Launch of a new space experiment is under preparation

Launch of a new space experiment is under preparation

The TSIS solar tool package, created at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will track the planetary climate. Launch plan to implement rocket SpaceX

Researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder have created a package of solar devices that will help better fix the Earth's climate. It was installed on board the SpaceX rocket, which is to start on December 12 from the Kennedy Space Center (Florida).

The TSIS-1 toolbox was created at the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, and the contract value was $ 90 million. TSIS-1 will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon shipping container for delivery to the ISS. The devices will track the total amount of sunlight coming to Earth, as well as its distribution in the UV, visible and IR wavelengths.

The sun affects all terrestrial processes, so it will be difficult to fully understand the climatic situation on Earth, if you ignore the impact of the main star. After studying the principles of atmospheric response to subtle changes in solar activity, scientists will be able to distinguish between natural and human influences on climate.

General satellite measurements have shown that changes in solar radiation reach only 0.1%. But researchers believe that these changes in stellar activity may explain recent warming on our planet. TSIS is represented by two tools: Total Irradiance Monitor (measures the total light from the Sun at all wavelengths) and Spectral Irradiance Monitor (distribution of sunlight by wavelength). The latter device is especially important because light at different wavelengths is absorbed by different parts of the atmosphere and the planetary surface.

In total, at least 1,000 people worked on the project, having spent two decades on the development. The mission plans to cover at least 5 years. Now it is attended by 15-20 students. In a specific launch, hardware will also be sent, which should facilitate two biomedical experiments on the ISS.

One has BioServe high-tech plates for growing bone cells using commercial bone glue and a newly created type of bone glue. This is an important experiment, because astronauts lose bone mass during long periods of stay in conditions of low gravity.

BioServe equipment is also used to test the drug delivery system on the ISS to combat muscle disorder. The experiment includes two groups of mice: one with a placebo, and the second with a chip for the supply of drugs that support muscle mass.

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