Category Archives: Science

ISS Utilisation Exhibition

 The ISS Symposium 2012 was a unique occasion to share scientific research from the Space Station. A showcase of these results could be seen in the ‘ISS Utilisation Exhibition’ at the symposium.

The exhibit gave basic information on experiments conducted in the orbital outpost, leading to spin-offs for the benefit of people on Earth. Industry presented their state-of-the-art products and technologies based on Station research.

The exhibition was divided into five themes with examples of experiments and products for each theme:

  •  Non-invasive medical diagnostics: 3D Eye Tracking Device, HealthLab, ThermoLab, Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), Galileo Vibration Trainer, Long Term Medical Survey (LTMS), Hand Grip Dynamometer.
  • Biomedicine: CAMDASS, Portable Pulmonary Functioning System (PPFS), Robotized Tele-echography, Human Respiratory Analyses (FIPEX), Bone and muscle modelling, Flywheel technology.
  • Exobiology & Space Environment: Expose, Matroshka, Solar.
  • Material Science: Geoflow, X-Ray diagnostics, Blades & Foams, FOAM-C.
  • Biology: KI Biology Experiment Hardware, European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS), Plasma Crystak & Plasma Medicine.

You can download a summary of the exhibition in pdf or visit the exhibit through this visual tour:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

ISS Symposium 2012 summary

Three days were devoted to research benefits of the International Space Station (ISS) and its future at the first ISS symposium in Berlin 2-4 May. Many impressive results were presented and the message was clear:  scientific research on the Space Station is increasing our knowledge of the world and creating tangible benefits for humankind - right now. This is only the beginning because the Space Station will continue to operate for at least eight more years as the only permanent weightless laboratory available to scientists. Nobody knows exactly what results the Station will produce but the future is promising.

ISS director for NASA Mark Uhran said in his presentation that many people underestimate building and maintaining a large Space Station. “It is surely as big a challenge as building the pyramids in Egypt but fortunately it did not take as long” he said. Space Station construction completed in 2010 allowing more time to be spent on research. In only two years of normal operation the results are remarkable.

Highlights of the symposium and research results cover fundamental science as well as industrial, medical and consumer applications.

Science for the benefit of humankind

(more...)

Berlin at night

Seen first on the opening day of the ISS Symposium 2012 the image of Berlin by ESA astronaut André Kuipers is now available for download. Can you spot the conference location?

ISS Symposium 2012: Day 3 highlights

The ISS Symposium 2012 is finished. The third and last day of the ISS Symposium 2012 ended with wrap-up sessions, followed by a press conference in which the Heads (or delegates) of the five International Space Station partner agencies discussed the future of the Station and the challenges ahead.

It was an amazing conference with much to reflect on.

Presentation slides of most speakers on day 3 will be online next week.

ESA’s future science and technology

Editor’s note: These brief extracts are paraphrased from live webcast and may not be fully correct.

Future ISS Perspectives: ‘The ISS and ESA’s future Science and Technology’
             Michael Longair, ESA HISPAC Chair

Download the full presentation slides: The ISS and ESA’s Future Science and Technology

  • There is a fine line between science, applied science and technology in ESA activities.
  • HISPAC (High-level Science Policy Advisory Committee) was set up to think about interdisciplinary  science and technology without considering financial or political restraints.
  • The HISPAC team is made up of star scientists.
  • ESA reorganised the structure of its science advisory.
  • In preparation for the ESA ministerial council meeting HISPAC was asked to prepare long-term grand science themes across all ESA programmes.
  • The director general himself has not seen these themes:
  • 1. Cosmic climate: Earth observation and studying exo-planets.
  • 2. Understanding gravity: gravity influences everything
  • 3. Life in the universe
  • 4. Cosmic magnetism and high energy particles in space.
  • We need to look at space research horizontally across broad scientific themes.

Future benefits for you

Future ISS Perspectives: ‘ISS and beyond: What is in there for you?’

Berndt Feuerbacher, ESA-HESAC Chair

Download the full presentation slides: ISS and beyond: What is in there for you?

Editor’s note: These brief extracts are paraphrased from live webcast and may not be fully correct. 

  • We saw great examples over the past days but there is more to the ISS.
  • By expanding ISS utilisation we add 'three further generations of PhD students' [worth]' of research possibilities.
  • ISS utilisation is at a turning point
  • We are seeing industrial applications from space research such as turbine blades and plasma therapy.
  • Quantum physics research is comeing to the ISS. The ACES space clock is the first step but more research is possible.
  • These are not just toys for scientists but promise radically new technologies and will have economic impact.
  • When I was young we had a laser in our research lab. Nobody imagined that they would be in everyone's homes as CD players were a few years later.
  • I wish that partners: reduce mission costs, shorten access times & lessen paperwork, include the private sector and enlarge ISS to more international partners.
  • Beyond 2020 we need to involve private companies, but actions need to be taken now to prepare for this.
  • The most fascinating destination for humans is Mars.
  • To get to Mars we will need major technology changes, such as new propulsion systems, self-supporting life systems and changes in communication.
  • Future exploration requires huge efforts and is a task for humanity as a whole.
  • A tool exists to coordinate a global exploration effort: the International Space Exploration Group.
  • Human exploration is starting today, global cooperation, economic progress, innovation, inspiration and increase in knowledge await all who join in the endeavour.
  • The ISS is available now: let's use it!

 

Super cool! Alpha Magenetic Spectrometer video as seen at ISS Symposium Berlin

The **excellent** video shown as part of Dr. Stefan Schael's presentation on the AMS-02 experiment at the symposium. Credits: widlab More info via the AMS02 Collaboration site.

Editor's note: Was also screened at the New York - Imagine Science Film Festival - http://imaginesciencefilms.com

ESA’s Elips programme

Editor’s note: These brief extracts are paraphrased from live webcast and may not be fully correct.

European ISS Research Strategy

Christer Fuglesang, Head of the Science and Application Division, ESA

Download the full presentation slides: European ISS Research Strategy

ESA will continue its research programme for ISS called Elips.

    • ESA's assets are the Columbus laboratory on ISS, the ATV transport vehicle, dedicated science facilities and the Columbus Control Centre with 9 support centres.
    • Elips started in 2002 and involves ground-based facilities to improve the efficiency of space research.
    • Elips supports industrial applications based on recommendations from users and scientists.
    • Key research topics of Elips include:
  1. Weightlessness: it is a challenge but offers an opportunity to study related conditions on Earth.
  2. Biology: research in the stressful environment on molecular level gives benefits back home. An example is the ROALD experiment recently featured in the news.
  3. Astrobiology: we found that some fungi survive in space. The cosmetic industry is interested in this experiment to create make-up with better protective properties. You never know where an industrial application will originate from.
  4. Material sciences: looking at micro-structures in alloys.
  5. Physics of fluids and combustion: creating more stable foams and complex fluids.
  6. Fundamental physics: looking at constants in nature. A possible future project is optical clocks.
  7. ESA supplies the hardware for projects but funding must come from member states.

Kibo research priorities

Editor’s note: These brief extracts are paraphrased from live webcast and may not be fully correct.            

 JAXA’s ISS Utilisation Strategy
             Makato Asashima, AIST/Japan

Download the full presentation slides: ISS/Kibo Utilization Strategy in Japan

  • JAXA's Kibo research module projects will focus on life science, space medicine and physical/chemical science.
  • Life sciences on Kibo will research life from small to large progressively: from cellular research to microbes to vertebrates to mammals to humans by 2020. 
  • Space medicine will focus on research to improve health care technology.
  • Long term targets for chemical science are to contribute to new combustion systems and the science of bubbles, droplets and films.
  • Short term targets include researching soft materials of benefit for Earth.
  • An announcement of opportunity was announced and research will be chosen based on utilisation objectives.

 

NASA research priorities for ISS

Editor’s note: These brief extracts are paraphrased from live webcast and may not be fully correct.

NASA’s Research Priorities on ISS
             Mark Uhran, ISS Director, NASA

Download the full presentation: NASA RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR ISS

  • The scope of the ISS platform is incredible. Our challenge is to use the platform most productively.
  • Keeping the platform on-line is our first priority.
  • Our second priority is to serve our mission interests.
  • We gain the basic knowledge we need to advance to the next generation of exploration.
  • Many people underestimate the challenge of building and maintaining such a large Space Station: "It is surely as big a challenge as building the pyramids in Egypt, fortunately it did not take as long."
  • Water on ISS is now recycled up to 75%, we are working on improving this even more.
  • NASA's third priority is to use the ISS as a platform for low earth orbit research.
  • We saw three outstanding examples of benefits seen yesterday: new alloys, plasma therapy and space clocks.
  • Managing projects and funds for the ISS are applied using a queuing model. 
  • Each partner has full responsibility to integrate priorities and apply for time on the ISS with the ISS research integration office. 
  • Diversifying investments in research minimises risks. "We do not want to put all our resources in one project".
  • Three areas are important: basic research and discovery; applied research for benefits; engineering research for future space missions.
  • It is important to check and monitor results from research investments.