Station Science Top News: April 28, 2022
A comparison between preflight and postflight brain-scan data from International Space Station crew members revealed enlarged perivascular spaces, or PVS, along the brain’s white matter (WM) and basal ganglia. Since PVS enlargement is associated with poor brain health, a better understanding of this phenomenon is necessary to ensure astronauts are healthy during long-duration space missions.
PVS is a network of channels where cerebrospinal and interstitial fluid exchange occurs. These fluids help protect your body, provide nutrients, and eliminate waste. ESA (European Space Agency) Brain-DTI researchers observed larger WM-PVS in NASA astronauts who developed Space-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome, or SANS (which can cause vision and brain changes in astronauts), than those who did not. This suggests that fluid accumulation in the brain plays a role in ocular impairment. Researchers hypothesize that the less prominent WM-PVS enlargement observed in cosmonauts may be attributed to differences in countermeasures used, like their application of lower body negative pressure.
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Station’s Astrobee robots are celebrating their third launch anniversary. Robots like the Astrobees are essential components of NASA’s Artemis mission to deliver humans back to the Moon before traveling to Mars and beyond.
Three years ago, a pair of robots were launched to the International Space Station. Those pioneers were Honey and Bumble, who were soon joined by a third companion called Queen. Since launch, the Astrobee program has operated for more than 750 hours on the space station, completing over 100 activities ranging from technology demonstrations to assisting in experiments. The robots have proven capable of detecting an anomaly during a simulation on station and connecting autonomously with station subsystems. By giving the Astrobees challenges to solve on their own — like removing a “sock” blocking an air vent — scientists are also building capabilities needed for robots to maintain spacecraft when astronauts aren’t aboard.
NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough poses aboard the International Space Station with all three Astrobee robotic free-flyers. Credits: NASA/Shane Kimbrough