Threshold Acceleration for Gravisensing (GRAVI)-2 Run #2: Flight Engineer (FE)-5 Mastracchio hydrated sixteen GRAVI-2 sample chambers on the MWA. He then assembled sixteen GRAVI-2 culture chambers and eight GRAVI-2 fixative units into the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) experiment containers, using the BioLab glove box. The aim of GRAVI-2 is to subject lentil seedling roots …
There will still be Eta Aquarids visible tonight, but at a rate of less than half of last night’s peak. Those in the southern hemisphere will again see more Eta Aquarids than those in the northern hemisphere, but pretty much everywhere in the world except the Arctic Circle has a chance to view the shower. …
Sprint: With assistance from Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Swanson, Commander (CDR) Wakata took data for his Return-7 days ultrasound Sprint session. Sprint evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in ISS crewmembers during long-duration missions. Ultrasound scans are on FD 14, 30, 60, 90, …
Advanced Plant Experiments (APEX)-02-2: On Saturday, Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Swanson installed the first of ten APEX-02-2 microplates into the Plate Reader to start spectral analysis. On Sunday, Swanson swapped APEX-02-2 microplates to start analysis on the second of ten microplates. Today Swanson removed the second microplate and stowed it in Glacier. When reviewing data from …
Cell Mechanosensing (CMS)-1 Fixation: Commander (CDR) Wakata removed four Experiment Measurement Units from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Incubator Unit (IU) 1G and four units from the microgravity CBEF IU. He used RNAlater and Measurement Experiment Solution Exchanger to fix the samples for return on SpX-3. CMS-1 identifies gravity sensors in skeletal muscle cells …
Scientists involved in the Minute 319 “pulse flow” say the effort has achieved its main objective: delivering water to special ecological restoration zones along the Colorado River. While cottonwood and willows have retreated from most areas due to a lack of water, conservation groups including the Sonoran Institute and Pronatura Noroeste have been working to […]
NanoRacks BioRack Troubleshooting: Flight Engineer (FE)-3 Swanson inserted BioRack experiment containers and controllers into the BioRack frame. Using the keyboard and Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) monitor, he commanded the BioRack manually to activate the experiment controllers. Ground teams are still troubleshooting as to why the ground could not command the BioRack frame in Platform …
Hybrid Training Part Eleven: Commander (CDR) Wakata donned the Hybrid Training hardware which provides electrical impulses to his non-dominant arm during concentric and eccentric arm motions. The electrical impulses help to simulate the resistance gravity would provide on the ground. This was Wakata’s eleventh of twelve Hybrid Training sessions. Hybrid Training will be used for …
Urine Collection: Commander (CDR) Wakata collected urine for his Return-15 day session for the Cardio Ox and Biochemical Profiles investigations. The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields …
Congratulations to Earth Matters reader Mike G. for being the first to solve our April Puzzler! As Mike pointed out, this image shows granite outcrops in Yosemite National Park. Over on Facebook, Cooper Girard was the first to get the location; he also sagely noted that Yosemite’s landscape is the product of a granitic pluton […]
