Station Science Top News: March 9, 2023

by ISS Program Science Office | 2023-03-09

Researchers diagnosed the severity of optic disc swelling in a group of crew members during spaceflight. The study showed that swelling of more than 70% can lead to the degeneration of optic nerve fibers, but most of the crew members tested did not show optic disc swelling. Rapid diagnosis of optic disc swelling and elimination of its causes are pressing problems for future spaceflight missions.

The ISS Medical Monitoring investigation collects a variety of health data at regular intervals from long-duration ISS crew members. For this study, researchers analyzed two types of images using software in an optical coherence tomography device to measure thickness of the optic nerve and surrounding retina. Maintaining health and safety, including vision and eye health, is critical to crew member well-being and performance during missions and after return to Earth.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei peers into near-infrared medical-imaging gear, or optical coherence tomography, for detailed views of his retina as part of regularly scheduled eye checks aboard the International Space Station. Credits: NASA — NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei peers into near-infrared medical-imaging gear, or optical coherence tomography, for detailed views of his retina as part of regularly scheduled eye checks aboard the International Space Station. Credits: *Shane Kimbrough/NASA*

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Researchers report that a polymer film containing 10% aluminum acetylacetonate survived four years of exposure to space while an adjacent film with no additive completely eroded in less than a year. In addition, films containing an aluminum additive showed an increased amount of the element on their surfaces after exposure, while films containing a boron additive showed no increase. This study is important for understanding how atomic oxygen in space affects the durability of materials that could be used for spacecraft and other structures.

For this MISSE investigation, researchers used additives (aluminum or boron) designed to interact with atomic oxygen to form a protective metal oxide coating on polymer films. The increase in surface aluminum and oxygen on the film containing aluminum acetylacetonate indicates that a protective aluminum oxide film did form on the surface. A metal additive distributed throughout a polymer could provide advantages over a protective coating, which can be damaged by micrometeorites or crack after many thermal cycles, allowing erosion of the underlying polymer.

A view of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) attached to the outside of the Zvezda Service Module (SM). Image taken from the Pirs Docking Compartment forward port window during observation and photography of the International Space Station external structures on Expedition 9. Credits: NASA

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The publication Upward showcases results from research sponsored by the ISS National Lab. The publication now is available online and as a print-on-demand PDF. The ISS National Lab plans to publish two more issues this fiscal year. Highlights from Volume 6 Issue 1 in February 2023 include:

Orbit Fab used the ISS to successfully validate technology for Furphy, hardware designed to refuel spacecraft in orbit.
Results from Mighty Mice in Space revealed that inhibiting two specific proteins provided significant protection from muscle and bone loss in microgravity, which could lead to new therapies for patients on Earth.
Mutations of KRAS, part of a family of genes that produces proteins involved in the growth and death of cells, drive 30% to 40% of all cancers. By crystallizing KRAS in microgravity, researchers determined the structure of several of these proteins, something not possible with crystals grown on the ground and an important first step in developing cancer treatments.

Download the issue here.