NASA astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers, presently serving as a flight engineer on Expedition 73 aboard the Worldwide Area Station (ISS), is certainly one of a handful of astronauts testing varied experiments on the station.
Because the ISS sits in low Earth orbit, its microgravity setting permits researchers like Ayers to attempt quite a lot of research, from rising vegetation to creating miso paste to monitoring bone density adjustments to watching bizarre climate from house.
What’s it?
Ayers lately accomplished a set of experiments contained in the Microgravity Science Glovebox. There she carried out the Ring Sheared Drop investigation, an experiment that appears at protein-based liquids in microgravity with out the liquid being contained to a selected house. By permitting droplets to maneuver freely, the research explores how floor stress, viscosity and different forces have an effect on fluid dynamics in microgravity.
The place is it?
The Microgravity Science Glovebox is positioned within the Future laboratory module on the ISS.
Why is it superb?
Ayers’ current experiment may have huge implications for drug manufacturing, probably serving to researchers design extra secure medication. The experiment may additionally reveal insights about 3D printing in house, as the method makes use of liquids to create custom-made objects.
Ayers is a part of NASA’s Expedition 73, a seven-person mission that started on April 19, 2025 and can finish in November when the crew returns to Earth. Throughout that point, the Expedition 73 staff has welcomed guests from the non-public Axiom-4 mission, which is working dozens of experiments within the two weeks the 4 astronauts will probably be on the house station.
Need to be taught extra?
You may learn extra concerning the Worldwide Area Station and the numerous experiments occurring there.
