Archivo de la etiqueta: iss

Crew Ends Week With Robotics, Cancer Study, and More Aboard Station

The nine orbital residents living and working aboard the International Space Station wrapped up the work week with a science-filled day exploring space biology, physics, and robotics. Cargo transfers and lab inspections rounded out the day for the Expedition 71 and Boeing Crew Flight Test crews.

NASA Flight Engineer Jeanette Epps had a busy day on Friday supporting a pair of different experiments before leading an eye examination at the end of the day. She started her day in the Kibo laboratory module configuring a free-flying camera robot from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and the Astrobee robotic assistant for an upcoming educational challenge. Students on Earth compete to write software that is uploaded to the orbital outpost and controls and maneuvers the devices to encourage and promote the next generation of scientists, engineers, and leaders. Next, she installed research hardware into Kibo’s Cell Biology Experiment Facility to incubate and illuminate seeds for the Plant UV-B botany study. Finally, she peered into the eyes of Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore of NASA using standard medical imaging hardware to check the health of his retina, cornea, and lens.

Wilmore began his day continuing to unload new science and supplies packed inside the Cygnus space freighter that arrived early Tuesday. Afterward, he partnered with fellow crewmate and Starliner Pilot Suni Williams of NASA on standard safety inspections and photographed emergency hardware for further analysis on the ground. Earlier, Williams worked inside the Tranquility module filling water tanks, conducting leak checks, and installing new orbital plumbing gear in the station’s restroom, also known as the waste and hygiene compartment.

The orbital lab’s three other NASA astronauts, Tracy C. Dyson, Matthew Dominick, and Mike Barratt, serviced a variety advanced research hardware to ensure ongoing critical space research. Dyson set up the KERMIT state-of-the-art microscope in the Destiny laboratory module and imaged stem cell samples for a cancer treatment investigation. Dominick replaced components inside the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace that supports safe observations of microgravity’s effect on materials exposed to high temperatures. Barratt removed an outmoded sample processing device from Kibo, packed it for return to Earth, then replaced it with an updated sample processor recently delivered aboard Cygnus.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Nikolai Chub and Alexander Grebenkin continued a second day of digestion studies after their breakfast on Friday. Chub used an ultrasound device and scanned Grebenkin’s stomach following his first meal of the day to learn how the human digestion system adapts to long-term weightlessness. The duo then split up with Chub cleaning ventilations systems in the Zvezda service module and Grebenkin exploring futuristic planetary mission piloting techniques. Station Commander Oleg Kononenko spent his morning replacing life support hardware before wrapping up his day photographing the condition of lab windows inside Zvezda.

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

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Mark Garcia

Science Fills Day Aboard Station as Cygnus Unpacking Continues

It was a packed day aboard the International Space Station as the astronauts and cosmonauts conducted a wide array of space research and serviced a range of science hardware. The orbital residents also continued to unload a U.S. cargo craft, maintained a variety of life support gear, and participated in eye checks.

Stem cells were being analyzed today inside the Life Science Glovebox to explore their potential for disease treatments and commercial purposes both in space and on Earth. Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Tracy C. Dyson and Jeanette Epps from NASA worked together in the Kibo laboratory module harvesting stem cells and peering at the samples in a microscope. Dyson earlier installed new hardware in the Destiny laboratory module that can host a variety of science experiments and space manufacturing studies. Epps also watered plants growing for the Plant UV-B botany study then scanned the cornea, retina, and lens of NASA astronaut and Starliner Pilot Suni Williams using standard medical imaging hardware.

Williams spent the majority of her day with Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore of NASA, both from the Boeing Crew Flight Test, checking out life support components inside Destiny and the Harmony and Tranquility modules. The duo took turns working on thermal control gear and orbital plumbing hardware throughout the orbital outpost’s U.S. segment.

Wilmore also partnered with NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick unpacking some of the 8,200 pound of science and supplies packed inside the Cygnus space freighter that arrived at the space station on Aug. 6. Dominick also removed batteries from the CIMON artificial intelligence assistant then stowed double coldbags that contained research samples delivered aboard Cygnus.

NASA Flight Engineer Mike Barratt concentrated his activities inside Kibo attaching new science experiments on the NanoRacks External Platform that will be placed outside the space station in the vacuum of space. The external studies will explore ultra-high-resolution spectral imagery downloads to Earth (OPTICA), electromagnetic interference and radiation tolerance (ASTRID), and the performance of electronics components in the radiation environment (ENCORE).

The three cosmonauts representing Roscosmos also had a busy day with a schedule full of research and maintenance. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub studied a variety of topics on Thursday including Earth observations, how space affects the digestive system, and future planetary mission piloting techniques. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin worked in the Nauka science and Zvezda service modules transferring water and filling an oxygen generator. Finally, station Commander Oleg Kononenko focused primarily on computer maintenance task duties throughout the orbital lab’s Roscosmos segment.

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

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Mark Garcia

Cygnus Unpacking and Research Continue as Managers Discuss Starliner Updates

The residents aboard the International Space Station continued unpacking several tons of science and supplies packed inside Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft on Wednesday. The seven-member Expedition 71 crew also studied an array of space research while the two Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts from NASA reviewed their Starliner spacecraft’s systems.

NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Jeanette Epps spent the afternoon transferring cargo out of the newly arrived Cygnus space freighter. Starliner Pilot Suni Williams started the cargo work during the morning beginning the job of replenishing the orbital outpost with food, fuel, supplies, and new science experiments.

Earlier in the day, Dominick and Barratt conducted science operations to learn more about Earth’s climate and install a new research incubator. Dominick photographed the Moon from inside the cupola to measure sunshine reflected from the Earth. Results may provide scientists insights into climate change. Barratt installed and activated the Space Automated Lab Incubator (SALI) inside the Kibo laboratory module. The SALI can host a variety of samples at a range of temperatures supporting numerous space investigations into biology and physics.

Epps and NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson also spent their day on a variety of station science and maintenance duties. Epps transferred water between life support systems, configured a radiation detector, then wrapped up her shift with biomedical checks. Dyson worked inside the Destiny laboratory module throughout Wednesday configuring research hardware to study stem cells for treatment purposes and commercial use.

Williams joined Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore and reviewed on a pair of tablet computers the Boeing Starliner crew flight procedures and systems to maintain their operational proficiency. NASA managers also provided mission updates and answered reporter’s questions about Starliner and space station operations during a media teleconference on Wednesday.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub tested the telerobotically operated rendezvous unit’s, or TORU, ability to communicate with the Progress 87 space freighter docked to the Zvezda service module’s rear port. The Progress 87 is due to depart the orbital outpost early next week making space for the arrival of the Progress 89 cargo craft with a fresh load of food, fuel, and supplies just over a week later. The TORU would be used to remotely control a Roscosmos spaceship in the unlikely event the spacecraft would be unable to complete its automated arrival or departure.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin spent a portion of his day on a host of orbital household duties including plumbing and camera battery charging. He later partnered with Kononenko and Chub and recorded a series of congratulatory and greeting videos for their home space agency.

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

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Mark Garcia

NASA Adjusts Crew-9 Launch Date for Operational Flexibility

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24, for the launch of the agency’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station.

This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory. Starliner ground teams are taking their time to analyze the results of recent docked hot-fire testing, finalize flight rationale for the spacecraft’s integrated propulsion system, and confirm system reliability ahead of Starliner’s return to Earth. NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft’s readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner’s return.

The Crew-9 launch adjustment also deconflicts the next SpaceX rotation with the upcoming Soyuz handover targeted for no earlier than mid-September. Teams are working to prepare the Crew-9 mission to be ready to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to deconflict with pad preparations for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission beginning this September at nearby Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center. NASA also will adjust the launch of SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission to no earlier than mid-October.

The agency will host a media teleconference at 12:30 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Aug. 7, with agency leadership to discuss ongoing operations, including NASA’s Crew-9, Crew-8, and Crew Flight Test missions.

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Elyna Niles-Carnes

Cygnus Arrives at Station, Astronauts Unpack New Science

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft has arrived at its new home for the next six months and the International Space Station residents have begun unloading some of its 8,200 pounds of science and supplies.

NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick captured Cygnus with the Canadarm2 robotic arm at 3:11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday following its automated approach and rendezvous. The maneuver marked the 50^th free-flying capture for Canadarm2. Just over two hours later mission controllers on Earth remotely commanded the Canadarm2 and installed Cygnus to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port where it will stay until January. Cygnus began its trip to the orbital outpost with a launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida at 11:02 a.m. EDT on Sunday.

Dominick later joined NASA Flight Engineer Jeanette Epps and conducted cable connections and leak checks before opening Cygnus’ hatch and entering the space freighter for the first time. Next, the rest of the NASA astronauts including Tracy C. Dyson, Mike Barratt, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore started offloading research samples stowed in Cygnus and preserved in portable science freezers and double coldbags. Those samples were then placed inside station science freezers in preparation for upcoming research. The orbital residents will soon be exploring liquid and gas flows, centripetal force, DNA repair mechanisms, cellular expansion, and more.

During a break in the cargo activities Dominick set up photography gear in the cupola and took pictures of the Moon to measure sunshine reflected from the Earth. Dyson worked in the Destiny laboratory module and connected a microscope to an advanced research incubator to support space biology investigations.

The orbital lab’s three cosmonauts representing Roscosmos stayed focused on their science and maintenance schedule throughout Tuesday. Commander Oleg Kononenko began his morning setting up carbon dioxide monitors and installing Earth observation hardware. During the afternoon, the five-time station visitor studied futuristic planetary piloting techniques on a computer. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin attached sensors to himself measuring his heart activity during an hour-and-a-half long relaxation session. Next, he jogged on a treadmill for a fitness test before ending his day with computer maintenance in the Nauka science module. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub worked throughout the day servicing hardware batteries and exercise gear.

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

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Mark Garcia