Crew Status
Today, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Walter Villadei, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, and Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt completed their 10th full day (flight day 13) on the International Space Station (ISS).
Highlights of the Day
The Ax-3 crew completed multiple outreach engagements and took images to support commercial activities. The crew also completed a variety of ISS National Lab-sponsored projects.
Research
Villadei wore the Smart FlightSuit 2 (SFS2) again to test the comfort and behavior of the suit's fabrics in space, function of the inbuilt sensors, and utility of the suit in microgravity. MLA took images to document Villadei’s use of the suit.
Villadei prepared Barilla Ready Made Pasta and then completed a questionnaire to develop a broader range of tasty foods in space for future space explorers.
Gezeravcı inserted the Extremophyte CRISPR plant samples from yesterday’s harvest into the Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for cryogenic preservation.
MLA supported Gezeravcı in removing 12 microalgae samples from the experiment cube to prepare for their return to Earth. The data generated from the UzMan experiment will be used to advance the development of microalgal life support systems for future space missions.
Gezeravcı provided another audio sample for the Vokalkord experiment, which uses an artificial intelligence system to detect over 70 types of disease by analyzing respiratory, speaking, and cough sounds.
Wandt completed one of the many Orbital Architecture assessments with the fNIRS headcap to document his cognitive performance, stress levels, and stress recovery rate. Cortivision, the company that created the fNIRS headcap, is is developing innovative applications to analyze brain waves in space and on Earth. Learn more about this Ax-3 study from Axiom Space Chief Scientist Dr. Lucie Low and Cortivision Chief Operating Officer Wojciech Broniatowski, here.
Wandt also inserted the Furnace Calibration Cartridge into the Material Science Laboratory, which is used for basic materials research in microgravity (e.g., metals, alloys, polymers, semiconductors, ceramics, crystals, and glasses).
Outreach
Villadei participated in a live outreach engagement with representatives from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) along with many teachers and students in Italy. During the event, he highlighted the ASI-led experiments and research activities on the ISS and participated in a Q&A. Watch the event, here.
Villadei recorded a video to explain and showcase how microgravity affects the shape of water and stability of spinning objects in space.
Gezeravcı also did another outreach event with high school students in Türkiye.
Tomorrow, Gezeravcı will participate in a Q&A with kindergarten and nursery school children from Türkiye’s capital, Ankara.
Villadei will speak to Italian high school teachers and students, research and development representatives, and other authorities during an outreach event. He will highlight Ax-3 mission experiments, daily activities aboard the space station, and will recognize stakeholders in relation to the experiments.