Blogs

On Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 5:00pm – 6:00pm CDT, Marshall scientists Mitzi Adams, Sabrina Savage and Alphonse Sterling will be taking questions about the partial solar eclipse on the NASA Marshall Twitter account: http://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall, using the hashtag #askNASA. At approximately 4:54 p.m. CDT, the eclipse will begin, with maximum eclipse occurring at 5:54 p.m. The partial eclipse …

United States On-orbit Segment (USOS) Crew Day Off / SpaceX Unberth Delay:  Today was a USOS Crew day off, resulting from a delay to unberth SpaceX-4 Dragon.  Due to forecasts of high seas at the time of splashdown, SpaceX-4 unberth and landing has been delayed until this coming Saturday, October 25th.  Dragon loading and hatch …

Commercial Protein Crystal Growth High Density Modified (CPCG-HM): Gerst reviewed CPCG-HM experiment overview reference file and procedures.  He then deactivated samples, powered down, and placed CPCG-HM inside a Merlin+4 deg C unit for return on Dragon/SpaceX (SpX)-4.  CPCG-HM is a National Laboratory Office experiment that is intended to demonstrate the scientific and commercial value of …

NanoRacks Module 9:  Wilmore performed session 4 of 5 Nanoracks Module 9. He retrieved the module and activated/deactivated/shook the designated mixture tubes to facilitate NanoRacks Module-9 experiments. Module-9 is a collection of student research projects utilizing the NanoRacks Mixsticks. The NanoRacks-National Center for Earth and Space Science Education investigation results from a commercial Science Technology, …

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) 28:  Wiseman and Wilmore completed EVA 28 today.  Hatch opening was on time at 7:15am CDT and the EVA was completed with a planned Phased Elapsed Time (PET) of 6 hours and 35 minutes.  All primary objectives were successfully completed as follows: Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) 3A Remove and Replace (R&R) Articulating …

Zebrafish Muscle: On Saturday Gerst performed a water exchange of Aquatic Habitat aquarium water and a water quality measurement.  Today he performed water maintenance, another water quality measurement and installed a cable to allow for troubleshooting of the Image Processing Unit (IPU).  This experiment asks if the atrophy of muscles under the condition of microgravity …

Zebrafish Muscle:  Gerst performed the water quality measurement of aquarium water.  This experiment asks if the atrophy of muscles under the condition of microgravity also occurs in zebrafish and why their atrophy occurs in the microgravity. Space Headaches:  Gerst and Wiseman completed space headaches questionnaires. The objectives of this study are to obtain in-flight data …

Cardio Ox (Human Research):  Wiseman, acting as the Crew Medical Officer operator, took flight day 15 Blood pressure and ultrasound measurements of Wilmore.  The objective of Cardio Ox is to determine whether biological markers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after space flight and whether this results in an increased, long-term risk …

Nanoracks Module-9:  Gerst continued with Module-9 operations which began in Increment 40. This is the 3rd of 5 module-9 sessions.  Today’s activities included deactivating and shaking designated mixture tubes. This 3rd session is performed 14 days before SpaceX-4 unberth.  Module-9 is a collection of student research projects utilizing the NanoRacks Mixsticks.The NanoRacks-National Center for Earth …

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) 27:  Wiseman and Gerst conducted EVA 27 today with Wilmore providing support using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS).  Phased Elaped Time (PET) for today’s EVA was 6 hours and 12 minutes.  They completed all primary objectives as follows: Retrieved Failed Pump Module from Payload ORU Accommodation (POA) and installed onto …