Dragon, launch postponed for 24 hours due to bad weather. The experiments on board in detail
This is the sixth launch carried out by the vector Falcon 9 SpaceX , the American company that has signed an agreement with NASA to send supplies to the ISS for at least 12 missions. The Dragon capsule will orbit as well as support material for the astronauts, a ‘payload’ very valuable: Italian three experiments selected by the Italian Space for mission Futura Samantha Cristoforetti. It is, in detail, of Cell Shape and Expression (Cytospace), ISSpresso and Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis (NATO).
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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 arrival. 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 first, Cell Shape and Expression ( Cytospace) is a biology experiment that aims to define a model able to describe the influence of the physical factor microgravity on gene expression, that influence is exercised through the modification of cell shape.
The second is ISSpresso: a complex experiment fluid physics which employs a highly sophisticated technological demonstrator to validate a system capable of ensuring the difficult management in a space environment of liquids at high pressure and high temperature.
The third experiment departing, Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis (NATO) regards research on osteoporosis, a skeletal disease multifactorial that may be related to several risk factors.
The permanence of Dragon to the ISS will last about five weeks immediately after the capsule will undock from the Harmony module to return to Earth with a load of materials crew, hardware and scientific experiments.
Project Manager (PI): David Avino, Argotec, Turin (Italy)
Technical Manager Project: Valerio Di Tana, Argotec, Turin (Italy)
Head of Implementation of ‘Apparatus: Argotec, Turin (Italy)
Support for the Implementation of the Apparatus: Lavazza, Turin (Italy)
Support for integration and testing: Finmeccanica – Selex ES Florence (Italy)
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 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. 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 can work in weightlessness is characterized by a structural body constituted by a main compartment for the insertion of the drink-pouch, the bags conform to the standards NASA, protected by a clear cover that prevents access during dispensing, a control panel and a system of insertion of commercial capsules. 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.
TRANSACTIONS ON BOARD To prepare the drink, the astronaut has to fill the water-pouch with drinking water taken from the PWD to then connect 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. 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 Srl Livorno
Responsible Scientific Research Marco Vukich – Kayser Italy (PI)
Alessandro Palombo – Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine – University of Rome La Sapienza (CO-I)
Objective Research
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.
Description of the experiment The experiment provides for 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 considered 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 therapy 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-responsible 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 human adult 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 which 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:
> 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 doses appropriate to 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, for the reduction of the issues concerning 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.
As of April, Giuseppe Lavazza group vice president, announced during the presentation of the cluster Caffe ‘Expo that has’ held yesterday in Milan, even astronauts International Space Station will be able to drink a coffee ‘in space 400 kilometers from the earth and zero gravity’.
The coffee break space will be a bit ‘like the bar: in front of a cup of espresso (or even coffee, tea and even broth, as stated in the prototype) will rotate an important part of socialization board. The capsule system is currently in the testing of controls and safety in laboratories Argotec .
‘ Asi will bring the coffee machine in space thanks to bilateral agreements with NASA, in order to improve more and more the period of the astronauts in orbit, also thinking to travel more and longer lasting .
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