IMPORTANT NOTES
All information added or updated since this page first went up on July 8, 2016 is in GREEN TEXT below.
Information still to be determined (if any) is in RED TEXT below.
Dates and times that are subject to change at NASA’s discretion are in PURPLE TEXT below.
Last update of this page: September 7, 2016, 5:07 pm ET
Quick Jump:
1. Introduction and Nomenclature for the Log
2. Pre-Launch Activities
3. Launch and Berthing
4. Flight Experiment Log, On-Orbit Operations: Mission 8 Odyssey II Payload
5. Undocking and Landing
6. Return of Experiments to Student Teams
1. Introduction and Nomenclature for the Log
This page provides student flight experiment teams a log of all activities associated with the 15 flight experiments comprising the SSEP Mission 8 Kitty Hawk payload from the time the mini-laboratories are received in Houston before the flight of SpaceX CRS-9 to the point when the mini-labs are shipped back to the flight teams after return to Earth. While this page will feature general progress reports on the status of the SSEP M8 Kitty Hawk payload, its main purpose is to provide updates to the student flight experiment teams as quickly as possible regarding the handling of their mini-laboratories on station, so that they can effectively conduct their ground truth experiments. The teams are advised to bookmark this page and check it for updates during the mission.
As per the SSEP Mission 8 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 of the day that fit best in their overall work schedule. Even though crew interactions with the experiments are to take place on pre-specified Crew Interaction Days, the time of interaction can vary from one Crew Interaction day to the next. 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 at NCESSE, and we will then post the details – including the time at which the payload was handled – on this 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 the afternoon of a specified Crew Interaction Day will be posted on the Experiment Log no later than the afternoon of the following day (and likely far sooner than that).
Conducting Your Ground Truth Experiments
Ground truth experiments – the control versions of the experiment conducted on Earth while the microgravity experiment is being conducted in orbit – are an essential part of analyzing the results of the flight experiment. Once the flight experiment returns to Earth, simultaneous harvesting and analysis of both the flight experiment and the ground truth experiments allows the research team to assess the role of gravity in the physical, chemical, or biological system under study. It is hard to imagine how the role of gravity can be determined without ground truth experiments conducted at the same time as the flight experiment.
However, given that it may take up to a day to receive a report on exactly what time of day a specific activity was conducted with an experiment aboard the ISS, student teams are encouraged to shift activities with their ground truth experiments by 1 day (24 hours). That will allow teams to ensure that the timing of activities they carry out on their ground truth experiments accurately reflects the timing of activities with their experiment aboard the station. This is especially important for experiments that are sensitive to exact timing. For example, if a microbiological experiment is likely to produce different results depending on whether it is active for 40 or 50 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 the student flight experiment 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 a flight Designation such as “NRP-10009-4, S/N 1021” together with the Community and Experiment names (see Section 4 below).
Originally Projected Launch Date: March 21, 2016
SSEP Mission 8 to ISS Kitty Hawk Payload
Ferry Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-9 (SpaceX Falcon rocket with Dragon spacecraft)
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Rescheduled: to NET May 7, 2016
Rescheduled: to NET July 5, 2016
On February 19, 2016 Rescheduled: to June 24, 2016 (TBD)
On May 22, 2016 Rescheduled: to July 16, 2016, targeted for 1:32 am ET
On June 16, 2016 Rescheduled: to July 18, 2016, targeted for 12:45 am ET
July 18, 2016, 12:45 am ET: SpaceX CRS-9 launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
July 18, 2016, 1:13 am ET via NASA Press Release: “The spacecraft will be grappled to the space station at 7 a.m.Wednesday, July 20, by NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, supported by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins.”
July 20, 2016, 6:56 am ET: NASA’s Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams and NASA Flight Engineer Kate Rubins captured the Dragon CRS-9 spacecraft using the Canadian arm.
July 20, 2016, 10:03 am ET: Dragon was bolted into place for berthing on the Harmony module.
4. Flight Experiment Log, On-Orbit Operations: Mission 8 Kitty Hawk Payload
Interactions Scheduled Prior to Flight (subject to change) CLICK ON TABLE TO ZOOM
Record of Reported On-Orbit Interactions
NRP-10009-4, S/N 1020: Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Investigation of the Susceptibility of Escherichia coli B-strain Bacteria to Ampicillin in a Microgravity Environment
(U-5) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:42 AM ET, 08/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:47 PM ET, 08/21/16
(U-2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
NRP-10009-5, S/N 1020: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (RU), Growth of Pleurotus ostreatus in Microgravity
(A+2) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 8:30 AM ET, 07/23/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 5:41 PM ET, 07/23/16
(U-14) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
NRP-10009-6, S/N 1020: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (UTS), Levels of Sphingomyelinase (ASM2) in Caenorhabditis elegans in Microgravity
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(U-14) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
NRP-10009-7, S/N 1020: Santa Ana, California, Investigation of Water Absorption
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(A+2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken/Clamp Closed (Blue Clamp Closed); When Action Occurred on ISS: 8:30 AM ET, 07/23/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 5:41 PM ET, 07/23/16
NRP-10009-8, S/N 1020: Vista, California, Microgravity’s Effect on Raphanus sativus Seed Germination
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(U-2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
NRP-10009-9, S/N 1020: Dover, Delaware, Will seeds germinate within a microgravity environment and in which direction they will germinate?
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(U-14) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
NRP-10009-1, S/N 1024: Boise, Idaho, Effect of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 on Collagen Integrity in Microgravity
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(A+2) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 8:30 AM ET, 07/23/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 5:41 PM ET, 07/23/16
(U-14) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
(U-5) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:42 AM ET, 08/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:47 PM ET, 08/21/16
(U-2) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
NRP-10009-2, S/N 1024: Montgomery County, Maryland, How does microgravity affect the storage of Probiotics medicine?
No crew interactions requested.
NRP-10009-3, S/N 1024: Prince George’s County, Maryland, Hot Pepper Power!
(U-14) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
(U-2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
NRP-10009-4, S/N 1024: Kansas City, Missouri, The Shape and Growth of Small Mushrooms in Space
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(U-5) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:42 AM ET, 08/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:47 PM ET, 08/21/16
NRP-10009-5, S/N 1024: Elizabeth, New Jersey, The ladybug cycle
(A=0) Action: Activated (not shaken); When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(U-14) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
NRP-10009-6, S/N 1024: New York, New York (Intrepid), How does microgravity affect the germination of pot mum seeds?
(U-14) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
(U-2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
NRP-10009-7, S/N 1024: New York, New York (NEST+m), The Effect of Microgravity on Bacterial Biofilm Formation on Soft Contact Lenses
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(U-2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
NRP-10009-8, S/N 1024: Suffolk County, New York (Wyandanch), Effects of microgravity on lactobacillus growth
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(A+2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 8:30 AM ET, 07/23/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 5:41 PM ET, 07/23/16
NRP-10009-9, S/N 1024: Suffolk County, New York (S. Huntington), The Effect of Microgravity on How Detergent plus Polymer Beads Clean a Cotton Cloth
(A=0) Action: Activated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:54 PM ET, 07/21/16
(A+2) Action: Deactivated/Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 8:30 AM ET, 07/23/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 5:41 PM ET, 07/23/16
(U-14) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 11:30 AM ET, 08/12/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:48 PM ET, 08/12/16
(U-5) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 10:42 AM ET, 08/21/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 3:47 PM ET, 08/21/16
(U-2) Action: Shaken; When Action Occurred on ISS: 4:14 AM ET, 08/24/16; Time NanoRacks Notified NCESSE: 11:07 AM ET, 08/24/16
July 18, 2016, 1:13 am ET via NASA Press Release: “Dragon is scheduled to depart the space station Monday, Aug. 29. After splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, west of Baja California, more than 3,300 pounds of science, hardware, crew supplies and spacewalk tools will be returned to shore.”
July 29, 2016: NanoRacks reports that an earlier undock date of Friday, August 26 is now planned. U-14, U-5, and U-2 crew interactions will slide to correlate with the new undock.
August 22, 2016 via NASA Media Advisory: Dragon spacecraft will be detached from the Harmony module using the Canadarm 2 robotic arm at 6:10 a.m. ET. Engines will fire at 10:56 a.m. ET to begin the descent back to Earth. Splashdown in the Pacific off the coast of Baja, California is expected at 11:47 a.m. ET. Back-up departure date is Sunday, August 28.
August 26, 2016: Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth, splashing down off the coast of Baja in the Pacific at 11:47 a.m. ET.
6. Return of Experiments to Student Teams
August 30, 2016: All flight mini-labs were return shipped to student flight teams from NanoRacks per the specifications provided by the Community.
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) is a program of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) in the U.S., and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education internationally. It is enabled through a strategic partnership with NanoRacks LLC, working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory. SSEP is the first pre-college STEM education program that is both a U.S. national initiative and implemented as an on-orbit commercial space venture.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), and Subaru of America, Inc., are National Partners on the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.