MISSE-FF (Materials ISS Experiment Flight Facility): Robotics Flight Controllers successfully installed one of the new MISSE Science Carrier (MSC) in the #1 position of the MISSE-FF facility and verified commanding capability. Robotics will continue to install the remaining 3 MSCs that arrived on NG-11. The primary Materials ISS Experiment Flight Facility (MISSE-FF) platform provides the …
Biomedical and Botany Research Today as Station Preps for Sixth Spacecraft
Vein scans and eye checks were on the schedule today as the Expedition 59 crew continues ongoing biomedical studies. The International Space Station is also getting ready to host a sixth spacecraft when it arrives next week. Scientists have been observing the space residents all week as they seek to understand the effects of the …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/24/2019
Kubik: The crew installed Kubik #5 and #6 in the Columbus module in support of the upcoming NanoAntioxidents experiment arriving on SpX-17. Kubik is a small controlled-temperature incubator or cooler with removable inserts designed for self-contained, automatic microgravity experiments such as those using seeds, cells, and small animals. International Commercial Experiment Cubes (ICE Cubes): The …
More Head and Eye Pressure Research and Dragon Robotics Training
The Expedition 59 crew is unloading one U.S. cargo ship today and preparing for the arrival of another after it launches from Florida next week. The orbital residents also continued exploring how microgravity impacts the human body and a variety of terrestrial materials. Astronauts Christina Koch and David Saint-Jacques worked Wednesday afternoon to offload some …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/23/2019
Solidification Using Baffles in Sealed Ampoules SUBSA): The crew de-installed the SUBSA hardware facility from the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) work volume. 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 …
Human Research, Materials Science and Robotics on Tuesday’s Schedule
The Expedition 59 crew spent the majority of Tuesday conducting space experiments and setting up research hardware. The International Space Station residents are also continuing to unpack a pair of recently arrived cargo ships while training for the next U.S. cargo mission. The weightless conditions of microgravity pull fluids towards an astronaut’s head causing a …
Vanguard II Turns 60
While the now silent Vanguard II continues to orbit the Earth, its back-up brother has been restored and mounted in the Goddard Space Flight Center’s Earth Sciences building’s atrium.
ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/22/2019
Treadmill 2 (T2) Mechanical Issues and False Fire: During a T2 session this morning, the crew reported that the belt slowed dramatically, a grinding noise was heard, and the T2 Smoke Detector triggered a fire alarm. Air measurements confirmed this to be a false fire event and investigation by the crew confirmed that the T2 …
New Life Science Begins; Next Dragon Cargo Mission Due Next Week
The Expedition 59 crew has been unpacking Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft over the weekend and began science operations on the newly delivered space research. The 17th SpaceX Dragon mission is now due to launch next week to replenish the International Space Station. Three NASA astronauts and one Canadian Space Agency astronaut split the workday …