NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin are returning to Earth after months aboard the Worldwide Area Station conducting scientific experiments and expertise demonstrations for the company’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission. The 4 launched on March 3 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Area Heart in Florida.

Right here’s a take a look at some scientific milestones completed throughout their mission:

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps extracts DNA for the Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Area experiment, which surveys the station for antibiotic-resistant organisms and sequences their DNA to look at diversifications to house. Outcomes may assist growth of measures to guard astronauts and folks in buildings and services on Earth, equivalent to hospitals, from resistant micro organism.

NASA astronaut Mike Barratt processes samples for Human Mind Organoid Fashions for Neurodegenerative Illness & Drug Discovery. This investigation makes use of human mind organoids created with stem cells from sufferers to review neuroinflammation, a standard function of neurodegenerative circumstances equivalent to Parkinson’s illness. The organoids present a platform to review these illnesses and their remedies and to doubtlessly handle how prolonged spaceflight impacts the mind.

Tissue samples bioprinted in microgravity are greater high quality than these printed on the bottom. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick processes cardiac tissue samples for the Redwire Cardiac Bioprinting Investigation. Outcomes may advance the manufacturing of organs and tissues for transplant and enhance 3D printing of meals and medicines on future long-duration house missions.

NASA astronaut Mike Barratt works on Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory – 02, which makes use of the station’s Superior Area Experiments Processor to review how microgravity impacts the manufacturing of varied varieties of protein crystals. The flexibility to provide higher crystals may result in manufacturing enhancements and new functions and higher efficiency for pharmaceutical compounds, doubtlessly offering extra optimistic affected person experiences.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps works on Supplies Science Lab Batch 3a, two initiatives investigating the solidification of metallic alloys in house. Insights gained may assist enhance alloy solidification processes on the bottom, supporting the event of supplies with superior chemical and bodily properties for functions in house and on Earth.

The Stable Gas Ignition and Extinction- Progress and Extinction Restrict investigation determines how gasoline temperature impacts materials flammability. This picture reveals the gasoline floor throughout a burn (the black a part of the sphere) and the gap traveled by the flame (blue). Outcomes may enhance researchers’ understanding of fireplace progress and inform the event of optimum fireplace suppression strategies to guard crews on future missions.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps wraps up an ISS Ham Radio session on April 10, with college students in Italy. This system connects college students and lovers with astronauts in house by way of novice radio. Contributors research house, radio waves, and associated subjects to arrange questions earlier than their scheduled name.

For Astrobee-Zero Robotics, college students compete to have their code management one of many house station’s Astrobee robots. The expertise helps encourage the following era of scientists, engineers, and explorers. NASA astronaut Mike Barratt works with the Astrobee robotic named Bumble throughout operations for the undertaking.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps prepares samples for Immunity Assay, a research of how spaceflight impacts immune operate. Beforehand, astronaut immune operate may solely be examined pre- and postflight, however a newly developed assay permits for testing throughout flight. This functionality offers a extra exact evaluation of the immune modifications that occur in house.

The Area Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Machine calculates a crew member’s mass based mostly on Newton’s Second Legislation of Movement, which states power equals mass occasions acceleration. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick performs upkeep on the system, utilized in assist of a number of NASA and ESA (European Area Company) investigations on how spaceflight impacts the physique.

NASA astronaut Mike Barratt prepares for the Nanoracks Cubesat Deployer Mission 27on April 16. The mission deployed seven analysis satellites: a reflectometer to measure sea ice, checks of telemetry devices and photo voltaic cells, a hyperspectral thermal imager, a gamma-ray burst detector, a brand new distant sensing method, and a magnetic subject measurement take a look at.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps remotely manipulates a robotic on the bottom for Floor Avatar. The investigation checks system ergonomics, operator response to suggestions, and the potential challenges for precise orbit-to-ground distant management. Such operation is a vital functionality for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

NASA astronauts Mike Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Loral O’Hara take images within the station’s cupola, including to the greater than 4.7 million pictures produced for Crew Earth Observations. These pictures assist scientific research on subjects starting from aquatic organisms and icebergs to the results of synthetic lighting at evening and inform the response of decision-makers to pure disasters equivalent to volcanoes and floods.

For Earthshine from ISS, astronauts {photograph} the Moon all through the lunar cycle to review modifications within the gentle it displays from Earth. Outcomes may assist validate the idea of observing Earth’s local weather from satellite-borne devices and add to researchers’ understanding of how the planet’s local weather is altering.

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick and Tracy C. Dyson pack frozen samples into the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for return to Earth and evaluation by researchers. The spacecraft launched to the orbiting laboratory on March 21 for NASA’s SpaceX thirtieth business resupply companies mission, carrying scientific experiments and provides, and returned to Earth on April 30.

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft hooked up to the Canadarm2 robotic arm earlier than being launched from the house station on July 12. NASA’s Northrop Grumman twentieth business resupply companies mission arrived Feb. 1 with experiments on 3D printing, robotic surgical procedure, tissue cartilage, and extra.

Melissa Gaskill

Worldwide Area Station Analysis Communications Group

NASA’s Johnson Area Heart