{"id":788371,"date":"2024-09-04T16:48:54","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T21:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=788371"},"modified":"2024-09-04T16:48:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T21:48:54","slug":"astronauts-science-of-opportunity-experiments-help-prepare-for-launch-to-the-international-space-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=788371","title":{"rendered":"Astronaut’s ‘science of opportunity’ experiments help prepare for launch to the International Space Station"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n A fisheye lens attached to an electronic still camera was used to capture this image of NASA astronaut Don Pettit. Credit: NASA
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Science ideas are everywhere. Some of the greatest discoveries have come from tinkering and toying with new concepts and ideas. NASA astronaut Don Pettit is no stranger to inventing and discovering. During his previous missions, Pettit has contributed to advancements for human space exploration aboard the International Space Station resulting in several published scientific papers and breakthroughs.<\/p>\n

Pettit, accompanied by cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, will launch to the orbiting laboratory in September 2024. In preparation for his fourth spaceflight, read about previous “science of opportunity” experiments Pettit performed during his free time with materials readily available to the crew or included in his personal kit.<\/p>\n

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\n Thin ice under polarized light frozen aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA
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Freezing ice in space<\/h2>\n

Have you ever noticed a white bubble inside the ice in your ice tray at home? This is trapped air that accumulates in one area due to gravity. Pettit took this knowledge, access to a -90\u00b0 Celsius freezer aboard the space station, and an open weekend to figure out how water freezes in microgravity compared to on Earth. This photo uses polarized light to show thin frozen water and the visible differences from the ice we typically freeze here on Earth, providing more insight into physics concepts in microgravity.<\/p>\n

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