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Four astronauts from NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 have safely returned to Earth, culminating a vital science expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, marking SpaceX's 7th crew rotation under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, witnessed an array of research and technology demonstrations led by the ISS National Laboratory designed to benefit humanity and foster commercial opport by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 13, 2024
Four astronauts from NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 have safely returned to Earth, culminating a vital science expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, marking SpaceX's 7th crew rotation under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, witnessed an array of research and technology demonstrations led by the ISS National Laboratory designed to benefit humanity and foster commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit.
The international quartet comprising NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA's Andreas Mogensen, JAXA's Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos's Konstantin Borisov, departed the ISS and made their successful splashdown off Florida's coast, signaling the end of Expeditions 69 and 70. Their diverse investigations spanned life sciences, physical sciences, advanced materials, technological advancements, and in-space production applications.
Key research included a University of California, San Francisco-led study, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, exploring microgravity's impact on immune cells and liver regeneration, potentially offering new insights into aging and disease. LambdaVision's experiment on artificial retina manufacturing in microgravity, aimed at reducing material mass for space transport, represents a significant advancement in biotechnology.
The mission also featured the installation of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Spaceborne Computer-2, enhancing space-based research capabilities through advanced in-orbit data processing. Redwire Corporation's Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory tested protein crystal growth in microgravity, a crucial step towards developing better therapeutics. Additionally, a Boeing-backed investigation evaluated an antimicrobial coating's efficacy aboard the ISS, promising improvements in microbial defense in space environments.
Flawless Photonics's project on optical fiber production in microgravity and an Emory University-led study on heart muscle cell development in space are among the initiatives that highlight the mission's contribution to in-space manufacturing and health science advancements.
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