ISS - Expedition 63 Mission patch.
Sept. 18, 2020
Scientific work conducted during the week of September 14 aboard the International Space Station included studies of the simultaneous flow of gas and liquid and the behavior of high-temperature materials in space, as well as a continuation of the Advanced Colloid Experiments (ACE).
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:
Examining two-phase flow in space
The Packed Bed Reactor Experiment-Water Recovery (PBRE-WR) investigation, which uses the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), examines the rates at which a gas and liquid flow simultaneously (known as two-phase flow) through a filter in the space station water processor. This investigation could help define the best flow rates for gas and liquid in water processors in microgravity, improving their efficiency and performance for future long-term space exploration. A better understanding of two-phase flow also could benefit design and manufacturing of systems that use it on Earth. This week, crew members stowed the PBRE hardware in anticipation of the arrival on the next cargo resupply mission of scientific investigations that require use of the MSG.
Using levitation for better materials
Image above: The JAXA Electrostatic Levitation Furnace, used to examine the behavior of materials in high temperature manufacturing. Image Credit: NASA.
In order to produce glass, metal alloys, or other materials on Earth, mixtures of raw materials are heated in a container called a crucible. But chemical reactions between the materials and the crucible can cause imperfections and contaminations in the final product. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (JAXA-ELF) uses electrostatic levitation to eliminate the need for a container, something only possible in microgravity, and examine the behavior of the materials. The crew configured cables to allow ground teams to initiate software updates for ELF during the week.
Assembling 3D colloid structures
Image above: Hardware for the ACE-T-Ellipsoids investigation, which uses microgravity to examine the relationships among particle shape, crystal symmetry, density, and other fundamental properties of complex three-dimensional colloids. Colloids are small particles suspended within a fluid medium. Image Credit: NASA.
During the week, crew members reconfigured the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) in preparation for runs of The Nonequilibrium Processing of Particle Suspensions with Thermal and Electrical Field Gradients (ACE-T-Ellipsoids), part of ongoing colloid research on the space station. This investigation designs and assembles complex three-dimensional colloids – small particles suspended within a fluid – and controls density and behavior of the particles with temperature. This control is important for the use of colloids in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Colloidal structures also are vital to the design of advanced optical materials. Microgravity provides insight into the relationships among particle shape, crystal symmetry, density, and other fundamental properties.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- The Confocal Space Microscope (Confocal Microscope) is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) facility that provides fluorescent images of biological samples.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7428
- The Burning Rate Emulator (BRE) investigation is a fire safety study conducted in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) as part of the Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) project.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7629
- The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Water Recovery System (JWRS) investigation from JAXA demonstrates a way to generate drinkable water from urine.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2049
- ISS Ham Radio gives students an opportunity to talk directly with crew members via ham radio when the space station passes over their schools. 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
- Genes in Space-6 examines the entire process of DNA damage and repair in space for the first time by inducing DNA damage in a yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and assessing mutations and repairs using the miniPCR and Biomolecule Sequencer tools aboard the space station.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7893
- 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
- Crew members regularly photograph various features and natural events on Earth using digital handheld cameras for the Crew Earth Observations (CEO) investigation. Photographs are publically available at the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=84
Related links:
Expedition 63: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition63/index.html
PBRE-WR: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8068
Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=341
JAXA-ELF: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1738
ACE-T-Ellipsoids: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8166
Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=351
Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth: https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
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/overview.html
International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
Images (mentioned), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 63.
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