Новости МКС

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https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/nasa-nose-importance-of-humans-robots-exploring-together

April 16, 2019

NASA 'Nose' Importance of Humans, Robots Exploring Together

NASA is sending humans forward to the Moon, this time to stay. Upcoming expeditions to the Moon will require making every moment of astronaut time outside the safety of the Gateway in orbit and lunar lander system on the surface count. Robotics will enable lunar crews to do more while minimizing their risk.

NASA's Satellite Servicing Projects Division is teaming up with the International Space Station to develop the technologies for this kind of astronaut-robotic collaboration, and tomorrow is launching a Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) aboard Cygnus on Northrop Grumman's 11th Commercial Resupply Services mission.

Spacecraft and habitats rely on extensive cooling systems. Just as coolant in a car is used to cool its engine, ammonia is circulated through a huge system of pumps, reservoirs and radiators on station to cool its complex life support systems, spacecraft equipment and science experiments. RELL is a "sniffer," or a robotic, remote-controlled tool that helps mission operators detect the location of external ammonia leaks on space station and rapidly confirm a successful repair.


The Robotic External Leak Locator flight unit before launch.
Credits: NASA

"RELL capabilities help mitigate the risk of the potentially severe impacts to the space station presented by an external ammonia leak," said Christopher Craw, ISS Senior Systems Integration Lead at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

When it arrives at ISS, this will be the second RELL on board and will serve as a spare. The first flight RELL is already on board station where it successfully located a leak in one of these systems, significantly reducing astronaut time required outside of station to inspect and repair the leak.

"The decision to build and fly another flight unit seemed like the obvious choice to ensure this capability was going to be available to the ISS Program through the rest of spacecraft's life," said Adam Naids, ISS Hardware Development Engineer at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

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Astronaut Shane Kimbrough with RELL aboard the International Space Station.
Credits: NASA

After Cygnus delivers the second RELL to station, the plan is to store the unit until an ammonia leak is detected. Then, a game of "hot and cold" would begin. Affixed to the Canadian Space Agency's Dextre robot arm, RELL would be moved around the outside of station using its mass spectrometer "sniffer" to locate ammonia leaks. When RELL is directed toward a leak, it returns a higher signal. The higher the signal, the closer the leak. This process allows RELL to pinpoint the source of any given ammonia leak, giving space station managers the information they need to understand and correct the problem.

Before RELL, astronauts manually searched for leaks on spacewalks, which always carry an element of risk. The Leak Locator that is currently stationed in-orbit has proven its worth, paving the way for the second unit.


The Robotic External Leak Locator on the end of the Dextre robot in February 2017.
Credits: NASA

Both RELL units will eventually be stored in the Robotics Tool Stowage, or RiTS, which is still in development. Once installed to the outside of station, RiTS will store the instruments so they are available when needed to track down a leak.

The RELL design includes two sensors: a mass spectrometer and a total pressure gauge.

The mass spectrometer measures the number of molecules present in any molecular mass to create a "mass spectrum" reading. Based on this data, analysts determine the composition of present gases. The mass spectrometer can distinguish between trace orbital gasses, which occur naturally, and chemicals potentially originating on station, such as ammonia. This tool can tell the difference from a football field length away.

The total pressure gauge measures the total pressure in space. After the general vicinity of a leak is known, the pressure gauge is able to pinpoint it within a few inches in real time.

The benefits of leak detection have already been proven on station, and this ability could be similarly helpful for long-term human habitation on the lunar Gateway, a lunar habitat, and perhaps one day a crewed voyage to Mars. At its core, RELL is a robotics-controlled characterizer of the local environment. This same ability could be used to determine the composition of nearby environments for exploration on the lunar surface, and for scientific and resource utilization purposes.



The president's direction from Space Policy Directive-1 galvanizes NASA's return to the Moon and builds on progress on the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, collaborations with U.S industry and international partners, and knowledge gained from current robotic assets at the Moon and Mars.

Whether reducing the risk to astronauts on station or one day "sniffing out" the environment of an extraterrestrial world, the human-robotics collaboration demonstrated by RELL will be a vital part of NASA's exploration future.

By Kathryn Cawdrey
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

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Last Updated: April 16, 2019
Editor: Rob Garner

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Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 6 ч. назад

The Uguisu (Japan), NepaliSat-1 (Nepal) and Raavana-1 (Sri Lanka) cubesats will be deployed from the Kibo module using JAXA's J-SSOD-11 deployer.

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Interview with NASA Space Station Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir

NASA Video

Опубликовано: 17 апр. 2019 г.

Astronaut Jessica Meir is now set to fly to the International Space Station for the first time in September, and Christina Koch, who is currently in space, has her stay onboard extended to an expected record-setting flight of 328 days. The two astronauts, who trained together as part of the same class, shared thoughts on the news during a conversation between the space station and the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-first-flight-record-setting-mission

April 17, 2019
RELEASE 19-030

NASA Announces First Flight, Record-Setting Mission

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Astronaut Jessica Meir is now set to fly to the International Space Station for the first time in September, and Christina Koch, who is currently in space, has her stay onboard extended to an expected record-setting flight of 328 days. With Koch now scheduled to remain in orbit until February 2020, she will set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, eclipsing the previous mark set by Peggy Whitson of 288 days in 2016-17.
Credits: NASA


NASA and its International Space Station partners have set a new schedule and new crew assignments that will include the first flight of NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, an extended stay for NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, and a record-setting flight for NASA astronaut Christina Koch.

Koch, who arrived at the space station March 14, and now is scheduled to remain in orbit until February 2020, will set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, eclipsing the record of 288 days set by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in 2016-17. She will be part of three expeditions – 59, 60 and 61 – during her current first spaceflight. Her mission is planned to be just shy of the longest single spaceflight by a NASA astronaut – 340 days, set by former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly during his one-year mission in 2015-16.

The mission schedule currently is as follows:

June 24: Current Expedition 59 crew members Anne McClain of NASA, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency, and Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos will return to Earth. Koch and fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin will remain aboard the space station and begin Expedition 60.

July 20: NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov are scheduled to launch to the space station and join Expedition 60, returning the orbiting laboratory's crew complement to six. Parmitano and Skvortsov will return in February 2020 with Koch, leaving Morgan behind for his extended stay.

Sept. 25: NASA astronaut Jessica Meir is scheduled to launch to the station with Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and United Arab Emirates' Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, a Roscosmos spaceflight participant who will return with Hague and Ovchinin Oct. 3. Meir and Skripochka will return in spring 2020 with Morgan.

The extended missions of Koch and Morgan will help scientists gather additional data about the effects of long-duration human spaceflight beyond those of the normal six-month station expedition. Such research is essential to support future deep space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

NASA has gathered vast amounts of data on astronaut health and performance over the past 50 years and has focused recently on extended durations up to one year with the dedicated mission of Scott Kelly and extended mission of Peggy Whitson. These opportunities also have demonstrated that there is a significant degree of variability in human response to spaceflight and it's important to determine the acceptable degree of change for both men and women.

"Astronauts demonstrate amazing resilience and adaptability in response to long duration spaceflight exposure," said Jennifer Fogarty, chief scientist of the Human Research Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "This will enable successful exploration missions with healthy, performance-ready astronauts. NASA is looking to build on what we have learned with additional astronauts in space for more than 250 days. Christina's extended mission will provide additional data for NASA's Human Research Program and continue to support future missions to the Moon and Mars."

This schedule also allows NASA to get the most time dedicated to other research aboard the station, as U.S. commercial crew launch providers prepare for operations to and from U.S. soil and the space station.

Meir's September launch to the station will mark her first spaceflight. The Caribou, Maine, native was sel ected as an astronaut in 2013, while serving as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. She holds a bachelor's in biology from Brown University, a master's in space studies from International Space University, and a doctorate in marine biology fr om Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Prior to her selection to the astronaut corps, Meir's career focused on the physiology of animals in extreme environments, studying emperor penguins in the Antarctic, elephant seals in California, and bar-headed geese in studies at the University of British Columbia and in Mongolia. Meir also previously worked for Lockheed Martin's Human Research Facility, participated in reduced gravity research flights, took part in diving expeditions to the Antarctic and Belize, and served as a spaceflight analog crewmember for a NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations underwater mission and an ESA caving mission (ESA CAVES).

Morgan will make his first flight into space this summer. A New Castle, Pennsylvania, native, Morgan was selected to be an astronaut in 2013, when he was serving as an emergency physician in the U.S. Army with sub-specialty certification in primary care sports medicine. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

-end-

Last Updated: April 17, 2019
Editor: Karen Northon

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Christina H Koch‏Подлинная учетная запись @Astro_Christina 1 ч. назад

One month down. Ten to go. Today the possibility has become reality: My mission is planned to be extended through a third Expedition onboard @Space_Station! Privileged to contribute my best every single day of it.

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NanoRacks‏Подлинная учетная запись @NanoRacks 55 мин. назад

We've got a full mission launching today - 3 #CubeSats in our external #Cygnus deployer, 1 hosted payload to stay inside the deployer, 7 #CubeSats for @Space_Station, plant growth research & an incredible fiber optics #ZBLAN experiment. Our #LEO ecosystem is busy as ever! #NG11

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https://ria.ru/20190417/1552781088.html

НАСА установит новый рекорд по жизни в космосе для женщин
16:10

МОСКВА, 17 апр – РИА Новости. Астронавт Кристина Кох пробудет на борту МКС до февраля 2020 года и установит новый рекорд по продолжительности жизни на борту станции для женщин, уступая лишь Скотту Келли в общем зачете. Об этом сообщает пресс-служба НАСА.

"Астронавты невероятно хорошо справляются и приспособляются к долговременной жизни в космосе. Увеличение продолжительности миссии Кристины поможет нам подготовиться к последующим экспедициям на Луну и Марс", — заявила Дженнифер Фогарти, научный руководитель Программы изучения человека в НАСА.

Сегодня представители американского космического агентства огласили новые долговременные планы по работе астронавтов на борту МКС в последующие два года. В соответствии с ними, нас ожидает уникальное событие – астронавт Кристина Кох установит новый рекорд по продолжительности полета в космос для женщин в первый же свой полет на станцию.

Она отправилась на орбиту Земли на борту космического корабля "Союз МС-12" в середине марта этого года и должна была вернуться в декабре на борту корабля "Союз МС-13" вместе с другими членами 59 экспедиции. В соответствии с новыми планами НАСА, она задержится на борту станции еще на два месяца и вернется на Землю в феврале 2020 года вместе с членами 61 экспедиции.

Авария на "Союзе МС-10" в октябре прошлого года, а также проблемы, связанные с появлением отверстия в корпусе сервисного модуля "Союза МС-09", заставили НАСА значительно поменять дальнейшие планы и существенно расширить миссии Кох и еще одного астронавта, Эндрю Моргана.

Он отправится на МКС в июле этого года в компании с европейским астронавтом Лукой Пармитано и космонавтом Александром Скворцовым в рамках 60 экспедиции. Россиянин и итальянец вернутся на Землю вместе с Кох, а Морган задержится на борту станции до конца марта 2020 года.

В результате подобных перестановок Кох побьет рекорд Пегги Уитсон, первой женщины-командира МКС, установленный в 2017 году. Она пробыла на борту станции 288 дней. Чуть дольше в космосе прожил Скотт Келли, недавно ставший героем полудюжины научных статей, посвященных влиянию невесомости и жизни в космосе на организм человека.

В общей сложности, американская астронавтка займет седьмую позицию в общем рейтинге длительности полетов, уступая Келли и семи космонавтам – Валерию Полякову, Сергею Авдееву, Владимиру Титову, Мусе Манарову, Михаилу Корниенко, Юрию Романенко и Сергею Крикалеву.

"Я чувствую себя просто великолепно. Я знала, что у меня может появиться подобная возможность, и я очень рада тому, что моя мечта воплотилась в реальность. Космос всегда занимал большое место в моей жизни и я благодарна, что у меня появился шанс внести максимальный вклад в его изучение", — заявила Кох.

Как надеются ученые, наблюдения за жизнью Кох и Моргана помогут им собрать новые данные, необходимые для защиты здоровья будущих лунных и марсианских колонистов от действия невесомости, космических лучей и других угроз, не существующих на поверхности Земли.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/04/16/iss-daily-summary-report-4162019/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/16/2019

ElectroMagnetic Levitator (EML) Lens Swap:

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The crew changed the measurement mode of the EML High Speed Camera to RECAL mode in support of ongoing ops. The EML is a multi-user facility designed for containerless materials processing in space. It supports research in the areas of meta-stable states and phases along with the measurement of high-accurate thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys at high temperatures. EML can accommodate up to 18 samples, each 5 to 8 mm in size. Heating rates of up to 100 Kelvin per second can be achieved with a maximum temperature of 2,100°C.

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ISS Experience:

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The crew set up The ISS Experience in Node 3 with a goal of capturing one of the crew member's pre-sleep routine. The ISS Experience creates a virtual reality film documenting daily life aboard the ISS. The 8 to 10 minute videos created from footage taken during the six-month investigation cover different aspects of crew life, execution of science aboard the station, and the international partnerships involved. The ISS Experience uses a Z-CAM V1 Pro Cinematic Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree camera with nine 190° fisheye lenses.

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Muscle Tone in Space (Myotones):

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The crew performed ultrasound scans and measurements with the Myotones device in today's science sessions. The Myotones investigation observes the biochemical properties of muscles during long-term exposure to the spaceflight environment. Results from this investigation are expected to provide insight into principles of human resting muscle tone, which could lead to the development of new strategies for alternative treatments for rehabilitation both on Earth and for future space missions.

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Northrop Grumman (NG)-11 Arrival Preparations:

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In preparation for Cygnus arrival, currently planned for April 19, the crew completed an On-board Training (OBT) review of attached phase operations including hardware, stowage, and attached phase configuration. They also completed an offset grapple OBT, paying particular attention to managing the volumetric constraints in the Cupola, as well as lighting conditions, when maneuvering the Mobile Servicing System (MSS).

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Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Robotics Operations:

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Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS in support of crew Cygnus Offset Grapple practice. During this On-Board-Training (OBT) session, the crew took turns flying the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) into the grapple envelope of the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture (FRGF) for training/familiarization in preparation for NG-11 capture. After the OBT, flight controllers moved SSRMS into position to enable completion of the Node1 Active Common Berthing Mechanism (ACBM) survey, required before NG-11 can be berthed to ISS, later this week.

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Northrop Grumman's CRS-11 Mission: What's on Board?

NASA

Опубликовано: 17 апр. 2019 г.

What's on the next cargo mission launching to the International Space Station? Over 7,600 pounds of science, research and supplies for the astronaut crew are packed on board Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft. It's set to launch aboard an Antares rocket on April 17 at 4:46 p.m. EDT.

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Living and Working in Space: Oxidative Stress

NASA

Опубликовано: 17 апр. 2019 г.

Researchers take major steps to understand the potential long-term health effects associated with space. A longer duration in space means increased risk of oxidative damage to astronauts.

Oxidative Stress is believed to contribute greatly to bone loss and muscle loss.
Increased oxidative damage and inflammation can also accelerate the development of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's.

To insure the safety of our astronauts, NASA scientists study mechanisms and work on countermeasures related to Oxidative Stress in the space environment.

(2:22)

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NanoRacks‏Подлинная учетная запись @NanoRacks 4 ч. назад

For our @Space_Station #CubeSat deployment, we are launching: IOD-1 GEMS, EntrySat, KRAKSat, Swiatowid, Aeternitas, Ceres, & Libertas!

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Northrop Grumman‏Подлинная учетная запись @northropgrumman 19 мин. назад

The S.S. Roger Chaffee #Cygnus is on its way to the @Space_Station. Rendezvous is scheduled for this Friday, April 19, with live coverage beginning on @NASA TV at 4:00 a.m. EDT

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https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=506360&lang=RU

Запущенный к МКС американский грузовой корабль Cygnus вышел на околоземную орбиту
18.04.2019 0:09:46

Вашингтон. 17 апреля. ИНТЕРФАКС - Американский грузовой космический корабль Cygnus с грузами для экипажа Международной космической станции (МКС) в среду выведен на орбиту Земли ракетой-носителем Antares, сообщает Национальное управление по аэронавтике и исследованию космического пространства США (NASA).

Корабль Cygnus успешно отделился от второй ступени ракеты-носителя Antares и взял курс на МКС.

Стыковка корабля Cygnus с МКС запланирована на 19 апреля. Она будет осуществляться путем захвата грузовика дистанционной рукой-манипулятором Canadarm-2 МКС, которым будет управлять американский астронавт Энн Макклейн, и последующим присоединением грузового корабля к американскому сегменту станции - модулю Unity.

Как сообщалось, запуск ракеты-носителя Antares с грузовым кораблем Cygnus был осуществлен в 23:46 мск с космодрома Уоллопс, который размещается на одноименном острове у атлантического побережья американского штата Вирджиния.

Запуск осуществляется в рамках коммерческого контракта NASA с корпорацией Northrop Grumman, которой принадлежит ракета-носитель и автоматический грузовой космический корабль. Cygnus должен будет доставить на МКС около 3,5 тонн груза, в том числе продовольствие, а также оборудование и материалы для проведения десятков научных исследований.

Это уже 11-й полет американского космического грузовика данного типа к МКС. Был также еще один неудачный запуск в 2014 году, когда "грузовик" не долетел до станции вследствие аварии ракеты-носителя Antares. Первый запуск Cygnus состоялся 18 сентября 2013 года.

Корабль состоит из двух модулей цилиндрической формы: оборудованного солнечными батареями служебного модуля и герметичного грузового модуля.

Грузовой корабль будет находиться в составе МКС до 23 июля. Он заберет с собой со станции мусор и отходы. После расстыковки "грузовик" выведет на орбиту малые спутники.

Cygnus продолжит автономный полет до декабря, когда он будет сведен с орбиты и прекратит свое существование в акватории Тихого океана. Большая его часть сгорит в плотных слоях атмосферы Земли. В общей сложности полет "грузовика" продлится рекордные для этого типа кораблей восемь месяцев.

В настоящее время экипаж МКС состоит из российских космонавтов Олега Кононенко и Алексея Овчинина, американских астронавтов Энн Макклейн, Кристины Кох и Ника Хейга и канадского астронавта Давида Сен-Жака.

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https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/northrop-grumman-heads-to-space-station-with-new-nasa-science-cargo

April 18, 2019
RELEASE 19-031

Northrop Grumman Heads to Space Station with New NASA Science, Cargo


The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 11th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew.
Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station with about 7,600 pounds of science investigations and cargo after launching at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The spacecraft launched on an Antares 230 Rocket from the Virginia Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad 0A at Wallops and is scheduled to arrive at the orbiting laboratory around 5:30 a.m. Friday, April 19. Coverage of the spacecraft's approach and arrival will begin at 4 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Expedition 59 astronauts Anne McClain of NASA and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will use the space station's robotic arm to capture Cygnus, while NASA's Nick Hague monitors telemetry. The spacecraft will stay at the space station until July.

This delivery, Northrop Grumman's 11th cargo flight to the space station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract, will support dozens of new and existing investigations. Here are details about some of the scientific investigations Cygnus is delivering to the space station:

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Models for growing increasingly complex materials
Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-10 (ACE-T-10) will test gels in a microgravity environment. This research could aid in the development of increasingly complex materials that may serve as the building blocks for a range of applications on Earth including foods, drugs, and electronic devices. The process also may provide an efficient method to build new materials and equipment in space.

Better life science research in a few drops
Although the space station is well equipped for health and life sciences research, the equipment available for cellular and molecular biology still is limited compared to capabilities found in laboratories on Earth. To address this limitation, CSA designed Bio-Analyzer, a new tool the size of a video game console that astronauts on station easily can use to test body fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine, with just a few drops. It returns key analyses, such as blood cell counts, in just two to three hours, eliminating the need to freeze and store samples.

Analyzing aging of the arteries in astronauts
The Vascular Aging investigation uses ultrasounds, blood samples, oral glucose tolerance tests, and wearable sensors to study aging-like changes that occur in many astronauts during their stay on the space station. It's one of three Canadian experiments exploring the effects of weightlessness on the blood vessels and heart, and the links between these effects and bone health, blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation exposure. Increased understanding of these mechanisms can be used to address vascular aging in both astronauts and the aging Earth population.

Testing immune response in space
Spaceflight is known to have a dramatic influence on an astronaut's immune response, but there is little research on its effect following an actual challenge to the body's immune system. The rodent immune system closely parallels that of humans, and Rodent Research-12: Tetanus Antibody Response by B cells in Space (TARBIS) will examine the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory. This investigation aims to advance the development of measures to counter these effects and help maintain crew health during future long-duration space missions. On Earth, it could advance research to improve the effectiveness of vaccines and therapies for treating diseases and cancers.

Big buzz for new robot
A fleet of small robots is set to take on big jobs aboard the space station. Building on the success of SPHERES, NASA will test Astrobee, a robotic system comprised of three cube-shaped robots and a docking station for recharging; the first two are aboard Cygnus. The free-flying robots use electric fans for propulsion and cameras and sensors help them navigate their surroundings. The robots also have an arm to grasp station handrails or grab and hold items. Astrobee can operate in automated mode or under remote control from the ground as it assists with routine chores on station, and requires no supervision from the crew. This has the potential to free up astronauts to conduct more research.

These are just a few of the hundreds of investigations that will help us learn how to keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space travel and demonstrate technologies for future human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Space station research also provides opportunities for other U.S. government agencies, private industry, and academic and research institutions, to conduct microgravity research that leads to new technologies, medical treatments, and products that improve life on Earth.

For more than 18 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth that will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration into deep space. A global endeavor, more than 230 people from 18 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 2,500 research investigations from researchers in 106 countries.

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Last Updated: April 18, 2019
Editor: Karen Northon

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https://www.interfax.ru/world/658559

05:21, 18 апреля 2019
Американский грузовик привезет на МКС копченую индейку и мясо зубра

Москва. 18 апреля. INTERFAX.RU - Запущенный на орбиту американский грузовой космический корабль Cygnus доставит членам экипажа Международной космической станции (МКС) разнообразный ассортимент блюд, сообщает в четверг Национальное управление по аэронавтике и исследованию космического пространства США (NASA).

В частности, перед предстоящим празднованием католической Пасхи американский "грузовик" привезет экипажу копченую индейку, свиные отбивные, спаржу и фруктовый пирог. Канадское космическое агентство, чей астронавт - Давид Сен-Жак находится в составе экипажа МКС, также направило с кораблем целый ряд своих блюд. Среди них - копченый лосось, печенье с кленовым сиропом, ризотто с грибами и сыром, а также чили с мясом зубра, приготовленное по семейному рецепту канадского астронавта.

Всего с кораблем на МКС отправлено около 800 комплектов космического питания.

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Как сообщалось, Cygnus был выведен на орбиту в среду ракетой-носителем Antares, стартовавшей в 23:46 по московскому времени с космодрома Уоллопс, который размещается на одноименном острове у атлантического побережья американского штата Вирджиния.

Стыковку корабля Cygnus с МКС планируется осуществить 19 апреля в 05:30 по восточноамериканскому времени (12:30 по Москве). Она будет совершена путем захвата грузовика дистанционной рукой-манипулятором Canadarm-2 МКС, которым будет управлять американский астронавт Энн Макклейн, и последующим присоединением грузового корабля к американскому сегменту станции - модулю Unity.

Запуск осуществлен в рамках коммерческого контракта NASA с корпорацией Northrop Grumman, которой принадлежит ракета-носитель и автоматический грузовой космический корабль. Cygnus должен будет доставить на МКС около 3,5 тонн груза, в том числе продовольствие, а также оборудование и материалы для проведения десятков научных исследований.

В настоящее время экипаж МКС состоит из российских космонавтов Олега Кононенко и Алексея Овчинина, американских астронавтов Энн Макклейн, Кристины Кох и Ника Хейга и канадского астронавта Давида Сен-Жака.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/04/17/iss-daily-summary-report-4172019/

ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/17/2019

Northrop Grumman 11 (NG-11) Launch/Berth:

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NG-11 launched successfully today at 3:46 PM CT from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Over the next two days, S.S. Rodger Chaffee will perform a series of phasing burns to rendezvous with ISS. Vehicle capture is planned for Friday, April 19, at 4:30 AM CT.

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JEMAL (JEM Airlock) Configuration:

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The crew removed the Airlock Adapter Plate (JCAP) and RRM3 interface plate (STRIP) from the JEMAL slide table and installed it on the JEM Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) Transfer Interface (JOTI) in preparation for Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) Transfer Tray (MTT) activities. The MISSE-11 rotation cycle was launched on NG-11. A total of 349 samples/devices will be hosted on the MISSE facility during the MISSE-11 mission. The samples consist of radiation protection, radiation detection, laminates, coatings, polymetric, high-efficiency low-mass solar cell systems, composites, and additively-manufactured materials, all exposed to the low-Earth orbit space environment.

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JAXA Mouse Mission:

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Mouse Habitat unit preparation and item gather activities were performed in preparation for the upcoming JAXA Mouse Mission. The purpose of this mouse mission is to analyze alterations of the gene expression patterns in several organs, and the effects on the germ-cell development of mice exposed to a long-term (e.g. more than 30 days) space environment. Data collected could suggest not only experimental information about mice in the space environment, but also fundamental information about humans exposed to a prolonged space environment.

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Time Perception:

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Using a head-mounted Oculus Rift display, headphones, finger trackball, and laptop computer, the crew performed the Time Perception science sessions. A program on the laptop induces visual and audio stimuli to measure a subject's response to spatial and time perception in a microgravity environment. The accurate perception of objects in the environment is a prerequisite for spatial orientation and reliable performance of motor tasks. Time is fundamental to motion perception, sound localization, speech, and fine motor coordination.

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Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Loop Scrub and Dump and Fill:

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As part of the deconfiguration from recent EVAs, the crew emptied and refilled EMU 3004's water supply. Once complete, they performed a water loop scrub before acquiring and testing water samples for conductivity. These activities are required for long term health monitoring and maintenance of the EMUs.

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NG-11 Arrival Preparations:

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In preparation for NG-11 arrival this Friday, today the crew completed the following activities:

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• Equipment gathering of the Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) and equipment needed to outfit the Node 1 Nadir vestibule for NG-11 berthing.
• The second NG-11 robotics training session utilizing the Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT), an on-orbit version of the ground-based Dynamics Skills Trainer (DST) that simulates robotics operations with graphical feedback.
• A conference with ground teams to discuss NG-11 cargo transfer details.
  

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Public Affairs Office (PAO) Live Event:

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Today Saint-Jacques participated in a live PAO event with students from the École Champs Vallée School in Alberta, Canada. Participants in CSA's Living Space Project, the students asked questions about how work in space can improve environmental conditions and health and well being on Earth.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/04/18/astronauts-prepare-for-arrival-of-science-packed-cargo-ship/

Crew Prepares for Arrival of Science-Packed Cargo Ship

Mark Garcia
Posted Apr 18, 2019 at 10:20 am


NASA astronauts (fr om left) Anne McClain and Christina Koch pose for a portrait inside the Kibo laboratory module from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Both Expedition 59 flight engineers are members of NASA's 2013 class of astronauts.

The Cygnus space freighter is on orbit today and refining its approach to the International Space Station following its launch from Virginia Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Expedition 59 crew is juggling a variety of science and maintenance activities today before Friday morning's space shipment arrives.

Astronaut Anne McClain, with Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques as her back up, will capture Cygnus with the Canadarm2 robotic arm around 5:30 a.m. Friday. Ground controllers will take over afterward and remotely install Cygnus to the Unity module wh ere it will stay until the end of July.

Cygnus is packed with about 7,600 pounds of science, supplies and crew hardware to replenish the orbital lab. Among its science payloads are mice, free-flying robots and a host of other experiments and research gear. The astronauts set up hardware today that will house the rodents and enable research into how the immune system responds to microgravity. The crew will also test the ability of tiny, autonomous robots to provide assistance with routine space chores and lab monitoring.

Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Christina Koch started Thursday collecting and spinning blood and urine samples for ongoing human research. McClain checked out cables for the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace while Saint-Jacques installed sample plates on a specialized microscope called the Light Microscopy Module.

Commander Oleg Kononenko and fellow cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin worked throughout the day on Russian life support maintenance. Ovchinin also researched enzyme behavior in space and photographed plants for a botany investigation.

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Highlights of Science Launching on SpaceX CRS-17

NASA Johnson

Опубликовано: 18 апр. 2019 г.

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft scheduled to launch in late April takes supplies and a variety of scientific experiments to the International Space Station. Lifted into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the craft represents the 17th SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services contract mission for NASA.

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