ISS - Expedition 65 Mission patch.
April 30, 2021
During the week of April 26, crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted research on self-assembling colloid structures, the role of gravity in controlling human movement, and flame behavior in microgravity.
Image above: The approaching SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying Crew-2 is visible through a window of the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience, which brought Crew-1 to the station in Nov., 2020. Image Credit: NASA.
The space station has been continuously inhabited by humans for 20 years, supporting many scientific breakthroughs. 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:
From tiny colloids to complex structures
Image above: Hardware for the ACE-T-2 investigation examining the self-assembly of complex structures from colloids, which could be the building blocks of new materials with a variety of potential applications. Image Credit: NASA.
ACE-T-2 examines using colloids, mixtures of tiny particles suspended in a liquid, for the self-assembly of complex structures. Part of the Advanced Colloids Experiments (ACE) series of investigations coordinated through NASA’s Glenn Research Center, ACE-T-2 uses temperature to control particle interactions and structure growth. Complex colloidal structures are common in nature and living matter, and results could lead to a better understanding of self-assembly processes and better ways to grow complex materials. Such materials have potential applications ranging from the food and drug industries to consumer products and electronic devices. Studying colloids on Earth is complicated by gravity, but microgravity makes possible research that can lead to better product design. During the week, the crew changed out the module inside the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) for ACE-T-2 runs.
Motion in Microgravity
To control the movement and position of our bodies and evaluate the distance between our bodies and other things, humans combine what we see, feel, and hear with information about movement from the inner ear or vestibular system. VECTION, a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) investigation, looks at how changes in gravity affect these abilities, which could affect mission activities. Data collection at multiple time points during flight and after return to Earth allows researchers to investigate how astronauts adapt to and recover from these effects The investigation also could help drivers, pilots, and robotic manipulators while controlling vehicles in low-gravity environments. During the week, crew members performed sessions for the investigation.
International Space Station (ISS). Animation Credits: NASA
Observing flames
The Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) include six independent studies of flames that seek to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution from combustion on Earth and help prevent fires in spacecraft. ACME investigations are conducted in the space station’s Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR), which includes a combustion chamber, gas bottles, and five cameras for observing flames. The research aimed at spacecraft fire prevention examines different materials, including how to put them out when burning, conditions needed for a material to continue burning, and the effectiveness of existing methods to screen and select materials for spacecraft. The crew replaced controllers for ACME during the week.
Space to Ground: Endeavour and Resilience: 04/30/2021
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- GRIP studies how spaceflight affects a person’s ability to regulate the force of their grip and the trajectory of upper limbs when manipulating objects. It is an ESA (European Space Agency) investigation.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1188
Image above: ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet sets up for a session of the GRIP investigation, which examines how spaceflight affects a person’s ability to regulate the force of their grip and the trajectory of upper limbs when manipulating objects. Image Credit: NASA.
- The ESA GRASP investigation examines how the central nervous system integrates information from the senses to coordinate hand movement and visual input and whether gravity is a frame of reference for control of this movement.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2038
- Phospho-aging, an investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), examines the molecular mechanism behind aging-like symptoms, such as bone loss and muscle atrophy, that occur more rapidly in microgravity. This could lead to countermeasures for astronauts and therapeutic interventions on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8278
- Vascular Echo, a CSA experiment, examines changes in blood vessels and the heart during flight and upon return to Earth. Results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health and improve quality of life on Earth as well.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1664
- Antimicrobial Coatings tests a coating to control microbial growth on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, potentially creating new risks to crew health and spacecraft.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8352
Image above: NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins packs components of the RTPCG experiment for return and analysis on Earth. The study demonstrates new methods for producing high-quality protein crystals in microgravity, which could identify possible targets for drugs to treat diseases on Earth. Image Credit: NASA.
- RTPCG-2 demonstrates new methods for producing high-quality protein crystals in microgravity for analysis on Earth to identify possible targets for drugs to treat disease.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8073
- Standard Measures collects a set of core measurements from astronauts before, during, and after long-duration missions to create a data repository to monitor and interpret how humans adapt to living in space.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7711
- Food Physiology examines the effects of an enhanced spaceflight diet on immune function, the gut microbiome, and nutritional status indicators, with the aim of documenting how dietary improvements may enhance adaptation to spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7870
- ISS Ham Radio provides students, teachers, parents, and others the opportunity to communicate with astronauts using HAM radio units. Before a scheduled call, students learn about the station, radio waves, and other topics, and prepare a list of questions on topics they have researched.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=337
Related links:
Expedition 65: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition65/index.html
Commercial Crew: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew/index.html
ACE-T-2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7433
Light Microscopy Module (LMM): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=531
VECTION: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7484
Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1651
Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=317
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 65.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
