Bio Tech Dominates Research Schedule to Advance Space, Earth Industries
The Expedition 72 crew studied micro-algae and DNA-like nanomaterials on Tuesday to improve health in space and on Earth. The orbital residents also worked on cargo transfers and lab maintenance aboard the International Space Station.
NASA Flight Engineer Nick Hague began his day processing radiation-resistant samples of Arthrospira C micro-algae and stowing them in an incubator for analysis. The samples will be exposed to different light intensities to observe how they affect the micro-algae's cell growth and oxygen production. Results may advance the development of spacecraft life support systems and fresh food production in space.
Afterward, Hague joined Commander Suni Williams of NASA for a different research session mixing water with samples of messenger RNA, or mRNA, and protein to create DNA-like nanomaterial products inside the Kibo laboratory module's Life Science Glovebox. Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore then transferred the samples, exposed them to ultrasonic waves, and imaged them with a spectrophotometer to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths and evaluate the quality of the nanomaterials. The samples will also be returned to Earth for further evaluation. Results may lead to improved therapies for Earth and space health conditions as well as advance the space economy.
Wilmore joined NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit and removed external research hardware from inside Kibo's airlock. The hardware housed a variety of samples exposed to the vacuum of space such as polymers, photovoltaic devices, and more. The samples will be returned to Earth and examined to understand how space radiation, the extreme thermal environment, micrometeoroids, and more affect materials possibly benefitting the space industry.
Afterward, Pettit pedaled on an exercise cycle wearing breathing gear that measured his aerobic output in microgravity. He wrapped up his shift packing gear for return to Earth inside the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft due to undock from the Harmony module's forward port on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner worked inside the Progress 89 resupply spacecraft on Tuesday that has been docked to the Zvezda service module's rear port since Aug. 17. The duo first serviced the spacecraft's docking mechanism then unpacked cargo for stowing inside the Nauka science module. Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov had a light duty day primarily focusing on exercise inside the Tranquility module, jogging on the treadmill and working out on the advanced resistive exercise device.
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