Space Station Science Highlights: Week of January 7, 2019

ISS – Expedition 58 Mission patch.

Jan. 14, 2019

The three Expedition 58 crew members aboard the International Space Station have finished packing the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft with science experiments and hardware. The vehicle splashed down on on Sunday, Jan. 13.

Image above: The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is pictured attached to the International Space Station’s Harmony module as the orbital complex orbited 261 miles above the Indian Ocean southwest of the continent of Africa. The Canadarm2 robotic arm vertically splits the frame prior to grappling the spacecraft ahead of planned departure activities. Image Credit: NASA.

In addition to packing the Dragon and preparing for its departure, the crew conducted science in the areas of protein crystal growth, human health, biotechnology and more. Here’s a look at some of the science conducted this week aboard the orbiting lab:

Investigation studies space-grown crystals for protection against radiation

In the near future, crews will embark on multi-month missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars and beyond. All incredible adventures, however, have their hazards, and a major one for crews on long-duration spaceflights is the space radiation they will be exposed to during their missions.

Perfect Crystals is a study to learn more about an antioxidant protein, manganese superoxide dismutase, that protects the body from the effects of radiation and some harmful chemicals. The space station’s microgravity environment allows researchers to grow more perfectly ordered crystals of the proteins. These crystals are brought back to Earth and studied in detail to learn more about how the manganese superoxide dismutase works. Understanding how this protein functions may aid researchers in developing techniques to reduce the threat of radiation exposure to astronauts as well as prevent and treat some kinds of cancers on Earth.

Animation above: NASA astronaut Anne McClain and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency prepare coldbags to be packed for return on to the SpaceX-16 Dragon. Image Credit: NASA.

Last week a crew member packed two samples for return on the SpaceX Dragon vehicle. The remaining unit will stay on board the station until its return on SpaceX 18.

ICE Cubes facility undergoes reconfiguration

The International Commercial Experiment, or ICE Cubes Facility, combines a sliding framework permanently installed in the space station’s Columbus module with “plug-and-play” Experiment Cubes. The easy-to-install-and-remove Experiment Cubes come in different sizes and often can be built with commercial off-the-shelf components, significantly reducing the cost and time to develop experiments.

Animation above: Crew members terminated the two Group Activation Packs (GAPS) and placed them in to the Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory (SABL) facility. NALCO Biofilms examines biofilms on Earth and in space and monitors the rate of corrosion caused by microorganisms. Animation Credit: NASA.

The system supports research in a wide range of disciplines, from pharmaceutical development to experiments on stem cells, radiation, and microbiology, fluid sciences and more. It provides the opportunity to conduct testing and validation of space technologies and processes in a true space environment. Because ICE Cubes can accommodate free-floating experiments in the Columbus module, it can even be used to test guidance, navigation and docking equipment. The system also can support education experiments and demonstrations to inspire future generations of scientists and explorers.

Last week, the crew shuffled the cubes around, removing Cube #1 and installing Cube #2.

Changes in crew members hearts and vessels tracked

As humans get older, arteries stiffen, causing an increase in blood pressure and elevating the risk for cardiovascular disease. It has been observed that some crew members returning from the space station have much stiffer arteries than when they went into space. The Cardiac and Vessel Structure and Function with Long-Duration Space Flight and Recovery (Vascular Echo) investigation examines changes in crew members’ blood vessels and heart, while in space and upon their return home, following them through their recovery. The results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health, and quality of life for those on Earth.

International Space Station (ISS). Image Credit: NASA

Last week, crew members performed blood pressure measurements and took historical documentation photos to track changes in blood vessels and the heart.

Other work was performed on these investigations:

– CASIS PCG 16 evaluates growth of LRRK2 protein crystals in microgravity. LRRK2 is implicated in Parkinson’s disease, but crystals of the protein grown on Earth are too small and compact to study: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7855

– Rodent Research-8 (RR-8) examines the physiology of aging and the effect of age on disease progression using groups of young and old mice flown in space and kept on Earth: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7713

– MISSE-10 hosts a suite of eight NASA investigations aboard the Materials International Space Station Flight Facility (MISSE-FF): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7929

– STaARS Bioscience-4 examines how oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) react to microgravity, specifically the rate at which the cells proliferate and differentiate in the microgravity environment: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7503

– CASIS PCG-11 produces acetylcholinesterase crystals, a neurotransmitter enzyme, enabling the development of better antidotes to fatal organophosphate nerve agents, which act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase in the nervous system: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7631

– Micro-14 studies C. albicans to define mechanisms that lead to cellular adaptation responses to the spaceflight environment: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7642

Related links:

Expedition 58: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition58/index.html

SpaceX Dragon: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/spacex.html

Perfect Crystals: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7617

ICE Cubes Facility: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=7607

Vascular Echo: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1664

Spot the Station: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

Space Station Research and Technology: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html

International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Images (mentioned), Animations (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/Vic Cooley, Lead Increment Scientist Expeditions 57/58.

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