ISS - Expedition 65 Mission patch.
Aug 27, 2021
Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of Aug. 23 that included demonstrating 3D printing using a regolith simulant, growing a plant for psychological benefits, demonstrating an optical fiber-based radiation dosimeter, and examining changes in muscle tissue.
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: Hurricane Henri off the eastern coast of the United States as seen from the International Space Station as it orbited 263 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. Image Credit: NASA.
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place:
Building with local materials
Redwire Regolith Print (RRP) demonstrates 3D printing on the space station using a material simulating regolith, or loose rock and soil that is found on the surfaces of planetary bodies such as the Moon. Using resources available on the Moon and Mars to build structures and habitats would allow future explorers to bring fewer materials along from Earth, significantly reducing launch mass and cost. Results of this investigation could help determine the feasibility of using regolith as the raw material and 3D printing as a technique for on-demand construction of habitats and other structures on future space exploration missions. During the week, crew members installed print trays in the Manufacturing Device in order to print samples.
Busy week for ESA studies
During the week, crew members conducted several investigations sponsored by ESA (European Space Agency), including two newly arrived studies.
Image above: A Marigold flower grown during lab testing at Toulouse, France for Eklosion, an ESA (European Space Agency) investigation. A crew member grows one of these flowers in a special vase to help study the process of plant growth in space and provide the crew member a psychological link to Earth. Image Credit: Eklo Association.
Eklosion grows a Marigold plant in a specially designed vase that contains messages and scents from Earth to provide potential psychological benefit to the crew member who conducts the investigation. The investigation gathers data on plant growth and the psychological benefits of tending the plant for the crew member. Eklosion merges two winning projects from France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) Generation ISS competition, held to raise student awareness of space. Crew members observed the flower, took photos, and read some of the message during the week.
Image above: The active fiber dosimeter for Lumina, an ESA investigation monitoring radiation dose using optical fibers that darken when exposed to radiation. The dosimeter provides reliable dose measurements in complex radiation environments. Image Credit: CNES.
Lumina demonstrates real-time monitoring of the radiation dose received by crew members using a dosimeter with optical fibers that darken when exposed to radiation. The demonstration seeks to measure the radiation environment under realistic space conditions as well as to examine behavior of fiber when exposed to an extended period of low radiation dose. Monitoring ionizing radiation is a key challenge for future longer-term space exploration and this dosimeter could help anticipate radiation flares and guide decisions in response to these dangerous events. A fiber-based dosimeter also has promising applications in the medical and nuclear industries on Earth. Crew members conducted transfer of data from the device during the week.
Maintaining muscles in microgravity
Image above: Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) services cell samples for Anti-Atrophy, an investigation testing the ability of certain biomaterials to inhibit muscle atrophy in microgravity. Image Credit: NASA.
Existing data suggest that spaceflight decreases muscle stiffness, particularly in those muscles important for postural support and movement such as walking and running. Another ESA investigation, Myotones, observes muscle properties such as tone, stiffness, and elasticity during long-term exposure to spaceflight. Results could provide a better understanding of the principles of human resting muscle tone and lead to new strategies for rehabilitation on Earth as well as on future space missions. During the week, crew members collected samples for the investigation.
Space to Ground: Inside Arm: 08/27/2021
Other investigations on which the crew performed work:
- NICER is mounted on the exterior of the space station to study the physics of neutron stars, the glowing cinders left behind when massive stars explode as supernovas. The investigation includes SEXTANT, a demonstration for a GPS-like system for future spacecraft navigation using these stars, also known as pulsars, as natural beacons.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1705
- AMS-02 looks for evidence of dark matter and dark energy in the universe, along with very high-energy radiation from distant stars. Researchers recently published findings on the properties of sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al) cosmic rays in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.021101
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=729
- The Ring Sheared Drop investigation uses a device to create shear flow, or a difference in velocity between adjacent liquid layers, which previous research shows plays a role in the early stages of formation of protein aggregations called amyloid fibrils in the brain. Amyloids may be involved in development of Alzheimer’s disease, and results could contribute to a better understanding of this disease.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7383
- Butterfly IQ Ultrasound demonstrates use of a portable ultrasound and a mobile computing device in microgravity. This commercial off-the-shelf technology could provide important medical capabilities for future exploration missions where immediate ground support is not an option.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8211
- Anti-Atrophy, an investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), tests the ability of biomaterials such as muscle atrophy inhibitors or muscle synthesis accelerators to inhibit muscle atrophy in microgravity. Results could advance development of pharmaceuticals to prevent muscle atrophy for astronauts in space and for people who experience the condition on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7336
- Cool Flames Investigation with Gases, part of the ACME series of studies, observes chemical reactions of cool flames, which burn at lower temperatures. Cool flames were first discovered aboard the space station in 2012 burning liquid fuel; more recently, the investigation created cool flames burning gaseous fuels. Studying these flames may improve understanding of combustion and fires on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8270
- Time Perception, an investigation from ESA, examines subjective changes in time perception that occur during and after long-duration exposure to microgravity. Astronauts need to accurately assess the passing of time in order to perform fine motor skills and control vehicles and other complex systems at a high level of cognitive function.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7504
- The ISS Experience is a virtual reality film series documenting life and research aboard the space station. Filmed over multiple months, it includes crew activities ranging from conducting science experiments to preparing for a spacewalk.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7877
Related links:
Expedition 65: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition65/index.html
Redwire Regolith Print (RRP): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8429
Manufacturing Device: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1934
Eklosion: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8358
Lumina: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8444
Myotones: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7573
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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