Space Station Crew Unloads Cygnus and Begins New Research

Astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari Harvest Cotton Cell Samples

Astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari harvest cotton cell samples to discover the genetic structure of plant regeneration in microgravity. Credit score: NASA

A U.S. cargo craft is being unpacked immediately following its robotic seize and set up on the Worldwide House Station early Monday morning. The Expedition 66 crew additionally spent Tuesday activating new analysis and conducting eye checks.

Three NASA astronauts, Mark Vande Hei, Thomas Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, together with ESA (European House Company) astronaut Matthias Maurer spent Monday unpacking analysis samples stowed in science freezers aboard the U.S. Cygnus area freighter. The quartet then loaded the frozen samples into analysis racks all through the area station. Among the new science samples delivered on Monday embrace pores and skin cells and most cancers cells being studied within the microgravity surroundings to enhance human well being on Earth and in area.

Marshburn arrange the Microgravity Science Glovebox through the afternoon to start trying on the pores and skin cell samples. The brand new examine getting underway immediately explores methods to decrease space-caused accelerated pores and skin growing old with advantages for astronauts and Earthlings.

Cygnus had launched from Virginia on Saturday as 12:40 p.m. EST loaded with 8,300 kilos of latest science experiments, crew provides, and station hardware. It arrived Monday morning when NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari, backed up by Barron, commanded the Canadarm2 robotic arm to seize Cygnus at 4:44 a.m. Robotics controllers took over shortly afterward and guided Cygnus to the Unity module the place it was put in simply over two hours later.

Following a day’s value of Cygnus cargo transfers on Tuesday, Vande Hei and Chari additionally participated in eye scans utilizing customary medical imaging gear within the Concord module. Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov kicked off the exams within the afternoon serving to medical doctors perceive how residing in area impacts the human eye and retina.

Shkaplerov first spent the morning on an train examine exploring methods to maximise the effectiveness of understanding in weightlessness. Dubrov labored on communications gear and air flow hardware all through the station’s Russian section.

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post