jeudi 23 avril 2015

Experiment Work Inside and Outside Space Station












ISS - Expedition 43 Mission patch.

April 23, 2015

The Expedition 43 lab assistants conducted biomedical science in the International Space Station on Wednesday April 22. Meanwhile, controllers on the ground will remotely maneuver the Canadarm2 outside the station to experiment with the possibility of servicing satellites on orbit for longer missions.

The crew participated in a wide variety of life science studies. The Myco experiment, which analyzes nose, throat and skin samples, examines how microorganisms on the space station can affect a crew member’s allergies and illnesses. Another study, Interactions, explores how crews from different cultures learn to work with each other. More Rodent Research work took place, as the astronauts readied samples for return to Earth and checked out the rodents’ habitat.


Image above: The International Space Station’s Canadarm2 and Dextre is seen outside the SpaceX Dragon cargo ship. Image Credit: NASA.

Crew members also underwent medical exams, checking vital signs such as temperature and blood pressure. Later there were crew eye checks as doctors on the ground explore how microgravity affects vision.

The Robotics Refueling Mission, a joint study between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, investigates satellite repair and servicing techniques in space. Operators on the ground use the station’s special purpose dexterous manipulator, better known as Dextre, on the end of the Canadarm2, for fine robotics manipulation. Engineers are looking to determine whether it’s possible to refuel satellites and test electrical connections robotically.

Related links:

Robotics Refueling Mission: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/946.html

Myco experiment: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/747.html

Interactions experiment: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/175.html

Rodent Research: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1824.html

For more information about the International Space Station (ISS), visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Images (mentioned), Text, Credit: NASA.