Study Findings: Archaeology in Space: The Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE) on the International Space Station. Report 1: Squares 03 and 05

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Image (Credit): A cutaway image of the International Space Station’s US Orbital Segment, showing the locations of Square 03 (at upper center, in yellow) and 05 (at lower right, in orange). (Tor Finseth, by permission, modified by Justin Walsh)

PLoS ONE abstract of the study findings:

Between January and March 2022, crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) performed the first archaeological fieldwork in space, the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE). The experiment aimed to: (1) develop a new understanding of how humans adapt to life in an environmental context for which we are not evolutionarily adapted, using evidence from the observation of material culture; (2) identify disjunctions between planned and actual usage of facilities on a space station; (3) develop and test techniques that enable archaeological research at a distance; and (4) demonstrate the relevance of social science methods and perspectives for improving life in space. In this article, we describe our methodology, which involves a creative re-imagining of a long-standing sampling practice for the characterization of a site, the shovel test pit. The ISS crew marked out six sample locations (“squares”) around the ISS and documented them through daily photography over a 60-day period. Here we present the results from two of the six squares: an equipment maintenance area, and an area near exercise equipment and the latrine. Using the photographs and an innovative webtool, we identified 5,438 instances of items, labeling them by type and function. We then performed chronological analyses to determine how the documented areas were actually used. Our results show differences between intended and actual use, with storage the most common function of the maintenance area, and personal hygiene activities most common in an undesignated area near locations for exercise and waste.

Citation: Walsh JSP, Graham S, Gorman AC, Brousseau C, Abdullah S, Archaeology in space: The Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE) on the International Space Station. Report 1: Squares 03 and 05. PLoS ONE 19(8): e0304229 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304229

Study-related stories:

ScienceAlert

Archaeology Magazine

Popular Science

Pic of the Week: Cygnus Approaching

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Image (Credit): The Cygnus cargo craft outside the ISS this week. (NASA)

This week’s image is from the International Space Station (ISS). It shows Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply capsule on August 6, 2024 as the International Space Station’s (ISS) Canadarm2 robotic arm attempts to capture it. NASA noted that this Canadarm2 maneuver marked the 50th free-flying capture for the robotic arm.

Starliner: Return Date Now 2025

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Image (Credit): Boeing’s Starliner capsule viewed from the ISS. (ESA)

I did not think it could get worse, but it has. NASA has announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule attached to the International Space Station (ISS) might not return until next year, making it an unwanted appendage on a busy space station.

At a press conference today, NASA discussed leaving the two Boeing astronauts on the ISS until February 2025 and cutting in half the planned crew for the September 24 SpaceX Dragon mission. This would keep the number of astronauts on the space station to its normal number. There was also discussion about bringing the Boeing astronauts back on another capsule if the Starliner was not ready.

This looks bad for Boeing and NASA’s commercial space efforts. Boeing does not agree with NASA’s assessment, stating in an August 2 mission update:

Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew. We continue to support NASA’s requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to affirm the spacecraft’s safe undocking and landing capabilities. Our confidence is based on this abundance of valuable testing from Boeing and NASA. The testing has confirmed 27 of 28 RCS thrusters are healthy and back to full operational capability. Starliner’s propulsion system also maintains redundancy and the helium levels remain stable. The data also supports root cause assessments for the helium and thruster issues and flight rationale for Starliner and its crew’s return to Earth.

All of this is happening while the ISS crew are unloading supplies from a recently arrived Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo capsule launched over the weekend. It does make you wonder whether Grumman should be the next best hope for a crewed capsule rather than Boeing. Grumman has a proven track record of more than 20 resupply runs. Clearly, crewed capsule are different, but it is something to consider.

Sierra Space is also testing its Dream Chaser next month, which is also expected to make cargo runs to the ISS. It this another potential crew option down the road?

The purpose of commercial involvement was greater options. Let’s work on expanding those options as quickly as possible. Placing all of our eggs in the Elon Musk SpaceX basket makes me nervous as he calls for civil war in the United Kingdom.

Space Stories: A Polish Astronaut Heads to ISS, Two Astronauts Are Missing from Church, and Deadly Red Dwarves

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Image (Credit): Sławosz Uznański in ESA’s Neutral Buoyancy Facility. (ESA)

Here are some recent stories of interest.

—European Space Agency (ESA): “Sławosz Uznański from Poland Will fly to International Space Station on Rourth Axiom Space Mission“

Axiom Space announced that it is partnering with India, Hungary, and with Poland through ESA to send three national astronauts to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański has been assigned as mission specialist under the command of Axiom Space’s Chief Astronaut Peggy Whitson...The other two Ax-4 crew members are pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

—Associated Press: “One Church, Two Astronauts. How a Texas Congregation is Supporting its Members on the Space Station“

…there’s no way on Earth for NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Tracy Dyson to show up at Providence Baptist Church. They’re in space, orbiting the planet. More specifically, these two members are working on the International Space Station together...Dyson’s six-month mission isn’t scheduled to end until September, but Wilmore and his fellow NASA test pilot, Suni Williams, should have been back weeks ago. They are staying longer than expected following thruster failures and helium leaks on Boeing’s inaugural crew flight for its Starliner capsule. Wilmore and Williams have said they are confident the capsule will return them home safely; engineers are still poring over Starliner test data.

—University of Cambridge: “Astronomers Uncover Risks to Planets that Could Host Life“

Astronomers have discovered that red dwarf stars can produce stellar flares that carry far-ultraviolet (far-UV) radiation levels much higher than previously believed. The discovery suggests that the intense UV radiation from these flares could significantly impact whether planets around red dwarf stars can be habitable…According to researchers, UV radiation from stellar flares can either erode planetary atmospheres, threatening their potential to support life, or contribute to the formation of RNA building blocks, which are essential for the creation of life.

The Space Station Supplies Have Been Launched

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Image (Credit): Successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 on August 4, 2024 sending supplies to the ISS. (SpaceX)

The weather cleared enough in Florida on Sunday for the SpaceX launch to take place, sending the Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft towards the International Space Station (ISS) after some earlier delays.

At 11:02 am ET, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched Northrop Grumman’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services mission (NG-21) to the ISS from Space Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The spacecraft will intercept the ISS on Tuesday, August 6. With the extra Starliner astronauts on board awaiting permission from Boeing to return to Earth, it is likely that the supplies will be very welcome.

Another three astronauts will be launched to the ISS on August 18 as part of the normal crew rotation. Hence, it will get even more crowded at the station by mid-August.

Update: The next crewed mission to the ISS was moved to “no earlier than” September 24 to give the Starliner more time to return to Earth.