Samantha Cristoforetti and the other five astronauts on the International Space Station will have to wait one more day to a break-espresso, the first – however – never carried out among the stars. It ‘was in fact moved at 22.10 (Italian time) today, Tuesday 14 April, the launch of the Dragon capsule from Cape Canaveral because of unfavorable weather conditions yesterday Monday. Weather not promises for more brilliant today. The journey of the shuttle, however, will take about three days before engaging that will happen thanks to the robotic arm operated by the same dell”Iss Samantha .. It is bringing in orbit over two tons of supplies and scientific experiments in sixth launch performed with the carrier Falcon 9 SpaceX, a private US company that has signed an agreement with NASA to send supplies to the ISS for at least 12 missions.
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BY THE SPACE CAPSULE CAPSULE
FOR THE BREAK-CAFFE ‘SPACE
Now it is clear that to make the title of this piece is cowardly easier to refer to the amazing and at the same time trivially family coffee machine capsules, which in a few days will begin to make expressed in orbit, rather than quote the experiments on nanoparticles and on ‘influence of microgravity on the DNA of the cells. Experiments (below you can find the cards) that will equally occupied Samantha Cristoforetti and other colleagues.
GEORGE CLOONEY
And ‘this story dell’Isspresso, and to remove the shoes back to George Clooney and his What else? because in space came before the very Italian Lavazza, is as capable of triggering easy jokes as to enclose amazing advances in technology certainly not only in the service of a cup of coffee. Now so do the stones that the contraption in which you’re reading this (whatever it is) would not exist without even the space race in the sixties, and this history of coffee in orbit is the forerunner of new advances in science Technical: for one thing, to solve the problems of microgravity and pressure of liquids, engineers Argotec (Torino) have condensed into just over half a cubic meter heavy 20 kilograms technical solutions used so far for the extraction of oil in deep . And the mere fact of having created this “machine” for coffee in capsules for the ISS has already allowed to file numerous patents now “expendable” on Earth. And ‘when you say that for every euro invested in space made from it three.
SEX, EXPRESS AND PSYCHOLOGY
But all this (or technological progress) is almost nothing compared to the psychological benefits for astronauts. Not only said De André to tell the few joys of prisoners (.. or ‘coffee, even in prison does not know’ …), but they say now the boffins at NASA. The press conference in Houston sull’Isspresso seemed dedicated to the discovery of water on some distant planet. They are in fact considered essential advantage of a break-coffee for astronauts, “condemned” more and more to long missions in confined space and without nemmneo air time: six months Parmitano and Cristoforetti will short just over a weekend for those who will have to go back and forth from Mars and will have to measure the travel in years rather than weeks. So, now that sex in orbit at least officially there is no trace, and that always the foods and drinks of the astronauts, as now “cooked” from star chefs, are consumed in melancholy room temperature or, at most, lukewarm, here’s the chance to drink a hot Italian espresso coffee is seen as a miracle by NASA that received with great celebration the project coordinated by the Italian Space Agency.
MORE ‘it you down’ MORE ‘YOU PULL UP (IN ORBIT)
“The psychological benefits for astronauts will be considerable – said technical and American psychologists – Their lives on space stations or on future spacecraft is not easy and it does everything to keep them in good spirits, perhaps with links to their families to Earth. So it will be very good to have on board with that of the Isspresso nice that everyone binds to the fact that drink a coffee properly done. And maybe he can even eat ice cream in space, would help a lot. “
“SAMANTHA, a coffee ‘PLEASE”
Have patience, finally, Samantha, the aerospace engineer and military pilot in one piece Cristoforetti, if in the coming days that will counter the photos will not his proverbial breathtaking views of the planet with the aurora borealis or cyclones, not those which show his experiments against osteoporosis or genetic diseases, but hers, first Italian space that, without the grembialino, is the first Italian coffee in orbit for fellow Americans and Russians patiently in line in the “galley” ISS in the break between a test and the other.
The science proceeds in leaps and also through a “hot macchiato” to 400 km altitude and at 28,800 miles per hour.
THE DRAGON CAPSULE
The Dragon capsule will orbit, as well as support material for the astronauts, a very valuable payload: three experiments selected Italian Space Agency mission Italianaper Futura Samantha Cristoforetti. It dell’Isspresso, in detail, of Cell Shape and Expression (Cytospace), ISSpresso and Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis (NATO).
“This last load is particularly important – said the president of ASI, Roberto Battiston – because it comes as a kind of mission Futura and port on the ISS three very significant experiments that confirm the leading role of our country in research in microgravity. Experiments that engage our Samantha in this month of work will still have before him on the station before returning to Earth and from which we expect important consequences. “
With the support of Terry Virts NASA, it will be the Cristoforetti to operate and maneuver the robotic arm from the Dome of almost 18 meters of the station to reach and “capture” Dragon upon arrival, on 16 April. The three experiments aboard Dragon will complete the research plan for the mission Futura, activities that kept engaged Samantha from the earliest days of stay on the Space Station.
The permanence of the Dragon on the ISS will last about five weeks after the capsule will undock from the Harmony module to return to Earth with a load of materials crew, hardware and scientific experiments.
THE THREE EXPERIMENTS IN TRAVEL WITH DRAGON
ISSpresso
Project Manager (PI): David Avino, Argotec, Turin (Italy)
Technical Manager Project: Valerio Di Tana, Argotec, Turin (Italy)
Responsible for the Implementation of the Apparatus: Argotec, Turin (Italy)
Support to the Implementation of the Apparatus: Lavazza, Turin (Italy)
Support to the integration and testing: Finmeccanica – Selex ES Florence (Italy)
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
ISSpresso is a capsule machine multifunction able to serve hot drinks, including also the typical “Italian espresso”, aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment consists of a series of dispensing cycles of coffee, espresso or American, and in a flush final cleaning of the system. Moreover, thanks to this machine can also make tea, herbal teas and various types of broth, allowing rehydration of food.
NOTHING CUPS, MA BAGS THERMAL
PLASTIC
ISSpresso is designed to serve a number of hot drinks and stay long operating aboard the station, once approved as board system. The main objective is to demonstrate the correct operation of a capsule system in weightlessness, while offering the opportunity to improve the welfare of the crew. This is an important psychological support for astronauts, so that they may feel less “far away” from home, approach the terrestrial habits and better address their mission. The scientific objectives set focus primarily on improving the knowledge of the behavior of fluids and mixtures in microgravity, and collect the appropriate experimental evidence on the formation of foam generated during the preparation of the coffee. In general, ISSpresso is able to enrich the nutritional intake of astronauts working on the ISS.
DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENT
The first capsule machine able to work in the absence of weight is characterized by a structural body constituted by a main compartment for the insertion of the drink-disposable pouch, which replaces the cup will also be tested even if, in addition to the bags with cannula, plastic containers more precisely similar to the cup.
ll drink-pouch is protected by a clear cover that prevents access during dispensing. Then there is a control panel and a system of insertion of capsules commercial. The system has a total volume of 64 dm3, with a total mass of about 20 Kg.
ISSpresso provides an electrical connection with the Station. The approvviggionamento drinking water is instead guaranteed by the Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) installed in the US Lab.
BOARD OPERATIONS
To prepare the drink, the astronaut has to fill the water-pouch with drinking water taken from the PWD and then connect it to ISSpresso. Then you must activate the experiment using the power switch, place the drink-pouch for the collection of the product dispensed and insert the capsule. Each crew member can select the type of drink you want and press the button of “Brew” to begin the process of infusion. After disconnecting the drink-pouch, you can enjoy the preparation. During the early stages of use, the entire infusion process is documented for future studies on fluid dynamics and on the formation of foams.
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
ISSpresso is a completely Italian product, made by a team of young engineers with the support of the Italian Space Agency. The multifunction system is compatible with the food-system of the station, including the Potable Water Dispenser, therefore also provides the ability to rehydrate the food of the ISS with broth or consommé other, increasing the nutritional intake for each astronaut. In fact, the machine is a direct result of long research and evolution of Argotec in the field of space food. The achievement of the objectives can lead to important new knowledge on fluid dynamics and behavior of foams in space. The numerous benefits, technical and psychological support for astronauts, are easily applicable to future missions of long duration. In addition, the study has already produced several innovations and patents for immediate terrestrial applications.
Cell Shape and Expression (Cytospace)
Project Manager
Alessandro Mariani – Kayser Italy S.r.l. Livorno
Responsible for scientific research
Mark Vukich – Kayser Italy (PI)
Alessandro Palombo – Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine – University of Rome La Sapienza (CO-I)
Research goals
The project aims to define the theoretical model and experimental able to determine the influence of the physical factor microgravity on gene expression, that influence is exercised through the modification of cell shape. The model microgravity is a unique opportunity to understand how much they weigh the physical forces in determining the destiny of complex biological systems. These forces, in fact, interfere and change the cell cytoskeleton, leading to distortions of form and a long cascade of biochemical reactions that affect virtually all major cellular functions.
Experiment description
The experiment involves the execution of a scientific protocol aimed at evaluating if the cytoskeletal changes induced by microgravity translate into changes in the form and consequently of gene expression, that is, if a large alteration of the gene expression profile can be regarded as a consequence of a global structural rearrangement of cells exposed to microgravity. Sample cells will be grown on board the ISS and reference samples will be grown on land. On board the ISS experiment is performed using a “Experiment Unit” or a system capable of performing in an automated manner the scientific protocol. The cell cultures will be fed through the injection of a suitable culture medium capable of conferring the necessary nutrients to the cells and the chemicals under the Protocol. At the end of the experiment the samples will be fixed and returned to Earth for analysis.
Relapses
And ‘likely that progress in basic knowledge can be translated into a parallel progress in the treatment of many diseases in which the cytoskeleton and cell shape are involved, the connective tissue diseases, osteoporosis, cancer.
Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis (NATO)
Project Manager (PI)
Livia Visai, Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Nanotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Co-managers of scientific research:
Angela Maria Rizzo, Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Biomolecular, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Josephine Rea, Institute of Crystallography, CNR, Rome, Italy
Mark Vukich, Kayser Italy Srl, Livorno, Italy
The objective of the research:
The objective of this study is the demonstration of the effectiveness of the use of nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite as such (NHAP) or hydroxyapatite enriched in strontium (Sr-NHAP) of adult human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from bone marrow (BM MSC), and precursors of human osteoclasts (OP), isolated from peripheral blood, in order to assess the possible use as a countermeasure to osteoporosis induced by microgravity during space flight. Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease multifactorial that may be related to various risk factors and thus represents an obstacle to the involvement of the astronauts in long-term missions. Understanding the pathology and biochemical mechanisms underlying biomolecular and is greatly important for the development of new strategies on treatment protocols or pharmacologists for the prevention and the development of effective countermeasures.
Experiment description:
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The experiment involves the execution of a scientific protocol aimed to enable the treatment of cell cultures of BM-MSC or OP, the cells involved in the metabolism of the remodeling of the bone tissue, in the absence (control condition) or presence of appropriate doses of NHAP or NHAP-Sr. On board the ISS experiment is performed using a “Experiment Unit” (provided by Kayser Italy) or a system capable of performing in an automated manner the scientific protocol. The cell cultures will be fed through the injection of a suitable culture medium capable of conferring the necessary nutrients to the cells and nanoparticles. At the end of the experiment, samples of flight will be fixed and frozen to allow for post flight analysis of RNA-Seq ground. RNA-Seq is a high-throughput sequencing technique that allows you to explore the entire transcriptome of a biological system in a quantitative and highly specific. The data RNAseq jointly nanotechnology will support the design of appropriate countermeasures to combat the damage induced by microgravity bone apparatus.
Relapses
Relapses are of: i) science and technology, to reduce problems related to the reduction of bone mineral mass induced by staying on space stations or aging on earth; ii) capital, for the reduction of social costs and improving the quality of life of those who will work in space but also for those who grow old; iii) economic, technology transfer to the industries of the sector with increased competitiveness in the industry.
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