🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 8 (from laksa170)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa008.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science","crawl_time":1775547420,"first_indexed_time":1605212497,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,space!www,\/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science s443","src_root_hash":"7770394665477845008","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"SpaceX's Crew-1 launch for NASA is carrying rock-eating microbes (and more weird science) | Space","meta_descriptions":["The first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the International Space Station but also a suite of unique science experiments for the crew to work on."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive.\n(Image credit: National Institutes of Health)\nThe first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the\nInternational Space Station\nbut also kick off some unique science experiments for the crew to work on.\nThe Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission for NASA is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday evening (Sat. 14), and\nyou can watch coverage live at Space.com or on NASA TV\n. Participating crewmembers on the six-month flight are NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. \nSome of the experiments that the\nCrew-1\nastronauts will tackle involve microbe-eating rocks, tests of key parts for future spacesuits and a student genetics project. A partial list of the mission's experiments is below.\nArticle continues below\nLive updates:\nSpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA\nFood Physiology:\nFloating around for a few months can change a spaceflyer's immune system.\nThe Food Physiology\nexperiment will therefore examine how dietary changes to orbiting astronauts can change or enhance their immune function, along with the \"microbiome\" (microbe composition) of their guts. The overall goal of the experiment is to improve spaceflight diet and crew health. The study is ongoing, and Crew-1 will bring resupply hardware to space for more work. During the Crew-1 mission, Glover is scheduled to collect biological samples of his body as a participant in the experiment.\nGenes in Space-7:\nThis student experiment, from Finsam Samson and Yujie Wang at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, was\none of the winning selections from the Genes in Space competition\nfor students in Grades 7 to 12. The duo will study how brain function changes during spaceflight, with an aim to better help astronauts do their work on long-duration missions on the space station, the moon and other deep-space destinations.\nSERFE and spacesuits:\nNASA is already thinking ahead to its next moon spacesuit, called the\nExploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit\n(xEMU). Unlike the current NASA EMU used for spacewalks outside the orbiting lab, the newer generation of spacesuit will use water evaporation to remove heat from an astronaut's body and to maintain a safe temperature during spacewalks. A key element of this system is the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator, which is already aboard the station and will be tested on simulated spacewalks during the Crew-1 mission via the\nSpacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment\n. The investigation will conduct 25 simulated eight-hour spacewalks to see how well the garment and technology work in space.\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!\nIn photos:\nSpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station\nKristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA’s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit on Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington.\n(Image credit: NASA\/Joel Kowsky)\nPlant Habitat-02:\nThe ISS is gaining a reputation for its various orbiting gardens, and Crew-1 will add  to previous research with lettuce, flowers and other plants. A recent commercial resupply mission from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered radish seeds to the station, and the astronauts will grow them for the\nPlant Habitat-02\nexperiment inside the\nAdvanced Plant Habitat\n. Future crews on long-duration missions will use plants for part of their diet, and radishes will be especially useful due to their nutritious nature and ability to grow quickly. Radishes are also similar to\nArabidopsis\n, a plant that has been studied many times in microgravity.\nBioAsteroid:\nSpace station astronauts will take a close look at microbes that can interact with rocks, as part of the\nBioAsteroid\nexperiment, which will launch on a SpaceX cargo mission Dec. 2. Potential future uses of this research could include creating life-support systems that use regolith (the dusty soil on the moon and small worlds), or breaking down the rocks into soils for plants to use, or extracting minerals from rocks. The hope is to find more uses of material on the moon, Mars or other destinations to help future crews build bases and ship fewer resources from Earth to save on transportation costs.\nTissue Chips:\nThis unique biology experiment puts human cells on a thumb-sized 3D matrix, creating a sort of small, artificial organ that simulates organ functions. The\nTissue Chips in Space\nexperiment (which will also fly on the Dec. 2 SpaceX cargo flight) will examine how human cells respond and adapt to drugs, stress and genetic changes during spaceflight. The Crew-1 astronauts will study cells from human lungs, bone marrow, muscle and other organs. One major question investigators hope to address is how humans lose muscle mass in space after a few weeks or months in microgravity.\nCardinal Heart:\nAnother organ affected by spaceflight is the heart, which is where the\nCardinal Heart\nexperiment, which will be delivered next month as well, will come in. The investigators will use engineered (artificial) heart tissues mounted on tissue chips to better understand cardiovascular risk before spaceflight, and to create strong countermeasures for heart conditions. The research is expected to benefit not only flying astronauts but also individuals on Earth at risk of cardiac disease.\nCorrection:\nThis story was updated at 4:45 p.m. EST to note that the SERFE spacesuit experiment is already aboard the ISS awaiting the Crew-1 team, and that the BioAsteroid, Tissue Chips and Cardinal Heart experiments will be launched to the crew on a separate cargo ship in December.\nFollow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us\non Twitter @Spacedotcom\nand on Facebook. \nShare your thoughts\n0\n0\n0\n0\nJoin the community\nJoin the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers.\nAlready have an account?\nLog in\nLog In\nForgotten your password?\nReset it\nNot got an account?\nRegister\nMy Details\nUpdate your details below...\nKeep in the Know\nWould you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners?\nValidate Your Mobile No.\nWe have sent a code to\n. Please enter it below to verify your account.\nUpdate mobile number\nResend code\nUpdate Your Mobile No.\nYou may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide.\nCancel\nembed-reactions.hint_heading\nembed-reactions.hint_subheading\nValidate Your Email Address\nWe have sent a code to\n. Please enter it below to verify your account.\nUpdate email address\nResend code\nUpdate Your Email Address\nYou may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide.\nCancel\nCreate a Username\nThis will be publicly viewable so make it something you like!\nReset your password\nEnter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password.\nCheck your inbox\nIf your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password.\nSet new password\nPlease enter your new password below.\nLeaderboard\nRank\nPlayer\nScore\nTime\nElizabeth Howell (she\/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, \"Why Am I Taller?\" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p\/?c1=2&c2=10055482&cv=4.4.0&cj=1)\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science#main)\n\nOpen menu\n\n[![Space](https:\/\/www.space.com\/media\/img\/spc-logo-w.svg) Space](https:\/\/www.space.com\/)\n\n[Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter](https:\/\/www.space.com\/newsletter)\n\n[RSS](https:\/\/www.space.com\/feeds.xml)\n\nSign in\n\n- View Profile\n- Sign out\n\nSearch\n\n- [Space Exploration](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration)\n  - [Launches & Spacecraft](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft)\n    - [Private spaceflight](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/private-spaceflight)\n    - [Human spaceflight](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight)\n    - [SpaceX](https:\/\/www.space.com\/tag\/spacex)\n    - [Blue Origin](https:\/\/www.space.com\/tag\/blue-origin)\n    - 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NASA gearing up to launch Artemis 2 astronauts around the moon on April 1](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/1-week-away-nasa-gearing-up-to-launch-artemis-2-astronauts-around-the-moon-on-april-1 \"1 week away! NASA gearing up to launch Artemis 2 astronauts around the moon on April 1\")\n\n[![Four people wearing blue jumpsuits stand next to each other in front of a NASA jets.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsJZRQXXGFMUjzjkrvoEo.jpg) Artemis Artemis 2 astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of NASA's historic launch around the moon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/artemis-2-astronauts-arrive-at-kennedy-space-center-ahead-of-nasas-historic-launch-around-the-moon \"Artemis 2 astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of NASA's historic launch around the moon\")\n\n[![The Artemis 2 crew poses in front of an Orion simulator Jan. 23, 2026 at NASA\\&\\#039;s Johnson Space Center in Houston. From left: Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen and Victor Glover.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pzTAAG8vKmH5mikB5q2aNd.jpg) Artemis 'We're all on this journey together:' Who are the Artemis 2 astronauts launching to the moon?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/were-all-on-this-journey-together-who-are-the-artemis-2-astronauts-launching-to-the-moon \"'We're all on this journey together:' Who are the Artemis 2 astronauts launching to the moon?\")\n\n[![Four astroanuts in orange spacesuits with a NASA Artemis 2 patch](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oDj2Zu7UzfTcvK9XnG6XPg.png) Artemis Inside Artemis 2: NASA's historic astronaut moon mission explained (video series)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/inside-artemis-2-nasas-historic-astronaut-moon-mission-explained-video-series \"Inside Artemis 2: NASA's historic astronaut moon mission explained (video series) \")\n\n[![An image of the International Space Station, with its many solar panels and modules, floating above Earth in space](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLyQbg348bTUuCFRZstAo.jpg) International Space Station Europe plans EPIC SpaceX mission to send 4 astronauts to the ISS before its retirement](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/europe-plans-epic-spacex-mission-to-send-4-astronauts-to-the-iss-before-its-retirement \"Europe plans EPIC SpaceX mission to send 4 astronauts to the ISS before its retirement\")\n\n[![The Artemis 2 prime and backup crews practice eating in a simulator. From left: Jenni Gibbons, backup crew (Canadian Space Agency); Victor Glover, prime crew (NASA) and Christina Koch, prime crew (NASA). ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UdgXxSXL2hU6WSyDhHD4eD.jpg) Artemis Moon menu: Here's what the Artemis 2 astronauts will eat during their historic mission (video)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/moon-menu-heres-what-the-artemis-2-astronauts-will-eat-during-their-historic-mission-video \"Moon menu: Here's what the Artemis 2 astronauts will eat during their historic mission (video)\")\n\n[![a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xbHtcdhwi8hRvXYVtZNbbh.jpg) Launches & Spacecraft Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/live\/rocket-launch-today \"Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?\")\n\n[![A bald man wearing a blue flight suit with the NASA meatball logo and American flag on it speaks into a microphone sitting behind a large desk with a gray background behind him.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/48WRoyPEN3FbbsLc5tRs5N.jpg) Artemis 'We work for them, too': Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, NASA astronaut Victor Glover says (video)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/we-work-for-them-too-artemis-2-moon-mission-is-for-everyone-nasa-astronaut-victor-glover-says-video \"'We work for them, too': Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, NASA astronaut Victor Glover says (video)\")\n\n[![NASA\\&\\#039;s Artemis 2 moon rocket is seen inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 25, 2026, after rolling back from the launch pad.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8XWgNNJExHdCYevmHHR87B.jpg) Artemis NASA says its Artemis 2 moon rocket is all fixed up. It could launch astronauts to the moon on April 1](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/nasa-says-its-artemis-2-moon-rocket-is-all-fixed-up-it-could-launch-astronauts-to-the-moon-on-april-1 \"NASA says its Artemis 2 moon rocket is all fixed up. It could launch astronauts to the moon on April 1\")\n\n[![An orange and white rocket is held vertically by scaffolding on a launch pad. ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eoADNT3ZnytNt5MEv3AgW3.jpg) Artemis Watch NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad with this 24-hour livestream](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/watch-nasas-artemis-2-moon-rocket-on-the-launch-pad-with-this-24-hour-livestream \"Watch NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad with this 24-hour livestream\")\n\n[![the full moon hangs in frame with the orion, inside its payload shell atop the SLS rocket.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rUi4fuwVeKPS4Zf6Gqem8E.jpg) Artemis NASA may be 1 month away from historic Artemis 2 astronaut launch around the moon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/historic-artemis-2-moon-launch-may-be-just-1-month-away \"NASA may be 1 month away from historic Artemis 2 astronaut launch around the moon\")\n\nTrending\n\n- [Artemis 2 moon launch: Live updates](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news\/live\/artemis-2-nasa-moon-mission-launch-updates-march-30-2026#mrfhud=true)\n- [Amazon Spring Sale space deals](https:\/\/www.space.com\/technology\/amazon-spring-sale-deals-for-stargazing-2026-huge-savings-on-telescopes-binoculars-and-cameras)\n- [Night sky tonight\\!](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news\/live\/night-sky-what-you-can-see-tonight-march-31)\n- [Aurora Forecast](https:\/\/www.space.com\/live\/aurora-forecast-northern-lights-possible-tonight-march-30)\n- [Space Calendar](https:\/\/www.space.com\/32286-space-calendar.html)\n- [Live 4K Sen video from space\\!](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/earth\/live-4k-video-from-space-see-earth-from-the-iss-with-sharp-eyed-sen-cameras)\n- [Best Drones](https:\/\/www.space.com\/best-drones)\n- [Lego Star Wars deals](https:\/\/www.space.com\/lego-star-wars-deals)\n- [Next Full Moon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/16830-full-moon-calendar.html)\n- [Best Telescopes](https:\/\/www.space.com\/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html)\n- [Solar System Planets](https:\/\/www.space.com\/16080-solar-system-planets.html)\n- [Best Star Projectors](https:\/\/www.space.com\/best-star-projectors)\n- [Best Binoculars](https:\/\/www.space.com\/26021-best-binoculars.html)\n\n1. [Space Exploration](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration)\n2. [Human Spaceflight](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight)\n# SpaceX's Crew-1 launch for NASA is carrying rock-eating microbes (and more weird science)\n[News](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news)\n\nBy [Elizabeth Howell](https:\/\/www.space.com\/author\/elizabeth-howell)\n\nlast updated\n\nNovember 12, 2020\n\nCrew Dragon will carry four astronauts and a lot of experiments to the space station.\n\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https:\/\/www.space.com\/41418-about-us.html#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure).\n\nClick for next article\n\n![During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KoXBaMutZoRRhEaEQVCbFM.jpg)\n\nDuring the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive. (Image credit: National Institutes of Health)\n\nShare\n\n- Copy link\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fspacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science)\n- [X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=SpaceX%27s+Crew-1+launch+for+NASA+is+carrying+rock-eating+microbes+%28and+more+weird+science%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fspacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science)\n- [Whatsapp](whatsapp:\/\/send?text=SpaceX%27s+Crew-1+launch+for+NASA+is+carrying+rock-eating+microbes+%28and+more+weird+science%29+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fspacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science?fwa)\n- [Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fspacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science&title=SpaceX%27s+Crew-1+launch+for+NASA+is+carrying+rock-eating+microbes+%28and+more+weird+science%29)\n- [Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fspacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science&media=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net%2FKoXBaMutZoRRhEaEQVCbFM.jpg)\n- [Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?title=SpaceX%27s+Crew-1+launch+for+NASA+is+carrying+rock-eating+microbes+%28and+more+weird+science%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fspacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science)\n- [Email](mailto:?subject=I%20found%20this%20webpage&body=Hi,%20I%20found%20this%20webpage%20and%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20it%20https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-science)\n\nShare this article\n\nJoin the conversation\n\n[Follow us](https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=space.com)\n\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n\nNewsletter\n\nGet the Space.com Newsletter\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\n***\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.\n\nYou are now subscribed\n\nYour newsletter sign-up was successful\n\n***\nWant to add more newsletters?\n\n![Daily Newsletter](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vfpcxVDrtfCysGSjzYjeSg.png)\n\nDelivered daily\n\nDaily Newsletter\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\nSubscribe +\n\n![Watch This Space](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjzmFi262iKuxrcCtSghKg.jpg)\n\nOnce a month\n\nWatch This Space\n\nSign up to our monthly entertainment newsletter to keep up with all our coverage of the latest sci-fi and space movies, tv shows, games and books.\n\nSubscribe +\n\n![Night Sky This Week](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qsHaEcQ6H695rhBoNZdK5g.jpg)\n\nOnce a week\n\nNight Sky This Week\n\nDiscover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos. Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us\\!\n\nSubscribe +\n\n![Strange New Words](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mk2LrCm68RFHzQhNyQaH2Y.jpg)\n\nTwice a month\n\nStrange New Words\n\nSpace.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans\\!\n\nSubscribe +\n\n***\nAn account already exists for this email address, please log in.\n\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n\nThe first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the [International Space Station](https:\/\/www.space.com\/16748-international-space-station.html) but also kick off some unique science experiments for the crew to work on.\n\nThe Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission for NASA is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday evening (Sat. 14), and [you can watch coverage live at Space.com or on NASA TV](https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-nasa-crew-1-mission-launch-webcasts). Participating crewmembers on the six-month flight are NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi.\n\nSome of the experiments that the [Crew-1](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news\/live\/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates) astronauts will tackle involve microbe-eating rocks, tests of key parts for future spacesuits and a student genetics project. A partial list of the mission's experiments is below.\n\nArticle continues below\n\nYou may like\n\n- [![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida Crew 12](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4LzuqdV9Sw79up9c5nZXd4.jpg) SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/spacex-launches-crew-12-astronauts-to-short-staffed-international-space-station-we-have-left-the-earth-but-the-earth-has-not-left-us)\n- [![A white spacecraft sits on a mobile scaffold underneath a bright blue sky.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eqepdosgSdhu7yhzmKZyZd.jpg) SpaceX Dragon arrives for Crew-12 launch \\| Space photo of the day for Feb. 6, 2026](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/spacex-dragon-arrives-for-crew-12-launch-space-photo-of-the-day-for-feb-6-2026)\n- [![The International Space Station.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4ySZ6VBYiA6859tdZ2fMcW.jpg) NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/nasa-will-evacuate-spacex-crew-11-astronauts-from-international-space-station-on-jan-14)\n\n**Live updates:**[**SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA**](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news\/live\/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates)\n\n[Click here for more Space.com videos...](https:\/\/videos.space.com\/m\/w4neQRzm\/spacex-crew-transport-system-certified-for-regular-flights-by-nasa?list=9wzCTV4g)\n\n**Food Physiology:** Floating around for a few months can change a spaceflyer's immune system. [The Food Physiology](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=7870) experiment will therefore examine how dietary changes to orbiting astronauts can change or enhance their immune function, along with the \"microbiome\" (microbe composition) of their guts. The overall goal of the experiment is to improve spaceflight diet and crew health. The study is ongoing, and Crew-1 will bring resupply hardware to space for more work. During the Crew-1 mission, Glover is scheduled to collect biological samples of his body as a participant in the experiment.\n\n**Genes in Space-7:** This student experiment, from Finsam Samson and Yujie Wang at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, was [one of the winning selections from the Genes in Space competition](https:\/\/www.genesinspace.org\/news\/press\/genes-space-winning-high-school-team-perform-experiment-international-space-station\/) for students in Grades 7 to 12. The duo will study how brain function changes during spaceflight, with an aim to better help astronauts do their work on long-duration missions on the space station, the moon and other deep-space destinations.\n\n**SERFE and spacesuits:** NASA is already thinking ahead to its next moon spacesuit, called the [Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-feature\/exploration-extravehicular-mobility-unit-xemu) (xEMU). Unlike the current NASA EMU used for spacewalks outside the orbiting lab, the newer generation of spacesuit will use water evaporation to remove heat from an astronaut's body and to maintain a safe temperature during spacewalks. A key element of this system is the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator, which is already aboard the station and will be tested on simulated spacewalks during the Crew-1 mission via the [Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=7514). The investigation will conduct 25 simulated eight-hour spacewalks to see how well the garment and technology work in space.\n\nGet the Space.com Newsletter\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.\n\n**In photos:** [**SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station**](https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-photos)\n\n![Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA\\&amp;rsquo;s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA\\&amp;rsquo;s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/65U88Di54wkuvAzGWW52WU.jpg)\n\nKristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA’s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit on Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. (Image credit: NASA\/Joel Kowsky)\n\n**Plant Habitat-02:** The ISS is gaining a reputation for its various orbiting gardens, and Crew-1 will add to previous research with lettuce, flowers and other plants. A recent commercial resupply mission from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered radish seeds to the station, and the astronauts will grow them for the [Plant Habitat-02](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=7793) experiment inside the [Advanced Plant Habitat](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/Giving_Roots_and_Shoots_Their_Space_APH). Future crews on long-duration missions will use plants for part of their diet, and radishes will be especially useful due to their nutritious nature and ability to grow quickly. Radishes are also similar to *Arabidopsis*, a plant that has been studied many times in microgravity.\n\n**BioAsteroid:** Space station astronauts will take a close look at microbes that can interact with rocks, as part of the [BioAsteroid](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=8308) experiment, which will launch on a SpaceX cargo mission Dec. 2. Potential future uses of this research could include creating life-support systems that use regolith (the dusty soil on the moon and small worlds), or breaking down the rocks into soils for plants to use, or extracting minerals from rocks. The hope is to find more uses of material on the moon, Mars or other destinations to help future crews build bases and ship fewer resources from Earth to save on transportation costs.\n\nWhat to read next\n\n- [![four people in white flight suits pose for a picture](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nyt4PaLfrz97rEtdS7WWZg.jpg) Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/who-are-the-astronauts-of-spacexs-crew-12-mission-to-the-iss)\n- [![four humans stand in blue jumpsuits in front of a background of a dark earth and shadowed moon, with a small ISS in the top left. ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PPWuVdsXBHhENj5YBbSkyM.jpg) NASA and SpaceX move up launch of Crew-12 astronauts to Feb. 11 as relief crew after ISS medical evacuation](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/nasa-and-spacex-move-up-launch-of-crew-12-astronauts-to-feb-11-as-relief-crew-after-iss-medical-evacuation)\n- [![four humans in white helmets](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qjFhWEU8YNq5fPZX6C7ENY.jpg) NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon puts Crew-12 SpaceX launch in delicate dance](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/nasas-artemis-2-mission-to-the-moon-puts-crew-12-spacex-launch-in-delicate-dance)\n\n**Tissue Chips:** This unique biology experiment puts human cells on a thumb-sized 3D matrix, creating a sort of small, artificial organ that simulates organ functions. The [Tissue Chips in Space](https:\/\/ncats.nih.gov\/tissuechip\/projects\/space) experiment (which will also fly on the Dec. 2 SpaceX cargo flight) will examine how human cells respond and adapt to drugs, stress and genetic changes during spaceflight. The Crew-1 astronauts will study cells from human lungs, bone marrow, muscle and other organs. One major question investigators hope to address is how humans lose muscle mass in space after a few weeks or months in microgravity.\n\n**Cardinal Heart:** Another organ affected by spaceflight is the heart, which is where the [Cardinal Heart](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=8218) experiment, which will be delivered next month as well, will come in. The investigators will use engineered (artificial) heart tissues mounted on tissue chips to better understand cardiovascular risk before spaceflight, and to create strong countermeasures for heart conditions. The research is expected to benefit not only flying astronauts but also individuals on Earth at risk of cardiac disease.\n\n***Correction:*** *This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. EST to note that the SERFE spacesuit experiment is already aboard the ISS awaiting the Crew-1 team, and that the BioAsteroid, Tissue Chips and Cardinal Heart experiments will be launched to the crew on a separate cargo ship in December.*\n\n*Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us* *on Twitter @Spacedotcom* *and on Facebook.*\n\n**Share your thoughts**\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\nRandom QuizPlay a Random Quiz\n\nFilter by Category\n\nJoin the community\n\nJoin the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers.\n\nI'm in\\!\n\nNot right now\n\nAlready have an account? Log in\n\nThis page will close automatically once you have completed the authorisation process\n\nMy Details\n\nUpdate your details below...\n\nKeep in the Know\n\nWould you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners?\n\nOK\n\nValidate Your Mobile No.\n\nWe have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account.\n\nUpdate Your Mobile No.\n\nYou may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide.\n\nembed-reactions.hint\\_heading\n\nembed-reactions.hint\\_subheading\n\nValidate Your Email Address\n\nWe have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account.\n\nUpdate Your Email Address\n\nYou may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide.\n\nCreate a Username\n\nThis will be publicly viewable so make it something you like\\!\n\nReset your password\n\nEnter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password.\n\nCheck your inbox\n\nIf your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password.\n\nSet new password\n\nPlease enter your new password below.\n\nLeaderboard\n\n| Rank | Player | Score | Time |\n|---|---|---|---|\n\nLog In or Register\n\nMore Quizzes\n\nLog Out\n\n![Elizabeth Howell](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RU2kJRoTDQkePFeSZBNxHF.jpg)\n\n[Elizabeth Howell](https:\/\/www.space.com\/author\/elizabeth-howell)\n\nContributing Writer\n\nElizabeth Howell (she\/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, \"Why Am I Taller?\" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams.\n\nRead more\n\n[![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida Crew 12](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4LzuqdV9Sw79up9c5nZXd4.jpg) Launches & Spacecraft SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/spacex-launches-crew-12-astronauts-to-short-staffed-international-space-station-we-have-left-the-earth-but-the-earth-has-not-left-us \"SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'\")\n\n[![A white spacecraft sits on a mobile scaffold underneath a bright blue sky.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eqepdosgSdhu7yhzmKZyZd.jpg) Launches & Spacecraft SpaceX Dragon arrives for Crew-12 launch \\| Space photo of the day for Feb. 6, 2026](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/spacex-dragon-arrives-for-crew-12-launch-space-photo-of-the-day-for-feb-6-2026 \"SpaceX Dragon arrives for Crew-12 launch | Space photo of the day for Feb. 6, 2026\")\n\n[![The International Space Station.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4ySZ6VBYiA6859tdZ2fMcW.jpg) International Space Station NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/nasa-will-evacuate-spacex-crew-11-astronauts-from-international-space-station-on-jan-14 \"NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14\")\n\n[![four people in white flight suits pose for a picture](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nyt4PaLfrz97rEtdS7WWZg.jpg) International Space Station Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/who-are-the-astronauts-of-spacexs-crew-12-mission-to-the-iss \"Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?\")\n\n[![four humans stand in blue jumpsuits in front of a background of a dark earth and shadowed moon, with a small ISS in the top left. ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PPWuVdsXBHhENj5YBbSkyM.jpg) Human Spaceflight NASA and SpaceX move up launch of Crew-12 astronauts to Feb. 11 as relief crew after ISS medical evacuation](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/nasa-and-spacex-move-up-launch-of-crew-12-astronauts-to-feb-11-as-relief-crew-after-iss-medical-evacuation \"NASA and SpaceX move up launch of Crew-12 astronauts to Feb. 11 as relief crew after ISS medical evacuation\")\n\n[![four humans in white helmets](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qjFhWEU8YNq5fPZX6C7ENY.jpg) Human Spaceflight NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon puts Crew-12 SpaceX launch in delicate dance](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/nasas-artemis-2-mission-to-the-moon-puts-crew-12-spacex-launch-in-delicate-dance \"NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon puts Crew-12 SpaceX launch in delicate dance\")\n\nLatest in Human Spaceflight\n\n[![A close up of a sperm cell.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZ25JQLNdz7efZusomUjH.jpg) Human Spaceflight Can humans have babies in space? It may be harder than expected](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/having-babies-in-space-may-be-harder-than-expected \"Can humans have babies in space? It may be harder than expected\")\n\n[![Shenzhou 21 mission commander Zhang Lu conducted his sixth spacewalk on March 16, 2025 tying the record for most EVAs for a Chinese astronaut. ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aKuvaLjGSHK9BX9QVNmMGe.jpg) Human Spaceflight Chinese astronaut conducts record-tying 6th spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/chinese-astronaut-conducts-record-tying-6th-spacewalk-outside-tiangong-space-station-video \"Chinese astronaut conducts record-tying 6th spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video)\")\n\n[![An illustration of an astronaut touching a giant abstract brain.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SQ3aDUWAjqUSUHyRU4BSLG.jpg) Human Spaceflight Living in space can change where your brain sits in your skull – new research](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/living-in-space-can-change-where-your-brain-sits-in-your-skull-new-research \"Living in space can change where your brain sits in your skull – new research\")\n\n[![The International Space Station.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cPkP4ezcLtfrApTcGamu5n.jpg) Human Spaceflight Congress wants the International Space Station to keep flying until 2032. Here's why](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/congress-wants-the-international-space-station-to-keep-flying-until-2032-heres-why \"Congress wants the International Space Station to keep flying until 2032. Here's why\")\n\n[![Artist\\&\\#039;s illustration of Vast\\&\\#039;s Haven-1 space station in orbit, with a SpaceX Dragon capsule docked to it.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XnHgSoz7D2EX3B4JpaE58e.jpg) Human Spaceflight Vast raises \\$500 million to keep developing 'Haven' private space stations](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/vast-500-million-dollars-funding-haven-private-space-stations \"Vast raises $500 million to keep developing 'Haven' private space stations\")\n\n[![An image of the International Space Station, with its many solar panels and modules, floating above Earth in space](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLyQbg348bTUuCFRZstAo.jpg) Human Spaceflight NASA shakes up leadership of human spaceflight program in wake of critical Starliner report](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight\/nasa-shakes-up-leadership-of-human-spaceflight-program-in-wake-of-critical-starliner-report \"NASA shakes up leadership of human spaceflight program in wake of critical Starliner report\")\n\nLatest in News\n\n[![NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, stop for a group photograph as they visit NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJLVCs9bgjuLz4nWjdTW7K.jpg) Artemis Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/huge-solar-flare-no-threat-to-artemis-2-astronaut-launch-to-the-moon-nasa-says \"Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says\")\n\n[![A visualization of a spacecraft with solar panel wings.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xFEbKtS87JWncb9H59dp8B.png) Technology How Lithuanian technology solutions are solving tomorrow's challenges](https:\/\/www.space.com\/technology\/how-lithuanian-technology-solutions-are-solving-tomorrows-challenges \"How Lithuanian technology solutions are solving tomorrow's challenges\")\n\n[![A white light of the comet 3I\/ATLAS is surrounded by a blue glow against a black background](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Pvmi4MNsFrESjVVcU94qGE.jpg) Comets Interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS may be nearly 12 billion years old — so ancient its star system may no longer exist](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/comets\/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-may-be-nearly-12-billion-years-old-so-ancient-its-star-system-may-no-longer-exist \"Interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS may be nearly 12 billion years old — so ancient its star system may no longer exist\")\n\n[![A diagram showing the fabric of spacetime with a boxout on the top-left with a blurry blue-white orb with jets shooting from both sides. There\\&\\#039;s a red blurry ring around the orb, but the jets are slightly jutting out from the ring.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SXUJEe5z5TTEX6dJnju3Xb.png) Galaxies Record-breaking 'space laser' erupts from merging galaxies 8 billion light-years away](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/galaxies\/record-breaking-space-laser-erupts-from-merging-galaxies-8-billion-light-years-away \"Record-breaking 'space laser' erupts from merging galaxies 8 billion light-years away\")\n\n[![Screenshot from the sci-fi cartoon series Invader Zim](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k8hso5zNQJ3Bu9YNyUFJTf.jpg) Space Movies & Shows 25 years ago, 'Invader Zim' arrived, but it was too far ahead of its time](https:\/\/www.space.com\/entertainment\/space-movies-shows\/25-years-ago-invader-zim-arrived-but-it-was-too-far-ahead-of-its-time \"25 years ago, 'Invader Zim' arrived, but it was too far ahead of its time\")\n\n[![a massive-looking sun rises in a red sky behind the silhouettes of several skeletal metal towers and a rocket upright on a launch pad](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/C2tNNmM8BxHZniRFbAEEWG.jpg) Artemis Sun rises on Artemis 2 launch pad \\| Space photo of the day for March 30, 2026](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/sun-rises-on-artemis-2-launch-pad-space-photo-of-the-day-for-march-30-2026 \"Sun rises on Artemis 2 launch pad | Space photo of the day for March 30, 2026\")\n\nMORE FROM SPACE...\n\n1. [![NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts pose with their Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 30, 2025 ](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJLVCs9bgjuLz4nWjdTW7K.jpg)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/huge-solar-flare-no-threat-to-artemis-2-astronaut-launch-to-the-moon-nasa-says \"Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says\")\n   \n   1\n   \n   [Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/huge-solar-flare-no-threat-to-artemis-2-astronaut-launch-to-the-moon-nasa-says)\n2. 2\n   \n   [Record-breaking 'space laser' erupts from merging galaxies 8 billion light-years away](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/galaxies\/record-breaking-space-laser-erupts-from-merging-galaxies-8-billion-light-years-away)\n3. 3\n   \n   [25 years ago, 'Invader Zim' arrived, but it was too far ahead of its time](https:\/\/www.space.com\/entertainment\/space-movies-shows\/25-years-ago-invader-zim-arrived-but-it-was-too-far-ahead-of-its-time)\n4. 4\n   \n   [Interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS may be nearly 12 billion years old — so ancient its star system may no longer exist](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/comets\/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-may-be-nearly-12-billion-years-old-so-ancient-its-star-system-may-no-longer-exist)\n5. 5\n   \n   [Darth Maul was originally going to be the villain of the 'Star Wars' sequels; here's why that would have been a bad idea](https:\/\/www.space.com\/entertainment\/space-movies-shows\/darth-maul-was-originally-going-to-be-the-villain-of-the-star-wars-sequels-heres-why-that-would-have-been-a-bad-idea)\n\nSpace is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.\n\nClose\n\nPlease login or signup to comment\n\nPlease wait...\n\nLogin\n\nSign Up","attrs_readable_markdown":"![During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KoXBaMutZoRRhEaEQVCbFM.jpg)\n\nDuring the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive. (Image credit: National Institutes of Health)\n\nThe first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the [International Space Station](https:\/\/www.space.com\/16748-international-space-station.html) but also kick off some unique science experiments for the crew to work on.\n\nThe Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission for NASA is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday evening (Sat. 14), and [you can watch coverage live at Space.com or on NASA TV](https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-nasa-crew-1-mission-launch-webcasts). Participating crewmembers on the six-month flight are NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi.\n\nSome of the experiments that the [Crew-1](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news\/live\/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates) astronauts will tackle involve microbe-eating rocks, tests of key parts for future spacesuits and a student genetics project. A partial list of the mission's experiments is below.\n\nArticle continues below\n\n**Live updates:**[**SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA**](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news\/live\/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates)\n\n**Food Physiology:** Floating around for a few months can change a spaceflyer's immune system. [The Food Physiology](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=7870) experiment will therefore examine how dietary changes to orbiting astronauts can change or enhance their immune function, along with the \"microbiome\" (microbe composition) of their guts. The overall goal of the experiment is to improve spaceflight diet and crew health. The study is ongoing, and Crew-1 will bring resupply hardware to space for more work. During the Crew-1 mission, Glover is scheduled to collect biological samples of his body as a participant in the experiment.\n\n**Genes in Space-7:** This student experiment, from Finsam Samson and Yujie Wang at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, was [one of the winning selections from the Genes in Space competition](https:\/\/www.genesinspace.org\/news\/press\/genes-space-winning-high-school-team-perform-experiment-international-space-station\/) for students in Grades 7 to 12. The duo will study how brain function changes during spaceflight, with an aim to better help astronauts do their work on long-duration missions on the space station, the moon and other deep-space destinations.\n\n**SERFE and spacesuits:** NASA is already thinking ahead to its next moon spacesuit, called the [Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-feature\/exploration-extravehicular-mobility-unit-xemu) (xEMU). Unlike the current NASA EMU used for spacewalks outside the orbiting lab, the newer generation of spacesuit will use water evaporation to remove heat from an astronaut's body and to maintain a safe temperature during spacewalks. A key element of this system is the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator, which is already aboard the station and will be tested on simulated spacewalks during the Crew-1 mission via the [Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=7514). The investigation will conduct 25 simulated eight-hour spacewalks to see how well the garment and technology work in space.\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\n**In photos:** [**SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station**](https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-photos)\n\n![Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA\\&amp;rsquo;s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA\\&amp;rsquo;s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/65U88Di54wkuvAzGWW52WU.jpg)\n\nKristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA’s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit on Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. (Image credit: NASA\/Joel Kowsky)\n\n**Plant Habitat-02:** The ISS is gaining a reputation for its various orbiting gardens, and Crew-1 will add to previous research with lettuce, flowers and other plants. A recent commercial resupply mission from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered radish seeds to the station, and the astronauts will grow them for the [Plant Habitat-02](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=7793) experiment inside the [Advanced Plant Habitat](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/Giving_Roots_and_Shoots_Their_Space_APH). Future crews on long-duration missions will use plants for part of their diet, and radishes will be especially useful due to their nutritious nature and ability to grow quickly. Radishes are also similar to *Arabidopsis*, a plant that has been studied many times in microgravity.\n\n**BioAsteroid:** Space station astronauts will take a close look at microbes that can interact with rocks, as part of the [BioAsteroid](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=8308) experiment, which will launch on a SpaceX cargo mission Dec. 2. Potential future uses of this research could include creating life-support systems that use regolith (the dusty soil on the moon and small worlds), or breaking down the rocks into soils for plants to use, or extracting minerals from rocks. The hope is to find more uses of material on the moon, Mars or other destinations to help future crews build bases and ship fewer resources from Earth to save on transportation costs.\n\n**Tissue Chips:** This unique biology experiment puts human cells on a thumb-sized 3D matrix, creating a sort of small, artificial organ that simulates organ functions. The [Tissue Chips in Space](https:\/\/ncats.nih.gov\/tissuechip\/projects\/space) experiment (which will also fly on the Dec. 2 SpaceX cargo flight) will examine how human cells respond and adapt to drugs, stress and genetic changes during spaceflight. The Crew-1 astronauts will study cells from human lungs, bone marrow, muscle and other organs. One major question investigators hope to address is how humans lose muscle mass in space after a few weeks or months in microgravity.\n\n**Cardinal Heart:** Another organ affected by spaceflight is the heart, which is where the [Cardinal Heart](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/experiments\/explorer\/Investigation.html#id=8218) experiment, which will be delivered next month as well, will come in. The investigators will use engineered (artificial) heart tissues mounted on tissue chips to better understand cardiovascular risk before spaceflight, and to create strong countermeasures for heart conditions. The research is expected to benefit not only flying astronauts but also individuals on Earth at risk of cardiac disease.\n\n***Correction:*** *This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. EST to note that the SERFE spacesuit experiment is already aboard the ISS awaiting the Crew-1 team, and that the BioAsteroid, Tissue Chips and Cardinal Heart experiments will be launched to the crew on a separate cargo ship in December.*\n\n*Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us* *on Twitter @Spacedotcom* *and on Facebook.*\n\n**Share your thoughts**\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\nJoin the community\n\nJoin the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers.\n\nAlready have an account? Log in\n\nMy Details\n\nUpdate your details below...\n\nKeep in the Know\n\nWould you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners?\n\nValidate Your Mobile No.\n\nWe have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account.\n\nUpdate Your Mobile No.\n\nYou may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide.\n\nembed-reactions.hint\\_heading\n\nembed-reactions.hint\\_subheading\n\nValidate Your Email Address\n\nWe have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account.\n\nUpdate Your Email Address\n\nYou may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide.\n\nCreate a Username\n\nThis will be publicly viewable so make it something you like\\!\n\nReset your password\n\nEnter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password.\n\nCheck your inbox\n\nIf your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password.\n\nSet new password\n\nPlease enter your new password below.\n\nLeaderboard\n\n| Rank | Player | Score | Time |\n|---|---|---|---|\n\nElizabeth Howell (she\/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, \"Why Am I Taller?\" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	SpaceX's Crew-1 launch for NASA is carrying rock-eating microbes (and more weird science) \| Space
Meta Description	The first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the International Space Station but also a suite of unique science experiments for the crew to work on.
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Boilerpipe Text	During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive. (Image credit: National Institutes of Health) The first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the International Space Station but also kick off some unique science experiments for the crew to work on. The Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission for NASA is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday evening (Sat. 14), and you can watch coverage live at Space.com or on NASA TV . Participating crewmembers on the six-month flight are NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Some of the experiments that the Crew-1 astronauts will tackle involve microbe-eating rocks, tests of key parts for future spacesuits and a student genetics project. A partial list of the mission's experiments is below. Article continues below Live updates: SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA Food Physiology: Floating around for a few months can change a spaceflyer's immune system. The Food Physiology experiment will therefore examine how dietary changes to orbiting astronauts can change or enhance their immune function, along with the "microbiome" (microbe composition) of their guts. The overall goal of the experiment is to improve spaceflight diet and crew health. The study is ongoing, and Crew-1 will bring resupply hardware to space for more work. During the Crew-1 mission, Glover is scheduled to collect biological samples of his body as a participant in the experiment. Genes in Space-7: This student experiment, from Finsam Samson and Yujie Wang at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, was one of the winning selections from the Genes in Space competition for students in Grades 7 to 12. The duo will study how brain function changes during spaceflight, with an aim to better help astronauts do their work on long-duration missions on the space station, the moon and other deep-space destinations. SERFE and spacesuits: NASA is already thinking ahead to its next moon spacesuit, called the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU). Unlike the current NASA EMU used for spacewalks outside the orbiting lab, the newer generation of spacesuit will use water evaporation to remove heat from an astronaut's body and to maintain a safe temperature during spacewalks. A key element of this system is the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator, which is already aboard the station and will be tested on simulated spacewalks during the Crew-1 mission via the Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment . The investigation will conduct 25 simulated eight-hour spacewalks to see how well the garment and technology work in space. Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! In photos: SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA’s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit on Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) Plant Habitat-02: The ISS is gaining a reputation for its various orbiting gardens, and Crew-1 will add to previous research with lettuce, flowers and other plants. A recent commercial resupply mission from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered radish seeds to the station, and the astronauts will grow them for the Plant Habitat-02 experiment inside the Advanced Plant Habitat . Future crews on long-duration missions will use plants for part of their diet, and radishes will be especially useful due to their nutritious nature and ability to grow quickly. Radishes are also similar to Arabidopsis , a plant that has been studied many times in microgravity. BioAsteroid: Space station astronauts will take a close look at microbes that can interact with rocks, as part of the BioAsteroid experiment, which will launch on a SpaceX cargo mission Dec. 2. Potential future uses of this research could include creating life-support systems that use regolith (the dusty soil on the moon and small worlds), or breaking down the rocks into soils for plants to use, or extracting minerals from rocks. The hope is to find more uses of material on the moon, Mars or other destinations to help future crews build bases and ship fewer resources from Earth to save on transportation costs. Tissue Chips: This unique biology experiment puts human cells on a thumb-sized 3D matrix, creating a sort of small, artificial organ that simulates organ functions. The Tissue Chips in Space experiment (which will also fly on the Dec. 2 SpaceX cargo flight) will examine how human cells respond and adapt to drugs, stress and genetic changes during spaceflight. The Crew-1 astronauts will study cells from human lungs, bone marrow, muscle and other organs. One major question investigators hope to address is how humans lose muscle mass in space after a few weeks or months in microgravity. Cardinal Heart: Another organ affected by spaceflight is the heart, which is where the Cardinal Heart experiment, which will be delivered next month as well, will come in. The investigators will use engineered (artificial) heart tissues mounted on tissue chips to better understand cardiovascular risk before spaceflight, and to create strong countermeasures for heart conditions. The research is expected to benefit not only flying astronauts but also individuals on Earth at risk of cardiac disease. Correction: This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. EST to note that the SERFE spacesuit experiment is already aboard the ISS awaiting the Crew-1 team, and that the BioAsteroid, Tissue Chips and Cardinal Heart experiments will be launched to the crew on a separate cargo ship in December. Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Share your thoughts 0 0 0 0 Join the community Join the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers. Already have an account? Log in Log In Forgotten your password? Reset it Not got an account? Register My Details Update your details below... Keep in the Know Would you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners? Validate Your Mobile No. We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. Update mobile number Resend code Update Your Mobile No. You may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide. Cancel embed-reactions.hint_heading embed-reactions.hint_subheading Validate Your Email Address We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. Update email address Resend code Update Your Email Address You may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide. Cancel Create a Username This will be publicly viewable so make it something you like! Reset your password Enter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password. Check your inbox If your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password. Set new password Please enter your new password below. Leaderboard Rank Player Score Time Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams.
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NASA gearing up to launch Artemis 2 astronauts around the moon on April 1") [![Four people wearing blue jumpsuits stand next to each other in front of a NASA jets.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LsJZRQXXGFMUjzjkrvoEo.jpg) Artemis Artemis 2 astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of NASA's historic launch around the moon](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-astronauts-arrive-at-kennedy-space-center-ahead-of-nasas-historic-launch-around-the-moon "Artemis 2 astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of NASA's historic launch around the moon") [![The Artemis 2 crew poses in front of an Orion simulator Jan. 23, 2026 at NASA\&\#039;s Johnson Space Center in Houston. From left: Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen and Victor Glover.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pzTAAG8vKmH5mikB5q2aNd.jpg) Artemis 'We're all on this journey together:' Who are the Artemis 2 astronauts launching to the moon?](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/were-all-on-this-journey-together-who-are-the-artemis-2-astronauts-launching-to-the-moon "'We're all on this journey together:' Who are the Artemis 2 astronauts launching to the moon?") [![Four astroanuts in orange spacesuits with a NASA Artemis 2 patch](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oDj2Zu7UzfTcvK9XnG6XPg.png) Artemis Inside Artemis 2: NASA's historic astronaut moon mission explained (video series)](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/inside-artemis-2-nasas-historic-astronaut-moon-mission-explained-video-series "Inside Artemis 2: NASA's historic astronaut moon mission explained (video series) ") [![An image of the International Space Station, with its many solar panels and modules, floating above Earth in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZLyQbg348bTUuCFRZstAo.jpg) International Space Station Europe plans EPIC SpaceX mission to send 4 astronauts to the ISS before its retirement](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/europe-plans-epic-spacex-mission-to-send-4-astronauts-to-the-iss-before-its-retirement "Europe plans EPIC SpaceX mission to send 4 astronauts to the ISS before its retirement") [![The Artemis 2 prime and backup crews practice eating in a simulator. From left: Jenni Gibbons, backup crew (Canadian Space Agency); Victor Glover, prime crew (NASA) and Christina Koch, prime crew (NASA). ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UdgXxSXL2hU6WSyDhHD4eD.jpg) Artemis Moon menu: Here's what the Artemis 2 astronauts will eat during their historic mission (video)](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/moon-menu-heres-what-the-artemis-2-astronauts-will-eat-during-their-historic-mission-video "Moon menu: Here's what the Artemis 2 astronauts will eat during their historic mission (video)") [![a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xbHtcdhwi8hRvXYVtZNbbh.jpg) Launches & Spacecraft Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?](https://www.space.com/live/rocket-launch-today "Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?") [![A bald man wearing a blue flight suit with the NASA meatball logo and American flag on it speaks into a microphone sitting behind a large desk with a gray background behind him.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/48WRoyPEN3FbbsLc5tRs5N.jpg) Artemis 'We work for them, too': Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, NASA astronaut Victor Glover says (video)](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/we-work-for-them-too-artemis-2-moon-mission-is-for-everyone-nasa-astronaut-victor-glover-says-video "'We work for them, too': Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, NASA astronaut Victor Glover says (video)") [![NASA\&\#039;s Artemis 2 moon rocket is seen inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 25, 2026, after rolling back from the launch pad.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8XWgNNJExHdCYevmHHR87B.jpg) Artemis NASA says its Artemis 2 moon rocket is all fixed up. It could launch astronauts to the moon on April 1](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasa-says-its-artemis-2-moon-rocket-is-all-fixed-up-it-could-launch-astronauts-to-the-moon-on-april-1 "NASA says its Artemis 2 moon rocket is all fixed up. It could launch astronauts to the moon on April 1") [![An orange and white rocket is held vertically by scaffolding on a launch pad. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eoADNT3ZnytNt5MEv3AgW3.jpg) Artemis Watch NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad with this 24-hour livestream](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/watch-nasas-artemis-2-moon-rocket-on-the-launch-pad-with-this-24-hour-livestream "Watch NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad with this 24-hour livestream") [![the full moon hangs in frame with the orion, inside its payload shell atop the SLS rocket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rUi4fuwVeKPS4Zf6Gqem8E.jpg) Artemis NASA may be 1 month away from historic Artemis 2 astronaut launch around the moon](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/historic-artemis-2-moon-launch-may-be-just-1-month-away "NASA may be 1 month away from historic Artemis 2 astronaut launch around the moon") Trending - [Artemis 2 moon launch: Live updates](https://www.space.com/news/live/artemis-2-nasa-moon-mission-launch-updates-march-30-2026#mrfhud=true) - [Amazon Spring Sale space deals](https://www.space.com/technology/amazon-spring-sale-deals-for-stargazing-2026-huge-savings-on-telescopes-binoculars-and-cameras) - [Night sky tonight\!](https://www.space.com/news/live/night-sky-what-you-can-see-tonight-march-31) - [Aurora Forecast](https://www.space.com/live/aurora-forecast-northern-lights-possible-tonight-march-30) - [Space Calendar](https://www.space.com/32286-space-calendar.html) - [Live 4K Sen video from space\!](https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/live-4k-video-from-space-see-earth-from-the-iss-with-sharp-eyed-sen-cameras) - [Best Drones](https://www.space.com/best-drones) - [Lego Star Wars deals](https://www.space.com/lego-star-wars-deals) - [Next Full Moon](https://www.space.com/16830-full-moon-calendar.html) - [Best Telescopes](https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html) - [Solar System Planets](https://www.space.com/16080-solar-system-planets.html) - [Best Star Projectors](https://www.space.com/best-star-projectors) - [Best Binoculars](https://www.space.com/26021-best-binoculars.html) 1. [Space Exploration](https://www.space.com/space-exploration) 2. [Human Spaceflight](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight) # SpaceX's Crew-1 launch for NASA is carrying rock-eating microbes (and more weird science) [News](https://www.space.com/news) By [Elizabeth Howell](https://www.space.com/author/elizabeth-howell) last updated November 12, 2020 Crew Dragon will carry four astronauts and a lot of experiments to the space station. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https://www.space.com/41418-about-us.html#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure). Click for next article ![During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KoXBaMutZoRRhEaEQVCbFM.jpg) During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive. 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You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful * Want to add more newsletters? ![Daily Newsletter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vfpcxVDrtfCysGSjzYjeSg.png) Delivered daily Daily Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! Subscribe + ![Watch This Space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tjzmFi262iKuxrcCtSghKg.jpg) Once a month Watch This Space Sign up to our monthly entertainment newsletter to keep up with all our coverage of the latest sci-fi and space movies, tv shows, games and books. Subscribe + ![Night Sky This Week](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qsHaEcQ6H695rhBoNZdK5g.jpg) Once a week Night Sky This Week Discover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos. Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us\! Subscribe + ![Strange New Words](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mk2LrCm68RFHzQhNyQaH2Y.jpg) Twice a month Strange New Words Space.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans\! Subscribe + * An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter The first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the [International Space Station](https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html) but also kick off some unique science experiments for the crew to work on. The Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission for NASA is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday evening (Sat. 14), and [you can watch coverage live at Space.com or on NASA TV](https://www.space.com/spacex-nasa-crew-1-mission-launch-webcasts). Participating crewmembers on the six-month flight are NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Some of the experiments that the [Crew-1](https://www.space.com/news/live/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates) astronauts will tackle involve microbe-eating rocks, tests of key parts for future spacesuits and a student genetics project. A partial list of the mission's experiments is below. Article continues below You may like - [![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida Crew 12](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4LzuqdV9Sw79up9c5nZXd4.jpg) SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-crew-12-astronauts-to-short-staffed-international-space-station-we-have-left-the-earth-but-the-earth-has-not-left-us) - [![A white spacecraft sits on a mobile scaffold underneath a bright blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eqepdosgSdhu7yhzmKZyZd.jpg) SpaceX Dragon arrives for Crew-12 launch \\| Space photo of the day for Feb. 6, 2026](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-dragon-arrives-for-crew-12-launch-space-photo-of-the-day-for-feb-6-2026) - [![The International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ySZ6VBYiA6859tdZ2fMcW.jpg) NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/nasa-will-evacuate-spacex-crew-11-astronauts-from-international-space-station-on-jan-14) Live updates:[SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA](https://www.space.com/news/live/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates) [Click here for more Space.com videos...](https://videos.space.com/m/w4neQRzm/spacex-crew-transport-system-certified-for-regular-flights-by-nasa?list=9wzCTV4g) Food Physiology: Floating around for a few months can change a spaceflyer's immune system. [The Food Physiology](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=7870) experiment will therefore examine how dietary changes to orbiting astronauts can change or enhance their immune function, along with the "microbiome" (microbe composition) of their guts. The overall goal of the experiment is to improve spaceflight diet and crew health. The study is ongoing, and Crew-1 will bring resupply hardware to space for more work. During the Crew-1 mission, Glover is scheduled to collect biological samples of his body as a participant in the experiment. Genes in Space-7: This student experiment, from Finsam Samson and Yujie Wang at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, was [one of the winning selections from the Genes in Space competition](https://www.genesinspace.org/news/press/genes-space-winning-high-school-team-perform-experiment-international-space-station/) for students in Grades 7 to 12. The duo will study how brain function changes during spaceflight, with an aim to better help astronauts do their work on long-duration missions on the space station, the moon and other deep-space destinations. SERFE and spacesuits: NASA is already thinking ahead to its next moon spacesuit, called the [Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit](https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/exploration-extravehicular-mobility-unit-xemu) (xEMU). Unlike the current NASA EMU used for spacewalks outside the orbiting lab, the newer generation of spacesuit will use water evaporation to remove heat from an astronaut's body and to maintain a safe temperature during spacewalks. A key element of this system is the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator, which is already aboard the station and will be tested on simulated spacewalks during the Crew-1 mission via the [Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=7514). The investigation will conduct 25 simulated eight-hour spacewalks to see how well the garment and technology work in space. Get the Space.com Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. In photos: [SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station](https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-photos) ![Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA\&rsquo;s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA\&rsquo;s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65U88Di54wkuvAzGWW52WU.jpg) Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA’s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit on Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) Plant Habitat-02:** The ISS is gaining a reputation for its various orbiting gardens, and Crew-1 will add to previous research with lettuce, flowers and other plants. A recent commercial resupply mission from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered radish seeds to the station, and the astronauts will grow them for the [Plant Habitat-02](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=7793) experiment inside the [Advanced Plant Habitat](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/Giving_Roots_and_Shoots_Their_Space_APH). Future crews on long-duration missions will use plants for part of their diet, and radishes will be especially useful due to their nutritious nature and ability to grow quickly. Radishes are also similar to Arabidopsis, a plant that has been studied many times in microgravity. BioAsteroid: Space station astronauts will take a close look at microbes that can interact with rocks, as part of the [BioAsteroid](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=8308) experiment, which will launch on a SpaceX cargo mission Dec. 2. Potential future uses of this research could include creating life-support systems that use regolith (the dusty soil on the moon and small worlds), or breaking down the rocks into soils for plants to use, or extracting minerals from rocks. The hope is to find more uses of material on the moon, Mars or other destinations to help future crews build bases and ship fewer resources from Earth to save on transportation costs. What to read next - [![four people in white flight suits pose for a picture](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nyt4PaLfrz97rEtdS7WWZg.jpg) Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/who-are-the-astronauts-of-spacexs-crew-12-mission-to-the-iss) - [![four humans stand in blue jumpsuits in front of a background of a dark earth and shadowed moon, with a small ISS in the top left. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PPWuVdsXBHhENj5YBbSkyM.jpg) NASA and SpaceX move up launch of Crew-12 astronauts to Feb. 11 as relief crew after ISS medical evacuation](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasa-and-spacex-move-up-launch-of-crew-12-astronauts-to-feb-11-as-relief-crew-after-iss-medical-evacuation) - [![four humans in white helmets](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qjFhWEU8YNq5fPZX6C7ENY.jpg) NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon puts Crew-12 SpaceX launch in delicate dance](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasas-artemis-2-mission-to-the-moon-puts-crew-12-spacex-launch-in-delicate-dance) Tissue Chips: This unique biology experiment puts human cells on a thumb-sized 3D matrix, creating a sort of small, artificial organ that simulates organ functions. The [Tissue Chips in Space](https://ncats.nih.gov/tissuechip/projects/space) experiment (which will also fly on the Dec. 2 SpaceX cargo flight) will examine how human cells respond and adapt to drugs, stress and genetic changes during spaceflight. The Crew-1 astronauts will study cells from human lungs, bone marrow, muscle and other organs. One major question investigators hope to address is how humans lose muscle mass in space after a few weeks or months in microgravity. Cardinal Heart: Another organ affected by spaceflight is the heart, which is where the [Cardinal Heart](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=8218) experiment, which will be delivered next month as well, will come in. The investigators will use engineered (artificial) heart tissues mounted on tissue chips to better understand cardiovascular risk before spaceflight, and to create strong countermeasures for heart conditions. The research is expected to benefit not only flying astronauts but also individuals on Earth at risk of cardiac disease. *Correction:* This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. EST to note that the SERFE spacesuit experiment is already aboard the ISS awaiting the Crew-1 team, and that the BioAsteroid, Tissue Chips and Cardinal Heart experiments will be launched to the crew on a separate cargo ship in December. Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Share your thoughts 0 0 0 0 Random QuizPlay a Random Quiz Filter by Category Join the community Join the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers. I'm in\! Not right now Already have an account? Log in This page will close automatically once you have completed the authorisation process My Details Update your details below... Keep in the Know Would you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners? OK Validate Your Mobile No. We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. Update Your Mobile No. You may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide. embed-reactions.hint\_heading embed-reactions.hint\_subheading Validate Your Email Address We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. Update Your Email Address You may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide. Create a Username This will be publicly viewable so make it something you like\! Reset your password Enter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password. Check your inbox If your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password. Set new password Please enter your new password below. Leaderboard \| Rank \| Player \| Score \| Time \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| Log In or Register More Quizzes Log Out ![Elizabeth Howell](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RU2kJRoTDQkePFeSZBNxHF.jpg) [Elizabeth Howell](https://www.space.com/author/elizabeth-howell) Contributing Writer Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Read more [![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida Crew 12](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4LzuqdV9Sw79up9c5nZXd4.jpg) Launches & Spacecraft SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-crew-12-astronauts-to-short-staffed-international-space-station-we-have-left-the-earth-but-the-earth-has-not-left-us "SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts to short-staffed International Space Station. 'We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.'") [![A white spacecraft sits on a mobile scaffold underneath a bright blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eqepdosgSdhu7yhzmKZyZd.jpg) Launches & Spacecraft SpaceX Dragon arrives for Crew-12 launch \\| Space photo of the day for Feb. 6, 2026](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-dragon-arrives-for-crew-12-launch-space-photo-of-the-day-for-feb-6-2026 "SpaceX Dragon arrives for Crew-12 launch \| Space photo of the day for Feb. 6, 2026") [![The International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ySZ6VBYiA6859tdZ2fMcW.jpg) International Space Station NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/nasa-will-evacuate-spacex-crew-11-astronauts-from-international-space-station-on-jan-14 "NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14") [![four people in white flight suits pose for a picture](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nyt4PaLfrz97rEtdS7WWZg.jpg) International Space Station Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/who-are-the-astronauts-of-spacexs-crew-12-mission-to-the-iss "Who are the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS?") [![four humans stand in blue jumpsuits in front of a background of a dark earth and shadowed moon, with a small ISS in the top left. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PPWuVdsXBHhENj5YBbSkyM.jpg) Human Spaceflight NASA and SpaceX move up launch of Crew-12 astronauts to Feb. 11 as relief crew after ISS medical evacuation](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasa-and-spacex-move-up-launch-of-crew-12-astronauts-to-feb-11-as-relief-crew-after-iss-medical-evacuation "NASA and SpaceX move up launch of Crew-12 astronauts to Feb. 11 as relief crew after ISS medical evacuation") [![four humans in white helmets](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qjFhWEU8YNq5fPZX6C7ENY.jpg) Human Spaceflight NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon puts Crew-12 SpaceX launch in delicate dance](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasas-artemis-2-mission-to-the-moon-puts-crew-12-spacex-launch-in-delicate-dance "NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon puts Crew-12 SpaceX launch in delicate dance") Latest in Human Spaceflight [![A close up of a sperm cell.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RZ25JQLNdz7efZusomUjH.jpg) Human Spaceflight Can humans have babies in space? 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[![NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts pose with their Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 30, 2025 ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CJLVCs9bgjuLz4nWjdTW7K.jpg)](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/huge-solar-flare-no-threat-to-artemis-2-astronaut-launch-to-the-moon-nasa-says "Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says") 1 [Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/huge-solar-flare-no-threat-to-artemis-2-astronaut-launch-to-the-moon-nasa-says) 2. 2 [Record-breaking 'space laser' erupts from merging galaxies 8 billion light-years away](https://www.space.com/astronomy/galaxies/record-breaking-space-laser-erupts-from-merging-galaxies-8-billion-light-years-away) 3. 3 [25 years ago, 'Invader Zim' arrived, but it was too far ahead of its time](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/25-years-ago-invader-zim-arrived-but-it-was-too-far-ahead-of-its-time) 4. 4 [Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS may be nearly 12 billion years old — so ancient its star system may no longer exist](https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-may-be-nearly-12-billion-years-old-so-ancient-its-star-system-may-no-longer-exist) 5. 5 [Darth Maul was originally going to be the villain of the 'Star Wars' sequels; here's why that would have been a bad idea](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/darth-maul-was-originally-going-to-be-the-villain-of-the-star-wars-sequels-heres-why-that-would-have-been-a-bad-idea) Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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Readable Markdown	![During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KoXBaMutZoRRhEaEQVCbFM.jpg) During the International Space Station’s Expedition 64, investigations utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology will include studies on muscle loss, lung function, and the blood brain barrier — all on devices the size of a USB flashdrive. (Image credit: National Institutes of Health) The first operational commercial crew mission will not only bring astronauts to the [International Space Station](https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html) but also kick off some unique science experiments for the crew to work on. The Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission for NASA is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday evening (Sat. 14), and [you can watch coverage live at Space.com or on NASA TV](https://www.space.com/spacex-nasa-crew-1-mission-launch-webcasts). Participating crewmembers on the six-month flight are NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Some of the experiments that the [Crew-1](https://www.space.com/news/live/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates) astronauts will tackle involve microbe-eating rocks, tests of key parts for future spacesuits and a student genetics project. A partial list of the mission's experiments is below. Article continues below Live updates:[SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA](https://www.space.com/news/live/spacex-crew-1-mission-updates) Food Physiology: Floating around for a few months can change a spaceflyer's immune system. [The Food Physiology](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=7870) experiment will therefore examine how dietary changes to orbiting astronauts can change or enhance their immune function, along with the "microbiome" (microbe composition) of their guts. The overall goal of the experiment is to improve spaceflight diet and crew health. The study is ongoing, and Crew-1 will bring resupply hardware to space for more work. During the Crew-1 mission, Glover is scheduled to collect biological samples of his body as a participant in the experiment. Genes in Space-7: This student experiment, from Finsam Samson and Yujie Wang at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, was [one of the winning selections from the Genes in Space competition](https://www.genesinspace.org/news/press/genes-space-winning-high-school-team-perform-experiment-international-space-station/) for students in Grades 7 to 12. The duo will study how brain function changes during spaceflight, with an aim to better help astronauts do their work on long-duration missions on the space station, the moon and other deep-space destinations. SERFE and spacesuits: NASA is already thinking ahead to its next moon spacesuit, called the [Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit](https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/exploration-extravehicular-mobility-unit-xemu) (xEMU). Unlike the current NASA EMU used for spacewalks outside the orbiting lab, the newer generation of spacesuit will use water evaporation to remove heat from an astronaut's body and to maintain a safe temperature during spacewalks. A key element of this system is the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator, which is already aboard the station and will be tested on simulated spacewalks during the Crew-1 mission via the [Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=7514). The investigation will conduct 25 simulated eight-hour spacewalks to see how well the garment and technology work in space. Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! In photos: [SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station](https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-1-astronaut-mission-photos) ![Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA\&rsquo;s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA\&rsquo;s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/65U88Di54wkuvAzGWW52WU.jpg) Kristine Davis, a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, wearing a ground prototype of NASA’s new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), is seen during a demonstration of the suit on Oct. 15, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) Plant Habitat-02: The ISS is gaining a reputation for its various orbiting gardens, and Crew-1 will add to previous research with lettuce, flowers and other plants. A recent commercial resupply mission from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered radish seeds to the station, and the astronauts will grow them for the [Plant Habitat-02](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=7793) experiment inside the [Advanced Plant Habitat](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/Giving_Roots_and_Shoots_Their_Space_APH). Future crews on long-duration missions will use plants for part of their diet, and radishes will be especially useful due to their nutritious nature and ability to grow quickly. Radishes are also similar to Arabidopsis, a plant that has been studied many times in microgravity. BioAsteroid: Space station astronauts will take a close look at microbes that can interact with rocks, as part of the [BioAsteroid](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=8308) experiment, which will launch on a SpaceX cargo mission Dec. 2. Potential future uses of this research could include creating life-support systems that use regolith (the dusty soil on the moon and small worlds), or breaking down the rocks into soils for plants to use, or extracting minerals from rocks. The hope is to find more uses of material on the moon, Mars or other destinations to help future crews build bases and ship fewer resources from Earth to save on transportation costs. Tissue Chips: This unique biology experiment puts human cells on a thumb-sized 3D matrix, creating a sort of small, artificial organ that simulates organ functions. The [Tissue Chips in Space](https://ncats.nih.gov/tissuechip/projects/space) experiment (which will also fly on the Dec. 2 SpaceX cargo flight) will examine how human cells respond and adapt to drugs, stress and genetic changes during spaceflight. The Crew-1 astronauts will study cells from human lungs, bone marrow, muscle and other organs. One major question investigators hope to address is how humans lose muscle mass in space after a few weeks or months in microgravity. Cardinal Heart: Another organ affected by spaceflight is the heart, which is where the [Cardinal Heart](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html#id=8218) experiment, which will be delivered next month as well, will come in. The investigators will use engineered (artificial) heart tissues mounted on tissue chips to better understand cardiovascular risk before spaceflight, and to create strong countermeasures for heart conditions. The research is expected to benefit not only flying astronauts but also individuals on Earth at risk of cardiac disease. *Correction:* This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. EST to note that the SERFE spacesuit experiment is already aboard the ISS awaiting the Crew-1 team, and that the BioAsteroid, Tissue Chips and Cardinal Heart experiments will be launched to the crew on a separate cargo ship in December. Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Share your thoughts 0 0 0 0 Join the community Join the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers. Already have an account? Log in My Details Update your details below... Keep in the Know Would you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners? Validate Your Mobile No. We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. 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Leaderboard \| Rank \| Player \| Score \| Time \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams.
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