ISS - Expedition 60 Mission patch.
Sept. 20, 2019
Recent scientific studies conducted on the International Space Station include assessing crew body mass and energy use, examining accelerated aging and testing probiotics. The Expedition 60 crew also began preparations for arrival of members of Expedition 61. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and a ROSCOSMOS spaceflight participant from the United Arab Emirates, Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, are scheduled to launch in a Soyuz spacecraft Sept. 25. The space station provides a platform for long-duration research on how living in microgravity affects the human body and testing technologies for traveling farther into deep space, which supports Artemis, NASA’s plans to go forward to the Moon and on to Mars.
Image above: Actor Brad Pitt called the space station from NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Sept 16. Pitt talked to NASA astronaut Nick Hague about the movie Ad Astra, what it is like to live in space and some of the science conducted on the space station, and Artemis, NASA’s program to return humans to the moon. Image Credit: NASA.
Here are details on some of the science conducted on the orbiting laboratory during the week of Sept. 16:
Eat This, Not That
The crew performed measurements, filled out questionnaires and took photos for Nutrition Monitoring for the International Space Station (NutrISS), a periodic assessment of body composition (body weight, fat mass and fat-free mass) during spaceflight. Long duration spaceflight changes body composition and causes loss of body mass. The investigation uses a dedicated bio-impedance analysis device to measure an individual’s long-term energy balance modification over time. The data suggest that a diet maintaining a near-neutral energy balance or increasing protein intake can limit microgravity-induced bone and muscle loss of crew members.
Image above: NASA astronaut Drew Morgan works out on the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT) while behind him, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano uses the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). Crew members exercise daily to counter bone and muscle loss caused by microgravity. A number of human health investigations track the effectiveness of different lengths and intensities of exercise. Image Credit: NASA.
Better Understanding of Aging
The crew performed operations for Rodent Research-17 (RR-17), an investigation that uses younger and older mice as model organisms to evaluate the physiological, cellular and molecular effects of the spaceflight environment. Some responses to spaceflight in humans and model organisms such as mice resemble accelerated aging. This investigation provides a better understanding of aging-related immune, bone and muscle disease processes, which may lead to new therapies for use in space and on Earth.
Harnessing the Power of Beneficial Bacteria
The human immune system is weaker in space and, at the same time, some species of harmful bacteria become stronger and more virulent in microgravity. Both pose an increased risk to crew member health. The Probiotics investigation studies whether beneficial bacteria or probiotics can improve the intestinal microbiota and immune function of crew members. If so, probiotics could help protect astronaut health on long-duration space missions. Crew members collected saliva samples and completed questionnaires for the investigation.
Image above: The Expedition 60 crew gathers for a meal that includes fresh fruit and canned and pre-packaged dishes, with condiments to spice things up. Ongoing research on the space station looks at nutrition, energy intake, and the appeal and enjoyment of the menu for crew members. Image Credit: NASA.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- Space Moss determines how microgravity affects the growth, development and other features of moss. Tiny plants without roots, mosses need only a small area for growth, an advantage for their potential use in space and future bases on the Moon or Mars.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7892
- RADI-N2, a Canadian Space Agency investigation, characterizes the neutron radiation environment aboard the space station to help define the risk to the health of crew members and provide data for development of advanced protective measures for future spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=874
- The Micro-15 investigation examines the mechanisms behind observations that microgravity affects gene expression and stem cell differentiation and proliferation using three-dimensional cultures of mammalian stem cells.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7653
- The Microgravity Crystals investigation crystallizes a membrane protein that is integral to tumor growth and cancer survival.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7977
- Food Acceptability examines changes in the appeal of food aboard the space station during long-duration missions. “Menu fatigue” from repeatedly consuming a limited choice of foods may contribute to the loss of body mass often experienced by crew members, potentially affecting astronaut health, especially as mission length increases.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7562
- UAE Palm Growth examines germination of palm tree seeds in order to determine the best conditions for generating tissue samples for research and observes and documents root growth in microgravity for educational purposes.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8080
- Standard Measures captures a consistent set of measures from crew members to characterize how their bodies adapt to living in space.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7711
Space to Ground: Dress Rehearsals: 09/20/2019
Related links:
Expedition 60: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition60/index.html
NutrISS: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7875
Rodent Research-17 (RR-17): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7992
Probiotics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2047
ISS National Lab: https://www.issnationallab.org/
Spot the Station: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/
Images (mentioned), Video, Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/Johnson/Vic Cooley, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 60.
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