ISS Biomedical Research Offers New Era of Benefits for Both Space Medicine and Terrestrial Health

As the International Space Station is set to mark 20 years of continuous human occupation in Nov and prepares for the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine 2020 Decadal Survey which will determine future biological space science priorities for NASA, humanity’s outpost in space makes significant strides on what is arguably the most important use of the facility – biomedical advancement. Division of Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications oversees NASA Human Research, Space Biology and Physical Sciences Programs in collaboration with National Institute of Health through National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Human Research Program and university partners (Baylor, Caltech, MIT) connected by Translational Research Institute for Space Health are in the midst of cutting-edge biomedical studies to understand the effects of long duration spaceflight and how to mitigate risks – studies focus on a multitude of health elements: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance, Exploration Medical Capability, Human Health Countermeasures, International Space Station Medical Projects, and Space Radiation. Since ISS National Lab was designated a U.S. National Laboratory in 2005, commercial research has also become commonplace – the nonprofit Center for the Advancement of Science in Space facilitates drug research by pharmaceutical giants such as Merck, Eli Lilly and Novartis. Invitro, a Russian biomedical company, has deployed a 3D tissue printer named Organ-Avt. Current studies being conducted on ISS include simulated cardiac tissue stress tests, microbiome investigations, protein structure formation analysis and immune system regulation. (Image Credits: NASA)

MONDAY

NET Mar 23 — Astra Space, Launch Astra Rocket 3.0 • “1 of 3”, Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak Island AK: Astra Space to launch its first orbital mission.

Rocket Lab, ULA, SpaceX Launches to Ascend

On March 26 the 14-day launch window opens for the 12th Rocket Lab Electron mission, nicknamed “Don’t Stop Me Now,” from Launch Complex 1 at Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Electron is scheduled to orbit ANDESITE CubeSat for Boston University and the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative, which will study Earth magnetosphere and space weather. The Australia government and University of New South Wales M2 Pathfinder satellite on the same mission will be a communications and technology demonstrator. NASA certifies the Electron launcher as key part of Venture Class Launch Services initiative for small satellites. On Mar 26 a United Launch Alliance Atlas V is scheduled to launch from SLC-41 at KSC carrying a Lockheed Martin Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite for USAF. On March 30 a SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to carry the SAOCOM 1B satellite for Argentina space agency CONAE. SAOCOM 1B is the second of two Argentina Earth observation satellites designed to use radar to aid emergency response and monitor the environment. Multinational satellite launches will continue during historic year 2020. Arianespace delays Vega VV16 Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) launch of 42 satellites due to human health concerns at French Guiana launch site, but looks forward to launch within 1-6 months. (Image Credits: Arianespace, Rocket Lab, United Launch Alliance)

Mar 23 — British Astronomical Association, London, United Kingdom: British Astronomical Association Meeting; Cancelled.

Mar 23 — International Institute of Space Law, ECSL European Centre for Space Law, ESA, Vienna, Austria: 2020 IISL/ECSL Symposium: Space Law for the Global Space Economy; Cancelled.

Mar 23 – Apr 3 — UNOOSA, COPUOS, Vienna, Austria: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) 59th session of the Legal Subcommittee; Cancelled.

Mar 23 — Moon: New Moon, 23:28.

Mar 23 — Mercury: At westernmost elongation, 27.8° from Sun in morning sky, 16:00.

Continued from…

Jan 2019 – Sep 2020 — New Horizons, Kuiper Belt: Full data collected from 7 instruments during KBO Arrokoth flyby to be transmitted to Earth over this time period.

Nov 2019 – Nov 2020 — Hayabusa2, Earth Trajectory: JAXA Hayabusa2 with two samples collected from C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu on trajectory for Earth return.

Mar 2-31 — NASA, Nationwide USA: NASA solicits ‘Artemis Generation’ Astronaut applicants.

Mar 16 – Sep 16 — SpaceX, Boca Chica Beach TX: SpaceX to attempt Starship flight to 20-km altitude during this timeframe.

Mar 22-27 — Les Houches Physics School, University of Grenoble, French National Centre for Scientific Research, National Polytechnic Institutes, ENS Lyon, Les Houches, France: Interstellar Shock School.