ISS - Expedition 61 Mission patch.
Jan. 24, 2020
The week of Jan. 20, crew members aboard the International Space Station worked on a number of scientific investigations, including studies of using probiotics to improve immune health and of complex plasmas, as well as measurements of black holes and Earth’s upper atmosphere. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch conducted their third spacewalk together on Jan. 20, completing replacement of batteries that store and distribute solar power on the space station. The crew also continued operations for the departure of the Cygnus cargo craft, currently planned for Jan. 31, and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) prepared for Saturday’s fourth and final spacewalk to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02).
Image above: NASA astronaut Jessica Meir uses pistol grip tools while attached to an articulating portable foot restraint during her third spacewalk with NASA astronaut Christina Koch to finalize an upgrade for power systems on the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA.
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.
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place:
Studying complex plasmas
The crew took photos of the Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4) system and packed hard drives for return to Earth on a Soyuz supply craft. A collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), PK-4 studies complex plasmas, or low temperature gaseous mixtures of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles. When the micro-particles become highly charged, they interact strongly with each other and can form self-organized structures called plasma crystals. Plasmas occur throughout the universe, from the interstellar medium to the heat shields of spacecraft re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Understanding how plasma crystals form in microgravity could shed light on plasma phenomena in space and lead to new research methods and improved spacecraft designs. Analyzing different influences on complex plasmas also could lead to improvements in industries that use plasmas on Earth.
Beneficial bacteria
Probiotics are live microorganisms that aid human digestion. The Probiotics investigation studies whether these beneficial bacteria improve the human intestinal microbiota and immune function. Some species of harmful bacteria may grow stronger in microgravity, while the human immune system becomes weaker in space, leading to increased risk to the health of astronauts on long-duration missions. Incorporating probiotics into food for future space missions could provide basic nutrition and help safeguard the health of crew members. The investigation also could shed light on changes that take place in bacteria during spaceflight, benefiting efforts to reduce infections. The crew performed sampling activities for the ongoing investigation during the week.
Meanwhile, outside the space station
Image above: View of the Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) device attached to ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station) Logistics Carrier-2 (ELC-2). NICER observed matter orbiting within a few hundred kilometers of the event horizon, evidence confirming the object as a relatively lightweight black hole binary. Image Credit: NASA.
The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) provides high-precision measurements of neutron stars and other X-ray astrophysics phenomena through observations in the electromagnetic band in which these stars radiate significant portions of their energy. Since July of 2019, NICER has been observing a recent outburst of the X-ray binary EXO 1846-031, last detected in 1985. The mission measured the most ever high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), oscillations related to matter orbiting at a significant fraction of the speed of light within a few hundred kilometers of the event horizon, the boundary beyond which even light cannot escape and, thus, nothing can be observed. The data provide evidence confirming the object as a relatively lightweight black hole binary, only three to four times the Sun’s mass.
Animation above: SAGE-III, an instrument attached to the outside of the space station, collects measurements of stratospheric ozone and other gases, water vapor, and aerosols, or tiny particles in the atmosphere, which together protect life on Earth from some of the harsh effects of the Sun. Animation Credit: NASA.
Another instrument on the outside of the space station, SAGE-III, began operation in July 2017 and continues to collect measurements of stratospheric ozone and other gases, water vapor, and aerosols, or tiny particles in the atmosphere. These essentially make up Earth’s “sunscreen,” protecting the planet and life on it from some of the harsh effects of solar radiation.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- Food Acceptability examines the effect of repetitive consumption of the food currently available during spaceflight. “Menu fatigue” from a limited choice of foods over time 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. This interaction engages and educates students, teachers, parents and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=337
- Actiwatch, a sleep-wake monitor worn by a crew member, analyzes circadian rhythms, sleep-wake patterns, and activity. The data are used in a number of studies on sleep and biological rhythms.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=838
- 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
- Astronauts show accelerated arterial stiffening, thicker artery walls, and other aging-like changes after spending six months in space. Vascular Aging monitors these changes using artery ultrasounds, blood samples, and other measures to identify risk and possible mechanisms for reducing that risk.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7644
- HERMES is a reconfigurable, on-orbit facility for providing long-duration exposure to the microgravity and vacuum conditions of space. It provides customizable experiment tools, data downlink, data storage, autonomous monitoring, and ground commanding of lighting and cameras.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7557
Space to Ground: Upgrading the Station: 01/24/2020
Related links:
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=729
Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1192
Probiotics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2047
Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1705
SAGE-III: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=976
ISS National Lab: https://www.issnationallab.org/
Spot the Station: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/
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), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 61.
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