A Fish Friendly Facility for the International Space Station

The Aquatic Habitat, or AQH, is a Japanese Space Agency, or JAXA, facility that will enable the study of fish aboard the International Space Station. (JAXA) 

The above image shows an Aquatic Habitat, or AQH, specimen chamber housing Medaka fish for study. (JAXA)  

The grid structure at the upper side of each Aquatic Habitat, or AQH, aquarium captures air in each grid, while preventing water from escaping. 

Air will be injected with special syringe by the crew prior to the start of an investigation. (JAXA) 

While aquariums provide a relaxing pastime for humans on Earth, recreation is not the goal behind the new Aquatic Habitat, or AQH, aboard the International Space Station. Instead, researchers will use this unique facility to look at how microgravity impacts marine life. 

Sponsored by the Japanese Space Agency, or JAXA, this habitat is a closed-water circulatory system, which provides a new  facility option for station research. Scientists will use the habitat to study small, freshwater fish on orbit. 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. 

Keywords – A fish friendly facility for the International Space Station, Examine the Medaka fish, Japanese Space Agency or JAXA, Aquatic habitat or AQH.

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