ISS - Expedition 64 Mission patch.
Nov. 6, 2020
Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations the week of Nov. 2 that included new spacesuit cooling technology, detecting hearing impairment in noisy environments, and deployment of seven CubeSat-based studies. On Monday, Nov. 2, the space station marked 20 years of continuous human presence and scientific breakthroughs on board.
Image above: This image taken from the International Space Station shows a portion of the Andes Mountain range in southern Peru, with Lagunas Ajuachaya and Loriscota visible in the top left. Image Credit: NASA.
The orbiting lab provides a platform for long-duration research in microgravity and for learning to live and work in space, experience that 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:
Keeping spacesuits cool
Image above: Hardware for the Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment (SERFE) installed on the space station. SERFE demonstrates a new water evaporation technology to maintain appropriate temperatures in spacesuits. Image Credit: NASA.
During the week, crew members installed hardware and performed testing for Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment (SERFE), which demonstrates a new water evaporation technology to maintain appropriate temperatures in spacesuits. The investigation seeks to determine whether microgravity affects performance of the technology and evaluates its effect on contamination and corrosion of spacesuit material. On future exploration missions, SERFE technology could replace the current system that cools suits by venting small amounts of water into space to disperse as water vapor.
Can you hear me now?
Acoustic Diagnostics, an investigation sponsored by ESA (European Space Agency), tests the hearing of crew members before, during, and after flight to assess possible adverse effects of background noise on the space station. These effects are a function of time spent onboard, so it is important to detect and quantify symptoms early. Mild hearing impairment, whether temporary or permanent, could lead to more significant impairment during future long-duration space exploration. Results from this investigation could support development of portable devices to accurately diagnose hearing issues even in a noisy environment such as the station.
Seven small satellites
Image above: NASA astronaut Kate Rubins sets up the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer for Mission 19, the release of seven CubeSats carrying various governmental and educational research. Image Credit: NASA.
The Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) is a modular, ground-loaded launch case used to deploy small satellites from the space station. NRCSD Mission 19 launched a total of seven satellites during the week: Bobcat 1, which tests measurement of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) estimates of time differences between constellations of satellites; SPOC, a camera used to create high spectral resolution images that can monitor coastal wetlands and water quality; NEUTRON-1, which maps neutron abundance in low-Earth orbit to advance understanding of the relationship between Earth and the Sun; two members of the LEMUR2 constellation of remote sensing satellites that monitor weather as well as global aviation and maritime traffic; DESCENT, a test using wires called electrodynamic tethers that collect and eject electrons from Earth’s magnetic field to slow down and eventually remove satellites from orbit; and SAT-LLA, a platform for testing communication between satellites and the ground using light.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- Soil Health in Space: Determination of Gravitational Effects on Soil Stability for Controlled Environment Agriculture (Rhodium Space Rhizosphere) examines how spaceflight affects soil aggregates in order to help improve food production in space and on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8305
- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (JAXA-ELF) uses electrostatic levitation to eliminate the need for a container to better examine the behavior of the materials, which is only possible in microgravity.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1738
- Radi-N2 Neutron Field Study (Radi-N2), a Canadian Space Agency investigation, uses bubble detectors to map the neutron environment aboard the space station and better define the risk posed to the health of crew members.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=874
- Food Acceptability, Menu Fatigue, and Aversion in ISS Missions (Food Acceptability) looks at how the appeal of food changes during long-duration missions. Whether crew members like and actually eat foods directly affects caloric intake and associated nutritional benefits.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7562
Space to Ground: We Are One: 11/06/2020
Related links:
Expedition 64: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition64/index.html
Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment (SERFE): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7514
Acoustic Diagnostics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7898
The Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1196
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 64.
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