Blogs

Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA):  The crew set up the SUBSA hardware today and installed a calibration sample.  The objective of the SUBSA investigation is to advance understanding of the processes involved in semiconductor crystal growth. It offers a gradient freeze furnace for materials science investigations that can reach 850°C. Samples are contained …

A solar array illumination test is performed on NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, satellite in the Building 1555 clean room Friday, May 4, 2018, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The test checks for any imperfections and confirms that the solar arrays are functioning properly.

Kubik 6:  After completing commissioning for ESA’s Kubik 6 facility the crew disconnected and stowed the Kubik 6.  Kubik is a small controlled-temperature incubator/cooler used to study biological samples in a microgravity environment.  It is equipped with removable inserts designed for self-contained, automatic experiments using seeds, cells, and small animals. Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF):  The …

NanoRacks-Remove Debris (RemDeb):  The crew pressurized and performed a leak check of the Japanese Experiment Module Airlock (JEMAL) and then extended the Airlock slide table into the JEM this morning. They then removed the Handhold Experiment Platform (HXP) Adapter and the Multipurpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) from the Slide Table.  These activities are the initial preparation …

Orbital ATK (OA)-9 Cygnus S.S. J.R. Thomson Rendezvous with ISS:  The crew successfully captured the S.S. J.R. Thompson with the Space Station Remote Manipulation System (SSRMS) at 4:29 am CDT. Once captured, the crew handed off control of the SSRMS to ground robotics controllers who maneuvered the Cygnus vehicle to the Node 1 nadir Common …

The Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo ship was bolted into place on the International Space Station’s Earth-facing port of the Unity module at 8:13 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft will spend about seven weeks attached to the space station before departing in July. After it leaves the station, the uncrewed spacecraft will deploy several CubeSats before its …

At 5:26 a.m. EDT, Expedition 55 Flight Engineer Scott Tingle of NASA successfully captured Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft using the International Space Station’s robotic arm, backed by NASA Astronauts Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel. Robotic ground controllers will position Cygnus for installation to the orbiting laboratory’s Earth-facing port of the Unity module. NASA TV …

The International Space Station and Cygnus flight control teams are proceeding toward capture at approximately 5:20 a.m. EDT. Orbital ATK reports all spacecraft systems are ready for the final stages of rendezvous and space station flight controllers report the orbiting outpost is ready for the commercial spacecraft’s arrival. The spacecraft will deliver scientific investigations including …

Human Research Program (Biochemical Profile, Marrow, Vascular Echo, and Repository):  53S crewmembers collected blood and urine samples for their Return minus 14-day session of the Biochem Profile, Marrow and Repository investigations.  One of the 53S crewmembers also started a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring session.  Blood samples are being processed in the alternate non-refrigerated centrifuge …

The Cygnus space freighter from Orbital ATK is closing in on the International Space Station ready to deliver 7,400 pounds of cargo Thursday morning. The Expedition 55 crew members are getting ready for Cygnus’ arrival while also helping researchers understand what living in space does to the human body. NASA TV is set to begin …