Station Science Top News: July 19, 2024

by ISS Program Science Office | 2024-07-22

Research on the interaction between lightning and our upper atmosphere is seeking to help scientists understand severe thunderstorms and their role in Earth’s atmosphere and climate.

ESA’s (European Space Agency) ASIM (Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor) studies severe thunderstorms by observing high-altitude lightning discharges known as transient luminous events (TLEs). TLEs known as Emissions of Light and VLF perturbations from EMPs (ELVES) typically appear when lightning pulses reach peaks above 70,000 amps and have higher occurrence with pulses above 121,000 amps. ELVES, produced when electromagnetic pulses from lightning discharges encounter the lower ionosphere (about 50 miles above Earth’s surface), are observed as rings of light that can expand to more than 100 miles in diameter. ASIM data improve knowledge of how thunderstorms affect the ionosphere and radiation belts and their effect on its atmosphere.

A close-up view of a module on the International Space Station against the backdrop of Earth. The module, covered in reflective insulation, is attached to the station, with solar panels and various instruments visible. — *View of the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) and the High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) payloads installed on the Columbus External Payload Facility.*

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Researchers analyzed Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) observations and found significant changes in direct and reflected X-ray emissions and in highly ionized absorption in the Fe (iron) band from galaxy NGC 4388. Such observations can help scientists better understand the mechanisms of galaxies and determine the mass of black holes at their cores.

NICER measures X-rays emitted by neutron stars and other cosmic objects to help answer questions about matter and gravity. Neutron stars, the densest measurable objects in the universe, are the remains of massive stars that exploded into supernovae. NICER’s location on the exterior of the space station is critical because the X-rays emitted by neutron stars do not penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. The instrument completed a study of emissions from NGC 4388, the closest Seyfert-2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) galaxy to us and one with some of the brightest X-ray emissions.

A view of equipment attached to the International Space Station, with a large solar panel array in the background. The solar panels have a golden hue, illuminated by sunlight. — *View of the payload Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) taken by External High Definition Camera 1 during Expedition 69.*

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JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) researchers found that sterol-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana plants exposed to artificial 1 g on the International Space Station developed as expected, but those exposed to microgravity had suppressed growth of the flowering stem. This difference could be because microgravity suppresses genes involved in sterol production. Sterols are involved in a variety of cellular processes in plants and animals. Understanding how microgravity affects these genes could support development of ways to modulate those effects and enable efficient plant production on future missions.

JAXA’s Resist Tubule studied the mechanisms of gravity resistance in plants, in particular the role played by chemical and physical signals transmitted through plant cells. Results could support development of plant production systems for space exploration and for people on Earth.

An astronaut with long blonde hair tied up is working aboard the International Space Station. She is wearing a blue polo shirt and white gloves, focused on a small piece of equipment on a tray. — *Expedition 37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg harvests plants from a Resist Tubule culture chamber.*