Новости МКС

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Jessica Meir‏ @Astro_Jessica 58 мин. назад

Gearing up for Friday's spacewalk to help the ground teams repair one of the battery channels with @Astro_Christina.

. . . first spacesuit selfie, check!

Photos will be much more spectacular once we pass through the hatch. Be sure to watch live: https://nasa.gov/live

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Scientific Investigations Set for Space on Northrop Grumman CRS-12

 NASA Johnson

16 окт. 2019 г.

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft scheduled to liftoff in early November will carry supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station. The investigations making the trip range from research into human control of robotics in space to reprocessing materials for 3D printing.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/OmIdSFMKZmA (2:13)

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https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/ng12-research/

Oct. 16, 2019

Research launching to the space station ranges from radiation protection to rover control

Supplies and scientific experiments ride to the International Space Station on a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft (NG-12) scheduled for launch on Nov. 2. The investigations making the trip range from research into human control of robotics in space to reprocessing fibers for 3D printing. Cygnus lifts off on the Antares rocket from pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island in Virginia.

Resupply missions from U.S. companies ensure NASA's capability to deliver critical science research to the space station and significantly increase its ability to conduct new investigations in the only laboratory in space. This is the first mission under Northrop's Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract with NASA.

Here are some of the scientific investigations NG-12 delivers to the space station:

More Probing of Mysteries of the Universe

Stars, planets and the molecules of which they are made represent only about 15 percent of the mass content of the universe. The rest is dark matter. However, no one has ever seen this material or been able to study it directly. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer - 02 (AMS-02) has been looking for evidence of this mysterious substance from the vantage point of the International Space Station since 2011. AMS consists of an international team from 16 countries under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.


View of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer - 02 (AMS-02) on the outside of the space station, taken during an Expedition 50 extravehicular activity (EVA).
Credits: NASA

NG-12 carries components needed for prolonging the operational life of AMS-02. In a series of spacewalks planned for later this year, astronauts will update the instrument, including cutting and reconnecting fluid lines in space for the first time.

Driving a Rover on the Ground from Space

Future missions to the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies are likely to involve landing robotic explorers to "test the waters" on uncharted planets before sending humans. ANALOG-1, part of a European Space Agency initiative, tests communications, operations and control strategies for robots. Previous studies have shown that humans experience degraded sensorimotor functions in microgravity that could affect their operation of a robot. The space station makes it possible to investigate these issues under true microgravity conditions by having crew members in space control a rover on Earth. Maneuvers include selection, collection and storage of geologic samples with a multi-purpose robotic arm and navigating the rover along a defined path.

Testing Personal Protective Equipment for Astronauts


The AstroRad vest undergoes fit testing at the Kennedy Space Center before launching to the space station for astronaut evaluation of ease of use and comfort.
Credits: Lockheed Martin Space

Astronauts need protection from exposure to radiation, especially as they travel to the Moon and Mars. Unpredictable solar particle events, for example, could deliver, in just a few hours, a radiation dose high enough to cause serious health problems. The AstroRad Vest investigation tests a garment that shields specific, radiation-sensitive organs, tissues and stem cell concentrations, which could reduce the risk. Astronauts wear the garment while performing daily tasks and provide feedback such as how easy it is to put on, how it fits and feels, and the range of motion it allows.

3D Printing with Recycled Materials


The Made in Space Recycler hardware prepared for launch to the space station to test reprocessing plastic into 3D printing filament.
Credits: Made In Space, Inc.

Made in Space Recycler (MIS Recycler) tests systems for reprocessing plastic into 3D printing filament for creating new items in microgravity. It recycles polymers into filament for use in the Additive Manufacturing Facility, a 3D printer operating on the orbiting laboratory since 2016. The investigation looks at which materials process most effectively into 3D printing filament and which ones can be reprocessed many times without degrading. Researchers plan to analyze samples printed in space after they return to Earth and compare them to samples printed similarly on the ground.

Malting Barley in Microgravity

Barley contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Malting converts starches from the raw grain into various sugars suitable for use in brewing, distilling and food production. Understanding how barley responds to microgravity could identify ways to adapt it for nutritional use on long-duration spaceflights. Malting ABI Voyager Barley Seeds in Microgravity tests an automated malting procedure and compares malt produced in space and on the ground for genetic and structural changes.

Faster, Cheaper Access to Space

NanoRacks-Craig-X FTP is a platform for several investigations, including a collaboration between Automobili Lamborghini and the Houston Methodist Research Institute that tests the performance of 3D-printed carbon fiber composites in the extreme environment of space. The materials are designed for use in aerospace applications, but results could replace lengthy and expensive carbon fiber manufacturing methods on Earth. In addition, the study may help improve the design of implantable devices for therapeutic drug delivery developed by Houston Methodist Research Institute.

Dinner, Fresh from the Oven


The specially-designed Zero-G Oven, a tool for examining heat transfer properties and the process of baking food in microgravity. Testing this oven on the space station may lead to the capability of preparing fresh-baked food on spacecraft for future deep space explorers.
Credits: Zero G Kitchen

Everyone enjoys the aroma of fresh-baked cookies, even astronauts. On future long-duration space missions, fresh-baked food could have psychological and physiological benefits for crew members, providing them with a greater variety of more nutritious meals. Zero-G Oven examines heat transfer properties and the process of baking food in microgravity. It uses a specially-designed toaster-like oven with a top temperature of 363.3 degrees Celsius or 685 degrees Fahrenheit.

Studying the Effect of Dark and Light on Liver Health

Microgravity as a Disruptor Of The 12-hour Circatidal Clock (Rodent Research-14) studies how disruptions to daily light cycles affect human cells and organs. Recent research shows that genes associated with 12-hour light and dark phases, or the 12-hour molecular clock, also are associated with the most common form of human liver disease. Liver disease contributes to insulin resistance and diabetes. The 12-hour clock's role in controlling proper liver function has major implications for maintaining human health. Results could provide insights into liver disease and reveal new therapies, including pharmaceuticals.

These are just a few of the hundreds of investigations currently happening aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Melissa Gaskill

International Space Station Program Science Office
Johnson Space Center

Last Updated: Oct. 16, 2019
Editor: Michael Johnson

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https://ria.ru/20191017/1559874729.html

Астронавт НАСА Меир готовится в пятницу выйти в открытый космос с Кук
04:43 17.10.2019

ВАШИНГТОН, 17 окт - РИА Новости. Первый женский выход в открытый космос состоится в пятницу, 18 октября, о подготовке к нему сообщила в своем Twitter одна из его участниц астронавт НАСА Джессика Меир.

"Готовлюсь к пятничному выходу в открытый космос с астронавтом (Кристиной) Кук, чтобы помочь специалистам на Земле починить один из каналов электроэнергии", - написала Меир в Twitter.

Выход в открытый космос традиционно будет транслироваться на сайте НАСА, в календаре ведомства начало трансляции выхода Кук и Меир в открытый космос сейчас обозначено как не ранее 13.30 мск 18 октября.

Во вторник НАСА объявило, что первый исключительно женский выход в открытый космос состоится раньше запланированного срока и пройдет 17 или 18 октября. Первоначально Кук и Меир должны были вместе выйти на внешнюю поверхность станции 21 октября и продолжить замену старых аккумуляторов на американском сегменте МКС.

Изменения в график работы экипажа были внесены из-за возникших в минувшие выходные проблем с блоком зарядки-разрядки аккумуляторной батареи в системе электропитания американского сегмента МКС. Из-за возникшей неисправности НАСА приняло решение отложить на неопределенный срок идущее с 2017 года работы по плановой замене аккумуляторных батарей американского сегмента станции. Ранее в октябре этому были посвящены два выхода в открытый космос и планировались еще три.

В конце апреля аналогичная неисправность элемента электропитания МКС была ликвидирована без участия астронавтов, вышедший из строя блок был заменен при помощи робототехники, контролируемой с Земли. В этот раз для замены детали, работавшей на МКС последние 19 лет, необходимо участие астронавтов.

Предстоящий выход в открытый космос станет четвертым для Кук и первым для Меир, они станут 14-й и 15-й представительницами "слабого пола", побывавшими в открытом космосе. Первой женщиной, совершившей выход в открытый космос, стала советский космонавт Светлана Савицкая в 1984 году.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/10/16/iss-daily-summary-report-10162019/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 10/16/2019

US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Battery Charging Discharging Unit (BCDU) 2B2 Replacement Preparations:

Over the past weekend when activating the new Li-Ion 2B2 battery BCDU, the converter close command failed; ground teams have determined that performing an EVA to replace the failed BCDU with a new spare will restore full functionality to the Channel 2B. Today, the ISS crew worked on a number of EVA preparatory activities including Equipment Lock Preparation, Robotics EVA Onboard Training (OBT), and Procedure Reviews. Additionally, the crew performed some Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) hardware checkouts, including verifying that the Extravehicular Activity Mobility Unit (EMU) glove heaters are functional and that the EMU RF Camera Assembly (ERCA) is receiving power.

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Payloads:

Astrobee battery charge:

The crew performed charging activities on eight of the Astrobee batteries. Astrobee is a series of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots. The robots are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the ISS. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew-monitoring, sampling, logistics management, and accommodate up to three investigations.

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EML (Electro-Magnetic Levitator) gas valve reconfiguration:

The crew closed the Helium valve and opened the Argon valve in the EML. EML uses the various gasses (or vacuum) to process their samples in different environments. The EML is a 360 kg multi-user facility designed for containerless materials processing in space. It supports research in the areas of meta-stable states and phases along with the measurement of highly accurate thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys at high temperatures.  EML can accommodate up to 18 samples, each 5 to 8 mm in size. Heating rates of up to 100 Kelvin per second can be achieved with a maximum temperature of 2,100°C.

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Veg-04B plant check:

The crew checked the plants growing in the two Veggie facilities, took photos, and watered as needed. The ground has reported that 11 of the 12 plant pillows have Mizuna plants growing in them. It's not unexpected for the occasional plant pillow fail to produce a seedling. The ground team typically places more than one seed in each plant pillow to increase the chance of at least one seed germinating, but it's not always successful. The currently ongoing Veg-04B session started on 01-October-2019. The research of Veg-04B focuses on the impact of light quality and fertilizer on leafy crop growth for a 56-day grow-out, microbial food safety, nutritional value, taste acceptability by the crew, and the overall behavioral health benefits of having plants and fresh food in space. A healthy, nutritious diet is essential for long-duration exploration missions, which means that the typical pre-packaged astronaut diet needs to be supplemented by fresh foods during flight; the Veggie Vegetable Production System (Veggie) has begun testing aboard the space station to help meet this need, and validation tests have demonstrated that leafy greens can be grown in spaceflight.

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Как я понимаю: После замены аккумуляторов (топливных элементов?) перестал работать преобразователь "энергия аккумуляторов=бортсеть=солнечные батареи". Аккумуляторы из другого материала и выходное напряжение, очевидно, немного выше (ниже). По ТУ преобразователи должны легко справится с разницей. Но не работает. И, видимо, уставки на компараторах зависят от входного напряжения? Как это сделано в обычных бесперебойниках - последовательное соединение трех резисторов как опорное напряжение. Если бы был один стабилитрон вместо последнего резистора  все исправилось бы? Происходит что-то похожее или все не так?

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First All-Woman Spacewalk on October 18

 NASA

17 окт. 2019 г.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch are set to conduct the first spacewalk to be performed by two women on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019.   They will be replacing a faulty battery charge/discharge unit that failed to activate after a spacewalk Oct. 11.  The faulty unit is preventing a set of recently installed batteries from providing increased power. It must be replaced before continuing a series of spacewalks to install new batteries.  Watch live coverage here on NASA TV and nasa.gov/live Friday beginning at 6:30 a.m. Eastern. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at about 7:50 a.m.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/S6KgbRX1tPI (1:12)

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/10/17/spacewalk-preps-today-amid-cancer-robotics-and-agriculture-research/

Spacewalk Preps Today amid Cancer, Robotics and Agriculture Research

Mark Garcia
Posted Oct 17, 2019 at 11:58 am


NASA astronaut Christina Koch (right) poses for a portrait with fellow Expedition 61 Flight Engineer Jessica Meir of NASA who is inside a U.S. spacesuit for a fit check.

Science experiments continue aboard the International Space Station as two NASA astronauts prepare for their first spacewalk together, which is set to take place Friday. The Expedition 61 crew researched a variety of space phenomena today and reviewed procedures for tomorrow's excursion.

Flight Engineers Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will venture out into the vacuum of space on Friday to replace a failed power controller, also known as a battery charge-discharge unit (BCDU). The BCDU regulates the charge to the batteries that collect and distribute solar power to the orbiting lab's systems. They will set their spacesuits to battery power around 7:50 a.m. EDT and exit the Quest airlock for the 5.5-hour repair job on the Port 6 truss structure. NASA TV begins its live coverage at 6:30 a.m.

Commander Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan will assist the spacewalkers. Parmitano will control the Canadarm2 robotics arm and Morgan will provide airlock and spacesuit support. All four astronauts gathered together today for a final procedures review.

In the midst of the spacewalk preparations, the crew continued ongoing microgravity science. The astronauts had time set aside today for researching cancer therapies, DNA sequencing, planetary robotics and space agriculture.

Morgan set up protein crystals critical to tumor growth and survival in a microscope for observation and photography. Koch continued exploring the viability of sequencing microbial DNA in microgravity.

Parmitano is readying hardware that will enable an astronaut on the station to control a robot on the Earth's surface. Future astronauts could use the robotic technology to explore a planetary surface such as the Moon or Mars while orbiting in a spacecraft.

The crew is also in the second week of growing a crop of Mizuna mustard greens. Meir watered the Mizuna plants today for the ongoing space agriculture study to learn how to provide fresh food to space crews.

Cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Skripochka had their own slate of human research to conduct today. The duo studied cardiac output changes and blood flow regulation including the effects of space on enzymes.

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https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=519794&lang=RU

Астронавты NASA выйдут в открытый космос для замены вышедшего из строя внешнего энергоблока МКС
18.10.2019 0:20:30
      ***Путешествие за борт МКС впервые совершат две женщины - астронавты Кристина Кук и Джессика Меир

Вашингтон. 18 октября. ИНТЕРФАКС - Американские астронавты в пятницу совершат очередной выход в открытый космос с борта Международной космической станции (МКС), в ходе которого им предстоит заменить вышедший из строя один из внешних энергоблоков, сообщило Национальное управление по аэронавтике и исследованию космического пространства (NASA).

Выход в открытый космос, который продлится, по меньшей мере, 6,5 часов, впервые совершат сразу две женщины - астронавты Кристина Кук и Джессика Меир.

Как сообщалось, в минувшие выходные на МКС вышел из строя один из внешних энергоблоков, отвечающий за зарядку/разрядку аккумуляторных батарей станции.

Это вынудило NASA поменять график выходов американских астронавтов в космос для продолжения операции по замене старых никель-водородных аккумуляторов на новые более мощные литий-ионные аккумуляторы на опорном сегменте P6 фермы МКС, к которой крепится пара солнечных панелей. В этих целях астронавты Эндрю Морган и Кристина Кук в текущем месяце (6 и 11 октября) уже совершили два из пяти запланированных выходов в открытый космос.

Несмотря на выход из строя энергоблока, в NASA подчеркнули, что "общее электроснабжение станции, которое осуществляется от четырех комплектов аккумуляторных батарей и солнечных панелей, остается достаточным для всех операций, и неисправный блок не оказывает влияния на безопасность экипажа или текущие лабораторные эксперименты". Однако неисправный блок не позволяет новой литий-ионной батарее, установленной ранее в этом месяце на МКС, обеспечивать дополнительную мощность.

Блоки зарядки/разрядки (BCDU) регулируют количество заряда, которое поступает в аккумуляторные батареи от солнечных панелей.

Шесть новых аккумуляторов, каждый весом 194 кг, были доставлены на станцию 28 сентября японским грузовым кораблем HTV-8 (Kounotori 8 - "Белый аист 8"). Перед началом операции аккумуляторы были извлечены из "грузовика" и подведены к месту монтажных работ с помощью дистанционной руки-манипулятора станции Canadarm-2.

Отработанные аккумуляторные блоки в дальнейшем будут с помощью механической руки-манипулятора МКС Canadarm-2 перенесены на японский грузовой корабль, который при схождении с орбиты сгорит в плотных слоях атмосферы.

После завершения монтажа новых аккумуляторов, срок службы которых составляет 10 лет, они будут заряжаться от солнечных батарей МКС, передавая станции энергию в те периоды времени, когда она находится в тени Солнца.

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Jonathan McDowell‏ @planet4589 17 мин. назад

Spacewalk US EVA-58, with @astro_christina in spacesuit EMU 3004 and @astro_jessica in EMU 3008, is scheduled for tomorrow. The astronauts will replace a broken   Battery Charging/Discharging Unit (BCDU) in the 2B Integrated Electronics Assembly on the P6 truss segment


11 мин. назад

The broken unit is in the 2B2 slot  and was launched on P6 in Dec 2000. It will be replaced with a unit currently on Express Logistics Carrier 1 (ELC-1) site 4. The replacement unit was launched on ESP-3 aboard STS-118 in 2007 and relocated to ELC-1 on Jun 14.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/10/17/nasa-tv-broadcasts-all-female-spacewalk-on-friday/

NASA TV Broadcasts All-Female Spacewalk on Friday

Mark Garcia
Posted Oct 17, 2019 at 8:36 pm


NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (left) and Christina Koch are inside the Quest airlock preparing the U.S. spacesuits and tools they will use on their first spacewalk together.

Expedition 61 Flight Engineers Christina Koch and Jessica Meir of NASA will begin a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station about 7:50 a.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 18. NASA Television coverage of the first ever  will begin at 6:30 a.m.

Watch the spacewalk on NASA TV and the agency's website.

Flight Engineers Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will venture out into the vacuum of space on Friday to replace a faulty power controller, also known as a battery charge-discharge unit (BCDU). The BCDU regulates the charge to the batteries that collect and distribute solar power to the orbiting lab's systems. The unit they are replacing failed to activate following the Oct. 11 installation of new lithium-ion batteries on the space station's exterior structure.

Koch is designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1), wearing the suit with red stripes. Meir is designated extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), wearing the suit with no stripes. Koch's helmet camera will carry the number 18, and Meir's helmet camera will carry the number 11.

Commander Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan will assist the spacewalkers. Parmitano will control the Canadarm2 robotics arm and Morgan will provide airlock and spacesuit support.

Although it will be the 221st spacewalk performed in support of space station assembly and maintenance, it is the first to be conducted entirely by women. This will be Koch's fourth spacewalk and Meir's first.

Station managers are investigating the loss of the BCDU and will reschedule the remaining three battery replacement spacewalks for a future date. In the meantime, the five planned spacewalks to repair a cosmic particle detector, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, are still on the calendar for November and December.

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Кук (EV1)



... в шлюзе

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Мейр (EV2)



... тоже в шлюзе

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 Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette 7 мин. назад

Right now, Luca and Drew are fitting the SAFER onto the PLSS of the EMU.

Whee! That's a lot of acronyms for this 3:40 in the morning.
SAFER - Simplified Aid For EVA Recovery
PLSS - Portable Life Support System
EMU - Extravehicular Mobility Unit