Orbiter.ch Space News: Space Station Science Highlights: Week of July 20, 2020

vendredi 24 juillet 2020

Space Station Science Highlights: Week of July 20, 2020

ISS - Expedition 63 Mission patch.

July 24, 2020

The week of July 20, research conducted by crew members aboard the International Space Station included studies on how microgravity affects the behavior of fluids and gene expression in mice. SpaceX Crew Dragon Commercial Crew Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley also began to pack for their return to Earth and splashdown scheduled for Aug. 2.

International Space Station (ISS). Animation 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. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, once again launching astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil, increases the crew time available for science on the orbiting lab.

Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place:

Microfluidics in microgravity

Capillary Driven Microfluidics examines capillary flows in small devices in microgravity. Capillary forces, the interaction of a liquid with the solid sides of a narrow tube that serves to draw the fluid up the tube, act even in the absence of gravity. Better methods for controlling fluids could lead to development of improved medical diagnostic tools. For example, some devices require separation of blood cells and plasma, which have different densities; microgravity improves the efficiency of this separation. During the week, the crew completed runs for the investigation.

Wrapping up analysis of gene expression changes

Animation above: NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy works on reconfiguring the Cell Biology Experiment Facility-L (CBEF-L) to close out the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) MHU-5 investigation into how microgravity affects gene expression in mice. Animation Credit: NASA.

During the week, crew members configured the Cell Biology Experiment Facility-Left (CBEF-L) to close out the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Mouse Habitat Unit -5 (MHU-5) investigation. CBEF-L is an incubator with artificial gravity generators used for various life sciences studies. MHU-5 examined the effects of partial gravity on mice using JAXA-developed mouse habitat cage units installed in the incubator. Stress caused by partial gravity may alter gene expression in cells of the body, and MHU-5 analyzes such alterations and their possible effects on germ cells, which carry genetic information and expression to subsequent generations.

Searching for dark matter

Some investigations aboard the space station operate mostly autonomously, requiring little or no involvement by the crew. One of the automated investigations collecting data during this week is the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-02 (AMS-02). Scientists theorize that stars, planets, and the molecules they contain represent less than five percent of the mass-energy content of the universe. The rest is dark energy and dark matter, which cannot be directly detected. AMS-02 looks for evidence of these substances by recording cosmic rays, highly energetic particles that bombard Earth from space.

Other investigations on which the crew performed work:

Image above: An image of Angola, Africa, taken as part of the July 2020 EarthKAM mission. Students on Earth control this special digital camera on the space station to take and examine photographs of Earth’s features. Image Credit: NASA.

- Sally Ride Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle Schools (EarthKAM) allows students to control a special digital camera and take photographs of Earth’s features so they can examine them from the perspective of space.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=87

- Astrobee tests three self-contained, free-flying robots designed to assist astronauts with routine chores, give ground controllers additional eyes and ears, and perform crew monitoring, sampling, and logistics management.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1891

- The Integrated Impact of Diet on Human Immune Response, the Gut Microbiota, and Nutritional Status During Adaptation to Spaceflight (Food Physiology) investigation documents the effects of dietary improvements on immune function and the gut microbiome and the ability of those improvements to support adaptation to spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7870

Image above: NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, and Chris Cassidy (left to right) prepare the Robotic Tool Stowage (RiTS) for installation. The new docking station stores instruments on the exterior of the space station so crew members do not have to move hardware through the airlock, allowing for quicker and simpler instrument deployment. The RiTS can store two Robotic External Leak Locators (RELLs). These tools detect leaks outside of the station, a capability applicable to any human habitation in space, including Gateway and, eventually, habitats on the Moon and Mars. Image Credit: NASA.

- The Robotic Tool Stowage (RiTS) docking station installed during this week’s spacewalk stores two Robotic External Leak Locators (RELLs), tools that detect leaks outside the space station. Keeping tools on the exterior of the station means crew members do not have to move them through the airlock when needed, allowing for quicker and simpler deployment.
https://nexis.gsfc.nasa.gov/rell.html

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