After more than six months aboard the International Space Station, the NASA’s astronauts are returning home.
During their mission, these crew members contributed to hundreds of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations while aboard the orbiting laboratory. This valuable research helps to prepare humans for future space exploration missions while generating numerous innovations and benefits for humanity on Earth.
Among the experiments was Matthias Maurer exploring how concrete hardens in microgravity, which could inform future space construction techniques on lunar and planetary surfaces. Maurer conducted research operations for concrete hardening in the portable glovebag with a variety of cement mixtures observing how pores, bubbles, and crystals develop as the samples harden.