NASA and its international collaborators are exploring cost-effective approaches for constructing satellites in space and building habitats on the Moon. The current method of manufacturing materials on Earth and launching them into space is expensive due to the mass and fuel requirements. Engineers are considering autonomous satellites capable of navigating to other satellites for tasks like refueling, repair, and orbital manufacturing. Another concept under investigation involves utilizing the microgravity environment to combine lunar soil with other materials to produce cement, which could be used to construct habitable structures on the Moon.
On Monday morning, NASA Flight Engineer Jeanette Epps activated two Astrobee robotic free-flying assistants inside the Kibo laboratory module. She then connected a system known as CLINGERS, which includes an embedded navigation sensor, to the cube-shaped, toaster-sized devices. "Epps, with assistance from ground controllers, monitored the Astrobees as they demonstrated autonomous docking maneuvers with the CLINGERS device that may benefit construction in space."
Meanwhile, NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick investigated how microgravity influences the production of cement materials that could support infrastructure development on the lunar surface. Dominick mixed two bags containing simulated lunar soil and other materials with a liquid solution and placed another bag containing hot water between them. He then stored the mixture inside a thermos can for overnight incubation. After several weeks of settling at ambient temperature, these concrete samples will be returned to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon cargo craft for further analysis.
NASA astronauts Mike Barratt and Suni Williams spent time in the Tranquility module, where they replaced components on the advanced resistive exercise device. Barratt also conducted biological sample operations in the Human Research Facility and tested specialized goggles designed to track an astronaut's eye movements, helping to monitor how crews adapt to the microgravity environment.
Following her work on the exercise device, Williams inspected and cleaned a carbon dioxide removal device in the Destiny laboratory module. She then conducted a standard hearing test along with fellow NASA astronaut and Crew Flight Test member Butch Wilmore. The duo also participated in a conference with Boeing flight controllers before concluding their day by configuring computer tablets inside the Unity module.
NASA Flight Engineer Tracy C. Dyson had a lighter schedule, spending time packing computer gear for return to Earth and installing air quality monitors in the Zarya module.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub trained for the upcoming arrival of the Progress 89 cargo craft, which is scheduled to dock with the rear port of the Zvezda service module at 1:56 a.m. EDT on Saturday. The two cosmonauts practiced using the telerobotically operated rendezvous unit, or TORU, which could be employed to remotely control the Roscosmos spacecraft if it fails to complete an automated docking. Meanwhile, the Progress 87 cargo craft is set to undock from the rear Zvezda port at 10 p.m. on Monday for a controlled reentry above the Pacific Ocean, marking the end of its six-month resupply mission.
Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin spent his morning cleaning water tanks and carrying out other orbital plumbing tasks. After lunch, he explored methods to enhance communication between international crews and flight controllers before conducting photographic inspections inside Zvezda.
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