Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX CRS-13 Dragon - RNDZ, ISS Ops, EOM - UPDATES  (Read 71945 times)

Offline jacqmans

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21709
  • Houten, The Netherlands
  • Liked: 8562
  • Likes Given: 320
Press release, 19 December 2017

Smart phone-sized experiments on the ISS - German research on the International Space Station involving immune cells, neurons and cancer cells 

On 15 December at 16:36 CET (10:36 local time), the US Dragon CRS 13 capsule was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral (Florida) by a Falcon 9 rocket.

On board were three cell-culture experiments by scientists at the
Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg and the University of Hohenheim, funded by the Space Administration of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). The biological samples will be installed in smart-phone-sized
experiment containers in the STaARS 1 research facility in the Destiny module of the ISS. They will remain in microgravity for 30 days and return to Earth in the Dragon capsule in mid January 2018, when they will be examined in the laboratory.

What happens to the immune system in space?

The human immune system is weakened during prolonged stay in space. Preliminary tests on the ISS have shown that immune cell activity is affected by changes in gravity. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for this are still not
fully known. Macrophages are the immune system’s front line of defence. These scavenger cells, which are a type of white blood cell, are responsible for attacking and destroying bacteria and other pathogens in the human body.

Scientists suspect that the reason behind the immune system's impairment is a disturbance of the cytoskeleton – the flexible inner framework structure of a cell – in the macrophages or a reduction in molecules on the cell surface. Therefore, scientists
at the University of Magdeburg aim to record long-term changes in the macrophages caused by microgravity. "Research under microgravity conditions over a prolonged period is only possible on the International Space Station," explains DLR Project manager
Michael Becker. "In the long term, the acquired knowledge will help develop countermeasures and drugs against immunodeficiency disorders. These will not only be helpful for astronauts on long-term missions in space, but also for patients on Earth."

Cancer research in microgravity

The focus of the second experiment by cell biologists from Magdeburg is on investigating thyroid cancer cells. Previous experiments have shown that in microgravity special cancer cells form a spherical group of tumour cells, called three-dimensional
multi-cellular spheroids. The effect of biochemical substances on spheroid growth, in particular, is best researched in microgravity, as gravitational forces are cancelled out under these conditions. The biochemical substances will be analysed at the
scientists’ laboratory in Magdeburg when the cells return. In addition to gene activation and deactivation, the main focus will be on investigating changes in all cell proteins to discover important signalling pathways. Knowledge of these molecular
processes will help to develop tumour-fighting measures and specific cancer drugs.

How do neurons adapt to microgravity?

For the third experiment, the team of scientists from the University of Hohenheim is exploring the effects of microgravity on neurons. Preliminary investigations have shown that the cytoskeleton of neurons is impaired by changes in gravity. This cytoskeleton
not only plays an important role in shaping the cell, but it also functions as an internal transport system for the exchange of information, such as communication between the neurons themselves.

The cytoskeleton is anchored in the cell membrane using special proteins and is jointly responsible for neuron excitability. This ISS experiment focuses on these anchor proteins. Scientists want to investigate whether these proteins change or deform
under microgravity. Additionally, the experiment is examining the changes in the distribution of so-called channel proteins. These protein molecules are used to transport ions in the cells and are therefore also essential for neuron excitability. Scientists
hope to gain knowledge regarding the development of neurons in microgravity, which is primarily relevant for astronauts on long-term missions in space.
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21709
  • Houten, The Netherlands
  • Liked: 8562
  • Likes Given: 320
Jacques :-)

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/Go_TSIS/status/945715071191101440
Quote
Just two days until TSIS is extracted from the Dragon truck! Watch here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream ….

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/Go_TSIS/status/946133052538830848
Quote
Just under 24 hours until the extraction of TSIS from the Dragon trunk begins. Tune in starting at 2p MT tomorrow: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream … #GoTSIS
Looks like 21.00 UTC.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/Go_TSIS/status/946409599413862400
Quote
It's extraction day! The ISS robotic arm is positioned above the Dragon trunk with the tools it needs to grasp TSIS in about 5 hours.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/Go_TSIS/status/946580366835425280
Quote
Hello EOTP! We'll be attached to the EOTP until installation on the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) on Saturday.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/Go_TSIS/status/946770183422484488
Quote
A beautiful shot of TSIS this Colorado morning. The EOTP is providing power to the survival heaters so TSIS stays warm during today's translation.

Offline Mapperuo

  • Assistant Webmaster
  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1684
  • Yorkshire
  • Liked: 533
  • Likes Given: 68
- Aaron

Online FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48176
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81676
  • Likes Given: 36941
Quote
The installation of #GoTSIS on @Space_Station has completed. We will be turning components on shortly. Yay!

https://twitter.com/go_tsis/status/947249813321498624

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
It looks like Dextre is waiting for the next pullout.

Offline jcm

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3622
  • Jonathan McDowell
  • Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
    • Jonathan's Space Report
  • Liked: 1290
  • Likes Given: 775
It looks like Dextre is waiting for the next pullout.

Space Debris Sensor seems to be on the end of Dextre now, at 1450 UTC. Not sure when the extraction from the trunk happened.
-----------------------------

Jonathan McDowell
http://planet4589.org

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
It seems to be out here.
So I guess around 14.10 UTC.
« Last Edit: 01/01/2018 02:18 pm by Olaf »

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
And the installation is not far away.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
It seems, that SDS is installed now. But I have missed the time.
The next task for Dextre should be the deinstallation of RapidScat.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
Dextre is now away from SDS.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/AusAndgie7/status/947841248030810113
Quote
First day of year and the International Space Station has a multi continent all day sequence of operations to remove new Space Debris Sensor from Dragon payload bay, install it on one of Europe's external platforms then remove the highly successful Rapidscat for return to Earth

Offline drnscr

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 111
  • Liked: 121
  • Likes Given: 37
https://twitter.com/AusAndgie7/status/947841248030810113
Quote
First day of year and the International Space Station has a multi continent all day sequence of operations to remove new Space Debris Sensor from Dragon payload bay, install it on one of Europe's external platforms then remove the highly successful Rapidscat for return to Earth

I’m curious how Rapidscat is going to be returned to earth since it was carried up in the trunk.

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
I’m curious how Rapidscat is going to be returned to earth since it was carried up in the trunk.
It depends on what you understand on returning to earth.

https://twitter.com/AusAndgie7/status/947904187735658496
Quote
it will return to the Earth's atmosphere in very small pieces ;-)
« Last Edit: 01/01/2018 06:50 pm by Olaf »

Offline Olaf

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3124
  • Germany
  • Liked: 1481
  • Likes Given: 455
https://twitter.com/AusAndgie7/status/947884749774835712
Quote
Switching completed successfully. HDEV being powered back on so no worries at all about that thermal clock and SDS will be powered on for first time!! In parallel Robotics has commenced removing Rapidscat and putting it in the Dragon trunk. Columbus EPF back to three residents!
Quote
Also to free the platform up for new external payload. Should be ASIM next hopefully..  fingers crossed! SOLAR could also be removed in the future when a fourth spot is needed

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1