ISS - Expedition 66 Mission patch.
Oct 22, 2021
Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of Oct. 18 that included demonstrating robotic technology, studying impurities in protein crystal growth, and testing single-board computing in space.
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:
Lending a (robotic) hand
Animation above: The Nanoracks-GITAI Robotic Arm set up inside of the Bishop Airlock. This investigation demonstrates the versatility and dexterity of the robot as it conducts common crew activities and tasks on the space station. Animation Credit: NASA.
Nanoracks-GITAI Robotic Arm demonstrates performance of a robot, designed by GITAI Japan Inc, as it conducts tasks such as pushing buttons, flipping switches, and plugging in cables, with supervision and teleoperations from the ground. Using robots to support crew activities and assist with on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing tasks could reduce cost and improve crew safety on future missions. This robotics technology also has applications on Earth, including in disaster relief, deep-sea excavation, nuclear power plants, and other harsh and potentially dangerous settings. During the week, crew members set up hardware and cameras for a run of the investigation.
Analyzing impurities for better crystal growth
Image above: View of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Kibo laboratory, with MAXI visible at the bottom left. MAXI continuously monitors the entire sky for transient galactic phenomena. Image Credit: NASA.
An ongoing investigation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Advanced Nano Step monitors, records, and analyzes how specific impurities affect the quality of protein crystals grown in space. Microgravity makes possible production of higher-quality crystals, but impurities on the crystal surface can affect growth. By helping to identify the types of impurities involved, this experiment could improve the growth rate as well as reduce sample preparation time. Results could advance capabilities for research on and production of materials and drugs in space, as well as prove useful for crystallization trials conducted on Earth. Nano Step test equipment allows researchers to directly observe the growing surface of protein crystals and enables measurements not previously possible. Crew members replaced solution cells for the experiment during the week.
Cheaper, faster computing
Image above: A preflight view of hardware for SpaceDuino, which studies the capabilities and potential economic benefit of single-board computing technology in space. Image Credit: NASA.
Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other single-board computers have increased in computational power, reliability, and availability while decreasing in cost. SpaceDuino studies the technical capabilities and potential economic benefits of such technologies in space. These systems may reduce the cost and power needed for acquisition and control of data, increasing the opportunities for microgravity-based research as well as enabling more efficient use of resources. Single-board computers also could offer low-cost options for students and researchers to build and fly reprogrammable experiments with faster turn-around. During the week, crew members installed and activated the experiment.
Other investigations involving the crew:
- JAXA’s MAXI, which monitors X-ray sources and variabilities from the exterior of the space station, has discovered new celestial events and created a catalog for high Galactic-latitude sky sources. A recently published paper from the study provides data crucial for understanding the nature of black hole emissions.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=593
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac07a3/meta
- Pilote, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), 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
- Cool Flames Investigation with Gases, part of the ACME series of studies, observes chemical reactions of cool flames, which burn at lower temperatures. Nearly impossible to create in Earth’s gravity, cool flames are easily created in microgravity and studying them may improve understanding of combustion and fires on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8270
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1651
- RFID Recon tests using radio frequency identification tags to identify and locate cargo on the space station using the space station’s free-flying Astrobee robots. The technology could help crew members find items more quickly and efficiently and enable more efficient packing, reducing launch mass and stowage volume.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7722
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1891
- Probiotics, another JAXA investigation, studies whether probiotics or beneficial bacteria can improve immune function on long-duration space missions.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2047
Image above: Chili pepper plants growing in the Advanced Plant Habitat for Plant Habitat-04, which conducts microbial analysis to improve understanding of plant-microbe interactions in space and assesses the flavor, texture, and nutrition of the peppers. Image Credit: NASA.
- Plant Habitat-04 grows chili peppers in the Advanced Plant Habitat and conducts microbial analysis to improve understanding of plant-microbe interactions in space as well as assessment of flavor, texture, and nutrition.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8276
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=2036
- HRF Veg focuses on the overall health benefits to crew members of having various plants and fresh food available. The investigation uses psychological surveys and crew evaluations of the flavor and appeal of plants that are grown on the space station for other investigations.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8434
Space to Ground: Pepper Countdown: 10/22/2021
Related links:
Expedition 66: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition66/index.html
Nanoracks-GITAI Robotic Arm: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8321
Advanced Nano Step: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7468
SpaceDuino: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8506
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
Animation (mentioned), Images (mentioned), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Ana Guzman/John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 66.
Greetings, Orbiter.ch
