The Expedition 63 crew has turned its attention toward space science and lab maintenance after releasing a Japanese cargo craft from the International Space Station on Tuesday. More cargo and crew missions to replenish the orbiting lab are planned for October.
Commander Chris Cassidy switched off communications gear today used to send commands to Japan’s H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9) after its departure on Tuesday. The HTV-9 will orbit Earth until Thursday morning when it descends into the atmosphere for a fiery, but safe demise over the South Pacific.
The NASA commander spent the rest of the day working on orbital plumbing and life support gear. Cassidy removed and replaced the Waste and Hygiene Compartment’s recycle tank located in the Tranquility module. He also inspected out gear that analyzes organic compounds in the station’s air.
Veteran station cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin focused on battery work as he installed current converters throughout the lab’s Russian segment. First-time cosmonaut Ivan Vagner spent Wednesday morning working on more orbital plumbing before exploring ways to improve Earth photography techniques and determine how mission events impact the orbiting lab.
Space traffic will be clear at the space station for the rest of August and into September. The mission pace will pick back up in October with a U.S. Cygnus cargo ship from Northrop Grumman, the Expedition 64 crew and the SpaceX Crew-1 mission all to set to arrive within a period of three weeks.
I’m looking forward to learning more at age 61 from the space experiments. I’m in Kentucky. Learning is unending. We learn something new each day. So hi to the international space station from a Kentucky astronaut
So good to hear from another Kentucky Space Nut. I feel like I’m the only one in the whole state who cares about all things Space-related. Good to hear another voice from my neck of the woods!
Go NASA, Go Space, Go ISS, Go Percy!
Congratulations to Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner for their excellent work. I’m a big fan of these guys!
Thanks for everyone around the globe that contributes to the past, current, and future success of ISS and space exploration! Keep up the great work. Hi from a Detroit-area citizen of Earth.
Hello from Cebu Philippines an expat from Oregon that has followed the space program since the 60’s. Was so amazed at the live feed I saw many years ago at NASA in Florida I wish there were more all the best to you guys on the ISS on real lockdown lol