The Expedition 72 crew explored new applied sciences on Friday together with life help methods supported by photosynthesis, capturing satellites with robots, and chilly welding in microgravity. The Worldwide House Station residents additionally continued testing spacesuits whereas maintaining normal lab upkeep duties on the finish of the week.
Utilizing micro-algae to take away carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and create meals within the spacecraft atmosphere is a crucial check for NASA because it plans longer human missions to the Moon, Mars, and past. NASA Flight Engineer Nick Hague labored within the Columbus laboratory module servicing samples of the Arthrospira C micro-algae for incubation and evaluation. Scientists will expose the radiation-resistant samples to completely different mild intensities whereas monitoring their cell development and oxygen manufacturing. Outcomes might advance life help methods and recent meals manufacturing in house.
Engineers are learning how satellites work together in shut proximity with one another to discover ways to seize house objects for servicing or elimination. NASA Commander Suni Williams checked out the Astrobee robotic free-flyer within the Kibo laboratory module and put in tentacle-like arms containing gecko-like adhesive pads to show satellite tv for pc seize methods. Engineers on the bottom then remotely-controlled the cube-shaped, toaster-sized robotic assistant testing its capability to conduct docking maneuvers and seize free-flying objects. Growth of this robotic know-how might enhance the life span of satellites and allow the elimination of house particles.
NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore labored on putting in new scientific {hardware} to discover supplies uncovered to house radiation and check a spacecraft restore method. Pettit arrange exterior analysis gear inside Kibo that shall be positioned within the vacuum of house to look at how quite a lot of supplies react to the intense thermal atmosphere, various kinds of radiation, micrometeoroids, and extra to advertise the house trade. Wilmore put in the Nanolab Astrobeat house restore experiment {hardware} within the Future laboratory module that may discover a cold-welding method to restore micrometeoroid impacts to spacecraft.
Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner have been again on spacesuit responsibility Friday conducting leak checks, valve assessments, and servicing the fits’ life help parts. The duo is readying the fits for a spacewalk deliberate in mid-December. Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov primarily spent his day on orbital plumbing duties earlier than wrapping up his shift on laptop upkeep within the Nauka science module.
Study extra about station actions by following the house station weblog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, in addition to the ISS Fb and ISS Instagram accounts.
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