ISS - Expedition 62 Mission patch.
Feb. 17, 2020
Scientific research taking place aboard the International Space Station the week of Feb. 10 included final operations for a study on flames in confined spaces and continued creation of virtual reality footage. Crew members spent time preparing for new scientific experiments and facilities scheduled to arrive on the Northrop Grumman 13th commercial resupply services mission. Launch of the craft from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia slipped due to weather to a targeted lift off Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3:21 p.m. EST.
Image above: The three remaining crew members, Expedition 62 members NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, are scheculed to live aboard the space station until April of this year. 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:
One last burn
Animation above: NASA astronaut Drew Morgan prepares a sample burn for the Combined Combustion investigation, which studies flame spread in confined spaces. Animation Credit: NASA.
The crew performed the final sample burn for the Confined Combustion investigation then removed and stowed the hardware. The final burn used an acrylic sample installed with black baffles. This investigation studies flame spread in confined spaces, specifically the interactions between spreading flames and surrounding walls. Flame spread in spaces such as buildings and vehicles may pose a more serious hazard than it does in open spaces because both radiative heat feedback and a tunnel flow effect both accelerate flame spread. Gravity-driven buoyancy flow complicates the study of flame spread on Earth, but buoyancy is absent in microgravity, allowing better study of the physics involved.
Good night from space
Animation above: Here one of two cinematic virtual reality cameras films footage for The ISS Experience from the orbiting lab’s cupola. The project is creating an immersive VR film intended to give audiences on Earth an up close and personal taste of the challenges of life, work and science in space. Animation Credit: NASA.
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. During the week, crew members filmed footage from the space station’s cupola and of how individual crew members prepare for sleep.
The resulting series, produced by Félix & Paul Studios in Canada, aims to give audiences a tangible experience of the challenges of adapting to life in space, the work and science conducted on the space station, and the human interaction between astronauts. The series could spark ideas for research or programs to improve conditions for crew members on future missions and to benefit people on Earth.
Clean, wireless power
Image above: An LED rectifying antenna device for the LEctenna demonstration of wireless power transmission via microwave signals. A rectifying antenna converts electromagnetic waves into direct electric current, which for the investigation powers an LED bulb. Image Credit: NRL.
The crew assembled and set up hardware for the LED rectifying antenna demonstration (LEctenna), which creates wireless power transmission via microwave signals using a rectifying antenna. These devices convert electromagnetic waves into direct electric current, used in the investigation to power an LED bulb. Similar technology could transmit energy from a space-based solar panel array in the form of microwaves to a rectifying antenna on the ground.
This project provides resources that students and teachers can use to create their own devices, promoting involvement in science, technology, engineering and math and inspiring the next generation of explorers. It also contributes to current Naval Research Laboratory work on generating solar power in space, a potential source of clean energy that would benefit people on Earth.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- Acoustic Diagnostics tests the hearing of crew members before, during, and after flight to assess possible adverse effects of noise and the microgravity environment of the space station.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7898
- Probiotics are live microorganisms that aid digestion and improve overall health. The Probiotics investigation from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) studies whether these beneficial bacteria improve the human intestinal microbiota and immune function.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2047
- 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
Related article:
New Research Launching to Station Aboard Northrop Grumman’s 13th Resupply Mission https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/01/new-research-launching-to-station.html
Related links:
Expedition 62: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition62/index.html
Confined Combustion: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7886
The ISS Experience: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7877
LED rectifying antenna demonstration (LEctenna): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8093
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
Animations (mentioned), Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 62.
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