[ad_1]
Research
Published on January 15, 2021 |
by NASA
January 15, 2021 by NASA
The badge of the SpaceX CRS-21 mission that saw the enhanced Cargo Dragon supply ship automatically connect to the Harmony module’s international space-oriented docking adapter, a first for a US commercial cargo spacecraft.
Originally posted on NASA.gov.
By Mark Garcia
SpaceX’s upgraded Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed at 8:26 p.m. EST on Wednesday west of Tampa off Florida, marking the return of the company’s 21st cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA . The spacecraft has transported over 4,400 pounds of valuable science experiments and other cargo to Earth.
The upgraded Dragon cargo pod used for this mission contains double the availability of motorized lockers from previous pods, allowing for a significant increase in research that can be referred back to scientists. Some scientists will see their research return quickly, four to nine hours after the splash.
Some of the scientific investigations that Dragon returns to Earth are:
Cardinal heart
Microgravity causes changes in the workload and shape of the human heart, and it’s still unclear whether these changes could become permanent if a person lived in space for more than a year. Cardinal Heart studies how changes in gravity affect cardiovascular cells at the cellular and tissue level using 3D-designed heart tissue, a type of tissue chip. The results could provide new understanding of heart problems on Earth, help identify new treatments, and support the development of screening measures to predict cardiovascular risk before space flight.
Spatial organogenesis
This JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) investigation demonstrates the growth of 3D organ buds from human stem cells to analyze changes in gene expression. Cell cultures on Earth need supporting materials or forces to achieve 3D growth, but in microgravity, cell cultures can expand in three dimensions without these devices. The results of this investigation could demonstrate the benefits of using microgravity for cutting-edge developments in regenerative medicine and could contribute to the development of technologies needed to create artificial organs.
Sextant navigation
The sextant used in the Sextant navigation experiment will return to Earth. The sextants have a small telescope-like optical viewfinder to take precise angle measurements between pairs of stars from land or sea, allowing navigation without computer assistance. Sailors have navigated via sextants for centuries, and NASA’s Gemini missions conducted the first observations of sextants from a spacecraft. This investigation tested specific techniques for using a sextant for emergency navigation on spacecraft such as NASA’s Orion, which will transport humans on deep space missions.
Rodent Research-23
This experiment studies the function of arteries, veins, and lymphatic structures in the eye and changes in the retina of mice before and after space flight. The aim is to clarify whether these changes impair visual function. At least 40% of astronauts suffer from a visual impairment known as space flight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) during long-duration space flights, which could hamper mission success.
Amine thermal scrubber
This technology demonstration tested a method to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air aboard the International Space Station, using actively heated and cooled amine beds. Monitoring CO2 levels on the station reduces the likelihood that crew members will exhibit symptoms of CO2 build-up, including fatigue, headaches, difficulty breathing, tired eyes, and itchy skin.
Bacterial adhesion and corrosion
Bacteria and other microorganisms have been shown to grow as biofilm communities in microgravity. This experiment identifies bacterial genes used when growing biofilms, examines whether these biofilms can corrode stainless steel, and assesses the effectiveness of a silver-based disinfectant. This investigation could provide insight into the best ways to control and eliminate resistant biofilms, thus contributing to the success of future long-duration spaceflight.
Optical fiber production, which includes the return of experimental optical fibers created in microgravity using a mixture of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, sodium and aluminum. The return of fibers, called ZBLAN in reference to the chemical formula, will help verify experimental studies which suggest that fibers created in space should exhibit qualities far superior to those produced on Earth.
Get space station news, images and features via social media on Instagram at: @iss, ISS on Facebook and on Twitter @Space station and @ISS_Research.
Do you appreciate the originality of CleanTechnica? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica member, supporter or ambassador – or Patreon sponsor.
Sign up for our free daily newsletter or our weekly newsletter so you never miss a story.
Do you have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or would like to nominate a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Sell Teslas in 2012 compared to 2021
About the Author
NASA Vision NASA: To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
[ad_2]
Source link