ESA ISS Science & System - Operations Status Report # 122 Increment 31

The report is compiled by ESA’s ISS Utilisation and Astronaut Support Department in cooperation with ESA’s Columbus Operations teams.
 
 
ISS Utilisation Programme
The principal focus of the European utilisation of the ISS is the Columbus laboratory, which was launched and permanently attached to the ISS in February 2008. In addition to the science taking place using the internal and external experiment facilities of the Columbus laboratory, ESA also has some further ongoing research taking place inside the Russian Segment of the ISS and in the US Destiny laboratory within international scientific collaboration agreements.
 
The current status of the European science package on the ISS is as follows:
 
 
Human Research
 
Space Headaches Experiment
ISS Flight Engineers André Kuipers (ESA) and Joe Acaba (NASA) continued filling in weekly questionnaires as part of the Space Headaches experiment, which is determining the incidence and characteristics of headaches occurring within astronauts in orbit. The weekly questionnaires follow on from one week of filling in daily questionnaires during the first week after launch on Soyuz 29S on 21 December 2011 for Kuipers and on Soyuz 30S on 15 May for Acaba. Kuipers has now completed all necessary questionnaires for the experiment in advance of his return on 1 July.
 

Vessel Imaging Experiment
On 18 June André Kuipers completed his final measurements for the Vessel Imaging experiment (in conjunction with NASAs Integrated Cardiovascular Experiment) assisted by ISS Flight Engineer Don Pettit. Pettit also undertook his final session of the experiments on 21 June assisted by Joe Acaba. The sessions consisted of an echography scans for both experiments using Human Research Facility 1 equipment in Columbus together with ECG and heart rate measurements being taken. On the ESA side support came from DAMEC and CADMOS, two of the User Support and Operations Centres for ESA, via the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany.

ESAs Vessel Imaging experiment evaluates the changes in central and peripheral blood vessel wall properties and cross sectional areas of long-duration ISS crewmembers during and after long-term exposure to weightlessness. A Lower Body Negative Pressure programme runs in parallel to Vessel Imaging. Flow velocity changes in the aorta and the middle cerebral and femoral arteries are used to quantify the cardiovascular response to fluid shifts. Vessel Imaging aims to optimise the countermeasures used routinely during long-duration space missions. The aim of the Integrated Cardiovascular experiment is to determine the degree, development and clinical significance of cardiac atrophy and identify its mechanisms.

 
Biology Research

Maintenance activities were undertaken on the major ESA biological research facilities in Columbus in the two weeks until 29 June. On 21 June André Kuipers tested three pressure relief valves on the European Modular Cultivation System in Columbus. On 27 June the Biolab facility was activated and a successful Biolab Life Support Module tightness test was performed for all except one Experiment Container as expected. The following day a Life Support Module functional test was due to take place though this has been deferred until a later date.
 
Radiation Research
DOSIS-3D experiment
Good science data has been confirmed by the science team of the Dose Distribution inside the ISS 3D (DOSIS-3D) experiment and data acquisition is ongoing using passive dosimeters located at different locations around the Columbus laboratory and two active DOSTEL detectors located inside the European Physiology Modules facility. The passive detectors are used in order to undertake 'area dosimetry' i.e. to measure the spatial radiation gradients inside the Columbus module while the active detectors are used to undertake time-dependent radiation measurements. The data from the DOSTEL detectors is downlinked via the European Physiology Modules facility.
 
The aim of the DOSIS-3D experiment is to determine the nature and distribution of the radiation field inside the ISS and follows on from the DOSIS experiment previously undertaken in the Columbus laboratory. The DOSIS-3D experiment will build on the data gathered from the DOSIS experiment by combing data gathered in Columbus with ISS International Partner data gathered in other modules of the ISS.
 
ALTEA-Shield Experiments
Data acquisition is on-going for the ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects in Astronauts)-Shield experiment in the so-called “shielding” configuration since its relocation to EXPRESS Rack 3 in Columbus on 8 June. As of 29 June 21 days of cumulative days of science acquisition had been taken. The shielding part of the ALTEA -Shield experiment is testing two different types of shielding materials (and different thicknesses of each material) against cosmic rays. This will be undertaken in two sessions scheduled to last 40 days each. This follows the ALTEA-Survey part of the ALTEA-Shield experiment series which finished on 4 December with 112 cumulative days of science acquisition in its most recent location. The Survey part of the experiment had been undertaking a 3-dimensional survey of the radiation environment in the US laboratory.
 
Solar Research
Solar Facility
A new Sun visibility window for the SOLAR facility to acquire scientific data opened on 20 June. Sun visibility windows for SOLAR, located on the external surface of Columbus, are open for the facility to acquire scientific data when the ISS is in the correct orbital profile with relation to the Sun.
 
The SOLSPEC instrument from SOLAR carried out data acquisition from the start of the Sun visibility window. The SolACES instrument was in a warm-up configuration (as a work-around to protect the instrument’s optics from degradation) in connection with the ATV reboost on 20 June. It was taken out of warm-up configuration on 22 June and started some science acquisition runs the following day. It was placed back in warm-up configuration on 24 June in connection with a ATV-3 propellant line purge event and also for a Soyuz 29S thruster test on 27 June. SolACES was again cooled down for science acquisition on 28 June though was placed back in warm-up configuration the following day in preparation of Soyuz 29S undocking.
 
The SOLAR payload facility has been studying the Sun’s irradiation with unprecedented accuracy across most of its spectral range currently for almost four years on-orbit. This has so far produced excellent scientific data during a series of Sun observation cycles. Following the conclusion of the detailed technical feasibility study for on-orbit lifetime extension the science team will be able to continue gathering further science data in a period of increasing solar activity up to 2013 and possibly beyond.
 
Technology Research
Vessel Identification System (Vessel ID)
Successful data acquisition is ongoing for the Vessel Identification System (commonly known as the Automatic Identification System, AIS), using its Norwegian receiver, and telemetry is still being successfully received by the Norwegian User Support and Operation Centre (N-USOC) in Trondheim via ESA’s Columbus Control Centre in Germany. The Vessel Identification System has acquired an extensive amount of data for two years since its installation in Columbus. Upgraded software for the NORAIS receiver was uplinked and successfully updated on 26 June.
 
The Vessel Identification System is testing the means to track global maritime traffic from space by picking up signals from standard AIS transponders carried by all international ships over 300 tonnes, cargo vessels over 500 tonnes and all types of passenger carriers. Meanwhile various service entities have been asking to get access to the Vessel ID data which is continuously acquired on Columbus.
 
ISS International Partner Research in Columbus
 
Human Research Facilities 1 and 2 (HRF-1 / -2)
During the two-week period until 29 June activities were carried out using NASAs Human Research Facilities 1 and 2 with the support of ESAs Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Don Pettit carried his fifth and final ambulatory monitoring session of NASA’s Integrated Cardiovascular experiment from 18-20 June assisted by André Kuipers with set up. This included 24-hr blood pressure measurement using ESA’s Cardiopres device, 48-hr ECG measurement with a holter device and 48-hr activity measurements using two Actiwatches. Relevant data for the experiment was downloaded to the Human Research Facility laptop two days later.
 
Kuipers and Pettit carried out related ultrasound scans for the experiment with Human Research Facility 1 equipment on 18 and 21 June respectively combined with ECG and heart rate measurements. The aim of the Integrated Cardiovascular experiment is to determine the degree, development and clinical significance of cardiac atrophy and identify its mechanisms.  
 
Don Pettit underwent an ultrasound scan on 25 June for NASA’s SPRINT protocol which is evaluating a countermeasure to bone/muscle loss and cardiovascular function impairment. Pettit was assisted in the scanning activities by ESA astronaut André Kuipers. Kuipers also underwent abdominal ultrasound scans on 28 June assisted by Don Pettit.
 
Blood draws were taken on 26 an 29 June respectively for André Kuipers for NASA's Nutrition/Repository/Pro K protocol and for André Kuipers and Don Pettit for NASA’s Integrated Immune protocol. Following the blood draws, the samples were centrifuged in the Human Research Facility 2’s Refrigerated Centrifuge before being stowed in one of the European-built MELFI freezers for return to ground for analysis.

 
ISS general system information and activities *
 
Columbus laboratory and Columbus Control Centre
In addition to the Columbus experiment facilities mentioned above, the Columbus systems have been working well. Some regular maintenance activities have been executed by the crew and the Flight Control Team on top of the regular conferences of the ISS Crew with the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Highlights of the two weeks until 29 June include:
·        

• Surface Sampling
  On 20 June ESA astronaut and ISS Flight Engineer André Kuipers carried out a visual microbial inspection of surface and air samples taken five days previously in Columbus (as well as in the US and Japanese laboratories, the three ISS Nodes and the Russian Zarya module). Samples will be returned to earth for analysis.
• Photographic Stowage Survey
  André carried out a photographic survey of the stowage situation in Columbus on 21 June covering the rack fronts, endcone quadrants and Standard Utility Panels.
• Backup Control Centre Checkout
  The Columbus Control Centre supported the checkout of the ISS Backup Control Centre in Huntsville, Alabama on 21 June. The checkout was performed after shifting the satellite link to Huntsville from Mission Control in Houston. Command and telemetry checks were successfully undertaken during the checkout which lasted about 40 minutes. In particular the S-band telemetry and command link of the Columbus Control Centre was swapped from Houston to Huntsville. Columbus Control Centre commanding capability was verified through the Backup Control Centre by sending a test command.
• WaterPump Assembly Filter Test
  The twice-yearly Water Pump Assembly Filter Test was performed on 29 June with a series of water flow selection valves being opened and the Water Pump Assembly behaviour being monitored. The valves were closed after the test.

 
Activities of ESA astronaut André Kuipers

• System Activities
  In the two weeks until 29 June, in addition to what is discussed in the rest of the report ESA astronaut and ISS Flight Engineer André Kuipers: completed loading new software on the Rack Interface Controller of EXPRESS Rack 4 and configured it for operation; and relocated two DECLIC (Device for the Study of Critical Liquids and Crystallization) lockers from EXPRESS Rack 7 in the US laboratory to EXPRESS Rack 4.
• Experiment Activities
  In addition to the European science programme detailed above ESA astronaut André Kuipers has carried out activities in support of the science programmes of ESA’s ISS partners. This included: being a subject for NASA’s ‘Reaction Self Test’ experiment which looks into how planned sleep shift for ISS crews affects performance; inspection and maintenance of Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 4 and 5 in the US Laboratory; supporting ground-controlled research activities inside JAXA’s Fluid Physics Experiment Facility for the Marangoni Inside experiment (studying thermo-capillary convection in weightlessness) by installing and connecting related equipment and cabling; being a subject of NASA’s Pro K/Nutrition/Repository protocol which is looking into dietary impact on bone metabolism and incorporates a controlled diet, urine spot tests, and urine and blood sample collection; being a subject of NASA’s Integrated Immune protocol which is validating procedures for monitoring crew member immune function (involving saliva and blood sampling); and servicing NASA’s VIABLE (eValuatIon And monitoring of microBiofiLms insidE the ISS) experiment, by touching and blowing on the top of each bag to collect environmental samples for the evaluation of microbial biofilm development on space materials.
• Health status activities
  The crew undertake health status checks on a regular basis. During the two weeks until 29 June André Kuipers has undertaken: a session of the Russian "Hematokrit" test which uses blood samples to measure red blood cell count; a session of the Russian Biochemical Urinalysis assessment; and filling in Food Frequency Questionnaires used to estimate nutritional intake for the astronauts and give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health; as well as undertaking regular exercise routines to maintain his physical well-being while in orbit. In addition Kuipers also acted as Crew Medical Officer for ISS Commander and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko for the Hematokrit test; for NASA astronaut and ISS Flight Engineer Joe Acaba for a US Periodic Fitness Evaluation; and for ISS Expedition 31 Flight Engineer and Roscosmos cosmonaut Gennady Padalka for a Russian blood chemistry analysis test.  
• Other activities
  During the two weeks until 29 June André Kuipers and the other ISS crew members have had their regular Planning Conferences with ESA’s Columbus Control Centre as well as Mission Control in Houston and Moscow, and the Japanese Flight Control Team at the Tsukuba Space Centre. In addition Kuipers also: initiated two runs of the Air Quality Monitor, used for identifying volatile organic compounds in the ISS cabin atmosphere; collected air samples in the US and Japanese laboratories; and deployed four Formaldehyde Monitoring Kits in the US laboratory and Russian Service Module to catch any atmospheric formaldehyde. Kuipers also took part in five public affairs/education TV events, including answering questions from Euronews in France on 18 June and four US events between 19 – 28 June. This included answering questions for Fox Business News in New York, the American Geophysical Union Washington; NASA’s Summer of Innovation at “Destination Imagination” at Philadelphia, and the Houston Chronicle in Texas

 
Activities in the European-built Node 3

• Exercise Equipment
  Sessions of the Treadmill Kinematics protocol were carried out by ISS Flight Engineers Joe Acaba (NASA) on 22 June, Don Pettit (NASA) on 25 June, and André Kuipers (ESA) on 26 June on the T2 COLBERT treadmill in the European-built Node 3. This protocol is making an assessment of current exercise protocols. This was in addition to the regular use, inspection and servicing of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) and the T2/COLBERT treadmill.
• Regenerative ECLSS and Additional Environmental Control Racks
  The two Water Recovery System racks, together with the Oxygen Generation System rack, form the Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) which is necessary in support of a six-person ISS Crew to help reduce upload mass. Other environmental control racks in Node 3 include an Atmosphere Revitalisation Rack and a Waste and Hygiene Compartment. Highlights of the two weeks until 29 June include: 
  • Water Recovery System racks: Sampling activities
    Don Pettit replaced the Oxidizer of the Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA), used for undertaking analysis of water samples from the Water Recovery System, on 18 June then calibrated the system with two calibration bags, one with a known amount of organic carbon the other with a known amount of inorganic carbon. Water samples were taken by André Kuipers the following day and analysed using the TOCA, the Microbial Capture Device and a Coliform Detection Bag. Visual analysis of the samples was undertaken by Pettit two days later. Kuipers took additional samples for TOCA analysis on 26 June.
  • Water Recovery System racks: Processing
     Urine containers have been offloaded into the Waste Water Tank of the Urine Processor Assembly of the Water Recovery System racks by the non-Russian crew members.
  • Waste and Hygiene Compartment
    André Kuipers replaced the Urine Receptacle hose and Insert Filter of the Waste and Hygiene Compartment on 22 June as part of regular maintenance activities.
• Cupola Activities
  Don Pettit used an infrared camera to take thermal imagery of the windows of the Cupola observation module, attached to Node 3, on 16 June which included ground-commanded on/off switching of the window heaters.

 
Crew Return Preparations   

• Orthostatic hemodynamic endurance tests
  Between 18 – 29 June Oleg Kononenko carried out an additional four orthostatic hemodynamic endurance test sessions (the final session in two parts) using either the TVIS treadmill or the T2 treadmill whilst wearing a Russian ‘Chibis’ lower body negative pressure suit. The Chibis suit, which provides stress that simulates gravity to the body’s cardiovascular/circulatory system, helps to evaluate how the Soyuz crewmember would cope with exposure to gravity on return to Earth.
• Suit Checks
  On 20 June Kononenko, Pettit and Kuipers performed the standard leak checks of their Sokol pressure suits, worn in the Soyuz spacecraft. On 25 June the three crew members carried out fit checks of their protective Kentavr anti-g suits. These suits are worn under their Sokol suits during return and landing to help the long-duration crewmembers with the return into Earth’s gravity.
• Cargo Transfers
  In the two-week period until 29 June, ISS Commander and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and ISS Flight Engineers Don Pettit and André Kuipers packed cargo for either return to earth in the Descent Module of Soyuz 29S or for disposal in the Soyuz Orbital Module. ISS Flight Engineer and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Revin also prepared and stowed three Russian bioengineering payloads for return on 29 June. On 29 June the Kononenko also removed temperature and lighting equipment from the Soyuz Orbital module for reuse after Soyuz undocking, and checked out communications from Soyuz 29S to the ground.
• Soyuz 29S Descent Drill
   A standard Soyuz descent drill was carried out by Kononenko and Kuipers on 22 June. Another drill was carried out with the two crew members with the addition of Don Pettit on 27 June. The descent drills, which took place in the Descent Module of the Soyuz 29S spacecraft are for the review of Soyuz descent procedures including emergency procedures and manual undocking. The training sessions used a descent simulator application on a Russian laptop together with a descent hand controller.
• Sampling
  Water and air samples were taken by Gennady Padalka in the Russian Service Module in the days running up to undocking of Soyuz 29S for return to earth for analysis. Kononenko also undertook surface and personal sampling from different Russian modules and from himself and other crew membrers as well as microbial air analysis for return for analysis.
• Soyuz TMA-03M/29S Motion Control Test
  Pettit, Kononenko and Kuipers, supported a ground-commanded checkout of the Soyuz TMA-03M Motion Control System on 27 June including testing the pilot’s translational hand controller and the braking thrusters.
• Change of Command Ceremony
  The official ISS change of command ceremony took place in front of all crew members on 29 June with ISS Commander Oleg Kononenko handing over command to Roscosmos cosmonaut Gennady Padalka. However as with all Expeditions, Expedition 32 will officially begin following undocking of the departing Soyuz/Expedition crew members.

 
ATV-3 Activities
Europe’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-3) docked with the ISS on 29 March 2012. Activities that have taken place in the two weeks until 29 June include:

• Cargo Transfers:
  Transfer of more than 800 kg of propellant (fuel and oxidizer)  from ATV to stowage tanks in the Russian Zarya Module was undertaken on 19 June. ATV fuel lines were purged the following week. ISS Flight Engineer and Roscosmos cosmonaut Gennady Padalka also set up pumping equipment on 28 June and water was transferred from an ATV-3 tank to an ISS water container.
• Public Relations Activities:
  More than 100 ATV-4 commemorative envelopes were stamped with an ISS stamp with the day’s date on 19 June by the Russian crew members. On 28 June a card dedicated to Bachisio Dore was also stamped as well as being signed by the ISS crew members before being stowed for return on Soyuz 29S.
• ·        
• ISS Reboost
  ATV Orbit Correction System thrusters were used to carry out a reboost of the ISS on 20 June in order set up phasing for Soyuz 29S landing. The reboost lasted 9 min 20 sec increasing the altitude of the ISS by 2.36 km.
•  

External Robotics Activities
·        

• Space Station Remote Manipulator System
  The Space Station Remote Manipulator System (the principal ISS robotic arm, known as Canadarm 2) was moved by ground commanding along with the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (known as Dextre) on 18 June in preparation of part 2 of the Robotic Refueling Mission which was successfully undertaken from 19 - 21 June. All scheduled satellite-servicing tasks were completed on the Robotic Refueling Mission module outside the ISS using Dextre attached to Canadarm 2. This consisted of three days of activities in which Dextre grasped a special tool to utilize a number of adapters and test the tools, technologies  and techniques needed to robotically repair and refuel satellites on orbit, especially those not designed to be serviced.
• Japanese Laboratory Remote Manipulator System
  Joe Acaba supported new software updates and subsequent check outs for the robotic arm on the external surface of the Japanese laboratory from 19 – 25 June in preparation for retrieval of external cargo from HTV-3 (H-II Transfer Vehicle 3) once the HTV has berthed.. After relevant primary and backup systems were updated and cables were configured, a system checkout was successfully undertaken (Robotics Laptop for the Main Arm, Crew Command Panel, Remote Manipulator System monitors etc)

Minus-Eighty degree Laboratory Freezer for the ISS (MELFI) There are three European-built MELFI freezers on the ISS: MELFI-1 and MELFI-2 in the Japanese laboratory and MELFI-3 in the US laboratory. In the two-week reporting period samples have been placed in the MELFI units for André Kuipers for NASA’s Nutrition/Repository/Pro K joint protocols (blood, urine) and for Kuipers and  Don Pettit for NASA’s Integrated Immune protocol (blood, saliva). An Electronics Unit of MELFI-1 failed following a planned power cycle in connection with troubleshooting on the Internal Thermal Control System in the Japanese laboratory. The crew successfully restored MELFI-1 to full functionality by replacing its failed Electronics Unit with an on-board spare. There was no impact on the samples inside MELFI-1.
 
PK-3+
ISS Flight Engineer Gennady Padalka continued checking the vacuum/pressure conditions in the Russian/German Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) experiment Plasma Chamber between 16 and 22 June in the Russian “Poisk” Mini Research Module 2. From 18 – 22 June different experiment runs were undertaken with the hardware.  The main objective of this experiment is to obtain a homogeneous plasma dust cloud at various pressures and particle quantities with or without superimposition of a low frequency harmonic electrical field. The PK-3+ experiment was also undertaken during the Astrolab mission with ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter.
 
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly
Following a hardware failure of the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in the US Laboratory on 16 June related to problematic temperature sensor behaviour, the hardware was recovered but the sensor was still behaving erratically. After a subsequent failure on 21 June that could not be resolved the system was taken down and the Node 3 Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly was activated, however, the Node 3 system also has an issue with valves sticking on occasion. The US laboratory system was brought back online on 23 June following a software patch which allows the system to function without feedback from this temperature sensor and the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in Node 3 was again deactivated.
 
Service Module Power Supply
The Russian crew members carried out testing on a power controller of the Russian Electric Power Supply in the Russian Service Module on 18 June to determine what is causing its deactivation through an uncommanded telemetry command. The cosmonauts tested connections at the four US to Russian power converter boxes under the TVIS treadmill and the BSK-7,5 power-switching device. Kononenko continued testing on 21 June. On 22 June the treadmill was again removed and Kononenko replaced a failed power converter box with a new spare. The TVIS treadmill, which was removed from its pit in order to undertake activities, was reinstalled afterwards.

Microgravity Science Glovebox activities
The Microgravity Science Glovebox has been active on 18, 28, and 29 June to undertake NASA research activities for the Burning and Suppression of Solids (BASS) experiment, which make use of NASAs Smoke Point In Coflow Experiment (SPICE) hardware inside the Glovebox. Acaba performed additional flame tests on different solid fuel samples. BASS is testing combustion characteristics of solid fuel samples in order to gain unique data which will help improve numerical modelling, and hence improve design tools and practical combustion on Earth by increasing combustion efficiency and reducing pollutant emission for practical combustion devices.

The Microgravity Science Glovebox was developed by ESA within the Early Utilisation barter agreement with NASA. The Glovebox provides the ability to perform a wide range of experiments in the fields of materials science, biotechnology, fluid science, combustion science and crystal growth research, in a fully sealed and controlled environment.
 
Japanese Laboratory Internal Thermal Control System
Joe Acaba carried out the coolant refill of the Internal Thermal Control System in the Japanese laboratory on 19 June. The following day Acaba installed and connected the Anti-Microbial Applicator in the Low Temperature Loop of the thermal control system to replenish the O-Phthalaldehyde levels. This was completed by 21 June. A second coolant refill was also undertaken by Acaba on 21 June. The Anti-Microbial Applicator was removed the following day. On 27, 28 June Acaba took resistance measurements of a Pump Package assembly of Thermal Control Assembly for Low Temperature Loop. This is thought to have failed due to an electrical short. A spare unit will arrive on HTV-3 on 27 July.
 
Amine Swingbed
On 20 June Don Pettit assembled and installed the new prototype Amine Swingbed payload, which is testing a more efficient way of removing carbon dioxide from the ISS cabin atmosphere, into EXPRESS Rack 8. The payload could not be completely attached as required though check out activities could be undertaken. Two of three check-out activities were completed
 
Robonaut
Testing of NASA's Robonaut hardware, the first humanoid robotic hardware in space, continued on 27, 28 June. Acaba assembled and powered up the hardware on each day and ground-commanded scripts were undertaken for Robonaut to operate valves and switches on dedicated task-boards as well as testing Robonaut’s vision software. Acaba disassembled and stowed the hardware afterwards.
 
Progress 47P Activities
ISS Flight Engineer and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Revin configured pumping equipment and flushed the transfer connection to one of Progress 47P’s Rodnik tanks on 29 June to prepare it for urine transfers back into the tank for disposal after Progress undocking. This was in addition to loading excess equipment and trash into Progress 47P also for disposal.
 
Other Activities
Other activities that have taken place on the ISS in the two-week period until 29 June include: testing WiFi functionality of an iPad tablet; checkout and activation of Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products units (which monitor cabin atmosphere to provide quick response during a fire) delivered on Progress 45P; installation of a CO₂ absorber in the Russian Service; replacing two wire rope assemblies on the TVIS treadmill’s gyroscope; troubleshooting on the SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) experiment equipment to resolve powering up issues; and installation of Torque Analyzer Kit on three EVA Pistol Grip Tools to record output torque values for ground analysis.

(*)These activities are highlights of the past two weeks and do not include the majority of standard periodic operational/maintenance activities on the ISS or additional research activities not mentioned previously. Information compiled with the assistance of NASA sources.

Contact:
Martin Zell
ESA Head of ISS Utilisation Department
martin.zell[@]esa.int

Rosita Suenson
ESA Human Spaceflight Programme Communication Officer
rosita.suenson[@]esa.int

Weekly reports compiled by ESA's ISS Utilisation Department.

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