The Expedition 72 crew performed critical scientific work on the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday; While preparing the experiment for placement outside the station, he studied the effects of space on cellular health, including stress and tissue damage. Meanwhile, astronauts continued to prepare for the upcoming spacewalk, the purpose of which was to transfer equipment to an orbiting outpost.
Robotic maneuvers and material exposure
NASA Astronaut Commander Sunee Williams and Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore opened the NanoRacks Bishop airlock and prepared its removable module for the Euro Materials Aging (EMA) experiment. On Monday, Canadarm2’s robotic arm will separate Bishop, where the EMF experiment is located, from the Tranquility module and transport it to the Columbus laboratory module. Here, EMA will be mounted on the Bartolomeo Research Platform on the exterior of the station, where it will be exposed to harsh space conditions.
EMA will provide a variety of materials to the space community to learn how to improve the design of space hardware and programs for missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The outside investigation will continue out of Columbus for about a year.
Cell studies in microgravity conditions
NASA flight engineer Nick Hague continued his research on cellular immunity by processing blood samples in the Harmony module. After storing the samples overnight, Kubik removed them from the research incubator and spun them in the Human Research Facility centrifuge. Haig then placed the blood samples in a scientific freezer before shutting down Kubik and disassembling him. Doctors on Earth will analyze the samples to understand the effects of living in space on the human immune system.
Preparation for entering space and international cooperation
All four NASA astronauts relaxed and took a half day off after their shifts ended on Thursday. The four will have a busy day on Friday as they prepare the Bishop Gateway and Euro Materials Aging experiment for next week’s robotics action.
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Roscosmos flight engineers Oleksiy Ovchynin and Ivan Wagner continued preparations for the spacewalk, scheduled to begin at 10:10 a.m. ET on Thursday, December 19, for the transfer of scientific and robotic equipment. The cosmonauts donned their Orlan spacesuits and practiced maneuvering towards the Poisk airlock, where they would enter outer space.
Ovchinin and Wagner also had time to perform a cardiac examination, using electrodes and cuffs to measure heart activity and blood pressure. Gorbunov focused on orbital water supply missions before examining space launch. At the end of his shift, he participated in a test with his fellow astronauts to see how international crews and flight controllers from around the world could better communicate.