ISS - Expedition 62 Mission patch.
March 27, 2020
The three crew members aboard the International Space Station during the week of March 23 continued to carry out scientific investigations, including studies of the human gut microbiome and cardiovascular changes seen in space.
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:
Tiny inhabitants of the human gut
Image above: NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan places samples in cold stowage in the Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). Image Credit: NASA.
Genomics Investigation of Human Gut Microbiome to Determine Effects of Microgravity Exposures (Rhodium Space Microbiome) examines the effects of spaceflight on the human gut microbiome, the complex communities of bacterial species living in our gastrointestinal systems. The gut microbiome plays a role in overall human health and well-being, and studies show a connection between changes in its structure and function and multiple chronic and acute diseases. Understanding how these changes affect human health and performance could help protect people on future missions. During the week, the crew placed several samples into incubation and removed others for cold stowage in the Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI).
Potential relief for stiff arteries
Image above: NASA astronaut Jessica Meir conducts an ultrasound for the CSA’s Vascular Echo investigation. It examines changes in blood vessels and the heart while crew members are in space and follows their recovery after return to Earth. Image Credit: NASA.
As humans get older on Earth, arteries stiffen, causing an increase in blood pressure (hypertension) and elevating the risk for cardiovascular disease. Recently, some crew members returning from space have had much stiffer arteries than before their flight. Cardiac and Vessel Structure and Function with Long-Duration Space Flight and Recovery (Vascular Echo), sponsored by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), examines changes in blood vessels and the heart while crew members are in space and follows their recovery on return to Earth. The results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain the health of crew members on future missions and improve quality of life for people on Earth. The crew conducted a variety of measurements for the investigation during the week, including monitoring blood pressure and performing ultrasounds.
A new exterior space station facility
The crew unpacked Bartolomeo from the SpaceX Dragon capsule during the week in preparation for its installation on the outside of the European Columbus module. This external payload hosting facility from the ESA (European Space Agency) and Airbus is designed to serve commercial and institutional users, hosting payloads as small as 3 Units (3U) and offering an unobstructed view both toward Earth and into space. Airbus provides comprehensive mission services including technical support in preparing the payload, launch and installation, operations and data transfer and optional return to Earth. Potential applications include but are not limited to Earth observation, robotics, material science and astrophysics.
Airbus, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, offers UN Member States the opportunity to fly a payload on Bartolomeo. Developing countries are particularly encouraged to participate, and the mission is devoted to addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Bartolomeo was the name of the younger brother of Christopher Columbus.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
Image above: Engineered Heart Tissues looks at how adult human heart tissue functions in space using a unique three-dimensional culture of adult human cardiac muscle tissue embedded with tiny magnetic posts and an external magnet-based sensor to provide real-time measurement of muscle contractions. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir conducts operations for the investigation in the Life Sciences Glovebox. Image Credit: NASA.
- Engineered Heart Tissues looks at how adult human heart tissue functions in space using a unique three-dimensional culture of adult human cardiac muscle tissue embedded with tiny magnetic posts and an external magnet-based sensor to provide real-time measurement of muscle contractions.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8217
- The STaARS BioScience-9 investigation examines the rates of production of isobutene from a genetically modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Isobutene is a widely used biofuel, and producing it from cultures aboard spacecraft could enhance the sustainability of future long-duration missions.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7783
- BioFabrication Facility (BFF) tests the printing of organ-like 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
Animation above: NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan share dinner aboard the space station. A current investigation examines whether “menu fatigue” resulting from a limited choice of foods over time may contribute to the loss of body mass often experienced by crew members. Animation Credit: NASA.
- Food Acceptability examines the effect of repetitive consumption of the food currently available during spaceflight. “Menu fatigue” resulting 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
- Radi-N2, a Canadian Space Agency investigation, uses bubble detectors to better characterize the neutron environment on the space station, which could help define the risk this radiation source poses to crew members and provide data necessary to develop advanced protective measures for future spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=874
Space to Ground: Embracing Self Isolation: 03/27/2020
Related links:
Expedition 62: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition62/index.html
Rhodium Space Microbiome: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8240
MELFI: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=56
Vascular Echo: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1664
Bartolomeo: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7799
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300
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/Jack Griffin/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 62.
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