Expedition 41 Begins Unloading New Research Delivered on Dragon
The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft approaches the International Space Station on Sept. 23, 2014.
The gantry arms close around the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft that will launch the new Expedition 41/42 trio Sept. 25, 2014 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Image Credit:
NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Four weeks of cargo transfers officially kicked off Wednesday as astronauts Reid Wiseman and Alexander Gerst began offloading 4,885 pounds (2,216 kg) of science, supplies and other gear.
SpaceX CRS-4 was captured at the International Space Station Tuesday morning and was quickly attached to the Harmony node. The crew opened the hatch to the Dragon commercial space freighter a day
early and entered the vehicle for checks.
A variety of experiments has been delivered including the ISS Rapid Scatterometer and Rodent Research-1. ISS RapidScat will explore how winds over the ocean affect weather patterns. Rodent Research-1 consists of mice, a habitat and research hardware to observe the effects of spaceflight on living systems.
Gerst transferred a science freezer from Dragon for installation in an EXPRESS rack inside the Destiny laboratory. The freezer known as GLACIER, or General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator, stores scientific samples at temperatures ranging from +4°C (39°F) to -160°C (-301°F). He also relocated lockers in an EXPRESS rack that will house the Rodent Research hardware.
Gerst had time before lunch to prepare samples to start incubation for the Cell Mechanosensing experiment. That study observes how cells and tissues respond to long term microgravity conditions.
He also transferred more cellular research gear for the Micro-8 study from Dragon in the Destiny laboratory. He inserted the gear into a Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus inside an EXPRESS rack.
Wiseman started his morning on maintenance for the COLBERT treadmill inside the Tranquility node. He swapped computers from the Cupola and Tranquility to troubleshoot a connection to the COLBERT.
Afterward, Wiseman photographed the configuration of Dragon as Gerst entered the vehicle to begin cargo transfers. The duo also reviewed emergency procedures necessary while Dragon is attached to the station. Wiseman then unpacked Double Coldbags from Dragon that are part of science freezer hardware. Finally, he and Gerst got back together for a conference with payload specialists to discuss operations with the Rodent Research-1 hardware.
Commander Max Suraev started his morning with a backup voice check for communications from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. He then sampled the air inside the Dragon as is customary for new cargo vehicles.
Suraev then spent the rest of the morning on a trio of science experiments. He started with the VIZIR study which seeks to improve Earth observation photography techniques. He then moved on to Virtual for work to determine how a crew member’s vestibular system adjusts to weightlessness. Finally, he checked hardware for the Otklik experiment that is studying ways to detect and record micrometeoroid impacts on the International Space Station.
During the afternoon, the commander spent time with the Interaction study that observes crew dynamics among personal, cultural and national differences. Suraev than conducted a ham radio session with students from Quito, Ecuador.
Three new Expedition 41 crew members are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan counting down to their launch Thursday at 4:25 p.m. EDT. Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev and Flight Engineers Barry Wilmore and Elena Serova are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan making final preparations for their six-hour, four-orbit ride to the station’s Poisk docking compartment inside the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft.
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