The crew of Expedition 43 spent much of the day on Monday working on experiments that will be coming home on SpaceX’s Dragon vehicle later this month.
NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Terry Virts studied the effects of microgravity on living organisms for the Rodent Research experiment. They are looking at mice and how their body systems change in space. The results may promote the development of new drugs tackling the effects of aging and disease on Earth.
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti configured one of the station’s Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubators (MERLIN) for return on Dragon. She also transferred a number of other items into the unmanned cargo craft. Dragon is scheduled to depart the space station on May 21.
Imagine the implications of understanding the effects of our bodies changing while in space. Once we know that and how to create sustainable stations/ships Star Trek could become a possibility. Well maybe to like the moon, I think we’re still hundreds of years from intergalactic travel. Exciting things though!!
Does this research include studies on the GDF11 protein and Stem Cells as well?
Even if we all are getting old, we would like to have imagination like childhood,. and never to forget that.
Re ISS HD Earth viewing experiment @ approx 2330hrs GMT on 10th May 2015
I was viewing your HD coverage from the station when the it passed over an object which appear to be Geo stationary .just before the station crossed over the coast of southern Chile . Just for my curiosity what was this? and it did seem to pass rather close! 🙂
Ps I do have a screenshot but cannot see anywhere to post it here
Many thanks