ISS - Expedition 65 Mission patch.
Jun 4, 2021
Scientific investigations conducted aboard the International Space Station the week of May 31 included studies of cotton plant root systems, testing drugs to improve astronaut health, and examining materials used for high-temperature manufacturing. Crew members also prepared for additional scientific research and technology demonstrations scheduled to arrive aboard the 22nd SpaceX cargo resupply mission early on June 5 following its June 3 launch.
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.
Space to Ground: In Open Space: 06/04/2021
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place:
More cotton with less water
Production of cotton uses a significant amount of water and agricultural chemicals. Cotton plants that overexpress a certain gene show increased resistance to stressors such as drought, possibly because the plants have an enhanced root system that can tap into a larger volume of soil for water and nutrients. TICTOC studies how cotton root system structure affects plant resilience, water-use, and carbon storing. Root growth patterns depend on gravity, and the investigation could help define which environmental factors and genes control root development in its absence. Results could lead to development of more robust cotton varieties that require less water and pesticide use. The crew reviewed procedures in preparation for operations to begin once this investigation arrives on SpaceX-22.
Dragon cargo resupply caught by Canadarm2. Animation Credit: NASA
Testing drugs on worms
MME-2, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), tests whether a series of drugs that improve cell energy efficiency and muscle efficiency can improve overall heath in space. The investigation also examines whether a specific molecule controls some of the changes in human health observed during spaceflight. MME-2 uses the C. elegans worm as a model organism and expands on previous experiments that used this model to study genetic alterations to organisms in spaceflight. The investigation serves as pre-clinical trials for drugs with potential for improving astronaut health. Many health changes seen in space resemble those experienced with aging on the ground, and these drugs also could lead to new therapeutic targets to study on Earth. Crew members set up the experiment containers and began the five-day investigation run during the week.
International Space Station (ISS). Image Credit: NASA
Melting metals in microgravity
When raw materials are melted to make glass, metals, and other materials, reactions between those materials and the container that holds them can cause imperfections. ELF, an investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), uses levitation rather than a container to reduce these imperfections and investigate the behavior of materials for high-temperature manufacturing of oxides, semiconductors, insulators, and alloys. Microgravity makes it much easier to levitate materials. This research obtains data on the thermal and physical properties around high melting temperatures, aiding in the search for new functional materials. During the week, crew members exchanged sample holders for runs of the experiment.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- The ESA FLUIDICS investigation looks at how liquids move inside closed spaces, called sloshing, and at movement on the surface of a liquid in motion, or wave turbulence. Measurements of these phenomena can be used to more accurately determine how much liquid such as fuel remains in a tank.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2043
Image above: NASA astronaut Megan McArthur participates in Pilote, an experiment from ESA using virtual reality gear to test a crew member’s aptitude when maneuvering a computer-generated robotic arm toward a target. Image Credit: NASA.
- Pilote, an investigation from ESA, tests the effectiveness of remote operation of robotic arms and space vehicles using virtual reality and haptics, or simulated touch and motion. Results may influence the design of workstations and interfaces for future spacecraft and space habitats.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8347
Image above: ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet conducts operations for RTPCG-2, which demonstrates new methods for producing high-quality protein crystals with potential for developing better drugs to treat a variety of 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
Image above: JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide checks out SUBSA hardware used for DFM, an investigation that examines the effects of cooling and heating on the shape of dendrites, tiny crystals that form during solidification of metals during casting or additive manufacturing. Image Credit: NASA.
- 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
Related links:
Expedition 65: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition65/index.html
TICTOC: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8043
MME-2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8454
ELF: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1738
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), Animation (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Ana Guzman/John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 65.
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