SpaceX's Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station took place Friday after a cancellation on Thursday.
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov arrived at the launch complex where the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was ready for launch at 11:43 a.m. ET Friday. Cardman is serving as commander, Fincke is the pilot, and Yui and Platonov are mission specialists.
The launch was called off Thursday just before liftoff due to adverse weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission was scheduled for 12:09 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A on a Falcon 9 rocket.
This is the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov, the second for Yui and the fourth for Fink. This is the sixth mission for Endeavour, SpaceX's most frequently used Crew Dragon vehicle.
The Crew-11 crew will replace astronauts who have been on the ISS since March. Crew-11 is SpaceX's 11th operational mission carrying astronauts to and from the ISS under contract with NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Some of the scientific experiments during the mission include:
- Bionutrients 3. Researching ways to grow vitamins in space to keep astronauts healthy during long missions. They will test yogurt, kefir, and a yeast-based drink.
- Stem cell X IP1. Stem cells may one day help treat cancer. Growing them in microgravity could produce more cells and better quality cells than is possible on Earth.
- Genes in Space 12. This research explores phage therapy, which uses viruses that can detect and destroy bacteria. This could be a powerful alternative to antibiotics, especially in space environments where infections are harder to treat.
Crew-11 members will participate in a number of experiments aimed at addressing health issues that astronauts may face during deep space missions as part of NASA's Artemis campaign and future missions to Mars, as well as other studies conducted through NASA's Human Research Program.
One study will focus on fluid pressure on the brain, while another will look at how the body metabolizes B vitamins and whether supplements can affect astronauts’ responses to changes in their body fluids. Some crew members will also wear thigh cuffs to prevent body fluids from entering their heads. Possible goals for these studies include finding ways to treat or prevent a range of eye and brain changes that can occur during long-term space travel.
Another experiment plans to measure changes in various human body systems in space, using vision testing, MRI scans and other medical tests to get a complete picture of the body's response to long-term spaceflight.
Sourse: www.upi.com
