Space Station Science Highlights: Week of January 2, 2023

Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of Jan. 2 that included testing on-demand production of nutrients, studying microgravity’s effect on a person’s grip, and monitoring microbes in the station’s plant growth habitat.

Here are details on some of the microgravity investigations currently taking place aboard the orbiting lab:

Nutrition in space

Supplying adequate nutrition is one challenge in maintaining crew health on future long-duration space missions to the Moon and Mars, since many vitamins in foods and supplements degrade over time. Producing nutrients during flight could help address this problem and reduce launch mass and volume as well. BioNutrients-2 tests a system to produce specific quantities of key nutrients from yogurt, a fermented milk product known as kefir, and a yeast-based beverage. Results also may provide insight into on-demand production of other biomolecules such as therapeutics and support development of microorganisms that can be revived after long periods of inactivity for a range of applications. On Earth, the ability to produce vitamins and other biomolecules on demand could help support human health in remote areas and those with limited supply of critical compounds that have a short shelf-life. During the week, crew members hydrated and activated samples for the investigation.

Grip this

GRIP, an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), studies how long-duration spaceflight affects a person’s ability to regulate the force of their grip and trajectory of upper limbs when manipulating objects. These functions developed in Earth’s gravity and can be affected by microgravity. Results could help identify potential hazards for astronauts as they move between gravitational environments and contribute to the design of interfaces for equipment used in these challenging conditions. The research also could provide a better understanding of how the human nervous system controls movement on the ground. During the week, crew members performed seated and supine sessions for the investigation.

Nutritious and safe

The Veggie Monitoring investigation collects microbial samples from the surface of the station’s Veggie plant production system. Samples are returned to Earth for culturing and identification of microbes. Since the Veggie system is open to the cabin environment, to protect the crew and plants from contamination, it is critical to identify which microbes are present and how they may affect the system. This monitoring also produces data useful for evaluating current spacecraft environmental microbial limits. In addition, analyzing the production of safe, nutritious food in the challenging conditions in space could contribute to improved food production in harsh and remote environments on Earth. Crew members performed sample analysis operations for the investigation during the week.

Other investigations involving the crew:

John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 68