NASA GeneLab’s Post

Space biology is the study of how life on Earth responds to the conditions of space. It aims to understand how spaceflight affects living systems, including the molecular, cellular, and tissue responses, and physiological effects. The goal is to prepare for future human exploration missions and to ensure the safety of those missions

🚀 Happy #DNADay! 🧬 Today, we celebrate the remarkable advancements in genetics and DNA research that have transformed our understanding of life itself. Did you know that spaceflight can impact our biology in fascinating ways? 🌌 With the help of NASAs Open Space Data Repository, we're uncovering how cosmic environments influence our DNA and so much more. From mitigating health risks for astronauts to unlocking new insights into human biology, OSDR is paving the way for a deeper understanding of space exploration's impact on our genetic makeup. Let's explore the final frontier together! #SpaceBiology #ExplorationUnbound 🛰️🧬 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gA7v5e3X

The Prospects of Space Colonization 1. Exploring New Worlds    One of the most exciting prospects of space colonization is the opportunity to explore new worlds. Mars, for example, has long been considered a prime candidate for colonization because of its relatively mild conditions compared to other planets. Scientists believe that, with the right technology, humans could live on Mars by building habitats that protect against harsh weather and provide oxygen and water. https://lnkd.in/dAPZvz3e

In addition to doing a weekly space news roundup on YouTube, I also send it out in newsletter form. Sign up if you'd like to keep up to date on what's going on in spaceflight and space science! #space #science #stem

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,084 26 January 2023 (Space Life Science Research Results) ary-2023-space-life-science-research-results.html #spaceline #ISS #spacebiology #spacemedicine #astrobiology #microgravity #spacelifescience

Size matters not. For more than a decade, Blue Canyon Technologies’ high-precision, technically-advanced solutions have disrupted the space industry by demonstrating how lower-cost small satellites serve as a complement to larger satellites in a number of arenas, and even a full replacement in others. For example, Arizona State University's upcoming SPARCS mission intends to use our 6U CubeSat to study the high-energy environments of exoplanets around distant stars, performing ultraviolet astrophysics research that can only be done now with the multi-billion-dollar, monolithic spacecraft Hubble. However, with Blue Canyon’s pointing accuracy and low jitter reaction wheels, these types of small, but powerful missions, are now much more affordable. Because traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, farm boy! May the 4th be with you! #starwars #starwarsday #smallsats #spacedomain #yoda #space #spacetechnology #cubesats #microsats #minisats #gnc #components

A while ago, I was handling this manuscript as an Editor and I just thought it was very unique. The article at Scientific Reports, is about a rare strain of black fungus that was isolated from a spacecraft assembly facility. It highlights the morphological and genomic characteristics of the organism, shedding light on its adaptive capabilities in extreme conditions. It also highlights the importance of maintaining sterile environments in sensitive facilities such that we don’t contaminate life-finding missions with the local microbiota of Earth. Have a read! A big thank you to Elizabeth Mann for her guidance and support. #ScientificReports #NaturePortfolio #SpringerNature

Did you catch today’s 🚀 launch? A #Cygnus spacecraft is headed to the International Space Station with scientific research including materials for WPI experiments that will study flame behavior in microgravity. The goal of Professor James Urban’s research is to better understand how wildfires spread here on Earth. https://bit.ly/3WtLXVS #space #wildfires

Pluto was first discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh using the 13-inch Lawrence Lowell Telescope at Lowell Observatory. However, early observations of Pluto were limited by the technology of the time, and scientists were unable to resolve its disk or determine its surface composition and atmosphere.In the late 1980s, a key breakthrough came when Pluto was observed occulting a distant star, proving the existence of Pluto's atmosphere and revealing its thermal structure. This was followed by observations using the Hubble Space Telescope in the mid-1990s, which allowed astronomers to create the first albedo maps of Pluto's surface.Over the next two decades, Pluto research continued at Lowell Observatory, with scientists like Will Grundy using both observational and laboratory techniques to further characterize the composition of Pluto and other icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt.The most dramatic improvement in our understanding of Pluto came in 2015, when the New Horizons spacecraft performed the first ever flyby of the dwarf planet, capturing incredibly detailed images and data. This provided an unprecedented close-up view of Pluto's surface features, geology, and atmospheric composition.In summary, our view of Pluto has steadily improved over the past 19 years, from a distant, blurry speck to a world with a complex geology and atmosphere, thanks to a combination of ground-based observations, space-based telescopes, and the historic New Horizons flyby #technology #aerospace #space #spacemission #moon #rocket #rockets #spaceexploration #aerospace #satellite #satellites #spacetechnology #spaceinnovation #spacecraft #spacenews #spacestation #pluto

Curiosity rover is a car-sized robot currently exploring Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission. It landed on Mars in August 2012 inside Gale Crater and has been investigating the Martian environment ever since. Curiosity's main scientific goals are to search for evidence of past or present life on Mars and study the planet's geology and climate. Here are some of Curiosity's key features: 🔸 Size and Weight: It's about the size of a small SUV, weighing roughly 899 kilograms (1,982 lbs). 🔸 Scientific Instruments: Curiosity carries a suite of scientific instruments to analyze the Martian soil, rocks, and atmosphere. 🔸 Mobility: The rover can drill into rocks, collect and analyze samples, and take high-resolution pictures and videos. 🔸 Power Source: Curiosity is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) that uses the heat from the decay of plutonium to generate electricity. 🔸 Discoveries: Since landing on Mars, Curiosity has made some significant discoveries, including finding evidence of an ancient freshwater lake that may have once supported life. #technology #aerospace #space #spacemission #moon #rocket #rockets #spaceexploration #aerospace #satellite #satellites #spacetechnology #spaceinnovation #spacecraft #spacenews #spacestation