In the foreground, the sun partially illuminates the golden cymbal-shaped solar array of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft while it casts shadows on other exterior station hardware. Below, the teal waters of the Bahamas provide a contrasting backdrop. At the time of this image capture, the International Space Station (ISS) was orbiting 259 miles above Earth. Credit: NASA
On Thursday, December 7, the International Space Station (ISS) was abuzz with scientific activities centered around space botany, human research, and bioprinting. Expedition 70’s crew of seven also dedicated their day to lab equipment maintenance and cargo operations.
Space Agriculture
Cultivating plants in the unique environment of space assumes great significance as astronauts prepare for more extended missions beyond Earth’s orbit. Space agriculture holds the promise of sustaining space crews and ensuring a cleaner breathing environment within spacecraft and space habitats. The objective is to reduce dependence on Earth-bound cargo missions, which currently ferry food, fuel, and supplies.
Expedition 70 Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, both representing NASA, were captured in a portrait inside the Destiny laboratory module, celebrating the successful docking of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft with the International Space Station. Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency (ESA) took turns in maintaining the Advanced Plant Habitat, where they replaced environmental control components. NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli lent her expertise in reconfiguring the botany facility, which has successfully nurtured various vegetables within the Kibo laboratory module.
Vision Studies
Following their work in botany, O’Hara and Moghbeli, along with Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), engaged in eye examinations as part of the CIPHER suite, comprising 14 human research experiments. O’Hara commenced by measuring the electrical responses of Furukawa’s retinas to light, employing specialized sensors. Subsequently, O’Hara utilized standard medical imaging equipment to examine the optic nerves and retinas inside Moghbeli’s eyes. This investigation aims to understand the impact of weightlessness on vision and ocular health.
As the International Space Station soared 259 miles above Pakistan, low-hanging clouds blended with the snow-capped summits of the Karakoram mountain range. Credit: NASA
Bioprinting in Space
Mogensen concluded his day’s activities within the Columbus laboratory module by employing the BioFabrication Facility (BFF) to 3D print cardiac tissue samples. Moghbeli provided assistance to the ESA station commander in inserting tissue cassettes into the bioprinter and documenting the research processes. The BFF’s mission is to showcase the potential of manufacturing human organs in the unique microgravity environment of space, using patient-derived cells.
Space Biology
Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Konstantin Borisov commenced their Thursday morning by inspecting and photographing eggs undergoing incubation, part of a biology investigation led by Roscosmos. Following this, Kononenko focused on improving communication protocols among international crews and mission controllers from around the world. Borisov conducted research on futuristic spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques while wearing a sensor-packed cap. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub, meanwhile, continued the task of unpacking cargo from Progress 86 and conducted tests on power supply components within the Zarya module.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Space Science
What were the primary scientific activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on December 7, Expedition 70?
On December 7, Expedition 70 focused on space botany, human research, and bioprinting. These activities included maintaining the Advanced Plant Habitat, conducting eye checks as part of the CIPHER suite of human research experiments, and 3D printing cardiac tissue samples in the Columbus laboratory module using the BioFabrication Facility (BFF).
Why is growing plants in space important?
Growing plants in space is crucial as astronauts prepare for longer missions away from Earth. Space agriculture aims to provide sustenance for crews and improve the air quality within spacecraft and space habitats. The goal is to reduce reliance on cargo missions for food, fuel, and supplies.
What was the purpose of the vision studies conducted by Expedition 70 astronauts?
Astronauts conducted vision studies to investigate how weightlessness affects vision and eye health. These studies included measuring retinal responses to light, examining optic nerves and retinas, and exploring the impact of the space environment on astronauts’ vision.
What is the BioFabrication Facility (BFF), and what was it used for during this mission?
The BioFabrication Facility (BFF) is a 3D bioprinter designed for use in space. During Expedition 70, it was used to print cardiac tissue samples. The BFF demonstrates the potential to manufacture human organs in space using patient-derived cells.
What was the focus of the space biology activities conducted by Expedition 70 cosmonauts?
Cosmonauts of Expedition 70 engaged in various space biology activities. These included inspecting and photographing eggs undergoing incubation for a Roscosmos biology investigation, improving communication protocols among international crews and mission controllers, and researching futuristic spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques.
More about Space Science
- NASA’s International Space Station
- Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) – NASA
- CIPHER Suite – NASA
- BioFabrication Facility (BFF) – NASA
- Roscosmos – Russian Federal Space Agency
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- European Space Agency (ESA)
- Space Biology at NASA
3 comments
I love space biology, it’s like sci-fi come true. They’re making organs in space, that’s just amazing!
this article is cool, astronauts are doin some really important work to help us live in space one day, thx NASA!
great stuff here, they r doing all kinds of sciency things up there in space. growing plants, checkin eyes, and printin organs, wow!