ISS - Expedition 65 Mission patch.
May 28, 2021
During the week of May 24, scientific investigations conducted aboard the International Space Station included studies of plant water management, immune system function, and remote operation of robots and space vehicles. Crew members also began preparations for the arrival of more scientific research and technology demonstrations aboard the 22nd SpaceX cargo resupply mission, launching no earlier than June 3.
Image above: Early morning hues color an orbital sunrise pictured from the International Space Station as it passes 264 miles above the China-Russia border in far eastern Asia, near the Sea of Japan. 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:
Watering the space garden
Image above: This image shows Plant Water Management, a demonstration of passive measures to control fluid delivery and uptake in plant growth systems using physical properties such as surface tension, wetting, and system geometry to replace the role of gravity. Image Credit: NASA.
A growing body of research looks at growing plants in microgravity with the aim of developing ways to produce fresh food on future long-duration missions. One challenge is providing adequate fluid and nutrition for plant growth in space. Plant Water Management is a series of investigations to test using concepts of capillary fluidics – such as surface tension, wetting, and geometry – to deliver adequate water and nutrients to plants. The crew assembled kits and conducted operations for the investigation, then stowed the cameras and lights.
Analyzing immune response
Image above: NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei works on Celestial Immunity, an investigation of how gravity affects immune response, potentially supporting development of new vaccines and drugs to prevent and treat existing and emerging human diseases. Image Credit: NASA.
Celestial Immunity evaluates the effects of gravity on functional immune response and the role of age in regulating immune pathways, using cells from elderly and younger adult donors. It builds on earlier space station studies that evaluated the function of white blood cells, extending the observation period from hours to days and expanding the analysis to an array of activated immune pathways. Gravity, convection, and buoyancy interfere with cell behavior in laboratory-based studies on Earth, but microgravity eliminates these factors. Results could support development of new vaccines and drugs to prevent and treat existing and emerging human diseases. During the week, crew members processed samples for the investigation.
Testing remote virtual operations
Image above: Simulation of ESA’s Pilote experiment on the ground prior to launch. Pilote tests the effectiveness of remote operation of robotic arms and space vehicles using virtual reality and haptics, or simulated touch and motion. Image Credits: CNES/Emmanuel Grimault.
The crew set up and conducted operations for Pilote, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), during the week. Pilote tests the effectiveness of remote operation of robotic arms and space vehicles using virtual reality and haptics, or simulated touch and motion. The ergonomics for controlling robotic arms and spacecraft must be tested in microgravity because principles used in Earth-based testing do not fit conditions on a spacecraft. Pilote compares existing and new technologies, including those used to pilot the Canadarm2 and Soyuz spacecraft and others recently developed for teleoperation. The investigation also compares astronaut performance on the ground and during long-duration space missions. Results could help optimize the ergonomics of facilities on the space station and future space vehicles for missions to the Moon and Mars. ESA is launching a next-generation VR headset for this investigation on the SpaceX 22 cargo resupply mission.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- Myotones, an investigation from ESA, observes the biochemical properties of muscles during long-term spaceflight using specific biomarkers.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7573
- MHU-6, an investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), studies the molecular mechanism behind aging-like symptoms such as bone loss and muscle atrophy that appear rapidly in space.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7701
- 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
- Metals solidifying during casting or additive manufacturing form tiny crystals called dendrites that play a role in the strength of the resulting metal. DFM examines the effects of cooling and heating on the shape of these crystals in microgravity using the SUBSA facility.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7965
- Vascular Aging, an investigation by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), analyzes changes in the arteries of crew members. Results could point to mechanisms for reducing cardiovascular risk and help identify and detect blood biomarkers that predict early signs of cardiovascular aging.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7644
- Antimicrobial Coatings tests a coating to control microbial growth on different materials that represent high-touch surfaces on the space station. 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Space to Ground: Preparing for Nauka: 05/28/2021
Related links:
Expedition 65: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition65/index.html
Plant Water Management: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7884
Celestial Immunity: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7818
Pilote: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8347
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/Ana Guzman/John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 65.
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