We study how organisms repair cellular damage and protect themselves from infection and disease in conditions of microgravity while being exposed to space radiation. And we do it across the spectrum of biological organization, from molecules to cells, from tissues and organs, and from systems to whole organisms to communities of microorganisms.
In addition to providing useful information on how living organisms adapt to spaceflight, the discoveries NASA researchers make in space have enormous implications for life on Earth. Space Biology's research into the virulence of pathogens in space, loss of bone density, and the changes in the growth of plants can impact the development of drugs that promote wound healing or tissue regeneration, treatments designed to counter osteoporosis on Earth, and high-tech fertilizers that increase crop yield.
Life in space produces profound changes in biology. All organisms on Earth have adapted to perform under conditions of gravity, atmosphere, and cycles of light and darkness that have not changed in millions of years, conditions which are altered aboard spacecraft like the ISS.
For example, while circling Earth at speeds of 17, miles an hour, crewmembers of the ISS experience sunrise and sunset 16 times a day! Simply put, terrestrial organisms are not designed for life in space.
Animals are frequently used to model human disease as well as how humans respond to stressful stimuli. The most commonly used model organisms for which genomics are now well defined include vertebrate species, e. NASA has used these model organisms extensively to evaluate biological spaceflight hazards, elucidate the fundamental mechanisms life uses to adapt to microgravity, and apply such knowledge to advance human exploration, and for societal benefits on Earth. Read about a Behavior Analysis Study that shows mice adapt to spaceflight.
As we examine the impacts of spaceflight on animal biology and physiology, we ask the following questions:. Cell and molecular biology research cuts across all science disciplines in Space Biology, from understanding how single-celled organisms, such as protozoa, bacteria, and fungi respond to the conditions of spaceflight, to how all of the various cells in a complex tissue or organ work together to help an organism as a whole acclimate to such a foreign environment.
The overarching goal of Space Biology Cell and Molecular Biology research at NASA is to determine how the stresses of the spaceflight environment affect living systems at the basic cellular and molecular levels, using contemporary cell and molecular biology techniques and measures.
This includes characterizing and identifying changes in gene and protein expression, DNA function and structure, cellular structure and morphology, and cell-to-cell communication. As we examine the impacts of spaceflight on the cell biology and physiology, we ask the following:. Everywhere we go, we take microorganisms with us, whether we want to or not.
With a crew of astronauts on board, living, breathing, exercising, and sweating, the ISS is a breeding ground for microbes.
The effects of spaceflight on the biology of microorganisms and on microbial populations are largely unknown. In addition to posing a risk to astronaut health, bio-corrosive microorganisms that grow on metallic surfaces in spacecraft can damage both equipment and hardware. Past, Present, Future, Timeline. October 30, - April 3, Seattle, WA. October 30, - March 15, Downey, CA. October 30, - March 15, Hazard, KY. Lifting the veil on Mars.
Expanding our robotic presence. Setting the stage for human exploration. The Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is a technology demonstration to test powered flight on another world for the first time. Once Perseverance lands, see the latest images the rover sends back. Vote for your favorite to become "Image of the Week. If you sent your name on the Mars rover, find your boarding pass here! A circle marked each station in the worldwide tracking network. Glenn made history by becoming the first U.
The Gemini program primarily tested equipment and mission procedures and trained astronauts and ground crews for future Apollo missions to the Moon. Gemini IV spacewalk, June 3, Time exposure image of Gemini X spacecraft, launched July 18, Astronauts John Young and Mike Collins carried out a three-day mission to rendezvous and dock in space with an Agena spacecraft that had lifted off minutes earlier.
This mission tested the new maneuverable spacecraft that let the astronauts control more of the flight. Exactly eight years, one month and 26 days after President Kennedy challenged Americans to reach for the Moon, Project Apollo landed the first humans on the lunar surface and returned them safely to Earth.
The ascent stage of the Apollo 11 lunar module approaching the command module for docking before the crew returned to Earth.
The Apollo program was hit by tragedy as the first crew prepared to fly. On Jan. NASA was not deterred, but rather changed how things were done to ensure the safety and success of future missions. Commander Wally Schirra looking out the rendezvous window in front of the commander's station of the Apollo 7 Earth orbital mission, Oct. Fifty years ago, Apollo 7 transmitted the first live TV broadcast from a human U.
The famous 'Earthrise' photo from Apollo 8, the first human mission to the Moon. Audio: Apollo 8 Christmas Eve. This is one of the few photos that shows Armstrong during the moonwalk.
Audio: Apollo 11 One Small Step. In , Skylab expeditions paved the way for the International Space Station.
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