NASA’s Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), engaged in intricate work within the BioFabrication Facility (BFF) inside the Columbus laboratory module. The BFF, a sophisticated biological printer, is crucial for experiments in printing tissue structures similar to organs under microgravity conditions. This endeavor is part of NASA’s ongoing research.
This past week, the Expedition 70 team dedicated their efforts to studies in microbiology, bioprinting, and ultrasound technology aboard the ISS. Their research spanned across cardiac studies and fluid physics, all conducted in the unique microgravity environment of space.
The risks posed by unchecked microbial growth in spacecraft are significant, including potential system contamination and corrosion, and health risks to astronauts. Current research focuses on identifying and sterilizing these microbes, which is vital for future space missions venturing further from Earth.
NASA Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara teamed up for research in the Kibo laboratory module, aimed at controlling microbial growth. They alternated in handling bacterial samples in the Life Science Glovebox, contributing to knowledge crucial for the success of prolonged space missions and the protection of sensitive environments on Earth.
The seven members of Expedition 70 gathered for a group photo in the Kibo laboratory. The team includes Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency), NASA Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, Roscosmos Flight Engineers Nikolai Chub, Konstantin Borisov, and Oleg Kononenko; and JAXA Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa.
Moghbeli assisted Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA in extracting tissue cassettes with cardiac cells from the BioFabrication Facility. This 3D bioprinting technology is a step towards manufacturing human organs in space using a patient’s own cells. The samples are incubated in an advanced processor, allowing tissues to develop at a cellular level. Mogensen had earlier focused on water recovery and purification processes in microgravity.
O’Hara’s day started with ultrasound scans and blood pressure data collection, alongside Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA. This biomedical research, conducted with Earth-based medical teams, is part of the CIPHER suite comprising 14 human research experiments. Furukawa later managed cargo within the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, preparing for its return to Earth later in the month with crucial research samples.
An image from the ISS showcased the Red Sea between Africa and Asia, with the Nile River visible in Northeastern Egypt, and solar arrays framing the picture.
In the Roscosmos section, three cosmonauts, Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Konstantin Borisov, engaged in cardiac research. This study assessed heart bioelectrical activity in weightlessness. They also participated in a problem-solving computerized test, aiming to enhance communication between crews and mission controllers.
Kononenko tended to egg incubation for a biological study and checked the Nauka module’s ventilation systems. Chub examined the impact of magnetic and electrical fields on fluid systems in microgravity, while Borisov focused on various scientific tasks, including plant care and research hardware management.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Expedition 70 ISS Research
What was the main focus of Expedition 70’s research on the ISS?
Expedition 70 primarily focused on microbiology, bioprinting, and cardiac research in the unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS).
What is the significance of studying microbial growth in space?
Studying microbial growth is crucial to prevent contamination of spacecraft systems and protect the health of astronauts on long-duration space missions.
Can you explain the bioprinting research conducted during Expedition 70?
Certainly. Expedition 70 included research using a 3D bioprinter to explore the possibility of manufacturing human organs in space using patient cells.
What are the potential applications of the bioprinting technology tested on the ISS?
The bioprinting technology tested on the ISS has the potential to revolutionize organ transplantation by enabling the creation of organs in space, reducing the need for organ donors on Earth.
Were there any international partnerships involved in this research?
Yes, Expedition 70 involved collaboration between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), Roscosmos, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
What other experiments or studies were conducted during Expedition 70?
In addition to microbiology, bioprinting, and cardiac research, Expedition 70 also included studies on fluid physics, ultrasound technology, and communication between crews and mission controllers.
More about Expedition 70 ISS Research
- NASA’s Expedition 70 Mission Overview
- Bioprinting Human Organs in Space
- Microbial Contamination in Spacecraft
- Cardiac Research in Microgravity
- JAXA’s Contribution to Expedition 70
- ESA’s Involvement in International Space Station Missions
- Roscosmos and Russian Space Research
- SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft
- CIPHER Suite of Human Research Experiments
- Fluid Physics Research in Microgravity
5 comments
Wow, this text’s got a lotta science goin’ on up there in space! Microbiology, bioprintin’, cardiac stuff, it’s like a space science party.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and fluid physics research add some cool tech vibes to the mix. Space is full of surprises!
The FAQ section makes it easy to understand what they were doin’ up there. Space microbes, bioprinters, and more, all explained nicely.
It’s great to see NASA workin’ with ESA, Roscosmos, and JAXA. Space science is all about teamwork!
Bioprinting human organs in space? That’s seriously mind-blowing! Imagine if we can create organs in space and help save lives on Earth.