Space Station Science Highlights: Week of May 6, 2019

ISS — Expedition 59 Mission patch.

May 14, 2019

The six crew members currently aboard the International Space Station received a new batch of science experiments on SpaceX CRS 17 last week. The Dragon’s arrival on Monday, May 6, also brought to six the number of spacecraft docked to the orbiting lab.

Space to Ground: Reservations for Seven: 05/10/2019

Here are details on some of the scientific investigations that the Expedition 59 astronauts and cosmonauts conducted the week of May 6:

Helping astronauts see clearly in space

The crew collected measurements using the Lower Body Negative Pressure or Chibis suit for the Fluid Shifts investigation. This joint NASA-ROSCOSMOS investigation measures the amount of fluid that shifts in the body in space and determines the effect on vision and the eye. More than half of American astronauts experience changes in vision and the structure of their eyes during and after long-duration space flight. Scientists suspect that a shift of fluid into the head that occurs during space flight increases pressure in the brain and pushes on the back of the eye, changing its shape. Results from this study may help investigators develop measures to prevent lasting changes in vision and eye damage.

Improving the space food menu

Image above: NASA astronaut Christina Koch waits for personal-size pizzas cooking in the space station’s galley. The Food Acceptability investigation works to improve the food system in space to support crew health and performance. Image Credit: NASA.

The crew completed questionnaires for the Food Acceptability investigation during the week. Food acceptability refers to whether crew members like and actually eat a food, which may directly affect their caloric intake and nutrition. “Menu fatigue” from consuming the limited foods repeatedly available in a closed system could lead to decreased acceptability and even aversion to some foods. That fatigue may in turn contribute to the loss of body mass often experienced by crew members, potentially affecting astronaut health, especially as mission length increases. Results from this investigation may help improve the food system, supporting crew health and performance on long missions.

Welcoming mice to their space home

International Space Station (ISS). Animation Credit: NASA

The JAXA Mouse Mission analyzes changes in gene expression in several organs as well as how those changes affect development of germ cells in mice exposed to the space environment long-term (more than 30 days). It also serves as verification of the Habitat Unit designed to take mice to and from the space station for scientific investigations. Results could provide fundamental information about how prolonged exposure to space affects humans. The crew completed preparations of the hardware for the investigation and transferred mice into their new habitat.

Antioxidants from algae

Image above: Culture bags for the MicroAlgae investigation activated on the space station. MicroAlgae studies the effects of microgravity on Haematococcus pluvialis, a tiny, freshwater algae capable of producing astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant. Image Credit: NASA.

MicroAlgae studies the effects of microgravity on Haematococcus pluvialis, a tiny freshwater algae capable of producing astaxanthin. This powerful antioxidant could provide a readily available dietary supplement to help prevent effects of radiation exposure, eye damage caused by bodily fluid pressure changes, cardiovascular system damage, and bone loss on long space exploration missions. The crew deployed culture bags to begin the investigation.

Other investigations on which the crew performed work:

— Rodent Research-12 (RR-12) examines the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory using a mouse model: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7868

— Nano Antioxidants studies cellular stimulation approaches to counteract the negative effects of long-term microgravity exposure on the musculoskeletal system. This work may contribute to therapies for musculoskeletal issues in the elderly and people with muscle atrophy disorders: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7744

— MVP Cell-01 studies a disease called Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis, in which a traumatic joint injury may lead to arthritis after loss of cartilage and bone: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7663

— Actiwatch, a sleep-wake monitor worn by crew members, analyzes circadian rhythms, sleep-wake patterns, and activity: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=838

Animation above: Kidney Cells investigation activities underway in the Life Sciences Glovebox. Image Credit: NASA.

— Kidney Cells examines how microgravity and other factors of space travel, including water conservation and recycling and altered dietary intake, affect kidney health: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7819

— STaRS Bioscience-3 studies alterations in vascular cells seen in crew members upon return from spaceflight, with the goal of figuring out the mechanism of vascular cell damage in the space environment: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7485

— VeggiePONDS uses a newly developed passive nutrient delivery system and the Veggie plant growth facility to cultivate lettuce and greens on the space station for on-orbit consumption and analysis on Earth: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7581

Image above: Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques working with the Microgravity Science Glovebox inside the U.S. Destiny laboratory module on Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA), a study exploring how to produce high-quality semi-conductor crystals in microgravity. Image Credit: NASA.

Related links:

Expedition 59: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition59/index.html

Fluid Shifts: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1126

Food Acceptability: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7562

JAXA Mouse Mission: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1537

MicroAlgae: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7689

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), Video (NASA), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/Jorge Sotomayor, Lead Increment Scientist Expeditions 59/60.

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