What tasks will be included in the light-duty day on station?
The International Space Station will soon be launching a new crew, and the day before the launch is always designated a day of light-duty for the existing astronauts.
What is Light-Duty Day?
Light-Duty Day is designed to give the current inhabitants of the space station a relaxed day before the incoming crew arrives, as the existing astronauts will usually be busy helping the new arrivals to settle in once they arrive.
Light-Duty Day gives the astronauts a chance to relax and reflect before the start of their new mission. Typically, the astronauts will take some time to review the station’s mission objectives, check the status of the equipment, and spend time on personal maintenance or housekeeping tasks.
Activities During Light-Duty Day
During Light-Duty Day, the astronauts will often:
- Take time to review mission objectives: Astronauts will review the mission objectives they have been assigned as well as their own performance goals.
- Check the status of station equipment: The crew will check to make sure all station equipment is in working order and make any necessary repairs.
- Spend time on personal maintenance: Astronauts may take care of things such as cleaning the station, restocking supplies, and taking care of any personal hygiene needs.
- Talk to Ground Control: Before the launch of the new crew, the existing astronauts will usually talk to ground control to make sure they are prepared for the upcoming mission.
Conclusion
Light-Duty Day on the International Space Station is an important day for the existing crew before the incoming astronauts arrive. It’s a chance for the astronauts to take a moment to reflect and make sure everything is in order before the start of a new mission.
NASA has taken another positive step towards the recent Crew-6 launch, as preparations continued at the International Space Station (ISS). The agency is getting ready to send four astronauts to the ISS on November 14, marking the first crew rotation mission since the SpaceX Crew-1 launch with four astronauts in November of last year.
The preparations began with a light-duty day of activities aboard the station, as NASA’s NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Victor Glove dove into the checklist and preparations designed to ensure the Crew-6 crew was ready when they arrived. Rubins and Glove checked out the interfaces used between the station and vehicles that dock with it, such as spacecraft, cargo ships, and vehicles for spacewalks. The duo confirmed the components of the station’s remote power controller, communications, and GPS localization system were in working order.
The light-duty day of preparations was complemented by rigorous training simulations on the ground, allowing the astronauts to get familiar with a system’s unique characteristics before having to implement them in orbit. This ensured that only the best protocols and procedures were used to keep the crew and their visitors safe throughout the duration of the mission.
The Crew-6 mission comes with three new residents on the station and a returning crewmember, astronaut Jeanette Epps, who previously flew with the Crew-18 mission. Epps, who will serve as a flight engineer, will be stepping in while veteran station commander Mike Hopkins takes a short break before sticking around to welcome the new arrivals.
The Crew-6 mission will bring the total number of crew members on the ISS to nine until their departure in mid-2021, when the next four astronauts will be set to arrive. With such a large number of people onboard, it is just as important to keep the station clean and efficient as it is to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the crew.
NASA is hard at work making sure everything is running smoothly, so the crew can continue their important research into space and the effects of microgravity on the human body. With the help of the astronauts and their preparations, the Crew-6 mission is sure to be a success.