Payloads: Cold Atom Lab (CAL): The crew used a Grab Sample Container (GSC) to sample the air around the CAL experiment hardware. The GSC will be returned to the ground for analysis of the sample. CAL produces clouds of atoms that are chilled to about one ten billionth of a degree above absolute zero — …
Global Experts Convene During Planetary Defense Conference to Safeguard Earth
In a world where many global challenges exist, finding ways to respond to an as yet undiscovered asteroid that might one day impact Earth could seem like a lesser priority. While it is true there are currently no known asteroids of significant size on a collision trajectory with Earth, an asteroid impact with our …
Crew Finishing Science, Packing Cargo Before Dragon Departure
The Expedition 69 astronauts are finalizing a space biology study this week before packing it inside a cargo craft for return to Earth. The cosmonauts are also relaxing today ahead of more preparations for a series of spacewalks at the International Space Station. Return cargo operations are under way at the orbiting lab as the …
Webb Shows Areas of New Star Formation and Galactic Evolution
Editor's Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process. On Oct. 11, 2022, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope spent over 20 hours observing the long-studied Hubble Ultra Deep Field for the first time. The general observer program (GO 1963) focused on analyzing the field …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/11/2023
Payloads: Cardinal Heart 2.0: The crew changed the media and sampled eight of the sixteen tissue chambers. The media contains buffers, food, and nutrients needed to support the cells. They also performed fixation operations on the remaining eight of the sixteen tissue chambers. Fixation refers to a group of techniques which are used to preserve …
Heart Studies Before Dragon Departs and Spacewalks Begin at Station
Cardiac research to advance human health on Earth and in space was the main research objective aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The Expedition 69 crew members are also packing a cargo craft for its return to Earth and preparing for a series of spacewalks. Flight Engineers Woody Hoburg of NASA and Sultan Alneyadi …
Botany, Heart Research Ahead of Dragon Departure and Spacewalks
The Expedition 69 crew members began the week conducting a variety of space research and preparing for upcoming spacewalks. Cargo activities are also picking up this week aboard the International Space Station as a U.S. space freighter nears its departure and return to Earth. The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is nearing the end of its …
Rocket Lab Updates Launch Location for NASA’s TROPICS Mission
A NASA constellation of four storm tracking CubeSats are getting a new launch location as they prepare to study tropical cyclones beginning in the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. NASA’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) will observe the atmosphere to increase our understanding of hurricanes, typhoons, and …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/10/2023
Payloads: Cardinal Heart 2.0: The crew recorded microscopy video for the tissue samples in the Biocells. A previous investigation showed that four weeks of microgravity exposure caused significant changes in heart cell function and gene expression that could lead to long-term damage or cardiac muscle atrophy. Effect of Microgravity on Drug Responses Using Heart Organoids …