The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station and will carry out many scientific research experiments
Tencent Science and Technology News on June 8, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has docked with the International Space Station and began the 28th replenishment mission for NASA. It carries a series of experiments, including IROSAs (International Space Station Deployable Solar Panels) to increase energy production on the space station, as well as studies on thunderstorms, plant adaptations, telomere behavior in space, and the CubeSat experiment to monitor climate change and solar activity. The mission will last three weeks, after which the Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth with cargo and research results.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is NASA's 28th commercial resupply service, launched June 5 at 11:47 a.m. ET from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft will stay on the space station for about three weeks before returning to Earth with cargo and research results.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has already shipped a pair of IROSAs (International Space Station Deployable Solar Panels), which, once installed, will expand the microgravity complex's energy production capacity.
Study the growth and breeding of plants in space
Plants exposed to environmental stressors, including space flight, change to adapt, but those changes may not be passed on to the next generation. Whether plants growing in space can pass this adaptation on to the next generation, and if so, whether the change will continue into subsequent generations or stabilize.
The study created a second generation of plants using seeds previously produced in space and returned to Earth. The findings may provide insights into how multi-generation plants can be grown in future space missions to provide food and other services. The research may also support strategies for adapting crops and other economically important plants to the Earth's margins and rebuilding habitats.
Observe thunderstorms
What exactly happened over thunderstorms? The question is a study by the European Space Agency (ESA). Observing thunderstorms from the space station allowed researchers to see electrical activity from above, specifically the start, frequency, and altitude of the recently discovered blue discharge. Scientists plan to estimate the energy of these phenomena to determine their effect on the atmosphere. A better understanding of lightning and electrical activity in Earth's atmosphere can improve atmospheric models and provide a better understanding of Earth's climate and weather.
Monitor space weather
The project, sponsored by the International Space Station National Laboratory, observed the weathering of geological samples directly exposed to solar and background cosmic radiation and determined whether those changes were visualized. The study also showcased experimental solar sensors, torque bars (which provide attitude control and derotation for satellites), and battery heaters. The program, a collaboration between Canadian graduate, undergraduate, and secondary school students, provides them with hands-on experience that stimulates their interest in research and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
These are just some of the hundreds of studies currently being conducted at the Orbital Laboratory in the areas of biological and biotechnology, physical sciences and Earth and space sciences. Advances in these areas will benefit life on Earth, help astronauts stay healthy during long-term space travel, and demonstrate future technologies for humans and robots to explore beyond low-Earth orbit, reaching the moon and eventually Mars through NASA's Artemis mission. (Translated by ChatGPT; Proofreader: Quark)