![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/03\/iss068e053809_900x506.jpg\")
<\/a>The\u00a0Expedition 68<\/a>\u00a0crew members conducted experiments and maintained equipment aboard the International Space Station<\/a> while activities for cargo transfers continued.<\/p>\n NASA Flight Engineer\u00a0Frank Rubio<\/a>\u00a0performed microscopy and video recordings on eight BioCell tissue chambers\u00a0for the Cardinal Heart 2.0<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0Life Sciences Glovebox<\/a>. This investigation uses heart organoids to test whether clinically approved drugs reduce microgravity-induced changes in heart cell function.\u00a0Rubio also removed the\u00a0Advanced Resistive Exercise Device\u2019s<\/a> (ARED) cylinder flywheel and inspected the treadmill as part of monthly maintenance. The ARED exercises all major muscle groups while focusing on the primary resistive exercise:\u00a0squats, deadlifts, and heel raises. Crew members exercise daily on ARED to maintain preflight muscle and bone strength during long periods in space.<\/p>\n Flight Engineer Sultan Alneyadi from UAE (United Arab Emirates) recorded\u00a0a video of Cardinal Heart 2.0 tissue chambers. The investigation tests clinically approved pharmaceutical drugs to reverse the negative effects on heart cells and tissues caused by prolonged exposure to the space environment.\u00a0Afterward, Alneyadi removed the Bio-Monitor<\/a>\u00a0garment and headband and synchronized the\u00a0unit to\u00a0the controller for data transfer. Alneyadi donned the\u00a0Dry-EEG Headband<\/a>\u00a0overnight for sleep studies in space.\u00a0Considering the central role of sleep in human behavior and health, sleep quality is\u00a0a key factor for current and future exploration missions. The investigation monitors crew members\u2019 quality of sleep by measuring duration, sleep stages, heart rate, and the number of awakenings.<\/p>\n Additionally, Rubio and Alneyadi spent the evening continuing to transfer the 6,200 pounds of research hardware and supplies between the\u00a0space station and the uncrewed SpaceX CRS-27, which arrived<\/a> at the orbital outpost on March 16.<\/p>\n Flight Engineer\u00a0Andrey Fedyaev<\/a>\u00a0of Roscosmos continued to replace the condensate evacuation lines that carry away excess moisture from the cabin atmosphere. Meanwhile, Roscosmos cosmonauts\u00a0Sergey Prokopyev<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dmitri Petelin<\/a>\u00a0prepared cargo 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 conducted experiments and maintained equipment aboard the International Space Station while activities for cargo transfers continued. NASA Flight Engineer\u00a0Frank Rubio\u00a0performed microscopy and video recordings on eight BioCell tissue chambers\u00a0for the Cardinal Heart 2.0\u00a0in the\u00a0Life Sciences Glovebox. This investigation uses heart organoids to test whether clinically approved drugs reduce microgravity-induced changes in heart \u2026 Continue reading
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