Human Research Ahead of Spacewalk Preview on NASA TV – Space Station

Expedition 70 crew members took Thursday off from spacesuit preparation as they focused on human research, including behavioral studies, vision tests, and physical fitness assessments. International Space Station residents also focused on maintenance of an array of scientific hardware and on-orbit plumbing work.

NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara spent a day participating in a CIPHER human research study to understand how life in space affects astronauts’ minds and bodies. Ta. She practiced simulated robot maneuvers on a computer to assess changes in cognition and brain function. She also processed blood and urine samples to gain insight into immune and heart health. The experiment observes the combined effects of radiation, isolation, long distances, microgravity, and a closed environment on the crew.

Two aeronautical engineers, Jasmine Moghbeli of NASA and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), had a busy day working on scientific hardware, robotics training, and vision tests. Moghbeli has begun a schedule to replace components of the Cold Atom Laboratory and inspect the quantum physics research facility. Furukawa began setting up cameras and lights that would later be installed outside the space station. Later, after lunch, the two met to discuss robotics procedures for future spacewalks. Finally, Furukawa examined Mogbeli’s eyes using standard medical imaging equipment found in clinics on Earth.

NASA administrators will discuss two spacewalks scheduled for science and maintenance on Oct. 12 and 20 on NASA TV Friday at 1 p.m. ET. During the first spacewalk, ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts O’Hara and Andreas Mogensen will collect external microbial samples for analysis. During the second spacewalk, O’Hara and Moghbeli will remove and replace communications and solar array hardware.

Mogensen, the 70th Expeditionary Unit commander, spent Thursday afternoon servicing life support equipment in the tranquility module. Before that, he participated in a medical emergency training session with crew members Moghbeli and Furukawa and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. The astronauts gathered to locate medical equipment, coordinate rescue roles and practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as part of a training session. The quartet launched into the orbital laboratory on August 26, 2023, as members of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission.

Earlier, cosmonaut Nikolai Chubut helped Borisov attach sensors to himself to assess his physical fitness and pedal through an exercise cycle. Physicians evaluate downlinked exercise data to understand the crew’s aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning in zero gravity. Chubb spends the rest of the day maintaining electronic equipment and computers.

The orbiting laboratory’s most experienced crew member, cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, who has visited the station five times, started the day in the Zvezda service module replacing plumbing parts in orbit. . Kononenko then exchanged gas for astrophysics research and synchronized the camera’s clock with the station’s computer.