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Launching Science to Space Northrop Grumman’s 15th Commercial Resupply Mission

Social Media Toolkit Join Us as Science and Supplies Blast Off to the International Space Station

Who The seven-person crew of Expedition 64 waits aboard the International Space Station for the arrival of new research.

What Experiments launching include: a study of worm strength to understand muscle loss in space, a device to examine how astronauts sleep, and a high-powered computer. These scientific studies and additional supplies will launch to the space station on a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft.

When Liftoff of the Antares rocket is targeting no earlier than 12:36 p.m. EST Saturday, Feb. 20.

Where Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A at NASA’s Wal- lops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, and online at www.nasa.gov/live

Why Take gravity away, and we can view things in a radically new way. The space station orbits more than 250 (400 km) miles above the surface of our planet at 17,500 mph (8 km/s), creating a microgravity environment for research, providing a unique vantage point of our planet, and giving scientists access to the harsh environment of space. What’s on Board the Rocket? Explore a few experiments launching to the space station:

Space worms to the rescue: Tiny worms are heading to space! Thanks to a new device for measuring the muscle strength of tiny C. elegans worms, Micro-16 researchers can test whether decreased expression of muscle proteins is associated with de- creased muscle strength in microgravity.

I dream of space: Sleep is central to human health, so a better understanding of sleep in space provides a more compre- hensive picture of human health in microgravity. The European Space Agency’s Dreams experiment tests the Dry-EEG Headband sleep monitor in microgravity, while also observing astronaut sleep quality during a long-duration mission.

Computing aboard the space station: Although rely- ing on ground-based computers works for space exploration on the Moon or in low-Earth orbit, this solution will not work for exploration farther into the solar system. Spaceborne Computer-2 tests how commercial off-the-shelf computer systems can advance space exploration by processing data faster in space, speeding time-to- insight from months to minutes.

A new vision: Millions of people on Earth suffer from retinal degenerative diseases. Artificial retinas or retinal implants may provide a way to restore meaningful vision for those affected. Startup LambdaVision is launching an experiment to uncover if microgravity optimizes the creations of artificial retinas. The study evaluates a manufacturing system using a light-activated protein that replaces the function of damaged cells in the eye.

Preparing for the Moon: The space station serves as a testing ground for technologies we plan to use on missions to the Moon. The A-HoSS investigation puts the primary radiation detec- tion system to be used on the crewed Artemis II mission to the test. By verifying the system can operate normally for 30 days, it vali- dates the system for crewed Artemis mission operations.

Learn more in our research highlights feature story!

Find pictures and video of the experiments here. Ways You Can5 Join the Celebration of Science

1 Set a reminder to watch live coverage on Saturday Feb. 20 at 12:00 pm EST on NASA TV (www.nasa.gov/live) or @NASA social media accounts. Post a picture watching the livestream!

2 Host a virtual watch party and encourage others to do so too!

3 Take a trip to the International Space Station’s cupola window with our Window to the World Instagram filter!

4 Share the science you’re most excited about heading to station! Join the conversation on social media by tagging @ISS on Instagram and @ISS_Research on Twitter. Find pictures and video for sharing here.

5 Join our virtual NASA Social! Get a behind-the-scenes look at the launch on the Facebook event and through Eventbrite. NG CRS-15 Social Accounts Science NASA Resources Twitter: @NASA Facebook: @NASA Science Overview Video Instagram: @NASA 2-minute highlight video of the research heading to space Space Station Research

Research Highlights Twitter: @ISS_Research Feature Article Get the details of the science International Space Station heading to station Twitter: @Space_Station NASA TV Broadcast Facebook: @ISS Details Instagram: @ISS How to tune in to watch the launch

Imagery of the Science Wallops Flight Facility Heading to Space Twitter: @NASA_Wallops Pictures and video of NG-15 research Facebook: @NASAWFF

Hashtags #Cygnus #AskNASA #NASASocial Social Media Messaging Suggestions

Science is about the launch to the @Space_Station, and I’ll be watching! From a study of astronaut sleep to experiments that could help develop new treatments for disease on Earth, check out some of the cool @ISS_Research about to head to microgravity.

Hey all: @NASA and @NorthropGrumman are sending some cool science to the @Space_Station straight from Virginia on Feb. 20! Check out how awesome this microgravity science is!

I’m visiting @NASA_Wallops virtually and I have space for guests! Let’s launch science to space together and watch as some really cool research lifts off to the @Space_Station on Feb. 20!

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Follow us: Johnson Space Center 2101 East NASA Parkway @ISS_Research Houston, TX, 77058 Facebook.com/iss www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson Instagram.com/iss Web: nasa.gov/iss-science www.nasa.gov