Experiments in Space

The Shuttle's STS-119 Mission is heading back home after a 9 day stay at the International Space Station (ISS). The mission crew delivered the final set of solar arrays needed to be able to support the station's expanded crew capability of six members. Over the past year the station has been getting big upgrades consisting of new connecting nodules and laboratories. The new additions will serve to expand the ISS's capacity for performing scientific experiments.

The STS-119 crew brought new science experiments to the ISS and also participated in a number of them. An interesting experiment operated in the Space Shuttle is the National Lab Pathfinder-Vaccine-3, which used the microgravity environment experienced in orbit to attain more clear-cut results. Microgravity aids in achieving precision because it increases the bacteria's virulence (toxicity level), therefore providing a test bed with maximum potency. The microorganisms studied were MRSA, Listeria (food borne pathogen), Entrecoccus faecalis (in the human gastrointestinal tract) and yeast. The results will hopefully give way to developing new and even better vaccines.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is sponsoring an experiment that was started during the STS-119 flight to the ISS and continued at the station. It is called DomeGene and it will examine gene expression.

Another experiment brought by the Shuttle and sponsored by the Canadian space agency is the BISE (Bodies in the Space Environment: Relative Contributions of Internal and External Cues to Self-Orientation, During and After Zero Gravity Exposure). This is a new experiment to the ISS, which will evaluate how crewmembers adapt to the microgravity on the station and then how they re-adapt once back on Earth.

Many other science experiments were conducted during the STS-119 Mission and even more will be performed during current and upcoming ISS Missions. Some of them include: Monitoring of Crewmember's immune functions, Visual Performance, which assesses visual effects during launch, spaceflight sleep studies, a motion perception investigation and a study on lower back pain during spaceflights.

With the great additions and improvements being installed onto the ISS, scientific advancement will be facilitated and able to lead the way towards new developments and discoveries.