SpaceX launched its 21st Commercial Replay Mission to the International Space Station on December 6, 2020 at 11:17 a.m. from launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA Television
The latest SpaceX The Dragon Ripley spacecraft is in the International Space Station’s more than 6,400-pound scientific investigations, with the new aircraft and other cargo launching at 11:17 a.m. EST since Sunday. NASAKennedy Space Center in Florida.
The spacecraft landed on the Kennedy Launch Pad 39A Falcon 9 rocket and is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Monday, December 7, at 1:30 p.m., making the first autonomous docking for SpaceX and staying on the station for about a month. Arrivals will begin at 11:30 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
This 21st contracted response mission for SpaceX is the first flight of an upgraded dragon design, similar to a crew dragon used to transport passengers to and from the station. The upgraded spacecraft has twice the capacity of the operated locker, which is 12, which saves science and research specimens on Earth and during transport. Science payloads can now stay in the upgraded dragon even during the mission period as an extension to the station’s laboratory space. There will be four operated payload dragons during this decadal mission.
The scientific investigation of the dragon on the space station is:
Microbial meteorite miner
The combination of meteorite specimens and microbes leads to the space station. Certain microorganisms form layers on the surface of rocks that can release metals and minerals, known as bymining. A previous investigation by the ESA (European Space Agency), Byrock, examined how microgravity affects the processes involved in biomining. E.S.A. It furthers the work with biosteroids, which examine the biofilm formation and the biomining of asteroid or meteorite substances in microgravity. Researchers are seeking a better understanding of the basic physiological processes that govern these combinations, such as gravity, augmentation, and fusion. Microbe-rock interaction has many potential uses in space exploration and -f-earth construction. Microbes can break down rocks in the soil for plant growth, for example, or for the production of life support systems and medicines.
Investigate changes in the heart using tissue chips
Microgravity changes the workload and the shape of the human heart, and it is still unknown whether these changes can be permanent if a person stays in space for more than a year. Cardinal Heart studies how changes in gravity affect the heart at the cellular and tissue levels. The probe uses 3D engineered heart tissue, a type of tissue chip. The results could provide a new understanding of heart problems in patients on Earth, help identify new treatments and support the development of screening measures to predict cardiovascular risk before a spaceflight.
Counting of white blood cells in space
HemoQue tests the capabilities of a commercially available device that provides quick and accurate calculations of total and different white blood cells in microgravity. Doctors usually use a total number of blood cells and five different types of white blood cells to diagnose diseases and monitor a variety of conditions. Testing the autonomous blood analysis capability at the space station could enhance health care on Earth and is an important step in meeting the health care needs of crew members on future missions.
Building with brazing
Subsa-brain investigates differences in capillary flow, interface reactions, and bubble formation during solidification of brazing alloys at microgravity. Brazing is a type of soldering used for bonding materials such as aluminum Alloy From ceramic aluminum or aluminum alloys, at high temperatures. This technology could serve as a tool for building space for human habitation and vehicles on future space missions, as well as for repairing damage caused by micrometer ids or space debris.
A new and improved door into space
Launched in the trunk of a dragon capsule, the Nanorex Bishop Airlock is a commercial platform that can support a range of scientific work on the space station. Its capabilities include the deployment of free-flying payloads such as cubesets and externally mounted payloads, housing small external payloads, jettiesoning trash cans, and retrieval of external orbital replacement units. ORUs are modular parts of a station that can be replaced when needed, such as pumps and other hardware. About five times larger than the Airlock on the Japanese experiment module already in use at the station, the Bishop Airlock allows robotic movement of more and larger packages on the exterior of the space station, including hardware to support spacewalks. It also provides capabilities like power and Ethernet required for internal and external payload.
Your brain on microgravity
The effect of microgravity on the study of human brain organoids monitors the response of brain organoids to microgravity. The small living organisms of cells that interact and grow with each other, organoids can live for months, providing a model for understanding how cells and tissues adapt to environmental change. Organoids grown from neurons or nerve cells exhibit normal processes such as responding to stimuli and stress. Therefore, organoids can be used to look at how microbes affect survival, metabolism, and the features of brain cells, including basic cognitive function.
These are just a few of the hundreds of investigations currently being carried out behind the orbital laboratory in the fields of biology and biotechnology, physical science and earth and space science. Advances in these areas will help keep astronauts healthy during long-distance space travel and demonstrate technologies for future human and robotic research beyond the lunar low Earth orbit. Mars By NASA’s Artemis program.
