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NASA Develops High-Tech Cages to Carry Rats to International Space Station

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Washington: NASA has developed high-tech cages to carry rodents from Earth to the International Space Station (ISS) to allow researchers to study the long-term effects of microgravity on mammalian physiology.

The Rodent Habitat modules will first fly in August aboard an unmanned SpaceX Dragon cargo ship.

Developed at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, the new habitats are designed for transporting the animals to the space station and as part of their long-term accommodation.

They consist of a transport module, which fits inside the racks in the pressurised cargo section of the Dragon spacecraft, and an access module for moving the rodents from the transporter to the station's rodent habitat without having the mice escape and take up residence behind the control panels.

Each habitat module provides as many as 10 mice or six rats with all necessities they need to live comfortably aboard the station including water, food, lighting and fresh air.

Rodents can easily move around the living space by grasping grids that line the floor and walls. The modules include data downlink capability that enables monitoring of environmental conditions such as temperature.

A visible light and infrared video system allows the crew in space and scientists and veterinarians on the ground to monitor behaviour and overall health of the rodents on a daily basis.

Based on recommendations of the National Research Council in US, the new modules are part of a study of the effects of prolonged weightlessness, such as would be encountered on a mission to Mars, 'Gizmag' reported.

Since rodents develop and age much faster than humans, studying rodent model organisms accelerates the understanding of diseases that may take years or decades to develop in humans.

Rodents may be studied in space during different developmental stages of life. Additionally, spaceflight rodent studies are important for developing countermeasures such as procedures, drugs or devices to protect their health during spaceflight.

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NASA Develops High-Tech Cages to Carry Rats to International Space Station

Space Engineers Let’s Play (Survival Mode/S-1) -E16- The Space Station [Gameplay Commentary] – Video

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Space Engineers Let #39;s Play (Survival Mode/S-1) -E16- The Space Station [Gameplay Commentary]
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Space Engineers Let's Play (Survival Mode/S-1) -E16- The Space Station [Gameplay Commentary] - Video

My first SSTO capable of delivering space station supplies into orbit – Video

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My first SSTO capable of delivering space station supplies into orbit
I guess technically it ISN #39;T an SSTO because of the wing mounted drop tanks, but it takes off from an airfield and it makes it into orbit! Good enough for me. Forum thread: http://forum.kerbalspace...

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My first SSTO capable of delivering space station supplies into orbit - Video

NASA unveils new home for space rats

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Attention space rats and astromice, NASA is sending new, posher rodent habitats to the International Space Station (ISS). The high-tech cages will first will fly in August aboard an unmanned SpaceX Dragon cargo ship and are part of an extensive study on the effects of weightlessness on prolonged space voyages.

Rodents have been part of the US space program since the first mice flew in a V-2 rocket in 1950. Though the chimps and monkeys may have taken the spotlight, mice and rats have played a vital role in space medicine with no less than 27 batches of rodents flying on the Space Shuttle from 1983 to 2011. However, the new round of rodent studies on the ISS mean that theres a need for something more sophisticated than a shoebox to carry the animals around in.

Developed at NASAs Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, the new habitats are designed for transporting the animals to the space station and as part of their long-term accommodation. They consist of a transport module, which fits inside the racks in the pressurized cargo section of the Dragon spacecraft, and an access module for moving the rodents from the transporter to the stations rodent habitat without having the mice escape and take up residence behind the control panels. The access modules also allow the crew to remove than animals from the habitat for observation.

The habitat modules hold 10 mice or 6 rats and are designed to provide them with water, food, lighting and fresh air. Since rats and mice aren't made for flight, the habitat is also equipped with rods for them to grasp as they move about. The habitats are also bugged with data links and a visual/infrared video system, so scientists can keep a constant eye on their charges.

Based on recommendations of the National Research Council, the new modules are part of a study of the effects of prolonged weightlessness, such as would be encountered on a mission to Mars. The six-month tours of duty that astronauts spend on the ISS have revealed a number of problems with living in zero-G, including loss of muscle mass, weakening of bones, as well as affecting the cardiovascular endocrine, nervous, reproductive, and immune systems. A two-year Mars mission could have severe, or perhaps fatal effects especially when space radiation is included. The research is aimed at understanding these effects at the genetic and molecular level in hopes of finding ways to combat them. NASA also says that some of these conditions resemble some earthbound diseases and could help in their treatment.

For such a study, rodents provide many advantages. For one thing, their organs, diet, immune system, and genome are very similar to humans in many respects. Also, as any mourning 10-year old can tell you, they age very quickly compared to humans. With a lifespan of only 18 months to two years, a rodent can experience weightless effects that would take many years in a person, so a six-month visit to the space station by a rat can give great insights into how long space voyages will affect the crews. In addition to this, its possible to study rats at all stages of their development something thats impossible in astronaut crews aged between their late 20s to early 50s. Also, different breeds of rodents can be used for cross referencing.

Studies that use different genetic strains of rodents will help researchers pinpoint the roles played by specific genes in gravity sensing and responses, says Ruth Globus, Ph.D., Rodent Research Project scientist and researcher in the Space Biosciences Division at Ames.

The first flight of the new rodent residence is scheduled for SpaceXs CRS-4 mission in August 8, after which the modules will undergo a technical assessment and be used in studies focusing on muscle atrophy and treatment. If all goes well, a second rodent mission will fly on CRS-6.

The video below outlines the new research project.

Source: NASA

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NASA unveils new home for space rats

Chicago To Host Third ISS Research And Development Conference

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May 24, 2014

Image Caption: The AMS-02 study is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector currently operating aboard the International Space Station. Nobel Laureate Professor Samuel Ting is the principal investigator and key note speaker at the third annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference. Credit: NASA

By Jessica Nimon, International Space Station Program Science Office, NASAs Johnson Space Center

Scientists and engineers alike may soon agree with Frank Sinatra, who sang about Chicago as My Kind of Town when the city hosts the third annual International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development conference from June 17 to 19. While attending, guests will learn about the latest research and technology accomplishments, share ideas for microgravity experiments and find ways to put those concepts aboard the platform of the space station.

This years theme is discoveries, applications and opportunities. To be exact, discoveries in microgravity, Earth and space science, human research, as well as engineering and education. Attendees will also discuss applications benefitting Earth, enabling technology and forwarding exploration, as well as opportunities for use of this innovative, one-of-a-kind laboratory.

The American Astronautical Society organized the event in cooperation with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and NASA. The yearly gathering is the only U.S. conference to detail the scope of research and technology development on the space station. Past, present and potential participants of the orbiting laboratory will come together during the conference to share, learn and grow microgravity research. Companies interested in learning more about space station research and how it might benefit their industry are encouraged to attend.

Of particular interest this year for current and potential new space station researchers is a breakdown from the experts on what really makes the station so valuable, said Allyson Thorn, assistant International Space Station Program scientist. They will show the benefits of performing an experiment in microgravity versus on the ground and comparisons of experiments in both environments. From the cellular level to whole organism level for life sciences experiments and for combustion, fluid physics and materials changes for physical sciences experiments.

The conferences plenary sessions will highlight the latest results from space station studies in the various disciplines of physical, life, Earth and space sciences, as well as spacecraft technology development. Veterans of microgravity research will share findings, while newcomers to the field of studies in space can find pathways to launch their own theories for testing in orbit.

The first keynote speaker of the event is Mike Suffredini, ISS Program manager. Next, guests will hear from Greg Johnson, president and executive director of CASIS. The final keynote presenter is Nobel Laureate Professor Samuel Ting from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tings talk will cover Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) results and the outlook of data through 2024. The focus of the AMS is to seek answers to the origins and nature of the universe. John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate and a former astronaut, will also be a featured speaker.

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Chicago To Host Third ISS Research And Development Conference

SpaceX’s Dragon cargo ship successfully berthed at International Space Station – Video

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SpaceX #39;s Dragon cargo ship successfully berthed at International Space Station
The Dragon Capsule, which was loaded with more than 2000 kilograms of scientific equipment and supplies for astronauts, was successfully berthed at the Inte...

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SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship successfully berthed at International Space Station - Video

Spectacular Shot of the Moon Taken From Space

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Spectacular Shot of the Moon Taken From Space


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