An aquarium aboard the International Space Station

by Agis F.

A new Aquatic Habitat, or AQH, aboard the International Space Station, sponsored by the Japanese Space Agency, or JAXA. Scientists will use this unique facility to study how microgravity impacts marine life.

Images credit: NASA

For the first investigations, they plan to examine the Medaka (Oryzias latipes) fish.

Scientists have multiple studies planned to look at the impacts of radiation, bone degradation, muscle atrophy, and developmental biology. The investigations could last up to 90 days and provide data that may lead to a better understanding of related human health concerns here on Earth.

“We think studies on bone degradation mechanisms and muscle atrophy mechanisms are applicable to human health problems, especially for the aging society,” said Nobuyoshi Fujimoto, associate senior engineer at JAXA’s Space Environment Unitization Center.