ROSCOSMOS - Nauka (Science) Module patch.
August 9, 2021
On July 29, the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module (MLM) docked to the International Space Station (ISS), which will expand the Russian segment and open up new possibilities for performing experiments in orbit. A day later, cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov opened the hatches and entered the module, and on August 2, they began unloading operations.
The head of the laboratory for the development and implementation of biomedical programs of the Institute of Medico -biological Problems (IBMP) RAS Yuri Smirnov.
For the purity of experiments
As Smirnov said, one of the main advantages of the "Science" module is the emergence of a specialized place for conducting experiments, which, in turn, will affect their quality.
“Now most of the research is carried out in the Zvezda service module, in the same place where service operations and physical training are performed. Naturally, there is always a risk that the astronauts will interfere with each other while performing work. Now a laboratory module has appeared, where all scientific equipment will be located, cosmonauts will be able to go there and engage in research without risking being under any external influence," he said.
MLM "Science" (Nauka)
The module was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome on July 21. Designed for the implementation of the Russian program of scientific and applied research and experiments. After the commissioning of MLM, the Russian segment will receive additional volumes for the arrangement of workplaces and storage of goods, the placement of equipment for the regeneration of water and oxygen. The module is equipped with a second toilet for the Russian segment, a cabin for the third crew member of the Russian Federation, and the European manipulator ERA, which will allow performing some work without going into outer space.
Japanese quail and salad
Currently, the IBMP is in various stages of preparation for implementation on the ISS, 13 experiments, of which nine will be performed in the "Science" module. The research list is constantly updated. As the expert explained, specialists in various fields of knowledge still have the opportunity to write an application, send it to TsNIIMash (part of the Roscosmos state corporation), and after carrying out the necessary examinations, get into the long-term program of targeted work at the International Space Station.
According to the head of the institute's laboratory, one of the most anticipated studies in orbit will be the Quail experiment. It implies the delivery of Japanese quail eggs to the ISS.
The purpose of the experiment is to investigate the development of an embryo under conditions of weightlessness and artificial gravity on the ISS. Scientific equipment is an incubator, some of the eggs will simply be incubated in space flight, and some will be placed in a centrifuge inside the incubator.
Yuri Smirnov, Head of the Laboratory for the Development and Implementation of Biomedical Programs, IBMP RAS.
Periodically, the astronauts will chemically fix the eggs in the glove box, after which they will be sent to Earth for study by specialists. The first stage of the IBMP experiment is planned to begin in 2022. The second stage involves the introduction of the quail population into orbit. “The terms for it are still unknown, because the development of scientific equipment is required,” explained Smirnov.
Experiments with rodents and other animals of the same level of development are not yet planned. At the same time, IBMP expects to start growing lettuce on an "industrial scale" on the ISS. “The Vitacycle-T experiment is the creation of a greenhouse that allows you to grow plants on an industrial scale,” said the head of the laboratory.
A space greenhouse will be delivered to the ISS, which in profile resembles a snail. “With a certain periodicity, the astronaut puts a strip of seeds in the greenhouse. Then he spins the drum, after a while he puts in the next strip. Every certain period of time, the astronaut can harvest. In the first experiment, for example, Peking cabbage will be grown, ”Smirnov explained.
Some of the plants will be sent to Earth for research. “Naturally, no one will prohibit astronauts from using the crops grown during the space flight in their food,” the expert emphasized. In the future, astronauts will also be able to plant cereals, legumes, and dwarf tomatoes.
Trapped in outer space
New IBMP experiments will take place not only inside the station, but also on its outer surface. One of such studies is Biorisk, in which specialists expect to obtain new data on possible changes in bacteria and fungi, as well as in various biological test objects (plant seeds, insect larvae and eggs, fish eggs) during space flight.
Now, Smirnov specified, IBMP, together with the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (part of the state corporation Roscosmos), is considering the issue of placing the equipment delivered to the ISS on the outer surface of the station.
In addition to studying the impact of the space environment on biological objects, experts expect to catch microorganisms in outer space as part of dust particles on the ISS flight path. For this, the "Trap" experiment was developed. “Its goal is to capture micrometeorites, cosmic dust. There can be found organic and inorganic compounds, as well as microorganisms, "- suggested Smirnov.
The work on the outer board of the station, the head of the laboratory emphasized, will be greatly simplified by the ERA manipulator, which arrived on the ISS together with Nauka. “In fact, using a manipulator, we can remove the equipment from the outer surface of the station, transfer it to the airlock and the crew, without going out into outer space, can take samples from there and send them to Earth,” the expert said, recalling that space usually takes a long time.
Scientist "landing"
Dmitry Rogozin, General Director of Roscosmos, during a speech at the Summer Space School in early August, spoke about the idea of sending young scientists to the ISS so that they could conduct research on their own. According to the head of the state corporation, this will be possible if the experiment to quickly prepare for a flight into space is successful.
In response to the question whether the IBMP creates a kind of scientist "landing" for flights to the ISS, Smirnov said that this idea is being discussed. “This question was spoken out. This is a very interesting idea. We are considering the possibility of creating a group of specialists who can conduct research, the implementation of which is possible only by a professional, in space flight conditions, ”said the head of the laboratory.
The expert recalled that some cosmonauts worked or are working at the IBMP, among them are Oleg Kotov, Valery Polyakov, Sergei Ryazansky and others. According to Smirnov, many young employees of the institute dream of becoming cosmonauts. The head of the laboratory is convinced that the presence of specialized specialists in the cosmonaut corps (Roscosmos or the Academy of Sciences) would be very useful.
Accelerated training of narrow specialists for space flight will make it possible to include experiments, the performance of which is possible only by a person with a specialized education. For example, some invasive techniques or biological experiments that require specialized skills. In principle, this could change the scientific program.
Yuri Smirnov, Head of the Laboratory for the Development and Implementation of Biomedical Programs, IBMP RAS.
Not only "Science"
It is impossible to carry out some IBMP experiments in Nauka, because they require a treadmill (BD-2) installed in the Zvezda service module. One of them - "Virtual Trainer" - will allow you to develop a kind of physical training consultant.
“Today, ground specialists are analyzing the results of physical training of astronauts, in the future we plan to create a system, including software, which will allow, after analyzing the results of the previous training of an astronaut and taking into account the peculiarities of his physiology, to plan training for the next period,” he explained. expert.
Such a system, noted the head of the laboratory, will be useful during flights into deep space, when the operational communication of the crew and ground specialists will be difficult. Another study, the results of which will help in preparing for such expeditions, is "Motocard-2". “Now the value of the axial load (pull) on the treadmill, when training is performed, is about 60–80% of the cosmonaut's body weight.
The experiment is to create a level of attraction that simulates the level of gravity in the conditions of the Moon and Mars, and to study human biomechanics in altered gravity, ”- said Smirnov. It is planned to start the experiment in 2024, and before that the IBMP will have to develop scientific equipment and work out the technique on Earth.
According to Dmitry Rogozin, general director of Roscosmos, the Science module is now 50% ready for life. For its full integration into the Russian segment of the ISS, about ten spacewalks will be required - the first of which are already scheduled for September 2 and 8. In general, the head of the state corporation clarified earlier, MLM will increase the number of experiments carried out in orbit by 2.5 times.
Related links (in Russian):
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: https://www.roscosmos.ru/32120/
Science (Nauka): https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/nauka/
Manned astronautics: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/pilotiruemaja-kosmonavtika/
IBMP RAS: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/imbp-ran/
Images, Animation, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS/TASS/NASA/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
