Astronauts return to Earth after seven months of research on ISS

Written by Copernical Team Sunday, 27 October 2024 20:39

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 26, 2024

After spending seven months on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts from NASA's eighth SpaceX crew rotation (Crew-8) successfully splashed down off Florida's coast. This mission, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. The NASA crew conducted extensive re

Astronauts Safely Return to Earth After Seven Months of Research on ISS
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 28, 2024

After spending seven months on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts from NASA's eighth SpaceX crew rotation (Crew-8) successfully splashed down off Florida's coast. This mission, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. The NASA crew conducted extensive research under the ISS National Laboratory's sponsorship, advancing critical scientific efforts in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Crew-8's research spanned multiple fields, including applications for in-space production, life and physical sciences, and technology innovation, contributing valuable insights with potential benefits for life on Earth and furthering LEO's commercial development.

Highlights of key ISS National Lab-supported investigations conducted by Crew-8 include the following:

Several studies focused on in-space production, a growing priority for the ISS National Lab and NASA. Among these, a project by Cedars Sinai Medical Center aimed to develop methods for manufacturing stem cells in space that could be grown into various tissues. These techniques hold promise for large-scale, stem cell-based products that may eventually lead to new therapies for heart and neurodegenerative diseases, among other health conditions.

Redwire Corporation, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company and Butler University, carried out research utilizing Redwire's Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory (PIL-BOX), a microgravity-based platform for organic molecule crystallization. This project may yield insights for new and improved treatments for several health issues. Eli Lilly has a history of conducting research on the ISS, focusing on innovations that could advance patient care on Earth.

In another experiment, Crew-8 supported the University of Notre Dame's latest project in a series on ultra-sensitive biosensors. These sensors aim to detect trace substances in liquids, including early cancer markers. By leveraging laser heating to control bubble formation in microgravity, the research team was able to enhance particle collection, improving the biosensors' sensitivity. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, this work could revolutionize early cancer detection and other diagnostic technologies.

Additionally, the crew worked on phase two of Sphere Entertainment's project to test its advanced ultra-high-resolution, single-sensor camera, Big Sky, on the ISS. Following initial tests with a commercial off-the-shelf camera in November 2022, Big Sky's testing focused on its operational and video downlink capabilities in space. Sphere Entertainment aims to integrate the technology into immersive media experiences in Las Vegas.

As their mission neared completion, Crew-8 astronauts also contributed to projects that launched with Crew-9, NASA's latest ISS mission.

Among these was a student experiment by Isabel Jiang, a recent high school graduate and the 2023 Genes in Space competition winner. Jiang's study examines how radiation and space conditions impact gene editing mechanisms, potentially advancing astronaut protection methods and our understanding of genetic health risks during space travel.

Another investigation involved a collaboration between the U.S. Air Force Academy and Rhodium Scientific to study Arabidopsis plant root growth at varying orbital altitudes. Plants grown on the ISS in LEO over four to six days will be compared with those grown on Polaris Dawn, which flew at a higher orbit for a similar duration. This study aims to explore crop production for long-term space missions and resilience in high-radiation environments.