The station is seen from the approaching SpaceX Dragon freight spacecraft. The SpaceX Dragon Endurance crew spacecraft is imagined docked at center top. Credit: NASA TV
While the International Space Station was taking a trip more than 262 miles over central Brazil on November 11, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to the stations Harmony module at 5:07 a.m. EST, with NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral OHara monitoring operations from the station.
The Dragon launched on SpaceXs 29th contracted business resupply objective for NASA at 8:28 p.m. EST, on November 9, from Launch Complex 39A at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After Dragon spends about one month attached to the space station, the spacecraft will return to Earth with freight and research study.
Among the science experiments Dragon is providing to the area station are:
NASAs ILLUMA-T examination tests innovation to supply improved information communication abilities on the space station. Space weather impacts area- and ground-based interactions, navigation, and tracking systems. The space station supplies an ideal platform for the investigation provided its altitude and geographic and time coverage.
Matthew Vellone operates the first prototype of the system to fly aboard the International Space Station, while Trinh Huynh tape-records a video of the examination. Gaucho Lung, sponsored by the International Space Station National Lab, studies how mucous lining the respiratory system impacts shipment of drugs brought in a small quantity of injected liquid, known as a liquid plug.
NASAs ILLUMA-T payload interacting with LCRD over laser signals. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan
Laser Communication from Space
NASAs ILLUMA-T examination tests technology to offer improved information communication abilities on the space station. A terminal installed on the stations outside utilizes laser or optical interactions to send out high-resolution information to the agencys Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) system, which is in geosynchronous orbit around Earth.
Artists impression of AWE mapping the homes of international mesospheric gravity waves. Credit: NASA
Enjoying Waves in the Atmosphere
NASAs AWE (Atmospheric Wave Experiment) uses an infrared imaging instrument to measure the qualities, distribution, and movement of atmospheric gravity waves. When air is disrupted much like waves developed by dropping a stone into water, these waves roll through Earths atmosphere. Researchers are looking at how AGWs add to space weather, which refers to the differing conditions within the Solar System, including solar wind. Space weather affects space- and ground-based communications, navigation, and tracking systems. The area station offers a perfect platform for the investigation given its elevation and geographic and time protection.
Matthew Vellone operates the very first model of the system to fly aboard the International Space Station, while Trinh Huynh tape-records a video of the investigation. The Gaucho Lung investigation will study fluid transport within gel-coated tubes to discover more about treatment programs for breathing distress syndrome and establish new contamination control methods. Image thanks to Bioserve. Credit: NASA
Respiratory Health Research
Gaucho Lung, sponsored by the International Space Station National Lab, research studies how mucus lining the respiratory system affects delivery of drugs brought in a little quantity of injected liquid, referred to as a liquid plug. Performing this research in microgravity makes it possible to separate the elements included, consisting of wicking or capillary forces, mucous qualities, and gravity. Understanding the role of these aspects might inform the development and optimization of targeted respiratory treatments.
The Testing Contaminant Rejection of Aquaporin Inside ® HFFO Module (Aquamembrane-3) hardware consists of three different and parallel systems to quantify the membranes water flux and contamination rejection in microgravity, which are crucial specifications for a complete water recovery system. This image shows the total experiment hardware. Credit: NASA
Water Filtration Technology
Aquamembrane-3, an examination from ESA (European Space Agency), continues assessment of replacing the multi-filtration beds used for water recovery on the spaceport station with a type of membrane referred to as an Aquaporin Inside Membrane (AIM). These membranes include proteins discovered in biological cells, called aquaporins, to filter water quicker while using less energy.
Outcomes could advance advancement of a total and major membrane-based water recovery system, improving water recovery and lowering the amount of product that needs to be introduced to the spaceport station. This water filtration innovation also could have applications in extreme environments in the world, such as emergency settings, and decentralized water systems in remote areas.
These are just a few of the numerous investigations presently being conducted aboard the orbiting lab in the locations 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 technologies for future human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon through NASAs Artemis missions and ultimately Mars.
