ISS - Expedition 61 Mission patch.
Jan. 6, 2020
The crew of the International Space Station conducted a variety of scientific investigations the week of Dec. 30, including research on fire in contained spaces and monitoring equipment with robots. On Dec. 28, NASA astronaut Christina Koch set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, a 288-day flight that included conducting the first all-woman spacewalk with crewmate Jessica Meir. The current schedule has Koch returning to Earth on Feb. 6.
Now in its 20th year of continuous human presence, the space station provides a platform for long-duration research in microgravity and for learning to live and work in space. Experience gained on the orbiting lab supports Artemis, NASA’s program to go forward to the Moon and on to Mars.
Image above: Shown here in the space station’s cupola, NASA astronaut Christina Koch made history on Dec 28, 2019, breaking the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. When she arrives back on Earth in February 2020, Koch will have spent more than 300 days in space, surpassing former Station Commander Peggy Whitson's record. Image Credit: NASA.
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place:
Confining fire
The Confined Combustion investigation studies flame spread in confined spaces, specifically the interactions between spreading flames and surrounding walls. Flame spread in such spaces, including buildings and vehicles, may pose a more serious hazard than it does in open spaces. Gravity-driven buoyancy flow, which creates the shape and flickering of candles on Earth, complicates the process on our planet. Microgravity allows better study of the physics of flame spread. This investigation supports development of models to help prevent or extinguish fires effectively in space. Crew members performed various sample ignitions for the investigation this past week.
Research with robots
Several current investigations involve using and testing robotic technology. Investigation of Deep Audio Analytics (SoundSee) tests using an audio sensor on Astrobee to monitor the space station’s acoustic environment. Astrobee, a mobile robotic platform, can detect sound anomalies in the components inside a machine that may indicate impending equipment failure. The platform therefore could enable autonomous monitoring of the health of spacecraft infrastructure such as life support and exercise equipment. The crew completed unpack and inspection of hardware for SoundSee during the week.
Animation above: NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan performs operations for SPHERES-ReSwarm, an investigation that tests algorithms to control multiple uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs). These “swarms” could perform a variety of tasks aboard spacecraft, freeing up crew time for more complex scientific activities. Animation Credit: NASA.
The crew also performed the last operations of SPHERES-ReSwarm for the year using both the Blue and Red SPHERES satellites in several configurations. This investigation tests algorithms to control a swarm of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs). Multiple UAVs versus single ones can better perform tasks such as manipulating objects or providing full environment coverage.
Image above: Two SPHERES satellites float in front of a banner celebrating the space station’s 20th year during operations for SPHERES ReSwarm. The investigation tests algorithms for controlling multiple uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs). Image Credit: NASA.
A slow boil
The crew prepared The Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) for operation of Multiscale-Boiling, an ESA (European Space Agency) investigation into the basics of heat transfer under different boiling conditions. The data could validate theoretical models and numerical codes for conducting fluid physics research in microgravity. Conducting boiling experiments in microgravity allows observation of effects that are too fast and too small to measure under normal gravity conditions. Understanding the dynamics of boiling heat transfer in space is essential to the design of future applications such as cryogenic fuel storage, propulsion and electronics cooling.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- Radi-N2, an investigation by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), characterizes the neutron radiation environment on the space station to help define the risk to crew members and support development of advanced protective measures for future spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=874
- RR-19 examines the potential benefits of targeting the myostatin (MSTN) and activin signaling pathways to prevent skeletal muscle and bone loss during spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8075
- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Space Moss investigation determines how microgravity affects mosses. Tiny plants without roots, mosses grow in a very small area, an advantage for their potential use on long space voyages.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7892
- BioFabrication Facility (BFF) tests the printing of human organs and tissues in microgravity, a first step toward manufacturing entire human organs in space using refined biological 3D printing techniques.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7599
Image above: NASA astronaut Christina Koch handles media bags for the BioFabrication Facility (BFF), a 3-D biological printer that could become a part of a larger system capable of manufacturing fully functioning human organs from an individual’s cells in microgravity. Image Credit: NASA.
- Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) studies the use of DNA sequencing to identify microbial organisms and improve understanding of how humans, plants and microbes adapt to living in space.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7687
- 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
- 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
- NutrISS, an investigation by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), assesses the body composition of crew members during spaceflight using a device that measures long-term energy balance modification over time. The ESA’s EveryWear application transmits data to the nutritional team on the ground.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7875
- 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
Related links:
Expedition 61: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition61/index.html
Confined Combustion: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7886
Deep Audio Analytics (SoundSee): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7860
Astrobee: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1891
SPHERES-ReSwarm: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7753
Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=258
Multiscale-Boiling: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8224
ISS National Lab: https://www.issnationallab.org/
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), Animation (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 61.
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