NASA and SpaceX are withdrawing from this week’s launch of the CRS-25 cargo mission Falcon 9 to the International Space Station.
NASA and SpaceX officials met today to discuss an issue identified over the weekend and the best way forward.
Elevated readings of mono-methyl hydrazine (MMH) vapor in an isolated area of the Draco propulsion system were measured during refueling of the Dragon spacecraft. The propellant and oxidant were unloaded from this region to support further inspections and tests. Once the exact source of the elevated readings has been identified and the cause determined, NASA and SpaceX teams will set and announce a new target launch date.
Meanwhile, NASA flight engineers Jessica Watkins and ESA (European Space Agency) Samantha Christophoretti are handling the Dragon cargo ship’s meeting and docking procedures. The duo trained on a computer on Monday to prepare for their roles as they watched Dragon’s automatic arrival and docking.
The eye exams were on schedule, with NASA flight engineer Kel Lindgren taking over today as the crew’s medical officer. He operated medical imaging equipment using standard optical coherence tomography techniques and scanned the eyes and retinas of Christophoretti and NASA flight engineer Bob Hines.
Before beginning his face-to-face examination, Hines cleaned up and put away obsolete combustion research hardware to make room for newer scientific equipment supplied for upcoming supply missions. The first space pilot is also working on light orbital plumbing duties and recirculating fluids to support plants growing for the XROOTS space botany study.
Lindgren began her day at the Quest Airlock, which serves American spacesuits. The first space pilot collected water samples from the suit’s cooling circuits and cleaned their plumbing before installing new components. Watkins finished work on the suit in the afternoon after training to meet the Dragon.
In the Russian segment of the station, Commander Oleg Artemiev and Onboard Engineer Sergei Korsakov took turns to explore ways to maximize and monitor the effectiveness of space exercises. Artemiev also updated cargo inventory systems as Korsakov unpacked supplies from inside the new Progress 81 supply ship. On-board engineer Denis Matveev installed Earth observation equipment before filming the inside of the Nauka4 multifunctional laboratory module for inspection purposes.
Orbit status report
Payloads:
Astrorad: The crew collected the necessary items and prepared for the upcoming scientific activities. Comfort and human factors AstroRad Radiation Garment Evaluation (CHARGE) tests a special vest designed to protect astronauts from radiation caused by unforeseen events of solar particles (SPE). Astronauts provide information about the garment as they wear it, as they perform daily tasks, including how easy it is to wear, how it fits and feels, and the range of motion it allows. Clothing designers can use this input to enhance the design. The use of the vest will protect crew members on missions to the moon and Mars.
Integrated Combustion Stand / Extended Combustion by Microgravity Experiments (CIR / ACME): In an activity that began last week, obsolete ACME hardware was discovered, consolidated and prepared for return or garbage. A series of ACME experiments and the ACME insert, previously removed from the CIR, were performed to make way for the currently installed experimental insert, known as Solid Fuel Ignition and Quenching (SoFIE). CIR includes an optical bench, a combustion chamber, fuel and oxidizer control and five different chambers for microgravity combustion research.
Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL): A crew member performed a visual inspection of the moderate temperature CAL jumper (MTL) to check for leaks and reported leaks. The MTL Jumper is prone to small leaks and periodic crew monitoring is applied as the ground assesses future recovery opportunities. CAL produces clouds of atoms that are cooled to about ten billion degrees above absolute zero (much colder than the average temperature in deep space). At these low temperatures, atoms have almost no motion, which allows scientists to study fundamental behavior and quantum characteristics that are difficult or impossible to study at higher temperatures. In microgravity, researchers may be able to achieve even lower temperatures than is possible on earth and observe these cold atomic clouds for longer periods of time.
Exposed Orbital Root Testing System (XROOTS): In support of ongoing growth, the crew performed manual water recovery in Root Modules (RM) 1 and 2. The XROOTS study uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without soil or other growth environments. Video and still images allow the evaluation of multiple independent growth chambers for the entire life cycle of the plant from seed germination to maturity. The results could identify appropriate methods for growing crops on a larger scale for future space missions.
ISS HAM pass: The crew participates in an ISS Ham event with Scuola media S.Pietro, Nuoro, Sardegna, Italy. Some of the questions asked by the students included whether the crew believed there were other solar systems alive, whether the crew listened to music and what kind of music was preferred, and whether the crew would like to live or visit another planet if possible. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents and members of the STEM community by providing means of communication between astronauts and terrestrial radio amateurs.
ALTEA Light Ion Detector (LIDAL): LIDAL has been relocated to its second workplace. The ability of Anomalous Long-Term Effects in Astronauts (ALTEA) to measure the linear energy transfer (LET) of protons and helium and the kinetic energy of protons and heavy ions has been improved by adding a new in-flight system (TOF). a detector called LIDAL. LIDAL builds on ALTEA’s ability to make measurements that can be converted into real-time radiation risk factors using special software – effectively allowing ALTEA to become the first dosimetric (risk meter) on board the ISS.
Nutrition Monitoring for the International Space Station (NutrISS): A nutrition evaluation of the European Space Agency (ESA) was carried out in support of the NutrISS investigation. The NutrISS study periodically evaluates body composition (body weight, fat mass and fat-free mass) during spaceflight aboard the ISS using a special bioimpedance analysis device to measure long-term energy balance change over time. It has been suggested that an adjusted diet that maintains an almost neutral energy balance and / or increases protein intake may limit microgravity-induced bone and muscle loss.
systems:
Non-Mobile Mobility Units (EMU) 3004/3015 Purification and iodination: The crew exfoliated the EMU water circuit and then took and tested water samples for conductivity of units 3004 and 3015. EMU Loop Scrubs require the preventive maintenance needed to remove any pollutant chemicals from the EMU transport loop.
Optical Coherence Tomography Test (OCT2): Today the crew completed routine OCT eye examinations. OCT is an imaging technique analogous to ultrasound imaging that uses light instead of sound to capture two- and three-dimensional images of tissues with micrometer resolution; in this case the objects of interest are the eyes of the crew members. Eye examinations are performed regularly on board to monitor the eye health of crew members. Vision is one of the many aspects of the human body that can be affected by prolonged exposure to microgravity.
SpaceX-25 Dragon Rendezvous Overview: Today, the crew completed a self-learning reconnaissance training for Cargo Dragon operations in preparation for the upcoming SpaceX-25 mission.
WPA Catalytic Reactor Inspection and Preparation for Storage: Today the crew prepared the degraded Cat reactor for storage. The crew inspected the bottom cover of the Cat Reactor cover and cleaned up the small amount of water found.
Activities with completed to-do list:
Restoration of liquids in starboard Endcone81P USOS Unpacking of today’s ground activities: All activities are completed, unless otherwise noted.
SSC XOI Service Pack CheckoutPRO MELFI 1 Dewar Timeliner Configuration Command Laptop preparation for OCT2 exam Plan ahead
Tuesday, 7 June (GMT 158) Useful goods:
AstroPi VisAstroRad Vest configurationAcoustic diagnosticsCBEF-LNutrISSXROOTSSystems:
Nitrogen and Oxygen Refueling System (NORS) Oxygen Transfer Initiation, Short Extra Mobile Mobility (SEMU) Launch Bar (SLE) Preparing to Return Return to SpaceX-25 Dragon Rendezvous Meeting Review PPE Audit Wednesday, June 8, GMT 159 ) Payloads:
Astrobee PrepAstroRad VestKUBIKMSG / Transparent Alloys StowNutrISSWanted Poster – Temp LoggerWireless Compose-2Systems:
Slider Assembly ARED R&RT Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Flow Measurement Hatch Seal Study Dome Inspection Window # 7 Scrap Panel Installation Thursday, June 9 (160 GMT) Payload:
AstrobeeAstrorad VestCBEF-LGHF CheckoutNutrISSROdent Research-22 PrepSystems:
Review of the SpaceX-25 Dragon. Overview of Node 3 Endcone Stowage CleanoutDragon Cargo Operations Review Today’s planned activities: All activities are completed, unless otherwise noted.
ACME Hardware ConsolidateAstroRad Vest Hardware Collection and familiarizationCold Atom Lab MTL Jumper Radiation Leak Inspection Monitor 2 (REM2) ReseatEMU Cooling Circuit Cleaning DeconfigurationEVA Hard Upper Torso GatherEMU Installation Cooling Cooling Installation Exam OperationLab Dzus Repair of fasteners [ABORTED]ORU Preparing for storageISS HAM …
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