The experiments and training: The second Israeli astronaut is preparing for launch

The 'Sky' mission is advancing another stage: about 35 Israeli scientific experiments and technological demonstrations will be performed on the International Space Station by Eitan Stiva.

Ahead of the launch, the Israeli astronaut is on an intensive training schedule at NASA facilities |

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Yinon Ben Shoshan

24/01/2022

Monday, January 24, 2022, 6 p.m.

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Eitan Stiva in preparation for launch (NASA, SpaceX)

On March 31, the AX1 mission will be launched to the International Space Station, and among the astronauts will be the second Israeli astronaut, Eitan Steve, as part of the "space" mission of the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ramon Foundation.

Today (Monday) the first photos of Steve were released at the training camp ahead of the launch.

As part of the "Sky" mission, Eitan Steve is expected to conduct about 35 Israeli scientific experiments and technological demonstrations, the success of which is expected to lead to technological, scientific and medical breakthroughs and promote the Israeli space industry.

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Eitan Steve in an astronaut suit (Photo: SpaceX)

The experiments will be performed by Eitan Steve, after reaching the finish line, meeting all the criteria defined and included in the mission schedule by NASA and Axiom.Space.

The researchers and engineers will hope for scientific breakthroughs in the medical, technological and engineering fields, which will lead to the establishment of start-up companies, the development of new products in a variety of industries, scientific publications and new medical treatments.

Steve in the NASA astronaut suit (Photo: Uri Burg)

Last May, the scientific experiments selected by a scientific and technological committee to take part in the 'Sky' mission were unveiled.

Of the 44 trials selected in the first phase, over 70% of the trials reached the finish line and met all the defined criteria, including: NASA approvals, meeting engineering design objectives, meeting schedules, signing a launch contract, securing funding.

"When he was in space he was happy" Eitan Steve talks about the late Ilan Ramon (NASA)

Intensive training schedule

In recent months, Eitan Steve has been training at NASA and SpaceX facilities, preparing him to stay on the space station.

At the same time, as part of his preparation for carrying out the scientific experiments, he completed a round of preparations at ESA (European Space Agency) in which he was trained to use equipment designed for the scientific cargo to be launched into space.

Eitan Steve at training camp (Photo: SpaceX)

"The scientific part of the 'Sky' mission has enormous significance for me, the experiments I will conduct will help dozens of Israeli researchers advance their important work, engage in sustainability for the benefit of life on Earth, help the Israeli space industry integrate into international, public and commercial industry and propel it forward," Steva said.

"Along with supporting the research and development of the industry, I hope to influence the sons and daughters of the younger generation - the scientists of the future.

Eitan Stiva at NASA Training Camp

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Orit Farkash HaCohen, said: "The field of global space is undergoing a real revolution. The market has doubled in size in the past decade and is expected to grow to a trillion dollars in the coming years." Israel and the world. The Israeli space agency in my office took part in the selection of experiments and funded important experiments that could not have taken part in the mission without its support. "It's part of an important process of empowering this industry."

Ran Livneh, CEO of the Ramon Foundation and head of the 'Sky' mission, said: "The Sky mission will break a record of experiments per week compared to any other astronaut mission in a similar period of time.

The number is so large that the experiments are sent to the International Space Station in three different launches: in December, about seven experiments were launched on a SpaceX spacecraft, at the end of the month another cargo will be launched and the rest will be launched on the AX1 spacecraft.

The diverse experiments that will be carried out as part of the "Sky" mission include "blue and white" experiments and international collaborations between Israeli researchers and institutions and the world's leading international bodies, and testify to the global status of Israeli technology, entrepreneurship and science. "

Chickpea sprouting and plastic depletion in space: The experiments that will be launched into space

In order to give more Israeli researchers the opportunity to participate in the 'Sky' mission, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, together with the Ministry of Health, published a call for experiments in gravity totaling one million shekels. The grant provided helped lower the budgetary barrier of groundbreaking experiments on their way to the International Space Station.

The Ramon Foundation, the Israeli Space Agency in the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, and senior space agencies in Israel have worked in recent months with start-up companies, research bodies, academic institutions, Israeli scientists, and researchers to carry out the implementation process with space agencies (NASA). The European Space Agency).

Among the experiments is a feasibility study for germination of chickpeas under micro-gravity conditions, and control of the growth rate for future colonies on the moon, a study in which Strauss is also involved, led by Dr. Jonathan Weintraub, Stanford University, one of the founders of the Genesis spacecraft .

In addition, Steva will conduct a feasibility study of plastic degradation in space by the bacterium Ideonella Sakaiensis.

It has recently been discovered that there are bacteria that, when housed in micro-gravity conditions, undergo a process of change in their genome (mutations), which gives them well-developed abilities.

Further studies

• Observations from space on lightning elves and other atmospheric electrical phenomena in collaboration with ground stations around the world.

• Development of a mechanism to protect spacecraft systems from cosmic radiation damage

• Examining a new generation of radiation protection suit

• Growing of the water-lentil plant under micro-gravity conditions

• Liquid Space Optics - Liquid design for optical components under micro-gravity conditions

• Effect of microbombosis on the aging of the immune system and Alzheimer's disease

• The impact of space flight on the cardiovascular health of astronauts

• Examination of the ability of cow cells to differentiate into cells that build muscle tissue - the steak - under micro-gravity conditions

• Characterization of the changes that occur in cancer cells under micro-gravity conditions in space

• Understanding and evaluating changes in vision function during space flight

• Demonstration of the use of the Veye device, which enables needle-free blood tests to be performed in space task descriptions

• Remote identification of emotional distress development and stressful situations

• Examining the effect of flight into space on a change in the microbiome population of the urinary tract

• The effect of micro-gravity on the blood-brain barrier as a possible platform for the treatment of Alzheimer's

• Crisper-based diagnosis of viruses and bacteria in space missions

• technology

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• NASA

• space

• Ethan Steve