Kate Rubins Ready For International Space Station Stint, With Brimful Of Plans

Molecular biologist Kathleen (Kate) Rubins will head for the International Space Station (ISS) on June 24 along with two more members of Expedition 49. The soon to be astronaut reportedly dreamt of travelling to space since she was a child, and after 30 years her dreams are about to be fulfilled. Rubins will conduct nearly 100 experiments onboard the space laboratory in her five months in orbit.

The myriad range of experiments will reportedly include testing a miniaturized DNA sequencer as well as studying heart cells' behavior in microgravity. Such researches will be crucial for future missions, like the one planned for Mars. In addition, the scientist will also be subject of study on bone growth during her time in space. Astronauts can have an accelerated bone loss in space due to zero gravity; therefore they work out with specialized exercise equipment that takes the help of vacuum to add resistance to muscles and bones.

Experts have deciphered which set of exercise routines can help in keeping the bones strong in space, but no one actually has an idea how space affects the internal structure of the bone. Doctors will be comparing a CT scan image of Rubin's bones with its real state after spaceflight, once she is done with the mission, to identify any changes in the hip bone. Rubins also wants to understand how liquids act in space on the molecular scale; such a research will help NASA in planning for future explorations to Mars.

The member of Expedition 49 feels that the challenges of working on a space laboratory isn't all that different from those encountered at the remote areas on Earth itself, such as a volcano, Antarctica or a rural part in a developing country. "When you think about the kind of equipment that you would develop for a space station, you have to think about what would make it portable and suitable for a very extreme environment," said Kate Rubins. "Most of the equipment must be solar powered. We're very conscious about water and how much liquid we use, because we recycle all of our water. We have to think about the effect of vibration on equipment. If you are going to launch something on a rocket or put it in the back of a Land Rover and drive it 100 miles over a dirt road, it's pretty similar".