Far above Earth, life on the International Space Station never slows down. As the world turns below, eleven astronauts are busy floating through their cosmic laboratory, carrying out vital science that could change life both in space and on Earth.
Focus on Brain, Cancer, and Space Biology
The Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 crews resumed their duties on Tuesday. Their research explored how space affects blood flow, cancer cells, and tiny resilient creatures called tardigrades.
Station Commander Takuya Onishi from Japan’s space agency, JAXA, fitted sensors to his neck and chest. This experiment monitors how blood moves between the brain and heart in weightlessness. Doctors will analyse the data to better understand circulation in space.
Ax-4 crew members Peggy Whitson and Tibor Kapu also joined the cerebral circulation study. Kapu wore a special cap while Whitson used a Doppler ultrasound to image his cerebral artery. A blood pressure cuff added further data for the experiment.
This research aims to protect astronauts’ visual processing and perception in microgravity. Whitson later turned her attention to studying cancer cells under a fluorescence microscope. The goal is to learn how to detect and prevent cancer earlier in space.
NASA engineers Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain accompanied the Ax-4 astronauts. McClain led private astronauts in working with research equipment within the laboratory. Ayers installed a microscope in the Destiny module for Shubhanshu Shukla. He studied tardigrades to learn how such tiny animals survive in harsh conditions, including zero gravity.
Ax-4 astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, meanwhile, researched how nanomaterials can enhance wearable health-monitoring devices for space travel.
Crazy Day for Science and Maintenance Work
NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim began his day by taking blood samples. He centrifuged them and then stored them in the station's freezer for preservation. Later, Kim tidied hardware in the Harmony module and worked on the ventilation system in the Quest airlock.
It wasn’t just science keeping the crew busy. The uncrewed Progress 90 cargo spacecraft departed the station on Tuesday afternoon. Packed with rubbish, it undocked from the Poisk module at 2:42 pm local time. It will burn up safely over the South Pacific, ending a seven-month supply mission.
Already waiting on the launch pad in Kazakhstan is the Progress 92 cargo ship. Set for launch at 3:32 pm local time on Thursday, it will carry nearly 3,000 pounds of food, fuel, and supplies. Progress 92 is expected to dock with Poisk on Saturday at 5:27 pm local time.
Roscosmos Crew Prepares for Incoming Supplies
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy spent the day training on the TORU system. This manual control system allows them to guide Progress 92 during docking if needed.
Ryzhikov also set up equipment to capture hyperspectral images of landmarks across Mexico and South America. Zubritskiy documented the Progress 90’s fiery departure through a series of photographs.
Meanwhile, flight engineer Kirill Peskov checked a laptop used to control the European robotic arm. He also had a full day wearing sensors to monitor his heart rate and blood pressure in microgravity.
As cargo vessels arrive and depart, life on board the ISS continues unabated. For these eleven space travellers, each day presents a new challenge and discoveries made and one closer to realising how humanity can actually live off Earth.
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