NASA’s astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara was engaged in the maintenance of a biological printer, the BioFabrication Facility (BFF), which experiments with the creation of organ-like tissues in microgravity. This was part of the activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on November 17, where the seven-member crew of Expedition 70 also focused on computer, communication, and life support system maintenance.
The crew’s studies included the growth patterns of microorganisms in microgravity, their potential to damage spacecraft, and methods to eliminate dangerous bacteria. O’Hara conducted experiments with microbial samples in the Life Science Glovebox to understand the behavior of bacteria in space. This research, conducted in the Kibo laboratory module, is part of the Bacteria Adhesion and Corrosion study, aiming to protect the health of space crews and people on Earth.
Meanwhile, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen prepared for the holiday season and was photographed in a festive mood wearing a Santa Claus hat. Mogensen also conducted the Cerebral Ageing experiment, examining brain cell-like samples under a microscope to understand the accelerated aging symptoms in astronauts and similar conditions in patients on Earth.
JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa prepared cellular samples for the Confocal Microscope and concluded the Cell Gravisensing biology Investigation. He also engaged in routine computer maintenance, including hard drive replacement, and assisted O’Hara with unpacking equipment from the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.
A photograph captured from the ISS 260 miles above the central United States showed the sunrise over Earth’s atmosphere, with the city lights of Chicago and the Dallas/Forth Worth metropolitan area visible.
NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli’s activities included configuring various NASA and Roscosmos equipment in the Harmony module. She calibrated an ultrasonic inspection device and checked different communication systems.
Roscosmos cosmonauts were also busy with their respective tasks. Oleg Kononenko focused on researching 3D printing techniques for space-based tool and supply manufacturing. Nikolai Chub dedicated his time to life support and electronics maintenance. Konstantin Borisov worked on configuring laptop computers for the Soyuz crew ship and Progress resupply ship and continued his photographic analysis of the station’s Roscosmos modules.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ISS research activities
What kind of research was conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) on November 17?
On November 17, the ISS crew focused on various research topics including the growth and impact of bacteria in microgravity, the study of brain aging through brain cell-like samples, and the investigation of gravity-sensing cells. This research aims to understand the effects of space conditions on human health and spacecraft maintenance.
Who is Loral O’Hara and what was her role in the ISS research?
Loral O’Hara, a NASA astronaut and Flight Engineer on Expedition 70, played a key role in experimenting with microorganisms in microgravity. She was involved in the Bacteria Adhesion and Corrosion study, examining the growth of microbes and strategies for disinfecting harmful bacteria in space.
What experiments did ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen conduct?
Andreas Mogensen, ESA astronaut and Commander of Expedition 70, conducted the Cerebral Ageing experiment. He analyzed brain cell-like samples under a microscope to better understand the symptoms of accelerated aging in astronauts and similar conditions experienced by patients on Earth.
What was the focus of JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa’s research?
Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was involved in the Cell Gravisensing biology Investigation. He prepared cell samples for observation in the Confocal Microscope and also assisted in computer maintenance and unpacking equipment from the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.
How did NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli contribute to the ISS activities?
NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli spent her day configuring various NASA and Roscosmos hardware in the Harmony module. Her tasks included calibrating an ultrasonic inspection device and checking different communication systems aboard the ISS.
What research was conducted by Roscosmos cosmonauts on the ISS?
Roscosmos cosmonauts engaged in various activities including research on 3D printing techniques by Oleg Kononenko, electronics and life support maintenance by Nikolai Chub, and laptop configuration and photographic analysis of Roscosmos modules by Konstantin Borisov.
More about ISS research activities
- International Space Station
- NASA Research
- Microgravity Studies
- Brain Aging in Space
- ESA Astronaut Activities
- JAXA Space Research
- Harmony Module on ISS
- Roscosmos in Space Exploration
- SpaceX Dragon Cargo Craft
- Spacecraft Maintenance Research
