Новости МКС

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Сергей Рязанский‏Подлинная учетная запись @SergeyISS 6 ч назад

Наш космический грузовик #ПрогрессМС06 успешно пристыковался к #МКС / A few hours ago the #ProgressMS07 cargo spacecraft docked to the #ISS

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Текущая конфигурация МКС

https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/208880.jpg

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Jason Seagram‏ @ROBO_Seagram 3 ч. назад

ROBO flight controllers @NASA_Johnson & @csa_asc are operating #canadarm2 & #dextre to R&R an RPCM (power box)! Power up complete - Go time!


Kam Bahrami‏ @Kam_Bahrami 30 мин. назад

I'm not part of the RPCM (switch box) ops but I'm in control room @csa_asc & I see #Dextre pulling the box!!! @NASA_Johnson @Space_Station – Canadian Space Agency

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Int-Ball Letter Vol. 6: Secret of Int-Ball's round body

JAXA | 宇宙航空研究開発機構

Опубликовано: 16 окт. 2017 г.

JAXA has disclosed "Int-Ball Letter" Vol. 6 in which the latest video of the Kibo's internal drone on the International Space Station (ISS) is presented.

This time, we will introduce why Int-Ball is completely round-shaped. To realize a smooth sphere with an intricate structure inside, we apply advanced technology to Int-Ball's interior frames and exterior created by a 3D printer for surface treatment and processing.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2017/10/16/iss-daily-summary-report-10162017/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 10/16/2017
Posted on October 16, 2017 at 4:00 pm by HQ.

68 Progress (68P) docking:

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Saturday morning, 68P launched fr om Baikonur after a two day delay. This morning, 68P docked successfully to DC1 nadir, bringing supplies to the ISS.

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JAXA Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) #13 Installation:

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Following the docking of 68P,  a crewmember stowed two canister bags containing protein samples in the JAXA Freezer-Refrigerator Of STirling cycle 2 (J-FROST2). This experiment will run from today through removal for return on Soyuz 51S. The canisters contain protein samples prepared by Japanese and Russian researchers from universities, national research institutes, and the private sector. The purpose of this activity is to obtain high quality protein crystals in the microgravity environment at 20 degrees C for about 9 weeks. The results obtained by JAXA PCG #13 contribute to the development of drugs for multidrug-resistant bacteria, Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy and periodontitis. They will also aid in the development of a blood substitute and biosensor.

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Advanced Nano Step Microgravity Measurements Apparatus (MMA) Cable Connection:

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After successfully adjusting the position of the cell stage to resolve movement issues during sample observations last week; today the MMA cable connection to the medical laptop was completed to measure MMA data during the Advanced Nano Step experiment run. JAXA's Advanced Nano Step experiment investigates the relationship between impurity incorporation mechanisms and the quality of obtained protein crystals should be clarified for the progress to an "advanced" stage of the space utilization for structure-based drug design. In this mission, we observe the protein crystal growth surfaces of glucose isomerase crystals in space in the presence of various impurities with the use of a Michelson interferometer. In addition, we also clarify the crystal surface morphology on the molecular step level by using the laser confocal microscope. We evaluate the crystal quality of the returned crystals.

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Human Research Program (HRP) Collections (Biochemical Profile, Repository):

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Today a 52S crewmember completed Flight Day (FD) 30 urine sample collections that began yesterday and blood sample collections in support of the Biochemical Profile and Repository experiments. The samples were placed in the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI).

[/li]
• The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples are obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results, which scientists can use to study the effects of spaceflight on the body.
• Repository is a storage bank used to maintain biological specimens over extended periods of time and under well-controlled conditions. This repository supports scientific discovery that contributes to our fundamental knowledge in the area of human physiological changes and adaptation to a microgravity environment and provides unique opportunities to study longitudinal changes in human physiology spanning many missions.
  

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Fine Motor Skills (FMS):

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A 51S crewmember completed a Flight Day 80 FMS session, wh ere the subject performs a series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet. The investigation studies how fine motor skills are affected by long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of microgravity adaptation, and sensorimotor recovery after returning to Earth gravity. The goal of FMS is to answer how fine motor performance in microgravity trend/vary over the duration of a six-month and year-long space mission; how fine motor performance on orbit compare with that of a closely matched participant on Earth; and how performance trend/vary before and after gravitational transitions, including the periods of early flight adaptation, and very early/near immediate post-flight periods.

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USOS Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) #46 Preparations:

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Today the crew configured tools, reviewed EVA procedures, and conducted a conference with ground specialists in preparation for next week's EVA. The goals of USOS EVA #46 include Removal and Replacement (R&R) of the degraded CP13 camera and R&R of the Latching End Effector (LEE) A Camera Lens Assembly (CLA).

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/10/17/astronauts-prep-for-spacewalk-and-check-science-gear/

Astronauts Prep for Spacewalk and Check Science Gear
Posted on October 17, 2017 at 12:34 pm by Mark Garcia.


Astronaut Mark Vande Hei is pictured tethered to the outside of the U.S. Destiny laboratory module during a spacewalk on Oct. 10, 2017.

Two NASA astronauts are getting ready to go on their mission's third spacewalk on Friday. In the midst of those preparations, the Expedition 53 crew also worked on science gear exploring a wide variety of space phenomena.

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Commander Randy Bresnik is preparing to go on the third spacewalk this month with NASA astronaut Joe Acaba. Astronauts Paolo Nespoli and Mark Vande Hei will assist the spacewalking duo in and out of their spacesuits on Friday.

The spacewalkers will replace a camera light on the Canadarm2's newly-installed Latching End Effector and install a high-definition camera on the starboard truss. Other tasks include the replacement of a fuse on Dextre's payload platform and the removal of thermal insulation on two electrical spare parts housed on stowage platforms.

Bresnik started his day working on a specialized camera that photograph's meteors entering the Earth's atmosphere. Acaba finally wrapped up the day configuring a microscope inside the Fluids Integrated Rack.

Nespoli, from the European Space Agency, set up the new Mini-Exercise Device-2 (MED-2) for a workout session today. Researchers are exploring the MED-2 for its ability to provide effective workouts while maximizing space aboard a spacecraft.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 17, 2017 by Mark Garcia.

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A Year of Education on the Space Station Highlighted During In-Fight Event

NASA

Опубликовано: 16 окт. 2017 г.

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 53 Flight Engineers Joe Acaba of NASA, a former educator, and Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency discussed the value of education aboard the orbital complex during a Facebook Live question and answer session Oct. 16. Joined by ISS Program Manager Kirk Shireman on the ground from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Acaba and Nespoli fielded questions about their life and work in orbit and how it can stimulate students to pursue careers in mathematics, science and engineering. Acaba and another former educator, NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold who will launch to the station next March, are conducting back-to-back missions on the station to contribute their educator skills in a year's worth of interaction with students around the world.

(29:55)

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Paolo Nespoli‏Подлинная учетная запись @astro_paolo 6 ч. назад

After a 30-minute spin inside the Human Research Facility-2's refrigerated centrifuge, my blood serum samples are ready! #VITAmission

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Randy Bresnik‏Подлинная учетная запись @AstroKomrade 3 ч назад

.@Space_Station just got bigger. Russian Progress arrived with tons of supplies & science while @SergeyISS & Sasha monitored its every move

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Randy Bresnik‏Подлинная учетная запись @AstroKomrade 29 мин. назад

Our own 'Space Scorsese' @Astro_Paolo is capturing stunning movies of our Earth using our amazing digital cinema camera.

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https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/2017/nasa-develops-and-tests-new-housing-for-in-orbit-science-payloads.html

Oct. 17, 2017

NASA Develops and Tests New Housing for In-Orbit Science Payloads


Boeing engineers, Chris Chapman, left, Greg Clark, center, and Ashesh Patel, right, perform air flow balance testing on NASA's new Basic Express Racks. The racks, developed at Marshall Space Flight Center, will expand the capabilities for science research aboard the International Space Station. Delivery to the station is scheduled for late 2018.
Credits: NASA/MSFC/Emmett Given
 
Imagine cramming 20 years' worth of science experiments -- each requiring resources such as water, electricity and data connections -- into a few closets in your home. For the crew members aboard the International Space Station, this is a reality. Thanks to an increase in investigations coming in through the National Lab and more demand for exploration technology development payloads, the space station is going to have to make room for a whole new wardrobe.

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"To solve this problem, engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, are developing a new and simplified version of the racks that support these experiments that will add the needed space and resources to accommodate the growing need for science payloads," said Sean Thompson, Payload Facilities team lead at Marshall.

Conducting science experiments in orbit provides the advantage of conducting the experiment with minimal interference fr om the force of gravity. As the demand for science payloads has grown, projections show that by the end of 2018 the eight existing racks will be at capacity.

"We're excited about the opportunities these additional racks will bring by expanding our capacity for science payloads in orbit," said Bobby Watkins, manager of the Human Exploration Development and Operations Office at Marshall. "By simplifying the EXPRESS rack and using the standard connectors, it will be easier for payload developers to design the experiments, opening the door to do more research in areas such as medicine, physical science, and Earth science."

Science payloads are currently housed on the space station in eight shelving units called EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station Racks, or EXPRESS Racks. These high-tech units are outfitted with everything the astronauts need to maintain experiments in space, including water, electricity, cooling systems, and data connections. The existing racks were transported to the space station over the course of several years, starting in 2001 with the most recent in 2011.

The experiments housed in these racks are managed and monitored 24/7 by the Payload Operations Integration Center at Marshall and can be controlled either fr om the ground or by the station crew. Each EXPRESS Rack -- roughly the size of a refrigerator -- is equipped with eight lockers and two drawers to house payloads. While the racks themselves remain on the station, the experiments are exchanged in and out of the racks as needed, depending on the experiment's time requirements.

The new racks, developed at Marshall and built by Boeing in Huntsville, are called Basic Express Racks. These racks have been simplified to include only the most commonly required resources and feature more common connectors such as a standard ethernet cable. The first two Basic Express Racks are scheduled to make their journey to the space station in late 2018 aboard HTV7, a Japanese launch vehicle.

Prior to their launch, the Basic Express Racks will undergo a series of tests at Marshall including end-to-end testing wh ere they will be connected via network to the Huntsville Operations Support Center to simulate the connection to the Payload Operations and Integration Center wh ere the experiments are monitored while in orbit. After testing is complete, the racks will be packed with cargo and then travel to Tanegashima, Japan, for installation into the HTV7 launch vehicle.

For more information on Space Station Research Experiments:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments_category

For more information on EXPRESS racks:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/608.html

Janet Anderson
 Marshall Space Flight Center
 256-544-0034
janet.l.anderson@nasa.gov
 
Last Updated: Oct. 17, 2017
Editor: Lee Mohon

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[m-s Gelezniak]

Говорят, разгерметизация.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2017/10/17/iss-daily-summary-report-10172017/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 10/17/2017
Posted on October 17, 2017 at 4:00 pm by HQ.

Miniature Exercise Device (MED-2):

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Today crewmembers set up cameras in Node 3 to capture video fr om multiple views of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) and MED-2 hardware. They also applied body markers, and performed exercises before transferring the video for downlink. The ISS's exercise equipment is large and bulky, while the MED-2 aims to demonstrate small robotic actuators can provide motion and resistance for crew workout sessions, reducing the size and weight of exercise equipment for long-duration space missions. The MED-2 investigation is a system to test key technologies needed to develop space based exercise equipment that may provide appropriate countermeasures to the adverse effects of microgravity. This technology is critical for the initial design and development of second and third generation Counter Measure Systems (CMS) hardware that is an order of magnitude lighter and smaller than existing ISS class of CMS hardware and that has significantly greater reliability.

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Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) Light Microscopy Module (LMM) Hardware Configuration:

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The crew continued to conduct the LMM configuration activities that began last week, by removing the Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) control box and LMM Monochrome camera, before installing the Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF) high rate data link, the LMM confocal unit and brackets, and the LMM confocal and wide-field cameras. The LMM hardware configuration will support upcoming ACE-T6 operations. The Light Microscopy Module (LMM) is a modified commercial, highly flexible, state-of-the-art light imaging microscope facility that provides researchers with powerful diagnostic hardware and software onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

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Meteor Grating Configuration:

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The crew removed and replaced gratings in the Meteor camera located in the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) payload volume. The Meteor payload is a visible spectroscopy instrument with the primary purpose of observing meteors in Earth orbit. Meteor uses image analysis to provide information on the physical and chemical properties of the meteoroid dust, such as size, density, and chemical composition. Since the parent comets or asteroids for most of the meteor showers are identified, the study of the meteoroid dust on orbit provides information about the parent comets and asteroids.

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TangoLab-2 Card Troubleshooting:

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In August, during installation of a payload card into the TangoLab-2 slot, the card did not seat properly. Today as part of the troubleshooting efforts, the crew took a different payload card from TangoLab-1 and then installed it into the slot in TangoLab-2. The crew photographed the inside of TangoLab-2 specifically wh ere connectors are located for downlink.

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Veg-03 Operations:

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The crew photo-documented the status of the plants in the Veggie facility. The Veg-03 investigation uses the Veggie plant growth facility to cultivate a type of cabbage, lettuce and Mizuna which are harvested on-orbit with samples returned to Earth for testing. Organisms grow differently in space, from single-celled bacteria to plants and humans. Future long-duration space missions will require crew members to grow their own food, so understanding how plants respond to microgravity is an important step toward that goal. Veg-03 uses the Veggie plant growth facility to cultivate a type of cabbage, lettuce and Mizuna which are harvested on-orbit with samples returned to Earth for testing.

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Earth Imagery from ISS Target Operations:

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The crew setup and configured the RED camera in the Cupola to capture video footage of New York City and the Nile Delta. The Earth Imagery from ISS investigation creates a series of videos, showcasing Earth from space. These videos will be taken with cameras on the International Space Station in 6K hi-resolution, then integrated into videos for screensavers for public enjoyment, exploration, and engagement.

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USOS Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) #46 Preparations:

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Today the crew set up cameras and reviewed robotics procedures/tools in preparation for this Friday's EVA. The goals of USOS EVA #46 include Removal and Replacement (R&R) of the Latching End Effector (LEE) A Camera Lens Assembly (CLA).

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Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) P12B-B R&R:

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Today, robotics ground controllers removed a degraded RPCM from external slot P12B-B and attempted to replace it with a functional unit from P13A-G. The installation of the new RPCM into P12B_B slot was unsuccessful this morning. Ground teams have backed off to a park position. Teams are discussing a forward plan. This RPC provides power to the S-band String 2 Transponder.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/10/18/medical-training-ahead-of-third-spacewalk/

Medical Training Ahead of Third Spacewalk
Posted on October 18, 2017 at 11:57 am by Mark Garcia.

The Expedition 53 crew trained for a medical emergency in space today after spending the morning on weekly housecleaning tasks. Afterward, two astronauts reviewed procedures and checked their tools ahead of Friday's spacewalk.

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Astronaut Joe Acaba poses in between two U.S. spacesuits inside the Quest airlock. He will wear one of those spacesuits on a spacewalk scheduled for Oct. 20, 2017.

Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin joined NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba for a routine training session to handle a medical emergency aboard the International Space Station. The trio reviewed medical hardware, chest compression techniques and individual roles and responsibilities.
Afterward, Acaba moved on to spacewalk preparations with Commander Randy Bresnik. The spacewalkers are due to begin a 6.5 hour spacewalk Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT. NASA TV will cover the spacewalking activities live beginning at 6:30 a.m.

This will be the third spacewalk this month and consists of repackaged tasks that include the replacement of a camera assembly on the newly installed Latching End Effector, the installation of an HD camera on the starboard truss, the replacement of a fuse on Dextre's payload platform and the removal of thermal insulation on two electrical spare parts housed on stowage platforms.

This entry was posted in Expedition 53 and tagged European Space Agency, International Space Station, NASA, Roscosmos, spacewalk on October 18, 2017 by Mark Garcia.

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[The Heart of the Moon]

Сегодня сообщалось, что в ответ на санкционную политику США в Госдуме готовится проект закона с комплексными мерами, в число которых может войти приостановка полетов американских астронавтов на МКС, а также прекращение поставок комплектующих для компании Boeing.

РИА Новости https://ria.ru/science/20171018/1507064673.html

Шикарная задумка.

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Объявление

Intl. Space Station‏Подлинная учетная запись @Space_Station 7 ч. назад

Watch @NASA TV for spacewalk coverage starting Friday at 6:30am ET. We'll answer #AskNASA questions live again. https://www.nasa.gov/live 

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/10/19/final-spacewalk-preps-before-november-cygnus-launch/

Final Spacewalk Preps Before November Cygnus Launch
Posted on October 19, 2017 at 10:39 am by Catherine Williams.


Astronaut Joe Acaba (foreground) assisted crewmates Randy Bresnik (right) and Mark Vande Hei before they began a spacewalk on Oct. 10.

Four Expedition 53 crewmates huddled together and made final preparations the day before the third and final spacewalk planned for October. Meanwhile, NASA's commercial partner Orbital ATK has announced Nov. 11 as the new launch date for its Cygnus cargo carrier to the International Space Station.

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Commander Randy Bresnik and Flight Engineer Joe Acaba are reviewing procedures and configuring tools before their spacewalk set for Friday at 8:05 a.m. EDT. NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Paolo Nespoli fr om the European Space Agency will assist the spacewalkers in and out of their spacesuits and guide the duo as they work outside.

The spacewalk was originally set for Wednesday before mission managers replanned a new set of tasks due to a camera light failure. Bresnik and Acaba will now replace the camera light assembly on the Canadarm2's newly installed Latching End Effector and install an HD camera on the starboard truss. The duo will also replace a fuse on Dextre's payload platform and remove thermal insulation on two electrical spare parts housed on stowage platforms.

Orbital ATK is targeting the launch of its eighth Cygnus resupply mission to the station for Nov. 11. Cygnus will make a nine-minute ascent to space after launch, then begin a two-day trek to the station wh ere it will be installed for a month-long stay after its capture by the Canadarm2.

This entry was posted in Expedition 53 and tagged European Space Agency, International Space Station, NASA, Roscosmos, spacewalk on October 19, 2017 by Catherine Williams.

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Packing Dragon (time-lapse)

European Space Agency, ESA

Опубликовано: 19 окт. 2017 г.

In this time-lapse the Space Station Expedition 53 crew are seen packing items into the Dragon spacecraft in preparation for its return to Earth. The cargo spacecraft left the Station at CEST on 17 September 2017 when ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and NASA Station commander Randy Bresnik released it from the Harmony module with the support of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Six hours later the spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. From there it was retrieved together with its science and gear payload.

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http://spaceflight101.com/iss/iss-us-eva-46-preview/

ISS Spacewalk Effort to Conclude with Friday EVA to Replace Cameras, Fuses; Prepare for Robotic Work
October 19, 2017

The Expedition 53 crew aboard the International Space Station is gearing up for the third and last in a series of spacewalks planned this month to complete repair work on the Space Station's robotic arm and deal with broken cameras and other outfitting tasks on the exterior of the complex. Stepping outside on Friday, Astronauts Randy Bresnik and Joe Acaba will complete work on Canadarm2, continue revamping the external camera system and prepare for future robotic maintenance activities outside the modules.

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Photo: NASA

Expedition 53 crew members Randy Bresnik and Mark Vande Hei spent almost thirteen and a half hours working outside on the two previous EVAs in this series, completed on October 5 and 10 to great success as each excursion saw the completion of all primary tasks plus two bonus get-ahead tasks. This allowed time to be freed up for Friday's EVA so that additional tasks could be added for the last EVA and leave ISS in a better posture than initially expected.


Replacement of LEE-A during EVA-44 – Photo: NASA TV

The major objective of the three October EVAs was the replacement of one of two Latching End Effectors (LEE) on the Space Station's robotic arm that had suffered a motor stall within its latches back in August which left it without an ability of forming a power/data bridge with whatever it is grasping, also precluding it fr om walking fr om one base point to another.

The LEE-A replacement on October 5 went without any major issues and the second spacewalk by Bresnik and Vande Hei was dedicated to lubricating the newly installed end effector to ensure its moving parts can operate smoothly for years to come. Additional tasks completed during the EVAs included the replacement of an external camera group that had exhibited a bothersome pink hue due to a faulty filter wheel.


RPCM Replacement – Photo: Jason Seagram / Twitter

With the robotic arm back in working condition, ROBO operations were able to resume wh ere they left off in August with the replacement of an external power switching box known as a Remote Power Control Module or RPCM. The RPCM in question, designated P12B-B, powers the String 2 S-Band transmitter responsible for receiving and sending data, including commands from Mission Control, as part of a redundant system. The outage of the RPCM was without consequence as S-Band String 1 continued to operate while Canadarm2 ops had to stand down.

Giving the new Latching End Effector a test drive, Canadarm2 picked up the two-armed Dextre robot and maneuvered it in position to access the faulty power module on the Station's truss earlier in the week. The failed RPCM was pulled out of its slot without issue but the installation of the spare unit required two attempts by ROBO controllers before the replacement could be declared complete in the evening hours on Wednesday. Dextre was then stowed and ROBO controllers pushed into preparations for SSRMS support of Friday's EVA.


Photo: NASA

Bresnik and Acaba plan to begin their EVA at 12:05 UTC after the usual multi-hour process of getting into their suits, pre-breathing pure oxygen, checking all EMU systems and going through a methodical airlock depressurization process.

U.S. EVA-46 is the fifth career EVA for Randy Bresnik after he already added two spacewalks to his record earlier this month. He will be reprising his role as the lead spacewalker or EV-1, wearing Extravehicular Mobility Unit #3003 with red stripes. For Joe Acaba, it will be the first EVA of this mission and the third career spacewalk after he supported a pair of six-and-a-half-hour excursions as part of the STS-119 mission in March 2009. He will use EMU #3008 without stripes.

The two crew members will be looking at a slightly different EVA task list as a number of items originally planned for the third EVA have already been checked off through fast work on the first two spacewalks.


CLA on the SSRMS Latching End Effector – Photo: NASA

The continued lubrication of the newly installed LEE-A has been deleted from the EVA as Mark Vande Hei already greased the most important components of the end effector on EVA-45, leaving the LEE in good condition as is. The replacement of a camera system on the Destiny laboratory was also deferred to another spacewalk to make room for the replacement of a Camera Light Assembly (CLA) on Latching End Effector A.

Per the original plan for EVA-46, the robotic arm will be parked on the starboard truss of ISS after the bulk of work on EVAs-44 and 45 occurred on the port side.

On the agenda for Randy Bresnik will be the replacement of a failed fuse on the Dextre robot that provides a redundant power supply to payloads installed on the robot's temporary holding platform formally known as the EOTP – Enhanced Orbital Replacement Unit Temporary Platform. Meanwhile, Joe Acaba will be outfitting the robotic arm for two EVA tasks involving the SSRMs.


External Camera Group with HD Camera – Image: NASA

Joe Acaba will take a ride on the arm for the installation of an HD Camera on the existing Camera Group on Camera Port 3 on the lower face of the S1 truss segment, continuing to bring the Station's external TV system into the current century by adding high-definition capability. CP-3 was to receive its HD Camera back in May on EVA-42 by Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer; however, the task had to be deferred when the EVA was shortened due to an airlock equipment malfunction.

The first two external HD cameras were installed on U.S. EVA-37 last year and their views have not disappointed and have also come in handy for engineering assessments of external systems. The External High Definition Camera Assemblies (EHDCAs) have been specifically designed as an add-on, not requiring the existing camera network to be touched to maintain its full functionality. Each EHDCA houses a commercial Nikon D4 DSLR in a pressurized, thermally controlled housing.

An electrical motor is responsible for setting the zoom level on a 28-300 lens which will allow for close-up inspections of external components. The cameras can be operated to deliver 720p, 60fps video or 16.2-megapixel still images (ISO 100-12800), making them an extremely useful tool for external inspections carried out remotely from the ground as well as Earth imaging without the need for crew time. Each 12.8-Kilogram EHDCA comprises a pressurized enclosure, holding the commercial off the shelf camera, the lens assembly, a power supply, heaters and a data system consisting of an h.264 video encoder, an Ethernet switch and a pair of wireless radio antennas.


EHDCA Architecture, Enclosed View & Internal View – Images: NASA


ISS Camera Port Locations – Image: NASA

To avoid excessive external reconfigurations, the camera units were designed to only tap into the Station's 120 VDC power supply and send imagery wirelessly to the inside of the Station wh ere footage is stored ahead of downlink to the ground. Therefore, installing the cameras is relatively simple, requiring Acaba to slide the new camera into place, secure its mechanical connection and plug into the CP electrical circuit. In the new arrangement, the SD and HD video cameras share a Camera, Light Pan and Tilt Assembly and always point to the same direction.
 
The second task involving Canadarm2 is the replacement of the Camera and Light Assembly (CLA) on the recently installed Latching End Effector A to provide ROBO controllers with a clear and bright view of the LEE's targets for proper positioning when grappling items. The current LEE-A (S/N 203) spent its first 15 years on ISS as the end effector of the POA (Payload/ORU Accommodations), a temporary holding platform on the Mobile Base for stowing large, powered payloads as part of robotic operations, essentially giving Canadarm2 an extra hand for holding onto items while going through base changes, etc.


CLA Design – Image: Canadian Space Agency

Delivered in 2002, the LEE was only actuated 14 times as part of its POA duties; however, its systems – including the CLA – had to weather the challenging space environment for an extended period. Therefore, space-induced degradation on the camera and/or light was not a major surprise.

In order to have LEE-A at full functionality for visiting vehicle grapples and external maintenance operations, teams desire to replace the CLA on EVA-46. Weighing under 16 Kilograms, the CLA attaches to the End Effector with two bolts that can be driven via a pair of Micro Devices on the top side of the CLA. For the replacement, the EVA crew will release the two bolts, remove the failed unit and put the replacement into a soft-docked configuration making use of magnets and alignment guides. Blind-mate connectors will automatically form the power/data interface between the LEE and the CLA as the new unit is put in place, requiring the two bolts to be driven to torque using the Pistol Grip Tool.


ORU MLI Removal – Photo: NASA TV

The other prime tasks laid out for EVA-46 will see the continuation of the removal of Multilayer Insulation Covers from various Orbital Replacement Units stowed on the Station's two External Stowage Platforms and four Express Logistics Carriers. When being launched on the Shuttle, most ORUs had a thermal blanket installed on them to shield them from the extreme thermal variations outside the Station as well as debris and micrometeoroid impacts.

However, as the Station's Canadarm2 and Dextre robot expanded their capabilities and proved they could handle the replacement of the majority of ORUs on their own, without a spacewalking crew present, a new problem arose. Dextre and Canadarm2 are perfectly equipped to deal with the ORU replacement, but they can not retrieve spares that are covered with MLI blankets. Thermal analysis showed the units would not suffer any major degradation if left uncovered and their exterior chassis was also built to handle typical MMOD hits, allowing them to be uncovered for robotic access.


Photo: NASA

Over the course of a number of recent EVAs, crews removed a number of MLI blankets as fairly straightforward get-ahead tasks that could have a meaningful impact down the road – allowing standard ORU replacement operations to be completed robotically and so eliminate a spacewalk that would require precious crew time better spent with ISS utilization operations.

A number of get-ahead tasks are available for the EVA should time permit additional work to be completed. The crew has completed the assembly of the External Television Camera Group (ETVCG) earmarked for Camera Port 13 on the Destiny Lab and is likely to position it in the airlock to be available for installation should EVA time allow. Other available get ahead tasks include additional MLI removals to make more spare parts accessible to the Station's robots.

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Сергей Рязанский‏Подлинная учетная запись @SergeyISS 5 ч. назад

Так из космоса выглядит дельта Волги - самая большая речная дельта в Европе. // The #Volga Delta is the largest river delta in #Europe.