Blogs

It’s beginning to look like Christmas on the International Space Station. The stockings are out, the tree is up and the station residents continue advanced space research to benefit life on Earth and in space. A wide array of research work took place Tuesday with scientists on the ground, working in conjunction with the astronaut …

Neuromapping:  The crew supported operations to complete objectives of the NeuroMapping Neurocognitive Test.  After connecting a control pad to the HRF laptop, Virts launched the NeuroMapping application and completed the Mental Rotation I Test, the Sensorimotor Adaptation Test, the Dual Task Test while tethered, and the Mental Rotation II Test while free-floating. Wilmore took photographs …

Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) white light source replacement:  During Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE-M3) operations last week, the white light lamp burned out.  Today, Wilmore opened up the FIR and replaced the lamp, enabling operations to continue.  In the ACE-M-3 investigation, a model colloidal system is used to observe the microscopic behavior of liquids and gases …

The six Expedition 42 crew members started Christmas week with a replanned schedule after SpaceX postponed its Dragon launch until Jan. 6. The crew would have been unloading new science and cargo from Dragon had it arrived Sunday but instead turned its attention to ongoing science and maintenance. Commander Barry Wilmore worked on the Binary …

Cognition: Virts will act as the Cognition test operations subject.  He will power on Human Research Facility (HRF) laptop, launch the Cognition application, and complete the Cognition test which includes pre-test questions and an array of cognitive tests with performance feedback. Individualized Real-Time Neurocognitive Assessment Toolkit for Space Flight Fatigue (Cognition) is a battery of …

SpaceX-5 Launch Status:  SpaceX-5 launch has been delayed until January 6, 2015.  All of the preparatory activities to support SpaceX-5 berth are being replanned. Biolab:  Wilmore and Cristoforetti inspected and performed troubleshooting for the Biolab Handling Mechanism (HM) incubator access door.  The door slot was checked for potential debris and closeout pictures were taken. Additional …

View Post NASA and SpaceX announced Thursday the launch of the Dragon commercial cargo craft is now scheduled for no earlier than Jan. 6. The six-member Expedition 42 crew postponed its Dragon mission preparations and focused on eye exams and station maintenance. › Read more about the SpaceX CRS-5 mission Veteran astronaut Terry Virts, who …

NASA and SpaceX announced today the launch of SpaceX’s fifth commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station now will occur no earlier than Tuesday, Jan. 6. This will provide SpaceX engineers time to investigate further some of the issues that arose from the static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. …

SpaceX-5 Launch Status:  The static test fire scheduled yesterday was started, but aborted shortly after engine ignition.  SpaceX is currently evaluating any impacts to the schedule. Robonaut:  Virts reviewed a Robonaut video in preparation for upcoming operations.  This was the first time motor power was applied to Robonaut following the addition of the legs and …

The International Space Station crew has been working on a variety of robotics activities this week. On Wednesday, they tested a humanoid robot and explored how bowling ball-sized satellites, known as SPHERES, can navigate around objects. Crew members trained earlier in the week for the planned Sunday capture of the Dragon spacecraft using the 57.7 …