Tag: science

The Expedition 72 crew members have completed preparations for a science and maintenance spacewalk scheduled for Thursday. Space agriculture, Earth observations, and lab maintenance rounded out the day for the International Space Station residents.

Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore, two NASA astronauts who are scheduled to begin a spacewalk at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, have completed their procedure reviews and spacesuit checks. They also joined NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit and practiced on a computer the Canadarm2 robotic arm maneuvers necessary to remove radio communications hardware, the first of two main spacewalking tasks. The second main task will see the two spacewalkers swab sites outside the orbital outpost to collect samples of potential microbes for analysis.

Hague began his day in the Kibo laboratory module making space and readying the Astrobee robotic free flyers for operations testing their ability to downlink video and imagery to mission controllers in real time. Pettit was back on space gardening duty processing samples and installing research hardware for an investigation exploring how microgravity and ultraviolet radiation affect plant growth. Results may enable future crews to grow crops on spacecraft for sustainment during long-term space missions.

The three cosmonauts working in the Roscosmos segment of the orbiting lab focused on imaging Earth landmarks and installing new electronics hardware. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov once again set up a camera with a spectrometer attach       ed and photographed areas along the Mediterranean Sea in a variety of wavelengths, including Libya and Greece. Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner continued installing new command and telemetry gear in the Zvezda service module that can communicate with Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, ground stations, and orbiting satellites.

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Spacewalk preparations and space gardening were the main duties aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The seven Expedition 72 crewmates also serviced electronics systems and packed a cargo craft for its upcoming departure.

Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore began their day with standard health checks required for astronauts getting ready for a spacewalk. The duo checked vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, and breathing rate then transferred the data to a tablet computer for review by doctors on the ground. Both astronauts later gathered inside the Quest airlock and continued to gather and organize their spacewalking hardware including tethers, pistol grip tools, and other task-specific gear.

Williams and Wilmore are due to set their spacesuits to battery power at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday signifying the official start time of the second spacewalk of 2025. The two NASA astronauts will exit Quest and spend about six-and-a-half hours removing radio communications hardware and searching for microbes outside the orbital outpost. NASA+ will begin its live spacewalk coverage at 6:30 a.m.

NASA Flight Engineer Nick Hague participated in the spacewalk preparations Tuesday collecting the hardware necessary to remove the radio frequency group antenna assembly. Next, he photographed the tools Williams and Wilmore staged inside Quest for documentation. Hague wrapped up his shift reconfiguring computer network hardware then resupplying medical kits with blood tubes, needles, gloves, and more inside the Human Research Facility racks.

NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit spent his day working on space agricultural hardware to learn how to grow food in space and sustain future crews on long-term missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The four-time station visitor first watered thale cress plants growing to understand the effects of microgravity and ultraviolet radiation on plant life. Afterward, Pettit removed research components from inside the Advanced Plant Habitat that recently hosted a small crop of red lettuce that was harvested and preserved and will soon be tested for its nutritional value.

Exercise research, cargo packing, and lab maintenance topped the schedule for the cosmonauts working in the Roscosmos segment of the orbiting lab. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov attached electrodes to himself and jogged on a treadmill for a physical fitness evaluation in the Zvezda service module. Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin spent his day loading trash and discarded gear inside the Progress 89 cargo craft due to depart Zvezda next month. Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner spent his day inside Zvezda installing new command and telemetry hardware that can communicate with Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, ground stations, and orbiting satellites.

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Preparations continue for a spacewalk to remove communications hardware and check for microbes outside the International Space Station later this week. Meanwhile, the Expedition 72 crew harvested red lettuce for a space agriculture study and continued its upkeep of the orbital outpost.

Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore are scheduled to begin a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday. The NASA astronauts will remove a degraded radio frequency group antenna assembly and collect samples of potential microbes living outside of the orbital outpost. The duo reviewed on Monday the Canadarm2 robotic arm procedures necessary to support the removal of the degraded radio communications gear.

Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 on Thursday assisting and monitoring the spacewalkers. The two NASA astronauts also studied the robotics procedures and practiced on a computer the maneuvers they will use to guide the spacewalkers during their external maintenance activities.

There was still time during the day for Wilmore and Hague to join each other in the Kibo laboratory module and pick a small crop of red lettuce from the Advanced Plant Habitat. Wilmore started the harvesting job collecting the leaves, packing them in pouches, and stowing the samples in a science freezer for later analysis. Pettit finished the botany operations extracting roots from the Plant Habitat, collecting water samples for analysis, and photographing the research hardware. The botany investigation is assessing the nutritional value of food grown in space and may promote growing crops on future missions.

Williams and Pettit partnered together inside the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) cleaning and organizing a variety of cargo including food, electronics gear, science experiments and more. The PMM was launched to the station on space shuttle Discovery and installed on Unity module’s Earth-facing port March 1, 2011. PMM was relocated May 27, 2015, to its current location on the Tranquility module’s forward port.

Earth observations, space navigation, and lab maintenance topped the schedule for the three cosmonauts working in the orbiting lab’s Roscosmos segment. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov outfitted a camera with specialized hardware and photographed Earth landmarks to study the effects natural and man-made catastrophes. Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin explored ways to acquire more accurate space station navigation data from ground and satellite navigation systems. Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner deactivated and dismantled obsolete communications hardware that has been replaced with an updated command and telemetry system.

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The week ended aboard the International Space Station with spacesuit maintenance and research into how microgravity affects blood pressure and breathing. The Expedition 72 residents also serviced a variety of hardware supporting science experiments and life support systems aboard the orbital outpost.

Two NASA astronauts, Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore, continued gearing up for a spacewalk scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 30. Williams worked throughout Friday in the Quest airlock completing the charging of lithium-ion batteries that power spacesuits for the duration of a spacewalk. Next, she filtered and cleaned the water loops that cool astronauts in their spacesuits in the extreme environment of outer space. Wilmore pitched in and verified the functionality of spacesuit components including glove heaters, cameras, and helmet lights. The duo is preparing for a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk next week to remove radio antenna hardware and search for microbes outside the orbital outpost.

NASA Flight Engineer Nick Hague began his day inside the Columbus laboratory module installing experiment containers on the BioLab, a biology research device that enables observations of microbes, cells, tissues, and more in weightlessness. NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit activated life support gear in the Unity module and removed more life support hardware from the Tranquility module. The pair later met at the end of the day and reviewed procedures they will use in the future to service the external thermal control system that cools hardware on the outside of the orbital lab.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner started their day on human research. This time, Ovchinin wore sensors that measured his exhalation following a deep breath helping doctors understand how microgravity affects the respiratory system. Vagner wore a separate set of sensors for a study observing how a crew member’s vascular system functions during a long-term space mission. Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov spent the first part of his day on orbital plumbing tasks in the Nauka science module then wrapped up his shift auditing stowage space throughout the station’s Roscosmos segment.

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The Expedition 72 crew took a break from spacewalk preparations on Thursday and focused on combustion and biology research. The seven orbital residents also worked on housecleaning duties and lab maintenance ensuring the upkeep of the International Space Station.

Station Commander Suni Williams turned her attention to cleaning crew quarters and filming an educational video following several days of preparing for her spacewalk with NASA Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore. Williams first cleaned ducts, fans, and air sensors inside the Harmony module’s port side crew quarters. Next, she filmed a video demonstrating how water moves and evaporates in microgravity for students and teachers on Earth.

Wilmore worked in the Unity module and inventoried tools that fellow NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit will use to support the spacewalkers next week. Williams and Wilmore are planning to begin a spacewalk at 8 a.m. EST on Jan. 30 to remove radio antenna hardware and search for microbes outside the orbital outpost. Hague and Pettit will help the spacewalking duo in and out of the spacesuits, in and out of the Quest airlock, and maneuver the Canadarm2 robotic arm during the planned six-and-a-half-hour excursion.

Hague had the first half of his day off before he spent the second part of his shift cleaning ducts, fans, and air sensors inside Harmony’s overhead crew quarters. Pettit worked throughout the day configuring research hardware inside the Combustion Integrated Rack for a spacecraft fire safety investigation.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner began their day working on separate human research experiments. Ovchinin attached sensors to himself measuring how microgravity affects a crew member’s vascular function. Vagner participated in a breathing study that monitors crews for potential space-caused respiratory system issues.

Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov inventoried hardware stowed throughout the space station’s Roscosmos segment then serviced an oxygen generator in the Zvezda service module. Next, he installed and configured observation hardware to image Earth’s nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet wavelengths.

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Spacewalk preparations continue aboard the International Space Station to remove communications gear and search for microbes next week. The Expedition 72 crew members also worked on a host of advanced science experiments and housecleaning duties throughout the day on Wednesday.

Station Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore are slated to begin their spacewalk at 8 a.m. EST on Jan. 30 and spend about six-and-a-half hours removing a radio frequency group antenna assembly and searching for microbes on the orbital outpost. The duo kicked off their day inside the Quest airlock reviewing their spacewalk procedures and servicing their spacesuit helmets. Afterward, Williams and Wilmore checked the fuel and power capacity of their SAFER or Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue. A spacewalker would use the SAFER installed on their spacesuit to maneuver back to the station in the unlikely event they became untethered from the station.

NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit will assist the spacewalkers next week and studied on Wednesday the spacewalking tasks and the Canadarm2 robotic maneuvers they will use to support the removal of the radio communications gear. Hague, with Pettit as backup, will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 carefully guiding Williams, who will be attached to the robotic arm’s tip, or latching end effector. Pettit and Hague will also help the spacewalkers in and out of their spacesuits, guide the duo in and out of Quest, and monitor the spacewalking activities.

At the end of their shifts, the four NASA astronauts regrouped inside the Harmony module to clean up and reorganize cargo. The quartet disposed of trash, relocated hardware to gain more space, and conducted a photographic inspection of Harmony for analysis on the ground.

More Earth observations and advanced space piloting studies were on the schedule aboard the orbiting lab’s Roscosmos segment. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov first set up a camera with a spectrometer and pointed it out a window on the Zvezda service module to photograph the effects of Earth disasters in numerous wavelengths. Next, he strapped on a sensor-packed cap that recorded his reactions as he practiced on a computer spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques crew members may use on future planetary missions.

Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin began his shift servicing audio and ventilation systems in the Zvezda and Zarya modules then wrapped his day exploring 3D printing tools in microgravity. Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner spent his day activating video gear and uninstalling electronics hardware before taking a questionnaire documenting his experience communicating with international crews and mission controllers from around the world.

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The Expedition 72 crew members began the day preparing for the second spacewalk of 2025 outside the International Space Station, this time to remove communications gear and search for potential microbes. The orbital residents also kept up ongoing research studying advanced space navigation, analyzing microbial DNA, and exploring futuristic piloting techniques.

Station Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore worked throughout Tuesday organizing spacewalk tools such as tethers, stowage bags, foot restraints, and more inside the Quest airlock. The duo also reviewed procedures they will use to remove and stow a radio frequency group antenna assembly and swab external station surfaces to test whether microbes can live outside the orbital outpost. They are scheduled to set their spacesuits to battery power signifying the start of their spacewalk at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit also took part in the spacewalk preparations. Hague started first as he studied the steps he will take when he helps the spacewalkers in and out of their spacesuits, guides them in and out of Quest, and monitors the duo during the science and maintenance excursion. Later, he joined Pettit and practiced installing the spacesuits’ jetpacks a spacewalker would use to maneuver back to the station in the unlikely event they became untethered from the orbital outpost.

Hague and Pettit were also on science duty keeping up advanced research benefitting humans living on and off the Earth. Hague worked inside the Columbus laboratory module installing the NAVCOM technology demonstration. The space navigation hardware is being tested as a backup solution to the Global Navigation Satellite System in support of future lunar missions. Pettit, in the Harmony module’s maintenance work area, sequenced the DNA of bacteria samples to quickly analyze and identify the microbes that live in space station water systems. The GISMOS biotechnology study increases DNA research on orbit without returning the samples to Earth for analysis and is critical to protecting crew health on spacecraft.

Working in the orbiting lab’s Roscosmos segment, Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin wore a sensor-packed cap and explored on a computer how crews may operate spacecraft and robots on future planetary missions. Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner spent his day servicing electronics hardware and unplugging cables inside the Zarya module. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov pointed a camera installed with a spectrometer out a window in the Zvezda service module and photographed the effects of natural and man-made disasters on Earth in a variety of wavelengths.

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Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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