While orbiting approximately 260 miles above the Middle East, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli took a photograph of the Persian Gulf. In this image, a solar array of the International Space Station (ISS) is prominently featured, showcasing its complex solar cells. This image is credited to NASA.
On Monday, December 4, the crew aboard the ISS engaged in a day filled with scientific research, focusing on science hardware, microbiology, and eye examinations. Additionally, they serviced a spacesuit and started the process of unloading a newly arrived cargo craft.
NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli each took turns working within the Life Science Glovebox on Monday morning. O’Hara initially detached various cables and cameras linked to the biology research facility in the Kibo laboratory module. Following this, Moghbeli replaced the gloves used by crew members for conducting experiments within the device.
The ISS, while over eastern France and at an altitude of 263 miles, captured a night-time image spanning from Milan, Italy, to Split, Croatia, looking from northwest to southeast across the Adriatic Sea. This photograph is also credited to NASA.
O’Hara was involved in arranging and storing equipment for a space physics experiment studying the impact of microgravity on metal alloys. Moghbeli prepared cell samples for the Bacteria Adhesion and Corrosion study, which aims to find ways to identify and clean microbes that could contaminate spacecraft systems and impact crew health.
Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), began his day by maintaining science freezers and then proceeded to clean and connect cables for a 3D organ culture study. He joined the NASA astronauts for eye examinations later in the day, with medical support from Earth-based doctors. O’Hara used medical imaging equipment to examine the optic nerves and retinas of both Furukawa and Moghbeli.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli was seen calibrating an ultrasonic inspection device within the Harmony module. This device, employing high-frequency sound waves, is used for material analysis on the ISS. This activity is credited to NASA.
ESA (European Space Agency) Commander Andreas Mogensen reviewed procedures for a future study aimed at producing high-quality fiber optic cables in microgravity. He also dismantled parts of a spacesuit to be sent back to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub spent Monday unloading the Progress 86 space freighter, which docked at the Poisk module earlier. Kononenko managed a new space biology experiment, placing egg samples in a Nauka science module incubator, while Chub documented and worked on the Poisk module’s docking hardware. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov updated operational data files for the newly docked spacecraft.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ISS research activities
What scientific activities did the ISS crew conduct on December 4?
On December 4, the ISS crew engaged in various scientific activities, including working with science hardware, conducting microbiology research, performing eye checks, and servicing a spacesuit. They also began unpacking a new cargo craft.
Who captured the image of the Persian Gulf from the ISS?
NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli captured the image of the Persian Gulf from the International Space Station, with a visible solar array in the foreground.
What experiments did NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli conduct?
NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli conducted experiments in the Life Science Glovebox, with O’Hara disconnecting cables and cameras and Moghbeli swapping out gloves for conducting science operations.
What was astronaut Satoshi Furukawa’s role in the ISS research?
Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), serviced science freezers, cleaned and connected cables for a 3D organ culture study, and participated in eye exams conducted by NASA astronauts.
How did Commander Andreas Mogensen contribute to the ISS activities?
Commander Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency reviewed procedures for a study on manufacturing fiber optic cables in microgravity and prepared spacesuit components for return to Earth.
What was the role of Roscosmos cosmonauts in the ISS activities on December 4?
Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub were involved in unpacking the Progress 86 space freighter, managing a space biology experiment, and documenting docking hardware in the Poisk module.
More about ISS research activities
- International Space Station
- NASA Astronauts
- Space Research and Experiments
- ISS Cargo Unpacking
- Life Science Glovebox
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- European Space Agency
- Roscosmos Cosmonauts
- SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft
- Microgravity Studies in Space
6 comments
Isn’t it incredible how they manage all these complex tasks in microgravity? Kudos to the astronauts and their teams!
How do they even keep track of all these different experiments? must be super organized.
can you imagine being up there and looking down at Earth? it must be so surreal.
wow, such amazing work happening up there in space, really cool to see the science they’re doing!
these astronauts are real-life heroes, doing groundbreaking research that could change our world, amazing stuff!
i’m always amazed by these ISS updates. it’s like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.