DNA-Inspired Cancer Research; Vision, Heart, and Psychology Tests Wrap Up Week
DNA-mimicking materials, quantum physics hardware, and spacesuit batteries wrapped up the work week aboard the International Space Station. The Expedition 74 crew also went into the weekend conducting a series of human research investigations studying the heart, the eyes, and psychology.
NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir opened up the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) quantum research facility in the Destiny laboratory module and inspected its water hoses and fiber cables. The hoses carry heat away from the CAL that chills atoms to near absolute zero for observation. The sensitive light-emitting fiber cables help cool, trap, and study atoms with high accuracy providing insights into atomic wave functions, general relativity, and dark matter.
Meir later joined NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway in the Quest airlock for more spacesuit maintenance. Hathaway first installed three charged spacesuit batteries inside a stowage compartment and then ensured the compartment and the area surrounding it were correctly configured. Meir swapped twist-and-lock connectors on a pistol grip tool used by astronauts for assembly tasks during spacewalks.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams focused primarily on unloading supplies still packed inside the Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft that arrived on April 13. Williams also worked inside the Columbus laboratory module troubleshooting the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device's vibration isolation system to ensure proper performance.
Flight engineer Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) created tiny, engineered materials that mimic DNA in the Kibo laboratory module's Life Science Glovebox on Friday. The nanomaterials manufactured for the DNA Nano Therapeutics-3 investigation resemble the natural building blocks of DNA, are loaded with a cancer‑fighting drug, help reach target cells, and prevent unwanted side effects. The biotechnology study takes advantage of weightlessness to form stable structures with the DNA-inspired nanoparticles to possibly develop a new type of cancer treatment.
The four astronauts wrapped up their shift with a pair of biomedical exams checking their eye and heart health. Meir peered into eye-imaging hardware operated by Adenot to view her retina, lens, and cornea. Williams attached pulse-measuring electrodes to himself and then had his chest scanned by Hathaway using the Ultrasound 3 biomedical device to observe his cardiovascular system. Doctors on the ground monitor the tests in real time and use the data to detect and counteract potential space-caused health issues.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev took turns filling out a computerized questionnaire for a long-running crew psychology assessment. Their responses will help researchers understand how cosmonauts mentally adapt to a long-term spaceflight informing crew selection and crew training techniques. Flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev repaired hardware that supports sensors used to monitor systems that separate and purify fluids in the Zvezda service module.
Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_stationon X, as well as the ISS Facebookand ISS Instagram accounts.
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Mark A. Garcia
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