Various experiments were transported to the orbiting laboratory aboard the Cargo Dragon. These are four of the projects highlighted by NASA:
Measuring solar wind The CODEX (Coronal Diagnostic Experiment) examines the solar wind, creating a globally comprehensive data to help scientists confirm theories for what heats the solar wind which is a million degrees hotter than the Sun's surface and sends it streaming out at almost a million miles per hour. The investigation uses a
coronagraph, an instrument that blocks out direct sunlight to reveal details in the outer atmosphere or corona. The instrument takes multiple daily measurements that determine the temperature and speed of electrons in the solar wind, along with the density information gathered by traditional coronagraphs. A diverse international team has been designing, building, and testing the instrument since 2019 at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Maryland.
Antarctic moss in space A radiation-tolerance experiment, ARTEMOSS, uses a live Antarctic moss,
Ceratodon purpureus, to study how some plants better tolerate exposure to radiation and to examine the physical and genetic response of biological systems to the combination of cosmic radiation and microgravity. Little research has been done on how these two factors together affect plant physiology and performance, and results could help identify biological systems suitable for use in bioregenerative life support systems on future missions. Mosses grow on every continent on Earth and have the highest radiation tolerance of any plant. Their small size, low maintenance, ability to absorb water from the air, and tolerance of harsh conditions make them suitable for spaceflight. NASA chose the Antarctic moss because that continent receives high levels of radiation from the Sun.
Exposing materials to space The Euro Material Ageing investigation from the
European Space Agency includes two experiments studying how certain materials age while exposed to space. The first experiment, developed by
Centre National d'Études Spatiales, includes materials selected from 15 European entities. The second experiment looks at organic samples and their stability or degradation when exposed to ultraviolet radiation not filtered by Earth's atmosphere. Predicting the behavior and lifespan of materials used in space can be difficult because facilities on the ground cannot simultaneously test for all aspects of the space environment. The exposed samples are recovered and returned to Earth.
Repairing spacecraft from the inside Nanolab Astrobeat investigates using
cold welding to repair perforations in the outer shell or hull of a spacecraft from the inside. Less force is needed to fuse metallic materials in space than on Earth, and cold welding could be an effective way to repair spacecraft. Some micrometeoroids and space debris traveling at high velocities could perforate the outer surfaces of spacecraft, possibly jeopardizing mission success or crew safety. The ability to repair impact damage from inside a spacecraft may be more efficient and safer for crew members. Results also could improve applications of cold welding on Earth as well. == ISS reboost ==