Orbiter.ch Space News: Space Station Science Highlights: Week of December 9, 2019

vendredi 13 décembre 2019

Space Station Science Highlights: Week of December 9, 2019

ISS - Expedition 61 Mission patch.

Dec. 13, 2019

Scientific investigations conducted aboard the International Space Station the week of Dec. 9 included studies of protein crystal growth and how changes in gravity affect the way a person manipulates an object. After docking the 19th SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-19) Dragon craft on Dec. 8, the crew began unloading its supplies and new scientific experiments.

Image above: NASA Astronaut Christina Koch with hardware for the Cold Atom Lab (CAL), an experiment that produces clouds of atoms chilled to temperatures much colder than deep space so scientists can study fundamental behaviors and quantum characteristics. Image Credit: NASA.

The space station, now in its 20th year of continuous human presence, conducts research critical to future missions such as Artemis, NASA’s program to go forward to the Moon and on to Mars.

Here are details on some of the scientific investigations taking place on the orbiting lab:

Higher quality protein crystals

The crew initiated protein crystallization growth inside the FROST2 facility for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Protein Crystallization Growth (JAXA-PCG). This investigation grows high quality protein crystals in microgravity and returns them to Earth for detailed structural analysis. This analysis contributes to design of new pharmaceuticals and catalysts for a wide range of industries. Scientists have performed protein crystallization experiments in space for more than 20 years, as the absence of gravity produces better quality crystals.

Image above: Magnification of protein crystals grown in space by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) PCG investigation. Image Credit: JAXA.

Mighty mice in space

Crew members prepared and filled habitats for the Rodent Research -19 (RR-19) investigation, which evaluates using a myostatin inhibitor to prevent the muscle and bone loss experienced in microgravity. Myostatin (MSTN) and activin are molecular signaling pathways that influence muscle degradation. RR-19 uses the Bone Densitometer (BD), which measures the mass per unit volume (density) of minerals in bone. This research could provide valuable data to support clinical trials of therapies for a wide range of conditions that affect muscle and bone health. Such research is particularly important for conditions that involve disuse muscle atrophy, or muscle wasting due to immobility or lessened activity seen in patients experiencing extended bed rest and the elderly.

Image above: NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan performs medical checks inside the U.S. Destiny laboratory module following an exercise session. Prescribed exercise and regular medical monitoring are part of several ongoing investigations into how the human body adapts to space and ways to counteract its negative effects. Image Credit: NASA.

Bio-printing on demand

The BioFabrication Facility (BFF) tests a technology to print organ-like tissues in microgravity as a step toward manufacturing human organs in space using refined biological 3D printing techniques. In test runs during the week, the crew successfully printed three “bio-inks” and achieved a thickness double that accomplished on the ground. All printed samples later return to ground for analysis. The BFF is a step toward manufacturing human organs and tissues in space, primarily for use by patients on Earth. This capability also could help maintain the health of crews on future exploration missions by, for example, producing personalized pharmaceuticals on demand.

International Space Station (ISS). Animation Credit: NASA

Getting a grip in space

The crew performed several sessions for the GRIP investigation. Developed by the ESA (European Space Agency), it tests how the human nervous system takes into account forces due to gravity and inertia when manipulating objects. Results may provide insight into potential hazards astronauts could face as they manipulate objects in different gravitational environments. In addition, the investigation could provide information useful for the evaluation and rehabilitation of impaired upper limb control in patients with neurological diseases. It also could support design and control of haptic interfaces, systems that allow humans to interact with a computer through bodily sensations and movements, for use in challenging environments.

Image above: The SpaceX Dragon CRS-19 shown as the Canadarm2 robotic grapples and installs it to the Harmony module as the International Space Station orbits at the edge of darkness approximately 260 miles above the Earth. Image Credit: NASA.

Other investigations on which the crew performed work:

- Inertial Spreading slows down and magnifies a drop of water spreading over and through a metal object designed to resemble properties of a sponge. It uses detailed video observations to create a benchmark for computer simulations of more complicated devices and materials.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7680

- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Space Moss investigation examines how microgravity affects the growth and development of mosses. Tiny plants without roots, mosses grow in a very small area, a possible advantage for their potential use on long space voyages and future bases on the Moon or Mars.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7892

- The Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) produces clouds of atoms chilled to temperatures much colder than deep space so scientists can study fundamental behaviors and quantum characteristics that are difficult or impossible to probe at higher temperatures.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7396

- XENOGRISS, developed by the Italian Space Agency, studies the effect of microgravity on the processes of growth and regeneration. Results could prove relevant both for space exploration and disease prevention and treatment on Earth, and assessment of the best diet for the experimental model organism contributes to studies on nutrition for long-duration spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7924

- Bio-Monitor, a device developed by the Canadian Space Agency, uses wearable sensors to monitor and record heart rate, respiration rate, skin temperature and other parameters from astronauts during their daily routines.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7392

- The ISS Experience creates virtual reality videos from footage taken by astronauts of different aspects of crew life, execution of science and the international partnerships involved on the space station.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7877

- Food Acceptability examines how the appeal of food changes 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

- Standard Measures captures an ongoing, optimized set of measures from crew members to characterize how their bodies adapt to living in space. Researchers use these measures to create a data repository for high-level monitoring of the effectiveness of countermeasures and better interpretation of health and performance outcomes.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7711

- ISS HAM gives students an opportunity to talk directly with crew members via ham radio when the space station passes over their school.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=337

Space to Ground: Holiday Traffic: 12/13/2019