scholarly journals Spatial Characterization of Microbial Communities on Multi-Species Leafy Greens Grown Simultaneously in the Vegetable Production Systems on the International Space Station

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1060
Author(s):  
Mary E. Hummerick ◽  
Christina L. M. Khodadad ◽  
Anirudha R. Dixit ◽  
Lashelle E. Spencer ◽  
Gretchen J. Maldonado-Vasquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Lactuca Sativa ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
International Space ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
The Impact

The establishment of steady-state continuous crop production during long-term deep space missions is critical for providing consistent nutritional and psychological benefits for the crew, potentially improving their health and performance. Three technology demonstrations were completed achieving simultaneous multi-species plant growth and the concurrent use of two Veggie units on the International Space Station (ISS). Microbiological characterization using molecular and culture-based methods was performed on leaves and roots from two harvests of three leafy greens, red romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. ‘Outredgeous’); mizuna mustard, (Brassica rapa var japonica); and green leaf lettuce, (Lactuca sativa cv. Waldmann’s) and associated rooting pillow components and Veggie chamber surfaces. Culture based enumeration and pathogen screening indicated the leafy greens were safe for consumption. Surface samples of the Veggie facility and plant pillows revealed low counts of bacteria and fungi and are commonly isolated on ISS. Community analysis was completed with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Comparisons between pillow components, and plant tissue types from VEG-03D, E, and F revealed higher diversity in roots and rooting substrate than the leaves and wick. This work provides valuable information for food production-related research on the ISS and the impact of the plant microbiome on this unique closed environment.

Status - International Space Station (ISS) Crewmembers' Noise Exposures

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (4) ◽  
pp. 2740-2754
Author(s):  
Jose Limardo ◽  
Christopher S. Allen ◽  
Richard W. Danielson ◽  
Andrew J. Boone
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
International Space ◽  
Exposure Monitoring ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dosimetry Data

Environmental noise in space vehicles, caused by onboard equipment and crew activities, has generated concerns for crew health and safety since early U.S. space missions. The International Space Station (ISS) provides a unique environment where acoustic conditions can be monitored while crewmembers from the U.S. and their international partners work and live for as long as 6 to 12 consecutive months. This review of acoustic dosimetry data collected to date reveals that the noise exposure limits of NASA's stringent noise constraint flight rule have been exceeded in 41% of these dosimetry measurements since ISS Increment 17 (2008), with undefined impacts to crew. These measurements do not take into account the effects of hearing protection devices worn by the crew. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on ISS noise exposure monitoring approaches and hearing conservation strategies that include acoustic dosimetry data collected since the ISS Increment 55 mission (April 2018). Future directions and recommendations for the ISS noise exposure monitoring program will also be presented, including research initiatives aimed at better defining the impact of ISS noise on crew health and performance.

scholarly journals VEG-01: Veggie Hardware Validation Testing on the International Space Station

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gioia D. Massa ◽  
Nicole F. Dufour ◽  
John A. Carver ◽  
Mary E. Hummerick ◽  
Raymond M. Wheeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Romaine Lettuce ◽  
International Space ◽  
Excess Water ◽  
Validation Testing ◽  
Test Plants

AbstractThe Veggie vegetable production system was launched to the International Space Station with three sets of test plants for an initial hardware validation test, designated VEG-01. VEG-01A and B featured the crop ‘Outredgeous’ red romaine lettuce, while VEG-01C tested ‘Profusion’ zinnia plants for longer duration growth and flowering characteristics. Irrigation of plants in all three growth studies presented a challenge, with lettuce suffering from inadequate water and zinnia suffering from excess water. Direct plant pillow watering by crew members enabled plant growth, and returned samples from the first crop, VEG-01A, indicated that food safety was acceptable. VEG-01B plants at harvest were split to allow for on-orbit crew consumption as well as science sample return. Direct-watered zinnias suffered fungal growth and other physiological stresses, but two plants survived and these produced numerous flowers. The VEG-01 series allowed a large amount of data on system performance, human factors, procedures, microbiology, and chemistry of space-grown plants to be gathered. Observations from these tests are helping to drive future hardware modifications and provide information on food crop growth and development in a microgravity environment.

scholarly journals Probiotics on the Board of the International Space Station: from the Space Experiment to the Space Production.

2020 ◽  
pp. 104-119
Author(s):  
E.V. Popova ◽  
I.V. Kutnik ◽  
A.I. Kobatov ◽  
N.B. Verbitskaya ◽  
I.V. Churilova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Space Experiment ◽  
International Space ◽  
Probiotic Potential ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Space Production ◽  
The Impact

Since 2007, a series of experiments on the production and use of product with high probiotic potential is being performed on the board of the ISS in order to weaken the impact of mutagenic factors on the human body. The first research objective was to develop the technology of the microorganism emulsive cultivation under weightless conditions on the board of the ISS. The second research objective was to obtain products of microbiological origin good for maintaining the required composition of human endo-microflora. Crews of the ISS-49 through ISS-63 were involved in the research in the framework of the “Probiovit” space experiment. The paper analyzes and summarizes obtained experimental results.

scholarly journals Study of the impact of long-duration space missions at the International Space Station on the astronaut microbiome

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander A. Voorhies ◽  
C. Mark Ott ◽  
Satish Mehta ◽  
Duane L. Pierson ◽  
Brian E. Crucian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
International Space ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Colour remote sensing of the impact of artificial light at night (I): The potential of the International Space Station and other DSLR-based platforms

2019 ◽  
Vol 224 ◽  
pp. 92-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Sánchez de Miguel ◽  
Christopher C.M. Kyba ◽  
Martin Aubé ◽  
Jaime Zamorano ◽  
Nicolas Cardiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
International Space ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Nonchemical Management of Soilborne Pests in Fresh Market Vegetable Production Systems

2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 1367-1372 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O. Chellemi
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Production System ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Proactive Approach ◽  
The Impact

Nonchemical methods including host resistance, organic amendments, crop rotation, soil solarization, and cultural practices have been used to control soilborne pests in fresh market vegetable production systems. Their suitability as alternatives to methyl bromide will depend on the approach to pest management used by the grower. Traditionally, methyl bromide is used in production systems that rely on the single application of a broad-spectrum biocide to disinfest soils prior to planting. Non-chemical methods are not suitable for a single tactic approach to pest management because they do not provide the same broad spectrum of activity or consistency as fumigation with methyl bromide. Nonchemical methods are compatible with an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, where multiple tactics are used to maintain damage from pests below an economic threshold while minimizing the impact to beneficial organisms. However, adoption of IPM is hindered by the paucity of economically feasible sampling programs and thresholds for soilborne pests and by a reluctance of growers to commit additional resources to the collection and management of biological information. A novel approach to the management of soilborne pests is to design the crop production system to avoid pest outbreaks. Using this “proactive” approach, a tomato production system was developed using strip-tillage into existing bahia-grass pasture. By minimizing inputs and disruption to the pasture, growers were able to reap the rotational benefits of bahiagrass without cultivating the rotational crop. While minimizing the need for interventive procedures, a proactive approach is difficult to integrate into existing crop production systems and will require several years of testing and validation.

scholarly journals Validation of Methods to Assess the Immunoglobulin Gene Repertoire in Tissues Obtained from Mice on the International Space Station

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trisha A. Rettig ◽  
Claire Ward ◽  
Michael J. Pecaut ◽  
Stephen K. Chapes
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Gene Segment ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Immunoglobulin Gene ◽  
Data Set ◽  
International Space ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Storage

AbstractSpaceflight is known to affect immune cell populations. In particular, splenic B-cell numbers decrease during spaceflight and in ground-based physiological models. Although antibody isotype changes have been assessed during and after spaceflight, an extensive characterization of the impact of spaceflight on antibody composition has not been conducted in mice. Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatic tools are now available to assess antibody repertoires. We can now identify immunoglobulin gene-segment usage, junctional regions, and modifications that contribute to specificity and diversity. Due to limitations on the International Space Station, alternate sample collection and storage methods must be employed. Our group compared Illumina MiSeq® sequencing data from multiple sample preparation methods in normal C57Bl/6J mice to validate that sample preparation and storage would not bias the outcome of antibody repertoire characterization. In this report, we also compared sequencing techniques and a bioinformatic workflow on the data output when we assessed the IgH and Igκ variable gene usage. Our bioinformatic workflow has been optimized for Illumina HiSeq® and MiSeq® datasets, and is designed specifically to reduce bias, capture the most information from Ig sequences, and produce a data set that provides other data mining options.

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