Today Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot John Shoffner, and Mission Specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi had a great day and completed not only their scheduled work but also a couple bonus activities from the task list. The crew spent the day gathering data and conducting studies for the research projects and hosting STEAM outreach events with students around the world.
Whitson continued observing tumor cell samples in the fluorescence microscope for the Cancer in Low-Earth Orbit experiment, which will help us learn how cancers form and possibly develop ways to predict and treat cancer on Earth.
Whitson also set up Axiom Space’s Stowage Tracking & Inventory Intelligent Video System (STIIVS) in the cupola, which uses computer vision to identify and track items for inventory management, stowage location tracking, and associated analytics. Results could provide insight into the feasibility and efficiency of this tool for use on Axiom Habitation Module 1 (AxH1) once it is attached to the ISS.
Shoffner did another exercise wearing the skinsuit to demonstrate its ability to attenuate microgravity-induced physiological changes. The Skinsuit is a potential spaceflight countermeasure, which aims to mitigate the effects of microgravity on the body, including spinal elongation, muscle atrophy, and sensorimotor changes.
Barnawi and Alqarni measured their blood pressure, blood oxygen, and heart rate levels, as well as performed some brain imaging studies for the Nebula Human Research investigations, which will look at how humans adapt and respond to spaceflight to better understand human health in microgravity. These human research studies are assessing tools that monitor brain and eye health and may offset the long-term effects of living in weightlessness.
Alqarni continued operations for the Stellar Stem Cells project to explore whether microgravity can make it easier and more efficient to produce large batches of stem cells. In partnership with Cedars Sinai, this is the first of a series of missions supported by Axiom Space, where, for the first time, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will ultimately be manufactured in space by astronauts.
Barnawi is now a pro when it comes to using the life science glovebox as she continues the study on mRNA response. Today she treated human immune cells with a substance that mimics an inflammatory response for the RNA response project.
Shoffner hosted a STEAM event in coordination with the Odyssey Scholarship Program. He conducted a science demonstration on inertia and Q&A with students ages 8-12 located in Miami, FL. You can watch it on Axiom Space’s YouTube channel.
Alqarni and Barnawi conducted a science demonstration with the “liquid fireworks” payload to show differences in fluid behavior on Earth and in space, which students recreated on the ground. To execute this experiment, the Saudi crew injected fluids and mixed components into a custom-designed apparatus designed by Nanoracks.
Tomorrow, Alqarni and Barnawi will conduct a STEAM event with the Nanoracks Space Kite payload, which will demonstrate the aerodynamic behavior of kites in microgravity. Three kites of different shapes will be fixed to a fan on the ISS and their movement will be tracked. The Saudi crew will host a live event with thousands of students on the ground as part of the Saudi education outreach program.
Shoffner will do a live event tomorrow with the Humanity United with MIT Art and Nanotechnology (HUMANS) project. HUMANS is a MIT student-led project that combines art and nanotechnology for increasing global representation in space. HUMANS has created a record of voices from people all around the world in their native languages, sharing their thoughts on the meaning of space for themselves and humanity. This six-inch record, inspired by The Golden Record, has been etched using cutting-edge MIT nanotechnology to be launched up to the ISS. HUMANS creates a symbolic avenue for space access worldwide and emphasizes how space should remain a “space" for everyone. You can watch the event on Axiom Space’s YouTube channel.
Finally, tomorrow the Ax-2 astronauts and Axiom Space’s Chief Scientist Dr. Lucie Low will do a science briefing. The crew will do a Q&A with Dr. Low to provide updates on the science and research they have been conducting during their time on the space station. The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. CT. You can watch it live on Axiom Space’s YouTube channel and NASA TV.
The Ax-2 crew now has two more days on the International Space Station before they head back to Earth. You can find information on how to watch the live coverage of the undocking and departure of the Ax-2 crew from the ISS, here.