Life Science Advances and Spacewalk Preparations Aboard the International Space Station

Experiments in Microgravity: Understanding Human Biology

The crew aboard Expedition 72 is diligently working on life science research and spacewalk preparations. On Tuesday, they continued explorations that cater to our understanding of how microgravity impacts human biology, a pivotal area as humanity looks forward to extended space voyages.

Key Highlights of Biological Research:

• Don Pettit engaged in cleaning an incubator that previously housed biological samples. These samples, having been exposed to the rigors of space, offer insights into muscle and bone loss. Now, they’re back on Earth for further analysis.
• Nick Hague strapped into a sensor-packed vest and headband to track his cardiovascular performance while exercising. The data from this experiment helps in understanding how the heart and lungs adapt to weightlessness.

Advanced Exercise Technology: A Step Towards Future Missions

Exercise Equipment Installation: NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore played a crucial role in assembling the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device. This compact equipment combines bicycling, rowing, and resistive exercise capabilities. It’s undergoing testing on the ISS to assess its efficiency for long-duration missions, including lunar and Martian expeditions.

Spacewalk Preparations and Airlock Reconfigurations

Flight Engineers Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague spearheaded the reconfiguration of the Nanoracks Bishop airlock. Once reattached to the Tranquility module after being leveraged for transfer activities with Canadarm2, this airlock plays a vital role in the spacecraft’s extensive research capabilities.

Upcoming Spacewalk: The Roscosmos Contribution

Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner are in the final stages of preparation for their forthcoming spacewalk. This ambitious task involves extracting external science experiments and relocating parts of the European robotic arm hardware. Their mission will commence at 10:10 a.m. EST on Thursday, with the cosmonauts donning Orlan spacesuits for a nearly seven-hour venture.

Innovations in Earth Observation

Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov is at the helm of advancing Earth observation from the Roscosmos segment of the station. He tested new imaging hardware in the Nauka science module. This breakthrough technology offers unprecedented viewing capabilities of Earth, revealing the impacts of natural and human-induced disasters across various wavelengths.

Additionally, Gorbunov contributed to maintaining life support systems through meticulous cleaning of the orbital plumbing and ventilation mechanisms.

The Return of Dragon: Successful Completion of a Resupply Mission

Dragon Capsule Splashdown: A significant event marking the day was the successful landing of the SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Gulf of Mexico. This U.S. resupply spacecraft returned with critical biological samples, concluding its latest mission.

The Dragon’s return marks another successful operation in the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX, aimed at maintaining a sustainable human presence in space.

Conclusion: A Day of Collaborative Endeavors and Scientific Progress

The activities aboard the International Space Station, from biological research to technological advancements and spacewalk preparations, underscore the global collaborative effort in making strides towards deeper space exploration.

Stay tuned with station activities through various channels: the Space Station blog, Twitter at @space_station and @ISS_Research, Facebook at ISS, and Instagram at ISS Instagram. For regular updates, subscribe here to receive weekly news from NASA.

With partnerships stretching across continents, the International Space Station continues to be a hallmark of scientific inquiry and innovation. Its work not only propels us into the next chapter of space exploration but also deepens our understanding of life both on Earth and beyond.

Source: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/12/17/life-science-spacewalk-preps-on-station-as-dragon-splashes-down/