The Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) Growth and Extinction Limits (GEL) experiment aboard the International Space Station studies flame growth and termination in an effort to improve fire safety in area. This image shows a series of pictures taken about 3 seconds apart. Gel samples from the investigation are going back to Earth for more analysis on the SpaceX CRS-27 freight Dragon spacecraft. Credit: NASA
After returning to Earths atmosphere, SpaceXs uncrewed Dragon freight spacecraft made a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Tampa, Florida at 4:58 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 15. This marked the return of the companys 27th contracted cargo resupply objective to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. The spacecraft carried roughly 4,300 pounds of important scientific experiments and other freight back to Earth.
A SpaceX freight Dragon undocked from the International Space Station at 11:05 a.m. EDT on April 15, 2023, as the station was flying over the Indian Ocean. It will return almost 4,300 pounds of clinical samples and hardware for NASA. Credit: NASA TV
Following commands from ground controllers at SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, Dragon undocked at 11:05 a.m. from the forward port of the stations Harmony module. At the time of undocking the station was flying over the Indian Ocean.
Dragon showed up at the area station on March 16 as SpaceXs 27th Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA, providing more than 6,000 pounds of research examinations, crew materials, and station hardware. It was released on March 14 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space.
By NASA
April 16, 2023
A few of the clinical investigations that Dragon is bring consist of:
Space tomato harvest: Samples from the Pick-and-Eat Salad-Crop Productivity, Nutritional Value, and Acceptability to Supplement the International Space Station Food System (Veg-05) experiment will be returning to Earth for analysis. The ability to grow plants in space for fresh food and an enhanced crew living experience is important for future long-duration missions.
Growing greater quality crystals: Hicari, an investigation from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), tested a growth approach and produced crystals of a silicon-germanium (SiGe) semiconductor utilizing the Japanese Experiment Module-Gradient Heating Furnace (JEM-GHF). This crystal development method could support development of more efficient semiconductor-based electronics and solar cells. The space-produced crystals are returning to Earth for analysis.
Evaluating aging arteries: Astronauts can experience sped up arterial wall stiffening and thickening after 6 months in space, and a daily session of aerobic exercise alone might not be sufficient to counteract these effects. Vascular Aging, an investigation from CSA (Canadian Space Agency), keeps an eye on these modifications utilizing artery ultrasounds, blood samples, glucose tolerance tests, and wearable sensing units. Outcomes might assist identify and examine danger to astronaut cardiovascular health and point to systems for lowering that threat. For the aging population on Earth, understanding the mechanisms behind arterial stiffness could supply insight to guide prevention and treatment. Blood samples gathered for the investigation are going back to Earth for analysis.
Fire safety: Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction– Growth and Extinction Limit (SoFIE-Gel) studies burning in microgravity, including how fuel temperature level affects product flammability. The examination might improve safety of crew members on future missions by increasing understanding of early fire development habits, notifying selection of fireproof spacecraft cabin products, validating flammability designs, and helping to figure out optimum fire suppression techniques. Studying flames in space without the complications of buoyancy likewise helps enhance computer models of combustion for terrestrial applications. Gel samples from the examination are going back to Earth for more analysis.
The Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) Growth and Extinction Limits (GEL) experiment aboard the International Space Station studies flame development and extinction in an effort to improve fire security in area. A SpaceX freight Dragon undocked from the International Space Station at 11:05 a.m. EDT on April 15, 2023, as the station was flying over the Indian Ocean. Area tomato harvest: Samples from the Pick-and-Eat Salad-Crop Productivity, Nutritional Value, and Acceptability to Supplement the International Space Station Food System (Veg-05) experiment will be returning to Earth for analysis. The capability to grow plants in space for fresh food and an improved crew living experience is essential for future long-duration missions. Vascular Aging, an examination from CSA (Canadian Space Agency), keeps an eye on these modifications using artery ultrasounds, blood samples, glucose tolerance tests, and wearable sensing units.
