ISS - Expedition 65 Mission patch.
Jun 25, 2021
The week of June 21, crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations that included studies of how cells detect gravity, solidification of metal alloys, and how complex plasmas form in space. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough prepped for a June 25 spacewalk to install the next set of Integrated Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) panels. The additional panels will increase the energy available for research and other activities aboard the space station.
Image above: NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough (left) and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet work to install new roll out solar arrays on the International Space Station's P-6 truss structure. 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:
Sensing gravity
Research shows that individual animal cells can detect gravity, but the mechanism by which they do so is largely unknown. Cell Gravisensing, an investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), analyzes whether changes in the tension in cell stress fibers that occur during spaceflight may play a role. Results could promote development of drugs to treat muscle atrophy and osteoporosis on Earth and to help prevent or treat muscle atrophy and bone loss experienced by astronauts during spaceflight. The investigation uses a new method to image cell responses to microgravity that could make a significant contribution to other biological research. During the week, crew members conducted operations for the investigation.
Image above: Mexico’s Baja peninsula is visible in this image taken from the space station. Image Credit: NASA.
Isolating properties of metal alloys
An investigation from the ESA, MSL SCA-Batch 3a-ESA includes two projects, MICAST and CETSOL, examining the physical principles that govern solidification processes in metal alloys. CETSOL looks at the transition from columnar crystals (those with one direction of longer growth) to equiaxed crystals (equal growth in all directions) in refined aluminum and copper alloys. Microgravity removes the factors of melt flow and sedimentation and helps researchers pinpoint the specific effects of gravity. MSL SCA-Batch 3a-ESA could support development of light-weight, high-performance structural materials for space applications. Materials research in microgravity makes it possible to better isolate chemical and thermal properties of solidification and also could lead to better processes for making alloys for a variety of industries on Earth. Crew members installed cartridges for the investigation in the Materials Science Laboratory (MSL) during the week.
Catching plasma particles
Image above: Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy conducts the PK-4 experiment, which explores low temperature mixtures of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles that could lead to improved spacecraft designs. Image Credit: NASA.
PK-4, a collaboration between ESA and Russian space agency Rocosmos, studies complex plasmas, low-temperature gaseous mixtures of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles. Plasmas are found throughout the universe, from the interstellar medium to the heat shields of spacecraft re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Understanding how plasma crystals form in microgravity could shed light on plasma phenomena in space and lead to improved spacecraft designs. This research also investigates the fundamentals of flows and related instabilities in the plasma formation process. A better understanding of the processes at work and the parameters that influence complex plasmas also could result in improvements in industries where plasmas are used. The crew executed multiple operations, catching clouds of particles inside the PK-4 chamber during the week.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
Image above: This image shows the Asian Herb in Space investigation, which examines differences in the aroma of fast-growing plants used for traditional medicine and flavoring food, changes that may be caused by microgravity. Image Credit: NASA.
- Asian Herb in Space, a JAXA investigation, examines differences in the aroma of fast-growing plants used for traditional medicine and flavoring food, changes that may result from microgravity-related cellular changes. Results could benefit future plant growth efforts in space and provide new information on the formation of aroma compounds in common herbs.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2052
- Oral Biofilms in Space studies how gravity affects the structure, composition, and activity of oral bacteria in the presence of common oral care agents. Findings could support development of novel treatments to fight oral diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8160
- RTPCG-2 demonstrates a new method that could produce higher-quality protein crystals, which are easier to analyze. Improved production of high-resolution protein crystals could help companies identify new targets and develop better drugs to treat a variety of diseases on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8073
- 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
- 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
- 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: Power Installation: 06/25/2021
Related links:
Expedition 65: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition65/index.html
Cell Gravisensing: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8029
MSL SCA-Batch 3a-ESA: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8198
CETSOL: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1493
PK-4: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1192
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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