Новости МКС

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Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 48 мин. назад

Inside Dragon C111 will be a German (@DLR_en) Earth viewing experiment called DESIS with a hyperspectral visible/IR detector with 30m resolution, massing 88 kg and 0.9 x 0.6 x 0.5m in size. The Dextre arm will extract it from the Kibo airlock and installed it on the MUSES system

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Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 48 мин. назад

Also inside Dragon will be a number of cubesats, including three 1U cubesats in Kyushu Tech's BIRDS program



46 мин. назад

Bhutan-1 is for the Dept of IT and Telecom of the Kingdom of Bhutan (Druk Gyal Khap). Maya-1 is for the Dept of Sci & Tech (DOST) of the Philippines. UiTMSAT-1 is for the Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Malaysia

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2018/06/22/iss-daily-summary-report-6222018/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/22/2018

Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Shut down:

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Yesterday afternoon the Lab CDRA shut down due to an Air Selector Valve (ASV) fault on valve 104. Initial recovery attempts, and subsequent troubleshooting, were unsuccessful. Node 3 CDRA is active and Amine Swingbed was also activated, in order to better manage ppCO2 over the weekend. Teams are working on plans to change out the valve on Monday.

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STaARS BioScience-9:

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The crew retrieved STaARS BioScience-9 samples and placed the samples into a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). STaARS BioScience-9 aims to identify novel biological mechanisms using genetically modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) to improve the bio-production of isobutene to an extent that economically competes with petrochemical production processes.

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Plant Habitat-1:

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Today the crew performed thinning activities in the Plant Habitat Facility. The thinned plants were placed into single foil packs and ins erted in to a MiniCold Bag. Plant Habitat is a fully automated facility that is used to conduct plant bioscience research on the ISS. The space environment is stressful for all living organisms. Understanding how plants respond will help crews on future missions successfully grow plants for food and oxygen generation. The Plant Habitat-1 investigation compares differences in genetics, metabolism, photosynthesis, and gravity sensing between plants grown in space and on Earth. This investigation is expected to provide key insights on major changes occurring in plants exposed to microgravity.

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At Home in Space:

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The crew completed a questionnaire for the At Home in Space investigation. This Canadian Space Agency investigation assesses culture, values, and psychosocial adaptation of astronauts to a space environment shared by multinational crews on long-duration missions. It is hypothesized that astronauts develop a shared space culture that is an adaptive strategy for handling cultural differences and they deal with the isolated confined environment of the spacecraft by creating a home in space. At Home in Space also uses questionnaires to investigate individual and culturally related differences, family functioning, values, coping with stress, and post-experience growth.

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Space Test Program – Houston 5 (STP-H5):

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The crew took photos of the Cyclops Innovative Coatings Experiment (ICE) strips with still camera from Cupola and JEM. STP-H5 is an external payload consisting of 13 individual experiments ranging from technology demonstrations to space and terrestrial weather measuring and monitoring. The experiments are provided and operated by Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA agencies.

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Multi-Purpose Computer and Communication (MPCC) Phase 2 Software Load:

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This morning the crew installed a new software load on the EICL (European IP Communications Laptop). This update will enable communication between ground stations and onboard computer systems while running the MPCC Phase 2 update.

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Cygnus Delta-Velocity Engine (DVE) Robotics Survey:

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Nominally, the DVE is not fired while attached to either the ISS or the SSRMS. Teams have proposed using the Cygnus vehicle to conduct an ISS Reboost, necessitating visual verification of the status of the DVE and surrounding heat shield. Ground robotics specialists used the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Latching End Effector (LEE) Camera to capture images of these components for analysis.

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Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Exams:

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Today the 54S crew completed the third day of routine eye exams using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT is an imaging technique analogous to ultrasound imaging that uses light instead of sound to capture micrometer-resolution, two- and three-dimensional images of tissue; In this case, the objects of interest are the crewmember's eyes. Eye exams are performed regularly onboard in order to monitor crewmembers eye health. Eyesight is one of the many aspects of the human body that is affected by long-duration stays in a microgravity environment.

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Cygnus Cargo Operations:

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Today the crew continued packing the Cygnus vehicle, executing the steps in Cargo Message #3. They performed 5 hours of operations and then discussed their progress during a Cargo Conference with ground specialists early this afternoon.

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http://www.interfax.ru/world/618442

18:42, 25 июня 2018

На МКС вышла из строя одна из систем жизнеобеспечения

Москва. 25 июня. INTERFAX.RU - Одна из систем жизнеобеспечения отказала на американском сегменте Международной космической станции (МКС), астронавты вынуждены на орбите самостоятельно ее ремонтировать.

"На американском сегменте вышла из строя одна из двух систем удаления углекислого газа", - сообщил "Интерфаксу" источник на Байконуре.

Данная система является критически значимой для жизнеобеспечения экипажа американского сегмента.

"Однако данная система имеет исправный аналог в другом модуле, который работает в режиме повышенной нагрузки, чтобы компенсировать отказ первой системы", - сказал собеседник агентства.

По его словам, угрозы жизни и здоровью экипажа американского сегмента МКС инцидент не несет.

"Тем не менее в понедельник астронавтам придется самостоятельно заменить на отказавшей системе клапан, чтобы вернуть ей работоспособность. Поскольку гипотетический отказ второй системы при неисправной первой может привести к нежелательным последствиям для жизнеобеспечения сегмента", - сказал источник.

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Между тем на МКС и ранее возникали проблемы с системами жизнеобеспечения.

Как сообщалось, на американском сегменте неоднократно фиксировались утечки аммиака, в 2016 году возникла неисправность в блоке обработки технической воды (WPA). Тогда же в американском секторе сломалась система переработки мочи.

Кроме того, в начале 2016 года в американском сегменте МКС произошла крупная поломка, в результате которой вышел из строя контроллер вентилятора мотора на системе удаления углекислого газа CDRA.

В ноябре 2015 года на американском сегменте МКС отказал канал питания. Его ремонт потребовал несколько месяцев.

Неоднократно выходил из строя туалет. В 2009 году центр управления полетами НАСА порекомендовал астронавтам повесить на дверь уборной табличку "Не работает". Туалет на станции неоднократно чинили осенью и летом 2008 года.

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https://ria.ru/science/20180625/1523333209.html

Опыты на МКС помогли ученым из России создать уникальный 3D-биопринтер

11:42 25.06.2018

МОСКВА, 25 июн – РИА Новости. Опыты на борту МКС помогли российским физикам создать устройство, способное "печатать" фрагменты кожи и других сложных многослойных тканей, не используя предварительно подготовленных шаблонов и каркасов. "Инструкции" по сборке такого трехмерного принтера были опубликованы в журнале Biofabrication.

"С 2010 по 2017 год на российском сегменте МКС проходил цикл уникальных экспериментов на установке "Кулоновский кристалл". Внутри нее установлен электромагнит, создающий особое неоднородное магнитное поле, где могут формироваться структуры из частиц, намагничивающихся против направления поля", — рассказывает Михаил Васильев из Объединенного института высоких температур РАН в Шатуре.

Эти опыты привели к относительно неожиданным результатам. Васильев и его коллеги, в том числе ученые из Института морфологии человека РАН, МЭИ и ряда американских и европейских вузов, использовали эти данные для создания прибора, больше связанного с биологией, чем с физикой или химией – полноценного биологического 3D-принтера.

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За последние годы биологи и инженеры создали несколько десятков устройств, способных "печатать" культурами стволовых или специализированных клеток. Первые подобные гаджеты могли выращивать только очень простые, однослойные живые структуры, не похожие на реальные ткани тела, однако постепенно они "научились" вырабатывать более сложные ткани, в том числе аналоги кожи.

Несмотря на большой прогресс, современные 3D-биопринтеры не лишены недостатков. Как правило, для их работы необходим "каркас" – матрица из полимеров, удерживающая напечатанную ткань от распада и позволяющая клеткам "дышать" и получать нутриенты. В свою очередь, для печати по-настоящему "трехмерных" конструкций нужен большой набор разных магнитных меток, позволяющий ученым манипулировать положением клеток внутри будущих органов.


© Biofabrication, 2018/Vladislav A Parfenov et al
"Печать" культурами клеток в трехмерном биопринтере

Опыты ученых на МКС позволили им и представителям одного из российских стартапов создать первый биопринтер, не требующий подобных расходных материалов и работающий в несколько раз быстрее остальных установок подобного рода.

"Кулоновский кристалл", как рассказывает пресс-служба Российского научного фонда, помог российским физикам выяснить, как ведут себя в невесомости мелкие заряженные частицы, помещенные в мощное магнитное поле специальной формы, и создать компьютерную модель их движения.

Используя эти системы, физики и подключившиеся к ним биологи выяснили, как можно получать однородные и протяженные трехмерные структуры из тысяч частиц, в том числе и клеток, используя подобные магнитные "левитаторы" и небольшое число атомов гадолиния, редкоземельного металла.

Для проверки работоспособности принтера, ученые использовали его для сборки сложных структур из миниатюрных "шариков", состоящих из хрящевых клеток овцы. Как показали первые опыты, новый биопринтер может печатать такие конструкции в разы быстрее, чем его "конкуренты", и при этом он не требует применения большого количества потенциально токсичных материалов.

Подобные биопринтеры смогут создавать различные биологические конструкции, которые можно будет использовать, например, для оценки действия радиации на здоровье космонавтов при длительных полетах в космос. Также, по заявлениям авторов, в перспективе эта технология сможет восстанавливать поврежденные ткани и органы.

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Космический цирюльник

Пресс-Центр РКК Энергия

Опубликовано: 22 июн. 2018 г.

Совместный проект РКК "Энергия", РОСКОСМОСА и телеканала RT о жизни космонавтов на орбите в формате съемки 360 ̊.

В космосе волосы растут быстрее, чем на Земле или это только кажется? Космонавты Антон Шкаплеров и Александр Мисуркин показывают, как привести себя в порядок на станции. При стрижке космонавты используют пылесос.

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https://ria.ru/science/20180625/1523338326.html

"Роскосмос" показал, как стригут на орбите

12:37 25.06.2018 (обновлено: 12:47 25.06.2018)



МОСКВА, 25 июн  — РИА Новости. "Роскосмос" опубликовал на своем сайте панорамное видео, на котором продемонстрирован процесс стрижки в космосе: российский космонавт Антон Шкаплеров с помощью специальной машинки делает прическу своему коллеге Александру Мисуркину.

Космонавты используют особенную машинку — она совмещена со шлангом пылесоса, чтобы остриженные волосы не разлетелись в невесомости по всей станции, не мешали экипажу и не повредили технику.

На видео показано, как Мисуркин просит Шкаплерова сделать ему более "вертикальную" прическу, "не огурцом". При этом к российским космонавтам присоединяется американец Джо Акаба и в шутку договаривается, чтобы Шкаплеров постриг и его за три доллара.

Сейчас космонавты находятся на Земле. Мисуркин вернулся домой 28 февраля, а Шкаплеров — 3 июня.

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ISS National Lab SpaceX CRS-15 Science Overview

Center for the Advancement of Science In Space (CASIS)

Опубликовано: 25 июн. 2018 г.

The SpaceX CRS-15 commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station will send new research and hardware, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory (managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space), to our orbital laboratory. From cancer therapeutics to student research, learn more the science launching on this mission.

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ISS National Lab SpaceX CRS-15 Research Spotlight: Angiex, Inc.

Center for the Advancement of Science In Space (CASIS)

Опубликовано: 25 июн. 2018 г.

Angiex, Inc., an innovative startup (funded in part by Boeing through the MassChallenge Startup Accelerator), has developed a cancer therapy that regresses tumor cells in model organisms. Angiex will culture endothelial cells in microgravity, which could create an important model system for evaluating the action of any vascular-targeted drug.

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ISS National Lab SpaceX CRS-15 Research Spotlight: University of California-Santa Barbara

Center for the Advancement of Science In Space (CASIS)

Опубликовано: 25 июн. 2018 г.

Researchers from University of California-Santa Barbara are sending an investigation to the ISS National Lab that will evaluate forces between particles that cluster together such as sediments of quartz and clay particles, which could play an important role in technological efforts related to deep sea hydrocarbon drilling and sequestration. This research is supported through a joint CASIS and National Science Foundation partnership.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/06/25/crew-gets-ready-for-dragon-studies-space-impacts-on-health-and-physics/

Crew Gets Ready for Dragon, Studies Space Impacts on Health and Physics

Mark Garcia
Posted Jun 25, 2018 at 2:45 pm


The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm as the International Space Station was orbiting above northern Africa on May 5, 2018.

The Expedition 56 crew members are getting ready for the arrival next week of the 15th SpaceX Dragon mission to the International Space Station. The space residents also explored how microgravity impacts health and physics today while setting up a variety of cubesats for deployment.

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The Falcon 9 rocket fr om SpaceX that will launch the Dragon space freighter into Earth orbit is due to lift off Friday at 5:41 a.m. EDT and take a three-day trip to the orbital laboratory. The commercial space freighter will be loaded with almost six thousand pounds of new science experiments, crew supplies and space station hardware.

NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold will be backed up by Commander Drew Feustel in the Cupola when he commands the Canadarm2 to grapple Dragon Monday at 7 a.m. The duo is reviewing procedures and training on a computer this week for the rendezvous and capture activities. Robotics controllers on the ground will then take over after the capture and remotely install Dragon a couple of hours later to the Harmony module wh ere it will remain for 32 days. NASA TV will broadcast live the Dragon science briefings, launch, capture and installation activities.

Feustel started the workweek collecting and stowing biological samples for the Multi-Omics study that is observing how gut microbes may affect an astronaut's immune system. He then worked on the Atomizationexperiment that is researching liquid spray processes to potentially improve the design of jet and rocket engines.

NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor installed a cubesat deployer on a multi-purpose experiment platform that will soon be placed outside the Japanese Kibo laboratory module. It will deploy nine different cubesats to continue space research and demonstrate space applications.

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NanoRacks Releases RemoveDEBRIS from Kaber on International Space Station

NanoRacks

Опубликовано: 25 июн. 2018 г.

On June 20, 2018 at 11:35:00 UTC, NanoRacks released the RemoveDEBRIS satellite from the Company's Kaber Deployer on the International Space Station.

Filmed by Astronaut Ricky Arnold.

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Плановая коррекция орбиты МКС

Oleg A

Опубликовано: 25 июн. 2018 г.

Плановая коррекция орбиты Международной космической станции. Проводилась в целях формирования баллистических условий для стыковки грузового корабля «Прогресс МС-09».

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2018/06/25/iss-daily-summary-report-6252018/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/25/2018

Predetermined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) for Object #99999:

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Teams continue to track the ISS conjunction with object #99999 (Unknown Object) with a Time of Closest Approach (TCA) of 01:42 AM CDT tomorrow morning. While the latest tracking information on the object has dropped the Probability of Collision (PC) into the green threshold, it has not dropped enough to confidently lower levels of concern. As a result, teams continue to work towards a PDAM maneuver tonight with an estimated Time of Ignition (TIG) at 11:22 PM CT. Additional tracking information is expected later this afternoon. This maneuver, if executed, could affect the rendezvous of Progress 70P. Originally planned as a 2-orbit rendezvous, any trajectory changes may necessitate an alternative 34-orbit rendezvous of the vehicle. 70P is scheduled for launch on 9 July.

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Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Valve Remove and Replace:

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This morning the crew installed two new selector valves (valves 104 and 105) in the Lab CDRA. Once the valves were installed, the ground performed a nominal checkout and brought the Lab CDRA back on-line. Last week during a half cycle transition the Lab CDRA Air Selector Valve (ASV) 104 failed to reach its commanded position (position A). ETHOS attempted the standard troubleshooting activities, including multiple power cycles, however was not able to recover the valve functionality. Additionally, starting from January of this year, the Lab CDRA Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Selector Valve (CSV) 105 valve has also begun exhibiting end of life symptoms. Due to the ongoing issues with that valve, it was decided to R&R it at the same time as ASV 104.

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NanoRacks Cubesat Deployer-14 (NRCSD-14):

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This morning, the crew installed the NRCSD-14 on the Multipurpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) in preparation for its deploy later this increment. A Triple Pack deployer plus an empty single deployer were installed on the MPEP attached to the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock Slide Table. A total of 9 cubesats are scheduled for deployment: RainCube (Ka-Band for CubeSats), Radix (laser communications), CubeRRT (radio frequency interference), HaloSat (astrophysics), TEMPEST-D (weather), EnduroSat AD (space communications for education), EQUISat (LED visibility on ground & LiFePO4 batteries), MemSat (memristive memory) and RadSat-g (computer radiation protection).

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Atomization:

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The crew replaced sample syringes for the Atomization investigation today. The Atomization experiment investigates the disintegration processes of a low-speed water jet for various jet issue conditions in the JEM to validate the new atomization concept by observing the process using a high-speed camera. The knowledge gained can be applied to improve various engines utilizing spray combustion.

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Human Research Program (Biochemical Profile and Repository):

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Over the weekend, a 55S crewmember completed their Flight Day 15 urine collection sessions for the Biochemical Profile and Repository investigations. 

[/li]
• The Biochemical Profile investigation tests blood and urine samples 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. The 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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Multi-Omics:

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This morning the crew collected samples in support of the JAXA Multi-Omics experiment. Various samples are collected and stowed in a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) throughout the crew's on-orbit duration in addition to completion of questionnaire and ingestion of Fructooligosaccharide (FOS). The objective of Multi-Omics is to understand the gut ecosystem of astronauts in the space environment, especially focusing on the immune dysfunction, and to evaluate the impact of FOS in their diet.

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Dragon On-Board Training (OBT):

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The crew spent the afternoon reviewing Dragon Robotics procedures and participated in a conference with ground specialists to cover the OBT plan in preparation for SpaceX-15 Dragon arrival. Using computer based training, the crew reviewed the Dragon mission profile, rendezvous crew procedures, and the crew interfaces for monitoring and commanding Dragon. Dragon launch is currently scheduled for June 29 with capture and berthing planned for July 2.

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Umbilical Interface Unit (UIA) Remove and Replace (R&R) Preparation:

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This morning, the crew reviewed procedures and gathered the various hardware and tools needed for tomorrow's UIA R&R activities. They also removed both Servicing and Cooling Umbilicals (SCUs) from the UIA and stowed each as appropriate; SCU S/N 1004 is scheduled for return on a future vehicle for teardown and possible refurbishment.

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Cygnus Cargo Operations:

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Today the crew reported spending approximately 90 minutes on cargo operations over the weekend. Ground specialists estimate approximately 45 minutes of crew time remaining in Cygnus Cargo Message #3.

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Today's Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

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• NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Installation Procedure Review
• NanoRacks Cubesat Deployer Maintenance Work Area Preparation
• NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Hardware Gather
• NanoRacks CubeSat Quad Deployer Single Deployer Removal
• NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer Installation on the MPEP
  

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/06/26/crew-sets-up-station-for-new-research-delivery-aboard-dragon/

Crew Sets Up Station for New Research Delivery Aboard Dragon

Mark Garcia
Posted Jun 26, 2018 at 1:55 pm


Canada's 57.7-foot-long robotic arm, also known as the Canadarm2, with a latching end effector at its tip (used to grapple approaching spacecraft and portable data grapple fixtures) is pictured in the foreground as the International Space Station was orbiting over the Caspian Sea.

The Expedition 56 crew members are configuring the International Space Station for several new experiments being delivered on the upcoming SpaceX Dragon cargo mission. The orbital residents also explored space physics and serviced U.S. spacesuits.

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NASA astronauts Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold worked on science hardware today to support new research being delivered aboard Dragon when it arrives Monday at 7 a.m. EDT. The duo also continued studying the robotics procedures necessary to capture Dragon after its approach and rendezvous next week.

Feustel cleaned a mouse habitat for the Rodent Research-7 experiment observing microbes in the gastrointestinal system in mice. Arnold checked out the functionality of the Veggie facility that will process plants for the Veg-03 study researching how to grow food in space.

Flight Engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor looked at how cement solidifies in space exploring its microstructure and material properties. Results could impact the design of lightweight space habitats and improve cement and concrete processing on Earth.

Finally, Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency looked at spacesuit gear and set up the Quest airlock for future spacewalk operations. Gerst purged nitrogen from the suit's oxygen lines and helped ground controllers prepare for overnight oxygen leak checks.

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/06/26/space-junk-clean-up-demonstrator-deployed-from-space-station/

Space junk clean-up demonstrator deployed fr om space station
June 26, 2018 | Stephen Clark


The RemoveDebris satellite deployed fr om the International Space Station on June 20. Credit: NASA/NanoRacks/Ricky Arnold

A small satellite assembled in Britain has been released fr om the International Space Station, commencing a standalone mission to test technology and techniques that could be used to capture and de-orbit space junk in low Earth orbit.

Loaded with experiments crafted by engineers across Europe, the RemoveDebris spacecraft has powered up and is undergoing checkouts after its deployment June 20 fr om the space station's Japanese robotic arm.

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The cube-shaped spacecraft measures about 3 feet (1 meter) on each side, and weighed about 220 pounds (100 kilograms when it launched April 2 fr om Cape Canaveral inside a SpaceX Dragon supply ship.

Soon after the resupply mission's arrival at the space station April 4, astronauts transferred the RemoveDebris satellite from the Dragon capsule's cargo compartment into the Japanese Kibo lab module. The station's crew removed shields used to protect the spacecraft during launch, then placed it on a sliding tray inside the Kibo lab's airlock.

The spacecraft transferred through the airlock to the Japanese lab's outside science deck, wh ere the Kibo module's robotic arm grabbed it and move to a predetermined position for release June 20 from the Kaber microsatellite deployer, a device developed and owned by Houston-based NanoRacks.

RemoveDebris was the largest satellite deployed from the International Space Station to date, following scores of CubeSats and a pair of microsatellites — both smaller than RemoveDebris — which used the Kaber mechanism last year.


NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, commander of the space station's Expedition 56 crew, works with the RemoveDebris spacecraft as it does into the Kibo module's airlock in preparation for deployment. Credit: NASA/NanoRacks

Developed in a public-private partnership, the RemoveDebris mission will test the utility of nets and harpoons to capture tumbling objects in orbit, repurposing devices commonly used in fishing to pluck debris out of orbit and bring them into Earth's atmosphere to burn up.

In an interview before the launch of RemoveDebris in April, Guglielmo Aglietti, principal investigator for the RemoveDebris mission, called the project a "proof-of-concept."

They crux of the mission, Aglietti told Spaceflight Now, is to prove that cleaning up space junk can be relatively inexpensive — something that could be affordable by commercial companies, or governments operating under budget limitations.

"After almost five years of development, it is exciting to finally be in a position wh ere we can test these extremely exciting technologies in the field," said Aglietti, director of the Surrey Space Center, a research institute affiliated with the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., a British manufacturer of small satellites.

"If successful, the technologies found in RemoveDebris could be included in other missions in the very near future," Aglietti said in a statement following the satellite's deployment from the space station.

The RemoveDebris satellite, built by SSTL in the United Kingdom, punches above its weight. The RemoveDebris mothership contains two CubeSats, a net and a harpoon, a laser ranging instrument, and a "dragsail" designed to unfurl behind the main satellite and hasten its fall back into Earth's atmosphere using aerodynamic resistance.

"It's wonderful to have helped facilitate this ground-breaking mission," said Conor Brown, NanoRacks external payloads manager, in a statement. "RemoveDebris is demonstrating some extremely exciting active debris removal technologies that could have a major impact to how we manage space debris moving forward.

"This program is an excellent example of how small satellite capabilities have grown and how the space station can serve as a platform for missions of this scale. We're all excited to see the results of the experiments and impact this project may have in the coming years," Brown said.

Ground controllers at SSTL's campus in Guildford, England, will put the RemoveDebris spacecraft through four primary experiments.



"Basically, it has a net, a harpoon and a dragsail on-board," said Jason Forshaw, the RemoveDebris mission's former project manager at SSTL. "The concept is it's going to go up there, and it's going to eject small little satellites that will be used as artificial space junk."

One of the CubeSats, about the size of a loaf of bread, will inflate a balloon to mimic the dimensions of a bigger piece of tumbling space junk. Flying a short distance away, RemoveDebris will release a net from a distance of around 23 feet (7 meters) to envelop the CubeSat — named DebrisSat 1 — which will be cut loose to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

"The net, as a way to capture debris, is a very flexible option because even if the debris is spinning, or has got an irregular shape, to capture it with a net is relatively low-risk compared to ... going with a robotic arm, because if the debris is spinning very fast, and you try to capture it with a robotic arm, then clearly there is a problem," Aglietti said. "In addition, if you are to capture the debris with a robotic arm or a gripper, you need somewh ere you can grab hold of your piece of debris without breaking off just a chunk of it."

The net experiment is currently scheduled for September, according to Airbus Defense and Space, which developed the net at its facility in Bremen, Germany.

"We'll have a CubeSat which is released, a large target being inflated, and then the net ejected and wrapping itself around the target, and bringing the whole lot home, all videoed by RemoveDebris," said Simon Fellows, project manager for the RemoveDebris mission.

Another CubeSat, named DebrisSat 2, will separate from the RemoveDebris mothership in October to test out tracking and ranging lasers and algorithms. The RemoveDebris satellite will use DebrisSat 2 to test out close-up vision-based navigation technology needed for an orbiting garbage collector to approach an out-of-control piece of space junk.

The LIDAR instrument "can observe debris, and figure out all the parameters of what this debris is doing in order to plan your capture," Aglietti said. "We have a normal camera, and then a LIDAR, which uses lasers to illuminate the object and figure out what the object is doing, and try to quantify the parameters, not just looking and seeing it, but also trying to see the spin rate, for example."

The DebrisSat 2 craft will transmit its true position back to the RemoveDebris mothership, allowing engineers to evaluate the performance of the navigation cameras and laser systems provided by Airbus teams in Toulouse, France.

"The vision-based navigation experiment will actually see debris and work out how it's moving, and how best to then deal with the debris," Fellows said.


Artist's concept of a CubeSat deploying from the RemoveDebris spacecraft. Credit: Surrey Space Center

The third RemoveDebris experiment, set for next March, will test the functionality of a harpoon, which would be used to fire at a dead satellite and spear it, allowing the junk to be maneuvered out of orbit for a fiery re-entry.

But RemoveDebris will not test the harpoon on an actual satellite. The technology is still untried in space, and there are legal concerns about using it to lasso someone else's spacecraft without permission.

"Maybe it's a bit more risky because you have to hit your debris in a place that is suitable to be captured by the harpoon," Aglietti said. "Clearly, you have to avoid any fuel tanks ... That would produce some undesired effects."

Instead, RemoveDebris will extend an arm with a target for the harpoon on the end, then fire the projectile on a tether at a velocity of around 45 mph, or 20 meters per second. The harpoon experiment is spearheaded by Airbus engineers based in Stevenage, England.

"One of the main things we aim to learn from this is how things behave and move in zero gravity and and in a zero-air environment," Fellows said. "It's very difficult to test a tether with a harpoon on the ground, and the best way to really test it is in the space environment."

"We have harpoons, we have nets," Forshaw said in a TEDx talk last year. "These all seem like simple concepts, and they are. They've been used for thousands of years underwater to capture things such as sea creatures. However, taking technologies that are mature on Earth, in the oceans, and actually bringing them up there into space and seeing (if) these concepts work for the first time — nobody has ever used a net or a harpoon for these purposes in space before."

Finally, RemoveDebris will open up an expandable sail to act like an airbrake or spoiler, generating drag from collisions with air molecules in the rarefied outer atmosphere. At the space station's altitude of around 250 miles (400 kilometers), the dragsail will bring the RemoveDebris satellite back into the denser layers of the atmosphere, wh ere it will burn up.

The braking mechanism will allow RemoveDebris to re-enter the atmosphere within about eight weeks of unfurling the dragsail, not the estimated two-and-a-half years it would take to de-orbit naturally.

"All the elements of the mission should be de-orbited very quickly," Aglietti said. "Clearly, for a mission like ours, we don't to further contribute to the problem of space debris. We want to make sure that all the pieces we are putting up there are going to come down pretty quickly. For us, a launch from the International Space Station is particularly good because it's in such a low orbit, that in any case, even if some of the experiments do not work out as planned, it doesn't matter because everything is going to come down and burn up in the atmosphere."


Artist's illustration of the RemoveDebris satellite de-orbiting at the end of its mission with the assistance of a dragsail. Credit: SSTL

Budgeted at 15.2 million euros — $17.7 million at today's currency exchange rates — the RemoveDebris mission was partially funded by the European Commission. The rest of the project was paid by the 10 companies involved in the demonstration, including SSTL, Airbus Defense and Space, and Ariane Group.

Experts currently estimate nearly 7,000 tons of junk and debris are orbiting Earth, a mass equivalent to the Eiffel Tower.

"SSTL's expertise in designing and building low-cost, small satellite missions has been fundamental to the success of RemoveDebris, a landmark technology demonstrator for active debris removal missions that will begin a new era of space junk clearance in Earth's orbit," said Martin Sweeting, SSTL's executive chairman, in a statement.

In-space collisions have happened before.

In 2009, a commercial Iridium communications satellite collided with a deactivated Russian military craft, destroying both objects and creating thousands more pieces of space junk.

"Satellites that get old also have residual fuels on them," Forshaw said. "Sometimes these fuels mix, so satellites are remarkably good at exploding by themselves."

"One of the core questions is who is responsible for all of this," Forshaw said. "Who is responsible for keeping space tidy? There, space law is complicated. Every single item in space, whether it be a full satellite or a piece of glass, is actually owned by somebody. You can't take away their property without their permission. Besides, if a tiny little fragment hit your satellite, you wouldn't even know who did it."


The RemoveDebris satellite shortly after separating from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/NanoRacks/Ricky Arnold

As companies like OneWeb, SpaceX and others build out planned "mega-constellations" of hundreds and thousands of communications satellites, the space debris problem will remain top of mind for many in the industry.

OneWeb and SpaceX say they will steer their planned broadband communications satellites back into Earth's atmosphere once their missions are complete, but some of the spacecraft could become stranded if they suffer unexpected failures.

"There are really two solutions: Either we ensure things launched into space have the ability to come back down themselves, and/or we launch missions up there to actually capture some of this space junk and bring it back down to Earth, wh ere it will burn up in the Earth's atmosphere," Forshaw said.

"Once the whole campaign is finished, and the (RemoveDebris) satellite is de-orbited, it would be great if companies offered this as a service, and there will be bigger missions when they will go and capture a real piece of debris using some of the technologies we have demonstrated," Aglietti said.



One company established to remove space debris out of orbit is Astroscale, headquartered in Singapore. Astroscale is developing a commercial space debris capture experiment in partnership with SSTL. After overseeing the design and construction of the RemoveDebris satellite, Forshaw joined Astroscale as manager of the company's European research and development efforts.

The European Space Agency also has a mission concept called e.Deorbit, which would launch in 2024 to rendezvous with Envisat, a defunct Earth observation satellite that failed suddenly in 2012. Envisat is the size of a double-decker bus, and experts anticipate it will remain in space for up to 150 years, posing a hazard to other satellites in the same region of space nearly 500 miles (800 kilometers) above Earth.

The e.Deorbit mission, if approved by ESA member states, would bring Envisat down in a controlled manner. The RemoveDebris mission will check to see if some of the fundamental parts of such an endeavor will work.

"At the end of the day, everything boils down to funding," Aglietti said. "We all agree, in the space sector, that it is a good idea to start to remove larger pieces of debris, which are the ones that cause the major threat. The problem is just financial.

"That was why we're testing cost-effective technologies," he said. "In my opinion, the stumbling block is the cost ... If the cost to do it is exorbitant, then people will prefer to take the risk that their new satellite is going to be hit by a piece of debris. If we manage to lower the cost of the missions, then this is much more likely to happen."

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2018/06/26/iss-daily-summary-report-6262018/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/26/2018

Predetermined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) Status:

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Last night's possible PDAM for object #99999 was not required. A second upd ate to the object's trajectory was received overnight and the Probability of Collision (PC) had dropped well into the green threshold. Concern level was low and PDAM planning was no longer needed.

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MagVector 3D:

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The crew relocated a 3 dimensional (3D) sensor array to a deck rack within the Columbus module this morning and then began the first sample run. A total of 12 different samples will be processed (1 per day). ESA's MagVector investigation supports a study of how Earth's magnetic field interacts with an electrical conductor. Using extremely sensitive magnetic sensors placed around and above a conductor, researchers can gain insight into ways that the magnetic field influences how conductors work. This research is expected to help improve future ISS experiments and electrical experiments, and could also offer insights into how magnetic fields influence electrical conductors in general.

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Microgravity Investigation of Cement Solidification (MICS) 3:

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The crew transferred one MICS 3 ampoule kit to the ISS Portable Glovebag and broke the seal between the upper and center ampoules in each of the two sample bags and mixed the contents in the ampoules with a spatula. Later today, the crew broke the seal between the center and lower ampoules in each sample bag and pushed the alcohol in the lower ampoule to cover the hardened cement sample. They then returned each sample bag to the kit bag, which they stowed for return. This is the first of eight MICS sessions. The MICS investigation supports the evaluation of microstructure and material properties of benchmark cement samples. Different responses to thermal and mechanical loading are expected and will be characterized in detail. Positive attributes found in the hardening process due to the microgravity environment aboard the ISS will be reported with the intent of improving Earth-based cement and concrete processing.

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Lighting Effects:

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The crew conducted a Visual Performance Test today. They stowed the hardware in their crew quarters, se t the light to the correct mode, turned all other light sources in the crew quarters off, and performed a Numerical Verification Test, followed by a Color Discrimination Test. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance.

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Veggie:

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Today the crew checked out the Veggie 1 and 2 facilities in preparation for processing of VEG-03 plants arriving on the SpaceX-15 vehicle.

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On-board Training (OBT) Dragon Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT):

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The crewmembers tasked with capturing Dragon completed an OBT session using ROBoT. ROBoT is an on-orbit version of the ground-based Dynamics Skills Trainer (DST) that simulates robotics operations with graphical feedback. During today's session, the crew reviewed the Backaway Cue Card and simulated a 30m approach and two Capture Point (CP) hold runs. The crew will also practice crew coordination and review details, such as timing of calls, related to capture.

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Umbilical Interface Unit (UIA) Remove and Replace (R&R):

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This morning the crew completed removal of the old UIA after the required safing was in place. Next, the crew replaced the seals on the Gamah fittings, used to pass water and O2 between ISS and the UIA, and began installation of the new UIA. When attempting to mate the Oxygen lines, however, the crew reported the lines appeared approximately 2mm too short to mate successfully without the potential for damage to hardware. The crew investigated several possible alternatives, including attempts to gain some slack in the lines, and ground teams are evaluating the next steps. The UIA was placed in a safe configuration and tomorrow's activities are on hold pending engineering recommendations. All connections on the new UIA are connected and torqued except for O2. The aborted SCU preparations, and the deferred Biocide Filter install, will be rescheduled.

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Cygnus Cargo Operations:

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Yesterday the crew completed the bulk of the Cygnus cargo operations. Photos of the cargo configuration have been downlinked for Orbital to analyze the OA-9 Center of Gravity (CG). Overall, the crew reported working 60 hours to complete OA-9 cargo unloading and loading.

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Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations:

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Today the Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and performed SSRMS Latching End Effector (LEE)-B Checkouts and SSRMS Joint Diagnostics on both Strings in preparation for Space-X 15 Dragon capture on 2 July. Additionally, controllers powered up the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) and are currently performing SPDM Arm2 Direct Drive Tests. The data collected from these tests will be used to support trending of the health of the SPDM Arm2 joints.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/06/27/cancer-and-cement-studies-on-station-could-lead-to-earth-benefits/

Cancer and Cement Studies on Station Could Lead to Earth Benefits

Mark Garcia
Posted Jun 27, 2018 at 1:24 pm


An Expedition 56 crew member aboard the International Space Station pictured lagoons in the Crimea between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea which appear different colors due to shallow waters and their varied chemical composition.

Today's science activities aboard the International Space Station are looking to improve cancer therapies and benefit cement processing on Earth. Meanwhile, two astronauts are practicing to capture the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft next week.

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Cancer research in space can unlock positive benefits that are cloaked by Earth's gravity possibly leading to advanced therapies. Flight Engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor is preparing for the Angiex Cancer Therapyexperiment which will be delivered aboard the SpaceX Dragon. She is setting up the Microgravity Science Glovebox for the study that may lead to safer, more effective vascular-targeted drugs without animal testing.

Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold mixed cement samples today for stowage and future analysis on Earth. Studying how cement reacts in space during the hardening process may help engineers better understand its microstructure and material properties. Observations could improve cement processing techniques on Earth and lead to the design of safer, lightweight space habitats.

Arnold will lead Monday morning's capture of the SpaceX Dragon when he commands the Canadarm2 to grapple the space freighter Monday at 7 a.m. EDT. Commander Drew Feustel will back him up in the Cupola monitoring its approach and rendezvous. The duo set up the Cupola today and practiced the robotic maneuvers they will use to capture Dragon when it reaches a point about 10 meters from the station.

NASA TV begins its live broadcast Friday at 5:15 a.m. EDT of Dragon's launch aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Dragon will blast off at 5:42 a.m. from the Kennedy Space Center on a three-day trip to the orbital lab carrying almost six thousand pounds of new science experiments, crew supplies and space station hardware. NASA TV will be back on the air Monday at 5:30 a.m. covering Dragon's approach and rendezvous and again at 9 a.m. for Dragon's installation to the Harmony module.

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Затвердевание цемента! Продвижение к железобетонному кубокилометру продолжается.

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NASA Kennedy / KSC‏Подлинная учетная запись @NASAKennedy 2 ч. назад

Tune in tomorrow at 11:00 am ET for the CRS-15 What's On Board science briefing. SpaceX is targeting 5:42 am. ET Fri. Jun 29 for the launch of its 15th resupply mission to the @Space_Station. Watch at: https://www.nasa.gov/live . Have Questions? #AskNASA

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Tune in tomorrow at 12:45 pm ET for the Pre-launch News Conference with representatives from @NASA, @SpaceX and the @45thSpaceWing. SpaceX is targeting 5:42 am. ET Fri. Jun 29 for the launch of its 15th resupply mission to the @Space_Station. Watch at: https://www.nasa.gov/live 

15:00, 16:45 UTC 2018-06-28