ISS - Expedition 68 Mission patch.
Dec 30, 2022
Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of Dec. 26 that included testing an ultra-high-resolution Earth imaging camera, examining the effects of spaceflight on blood pressure regulation, and demonstrating technology for faster data processing in space.
Image above: NASA astronaut Josh Cassada prepares a roll-out solar array (ROSA) for deployment on the International Space Station as the orbiting lab flies 262 miles above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Namibia. This is the fourth in a planned six of these arrays, which altogether provide a 30% increase in power generation to support research and operations. Image Credit: NASA.
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place aboard the orbiting lab:
Space in high definition
Sphere Camera-1, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, evaluates the performance of a commercial, off-the-shelf, ultra-high-resolution camera in microgravity. Results ultimately could support design and development of cameras with greater resolution, detail, and sharpness for imaging needs on future exploration missions, including to the Moon and Mars. The camera also could be used to identify damage to space structures, reducing the need for potentially risky inspections via spacewalk. Madison Square Garden Entertainment, the investigation developer, plans to display footage captured by the camera to people on Earth. During the week, crew members captured images using the camera.
Under pressure
Astronauts experience bodily changes during spaceflight that can affect their capacity to exercise and maintain blood pressure when standing after return to Earth. CARDIOBREATH, an investigation from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), studies the combined effects of cardiovascular and respiratory adaptations on blood pressure regulation during spaceflight. These changes represent a challenge for future long-duration missions, particularly those that involve activities in different levels of gravity, such as on Mars or the Moon, and that have minimal direct medical support. Results could support development of ways to deal with these risks. Because spaceflight-induced changes to the body parallel many associated with aging, this research may contribute to better health care and improved quality of life for the elderly on Earth. Crew members donned the BioMonitor sensor garment, set up the hardware, and performed an experiment session during the week.
International Space Station (ISS). Animation Credit: ESA
Computing on the edge
Spaceborne Computer-2 explores processing data significantly faster in space using edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Edge computing refers to the practice of having high-powered computing close to the source of data, which significantly reduces time from collection to insight. In addition, it can provide computing capabilities on future deep space missions where Earth-based data processing is no longer an option. Building on previous work, this investigation tests techniques for recovering data or mitigating errors that occur due to solar and galactic cosmic radiation and other events in space. Results could improve the reliability of computational resources in space and minimize radiation risk to computing resources on Earth as well. The investigation is sponsored by the ISS National Lab. Crew members installed the hardware for an investigation run during the week.
Other investigations involving the crew:
- Particle Vibration, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), examines the mechanisms of self-organization of particles in fluids. Results could improve our understanding of fluids with dispersed solid particles, which are used in cooling systems for heat exchangers and solar energy collectors in space as well as in nuclear reactors and electronics on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8243
Image above: NASA astronaut Josh Cassada fills water reservoirs for the Plant Habitat-03 investigation, which explores the genetic changes plants may go through when adapting to microgravity. Image Credit: NASA.
- Plant Habitat-03 assesses whether epigenetic adaptations in one generation of plants grown in space can transfer to the next generation. Results could provide insight into how to grow repeated generations of crops to provide food and other services on future space missions.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8336
- Airborne Particulate Monitor (APM) demonstrates an instrument to measure and quantify the concentration of small and large particles in spacecraft air. Air quality is important for keeping astronauts healthy and comfortable, but currently there are no measurement capabilities to ensure that maximum allowable particulate concentrations are met.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7936
- Four Bed CO2 Scrubber demonstrates an upgrade to technology for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere on the space station. The technology could help maintain the health of crews and ensure the success of future missions and has potential applications for environments on Earth that require removal of carbon dioxide to protect workers and equipment.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7635
- Veg-05 uses the station’s Veggie facility to grow dwarf tomatoes and examine the effect of light quality and fertilizer on fruit production, microbial food safety, nutritional value, taste acceptability by the crew, and overall behavioral health benefits. Growing plants to provide fresh food and enhance the overall living experience for crew members supports future long-duration missions.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7443
Image above: NASA astronaut Nicole Mann works on the PFMI-ASCENT investigation, which demonstrates a passive system that could provide cooling for electronic devices in microgravity while using less space and power. Image Credit: NASA.
- PFMI-ASCENT, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, demonstrates a passive cooling system for electronic devices in microgravity. Such a system could reduce the use of space and electrical power needed and support future scientific investigations on the space station.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8340
Space to Ground: 2022
The space station, a robust microgravity laboratory with a multitude of specialized research facilities and tools, has supported many scientific breakthroughs from investigations spanning every major scientific discipline. The ISS Benefits for Humanity 2022 publication details the expanding universe of results realized from more than 20 years of experiments conducted on the station.
Related links:
Expedition 68: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition68/index.html
ISS National Lab: https://www.issnationallab.org/
Sphere Camera-1: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8815
CARDIOBREATH: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8597
Spaceborne Computer-2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8221
Veggie: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=374
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), Animation (mentioned), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Ana Guzman/John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 68.
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