ISS - Expedition 65 Mission patch.
Jul 2, 2021
Scientific investigations conducted the week of June 28 aboard the International Space Station included studies on characterization of microbial pathogens, magnetic assembly of colloid structures, and plant gene expression. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply craft departed the station on June 29 after a four-month mission, and a SpaceX Dragon is scheduled to leave on July 6.
Image above: The space station transits the Sun at roughly five miles per second on Friday, June 25, 2021, from near Nellysford, Va., with NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet working outside to install the second ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) on the 4B power channel. Image Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky.
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.
Image above: The Cygnus space freighter is pictured in the grip of Canadarm2 moments before its release after completing a four-month cargo mission at the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA.
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place:
Monitoring microbes
Microbial Tracking-3 continues a series of studies monitoring the ability of certain bacteria and fungi to cause disease (or act as pathogens) and their resistance to antibiotics, and analyzing gene expression. The effects of spaceflight on viral and microbial pathogen dynamics are largely unknown, and results could support efforts by the NASA GeneLab to characterize such microbes and predict which ones may pose a threat to crew health. Bacteria and fungi have shown remarkable ability to adapt to different environments, including human-made places such as homes and offices and closed habitats such as the space station. Microbes associated with built environments typically originate from human occupants and often adapt to living on or in the human body. Following a conference with the researchers, crew members performed surface sample collections during the week.
Magnetic colloid materials
Image above: NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough sets up for InSPACE-4, a physics study exploring advanced materials and manufacturing techniques. Image Credit: NASA.
InSPACE-4 studies using magnetic fields to assemble tiny structures from colloids, or particles suspended in a liquid. Colloidal structures give the assembled material unique properties, such as how the material responds to or interacts with light and heat. Microgravity makes it possible to observe colloid assembly in ways and over time scales not possible on Earth. Results could lead to more advanced materials for space applications, including thermal shields, micrometeorite protection, energy production, and actuators and sensors for robotic and human missions. This work also may advance the manufacturing of materials on Earth for applications such as thermal shields, sound damping devices, camouflage, medical diagnostics, and possibly even active cloaking materials, as well as larger-scale applications, including building foundation stabilizers in areas prone to earthquakes. During the week, crew members installed hardware, resolved a camera issue, and conducted experiment runs.
Examining plant gene expression
Image above: NASA astronaut Megan McArthur works on the APEX-07 investigation, which examines how spaceflight affects gene expression in roots and shoots to help facilitate the adaptation of plants to space. Image Credit: NASA.
APEX-07 examines how spaceflight affects plants at the level of gene expression. Previous research shows that microgravity plays a role in which plant genes turn on or off, which proteins are present and in what amounts, and the modifications made to those proteins. All these processes are controlled by RNA, and the study analyzes the role of RNA regulation on gene expression during spaceflight in both roots and shoots of plants. Future long-duration spaceflights and missions likely will use plants as a source of food, to replenish water and purify air, and for physiological and psychological benefits to crew members. This research helps facilitate the adaptation of plants to space and extreme environments on Earth. Following a final harvest of the plants, crew members cleaned and dried hardware and deactivated the experiment.
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- DREAMS, an ESA (European Space Agency) investigation, demonstrates a wearable headband used to monitor astronaut sleep quality. Poor sleep quality can affect astronaut health and mission performance.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8344
- Phospho-aging, an investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), examines the molecular mechanisms behind aging-like symptoms such as bone and muscle loss in space. Results could lead to better countermeasures and treatments to protect crews on future missions and to help people on Earth as well.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8278
- RTPCG-2 demonstrates new methods for producing high-quality protein crystals in microgravity for analysis on Earth, which could help identify possible targets for drugs to treat several diseases.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8073
- 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 cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8160
- 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
- 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: At the Midpoint: 07/02/2021
Related links:
Expedition 65: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition65/index.html
Microbial Tracking-3: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8333
InSPACE-4: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7669
APEX-07: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8299
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.
Greetings, Orbiter.ch
