The ISSs latest delivery includes space plants and atmospheric lightning monitors

Date:
Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
A SpaceX Dragon cargo craft docked with 7,000 pounds of material. NASA SpaceX's Dragon craft autonomously docked with the ISS early Tuesday morning. The post The ISSs latest delivery includes space plants and atmospheric lightning monitors appeared first on Popular Science .

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A SpaceX Dragon cargo craft docked with 7,000 pounds of material. NASA

The International Space Station received roughly 7,000 pounds of supplies and scientific experiment materials early Tuesday morning following the
successful autonomous docking of a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. According to NASA , the Dragon will remain attached to the ISS for about three weeks before returning back to Earth with research and cargo. In addition to a pair of International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays ( IROSAs ) designed to expand the microgravity complexs energy-production ability, ISS crew members are receiving materials for a host of new and ongoing experiments.

[Related: Microgravity tomatoes, yogurt bacteria, and plastic eating
microbes are headed to the ISS .]

THOR , an aptly named investigation courtesy of the European Space Agency, will observe Earths thunderstorms from above the atmosphere to examine and document electrical activity. Researchers plan to specifically analyze the inception, frequency, and altitude of recently discovered blue discharges, i.e. lightning occurring within the upper atmosphere. Scientists still know very little about such phenomenas effects on the planets climate and weather, but the upcoming observations could potentially shed more light on the processes.

Meanwhile, researchers are hoping to stretch out telomeres in microgravity
via Genes in Space-10 , part of an ongoing national contest for students in grades 7 through 12 to develop their own biotech experiments. These genetic structures protect humans chromosomes, but generally shorten over time as
they age . Observing telomere lengthening in ISS microgravity will give scientists a chance to determine if their size change relates to stem cell proliferation. Results could help NASA and other researchers better
understand effects on astronauts health during long-term missions , a particularly topical subject given their hopes for upcoming excursions to the moon and Mars .

ISS will also deploy the Educational Space Science and Engineering CubeSat Experiment (ESSENCE), a tiny satellite housing a wide-angle camera capable of monitoring ice and permafrost thawing within the Canadian Arctic. This satellite comes alongside another student collaboration project called Iris , which is meant to observe geological samples weathering upon exposure to direct solar and background cosmic radiation.

[Related: The ISSs latest arrivals: a 3D printer, seeds, and ovarian cow cells .]

Finally, a set of plants that germinated from seeds first produced in space and subsequently traveled to Earth are returning to the ISS as part of Plant Habitat-03 . According to NASA, plantlife often adapts to the environmental stresses imposed on them via spaceflight, but its still unclear if these changes are genetically passed on to future generations. PH-03 will hopefully help scientists better understand these issues, which could prove critical to food generation during future space missions and exploration efforts.

The post The ISSs latest delivery includes space plants and atmospheric lightning monitors appeared first on Popular Science . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.



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Link to news story: https://www.popsci.com/technology/iss-spacex-experiments-june-2023/


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