NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is set to return to Earth this fall after setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut. NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio works to install the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer inside the Kibo laboratory modules airlock. NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio exchanges samples inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox for the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation. NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio is visualized throughout a spacewalk connected to the International Space Stations starboard truss structure. On this November 15, 2022, spacewalk, Frank Rubio and NASA astronaut Josh Cassada put together a mounting bracket on the station in preparation for the setup of the first set of rollout solar ranges, known as iROSAs.
Heres a recap of Frank Rubios year-long scientific journey aboard the spaceport station.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio is imagined inside the International Space Stations U.S. Destiny lab module. Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is set to return to Earth this fall after setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut. He arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on September 21, 2022, and will return home after 371 days in area. While on the orbiting lab, Rubio and his fellow crew members carried out lots of scientific investigations and technology presentations.
In the Orbiting Biology Lab
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio activates hardware for an area biology experiment that is studying how weightlessness affects hereditary expression in microbes to understand bacterial adjustment and secure astronauts. Credit: NASA
Frank Rubio activates hardware for the Biological Research In Canisters-26 (BRIC-26) investigation. This examination determines how microgravity affects fundamental genetic processes and interactions in the germs Bacillus subtilis. A better understanding of how germs adapt to spaceflight could help secure the health and safety of astronauts on future missions and supply insight into bacterial adjustment to particular environments in the world.
View of tomatoes growing in the eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS) center. The tomatoes were grown without soil utilizing hydroponic and aeroponic nourishing methods to demonstrate space farming approaches to sustain crews on long term area flights further away from Earth where resupply objectives become impossible. Credit: NASA
Throughout his mission, Frank Rubio worked on the eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS). The examination uses hydroponic (water-based) and aeroponic (air-based) techniques rather than soil or other standard development media to complete the life process of tomato plants. Outcomes might help recognize ways to produce crops on a bigger scale for future area objectives.
The Human Element
NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio utilizes a glovebag to service the BioFabrication Facility, replacing and installing parts inside the research gadget created to print organ-like tissues in microgravity and learn how to make entire, fully-functioning human organs in space Credit: NASA
Frank Rubio replaces components inside the BioFabrication Facility (BFF). Researchers on the ground will examine the mechanical homes of the 3D printed meniscus upon its return to Earth.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio carries out upkeep on the International Space Stations treadmill located in the Tranquility module. Credit: NASA
Workout gadgets on future long-duration space missions require to be little and lightweight yet supply a variety of aerobic and resistance exercise options. Frank Rubio works on the stations treadmill, which provides an essential method to reinforce the motor pattern of strolling for crew members during their missions. The stations treadmill is too bulky and heavy for longer expedition objectives, future astronauts might require to depend upon other workout to keep physical health. Rubio took part in Exploration Exercise Treadmill Requirements (Zero T2), an examination that examines how not working out on a treadmill may affect crew health.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio works to install the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer inside the Kibo laboratory modules airlock. Credit: NASA
During his mission, Frank Rubio helped install the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) for an April 2023 launch of six various satellites, consisting of jobs created by students in Canada. Private, governmental, and academic companies utilize the space station to deploy small satellites called CubeSats into Earths orbit for a range of research study objectives.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio positions in front of BEAM, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, throughout freight activities aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA
Frank Rubio offers a thumbs up in front of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), an expandable pill utilized to evaluate the innovation for future area environments. BEAM broadens from about 6 by 8 feet when loaded to 10 by 13 feet when pressurized. Team members monitor BEAMs temperature, pressure, and its radiation security abilities. They will likewise regularly enter the module to look at its structural condition.
Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio finishes a Surface Avatar session in the Columbus Laboratory Module. Surface area Avatar examines how haptic controls, interface and virtual reality could command and manage surface-bound robots from cross countries. Credit: NASA
Frank Rubio conducts a session for the Multi-Avatar and Robots Collaborating with Intuitive Interface (Surface Avatar), which evaluates the command of multiple self-governing robotics from area. The investigation takes a look at the actions of the robotic operator to haptic feedback and what obstacles might exist for orbit-to-ground remote operation of robotics.
The Physics of Microgravity
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio has enjoyable with fluid physics as he observes the habits of a free-flying water bubble inside the International Space Stations Kibo lab module. Credit: NASA
The spaceport station is a test bed for the life assistance equipment needed to take people to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. One piece of devices, the Potable Water Dispenser (PWD), offers water for usage and food preparation. Expedition Potable Water Dispenser (Exploration PWD) makes improvements to this system, including advanced sanitation techniques and dispensing of warm water.
The Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) Growth and Extinction Limits (GEL) experiment successfully performed its first test in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on January 13th. This image shows a 4-cm diameter sphere of acrylic burning in microgravity. Credit: NASA
Frank Rubio carried out sessions for Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction– Growth and Extinction Limit (SoFIE GEL), which studies burning in microgravity to help researchers select more secure products for spacecraft and figure out ideal fire suppression techniques. This image reveals a sphere of acrylic burning in microgravity during one of the tests.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio exchanges samples inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox for the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation. The area physics study shows a passive cooling system for electronic gadgets in microgravity utilizing a micro-structured surface. Credit: NASA.
Frank Rubio exchanges samples inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox for the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI). On Earth, bubbles that form in molten products rise to the surface and pop before the product solidifies. In microgravity, bubbles can become trapped, leaving pores or tiny holes that can decrease the ended up products strength and structural stability. PFMI is among several experiments that examine this process.
A Walk in Space
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio is visualized throughout a spacewalk connected to the International Space Stations starboard truss structure. Behind Rubio, the last rays of an orbital sunset penetrate Earths thin atmosphere as the spaceport station flew 258 miles above the African nation of Algeria. Credit: NASA
On this November 15, 2022, spacewalk, Frank Rubio and NASA astronaut Josh Cassada put together an installing bracket on the station in preparation for the setup of the very first set of rollout solar selections, referred to as iROSAs. It took six spacewalks, the last one in June 2023, to install all the ranges, which are expected to enable a 30% increase in the power readily available for science and operations on the space station. The earlier Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) investigation showed the viability of this innovation.