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ISS Science Summary: : November 9 - November 15, 2009The Expedition 21 crew continues to conduct science activities onboard the International Space Station (ISS).
BCAT-5-Compete (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-5-Compete): Bob Thirsk, MD, serviced the experiment, re-homogenizing Sample 6, and two days later reporting that crystals were visible. Dr. Thirsk then checked and photographed the new Sample 7. The BCAT-5-Compete samples will yield equilibrium concentrations that result in mixtures of colloid-liquids, colloidal gas, and colloidal crystal. The purpose of these experiments is to study the kinetics that lead to these unique solutions.
Bisphosphonates (Bisphosphonates as a Countermeasure to Spaceflight Induced Bone Loss): Dr. Thirsk and Colonel Jeffrey Williams supported the weekly U.S. ?Bisphosphonates? biomedical countermeasures experiment, ingesting an Alendronate pill before breakfast. This experiment will determine whether anti-resorptive agents (agents that help reduce bone loss), in conjunction with the routine in-flight exercise program, will protect ISS crewmembers from the regional decreases in bone mineral density documented on previous ISS missions.
VO2max (Evaluation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Submaximal Estimates of VO2max Before, During, and After Long Duration International Space Station Missions): Col. Williams performed his first session, while Ms. Nicole Stott, Dr. Thirsk and ISS Commander Frank De Winne each performed their second session of this experiment. ?VO2max? is the standard measure of aerobic capacity and is directly related to the physical working capacity of an individual. Reduced VO2max will cause a diminished capacity to perform strenuous physical tasks such as those required during emergency egress or extended EVAs while performing structure assembly tasks. VO2max has never been assessed during or after long-duration space flight, nor have the estimation methods currently used by NASA to track changes in aerobic fitness during space flight been validated on orbit. This experiment will be the first to directly measure a crewmember?s VO2max during and following ISS missions, and will also provide data to assess efficacy of the estimation of aerobic capacity methods currently used on orbit.
Additional U.S. Experiments Conducted on ISS
Automated U.S. Experiments (ongoing without crew efforts)
3D-Space (Mental Representation of Spatial Cues during Space Flight): Dr. Thirsk conducted his fourth test with this French/CNES neuroscience research experiment. 3D-Space is designed to investigate the effects of exposure to microgravity on the mental representation of spatial cues by astronauts during and after space flight. The absence of the gravitational frame of reference during spaceflight could be responsible for disturbances in the mental representation of spatial cues, such as the perception of horizontal and vertical lines, the perception of objects' depth, and the perception of targets' distance.
Biological Rhythms (The effect of long-term microgravity exposure on cardiac autonomic function by analyzing 24-hours electrocardiogram): ISS Commander De Winne and Dr. Thirsk each completed their first session of this experiment. The objective of this JAXA-sponsored experiment is to examine the effect of long-term microgravity exposure on cardiac autonomic function by monitoring pre-, in-, and post-flight electrocardiography over a 24 hour period each. The results will be analyzed for improving crew health care technology in long-duration space flight.
Pneumocard: Colonel Maxim Suraev conducted his second session, and Major Roman Romanenko conducted his sixth session, of this FSA-sponsored experiment. Pneumocard investigates the mechanisms used by the cardiorespiratory system and the whole body organism to spaceflight conditions. By recording (on PCMCIA cards) the crewmember?s electrocardiogram, impedance cardiogram, low-frequency phonocardiogram (seismocardiogram), pneumotachogram (using nose temperature sensors), and finger photoplethismogram, the experiment supports integrated studies of (1) the cardiovascular system and its adaptation mechanisms in various phases of a long-duration mission, (2) the synchronization of heart activity and breathing factors, as well as the cardiorespiratory system control processes based on the variability rate of physiological parameters, and (3) the interconnection between the cardiorespiratory system during a long-duration mission and the tolerance of orthostatic and physical activities at the beginning of readaptation for predicting possible reactions of the crewmembers organism during the their return to ground.
RaDI-N: Dr. Thirsk initialized and deployed all eight SBDs (Space Bubble Detectors). RaDI-N, a CSA-sponsored experiment, uses bubble detectors which have been designed to detect only neutrons, and ignore all other radiation, onboard ISS. This experiment is a follow-up to the Matroshka-R experiment, complementing its results by monitoring the incidence and energy range of neutron radiation throughout the ISS.
SpaceSeed: Ms. Stott closed out the SpaceSeed experiment in the CBEF (Cell Biology Experiment Facility) after the final harvest of the long-duration plants. The objective of this JAXA-sponsored experiment is to understand and improve the productivity of crops in space and to understand the role of gravity in regulating the life cycle of higher plants. SpaceSeed uses the Arabidopsis thaliana plant, which has a relatively short life cycle, and whose development process controlling mechanisms have been studied on Earth.
Additional I.P. Experiments Conducted
Automated International Partner Experiments (ongoing without crew efforts)
For more news, details and features on the International Space Station, please see the Space Station section of www.nasa.gov. For more stories, images and features on ISS Science please see the Space Station Science section of www.nasa.gov