Новости МКС

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QB50-CubeSat Mission‏ @QB50Mission 1 ч. назад

Updated schedule (+ radio info) for next week #QB50 #CubeSat deployment: http://bit.ly/2q1qP8O 

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NORAD зарегистрировал ещё 6 запущенных с МКС объектов (K÷Q, на каждый есть набор TLE)
 

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https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/wklysumm_week_of_15may17.html

May 19, 2017

Weekly Recap From the Expedition Lead Scientist

Спойлер

NASA astronaut Jack Fischer loads the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer in to an airlock in the Japanese Experiment Module on the International Space Station. When transferred to the outside of the station, ground crews took control, triggering deployment of the satellites into Earth orbit.
Credits: NASA


The NanoRacks CubeSat Depolyer "ejects" a microsatellite into orbit from the International Space Station.
Credits: NASA

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(Highlights: Week of May 15, 2017) - As crew members on the International Space Station searched for ways to keep future space travelers safer during long-duration missions, ground crews were triggering the release of a flock of microsatellites.

Спойлер

A series of 11 different satellites were jettisoned from the station using the NanoRack CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD). The NRCSD is a self-contained deployment system on the end of a robotic arm, called the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), mounted to the exterior of the station. It is a rectangular compartment that "ejects" very small satellites to place them into orbit. It provides a low-cost and frequent-flight opportunity for industry and academia to place research satellites into space. Ground crews commanded the release of these satellites, which included five additional cubesats for a constellation of satellites from countries around the world. The collection studies the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere over a period of two years, and will conduct coordinated measurements on a poorly-studied and previously inaccessible zone of the atmosphere referred to as the thermosphere. The project monitors different gaseous molecules and electrical properties of the thermosphere to better understand space weather and its long-term trends.

Crew members continued the long-standing NASA tradition of using short-wave radio to make contact with students while in orbit. They spoke to students at Virginia Reinhardt Elementary School in Rockwall, Texas, as part of the ISS HAM program, also known as Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ISS Ham Radio (ARISS)). Since the earliest space station expeditions, ISS Ham Radio has allowed groups of students in schools, camps, museums and planetariums to hold a conversation with the people living in space. As the station passes overhead, students have between five and eight minutes to ask crew members 10 to 20 questions.

The program provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents, and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math, reaching an international audience. In preparation for their conversation with orbiting crew members, students learn about radio waves, amateur radio and related science topics. They conduct research to prepare their questions, which often discuss science activities in orbit and the career choices that led to a trip to space. In addition to inspiring new generations of space engineers, ISS Ham Radio serves as a backup communications network between the station crew and NASA.

Crew members prepared for another round of the study of Fluid Shifts Before, During, and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment (Fluid Shifts). One of the main risks for humans during long-duration space missions is change in vision. More than half of American astronauts experience vision changes and other physical alterations to parts of their eyes during and after long-duration spaceflight. It is hypothesized that the fluid shift toward the head that occurs during spaceflight leads to increased pressure in the brain, which may push on the back of the eye, causing it to change shape. Fluid Shifts measures how much fluid moves from the lower body to the upper body, in or out of cells and blood vessels, and determines the impact these shifts have on fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures.

One of the methods used to better examine the phenomenon is for a crew member to wear a Lower Body Negative Pressure device – also known as Chibis pants. This device uses negative pressure to draw fluid toward the feet while fellow crew members take measurements of cerebral, optical and cochlear fluid pressures.

Scientists want to develop preventive measures against these and other physiological changes during spaceflight. Results from the Fluid Shifts investigation may also improve understanding of how blood pressure in the brain specifically affects eye shape and vision, which could benefit people confined to long-term bed rest, or suffering from disease states that increase swelling and pressure in the brain.

Progress was made on other investigations, outreach activities, and facilities this week, including Genes in Space, CAST, FIR, Manufacturing Device, Dose Tracker, Sprint, Neuromapping, Combustion Integration Rack, OsteoOmics, Human Research Facility-2, Fine Motor Skills, ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-4 and the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III).

NASA's Space to Ground is a weekly update on what is happening on the International Space Station. Social media users can post with #spacetoground to ask questions or make a comment.
Credits: NASA

Jorge Sotomayor, Lead Increment Scientist
Expeditions 51 & 52

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Last Updated: May 19, 2017
Editor: Kristine Rainey

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https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/spacex11_resupply

May 19, 2017

SpaceX Dragon to Deliver Research to Space Station

Спойлер

The explosion of a massive star blazes, or a supernova, observed by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope. The bright spot at top right of the image is a stellar blast, called a supernova. The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explored (NICER) investigation, affixed to the exterior of the International Space Station, studies the physics of these stars, providing new insight into their nature and behavior.
Credits: NASA, ESA, A.V. Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley), P. Challis (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), et al.


The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explored (NICER) payload, affixed to the exterior of the space station, will study the physics of neutron stars, providing new insight into their nature and behavior
Credits: NASA


Hurricane Edouard, as observed by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman during Expedition 41. The MUSES platform will host Earth-viewing instruments such as high-resolution digital cameras and provide information like disaster relief information.
Credits: NASA


The Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) is a new, more compact solar panel that will snap open in space, a favorable design over the rigid solar panels currently in use, pictured above.
Credits: NASA


MUSES hosts earth-viewing tools such as high-resolution digital cameras and hyperspectral imagers and provides precision pointing and other accommodations. It hosts up to four instruments at the same time, and offers the ability to change, upgrade, and robotically service those instruments.
Credits: Teledyne Brown Engineering​

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SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Dragon spacecraft for its eleventh commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station June 1 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center's historic pad 39A. Dragon will lift into orbit atop the Falcon 9 rocket carrying crew supplies, equipment and scientific research to crewmembers living aboard the station.

The flight will deliver investigations and facilities that study neutron stars, osteoporosis, solar panels, tools for Earth-observation, and more. Here are some highlights of research that will be delivered to the orbiting laboratory:

Спойлер

New solar panels test concept for more efficient power source

Solar panels are an efficient way to generate power, but they can be delicate and large when used to power a spacecraft or satellites. They are often tightly stowed for launch and then must be unfolded when the spacecraft reaches orbit. The Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA), is a solar panel concept that is lighter and stores more compactly for launch than the rigid solar panels currently in use. ROSA has solar cells on a flexible blanket and a framework that rolls out like a tape measure.  The technology for ROSA is one of two new solar panel concepts that were developed by the Solar Electric Propulsion project, sponsored by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate.

The new solar panel concepts are intended to provide power to electric thrusters for use on NASA's future space vehicles for operations near the Moon and for missions to Mars and beyond. They might also be used to power future satellites in Earth orbit, including more powerful commercial communications satellites. The demonstration of the deployment of ROSA on the space station is sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Investigation studies composition of neutron stars

Neutron stars, the glowing cinders left behind when massive stars explode as supernovas, are the densest objects in the universe, and contain exotic states of matter that are impossible to replicate in any ground lab. These stars are called "pulsars" because of the unique way they emit light – in a beam similar to a lighthouse beacon. As the star spins, the light sweeps past us, making it appear as if the star is pulsing. The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explored (NICER) payload, affixed to the exterior of the space station, studies the physics of these stars, providing new insight into their nature and behavior.

Neutron stars emit X-ray radiation, enabling the NICER technology to observe and record information about its structure, dynamics and energetics. In addition to studying the matter within the neutron stars, the payload also includes a technology demonstration called the Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT), which will help researchers to develop a pulsar-based, space navigation system. Pulsar navigation could work similarly to GPS on Earth, providing precise position for spacecraft throughout the solar system.

Investigation studies effect of new drug on osteoporosis

When people and animals spend extended periods of time in space, they experience bone density loss, or osteoporosis. In-flight countermeasures, such as exercise, prevent it from getting worse, but there isn't a therapy on Earth or in space that can restore bone that is already lost. The Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for osteoporosis (Rodent Research-5) investigation tests a new drug that can both rebuild bone and block further bone loss, improving health for crew members.

Exposure to microgravity creates a rapid change in bone health, similar to what happens in certain bone-wasting diseases, during extended bed rest and during the normal aging process. The results from this ISS National Laboratory-sponsored investigation build on previous research also supported by the National Institutes for Health and could lead to new drugs for treating bone density loss in millions of people on Earth.

Research seeks to understand the heart of the matter

Exposure to reduced gravity environments can result in cardiovascular changes such as fluid shifts, changes in total blood volume, heartbeat and heart rhythm irregularities, and diminished aerobic capacity. The Fruit Fly Lab-02 study will use the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) to better understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity on the heart. Flies are smaller, with a well-known genetic make-up, and very rapid aging that make them good models for studying heart function. This experiment will help to develop a microgravity heart model in the fruit fly. Such a model could significantly advance the study of spaceflight effects on the cardiovascular system and facilitate the development of countermeasures to prevent the adverse effects of space travel on astronauts.

Investigation shapes the way humans survive in space

Currently, the life-support systems aboard the space station require special equipment to separate liquids and gases. This technology utilizes rotating and moving parts that, if broken or otherwise compromised, could cause contamination aboard the station. The Capillary Structures investigation studies a new method of water recycling and carbon dioxide removal using structures designed in specific shapes to manage fluid and gas mixtures. As opposed to the expensive, machine-based processes currently in use aboard the station, the Capillary Structures equipment is made up of small, 3-D printed geometric shapes of varying sizes that clip into place.

Using time lapse photography, on-ground research teams will observe how liquids evaporate from these capillary structures, testing the effectiveness of the varying parameters. Results from the investigation could lead to the development of new processes that are simple, trustworthy, and highly reliable in the case of an electrical failure or other malfunction.

Facility provides platform for Earth-observation tools

Orbiting approximately 250 miles above the Earth's surface, the space station provides views of the Earth below like no other location can provide. The Multiple User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES) facility, developed by Teledyne Brown Engineering, hosts Earth-viewing instruments such as high-resolution digital cameras, hyperspectral imagers, and provides precision pointing and other accommodations.

This National Lab-sponsored investigation can produce data to be used for maritime domain awareness, agricultural awareness, food security, disaster response, air quality, oil and gas exploration and fire detection.

These investigations will join many other investigations currently happening aboard the space station. Follow @ISS_Research for more information about the science happening on station. 


Jenny Howard
International Space Station Program Science Office
Johnson Space Center

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Last Updated: May 19, 2017
Editor: Kristine Rainey

[Olaf]

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/05/20/station-managers-work-plan-as-controllers-troubleshoot-data-relay-box/

International Space Station managers will meet Sunday morning to discuss a forward plan for dealing with the apparent failure of one of two fully redundant multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) data relay boxes on the S0 truss of the complex.
External MDM-1 apparently failed at 1:13 p.m. Central time Saturday. Multiple attempts by flight controllers to restore power to the relay box have not been successful. Troubleshooting efforts are continuing. The Expedition 51 crew was informed of the apparent failure and is not in any danger. The MDMs on the truss control the functionality of the station's solar arrays and radiators among other equipment, and provide power to a variety of other station components.
Because the two MDMs have full redundancy, the apparent loss of MDM-1 has had no impact on station operations. 

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William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews 9 мин. назад

ISS: Space station managers met today and approved a contingency spacewalk to replace a failed external avionics box (MDM-1)

8 мин. назад

ISS: MDM-1, loaded with upgraded software, was installed during a spacewalk March 30; it suffered an apparent hardware failure Saturday

8 мин. назад

ISS: ISS crew assembled a replacement MDM today; it will be installed during a spacewalk next week, possibly as early as Tuesday

7 мин. назад

ISS: Exact date, time and EVA crew are TBD; stay tuned for updates

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Intl. Space Station‏Подлинная учетная запись @Space_Station 2 ч. назад

Managers approved a spacewalk no earlier than Tuesday to replace a data relay box that failed early Saturday. https://go.nasa.gov/2q9zt4s 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/05/21/spacewalk-planned-to-change-out-failed-relay-box/

Spacewalk Planned to Change Out Failed Relay Box
Posted on May 21, 2017 at 11:20 am by Mark Garcia.

International Space Station Program managers met Sunday and gave approval for a contingency spacewalk no earlier than Tuesday by two Expedition 51 crewmembers to change out a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) data relay box on the S0 truss that failed on Saturday morning. The cause of the MDM failure is not known. A final decision on a firm date for the spacewalk and who will conduct the spacewalk will be made later in the day Sunday.

The data relay box is one of two fully redundant systems housed in the truss that control the functionality of radiators, solar arrays, cooling loops and other station hardware. The other MDM in the truss is functioning perfectly, providing uninterrupted telemetry routing to the station's systems. The crew has never been in any danger and the MDM failure, believed to be internal to the box itself, has had no impact on station activities.

On Sunday, shortly before managers met to discuss the forward plan for dealing with the failed MDM, station commander Peggy Whitson of NASA prepared a spare data relay box and tested components installed in the replacement. She reported that the spare MDM was ready to be brought outside to replace the failed unit. Back on March 30, Whitson and Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA conducted a spacewalk to install the MDM with upgraded software that failed Saturday.

A similar MDM replacement spacewalk was conducted in April 2014 by Expedition 39 crewmembers Steve Swanson and Rick Mastracchio.

The spacewalk will last about two hours in duration to replace the failed box. No other tasks are planned for the excursion. It will be the sixth spacewalk conducted from the Quest airlock this year.

This entry was posted in Expedition 51 and tagged European Space Agency, International Space Station, NASA, Roscosmos, spacewalk on May 21, 2017 by Mark Garcia.

[zandr]

https://ria.ru/science/20170521/1494758430.html

Экипаж МКС проведет внеплановый выход в открытый космос
ВАШИНГТОН, 21 мая – РИА Новости. Экипаж Международной космической станции (МКС) совершит внеплановый выход в открытый космос для замены вышедшего из строя ретранслятора, сообщило НАСА в воскресенье.
В субботу на одной из ферм МКС вышла из строя установленная в конце марта MDM-ретрансляционная коробка. Специалисты НАСА приняли решение о необходимости проведения внеочередного выхода в открытый космос для замены вышедшей из строя детали.
"Решение о конкретной дате выхода в открытый космос и о том, кто (из членов экипажа) будет его осуществлять, будет принято позднее в воскресенье", — сообщили в НАСА. Предварительно известно, что он состоится не раньше вторника и будет продолжаться около двух часов. НАСА не планирует других заданий для экипажа помимо замены вышедшей из строя детали.
Причина неполадки, как сообщили в НАСА, пока неизвестна, но специалисты предполагают, что она локализована внутри коробки и не влияет на работу станции.
"Выход из строя MDM-ретрансляционной коробки не подвергал экипаж опасности", — сообщило ведомство, подчеркнув, что "другая MDM-ретрансляционная коробка работает прекрасно и обеспечивает бесперебойную передачу телеметрических данных между системами станции".
В воскресенье командир экипажа астронавт НАСА Пегги Уитсон протестировала работу имевшейся на борту МКС запасной ретрансляционной коробки и доложила о том, что она готова к установке взамен вышедшей из строя.

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QB50-CubeSat Mission‏ @QB50Mission 19 мин. назад

The second #QB50 airlock cycle has been delayed due to contingency EVA that will occur this week on ISS. We will keep you posted! #CubeSat

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Intl. Space Station‏Подлинная учетная запись @Space_Station 4 ч. назад

Station managers are go for Tuesday spacewalk with @AstroPeggy & @Astro2fish to change out failed data relay box. https://go.nasa.gov/2qaafD1 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/05/21/station-managers-give-go-for-tuesday-spacewalk/

Station Managers Give Go for Tuesday Spacewalk

Posted on May 21, 2017 at 6:52 pm by Mark Garcia.

International Space Station Program managers have given the green light for a contingency spacewalk on Tuesday by two Expedition 51 crewmembers to change out a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) data relay box on the S0 truss that failed on Saturday morning. The cause of the MDM failure is not known. After a review of spacewalk preparations and crew readiness throughout the day Sunday, the decision was made to press ahead with the spacewalk on Tuesday. It will be conducted by Expedition 51 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA.

The data relay box is one of two fully redundant systems housed in the truss that control the functionality of radiators, solar arrays, cooling loops and other station hardware. The other MDM in the truss is functioning perfectly, providing uninterrupted telemetry routing to the station's systems. The crew has never been in any danger, and the MDM failure, believed to be internal to the box itself, has had no impact on station activities.

On Sunday morning, Whitson prepared a spare data relay box and tested components installed in the replacement. She reported that the spare MDM was ready to be brought outside to replace the failed unit. Back on March 30, Whitson and Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA conducted a spacewalk to install the same MDM with upgraded software tat failed Saturday.

A similar MDM replacement spacewalk was conducted in April 2014 by Expedition 39 crewmembers Steve Swanson and Rick Mastracchio of NASA.

Tuesday's spacewalk will last about two hours in duration to replace the failed box. An additional task was added for Fischer to install a pair of wireless communications antennas on the Destiny Lab while Whitson replaces the failed data relay box. The antenna installation task was originally planned for the last spacewalk on May 12.

The contingency spacewalk will be the 201st in support of space station assembly and maintenance and the sixth conducted from the Quest airlock this year.

This will be the 10th spacewalk in Whitson's career and the second for Fischer. Whitson will be designated as extravehicular crewmember 1 (EV 1) and will wear the suit with the red stripes. Fischer will be extravehicular crewmember 2 (EV 2) and will wear the suit with no stripes.

Tuesday's spacewalk is expected to begin around 8 a.m. EDT, or earlier, if the crew is running ahead of schedule with its spacewalking preparations. NASA Television coverage will begin at 6:30 a.m.

This entry was posted in Expedition 51 and tagged European Space Agency, International Space Station, NASA, Roscosmos, spacewalk on May 21, 2017 by Mark Garcia.

[tnt22]

William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews 4 ч. назад

ISS: Assuming the EVA runs two hours as planned, Whitson will move up from 5th to 3rd on the list of most experienced spacewalkers

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Jack Fischer‏Подлинная учетная запись @Astro2fish 6 ч назад

Here's my Russian buddies Fyodor & @Novitskiy_ISS. After dinner tea time – of course, their tea floats...

[zandr]

https://ria.ru/science/20170522/1494764450.html

ВАШИНГТОН, 22 мая – РИА Новости. Внеплановый выход в открытый космос астронавтов НАСА Пегги Уитсон и Джэка Фишера для замены вышедшего из строя ретранслятора на МКС состоится во вторник 23 мая, сообщило НАСА.

"После воскресного анализа готовности экипажа к выходу в открытый космос было принято решение провести его во вторник с участием командира 51-го экипажа Пегги Уитсон и борт-инженера Джэка Фишера", — говорится в сообщении.
Один из двух MDM–ретрансляторовов МКС вышел из строя в субботу. Как сообщили в НАСА, поломка не представляет опасности для жизни экипажа и работы станции.

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ISS Research‏Подлинная учетная запись @ISS_Research 21 мин. назад

1,000 bottles of fruit flies are packed & ready to head to @Space_Station for cardiovascular @ISS_Research. https://go.nasa.gov/2pUwem4 

Спойлер

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http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3804

Космонавт Сергей Рязанский отработал в ЦПК целевые операции по ВКД

22 мая 2017 | В ЦПК



В Центре подготовки космонавтов имени Ю. А. Гагарина прошла серия тренировок по отработке целевых операций, выполнение которых запланировано в ходе внекорабельной деятельности (ВКД) российского космонавта Сергея Рязанского.

Космонавт отработал на тренажере «Выход-2» все необходимые задачи по замене блока на остронаправленной антенне. Планируется, что весь выход в открытый космос будет посвящен именно этой операции, рассчитанной на 6 часов.

Спойлер

«При выходе будет использовано много оборудования, техническая работа с которым в условиях вакуума и в скафандре является очень сложной - нужно провести десятки различных манипуляций, каждая из которых будет влиять на конечный результат – пояснил начальник инструкторского отделения подготовки космонавтов к ВКД Валерий Несмеянов. – Если говорить образно, то перед космонавтом поставлена задача провести работу, аналогичную мастерству часовщика, только в открытом космосе и в скафандре».

Данная тренировка на тренажере «Выход-2» была отработана совместно специалистами Центра подготовки космонавтов и  РКК «Энергия».



«Перед тем, как приступить непосредственно к подготовке космонавта, было проведено два этапа испытаний  - на РКК «Энергия» и в ЦПК. Были разработаны необходимые методики, циклограммы тренировок, после чего началась работа на тренажере», - пояснил В.Немеянов.

«Именно эти целевые задачи отрабатываются на тренажере «Выход-2» впервые, - сказал главный специалист отдела по подготовке к внекорабельной деятельности ЦПК Надир Жамалетдинов. –– Во время тренировки космонавт работает со штатным выносным оборудованием, которое нельзя использовать в воде при отработке выхода в открытый космос в условиях гидроневесомости».



«На Земле невозможно со 100%-ной точностью воспроизвести то, что космонавту придется делать во время реального выхода в открытый космос. Но я уверен, что этих тренировок достаточно, - сказал Сергей Рязанский после завершения тренировки. - С одной стороны – выход сложный, так как приходится долгое время работать в одной точке; очень много соединительных элементов, которые изначально не были приспособлены для того, чтобы с ними работали в открытом космосе. Но при этом -  нет больших переходов по внешней поверхности станции. Будет мужской, тяжелый выход».

[свернуть]

Источник: Пресс-служба ЦПК, фото ЦПК

[tnt22]

О трансляции внепланового выхода в открытый космос 2017-05-23 (NASA TV)

Coverage of ISS Expedition 51 U.S. Spacewalk # 43 (Whitson and Fischer; spacewalk expected to begin around 8 a.m. EDT)
6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Начало трансляции
6:30 a.m. EDT --> 10:30 UTC (13:30 ДМВ)

[tnt22]

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/05/22/astronauts-review-plans-ready-gear-for-tuesday-spacewalk/

Astronauts Review Plans, Ready Gear for Tuesday Spacewalk

Posted on May 22, 2017 at 11:33 am by Mark Garcia.


The International Space Station with its prominent solar arrays and radiators attached to the truss structure was pictured May 2010 from space shuttle Atlantis.
 
Astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer are getting ready for a contingency spacewalk Tuesday morning. Whitson and Fischer are set to begin the spacewalk at 8 a.m. Tuesday for about two hours of maintenance work. NASA Television coverage will begin at 6:30 a.m.

The spacewalkers are gathering their tools and checking their spacesuits today with assistance from Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet. The trio are also reviewing the contingency spacewalk procedures.

The spacewalk's primary task is the removal and replacement of a data relay box, known as a Multiplexer-Demultiplexer (MDM), which failed Saturday morning. The MDM controls the functionality of station components such as the solar arrays, radiators, cooling loops and other systems.

Whitson will replace the failed MDM with a spare unit on the Starboard Zero truss. The truss is attached to the space-facing side of the U.S. Destiny lab module and is the centerpiece of the station's truss structure which houses the solar arrays, radiators and cooling loops. Fischer will install a pair of wireless communications antennas on the Destiny Lab, a task that was postponed during the May 12 spacewalk.

Tuesday's spacewalk will be the 201st in support of station assembly and maintenance. This will be Commander Whitson's 10th spacewalk likely moving her to third place all-time in cumulative spacewalking time. Flight Engineer Fischer will be embarking on his 2nd spacewalk.

This entry was posted in Expedition 51 and tagged European Space Agency, International Space Station, NASA, Roscosmos, spacewalk on May 22, 2017 by Mark Garcia.

[tnt22]

Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 35 мин. назад

Astronauts on the ISS are due to swap the cubesat dispensers today, bringing NRCSD-11 into the Kibo airlock and replacing it with NRCSD-12

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/05/22/nasa-tv-live-broadcasts-tuesday-spacewalk/

NASA TV Live Broadcasts Tuesday Spacewalk

Posted on May 22, 2017 at 5:46 pm by Mark Garcia.


NASA astronauts Jack Fischer (left) and Peggy Whitson are outfitted in their U.S. spacesuits inside the U.S. Quest airlock before beginning the 200th spacewalk in support of International Space Station maintenance and assembly on May 12, 2017.

Expedition 51 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA will venture outside the International Space Station for a 2.5-hour contingency spacewalk Tuesday, May 23. The spacewalk will begin about 8 a.m. EDT, with complete coverage on NASA Television and the agency's website beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Whitson and Fischer will replace a critical computer relay box that failed on Saturday, May 20. The relay box, known as a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM), is one of two units that regulate the operation of radiators, solar arrays and cooling loops. They also will route commands to other vital station systems and install a pair of antennas to enhance wireless communication.

Because each MDM is capable of performing the critical station functions, the crew on the station was never in danger and station operations have not been affected.

The spacewalk will be the 201st in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the sixth spacewalk conducted from the Quest airlock this year, the 10th for Whitson and the second for Fischer.

Follow @space_station on Twitter for updates. For more information about the International Space Station, visit www.nasa.gov/station.

This entry was posted in Expedition 51 and tagged European Space Agency, International Space Station, NASA, Roscosmos, spacewalk on May 22, 2017 by Mark Garcia.

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/22/hurriedly-planned-contingency-spacewalk-on-tap-tuesday/

Hurriedly planned 'contingency' spacewalk on tap Tuesday
May 22, 2017 William Harwood

STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION

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Astronaut Peggy Whitson outside the International Space Station during a May 12 spacewalk. Credit: NASA

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Space station commander Peggy Whitson and astronaut Jack Fischer are set for a two-and-a-half hour spacewalk Tuesday, a quickly-planned excursion to replace a recently installed external computer that failed Saturday.

The 50-pound data relay box, known as a multiplexer-demultiplexer, or MDM, is one of two "tier 2" command and control computers mounted in the station's power truss that route commands to a variety of critical systems and relay telemetry from them to the ground. While the one operational tier 2 MDM can handle the full load, NASA managers opted to replace the failed box as soon as possible to restore full redundancy.

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And so, Whitson and Fischer will venture back outside just 11 days after completing their most recent excursion on May 12, switching their spacesuits to battery power around 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) to officially kick off U.S. EVA-43.

Whitson checked out a replacement MDM Sunday and she will install it by herself Tuesday, working on the front side of the station's power truss. The box is about the size of a small microwave oven.

While Whitson focuses on replacing the failed MDM, Fischer will mount two antennas on the Earth-facing side of the Destiny laboratory module to improve communications with spacewalkers.
He originally planned to attach the antennas during the May 12 EVA, but the task was deferred when the spacewalk ended early because of airlock problems that delayed the start of the excursion.
Despite its relatively short duration, the spacewalk will move Whitson even higher on the list of most experienced spacewalkers.

She already is the world's most experienced female spacewalker and ranks fifth in the world overall with 57 hours and 35 minutes of EVA time over nine excursions. She will move up to No. 4, moving past astronaut Jerry Ross, 20 minutes into Tuesday's EVA and if all goes well, she'll move past John Grunsfeld into the No. 3 spot 35 minutes later.

Cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev is the EVA world record holder with 78 hours and 21 minutes of spacewalk time over 16 outings. Retired NASA astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria is No. 2 with 67 hours and 40 minutes over 10 spacewalks.

The MDM that failed Saturday was installed by Whitson and astronaut Shane Kimbrough during a March 30 spacewalk. It was one of two new tier 2 avionics boxes loaded with upgraded software and circuitry, known as enhanced processor interface cards, or EPIC, to improve performance. The other MDM was installed March 24 during a spacewalk by Kimbrough and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

It is not yet known what caused MDM-1 to fail Saturday, but engineers said an apparent hardware issue likely is to blame.

The space station uses 44 MDM computers, connected in three "tiers," to control virtually all aspects of the lab's operation.

Three top-level tier 1 MDMs are tied together, with one actively processing data and sending commands, one in a "warm" backup mode processing data but not commanding and one that is powered up but in standby mode. The tier 1 MDMs are double-fault tolerant, meaning the station can operate with two failures.

The two recently installed EPIC MDMs are part of tier 2 in the command architecture and are one-fault tolerant, meaning the station can continue normal operations with just one of the computers.

The tier 2 MDMs relay commands to a variety of critical station systems, including the station's guidance, navigation and control system, the lab's stabilizing gyros, the environmental control system, the station's cooling system and others.

While the failure of MDM-1 had no immediate impact on station operations, NASA managers opted to replace it as soon as possible to restore full redundancy.

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