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ISS Science Summary: January 25 - January 31, 2010The Expedition 22 crew continues to conduct science activities onboard the International Space Station (ISS). A diverse set of experiments were performed, including educational demonstrations, material science experiments, and several studies related to life sciences.
EPO-Demos (Education Payload Operations - Demonstrations): ISS Commander Jeffrey Williams conducted the EPO-Demo Centripetal Force and Acceleration, which demonstrates practical uses of centripetal force and acceleration onboard the ISS. EPO-Demos are recorded video education demonstrations performed by crewmembers using hardware already onboard the ISS, and designed to support the NASA mission to inspire the next generation of explorers. EPO-Demos are videotaped, edited, and used to enhance existing NASA education resources and programs for educators and students in grades K-12.
FIR (Fluids Integrated Rack): The FIR is now ready for ground-commanded checkout. The FIR is a complementary fluid physics research facility designed to host investigations in areas such as complex fluids (colloids and gels), instabilities (bubbles), interfacial phenomena (wetting and capillary action), and phase changes (boiling and cooling). The first study to utilize the FIR will be the Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) experiment, which is scheduled to begin during Increment 23/24.
MSL-CETSOL and MICAST (Materials Science Laboratory - Columnar-to-Equiaxed Transition in Solidification Processing and Microstructure Formation in Casting of Technical Alloys under Diffusive and Magnetically Controlled Convective Conditions): Colonel T.J. Creamer supported MSL-MICAST activities, replacing used sample cartridges with fresh test samples. With gravity-induced convection eliminated in the microgravity environment on ISS, MICAST studies the influence of pure diffusion and convection on aluminum alloys on the internal structures during the solidification process. Aluminum alloys are a standard cast metal used in a number of automotive and transportation applications, allowing manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight, increase the strength of components and improve emission controls. One of the most challenging problems associated with aluminum casting is the influence of convection during all stages of solidification, which can affect the yield, fracture and fatigue strengths.
Reaction Self Test (Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on the ISS): Cdr. Williams, Soichi Noguchi and Col. Creamer completed sessions of the Reaction Self Test experiment, which consist of 5-minute reaction time tasks that will allow crewmembers to monitor the daily effects of fatigue on performance while on ISS. The experiment will provide objective feedback on neurobehavioral changes in attention, psychomotor speed, state stability, and impulsivity while on ISS missions, particularly as they relate to changes in circadian rhythms, sleep restrictions, and extended work shifts.
Additional U.S. Experiments Conducted on ISS
Automated U.S. Experiments (ongoing without crew efforts)
PK-3 Plus (Plasma Crystal Research on the ISS): Colonel Oleg Kotov supported the PK-3 Plus payload for the first experimental run for Expedition 22. This study is a continuation of previous plasma crystal experiments, aimed at studying features of plasma including the critical points, where the temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gaseous phases of a substance become identical. Plasma, or collections of charged particles, is the most common state of matter in the universe. In microgravity, large 3-dimensional plasma crystals can be grown, allowing better observation of their structure and basic processes, which will provide a better understanding of plasma.
JAXA-EPO (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency - Education Payload Observation) - Dewey's Forest: Noguchi photographed the Dewey's Forest payload located in the Japanese JEM Pressurized Module (JPM). JAXA-EPO activities aim to enlighten and excite the general public about microgravity utilization and human space flight. Dewey's Forest supports the growth of plants including oriental false hawksbeard, carnation, false strawberry and peppermint, and is intended to demonstrate gravity's effect on nature and to act as a catalyst to rediscover our relationship with plants on Earth.
Vascular (Vascular Health Consequences of Long-Duration Space Flight): Cdr. Williams completed his first blood draw for the Canadian Space Agency's new Vascular experiment. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of long-duration space flight on the blood vessels of astronauts. Data is collected before, during and after space flight for comparison, and include concentrations of new markers found in the bloodstream that may indicate inflammation of the artery walls, measurements of blood vessel properties such as diameter, wall stiffness and the ability to dilate, and cardiac rhythm.
Matryeshka-R (Matryeshka-R): Colonel Maxim Suraev serviced the Matreyshka-R radiation payload, initializing and deploying new bubble dosimeters for recording radiation traces. Matreyshka-R studies the dynamics of the radiation environment along the flight path of the ISS, and dose accumulation in an antroph-amorphous model of a human torso.
Additional I.P. Experiments Conducted
Automated International Partner Experiments (ongoing without crew efforts)
Several activities are scheduled for the upcoming week. These activities include: Bisphosphonates, DECLIC-HTI, EarthKAM, Integrated Cardiovascular , MSL-CETSOL and MICAST, Reaction Self Test, Sleep-Long, SWAB and Vascular.
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