ISS Crew-9 will conduct research into genetics, cardiac health, and space farming

ISS Crew-9 will conduct research into genetics, cardiac health, and space farming
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 27, 2024

NASA's Crew-9 mission, part of its Commercial Crew Program, is preparing to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, September 28, 2024. During their five-month stay, the crew will conduct a range of scientific investigations, many of which are supported by the ISS National Laboratory. Crew-9 is set to launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft "Freedom" from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 1:17 p.m. EDT. The mission will be led by NASA astronaut Nick Hague, with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov serving as mission specialist.

Once aboard the ISS, the team will support hundreds of experiments spanning multiple scientific disciplines. Among these are several key projects sponsored by the ISS National Lab that aim to further scientific knowledge and develop technology with potential benefits for life on Earth.

One of the featured investigations is a student-led project focusing on gene editing mechanisms in space. This project, led by Isabel Jiang, a Yale University student and 2023 Genes in Space competition winner, will examine the impact of space radiation on gene editing processes. Insights from this experiment could improve astronaut protection and help understand genetic risks associated with space travel.

Additionally, a collaboration between the U.S. Air Force Academy and Rhodium Scientific will study the growth of Arabidopsis plants, a species related to mustard plants, at two different orbital altitudes. This research, comparing plants grown aboard the ISS and those from the Polaris Dawn mission, may offer insights into the cultivation of crops on long-duration space missions and in environments with high radiation exposure.

Another significant project, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), will use 3D-bioprinted cardiac organoids to study heart muscle atrophy in microgravity. This research, a collaboration between Oregon State University and Texas Tech University, could provide new understanding of heart muscle degradation, which is observed in several diseases, including muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and heart failure.

In addition to these biological studies, other investigations will focus on manufacturing in space. Sachi Bioworks, in collaboration with Space Tango, will test a new drug's effect on brain organoids for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.

The Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology, with support from Nanoracks, will test an innovative cold-welding process in space. This method, which uses pressure rather than heat to bond metals, could be pivotal for future space repairs, addressing concerns related to space debris.