Magazine_BEAST_2018_Edition_11_complet.compressed

48 #Science | Space
THE
INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION:
A NOVEL
RESEARCH
BY
LABORATORY
FABIEN
AMORETTI
BEAST talked to Sam Scimemi, Director for International
Space Station at NASA Headquarters, about the latest
projects of the NASA. The American space agency will
once again be represented at the Space Forum with the
presence in Luxembourg of Jason Crusan, Director of
the Advanced Exploration Systems Division within the
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.
In his role, he serves as NASA’s senior executive, advisor
and advocate on technology and innovation approaches
leading to new flight and system capabilities for human
exploration of space.
BEAST MAGAZINE #11
What types of partnerships are currently offered
by the ISS?
Microgravity is a unique environment, important for
studying fundamental processes because the relative
absence of gravity causes molecules and cells to behave
differently than they do in gravity on Earth. Thus, it can be
used as a novel research laboratory to tease out important
processes and insights not seen on Earth.
NASA uses the International Space Station to conduct
research that informs current and future space exploration
efforts, including astronaut health. The station is also
home to the U.S. National Laboratory, which is managed
by the Center for the Advancement of Science and Space
(CASIS), for research and technology demonstrations
conducted with the intent of providing benefits to life on
Earth. During each expedition mission aboard the station
(~six months), the crew conducts about 250 experiments,
roughly divided between investigations for NASA and
investigations for the U.S. National Laboratory. NASA solicits
research designed to meet its goals for the successful
completion of exploration missions and the preservation
of astronaut health throughout the life of the astronaut
via NASA Research Announcements (NRAs). Industry and
academia work with CASIS to develop research proposals
and flight opportunities for U.S. National Laboratory
investigations.
New in 2018: CIMON brings a robot and Artificial Intelligence
aboard in space. Can you tell us more about the project? Is
it the first time ISS is working on bringing robots to space?
CIMON is an ESA (European Space Agency) investigation
developed notably by Airbus Defense & Space and IBM
which aims at facilitating the life of astronauts when in
space. NASA has tested robots in space before (such as
Robonaut, a humanoid robot designed with the versatility
and dexterity to manipulate hardware, work in high risk
environments, and respond safely to unexpected obstacles,
and SPHERES, which consist of three free flying vehicles
inside the International Space Station identifiable by their
shell colors of Red, Blue, and Orange) with the intent
of advancing technology so eventually some tasks that
require crew time today could eventually be performed
robotically to free the crew for tasks that require human
intervention.
According to our sources, three experiments are planned
for 2018. What can you tell us about the one dealing with
the field of medicine?
Many investigations during each Expedition focus on
astronaut health and the field of medicine, and many of
those are ongoing, such as monitoring sleep cycles, fluid
shifts, health of bone mass and muscle mass.