Scientific Advances On The ISS
Scientific Advances Made Aboard The International Space Station
I was captivated by the recent news about the two astronauts stranded on the ISS due to their Boeing Starliner being deemed unfit to return them to Earth. Their initial 8-day stay has now been extended to last until next February, as there is no available spacecraft to bring them home until then. This ongoing space saga will see Boeing’s competitor, SpaceX, coming to their rescue. NASA is eager to resolve the situation as quickly as safely possible, so that it can fully focus on its primary strategic objective: decommissioning the ISS, which is approaching the end of its operational life. By 2030, it will be steered out of orbit to break up in a destructive, fiery re-entry.
Thankfully, the legacy of this football-pitch-sized floating laboratory will endure. NASA plans to continue the ISS’s work by distributing its various activities across newly launched space stations before the 2030 end date.
Before the ISS project transitions into its next phase, it’s fitting to highlight the scientific breakthroughs that have occurred aboard the ISS since its inception.
1. Impact Of Microgravity On Muscle And Bones
Research on the ISS has shown that the human body can lose 1% to 2% of bone and muscle mass per month while in space. ISS scientists have also explored mitigation strategies, involving the use of resistive exercise devices (treadmills and workout stations), nutrition, and drugs that can significantly reduce bone loss. This research has the potential to improve osteoporosis treatments and prepare the body for long-range space travel.
2. Protein Crystallography
Protein crystallography is one of the most effective techniques for understanding the shape of human protein molecules, a crucial step in developing effective medicines. On Earth, growing such crystals in a fluid is hampered by gravity-driven convection, causing denser particles to settle at the bottom of the fluid vessel—a problem that keeps biochemists up at night! However, in the microgravity environment of the ISS, these crystals can grow to much larger sizes, making them easier to analyze. This has led to the development of novel treatments for conditions like cancer and muscular dystrophy, to name just a few.
3. Examining The Fifth State Of Matter
Just over two decades ago, researchers on Earth created a completely novel fifth state of matter, called a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) which has quantum properties. This is achieved by cooling particles to near absolute zero ( – 273 degrees Celsius) . Six years ago, scientists in NASA’s Cold Atom Lab were the first to create this fifth state of matter in space. This discovery should lead to significant breakthroughs in the understanding of quantum mechanics.
4. Advanced Life Support Systems
Developed and tested on the ISS, the space station’s life support system was designed to provide clean air and water to the crew. It purifies the station’s water, recycling 93% of the water used onboard. This advanced, compact water filtration technology has since been licensed for use on earth for water treatment. Such systems are essential for deep space travel and can be used to provide clean water in at-risk areas where clean water has become inaccessible.
5. Monitoring Earth From A Unique Perspective
Crew handheld camera imagery has enabled the ISS to actively contribute to orbital data collection, aiding disaster response activities around the world thanks to its unique panoramic viewpoint. Additionally, the ISS is equipped with SS-HDTV cameras that capture night images of Earth, helping to determine if power has been restored to cities after a disaster. The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) detects the distribution and severity of lightning, improving severe weather forecasting. The ISS’s inclined low-Earth orbit complements weather satellites in higher-altitude polar orbits. Instruments like ECOSTRESS can analyze water stress in plants, while GEDI can assess carbon stores in forests.
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I am a practising HR consultant working with several start-ups on an ongoing and ad-hoc basis in the London and M4 area, and am a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development or CIPD. I am the Director of thecareercafe.co.uk; thecareercafe.co.uk is a resource for start-ups and small business. It includes a blog containing career advice, small business advice articles, HR software reviews, and contains great resources such as HR Productivity Apps.
