ISS - Expedition 68 Mission patch.
Mar 17, 2023
Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of March 13 that included examining how microgravity affects organisms used in biomanufacturing, crystallizing monoclonal antibodies in space, and testing exercise regimens without treadmill sessions. NASA’s 27th SpaceX commercial resupply services (CRS) mission launched to the space station on March 14 carrying new scientific experiments for the crew to conduct.
Image above: The snow-capped volcanos on the island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa (left) and Mauna Kea (right), pictured from the International Space Station as it orbits 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean. Image Credit: NASA.
Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place aboard the orbiting lab:
Manufacturing with Microbes in Microgravity
Producing materials, food, and pharmaceuticals in space using microbes – known as biomanufacturing – is one possible way to reduce the cost of taking along all the supplies needed for future long-duration space missions. Rhodium DARPA Biomanufacturing 01, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, examines how gravity affects production of drugs and nutrients from bacteria and yeast. Research shows that microgravity causes changes in microbe cell growth, structure, and metabolic activity that can affect biomanufacturing. This investigation could help improve biomanufacturing in space to supply future missions. During the week, crew members thawed and incubated sample chambers for the study.
Better Crystals, Better Drugs
Monoclonal Antibodies PCG crystallizes and assesses various therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in space. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-created immune system proteins designed to interact with specific targets such as cancer cells. Microgravity enables production of higher quality crystals, which could support less expensive development of drugs that are more stable and easier to administer to patients. The investigation is sponsored by the ISS National Lab. Crew members prepared and loaded plates for the investigation during the week.
Exercise Like This, Not Like That
Image above: Sultan Alneyadi of the UAE (United Arab Emirates) exercises on the International Space Station’s treadmill. These devices take up a lot of space and Zero T2 tests whether a regimen of resistance exercises, rowing, and cycling can adequately protect bone and muscle health in space with a smaller footprint. Image Credit: NASA.
Exercise devices for future long-duration missions need to be small and lightweight. Treadmills currently in use on the station have a large footprint but are the only way to reinforce the motor pattern of walking. The Zero T2 investigation tests whether a variety of resistance exercises, rowing, and cycling could produce results similar to those from regimens that use a treadmill. Results could determine whether other regimens adequately protect bone and muscle health during space travel and support improvement in design of exercise devices to prevent or treat bone, muscle, and cardiovascular issues on Earth. Crew members performed exercise sessions on the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) during the week.
Other Investigations Involving the Crew:
- Food Physiology documents the effects of an enhanced diet on human adaptation to spaceflight, including immune function, the gut microbiome, and nutritional status indicators. Results could support development of targeted, efficient dietary interventions to maintain crew health and performance and improve understanding of how complex organisms adapt to spaceflight.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7870
- Immunity Assay, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), tests a new way to monitor how spaceflight stressors affect cellular immune functions during flight. This capability could provide a clearer assessment of the immune changes that happen in flight and help inform development of countermeasures.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8170
Image above: Tomato plants for the Veg-05 continue to grow and produce fruit. The investigation examines how light quality and fertilizer affect fruit production, microbial food safety, nutritional value, and taste acceptability by the crew, and how growing plants enhances the overall living experience for crew members. Image Credit: NASA.
- 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
- Cardinal Heart 2.0, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, tests whether clinically approved drugs reduce changes in heart cell function that occur in spaceflight. Results could support development of treatments to improve the health of astronauts and patients on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8800
- Sphere Camera-1, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, evaluates the performance of an ultra-high-resolution camera in microgravity. Results could support development of cameras with greater resolution, detail, and sharpness for imaging needs on future exploration missions, including to the Moon and Mars.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8815
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.
ISS Benefits for Humanity 2022: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/benefits/index.html
Related links:
Expedition 68: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition68/index.html
Rhodium DARPA Biomanufacturing 01: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8854
Monoclonal Antibodies PCG: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8226
Zero T2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8574
Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=973
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/Carrie Gilder/John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 68.
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