SpaceX - Dragon CRS-17 Mission patch.
April 18, 2019
Dragon’s 17th Flight Carries Science to the Space Station
A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft scheduled to launch in late April takes supplies and a variety of scientific experiments to the International Space Station. Lifted into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the craft represents the 17th SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services contract mission for NASA.
Image above: The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft shown moments after its capture with the Canadian Space Agency’s Canadarm2 robotic arm. NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold controlled the capture as the International Space Station orbited over Quebec, Canada in July 2018. Image Credit: NASA.
Read more about some of the scientific investigations traveling to the space station on this launch.
Measuring atmospheric CO2 from space
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) examines the complex dynamics of Earth’s atmospheric carbon cycle. Installed on the Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility, called JEM-EF, it collects measurements to quantify variations in a specific type of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Having the observatory on the space station enables sampling during all sunlit hours and targeted local mapping of emission hotspots.
Image above: NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3 (OCO-3) and Space Test Program-Houston 6 (STP-H6) shown in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for launch to the space station. Robotically installed on the outside of the space station, OCO-3 measures and maps atmospheric carbon dioxide to provide further understanding of the relationship between carbon and climate. Image Credit: NASA.
OCO-3’s precise measurements will provide scientists with a better understanding of surface carbon dioxide sources and storage sinks on regional scales, as well as the processes controlling their variability from seasonal cycles. Understanding these sources and sinks can help in forecasting increased atmospheric heat retention and reducing its long-term risks. The investigation preserves continuity of previously collected atmospheric records.
Putting microalgae on the menu
Current life support systems in space use physicochemical processes, such as steam and chemical reactions, to generate oxygen and water and remove carbon dioxide from the space station. The Photobioreactor investigation demonstrates using biological processes to create a hybrid life support system. The investigation tests the cultivation of microalgae for food and as part of a life support system to generate oxygen and consume carbon dioxide.
On future long-duration missions, this approach could reduce the amount of food, water and other essentials that crews have to bring from Earth. This type of research on the station is critical for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight, and necessary for a sustainable presence on the Moon and missions deeper into the solar system, including Mars.
Organs on Chips advance human health research
Image above: An example of a Tissue Chip in Space device. These contain human cells in a three-dimensional matrix used in investigations that test how various types of cells respond to stresses, drugs, and genetic changes. Image Credits: NASA Photo/Josh Valcarcel.
Tissue chips, or organs on chips, are small devices that contain human cells in a three-dimensional matrix. Scientists use them to test how those cells respond to stresses, drugs and genetic changes. This launch includes four Tissue Chips in Space investigations:
- Lung Host Defense in Microgravity uses a lung and bone marrow organ-on-a-chip to compare response to infection in microgravity and on Earth. The investigation expands understanding of the biological basis of immune system suppression in space and provides insight into ways to counter it: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7984
- Cartilage-Bone-Synovium Microphysiological System studies how spaceflight affects musculoskeletal disease and tests potential drugs for preventing progression of Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis, arthritis that occurs after loss of cartilage and bone due to a traumatic joint injury: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7663
- Organs-On-Chips as a Platform for Studying Effects of Microgravity on Human Physiology analyzes the effect of microgravity and other space-related stressors on the brain blood barrier. This may provide insight into the relationship between inflammation and brain function and a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7912
- Effects of Microgravity on the Structure and Function of Proximal and Distal Tubule MPS (Kidney Cells) examines how kidney health is affected by microgravity and other factors of space travel, including water conservation and recycling, and altered dietary intake. Knowledge gained can help protect the health of astronauts and contribute to better treatments for kidney related conditions on Earth: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7819
These investigations are a collaboration between the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes for Health and the ISS U.S. National Lab in partnership with NASA
Multi-use microgravity experiment platform
Image above: The Hermes Facility headed to the International Space Station supports material investigations with applications to asteroids, planetary science, and exploration. Image Credits: NASA/Johnson Space Center.
Hermes is a reconfigurable on-orbit facility that provides a platform for investigations with applications to asteroids, planetary science, and exploration. These investigations will provide researchers with insight into the formation and behavior of asteroids and comets, impact dynamics, and planetary evolution. The facility is capable of accommodating up to four experiments at a time and can operate for hours, days, or even months. Hermes is equipped with lighting to illuminate experiments as necessary and four sets of cameras to provide imagery or video for experiment monitoring. Depending on a particular investigation, Hermes may contain different mechanical components and sensors to obtain additional data.
Watching cells make DNA repairs
Increased exposure to radiation in space can cause damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) known as double strand breaks. Cells repair these breaks but such repairs are prone to errors, causing insertions or deletions of DNA bases. Buildup of these errors can have detrimental effects, such as cancer, and affect the long-term health of astronauts.
Image above: The miniPCR is used for Genes in Space investigations aboard the International Space Station. Spaceflight causes many changes to the human body, including alterations in DNA and a weakened immune system and this technology enables DNA studies in space that can help safeguard crew health. Image Credit: NASA.
Genes in Space-6 evaluates the process of DNA repair in the spaceflight environment by causing double strand breaks in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and assessing the subsequent mutations and repairs while still in space. The Miniature Polymerase Chain Reaction (miniPCR) and the MinION sequencer tools aboard the space station make this assessment possible.
Highlights of Science Launching on SpaceX CRS-17
Related links:
Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1786
JEM-EF: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=134
Photobioreactor: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7426
Tissue Chips in Space: https://ncats.nih.gov/tissuechip/projects/space
ISS U.S. National Lab: https://www.issnationallab.org/
Genes in Space-6: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7893
Miniature Polymerase Chain Reaction (miniPCR): https://www.minipcr.com/
MinION: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/biomolecule_sequencer
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), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/JSC/International Space Station Program Science Office/Melissa Gaskill.
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