Axiom Space private astronaut missions support breakthroughs in space, bringing benefits to every human, everywhere.
This materials science investigation will explore the effect of spaceflight on 3D printed materials after launch and return from the International Space Station. The study will characterize the properties and compositions of 3D printed polymers after space radiation exposure and g-forces in order to compare them to the properties of polymers stored on Earth. This could inform the design and composition of materials that may be used in 3D printing in space in future.
Brain organoids are small 3D aggregates of neural cells that can be used to explore how the human nervous system develops or starts to degenerate (in diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis), and how safe and effective therapeutics might be. Using human neural cells means human-specific biochemical pathways can be uncovered or targeted, helping reduce the need for animal studies that may not replicate human neural responses or predict how well humans respond to different treatments. The Cosmic Brain Organoids project will use brain organoids derived from the stem cells of patients with the neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's disease and primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, to assess how microgravity affects the cells and uncover cellular pathways that could suggest novel therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative diseases on Earth.
A newly developed hydrogen-rich polymer is being tested for its ability to protect against space radiation, which consists of heavy charged particles and secondary photons, electrons, and neutrons. During the Ax-2 mission, the newly developed hydrogen-rich polymer will be tested in the internal radiation environment of the ISS to assess the polymer’s shielding abilities.
This ISRO experiment will investigate the impacts of spaceflight on six varieties of crop seeds. After the mission, seeds will be grown for multiple generations and plants showing preferred traits selected for genetic analyses. This project aims to help understand how crops may be grown in space for future exploration missions.
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