April 23, 2024

NASA, SpaceX Dragon To Deliver 6,200 Pounds of Science Experiments & Crew Supplies to Space Station

Developing a golden streak in the night sky, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars up after liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, 2023, on the companys 27th Commercial Resupply Services mission for the company to the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Dragon spacecraft will deliver more than 6,000 pounds of science and research, materials, and devices to the crew aboard the spaceport station, consisting of the final two experiments comprising the National Institutes for Health and International Space Station National Laboratorys Tissue Chips in Space effort, Cardinal Heart 2.0 and Engineered Heart Tissues-2. The spacecraft is anticipated to spend about a month attached to the orbiting outpost prior to it goes back to Earth with research and return cargo, sprinkling down off the coast of Florida. Credit: SpaceX
NASA has another freight delivery en route to the International Space Station following a successful Falcon 9 launch of SpaceXs 27th resupply objective for the company.
Carrying more than 6,200 pounds of science experiments, crew supplies, and other cargo, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was launched to the space station by a Falcon 9 rocket at 8:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The cargo spacecraft is set up to autonomously dock with the space station at 7:52 a.m. EDT on Thursday, March 16, and remain at the station for about 30 days. Protection of arrival will begin at 6:15 a.m. EDT on NASA Television, the companys site, and the NASA app.

Developing a golden streak in the night sky, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket skyrockets upward after liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, 2023, on the companys 27th Commercial Resupply Services objective for the company to the International Space Station. The Dragon spacecraft will provide more than 6,000 pounds of science and research, materials, and devices to the crew aboard the area station, including the last two experiments comprising the National Institutes for Health and International Space Station National Laboratorys Tissue Chips in Space initiative, Cardinal Heart 2.0 and Engineered Heart Tissues-2. SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket, with the companys Dragon spacecraft atop, raises off from NASA Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39A in Florida on March 14, 2023, starting the businesss 27th resupply services mission to the International Space Station. The first Cardinal Heart investigation conducted aboard the area station revealed that 4 weeks of microgravity direct exposure can cause significant modifications in heart cell function and gene expression. Due to the fact that microgravity makes it tough to manage the flow of liquids, the area station has actually been unable to take benefit of carbon dioxide removal methods that use specialized liquids.

SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket, with the businesss Dragon spacecraft atop, lifts off from NASA Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39A in Florida on March 14, 2023, beginning the businesss 27th resupply services objective to the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Credit: NASA
Among the science experiments Dragon is delivering to the spaceport station for NASA and its partners are:
3D Heart Cells, Tissue
The first Cardinal Heart investigation conducted aboard the spaceport station showed that 4 weeks of microgravity direct exposure can trigger substantial modifications in heart cell function and gene expression. Researchers concluded that these modifications could cause long-lasting medical problems. The Cardinal Heart 2.0 experiment develops on these results, utilizing heart organoids, 3D structures comprised of all the various kinds of cells, to check whether clinically approved drugs reduce these microgravity-induced modifications in heart cell function. Results could support the advancement of effective drug mixes to improve the health of astronauts and patients on Earth.
The Engineered Heart Tissues-2 research study continues work with 3D cultured cardiac muscle tissue to assess human heart function in microgravity. Previous work with 3D cultures in area found modifications at the cellular and tissue level that might supply early sign of the advancement of heart disease.
Cardinal Heart 2.0 and Engineered Heart Tissues-2 are the final 2 experiments comprising the National Institutes for Health and International Space Station National Labs Tissue Chips in Space effort. Scientists intend to learn more about the effect of microgravity on human health and illness, and equate that understanding to enhanced human health in the world.
Trainee Ball Clamp Monopod Project
NASAs HUNCH (High school trainees United with NASA to Create Hardware) program allows students to fabricate real-world products for NASA as they use their science, engineering, mathematics, and innovation skills. The HUNCH Ball Clamp Monopod tries to address astronaut remarks on the trouble of placing video or still cams in the middle of a module. The student-manufactured job is made up of an aluminum monopod fitted with a video camera shoe and ball clamp that can be connected to a standard spaceport station handrail. The ball clamp works as a rotating platform for photography and video.
Liquid Life Support Systems
The area station has actually been not able to take advantage of carbon dioxide elimination techniques that utilize specialized liquids since microgravity makes it tough to control the circulation of liquids. Liquid-based co2 elimination systems such as those on submarines offer higher performance than other kinds of systems. The CapiSorb Visible System study shows liquid control utilizing capillary forces, the interaction of a liquid with a solid that can draw a fluid up a narrow tube, which are particular of liquids that can take in carbon dioxide. This is an essential factor to consider for future longer-duration area objectives where enhanced effectiveness will support crews over lots of months or years.
Bacterial Biofilms
The ESA (European Space Agency) Biofilms examination studies bacterial biofilm development and antimicrobial homes of different metal surfaces under spaceflight conditions. This job supplies additional information to help establish suitable antimicrobial surfaces for future spacecraft.
Lifeform Origins, Survival
An examination from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) called Tanpopo-5 could provide insight into whether terrestrial life can endure in space and help researchers comprehend the essential components that sparked life on Earth. The experiment studies the action to area exposure in radiation-resistant microorganisms, moss spores, and biochemical substances including amino acids. Amino acids have actually been detected in extraterrestrial bodies such as meteorites and are possible precursors to life in the world. Tanpopo-5 follows four earlier experiments that could all inform strategies to safeguard other planets from contamination by humans and for returning samples from other worlds securely to Earth.
These are just a few of the numerous examinations presently carried out aboard the orbiting lab in the areas of biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and area science. Advances in these locations will assist keep astronauts healthy during long-duration area travel and show innovations for future human and robotic expedition beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.