Astronauts are only the cherry on top of the sundae, it takes so many amazing people to make space exploration possible.  To recognize that fact, astronauts fly little silver snoopy lapel pins with us in space and upon they are presented to one of those unsung heroes dedicated to flight safety. After my mission, I gave a pin to Shankini Doraisingam who was an absolute superstar during my 2017 spaceflight. That little silver snoopy carried the weight of my gratitude for Shankini's brilliance, skills, and patience that made an enormous impact on my spaceflight.

The third day of the Cardinal Muscle operations kicked off around 2:50 AM this morning here in Boulder (8:50 AM up on the @Space_Station .) Today we worked with @Astro_Megan and @Thom_astro to perform BioCell media exchanges, job well done to everyone!

Astronauts have an increased risk of kidney stones. Motivation while working the Kidney Cells-02 investigation! The goal is to develop treatment/prevention for both spaceflight and Earth. Learn more about the 3D kidney cell model used. go.nasa.gov/356fWJ2

I’m certain my PhD experiments (not in space) would have been so much better with @shankini looking over my shoulder. She’s the coolest! 💗

I will never get over how awesome it is to see your research actually being done on the ISS. Here is @Astro_Kate7 doing some media exchanges for our Cardinal Heart team❤️🔬 @iDilipThomas @Joseph_C_Wu @StanfordCVI @shankini @BioServeST @ncats_nih_gov @ISS_CASIS @UCSBengineering

Space suit gloves aren’t the only gloves astronauts wear in microgravity. The Life Science Glovebox provides a place on the @Space_Station to conduct experiments in a sealed environment. @Astro_Jessica used it to work on the OsteoOmics-2 study last week. go.nasa.gov/2zqZ296

The OsteoOmics2 experiment investigates the cellular mechanism of bone loss – vital knowledge for future space explorers and for diseases like osteoporosis or bed-ridden patients on Earth. First I thaw the frozen bone cells, then @AstroDrewMorgan changes their growth media.

Human heart cells grown in space! 🚀 A 6-year project comes to a close. Our @iss_casis & @StanfordCVI study using stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to model the effects of spaceflight on the heart...was published today in @stemcellreports! cell.com/stem-cell-reports/f… (Thread)

Congratulation @ArunSharma, @Astro_Kate7, @alexawnorowski. Thanks @Space_Station, @BioServeST, @SpaceX, @OrionsQuest1, @ISS_CASIS, @nih_nhlbi, @NASA, @American_Heart, @NSF, and others for support. Truly a multi-disciplinary collaboration! @KatieHunt20 cnn.com/2019/11/07/health/sp…

Go @shankini!

Humbled to have @JimBridenstine visit our new @CUEngineering control center while performing operations on @Space_Stations’s Micro-15 experiment with @astro_luca! 🛰

Working inside LSG for the Micro15 experiment, I prepare some samples of cells to be incubated in microgravity: an experiment that’s only possible on board the International @Space_Station. #MissionBeyond @ISS_Research

Synthetic Bone, another payload supported by @BioServeST at #ISSRDC in the Accelerating Startups in Space Session.

Rodent Research Onboard the ISS Panel chaired by Dr. Louis Stodieck. #ISSRDC @BioServeST

Angiex, a payload executed by @AstroSerena supported by @BioServeST being presented at #ISSRDC

We are soooo grateful to our partners @BioServeST for the vital role they've played in the Kidney on a Chip project as we prepare for the launch to the @ISS_Research ! @UW_Pharmacy @UWMedicine @nwkidney @KidneyResInst @ISS_CASIS

“I couldn’t believe it — I was honored to receive the prestigious @NASA Silver Snoopy Award from @Astro2fish. I’m happy to be a part of the group @CUBoulder that’s making the world a better place. 🌎

“We enable scientists to do compelling research.” @CUEngineering Alumna @shankini on why @CUBoulder is the prime institution for aerospace.

“I remember seeing Sally Ride on the cover of Newsweek and thinking, ‘I want to be a part of that!’” Form there, @shankini knew @CUBoulder was a top pick for her aerospace ambitions. 🚀

How does space research benefit human health on Earth? 🌎 Find out at @cubouldernext in San Francisco where Shankini Doraisingam (AeroEngr’98) of @BioServeST will present One Cell at a Time: Benefitting Human Health on Earth From Space Life Science Research 🚀