Archivo de la etiqueta: iss

Bone and Robotics Research Informing Future Missions as Crew Nears Departure

The Expedition 73 crew kicked off the week studying how to live and work in space during long-term missions including staying healthy in weightlessness and operating planetary robots from a spacecraft. The seven International Space Station (ISS) residents also replaced flight hardware and continued preparing for a crew swap beginning at the end of the month.

Scientists studies into the long-term effects of reduced gravity on an astronaut’s body enable NASA and its international partners to plan safe and successful missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Crews move around in microgravity with minimal effort; however, this affects their bodies in a similar way to how patients on Earth confined to bedrest experience. As a result, bones and muscles atrophy without daily exercise and proper nutrition.

Just one of many human research investigations taking place on the orbital outpost, the Bone on ISS study explores an astronaut’s bone health before, during, and after a spaceflight. Station commander Takuya Onishi from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers from NASA began their Monday with this experiment. Onishi assisted Ayers as she performed a blood draw then processed the samples for spinning in a centrifuge. The samples were stowed in a science freezer for later analysis. Results may provide insights into how an individual’s bones adjust to microgravity and help treat space-caused bone loss as well as Earthbound aging conditions.

NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain spent her day on the CIPHER suite of 14 human research experiments tracking multiple aspects of a crew member’s health in space. She processed her blood and urine samples for preservation and analysis for more insight into bone health and cardiovascular issues. The knowledge gained may prepare an astronaut for different gravity environments such as the Moon or Mars and lead to advanced care for patients on Earth.

McClain, along with Onishi and Roscosmos Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov, spent time packing personal items for the ride back to Earth planned for early next month inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Ayers began packing her gear last week.

NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim explored ways to control robotic vehicles on a planetary surface from an orbiting spacecraft. Working with engineers on the ground, Kim set up a laptop computer inside the Columbus laboratory module and tested space-to-ground robotic controlling methods. The experiment tests a variety of technologies including consoles, touchscreens, haptics, and virtual reality goggles that may benefit future space exploration. Results may also inform missions to asteroids and operations in disaster zones or inhospitable areas on Earth. Kim later partnered with Onishi and Ayers replacing flight hardware in the Tranquility module.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky assisted Peskov on Monday helping him get ready to end his stay aboard the orbiting lab. Zubritsky set up biomedical hardware and applied sensors measuring Peskov’s blood flow as he wore the experimental lower body negative pressure suit. The data is being collected to test the suit’s ability to pull fluids from the upper body and counteract space-caused head and eye pressure. The suit operations may also help a crew member adapt quicker to the return to Earth’s gravity. Zubritsky then inventoried a variety of computer and electronics hardware while Peskov reviewed Dragon departure procedures on a computer tablet.

Veteran Flight Engineer Sergey Ryzhikov videotaped his workout session on the advanced resistive exercise device helping researchers keep crews fit and healthy in space. He spent the rest of his shift replacing electronics and fire protection hardware and cleaning ventilation systems throughout the space station’s Roscosmos segment.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

Heart Scans, Hearing Tests Wrap Week as Station Gears Up for Crew Swap

The week ended aboard the International Space Station with more biomedical checks to keep astronauts fit and healthy on long-term missions in microgravity. The Expedition 73 residents are also preparing to split up in a couple of weeks while keeping up cargo and maintenance duties aboard the orbital outpost.

Heart scans and hearing tests were the main research tasks on Friday with doctors on the ground reviewing the downlinked health data to ensure the crew is safely adapting to living and working in weightlessness.

NASA Flight Engineers Jonny Kim and Anne McClain began their day with human research activities in the Columbus laboratory module. The duo first set up and activated medical gear before Kim collected and recorded McClain’s blood pressure while researchers on the ground monitored in real time. Next, Kim scanned McClain’s chest with the Ultrasound 2 device as ground personnel observed her blood flow to understand the cardiovascular risks of spaceflight.

Station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) joined NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers and took turns participating in a computerized hearing test. The astronauts often use the Quest airlock since it is a quiet module, wear headphones, and respond to tones emitted during the test. The station’s multiple life support systems and science hardware operate continuously affecting the orbital outpost’s acoustic environment and audiologist’s are studying its impact on the crew’s hearing.

McClain, Ayers, and Onishi are now turning their attention to the end of their mission and return to Earth targeted for early August. The trio spent the second of half of Friday reviewing SpaceX Dragon departure procedures on computer tablets. They arrived at the station with Roscosmos Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 members docking to the Harmony module’s forward port aboard Dragon on March 15.

Before the Crew-10 quartet leaves, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission is targeted to launch no earlier than July 31 with Commander Zena Cardman of NASA leading Pilot Mike Fincke of NASA and Mission Specialists Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos. Once aboard the space station, the Commercial Crew foursome will spend several months studying stem cell production methods to develop advanced cures, new ways to treat bacterial infections, space agriculture techniques, and more.

Peskov joined fellow cosmonaut Alexey Zubritskiy and continued unpacking some of the nearly three tons of food, fuel, and supplies delivered recently aboard the Progress 92 resupply ship after it docked to the Poisk module. Veteran cosmonaut and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryzhikov, on his third spaceflight, ended his week servicing communications and life support gear throughout the space station’s Roscosmos segment.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

Human Research on Station Helping Keep Long Term Crews Healthy

Heart scans, breathing measurements, and a fitness test led the research activities aboard the International Space Station on Thursday giving doctors continuous insight into microgravity’s effect on the human body. The Expedition 73 residents also ensured the advanced science hardware and life support gear remain in tip-top shape aboard the orbital outpost.

NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain spent her shift in the Columbus laboratory module helping researchers understand the cardiovascular risk of living and working in space during a long-term mission. She attached electrodes to her chest then performed a pair of ultrasound scans as doctors on the ground monitored in real time. Afterward, she measured her blood pressure providing more data into a crew member’s heart health and informing ways to counter space-caused symptoms such as changes in blood flow and stiffened arteries.

A sensor-packed headband and vest designed by the Canadian Space Agency is being tested for its ability to comfortably monitor vital signs while an astronaut goes about their daily activities. NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers wrapped up a health monitoring session on Thursday and removed the Bio-Monitor wearable devices after 24 hours. Next, she downloaded the data collected during her sleep shift and from her workout on the Destiny laboratory module’s exercise cycle for doctors to review. Earlier in her shift, Ayers cleaned Destiny’s Microgravity Science Glovebox that hosts numerous space investigations into biology, physics, and more.

NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim continued cleaning up following the previous day’s installation of a new catalytic reactor in the Tranquility module. After that, he and Station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) cleaned and inspected hatch seals in the Tranquility, Harmony, and the Permanent Multipurpose modules. Onishi also removed botany hardware from a research incubator in the Kibo laboratory module supporting an investigation studying plant cell division to learn how grow to food crops in space.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy took turns attaching acoustic sensors to their necks measuring the sound as they exhaled rapidly for a respiratory study. The duo then split up as Ryzhikov serviced the Zvezda service module’s oxygen generator and Zubritskiy jogged on Zvezda’s treadmill while attached to electrodes for a fitness evaluation. Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov kicked off his shift with a computer test to learn how international crews and global mission controllers communicate then spent the rest of the day on plumbing and electronics maintenance duties.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Joshua A. Finch

Muscle and Exercise Studies to Maintain Crew Health in Space

Maintaining muscles and monitoring astronaut health in space were the top research subjects aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 73 crew also replaced critical life support hardware and serviced a variety of experimental gear.

The lack of gravity weighing down on a human living in space contributes to muscle loss since it takes much less effort to move around in weightlessness. Spaceflight crews exercise daily for two hours to counteract space-caused muscle atrophy and bone loss to stay healthy in microgravity and remain in shape for the eventual return to Earth.

Scientists are studying electrical muscle stimulation in combination with exercising in space to improve muscle function, reduce workout times, and design lighter exercise equipment. NASA Flight Engineers Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim joined each other in the Columbus laboratory module for the muscle study that may benefit future long-duration space flights as well as patients on Earth with mobility issues. Ayers wore electrodes that sent electrical signals to her legs as Kim operated the biomedical equipment that also recorded how her muscles responded.

Next, Ayers removed the electrodes then wore a sensor-packed headband and vest collecting her heart and breathing rate as she worked out on the advanced resistive exercise device that mimics free weights on Earth and then pedaled on an exercise cycle. Researchers will use the health data to continuously adjust crew exercise plans and improve aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning in microgravity.

Ayers and Kim later assisted NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain as she replaced a catalytic reactor in the Tranquility module. The catalytic reactor introduces oxygen into the station’s water processor assembly and oxidizes organic material in the wastewater. Station Commander Takuya Onishi from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) helped the trio conclude the maintenance work as he reinstalled hardware removed in Tranquility so the crew could access the advanced life support components.

Onishi began his day in the Kibo laboratory module troubleshooting and inspecting combustion research hardware in the Multipurpose Small Payload Rack. Onishi then replaced a device, the Microgravity Measurement Apparatus, that measures the vibrations Kibo experiences due to astronaut activities and spacecraft dockings that may affect sensitive science experiments.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Kirill Peskov also participated in an exercise study as they took turns jogging on the Zvezda service module’s treadmill for a fitness evaluation. Doctors will use the data to determine a crew member’s energy requirements to stay fit in space and ensure readiness for strenuous activities such as spacewalks and the return to Earth’s gravity. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritskiy started his shift cleaning ventilation systems and smoke detectors. He then trained to perform medical procedures on the orbital outpost including eye checks, needle injections, injury treatments, and more.

The Progress 91 cargo craft docked to the rear port of Zvezda fired its engines for nearly 12 minutes on Wednesday. The reboost lifts the space station’s orbit to the correct altitude for the approach and docking of the Progress 93 cargo craft planned for September.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

Ax-4 Returns Home; Expedition 73 Studies Space Effects on Heart, Nervous System

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:31 a.m. PDT Tuesday ending a 20-day spaceflight that saw the private astronauts perform critical microgravity research aboard the International Space Station. Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, who has accumulated 695 days in space over five missions, led Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu back to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Back on the orbital outpost, the Expedition 73 crew kicked off several days of human research activities starting with exploring how the human heart and nervous system adapt to weightlessness. NASA Flight Engineers Jonny Kim and Anne McClain joined each other in the Columbus laboratory module on Tuesday for heart scans using the Ultrasound 2 device to understand how living in space affects blood flow. McClain then partnered with NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers and studied how an astronaut’s nervous system, or sense of balance, adjusts to microgravity. McClain wore virtual reality goggles and responded to visual stimuli as Ayers monitored and operated the hardware with assistance from doctors on the ground in real time. Both studies are part of the CIPHER suite of 14 human research experiments.

Kim later assisted station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) as he worked in the Tranquility module for upcoming electrical and life support maintenance. The duo removed a variety of exercise racks and orbital plumbing components to access electrical hardware for maintenance and begin installing a new catalytic reactor.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Zubritskiy and Kirill Peskov continued unpacking cargo from inside the Progress 92 resupply ship that delivered about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the Expedition 73 crew on July 5. Veteran cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov spent his day checking electronics gear and servicing space physics research equipment.

The docked Progress 91 cargo craft will fire its engines on Wednesday for several minutes boosting the station’s orbit to the correct altitude for the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission. Crew-11 is targeted to launch no earlier than 12:09 p.m. EDT on July 31 aboard the Dragon spacecraft for a docking on Aug. 2 to the Harmony module’s space-facing port. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman will lead Crew-11 with Pilot Mike Fincke of NASA and Mission Specialists Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos.

50 years ago today, two different spacecraft from the United States and the Soviet Union launched from opposites of the world to begin an era of international cooperation in space. Two days later, the Apollo spacecraft with NASA astronauts Tom Stafford, Vance Brand, and Deke Slayton docked with the Soyuz spacecraft carrying cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Valery Kubasov. Stafford and Leonov opened the hatches between both spacecraft, shook hands, and conducted research before undocking two days later. The experience gained from the Apollo-Soyuz mission would inform operations on the International Space Station that will reach 25 years of continuous human habitation on Nov. 2 this year.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia