Advanced Tech Research Tops Crew Schedule Day Before Thanksgiving
Advanced technology research into DNA-like nanomaterials, bacterial genetic analysis, and 3D printing kept the Expedition 72 crew busy the day before Thanksgiving. The International Space Station residents also sent down a Thanksgiving message, checked out a Roscosmos cargo craft, and continued their standard orbital maintenance duties.
Commander Suni Williams kicked off her day with Flight Engineer Nick Hague, both NASA astronauts, in the Kibo laboratory module mixing samples of messenger RNA, or mRNA, and protein with water to manufacture nanomaterials that mimic DNA. Williams then imaged the samples using light intensity measurements to evaluate the quality of the nanomaterials. Results may benefit space manufacturing and lead to advanced therapies for Earthbound and space-caused health conditions.
NASA Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore spent all day Wednesday collecting microbe samples throughout the station to analyze their genetic characteristics. Wilmore first swabbed areas the crew touches frequently then transferred those samples to genetic research hardware for analysis. The samples will be incubated for a few days before undergoing a DNA extraction process for identification. Doctors want to understand how antibiotic-resistant bacteria evolve in the microgravity environment in an effort reduce the risk of crew infection aboard spacecraft.
NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit worked in the Columbus laboratory module configuring the Metal 3D Printer that may be able to manufacture spare parts during space missions reducing the need for resupply missions launched from Earth. Williams assisted Pettit removing a printed specimen from the 3D printer and replacing components inside the device.
The four NASA astronauts sent down a Thanksgiving message video highlighting their upcoming meal and expressing their gratitude for their families and living and working in space. The quartet along with the three Roscosmos cosmonauts aboard the space station will take the day off on Thursday enjoying a hearty meal, talking to family members on the ground, and relaxing aboard the orbital outpost.
Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner worked throughout Wednesday checking ventilation systems and docking hardware inside the Progress 89 cargo craft docked to the Zvezda service module's rear port. The cosmonaut duo also took turns attaching electrodes to themselves recording their heart activity and measuring their blood pressure. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov updated laptop computer software and continued unpacking the Progress 90 cargo craft.
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