ISS - Expedition 53 Mission patch.
Nov. 23, 2017
(Highlights: Week of November 6, 2017) - Crew members aboard the International Space Station contributed to research dedicated to topics ranging from human health to robotics to astrophysics.
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei set up the Airway Monitoring system in the US Laboratory module, Destiny, and powered on the Enhancement Unit and the Portable Pulmonary Function System (PFS) for a software upgrade from the ground. Using the PFS, Vande Hei later performed calibrations and conducted high and low nitric oxide (NO) measurements in Destiny. With dust particles present in the space station atmosphere, Airway Monitoring studies the occurrence and indicators of airway inflammation in crewmembers, using ultra-sensitive gas analyzers to analyze exhaled air. This could help to identify health impacts and support maintenance of crewmember well-being on future human spaceflight missions, such as to the moon and Mars, where crewmembers will have to be more self-sufficient in identifying and avoiding such conditions.
Image above: A view of Madagascar from the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA.
At the start of the week, Vande Hei collected saliva samples and completed a questionnaire for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Multi-Omics experiment. The samples will be placed into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Multi-omics investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts’ immune function. It examines changes in gut microbiological composition, metabolite profiles, and the immune system.
At the end of the week, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Paolo Nespoli initiated the first of four sampling phases of the JAXA Probiotics investigation by collecting fecal samples and immediately stowing the samples into the MELFI. The sampling phases include fecal and saliva sample collections, a questionnaire, and a Probiotic capsule intake. Some species of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella grow stronger and more virulent in the microgravity environment of space. At the same time, the human immune system is weaker in space, leading to increased health risks. The objective of the Probiotics investigation is to study the impact of continuous consumption of probiotics on immune function and intestinal microbiota in astronauts under a closed microgravity environment.
Image above: Crew members tested out footpads that were designed by High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) students. The pads are designed to protect the tops of astronauts’ feet when they hook them under handrails as they move and work aboard the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA.
This week, NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik created a photo panorama of the interior of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) to prepare for the Astrobee investigation. Astrobee is set to arrive in spring 2018, and consists of three self-contained, free flying robots and a docking station for use inside the station. The robots are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity, to assist astronauts with routine chores and to give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the space station. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew monitoring, sampling and logistics management.
At the start of the week, the AMS-02 laptop hard drive failed. Astronaut Joe Acaba replaced the drive and installed software. AMS-02 has collected and analyzed billions of cosmic ray events, and identified millions of these as electrons or positrons (anti-matter). Solving the origin of cosmic rays and antimatter increases understanding of our galaxy.
Image above: Documentation of the Airway Monitoring Kit following replacement of components from Resupply Kit 1. Image Credit: NASA.
The crew also worked on Microbial Tracking-2, Veg-03, Earth Imagery from ISS, Meteor, ISS HAM, Story Time from Space, Biochemical Profile, Fine Motor Skills, Lighting Effects, Space Headaches, ACE-T-6, and Two-Phase Flow investigations.
Related links:
Airway Monitoring: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1172.html
JAXA - Multi-Omics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1949.html
Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/58.html
JAXA - Probiotics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2314.html
Astrobee: https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee
AMS-02: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/742.html
Microbial Tracking-2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1920.html
Veg-03: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1294.html
Earth Imagery from ISS: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2617.html
Meteor: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1323.html
ISS HAM: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/346.html
Story Time from Space: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1287.html
Biochemical Profile: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1008.html
Fine Motor Skills: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1767.html
Lighting Effects: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2279.html
Space Headaches: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/181.html
ACE-T-6: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1968.html
Two-Phase Flow: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1083.html
Space Station Research and Technology: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html
International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expeditions 53 & 54.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch