ISS tagged posts

An Earth observation taken from the International Space Station during a day pass. Also in view is the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, which arrived on Dec. 9, carrying science and other supplies. Credits: NASA

Completion of critical ocular health testing, notable developments with the OASIS liquid crystal study and an intriguing find inside the Veggie planter punctuated the holiday week aboard the International Space Station.

Astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko completed comprehensive testing for their Ocular Health suite of exams, which comprise vision testing, BP, tonometry (determining the fluid pressure inside the eye), and ocular and cardiac ultrasound...

First-ever examination of medications used by astronauts on long-duration missions to the International Space Station: the meds they used, the reasons they used them and how well they said the medicines worked were analyzed. Much of the medicine taken relates to the unusual and confined microgravity environment in which they work or to the actual work that they are doing to complete their missions. Use of sleep aids and incidence of skin rashes were higher than expected. These findings not only help the world’s space agencies anticipate needs for future ISS inhabitants, but also the day-to-day medical needs of those who may take the trip to Mars.

Wotring examined medical records of ISS crewmembers who gave permission to use their data in this study...

Peter Ford Dominey and the robot Nao, study of developmental robotic cognition. Instead of using pre-established plans, the robot can learn in real time through direct interaction with a human. Credit: ©Inserm/Patrice Latron

An “autobiographical memory” for robot Nao enables it to pass on knowledge learnt from humans to other, less knowledgable humans. This technological progress could notably be used for operations on the International Space Station, where the robot, which is the only permanent member, would liaise between the different crews that change every 6 months in order to pass on information.

In order for a robot to understand cooperative behavior, which is necessary for the cultural transmission of knowledge, researchers developed a system whereby a human agent can teach the ...