Week Starts with Muscle Stimulation and Cellular Research During Cargo Transfers
This long-duration photograph was taken from the International Space Station orbiting above the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Indonesian island of Java. City lights and lightning storms streak below stars trailing above Earth’s atmopsheric glow.NASA The Expedition 73 crew kicked off the week studying electrical muscle stimulation and cellular immunity to protect crew health in microgravity. The orbital residents are also unpacking a new cargo craft and continuing to support the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew aboard the International Space Station. NASA Flight Engineers Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain joined each other in the Columbus laboratory module on Monday and explored stimulating muscles with small electrical signals to help prevent space-caused muscle atrophy. Ayers wore electrodes as McClain operated biomedical gear sending electrical impulses to her legs simulating load forces on the ground. Researchers are exploring electrical muscle stimulation to supplement daily space workouts and keep astronauts fit in weightlessness. Ayers...