2024-01-25 08:48:22

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft carrying the four-member crew of the Axiom 3 (Ax-3) mission is pictured January 20 approaching the International Space Station 260 miles above southern India. Credit: NASA

Biomedical sciences and advanced technologies topped the research agenda for the 11 crew members representing Expedition 70 and the Axiom 3 (Ax-3) Mission. The International Space Station (ISS) is also preparing for the arrival of an American cargo ship next week.

Advances in cancer research and space botany

Cancer research and space botany were the focus of Wednesday’s biology work as the Ax-3 crew continued their busy space science schedule. Pilot Walter Villadei observed cancer cell cultures inside the Kermit microscope to understand how microgravity conditions such as radiation affect cancer growth. Mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı processed samples of microbes growing in petri dishes for a study exploring the use of propolis, a natural antibacterial agent, on space station surfaces. Both experiments aim to improve health on Earth and in space.

Robotics and remote control experiments

Robotics is an important part of the Ax-3 science mission as mission specialist Marcus Wandt has tested remotely controlled robots on Earth from the space station. The Surface Avatar study explores orbit-to-ground control of robots that might inform future missions to Mars or asteroids. Commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría assisted his Ax-3 crewmates throughout the day while maintaining various survival equipment aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Glaciers in the southern Andes flowing into Lago Argentino are photographed from the International Space Station as it orbits 270 miles above. Cerro Pietrobelli, a mountain on the southern border of Chile and Argentina (center left), is also seen from the orbital outpost. Credit: NASA

Mental Health and Supportive Technologies in Space

Station Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency) started his day by watching a virtual reality film exploring the potential of virtual reality to preserve mental health during long-duration missions. He then set up the Kermit microscope and the Life Science Glovebox to support Ax-3 research. Flight engineer Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) turned off and put away the Kermit microscope at the end of the Ax-3 cancer study. He also helped NASA flight engineer Loral O’Hara clean the cooling loops inside a pair of American spacesuits.

Preparations for the arrival of the Cygnus spacecraft

O’Hara joined NASA flight engineer Jasmin Moghbeli at the end of the day and practiced on a computer capturing Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space cargo ship with the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Cygnus is expected to launch early next week and arrive a day and a half later when Moghbeli commands Canadarm2 to capture Cygnus while O’Hara monitors his arrival. Moghbeli spent most of Wednesday exchanging the station’s scientific equipment.

Expedition 70 flight engineers (left to right) Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, both NASA astronauts, pose for a portrait while installing helmet lights on the spacesuits and checking functionality components of their spacesuit. Credit: NASA

Scientific tasks of Roscosmos and cardiac study

The three cosmonauts on the orbital outpost remained focused on their list of Roscosmos scientific tasks. Veteran cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko strapped on sensors measuring his heart activity in microgravity for a long-term cardiac study. Flight engineer Nikolai Chub explored futuristic techniques for piloting robots and spacecraft on a computer that might inform planetary missions. Flight engineer Konstantin Borisov replaced the lens of a camera pointed at Earth, then participated in a space digestion study with Chub. At the end of the day, Borisov scanned Chub’s optic nerve, retina, and cornea using standard medical imaging equipment found on Earth.

Upcoming briefings on the SpaceX Crew-8 mission

Thursday at 1 p.m. EST, mission leaders on NASA TV will discuss the upcoming EspaceX Crew-8 mission to the space station. Then, at 2:30 p.m., members of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission will introduce themselves as they countdown to launch next month.

Both press conferences will be available on the NASA+ streaming service via the web or the NASA app, and will be broadcast live on NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV on various platforms, including social media.

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