![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss073e0511718\/iss073e0511718~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>The Expedition 73<\/a> crew explored microgravity\u2019s effect on bone and plant cells and studied futuristic space workouts aboard the International Space Station<\/a> on Thursday to keep astronauts fit and promote space agriculture.<\/p>\n The lack of gravity aggravates bone loss on astronauts similar to the aging process on Earth. Exercising every day in space slows the rate of bone loss but does not eliminate it completely. NASA Flight Engineers Jonny Kim<\/a> and Zena Cardman<\/a> explored the molecular mechanisms of space-induced bone loss<\/a> for a new investigation delivered aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft on Aug. 25<\/a>. The duo took turns operating the study and processing bone stem cell samples inside the Kibo laboratory module<\/a>\u2019s Life Science Glovebox<\/a>. Results could help the human skeletal system adapt to spaceflight and lead to advanced treatments for aging conditions and bone diseases on Earth.<\/p>\n Flight Engineer Kimiya Yui of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) also worked inside Kibo processing algae and tobacco plant cells<\/a> and stowing them in an artificial gravity-generating research incubator<\/a>. The cell samples will be imaged inside JAXA\u2019s COSMIC fluorescent microscope<\/a> to visualize microgravity\u2019s effect on plant cell division and microstructures. Insights may lead to improved methods for growing plants on spacecraft and growing crops on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.<\/p>\n NASA Flight Engineer Mike Fincke<\/a> began his shift working out for an exercise study<\/a> observing what happens to a crew member\u2019s bone, muscle, and aerobic health when training without a treadmill on a spacecraft. Fincke worked out on the advanced resistive exercise device<\/a> that mimics free wights in Earth\u2019s gravity for the human research experiment. Researchers are exploring how the lack of walking on a spacecraft will affect future crews and are adjusting space exercise programs. Due to the size limits of a spacecraft, lighter exercise equipment will be necessary to maintain resistive and aerobic training on long duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.<\/p>\n Station Commander Sergey Ryzhikov started his shift downloading imagery of Central and Southeast Asia automatically captured overnight as the crew slept. Afterward, he worked on computer software upgrades and filled out a questionnaire helping scientists understand how international crews and mission controllers from around the world communicate with each other.<\/p>\n Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov spent their shift on Thursday servicing a wide variety of life support and electronics gear. Zubritsky started his day in the Zarya module<\/a> examining its power systems then moved into the Zvezda service module<\/a> and refilled the Elektron oxygen generator. Platonov participated in the computer software upgrades throughout the station\u2019s Roscosmos segment and filmed an educational video demonstrating how objects move in space.<\/p>\n Learn more about station activities by following the <\/em>space station blog<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>@space_station<\/em><\/a> on X, as well as the <\/em>ISS Facebook<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>ISS Instagram<\/em><\/a> accounts.<\/em><\/p>\n Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. <\/em>Subscribe here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Mark A. Garcia <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Expedition 73 crew explored microgravity\u2019s effect on bone and plant cells and studied futuristic space workouts aboard the International Space Station on Thursday to keep astronauts fit and promote space agriculture. Continue reading