15 WAYS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS HELPING THE EARTH

15 Ways the International Space Station is Benefiting Earth 

With astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station, NASA is learning a great deal about creating and testing critical systems, maintaining efficient communications and protecting the human body during a deep space mission. While these are critical to our journey to Mars, it is important to also note all the ways in which research conducted and technology tested aboard the orbiting laboratory help us here on Earth. 
 Here are 15 ways the space station is benefiting life on Earth: 

 i. Commercializing low-Earth orbit An exciting new commercial pathway is revolutionizing and opening access to space, fostering America’s new space economy in low-Earth orbit. For the first time, the market is expressing what research can and should be done aboard the microgravity laboratory without direct government funding. A significant portion of the commercial research taking place aboard the station is made possible by NanoRacks hardware. The company has invested privately and raised capital to provide laboratory facilities for small payloads, including CubeSats deployed from the space station, that make research faster and more affordable. NASA’s move to purchase commercial cargo resupply and crew transportation to the space station enables U.S. businesses to develop a competitive capability they also can sell as a service to others while freeing NASA resources for deep space exploration. Private sector participation provides a new model for moving forward in partnership with the government. 

 ii. Supporting water purification efforts worldwide Whether in the confines of the International Space Station or a tiny hut village in sub-Saharan Africa, drinkable water is vital for human survival. Unfortunately, many people around the world lack access to clean water. Using technology developed for the space station, at-risk areas can gain access to advanced water filtration and purification systems, making a life-saving difference in these communities. Joint collaborations between aid organizations and NASA technology show just how effectively space research can adapt to contribute answers to global problems. The commercialization of this station-related technology has provided aid and disaster relief for communities worldwide. The Water Security Corporation, in collaboration with other organizations, has deployed systems using NASA water-processing technology around the world. 

 iii.Growing high-quality protein crystals There are more than 100,000 proteins in the human body and as many as 10 billion in nature. Every structure is different, and each protein holds important information related to our health and to the global environment. The perfect environment in which to study these structures is space. Microgravity allows for optimal growth of the unique and complicated crystal structures of proteins leading to the development of medical treatments. An example of a protein that was successfully crystallized in space is hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS), which may hold the key to developing useful drugs for treating muscular dystrophy. This particular experiment is an example of how understanding a protein’s structure can lead to better drug designs. Further research is ongoing.

 iv. Bringing space station ultrasound to the ends of the Earth Fast, efficient and readily available medical attention is key to survival in a health emergency. For those without medical facilities within easy reach, it can mean the difference between life and death. For astronauts in orbit about 250 miles above Earth aboard the International Space Station, that problem was addressed through the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) investigation. In partnership with the World Interactive Network Focused on Critical Ultrasound (WINFO-CUS), ADUM principal investigator Scott Dulchavsky, M.D., is taking techniques originally developed for space station astronauts and adapting them for use in Earth’s farthest corners by developing protocols for performing complex procedures rapidly with remote expert guidance and training. Medical care has become more accessible in remote regions by use of small ultrasound units, tele-medicine, and remote guidance techniques, just like those used for people living aboard the space station. 

 v. Improving eye surgery with space hardware Laser surgery to correct eyesight is a common practice, and technology developed for use in space is now commonly used on Earth to track a patient’s eye and precisely direct the laser scalpel. The Eye Tracking Device experiment gave researchers insight into how humans’ frames of reference, balance and the overall control of eye movement are affected by weightlessness. In parallel with its use on the space station, the engineers realized the device had potential for applications on Earth. Tracking the eye’s position without interfering with the surgeon’s work is essential in laser surgery. The space technology proved ideal, and the Eye Tracking Device equipment is now being used in a large proportion of corrective laser surgeries throughout the world. 

vi. Making inoperable tumors operable with a robotic arm The delicate touch that successfully removed an egg-shaped tumor from Paige Nickason’s brain got a helping hand from a world-renowned arm—a robotic arm, that is. The technology that went into developing neuroArm, the world’s first robot capable of performing surgery inside magnetic resonance machines, was born of the Canadarm (developed in collaboration with engineers at MacDonald, Dettwiler, and Associates, Ltd. [MDA] for the U.S. Space Shuttle Program) as well as Canadarm2 and Dextre, the Canadian Space Agency’s family of space robots performing the heavy lifting and maintenance aboard the International Space Station. Since Nickason’s surgery in 2008, neuroArm has been used in initial clinical experience with 35 patients who were otherwise inoperable. 

 vii. Preventing bone loss through diet and exercise In the early days of the space station, astronauts were losing about one-and-a-half percent of their total bone mass density per month. Researchers discovered an opportunity to identify the mechanisms that control bones at a cellular level. These scientists discovered that high-intensity resistive exercise, dietary supplementation for vitamin D and specific caloric intake can remedy loss of bone mass in space. The research also is applicable to vulnerable populations on Earth, like older adults, and is important for continuous crew member residency aboard the space station and for deep space exploration to an asteroid placed in lunar orbit and on the journey to Mars. 

 viii. Understanding the mechanisms of osteoporosis While most people will never experience life in space, the benefits of studying bone and muscle loss aboard the station has the potential to touch lives here on the ground. Model organisms are non-human species with characteristics that allow them easily to be reproduced and studied in a laboratory. Scientists conducted a study of mice in orbit to understand mechanisms of osteoporosis. This research led to availability of a pharmaceutical on Earth called Prolia® to treat people with osteoporosis, a direct benefit of pharmaceutical companies using the spaceflight opportunity available via the national lab to improve health on Earth. 

 ix. Developing improved vaccines Ground research indicated that certain bacteria, in particular Salmonella, might become more pathogenic (more able to cause disease) during spaceflight. Salmonella infections result in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths annually in the United States. While studying them in space, scientists found a pathway for bacterial pathogens to become virulent. Researchers identified the genetic pathway activating in Salmonella bacteria, allowing the increased likelihood to spread in microgravity. This research on the space station led to new studies of microbial vaccine development. 

 x. Providing students opportunities to conduct their own science in space From the YouTube Space Lab competition, the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, and SPHERES Zero Robotics, space station educational activities inspire more than 43 million students across the globe. These tyFrom the YouTube Space Lab competition, the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, and SPHERES Zero Robotics, space station educational activities inspire more than 43 million students across the globe. These types of inquiry-based projects allow students to be involved in human space exploration with the goal of stimulating their studies of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is understood that when students test a hypothesis on their own or compare work in a lab to what’s going on aboard the space station, they are more motivated towards math and science. 

 xi. Breast cancer detection and treatment technology A surgical instrument inspired by the Canadian Space Agency’s heavy-lifting and maneuvering robotic arms on the space station is in clinical trials for use in patients with breast cancer. The Image-Guided Autonomous Robot (IGAR) works inside an MRI machine to help accurately identify the size and location of a tumor. Using IGAR, surgeons also will be able to perform highly dexterous, precise movements during biopsies. 

 xii. Monitoring water quality from space Though it completed its mission in 2015, the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) was an imaging sensor that helped detect water quality parameters such as water clarity, phytoplankton concentrations, light absorption and the distribution of cyanobacteria. HICO was first designed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for the Office of Naval Research to assess water quality in the coastal ocean. Researchers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the data from HICO and developed a smartphone application to help determine hazardous concentrations of contaminants in water. With the space station’s regular addition of new instruments to provide a continuous platform for Earth observation, researchers will continue to build proactive environmental protection applications that benefit all life on Earth. 

 xiii. Monitoring natural disasters from space An imaging system aboard the station, ISS SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV), captured photographs of Earth from space for use in developing countries affected by natural disasters. A broader joint endeavor by NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as SERVIR, works with developing nations around the world to use satellites for environmental decision-making. Images from orbit can help with rapid response efforts to floods, fires, volcanic eruptions, deforestation, harmful algal blooms and other types of natural events. Since the station passes over more than 90 percent of the Earth’s populated areas every 24 hours, the ISERV system was available to provide imagery to developing nations quickly, collecting up to 1,000 images per day. Though ISERV successfully completed its mission, the space station continues to prove to be a valuable platform for Earth observation during times of disaster.  

xiv. Describing the behavior of fluids to improve medical devices Capillary Flow Experiments (CFE) aboard the space station study the movement of a liquid along surfaces, similar to the way fluid wicks along a paper towel. These investigations produce space-based models that describe fluid behavior in microgravity, which has led to a new medical testing device on Earth. This new device could improve diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in remote areas, thanks in part to knowledge gained from the experiments. 

 xv. Improving indoor air quality Solutions for growing crops in space now translates to solutions for mold prevention in wine cellars, homes and medical facilities, as well as other industries around the world. NASA is studying crop growth aboard the space station to develop the capability for astronauts to grow their own food as part of the agency’s journey to Mars. Scientists working on this investigation noticed that a buildup of a naturally-occurring plant hormone called ethylene was destroying plants within the confined plant growth chambers. Researchers developed and successfully tested an ethylene removal system in space, called Advanced Astroculture (ADVASC). It helped to keep the plants alive by removing viruses, bacteria and mold from the plant growth chamber. 
Scientists adapted the ADVASC system for use in air purification. Now this technology is used to prolong the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables in the grocery store, and winemakers are using it in their storage cellars. 
 Editor: Kristine Rainey 
Credits: NASA

 People often talk about how important it is to stay in shape, something humans usually can accomplish with exercise and a healthy diet, and other habits. But chances are, few of us ever think about the shape of our individual cells. An experiment aboard the International Space Station looked at how cells change shape in microgravity and the ways those changes affect their function. Cells have a cytoskeleton, a matrix of proteins that serve as a rigid structure for a cell much as our bones serve as a skeleton for our bodies. The Cell Shape and Expression, or Cytospace, investigation examined how physical forces – including shear stress, stiffness, surface tension, and gravity – change the relationships among these proteins, interfering with cell architecture and changing the geometric form, or shape, of the cell. These changes in cell shape in turn affect certain signaling pathways in the cell and alter its patterns of gene expression. “These cytoskeleton modifications enhance reframing of the cell shape and lead to significant changes in cell function and behavior,” explains principal investigator Marco Vukich, Ph.D., with Kayser Italia in Italy. Shear stress in particular is known to cause several changes that can result in cell death and that affect cell division and permeability in addition to gene expression. In microgravity, this series of events – a change in cytoskeleton structure leading to alteration of the cell shape and, then, biochemical and genetic changes in the cell – ultimately result in impairment of biological function and can even lead to disease. Researchers suspect that microgravity can cause these changes in the cytoskeleton structure and subsequent gene-expression changes. If the research confirms this correlation, then it may be possible to address some of the negative effects of microgravity by stabilizing the cell cytoskeleton. For example, there may be drugs that could be used to counteract damage to cells caused by exposure to microgravity. The cell cytoskeleton is involved in several human diseases here on Earth as well, including connective tissue diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis. “Several human diseases are known to have a more or less dramatic involvement of the cytoskeleton,” says co-investigator Alessandro Palombo, Ph.D., department of molecular and clinical medicine at Sapienza University of Rome. “Cytoskeleton changes are thought to play a pivotal role in orchestrating the cross-talk among cells and their microenvironment. Disrupting that cross-talk is likely to foster both cancer onset and its progression.” A better understanding of the relationship between cell shape and gene expression could advance development of drugs to treat these diseases, too. For the investigation, breast cancer cells were cultured at normal gravity on the ground, in simulated microgravity on the ground, and in true microgravity aboard the space station. The cell cultures sent into space were returned to Earth for analysis. Before long, astronauts and those of us here on Earth may be giving more thought to keeping our cells in shape, along with our bodies. (Highlights: Week of Aug. 31, 2015) - As a Soyuz spacecraft arrived and NASA astronaut Scott Kelly prepared to take control of the International Space Station as commander of the orbiting laboratory, investigations continued examining changes in the human body during flight and watching major storms develop on our planet. Kelly and Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka assisted each other with multiple exams supporting the Fluid Shifts Before, During, and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment (Fluid Shifts) investigation. One of the main risks for humans during long-duration space missions is change in vision. More than half of American astronauts experience vision changes and other physical alterations to parts of their eyes during and after long-duration spaceflight. It is hypothesized that the fluid shift toward the head that occurs during spaceflight leads to increased pressure in the brain, which may push on the back of the eye, causing it to change shape. Fluid Shifts measures how much fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body, in or out of cells and blood vessels, and determines the impact these shifts have on fluid pressure in the head, changes in vision and eye structures. These activities include performing scans and measurements on blood vessels in their heads and necks while wearing the Chibis suit, which provides negative pressure on the lower body -- a first for NASA research. Other measurements include ocular structure, ocular pressure and intracranial pressure. This was the second of three measurements taken during the course of the year and will be compared to data acquired before launch in March 2015 and immediately upon landing in 2016. Scientists want to develop preventive measures against these changes, especially for astronauts on long-duration missions. Results from the Fluid Shifts investigation also may improve understanding of how blood pressure in the brain specifically affects eye shape and vision, which could also benefit people confined to long-term bed rest, or suffering from disease states that increase swelling and pressure in the brain. NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren set up equipment to photograph Tropical Cyclone Jimena in the Pacific Ocean as part of the Cyclone Intensity Measurements from the International Space Station (Tropical Cyclone) investigation. Scientists are demonstrating new techniques for accurate real-time measurement of the intensities of strong tropical cyclones using passive instrumentation from low-Earth orbit. This method requires the temperature of the top of the eye wall clouds and the height of these clouds above sea level. Combined with information on sea-level surface temperatures and air pressure, scientists can more accurately predict the wind speed, strength and intensities of cyclones prior to landfall. This information would assist emergency responders and coastal residents to better prepare for oncoming storms. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui removed 17 radiation detectors from the Japanese Pressurized Module and Japanese Experiment Logistics Module as part of JAXA's Area Passive Dosimeter for Life-Science Experiments in Space (Area PADLES) investigation. The dosimeters continuously monitor the radiation dose aboard the space station. Radiation exposure can have significant biological effects on living organisms including the biological investigations being done on ISS in the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo. Yui handed the dosimeters off to Padalka for return to Earth for further study and installed new detectors. Measuring radiation in space is essential to protecting crewmembers, and is also used for developing monitors and shielding of life sciences experiments in space and estimating wall thicknesses for future space vehicles. On Earth, the dosimetry technique is used to measure radiation doses of people working around high-energy accelerators -- used with high-speed microscopes to image cancer cells. 

Other human research investigations on the orbiting laboratory continuing this week included Body Measures, Cognition, Fine Motor Skills, Habitability, Journals, Neuromapping, Reaction Self Test, Salivary Markers, Sleep ISS-12, Space Headaches, Sprint, and the Twins Study. Jorge Sotomayor, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 43/44 Crew members prepared to harvest a crop of space grown food on the International Space Station this week. NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren added water to the plant pillows and root mat of the Veggie hardware validation test (Veg-01). He also took photos for ground teams to evaluate the status of the plants. Veggie provides lighting and nutrient supply for plants in the form of a low-cost growth chamber and planting "pillows" -- helping provide nutrients for the root system. It supports a variety of plant species that can be cultivated for educational outreach, fresh food and even recreation for crew members on long-duration missions. Through numerous tests, the Veg-01 science team has refined the pillow concept and selected growth media and fertilizers, plant species, materials, and protocols for using the pillow concept to grow healthy plants. The pillow concept is a low mass, modular system, requires no additional energy and is low maintenance. Knowledge from this investigation could benefit agricultural practices on Earth by designing systems that use valuable resources, such as water, more efficiently. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly charged the batteries and performed several experiments for the SPHERES Slosh investigation. SPHERES stands for Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites. To explore the coupling of liquid slosh with the motion of an unconstrained tank in microgravity, the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne has teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to perform a series of slosh dynamics experiments in the International Space Station using the SPHERES platform. For this series, the teams are examining how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity to collect data that will improve the safety and efficiency of future rockets. For example, a water bottle’s contents slosh around differently in space than on Earth, but the physics of liquid motion in microgravity are not well understood, which affects computer simulations of liquid rocket fuel behavior. Many satellites launch on rockets powered by liquid fuel, and improved understanding of these propellants could enhance efficiency, potentially lowering costs for industry and taxpayer-funded satellite launches. More generally, the investigation’s results provide new data for fluid dynamics simulations. Kelly and the rest of the crew performed several different motions with the robots and tank, recording them on the IMAX camera and a hat-mounted camera worn by the crew member moving the tank. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui reviewed operations and set up the camera for photographing Typhoon Soudelor in the Pacific Ocean as part of the Cyclone Intensity Measurements from the International Space Station (Tropical Cyclone) investigation. Those 65 images were delivered to the project scientists who reported they were the best images for this investigation they had seen so far. Tropical Cyclone scientists are demonstrating new techniques for accurate real-time measurement of the intensities of strong tropical cyclones using passive instrumentation from low-Earth orbit. This method requires the temperature of the top of the eye wall clouds and the height of these clouds above sea level. Combined with information on sea-level surface temperatures and air pressure, scientists can more accurately predict the wind speed, strength and intensities of cyclones prior to landfall. This information would assist emergency responders and coastal residents to better prepare for oncoming storms. Many human research investigations on the orbiting laboratory continued this week including Biochemical Profile, CardioOx, Repository, Circadian Rhythms, Fine Motor Skills, Cognition, Habitability, Journals, Microbiome, Ocular Health, Salivary Markers, Reaction Self Test, Space Headaches, Sleep ISS-12, Spinal Ultrasound, Sprint, and the Twins Study. Paul Zamprelli of Orbitec, the company that developed the Veggie greenhouse, describes the hardware that supports plant growth and, for the first time, crew consumption of lettuce on the International Space Station. Jorge Sotomayor, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 43/44 It was a relatively quiet week for active science on the International Space Station as the crew stowed many investigations before three of the six crew members returned to Earth. The crew did perform several human research investigations that will provide insights for NASA’s journey to Mars, and many passive experiments mounted outside and inside the station continued to do everything from monitoring ocean winds to studying dark matter and measuring radiation exposure inside and outside the orbiting laboratory. As one of her final investigations in orbit, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti performed another round of measurements for the SKIN-B investigation. SKIN-B will improve understanding of skin aging, which is slow on Earth but accelerated in space. The ESA investigation will provide insights into the aging process in other similar bodily tissues. It could help scientists identify impacts for astronauts on future long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit where environmental conditions are more challenging. Cristoforetti measured the hydration level of her skin’s outer layer, the skin barrier function and the skin surface topography. The data will be compared to measurements performed before and during her stay on the space station. Data gathered on the station can provide insight into the mechanisms by which all organs covered with epithelial and connective tissue adapt and age over time and under the physical stress imposed by the microgravity environment. Gaining an understanding of how biological tissue can change should allow for better diagnostic and treatment on Earth. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly received detectors for the RaDI-N2 Neutron Field Study (RaDI-N2) investigation from Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko and deployed them in eight predetermined locations throughout the orbiting laboratory. The Canadian Space Agency's bubble spectrometers measure neutron radiation levels while ignoring all other radiation. This investigation will better characterize the station neutron environment, define the risk posed to crew members’ health and provide the data necessary to develop advanced protective measures for future spaceflight. Because neutrons carry no electrical charge, they have greater potential to penetrate the body and damage tissue. RaDI-N2 will help doctors better understand the connections between neutron radiation and DNA damage and mutation rates, cataracts that affect some astronauts, and other radiation health issues. Other human research investigations continued on the orbiting laboratory, including Biochem Profile, Cardio Ox, Salivary Markers, Cognition, Fine Motor Skills, Microbiome, Twins Study, Sprint and Reaction Self Test. Dr. Scott Smith, manager of the Nutritional Biochemsitry Lab at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, during a recent episode of Space Station Live on NASA-TV, talks about studying blood and urine samples from International Space Station crew members to learn how exposure to microgravity impacts the body. Credits: NASA-TV Last Updated: July 31, 2015 Editor: Kristine Rainey The crew on the International Space Station examined how fluids flow in space, which could lead to better ways to design spacecraft and investigate DNA on Earth. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti installed another round of samples for the Dynamic Surf investigation in the Fluid Physics Experiment Facility. Dynamic Surf is part of a series of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) experiments examining a specific type of heat transfer called Marangoni convection. Marangoni convection is the tendency for heat and mass to travel in areas of higher surface tension within a liquid. By observing how a silicone-oil mixture changes when heated, scientists can learn how heat is transferred in microgravity, which could lead to better designs for fluid-based systems in space. In the experiment, a silicone oil bridge is suspended between two small solid discs. One of the discs is heated and another is cooled to create a difference in temperature across the liquid. The difference gradually increases to cause the convective force known as Marangoni flow, becoming more complicated and turbulent. Understanding the physics of this convection will improve research in high-quality crystal growth, such as crystals used for semiconductors and optics, and in various micro-fluid applications, such as DNA examination on the space station and on Earth. Space is a particularly good place to study Marangoni flow because on Earth, gravity overwhelms the Marangoni effect, making it difficult to observe. Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) cosmonaut Gennady Padalka prepared for the next round of Plasma Kristall-4 (PK-4) operations. The latest in a series of ESA investigations of plasma crystals will study complex plasmas containing micro-particles in a controlled environment on the orbiting laboratory. The particles can become highly charged and interact with each other to form plasma crystals. Gravity plays an important role for the structure of plasma crystals. In microgravity, large three-dimensional plasma crystals can be grown. Plasma is a fundamental state of matter in our universe, so studying it is critical for space exploration. PK-4 will investigate transport properties, thermodynamics, kinetics and statistical physics of the plasma structures. The investigation will provide a better understanding of the space environment, the phenomenon of plasma, and could provide answers to Earth plasmas such as lightning. Calibrations for a pair of solar radiation monitoring investigations were completed, both of which are attached to the Columbus node of the orbiting laboratory. Solar Spectral Irradiance Measurements (Solar-SOLSPEC) observes the sun's light spectrum radiation in the short term and long term as it strikes the space station. The ESA investigation works in conjunction with the Solar Auto-Calibrating EUV/UV Spectrophotometers (Solar-SOLACES), which measures extreme ultraviolet and ultraviolet radiation intensities. Data from these investigations are used to examine the impact of solar radiation on Earth’s climate and to improve our understanding of the interaction between different layers of the atmosphere. Monitoring the sun radiation outside of Earth’s atmosphere over a large electromagnetic spectrum and comparing it to ground measurements from the same time frame help provide the accurate data required to support predictive models and anticipate the influence of sun radiation on our climate and environment. Human research investigations continued on the orbiting laboratory, including Fine Motor Skills, Fluid Shifts, Journals, Microbiome and Reaction Self Test. Time-lapse video of the relocation of the large Permanent Multipurpose Module on the International Space Station. It was robotically moved from the Earth-facing port of the Unity module to the forward port of the Tranquility module May 27 in the next step to reconfigure the station for the arrival of future U.S. commercial crew vehicles. Credits: NASA-TV Jorge Sotomayor, Lead Increment Scientist Expedition 43/44 (Highlights: Week of Apr. 13, 2015) - The crew of the International Space Station spent part of last week unloading the Dragon capsule when it arrived as part of the sixth SpaceX resupply mission while continuing science investigations that could lead to improved treatments for millions of the aging and infirm population of Earth. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly conducted a dry run of the Nematode Muscles investigation before transferring samples of Caenorhabditis elegans to a culture bag and beginning the growth cycle of the small roundworm. C. elegans is widely used as a model for larger organisms. The JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) investigation looks into the muscle fibers and cytoskeleton of the roundworm to clarify how those physiological systems alter in response to microgravity. Space station crew members will grow these worms in microgravity, as well as another batch in one-g using a centrifuge. This will simulate the force of gravity while the C. elegans remain physically in orbit, allowing a direct comparison of the affects of different gravity levels on organisms in space. Another JAXA investigation using C. elegans during this expedition is Space Aging, studying the effects of space flight on the aging of the roundworm, recording the movements of worms in microgravity and in simulated gravity to compare the health and longevity with control specimens kept on Earth. Kelly is also working on this investigation, preparing the samples in observation units and exposing them to microgravity and 1 g before stowing them to return to the ground. The worms will be compared to similar batches grown in a laboratory in Japan. Understanding the molecular changes that take place in microgravity could help researchers develop treatments or therapies to counteract the physical changes associated with aging and extended bed rest, such as muscle atrophy or osteoporosis, and could help develop treatments or exercises for astronauts on long voyages. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti prepared for operations supporting the Osteocytes and mechano-transduction (Osteo-4) investigation, transferring two sets of bioreactors containing samples to the Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for the International Space Station (MELFI), where they will stay until being returned to Earth. Osteocytes are common cells in bones that can sense mechanical forces and can deposit calcium to strengthen bones if additional stresses are added or weaken it if stresses are removed, such as in microgravity. Osteo-4 allows scientists to learn more about this process and analyze changes in the physical appearance and genetic expression of mouse bone cells in microgravity. Microgravity and the sensation of weightlessness may contribute to bone density loss, as osteocytes are not subjected to the force of gravity. People living with osteoporosis -- a disease causing reduced bone density -- are more likely to suffer broken bones. A better understanding of the mechanisms behind bone loss in astronauts during space flight could also provide insights for bone disorders on Earth. Human research investigations continued on the orbiting laboratory, including Biological Rhythms, Circadian Rhythms, Cognition, Fine Motor Skills, Force Shoes, Habitability, Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis, Neuromapping, Reaction Self Test, Journals. The Canadarm 2 reaches out to grapple the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and prepare it to be pulled into its port on the International Space Station on April 17. The sixth SpaceX service mission carried new science investigations and supplies for the crew and will remain with the station for five weeks. Credits: NASA Two humans are getting ready to say farewell to Earth for nearly 12 months. One Year Crew NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (left), Expedition 43/44 flight engineer and Expedition 45/46 commander; and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, Expedition 43-46 flight engineer, take a break from training at NASA's Johnson Space Center Most expeditions to the space station last four to six months. By doubling the length of this mission, researchers hope to better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to long-duration spaceflight. This knowledge is critical as NASA looks toward human journeys deeper into the solar system, including to and from Mars, which could last 500 days or longer. It also carries potential benefits for humans here on Earth, from helping patients recover from long periods of bed rest to improving monitoring for people whose bodies are unable to fight infections. Long exposure to a zero-gravity environment can affect the human body in multiple ways. Some physical symptoms can include changes to the eyes, muscle atrophy and bone loss. Human psychology is also an important area of study, as the effects of living in isolated and small spaces will be important to understand ahead of future human missions to Mars. Research collected from the one-year mission can help NASA and the international partners reduce risks and better understand how to ensure astronauts will thrive on longer missions. There are seven key elements of research on the one-year mission. Functional studies will examine crew member performance during and after the 12-month span. Behavioral studies will monitor sleep patterns and exercise routines. Visual impairment will be studied by measuring changes in pressure inside the human skull. Metabolic investigations will examine the immune system and effects of stress. Physical performance will be monitored through exercise examinations. Researchers will also monitor microbial changes in the crew, as well as the human factors associated with how the crew interacts aboard the station. While Scott Kelly is in space, his identical twin brother, retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, will participate in a number of comparative genetic studies. Some of these experiments will include the collection of blood samples as well as psychological and physical tests. These tests will track any degeneration or evolution that occurs in the human body from extended exposure to a zero-gravity environment. The new twin studies are a multi-faceted national cooperation between universities, corporations and government laboratory expertise. All research gathered from both the American and Russian crew members will be shared between the countries, an important step in reducing cost and improving efficiency for all future space station research. Scott Kelly Biography Mikhail Kornienko Biography A number of spaceflight endurance records will be broken during the one-year mission, including the most cumulative time in space for any U.S. astronaut. Kelly and will spend 342 days off the planet resulting in a total of 522 days in space, allowing him to surpass current U.S. record holder Mike Fincke’s mark of 382 days. The current record for the longest single mission aboard the space station set by NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin will also be broken. Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka will launch with Kelly and Kornienko to remain aboard for six months and will become the new record holder for most cumulative time spent in space by any human. The one-year crew mission is the latest step in the International Space Station’s role as a platform for preparing humanity for exploration into deeper space. With the collaborative efforts of the international crew and research teams, the world can watch and benefit from findings that are pushing the boundaries of exploration while contributing to human health. Last Updated: July 31, 2015 Editor: Mark Garcia Tags: International Space Station, Space Station Research and Technology Although zebrafish are not deadlifting weights in orbit, they are helping researchers learn about muscle changes during their stay aboard the International Space Station. This impacts not only the fish, but also the crew and can have implications for Earth-related muscle challenges too. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Zebrafish Muscle investigation observes the effects of microgravity on the zebrafish, Danio rerio, a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family. This research has the potential to lead to new drugs or treatments for patients on extended bed rest or with limited mobility. In addition to the potential human benefits, results from this study could aid researchers in developing countermeasures for muscle weakness in astronauts living in microgravity during extended missions. “The main question of the Zebrafish Muscle experiment is whether atrophy of muscles under microgravity also occurs in fish, and why that muscle atrophy occurs in microgravity,” explains Atsuko Sehara-Fujisawa, principal investigator and professor at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan. Muscle atrophy is the wasting of muscle tissue. This occurs in microgravity since the muscles are not used to resist the force of gravity, as they would be on the ground. Astronauts mitigate this atrophy through prescribed daily exercise, yet some still lose bone and muscle mass during extended spaceflight. In this investigation, the zebrafish is used as a model for comparison to larger organisms. Researchers use model organisms such as plants, animals or microbes like yeast to study the influence of microgravity on cells. Taking these organisms to space allows for examination of growth and development and physiological, psychological and aging processes without the impact of gravity. Previous observation of Medaka fish aboard the station monitored changes in bone impacted due to the microgravity environment. Researchers study zebrafish because of their transparency compared to other fish. Scientists use transgenic zebrafish, which express fluorescence proteins inside the body to obtain three dimensional imaging of skeletal muscle and tendon tissues within the zebrafish. This means that the zebrafish contain DNA that is inserted experimentally. Furthermore, the availability of whole genome sequencing in zebrafish makes it an essential organism to study. This reveals the genetic characteristics of an organism with a precision that other technologies cannot match. This investigation employs the station’s Aquatic Habitat, an aquarium in microgravity. An LED light fixed to the top of the habitat illuminates the study for recording and simulates the sun’s light on the surface of the water. The fish use their instinctual response to this light and swim in a position similar to upright on Earth. View the zebrafish swimming and eating during their spaceflight of more than 21 days on the space station in these JAXA videos. A total of 18 zebrafish were launched to the space station. Five fish returned alive on a previous Soyuz spacecraft and some chemically preserved fish will be returned with the completion of the fifth SpaceX commercial resupply mission. The Zebrafish Muscle research team will compare gene expression – the process of determining a cell’s function – profiles between fish flown in space and control fish on Earth. Specifically, they will look to see if fish muscle deteriorates in space and recovers upon return to the ground. The team also will examine if fish tendon is sensitive to microgravity. “We hope that this research enables us to understand how microgravity affects muscle mass and strength in terms of genes and molecules and what kinds of molecular mechanisms contribute to the recovery of muscle after the exposure in microgravity,” said Sehara-Fujisawa. “This research should clarify whether physical exercise and anti-gravity reactions share common gene regulation. It would be wonderful if this research gave us hints to ameliorate muscle atrophy due to aging or diseases.” JAXA and its collaborating partners are proving that studying striped fish in space may help researchers see spots for improvement to weakened muscles on Earth. (Highlights: Week of Dec. 29, 2014) - NASA astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore set up equipment and upgraded the software for the European Space Agency Haptics-1 investigation on the International Space Station. Haptics-1 is designed to investigate the viability of using a remote control to guide planetary rovers from orbit. The experiment is a basic joystick lever that can be moved freely to play simple computer games. An intricate system of servomotors generates counterforces or vibrations that crewmembers can feel through the joystick -- just like a standard video gaming controller when a player encounters an in-game obstacle. To prevent the joystick's force feedback pushing its free-floating user around, it is mounted to a body harness that can be fixed to station equipment. Ideally, astronauts circling a planet would have as much feedback as possible to help control the robots exploring below them. An important aspect of this is called haptic feedback - transferring touch and vibrations to the controller mechanism. Haptics-1 is looking at developing robots that transmit touch information to the astronaut, but until now, no research has been carried out to see how people in space respond to physical feedback. It is unknown if astronauts can feel and react in space as they would on Earth and transfer vibrations to the controller, or how the feedback even feels in space to the astronauts. This investigation could lead to methods to control advance-scouting rovers from nearby orbit, relying on human control without the expense and danger of landing a crew. Dr. Andre Schiele, head of the European Space Agency's telerobotics lab, explains the benefits of the Haptics-1 joystick on the International Space Station during a recent episode of Space Station Live on NASA-TV. Credits: NASA European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti completed an analysis and planned future activities for the Autonomous Mission Operations TOCA Autonomous Operations Project (AMO-TOCA). The NASA investigation tests advanced software and spacecraft systems to determine how station crew members manage those systems with less involvement from the ground support staff. When future missions take humans to destinations far from Earth, including asteroids or Mars, communications delays between the distant crew and mission control will require crews to work more independently. TOCA, or Total Organic Carbon Analyzer, helps ensure reclaimed water is safe to drink. The concept of AMO-TOCA is to have the station crew start managing select station systems instead of the ground-based flight personnel. Under the new procedures, the crew will manage the TOCA system's maintenance schedules, sample analysis, and failure and recovery planning. The advanced analytical software could help make informed decisions in any setting where communications are severely delayed or limited, including natural disaster zones or deep within mines. NASA astronaut Terry Virts joined Wilmore to film some interior scenes of crew activities on the space station as part of a new documentary called “A Perfect Planet.” IMAX Documentary Film (IMAX) is producing a three-dimensional movie for audiences of all ages with images recorded on the orbiting laboratory to show the orbiting perspective of how both natural and human forces shape planet Earth. IMAX will showcase NASA’s exploration efforts, and highlight the space station as a platform for scientific research and a stepping-stone to deep space exploration. The film will illustrate the impact humans are having on Earth, including through climate change and the consumption of limited resources. Audiences around the world will see and understand how humans are changing the planet, and how it continues to be shaped by natural forces. The film illustrates the importance of conservation, sustainability and environmental awareness for future generations. Gravity is a critical environmental factor affecting the morphology and functions of all organisms on Earth. Plants sense the force of gravity and regulate their growth direction accordingly. Utilization of the microgravity condition to examine the cellular process of formation of the gravity sensor and the molecular mechanism of gravity sensing examines whether the gravity sensing machinery can be formed in microgravity condition on the space station and examines the gravity sensing mechanism in plant seedlings. NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst performed a chemical freeze of the plant seedlings to prepare for the investigation's return to Earth on the SpaceX-4 Dragon capsule scheduled for next week. Based on the results of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency study, investigators hope to create tools to modify the gravity sensitivity in plants to assist astronauts on future long-duration space missions to cultivate healthy plants for food. 
On Earth, scientists hope plants may be designed that could recover from collapse by winds or floods more rapidly, increasing the potential crop yield. In the field of medical science, understanding gravity sensing machinery in cells may also bring progress in exploring the mechanism of gravity-related diseases, such as osteoporosis and muscle loss. Two sets of the Seedling Growth-2 experiment containers were installed into the European Modular Cultivation System. This study is part of the Seedling Growth Experiment series, using the plant Arabidopsis thaliana -- a small flowering plant considered a model organism -- to determine the effects of gravity and different light sources on cell growth and proliferation. The proposed research is relevant to understanding plant requirements in space. A. thaliana is an excellent model plant for spaceflight experiments because of its small size and simple growth requirements. Improved knowledge of these basic biomechanical processes is vital to use consumable plants in life support systems for long-duration space missions. This project deals with light and gravity sensing, which are both key parameters for the growth and development of plants. Understanding these factors will help develop strategies to optimize light sensing, and, in turn, better modify plant species by using different light sources and other biotechnological approaches to improve crops. This research also could potentially improve agricultural biotechnology on Earth to increase agricultural production. Crewmembers performed a checkout and run of the Dynamic Surf investigation on the orbiting laboratory. The study is part of a series of experiments examining a specific type of heat transfer called Marangoni convection. This convection is produced by a difference in temperature between a liquid and a gas. By observing how a silicone-oil mixture changes when heated, scientists can learn how heat is transferred in microgravity, which could lead to better designs for fluid-based systems in space. In the experiment, silicone oil is suspended between two small solid disks. One of the disks is heated and another is cooled to create a difference in temperature across the liquid. The difference is gradually increased to cause the convective force known as Marangoni flow, and it becomes more complicated and turbulent. Understanding the physics of this convection will improve research in high-quality crystal growth, such as crystals used for semiconductors and optics, and in various micro-fluid applications, such as DNA examination on the space station and on Earth. 

 WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS ASTRONAUTS GO TO MARS? 
 When we go to Mars, will astronauts be able to grow enough food there to maintain a healthy diet? Will they be able to produce food in NASA's Orion spacecraft on the year-long trip to Mars? How about growing food on Earth under extreme conditions? These are questions scientists are trying to answer by observing plant growth in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). Plant biology investigations called Petri Plants explore the fundamental genetic mechanisms plants use to adapt to a microgravity environment. 
When a crew leaves Earth orbit to go into space, plants can recycle the astronauts’ exhaled carbon dioxide and excreted water in addition to providing food. “Plants give us insight into the fundamental nature of higher organisms, so learning about the metabolism of plants in response to a unique and challenging environment also tells us about ourselves,” said Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D., principal investigator for the study with the University of Florida. It was originally thought that certain specialized root movements were due to cellular response to gravity pulling on roots as they navigated across a surface. However, early investigations launched to the space station by Paul and her colleague Robert Ferl, Ph.D., University of Florida, showed that the root movements, known as waving and skewing, occurred on the space station in microgravity. The researchers designed Characterizing Arabidopsis Root Attractions (CARA) to investigate the impact of light on root skewing in microgravity and further explore the molecular genetic responses of these plants. The plant Paul and Ferl are investigating is Arabidopsis thaliana, commonly referred to as Thale Cress. Arabidopsis is an important, well-established model organism for plant research because its genome has been completely sequenced, and it is easy to genetically engineer. The plant has been well characterized in spaceflight environments on both the shuttle and space station. Paul and Ferl worked with engineers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and ZIN Technologies to adapt the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) for such biological applications. The LMM is a modified commercial, light imaging microscope facility aboard the space station that provides researchers with powerful diagnostic hardware and software. “These experiments also allowed for an increase in use of the LMM that was previously unavailable.” said Ron Sicker, project manager at Glenn. “The Petri Plants investigations were conducted on board the space station while SpaceX was docked and the LMM was normally shut down.” For the CARA investigation, the arabidopsis seed was genetically modified with a green-fluorescing protein marker, called GFP. This allowed scientists to see how the plant responded to microgravity. Plants engineered with GFP-tagged genes, referred to as “reporter genes,” made it possible to visualize the behavior of these genes in orbit, but only if coupled with the right tool to enable GFP visualization. Access to the LMM allowed the scientists to observe the changes in GFP-tagged genes in the roots on the cellular level using a special filter to observe the fluorescing of the cells. The basic design of the experiment was to compare a series of Petri plates containing arabidopsis seedlings to different lighting conditions on the space station, and then compare those plates to their comparable ground controls. These controls reside in the ISS Environmental Simulator (ISSES) chamber at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The plants were exposed to the diffused light present on the station by attaching the Petri dishes, which included the seeds and a growing medium, directly on an inner wall of the space station. This exposed the plants to the ambient lighting of the space station module in which they were housed. They were then compared to plants grown in Petri dishes wrapped in black cloth that were not exposed to any light. These were also aboard station with their lit companions so all other aspects of the microgravity environment remain the same—isolating the difference made by the light. Most of the plates of arabidopsis plants were dedicated for harvest, and then molecular analyses on the ground. However, one plate was seeded with plants engineered with GFP reporter genes. This plate was inserted into the LMM for real-time evaluation of gene expression in orbit. Any place a normal gene would be expressed, the behavior of the gene with the marker could be seen with fluorescence microscopy. The investigation was monitored by Paul and Ferl at Glenn’s Telescience Support Center. The microscope was operated remotely from the ground by the scientists conducting the investigation, and images were sent directly from the LMM to the Telescience Support Center. “We were intrigued by the numerous light-sensing genes that are expressed specifically in roots in orbit, and the CARA experiments explored the role of these genes in orientation and cellular remodeling.” Paul said. “In these experiments, we found that light had a very profound impact on not only the direction of root growth but also the morphology or patterns of root growth.” The CARA investigation was sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and supported by NASA. 
CASIS is responsible for the management of the U.S. national laboratory on the space station. “We ran the same tests here on Earth as they were running on the space station at the same time, so that a comparison could be made between the plant growth on the space station and the plant growth on Earth.” said April Spinale, CASIS payload developer at Kennedy. “CASIS is particularly interested in experiments that will have an Earth benefit. In the case of Petri Plants, the research could lead to plants that could be adapted to grow in challenging environments on Earth, such as areas affected by extreme drought or industrial intrusion,” Sicker also emphasized the importance of Petri Plants investigations, “These investigations help us to understand how plants adapt to stresses and changes in the environment.” Paul further commented on the way the information from this study could help on the ground. “A lot of research done previously for space flight or closed system ecologies for advanced life support systems are used for closed environments, such as commercial green houses to make them more efficient, save time, and money.” NASA astronaut Steve Swanson continued with installations as part of the torso upgrade for Robonaut -- a two-armed humanoid robot torso designed with the versatility and dexterity to manipulate hardware, work in high risk environments, and respond safely to unexpected obstacles. NASA's Robonaut is currently mounted inside the orbiting laboratory, but will eventually perform tasks both inside and outside the station. The Robonaut Teleoperations System enables Robonaut to mimic the motions of a crewmember wearing specialized gloves, a vest and a visor providing a three-dimensional view through Robonaut’s eyes. Robonaut not only looks like a human, but is designed to work like one, with human-like hands and arms operating the same tools crew members use. For initial demonstrations, Robonaut flips switches, removes dust covers, installs handrails and performs other duties. Additional tasks are assigned to Robonaut as each session is successfully completed. With further development and enhancements, humanoid robots will be able to work alongside humans on spacewalks. Automobile manufacturers hope to use this technology in future vehicle and manufacturing plant safety systems. The mesmerizing power of fire keeps researchers returning to the lab to understand the fundamental combustion science behind it. Combustion has powered our world and consumed scientific attention for years, both on Earth and in space. Fire continues as the focus with the Burning and Suppression of Solids-II (BASS-II) experiments, which recently launched to the International Space Station aboard the Orbital 1 cargo resupply mission. Designed by researchers at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, BASS-II is scheduled to operate through August 2014. Through a series of experiments, scientists will investigate the combustion of a variety of solid materials, including plastic and fabric samples with different geometries. Fabric sheets and plastic slabs, cylinders and spheres will be burned in the station's Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). This contained facility provides an environment that allows astronauts to burn open flames safely aboard station for scientific investigation. An earlier BASS study, which used the MSG and ran on the space station in 2012, provided an initial look at burning materials with different shapes. Researchers used that investigation to assess the effectiveness of nitrogen in suppressing microgravity fires. BASS-II takes that research even further with five separate investigations overseen by five different research teams. While each investigation has its own goal (flammability, flame spread, extinguishment, etc.), they share the same objective: a better understanding flame behavior in space and on Earth. "These are the thickest samples we've flown to date," said Sandra Olson, spacecraft fire safety researcher and BASS-II principal investigator at Glenn. "We're looking to see how long it takes to reach a steady-state flame. How long it takes them to extinguish. We want to learn how to screen materials for future flights. A primary goal of BASS-II is improved spacecraft fire safety, improved understanding of combustion in space and how to avoid it. If you're on a mission far from Earth, a fire can be catastrophic. We want to select the safest materials." The aim is to better understand the basic structure of flames and fires. The results of BASS-II should help researchers refine computational models and theories about flame behavior. To produce better models, scientists need reliable data. Earth-based flame studies are greatly affected by gravity. Buoyancy, which makes hot gasses rise, usually causes flame flickering even in a still environment. If researchers can reduce buoyancy to near zero, they have the opportunity to study a range of flame behavior that may be concealed by the influence of gravity. "If we eliminate gravity, we turn off a confounding factor, buoyancy," said Olson."If we decouple buoyancy from other influences we can get a better understanding of flame behavior." Drop towers and microgravity aircraft can provide short bursts of microgravity, 5 to 20 seconds. However, not only are the experiments limited by these short bursts of time, they may also be affected by g-jitter, that is oscillations in the apparent gravity caused by vibrations in the aircraft and hardware. In space, researchers have the benefit of longer tests without g-jitter. "Using the station breaks the scientific process down to its simplest components. Information from studies in space gives theorists and those who design models an opportunity to improve those models and theories," said Paul Ferkul, BASS-II Project Scientist at Glenn. Ferkul was also a principal investigator for the earlier BASS study Results from BASS-II will contribute to the combustion computational models used in the design of fire detection and suppression systems both in space and on the ground. While spacecraft fire safety is a primary concern for researchers in BASS-II, the work from space-based studies can lead to significant improvements on Earth. Flame studies can help improve how we burn and extinguish fires on Earth. It can produce greater efficiency for our furnaces, aircraft and cars. "The natural side effect of producing more efficient combustion is you reduce some of the impurities and produce a 'greener' flame," said Ferkul. And that is the double benefit of space-based research. While the basic science is significant, by doing research in space, life can be improved on Earth. Benefits for Humanity: The Sound of Life Ultrasound and remote medicine methods that are in use aboard the International Space Station have been adapted for use on Earth to save lives around the world. This example, along with a few of the many benefits provided by research performed on the space station, is highlighted in NASA’s new feature “Benefits for Humanity.” The space station provides a microgravity environment for researchers to conduct biology and biotechnology, human health, Earth and space science, physical science and technology experiments, among many others, in a way that was not possible just 15 years ago. Remote telemedicine in the large state of Minas Gerais in Brazil is saving lives of those in very isolated rural communities. Ultrasound technology adapted from the space station is helping with prenatal care and diagnostic capacity where patients and doctors are separated by a great distance. Just as on Earth as in space, trained medical personnel are not always immediately available. 

NASA’s Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity (ADUM) investigation trained astronauts and cosmonauts to use an ultrasound unit and transmit images in real time back to Earth. These images could then be sent to physicians to make medical decisions without actually being with the crew member. This technology can provide more detail during examination of a patient in a remote area and help in administering first aid, where quick decisions are necessary. In the small, extremely isolated town of Manga in Minas Gerais, many people rely on this ultrasound technology to help solve medical problems due to lack of access to other types of care. Joaquim de Diniz, a Manga physician, related the story of a female patient who had a mere 20 to 30 minutes to live due to severe respiratory failure. Using the remote ultrasound equipment, he and his team of medical professionals were able to determine the problem and treat a large amount of fluid around the patient’s heart and lungs. The patient quickly recovered. “It was like a miracle,” said de Diniz. “She was dying in front of us, without people knowing what was happening. This ultrasound was instrumental in saving the life of that patient.” With its completion in 2011and at its 15-year anniversary in 2013, the space station’s full research capabilities have only just begun. The International Space Station is improving and changing lives on Earth with each experiment in orbit, all through a collaboration of international partnerships to provide benefits for humanity. Lives are being saved around the world using ultrasound and remote medicine methods. 
Credits: NASA 
Editor: Mark Garcia