks for the ESA - June 7
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8312

[jacqmans]

International Space Station (ISS) Management Center (IMC) Daily Summary Report
Increment 36 Operations – Stage 36-6
06/07/13 4:00 pm Central Daylight Time (CDT)
158/21:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
 

New Status:
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber (CC) Leak Check: Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Cassidy successfully performed the final portion of the MSPR CC leak check today.  He conducted a positive pressure check, which was the third and final required leak check for the Combustion Chamber.  Last week he completed the a nitrogen gas supply line leak check, and on Wednesday he completed the CC leak check with negative pressure.  Cassidy stowed the chamber and the work bench on which these checks were performed.

Microbiome Experiment: Following completion of their respective questionnaires, Nyberg and FE-5 Parmitano collected today’s perspiration samples immediately after exercise and inserted them in cold stowage for return to ground.  They will repeat the collections tomorrow.   The Microbiome experiment investigates the impact of space travel on the human immune system and an individual’s microbiome, the collection of microbes that live in and on the human body. This will help predict how long-term space travel may impact the human microbiome and health.

Skin-B Experiment: Parmitano conducted the first of five sessions of this experiment. This study investigates the mechanisms behind how skin adapts/regenerates under the influence of weightlessness and the environmental conditions in spacecraft on long duration missions.

Circadian Rhythms: Parmitano performed the first of four sessions of this experiment which examines the circadian rhythm of astronauts during long duration space flight. This includes changes in body composition and temperature, the effect of a non-24 hour light/dark cycle and reduced physical activity due to microgravity and the artificially controlled environment onboard ISS.

Ocular Heath - Cardiac Operations: Due to yesterday’s high Beta angle constraints to Ku-Band commanding and video, the Ocular Health Cardiac operations for Nyberg and Parmitano were rescheduled to today.  The crewmembers performed cardiac ultrasound scans and blood pressure measurements.  Ground specialists assisted with remote guidance for the ultrasound scans. The Ocular Health protocol aims to systematically gather physiological data to characterize the Risk of Microgravity-Induced Visual Impairment/Intracranial Pressure on crewmembers assigned to a 6 month ISS increment. Researchers believe that by systematically measuring visual, vascular and central nervous system changes over the course of this experiment, a database could be developed to inform future in-flight research protocols, identify mechanisms, develop countermeasures, and direct clinical monitoring and clinical practice guidelines.


Three-Day Look Ahead:
Saturday, 6/08:  Crew off duty, BIOME, ARED cylinder evac
Sunday, 6/09:  Crew off duty, ProK, Reaction
Monday, 6/10: OBT emergency sim, OBT ATV RVDP/RVDM drill, Crew Orientation

[jacqmans]

[jacqmans]

Karen L. Nyberg‏@AstroKarenN

Saturday is housekeeping day on ISS. Vacuuming filters, disinfecting surfaces. Nodes 2 & 3 for me today. pic.twitter.com/j7j1xK66Tl

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

Karen L. Nyberg‏@AstroKarenN

Freezing morning saliva samples to help answer: How does long duration spaceflight affect immune system & health? pic.twitter.com/REIWXHqX85