![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/03\/iss068e053846_900x506.jpg\")
<\/a>The\u00a0Expedition 68<\/a>\u00a0crew members are busy investigating astrobiology and continuing to transfer the 6,200 pounds of research hardware and supplies between the\u00a0International Space Station<\/a>\u00a0and the uncrewed SpaceX CRS-27, which arrived to the space station on March 16.<\/p>\n NASA flight engineer\u00a0Frank Rubio<\/a>\u00a0conducted the\u00a0Cardinal Heart 2.0<\/a>\u00a0media change and sample collection operations in the\u00a0Life Sciences Glovebox<\/a>, a sealed work area in the space station where crew members perform developmental biology experiments. The investigation will test whether clinically approved drugs reduce microgravity-induced changes. Microgravity exposure can cause changes in heart cell function and gene expression that may lead to long-term damage or muscle atrophy.<\/p>\n NASA flight engineer\u00a0Woody Hoburg<\/a>\u00a0took over the operations after participating in a cell biology experiment and collecting water samples from the potable water dispenser. The water recycling system reclaims wastewater into potable drinking water aboard the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n Flight Engineer Sultan Alneyadi from UAE (United Arab Emirates) installed rhodium science chambers in the variable gravity simulator for the\u00a0Rhodium DARPA Biomanufacturing 01<\/a>\u00a0investigation. Results may help reduce the costs of future missions by improving space biomanufacturing, the process of using microbes in the space station to produce materials and biomolecules like biopolymers, food, and pharmaceuticals.<\/p>\n Flight Engineer\u00a0Andrey Fedyaev<\/a>\u00a0of Roscosmos spent the evening replacing the condensate evacuation lines that carry away excess moisture from the cabin atmosphere. Meanwhile, Roscosmos cosmonauts\u00a0Sergey Prokopyev<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dmitri Petelin<\/a>\u00a0spent the day performing an eye ultrasound exam with a remote guide after gathering cargo items to return in the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, slated to undock from the station\u2019s Rassvet module on March 28.<\/p>\n Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog<\/a>, @space_station<\/a> and @ISS_Research<\/a> on Twitter, as well as the ISS Facebook<\/a> and ISS Instagram<\/a> accounts.<\/p>\n Get weekly video highlights at: https:\/\/roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov\/videoupdate\/<\/a><\/p>\n Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here: www.nasa.gov\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Heidi Lavelle <\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The\u00a0Expedition 68\u00a0crew members are busy investigating astrobiology and continuing to transfer the 6,200 pounds of research hardware and supplies between the\u00a0International Space Station\u00a0and the uncrewed SpaceX CRS-27, which arrived to the space station on March 16. NASA flight engineer\u00a0Frank Rubio\u00a0conducted the\u00a0Cardinal Heart 2.0\u00a0media change and sample collection operations in the\u00a0Life Sciences Glovebox, a sealed work \u2026 Continue reading
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