IMPORTANT NOTES
All information added or updated since this page first went up on October 9, 2012, is in GREEN TEXT below.
Information still to be determined (if any) is in RED TEXT below.
Last update of this page: November 16, 2012, 2:59 pm ET
Quick Jump:
1. Introduction and Nomenclature for the Log
2. Pre-Launch Activities
3. Launch and Docking
4. Flight Experiment Log, On-Orbit Operations: Mission 2 Antares Payload
5. Flight Experiment Log, On-Orbit Operations: Mission 1 Aquarius II Re-flight Payload
6. Undocking and Landing
7. Return of Experiments to Student Teams
1. Introduction and Nomenclature for the Log
This page provides student flight experiment teams a log of activities conducted with the SSEP Mission 2 Antares payload, and SSEP Mission 1 Aquarius II re-flight payload from the time the mini-laboratories are received in Houston before the flight to the point when the mini-labs are shipped back to the flight teams after the flight. While the page will feature progress reports on the status of the SSEP payload in general, its main purpose is to provide updates on the handling of the mini-laboratories in orbit to the flight experiment teams as quickly as possible. The teams are advised to bookmark this page and check it for updates during the mission.
As per the SSEP Mission 2 to ISS: Flight Phase Operations page:
Updates to Student Teams on the Progress of Their Experiment
Astronauts will work with the SSEP payload at times that fit best in their overall work schedule each day. This means that the payload may be handled at a different time of the day on different days, and while the SSEP program team may know the astronauts’ planned work schedule a few days in advance, we’ll not know exactly when the payload is handled until the task is complete. After the astronauts have completed handling of the SSEP payload, NanoRacks will forward a report on the activity to the SSEP program team, which will then post the details, including the time at which the payload was handled, on the SSEP Mission 2 to ISS: Experiment Log page to make the information available to all student teams as quickly as possible. The report will be posted as soon as it is received, but it may take up to 24 hours for the information from the International Space Station to make its way to the log. That means, for example, that the details of an activity conducted by the astronauts on October 22 will be posted on the Experiment Log by the afternoon of October 23.
Conducting the Ground Truth Experiments
Ground truth experiments – that is, control versions of the experiment conducted on Earth at the same time as the microgravity experiment is being conducted in orbit – are an essential part of analyzing the results of the flight experiment. Given that it may take up to a day to receive a report on exactly when specific activities were conducted with the SSEP payload aboard the ISS, the student teams may want to shift activities with their ground truth experiments by at least a day. That will allow teams to ensure that activities they carry out on their ground truth experiments accurately reflect what was done with their experiment aboard the station. For example, if the team’s experiment was scheduled to be activated on October 22 and deactivated on October 24 aboard the ISS, the team may want to plan for their ground truth experiment to be activated on October 23 and deactivated on October 25, so that the ground truth experiment can match the precise times of the activation and deactivation of the flight experiment aboard the Station. This is especially important for experiments that are sensitive to the exact timing. For example, if an experiment is likely to produce different results depending on whether it is active for 40 or 45 hours, the teams will want to match the exact timing of the experiment aboard the station with their ground truth experiment.
Nomenclature: The purpose of this log is to provide to the flight experiments teams information on the handling of their experiment, as well as providing updates on the progress of the Mission. For this log, the individual experiments are assigned an identifier using a prefix “SSEPM2” for Mission 2 experiments, and “SSEPM1” for Mission 1 re-flight experiments, followed by a number assigned to each experiment (see Section 4 below).
September 25, 2012: 23 flight experiment mini-laboratories were reported received by NanoRacks in Houston for payload integration. This included: 11 flight experiments for Mission 2 to ISS, comprising the Antares payload; and 12 of 15 flight experiments for Mission 1 to ISS, comprising the Aquarius II re-flight payload. Note: 3 flight teams have decided not to refly their Mission 1 experiments: two experiments from Cincinnati, OH, and one from Charles County, MD.
October 6, 2012: NanoRacks reports that Antares and Aquarius II payloads were integrated into the SpaceX Dragon vehicle.
October 7, 2012, 8:35 pm ET: SpaceX-1 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
October 10, 2012, 9:03 am ET: SpaceX Dragon berths with ISS – Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams reports – Capture is confirmed! “Looks like we’ve tamed the Dragon”.
October 10, 2012: The Antares SSEP Mission 2 to ISS experiments payload and the Aquarius II Mission 1 experiments re-flight payload were transferred from Dragon to ISS.
4. Flight Experiment Log, On-Orbit Operations: Mission 2 Antares Payload
Interactions Scheduled Prior to Flight (subject to change) CLICK ON TABLE TO ZOOM
Record of Reported On-Orbit Interactions
SSEPM2-01: Santa Monica, CA, What Is the Effect of Microgravity on the Formation of Silly Putty and How Do the Characteristics of That Silly Putty Differ from the Silly Putty Made on Earth?
(A+1) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:45 pm ET, 10/12/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: between 12:20-12:50 pm ET, 10/12/12
(U-21) Time of NCESSE Notification: 8:31 am ET, 10/28/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 7:12 am ET, 10/28/12
(U-14) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:50 am ET, 11/04/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:36 am ET, 11/04/12
(U-5) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:54 am ET, 11/13/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:25 am ET, 11/13/12
SSEPM2-02: East Lyme, CT, Effectiveness of Hydrogen Peroxide on Aspergillus Niger Growth in Microgravity
(U-2) Time of NCESSE Notification: 1:16 pm ET, 11/16/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 12:15 pm ET, 11/16/12
SSEPM2-03: Chicago, IL, Shmooing Around in Space
(A+1) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:45 pm ET, 10/12/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: between 12:20-12:50 pm ET, 10/12/12
SSEPM2-04: Cicero, IL, Charlotte Goes to Space
SSEPM2-05: Fitchburg, MA, Will Microgravity Have a Significant Affect on Packed Synthetic HBOCs?
SSEPM2-06: Pennsauken, NJ, The Effects of Uric Acid on Bone Deterioration Within a Microgravity Environment Compared with That on Earth
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:20 am ET, 10/11/12
(A+1) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:45 pm ET, 10/12/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: between 12:20-12:50 pm ET, 10/12/12
(A+3) Time of NCESSE Notification: 4:01 pm ET, 10/14/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:15 am ET, 10/14/12
(U-21) Time of NCESSE Notification: 8:31 am ET, 10/28/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 7:12 am ET, 10/28/12
(U-2) Time of NCESSE Notification: 1:16 pm ET, 11/16/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 12:15 pm ET, 11/16/12
SSEPM2-07: Guilford County, NC, Mold Reproduction Rate in Microgravity
(U-5) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:54 am ET, 11/13/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:25 am ET, 11/13/12
(U-2) Time of NCESSE Notification: 1:16 pm ET, 11/16/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 12:15 pm ET, 11/16/12
SSEPM2-08: Houston, TX, One Small Step for Bacteria, One Giant Leap for Mankind
(U-5) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:54 am ET, 11/13/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:25 am ET, 11/13/12
(U-2) Time of NCESSE Notification: 1:16 pm ET, 11/16/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 12:15 pm ET, 11/16/12
SSEPM2-09: Presidio, TX, The Effect of Microgravity on the Growth of Lactobacilli Acidophilus
(U-5) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:54 am ET, 11/13/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:25 am ET, 11/13/12
(U-2) Time of NCESSE Notification: 1:16 pm ET, 11/16/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 12:15 pm ET, 11/16/12
SSEPM2-10: Russell County, VA, The Rate of Oxidation in a Microgravity Environment
(A+3) Time of NCESSE Notification: 4:01 pm ET, 10/14/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:15 am ET, 10/14/12
SSEPM2-11: Shoreline, WA, Crystal Growth with Impurities in Microgravity
(U-21) Time of NCESSE Notification: 8:31 am ET, 10/28/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 7:12 am ET, 10/28/12
5. Flight Experiment Log, On-Orbit Operations: Mission 1 Aquarius II
Re-flight Payload
Interactions Scheduled Prior to Flight (subject to change) CLICK ON TABLE TO ZOOM
Record of Reported On-Orbit Interactions
SSEPM1-01: San Marino, CA, Effect of Microgravity on the Antibacterial Resistance of P. aeruginosa
(A+1) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:45 pm ET, 10/12/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: between 12:20-12:50 pm ET, 10/12/12
(A+3) Time of NCESSE Notification: 4:01 pm ET, 10/14/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:15 am ET, 10/14/12
SSEPM1-02: West Hills, CA, Microgravity Wine
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
(A+3) Time of NCESSE Notification: 4:01 pm ET, 10/14/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:15 am ET, 10/14/12
SSEPM1-03: Hartford, CT, How Does Parathyroid Hormone Affect Changes in Bone Mass in Microgravity?
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
(A+6) Time of NCESSE Notification: 7:31 am ET, 10/17/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 7:12 am ET, 10/17/12
SSEPM1-04: Washington, DC, Does Hay Bacillus Break Down Human Waste (Represented by Brown Egg) in Microgravity as Well as in Earth Gravity?
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
SSEPM1-05: Lake County, IN, Effect of Microgravity on Reproduction of Curli Producing E. coli O157:H7 438950R
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
(A+3) Time of NCESSE Notification: 4:01 pm ET, 10/14/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:15 am ET, 10/14/12
SSEPM1-06: Ida County, IA, Killifish in Space
(U-5) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:54 am ET, 11/13/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:25 am ET, 11/13/12
SSEPM1-07: Charles County, MD, The Physiological Effects of Microgravity and Increased Levels of Radiation on Wild-Type and Genetically Engineered Caenorhabditis elegans, NO DATA TO BE RECORDED
SSEPM1-08: Fitchburg, MA, Effect of Arthrobacter on Polyethylene Decomposition Rate in Microgravity
(U-14) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:50 am ET, 11/04/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:36 am ET, 11/04/12
SSEPM1-09: Pleasanton and Norris, NE, Escherichia coli in Microgravity
(U-2) Time of NCESSE Notification: 1:16 pm ET, 11/16/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 12:15 pm ET, 11/16/12
SSEPM1-10: Cincinnati, OH, Spider Development and Gravity, NO DATA TO BE RECORDED
SSEPM1-11: Houston, TX, Hepatocyte Development in Bioscaffolds infused with TGFB3 in Microgravity
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
(A+1) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:45 pm ET, 10/12/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: between 12:20-12:50 pm ET, 10/12/12
SSEPM1-12: El Paso, TX, The Effect of Microgravity on the Use of Cactus Mucilage for Water Purification
(U-14) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:50 am ET, 11/04/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:36 am ET, 11/04/12
(U-5) Time of NCESSE Notification: 10:54 am ET, 11/13/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:25 am ET, 11/13/12
SSEPM1-13: Houston, TX, Will Vitamin C Preserve Bone Density in Microgravity?
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
SSEPM1-14: Cincinnati, OH, Yeast in Space, NO DATA TO BE RECORDED
SSEPM1-15: Lake County, IN, The Effect of Microgravity on the Quality and Nutritional Value of the Seed Sprout of a Germinated 92M72 Genetically-Modified Soy Bean
(A=0) Time of NCESSE Notification: 6:18 am ET, 10/11/12; Action: Activated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 5:40 am ET, 10/11/12
(A+3) Time of NCESSE Notification: 4:01 pm ET, 10/14/12; Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:15 am ET, 10/14/12
(A+6) Time of NCESSE Notification: 7:31 am ET, 10/17/12; Action: Deactivated; When Action Occurred on ISS: 7:12 am ET, 10/17/12
Soyuz 31S undocked from ISS and returned to Earth November 19, 2012. Commander Sunita Williams returned to Earth with the Aquarius II and Antares payloads.
7. Return of Experiments to Student Teams
The SSEP on-orbit research opportunity is enabled through NanoRacks LLC, which is working in partnership with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory.