Space life

Expedition 67 Flight Engineers (from left) Samantha Cristoforetti from ESA (European Space Agency) and Jessica Watkins of NASA pose together for a fun portrait inside the International Space Station’s Harmony module on May 14, 2022. The Expedition-67 crew members focused on maintenance checks, exercise, and space research as part of their activities aboard the  International Space Station  today. NASA Flight Engineer  Kjell Lindgren  concluded a busy work week by transferring cargo from the SpaceX CRS-25 Dragon spacecraft and completing a fitness test on the exercise cycle. He attached sensors to his chest and pedaled for an hour on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization ( CEVIS ) device. Following a heavy cardio session, Lindgren used the  Tranquility module ’s advanced resistive exercise device (ARED) to perform exercises such as bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. He spent the latter part of his day installing the Extravehicular...

Expedition 67 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins services components that support the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SOFIE) fire safety experiment inside the International Space Station’s Combustion Integrated Rack on June 24, 2022. The seven-member  Expedition-67  crew split their time studying burning in microgravity, space manufacturing, testing an ultrasound device, and more, in addition to conducting some maintenance work aboard the  International Space Station . NASA Flight Engineer  Jessica Watkins  focused on setting up the  Combustion Integrated Rack  inside the  U.S. Destiny laboratory module  to support the operations for the SoFIE-GEL, or  Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction – Growth and Extinction Limit , study. The investigation measures the amount of heating in a fuel sample to determine how fuel temperature affects material flammability. Results could improve understanding of early fire growth beha...

Expedition 67 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins works on electrical system components inside the International Space Station’s Harmony module on July 7, 2022. The Expedition 67 crew members focused on exercise, science beneficial to humans on Earth and future crews in space, and routine maintenance checks as part of their activities aboard the  International Space Station  today. The seven station residents prioritized space exercise and took turns working out. They used the  Tranquility module ’s advanced resistive exercise device (ARED) to perform exercises such as bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. Crews workout on average  two hours  per day in space. Routine exercise helps astronauts counter the  bone and muscle loss  that accompanies living and working in microgravity. NASA Flight Engineer  Bob Hines  worked on the new Genes in Space-9 (GIS-9) study. Cell-free technology is a platform for protein production th...

NASA astronaut and Expedition 67 Flight Engineer Bob Hines is pictured during maintenance activities inside the International Space Station’s Unity module on May 14, 2022. The  Expedition 67  crewmembers aboard the  International Space Station  spent Tuesday predominantly on research, maintenance, and cargo transfer operations. Research beneficial to humans on Earth and future crews in space is happening around the clock aboard the orbiting laboratory. NASA Flight Engineer  Kjell Lindgren used a majority of his day to service samples for the Immunosenescence  investigation inside the Life Science Glovebox . Results from this study may one day inform treatments for accelerated aging processes commonly observed in microgravity and contribute to countermeasures for normal aging progression. NASA Flight Engineer  Bob Hines inspected the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) Moderate Temperature Loop Jumper to check for leaks. In the CAL, atoms are chilled to tempera...

The sun’s glint beams off the Caspian Sea in this photograph from the International Space Station as it was orbiting on a southwest to northeast trek 262 miles above Turkey near the Black Sea coast on June 24, 2022. The Expedition 67 crew members kicked off their work week setting up for experiments later in the week and completing orbital plumbing duties. NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins and ESA (European Space Agency) Flight Engineer  Samantha Cristoforetti  supported the Rodent Research-22 experiment. The space biology experiment observes how microgravity affects tissue regeneration. In the morning, NASA Flight Engineer  Bob Hines removed samples of the final Fiber Optic Production-2 space manufacturing study and packed up the hardware. And, in the evening, Hines set up hardware for the new Space Fibers-3 space manufacturing study. Station Commander  Oleg Artemyev  of Roscosmos worked on the Cardiovector study. Cardiac research  is also a...

NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins are pictured inside the cupola, the International Space Station’s “window to the world,” after monitoring the successful rendezvous and docking of the SpaceX Dragon space freighter on its 25th Commercial Resupply Services mission on July 16, 2022. Four Expedition 67 crew members slept in on Friday following a spacewalk the day before at the International Space Station . The other three orbital residents wrapped up the workweek researching a variety of space phenomena, unpacking a U.S. cargo ship, and maintaining orbital lab systems. Commander and six-time spacewalker Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos led ESA (European Space Agency) Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti on her first spacewalk on Thursday. The duo set up the European robotic arm for operations on the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module during a spacewalk that lasted seven hours and five minutes . Ten nanosatellites were also deployed into Earth orbit for a radio technology...

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti works outside the space station’s Russian segment to configure the new European robotic arm. Credit:NASA TV Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) concluded their spacewalk at 5:55 p.m. EDT after 7 hours and 5 minutes. Artemyev and Cristoforetti completed all but one of their major objectives, which included the deployment of 10 nanosatellites designed to collect radio electronics data during the spacewalk and installing platforms and workstation adapter hardware near the 37-foot-long manipulator system mounted to Nauka. The spacewalkers also relocated the arm’s external control panel and replaced a protective window on the arm’s camera unit. The last planned activity, to extend a Strela telescoping boom from Zarya to Poisk, will be completed on a future spacewalk. Additional spacewalks are planned to continue outfitting the European ro...

Exp 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA began a spacewalk at 10:50am ET to continue outfitting the European robotic arm on the space station’s Nauka laboratory by opening the hatch of the Poisk docking compartment airlock. Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) began a spacewalk at 10:50 a.m. EDT to continue outfitting the European robotic arm on the International Space Station ’s Nauka laboratory by opening the hatch of the Poisk docking compartment airlock. Coverage of the spacewalk continues on NASA Television, the  NASA app , and the agency’s  website . One of the first tasks will see Artemyev and Cristoforetti deploy 10 nanosatellites designed to collect radio electronics data during the spacewalk, which will be the 251st in support of station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. The duo will install platforms and workstation adapter hard...

Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA, clad in Russian Orlan spacesuits, will spend about six-and-a-half hours outfitting the European robotic arm on the International Space Station’s Nauka laboratory. Artemyev will wear a Russian spacesuit with red stripes (EV1), while Cristoforetti will wear a Russian suit with blue stripes (EV2). NASA Television coverage is underway of today’s spacewalk with a Russian cosmonaut and an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut to continue outfitting the European robotic arm on the International Space Station ’s Nauka laboratory. Coverage of the spacewalk is on NASA Television, the NASA app , and agency’s website . Expedition 67 Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA will install platforms and workstation adapter hardware near the European robotic arm, a 37-foot-long manipulator system mounted to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module. The ...

The European robotic arm extends out from the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module during a mobility test. A Russian cosmonaut and an Italian astronaut are finalizing preparations for a spacewalk on Thursday to configure the International Space Station ’s third and newest robotic arm. As the pair was being assisted by two cosmonauts the rest of the Expedition 67 crew ensured ongoing advanced space research was proceeding full speed ahead aboard the orbiting lab. Station Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) are scheduled to exit the space station into the vacuum of space at 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday . The spacewalkers will spend about seven hours readying the European robotic arm for operations on the station’s Russian segment. The duo will also deploy 10 nanosatellites to collect radio electronics data. NASA TV begins its live spacewalk coverage at 9:30 a.m. on the agency’s app and website . Artemyev and C...

Astronaut Bob Hines works out on the space station’s Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) that mimics lifting free weights on Earth. A variety of new space science is under way aboard the International Space Station following Saturday’s delivery aboard the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship. The Expedition 67 crew members are helping researchers on the ground take advantage of weightlessness to reveal new phenomena potentially benefitting humans on Earth and in space. NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines kicked off a new experiment today that looks at how the human immune system adapts to microgravity. Hines set up the Life Science Glovebox inside the Kibo laboratory module then serviced tissue samples for the Immunosenescence investigation. Results may inform treatments for accelerated aging processes observed in space as well as normal aging conditions on Earth. NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren spent his day working on a pair of different experiments and configuring science ...

The SpaceX Dragon resupply ship carrying over 5,800 pounds of cargo approaches the space station above the south Atlantic Ocean on July 16, 2022. New science experiments continue to be unpacked from inside the newly-arrived SpaceX Dragon resupply ship . The seven Expedition 67 crew members also ensured the International Space Station continues orbiting Earth in tip-top shape. NASA Flight Engineers Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines spent Monday unloading some of the more than 5,800 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies delivered on Saturday inside the Dragon cargo craft. The duo transferred time-critical research samples into the orbital lab to begin exploring a variety of space phenomena to benefit humans on and off the Earth. Some of the new experiment include a human immune system study , a protein production investigation , and a cancer treatment experiment . NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren assisted Watkins and Hines today moving science freezers inside Dragon t...

The SpaceX Dragon resupply ship approaches the space station during an orbital sunrise above the Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA TV While the International Space Station was traveling more than 267 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 11:21 a.m. EDT today, with NASA astronauts Bob Hines and  Jessica Watkins monitoring operations from the station. The Dragon launched on SpaceX’s 25th contracted commercial resupply mission for NASA at 8:44 p.m., Thursday, July 14 , from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After Dragon spends about one month attached to the space station, the spacecraft will return to Earth with cargo and research. Among the science experiments Dragon is delivering to the space station are: Mapping Earth’s Dust The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation ( EMIT ), developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laborator...

The SpaceX Dragon resupply ship lifts off atop the Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida just after sunset. Credit: SpaceX The SpaceX Dragon is on track to arrive at the International Space Station today, Saturday, July 16, with an expected docking of the cargo spacecraft about 11:20 a.m. EDT. NASA Television coverage will begin at 10 a.m. Watch live on NASA Television, the  NASA app , and the agency’s website . When it arrives to the space station, Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module, with NASA astronauts Bob Hines and  Jessica Watkins monitoring operations from the station. Dragon successfully launched on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 8:44 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 14, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying more than 5,800 pounds of research, hardware, and supplies to the International Space Station. Learn more about station activities by following the  spa...

The SpaceX Dragon resupply ship lifts off atop the Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida just after sunset. Credit: NASA TV More than 5,800 pounds of new science experiments and crew supplies are on their way to the International Space Station after the successful launch of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft on Thursday. Dragon blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:44 p.m. and reached orbit less than nine minutes later beginning its day-and-a-half-long trip to the orbital lab. The U.S. space freighter is scheduled to dock automatically to the Harmony module ’s forward port at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday. NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins will be on duty monitoring Dragon’s automated rendezvous and docking. NASA TV, on the agency’s app and website , will begin live coverage at 10 a.m. as Dragon approaches the station for a monthlong stay. Hines and Watkins along with Expedition 67 Flight Engineers Kjell Lindgren of NASA and Samantha Cris...

Expedition 67 astronauts (clockwise from left) Bob Hines, Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren, and Samantha Cristofroetti pose for a portrait during dinner time aboard the space station. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon cargo craft atop stands at the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. More than 5,800 pounds of new science experiments and crew supplies are packed inside Dragon awaiting a liftoff tonight at 8:44 p.m. EDT . The U.S. commercial resupply ship will orbit Earth for a day-and-a-half before catching up to the International Space Station on Saturday. Expedition 67 Flight Engineers Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins of NASA will be on duty monitoring Dragon during its automated approach and rendezvous until it automatically docks to the Harmony module’s forward port at 11:20 a.m. Hines, Watkins, and NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren are off-duty today relaxing before kicking off a weekend of preparations for the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon. The trio will spen...

The SpaceX Dragon resupply ship, attached to the Falcon 9 rocket, rolls out to the launch pad and is raised to its vertical position at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: SpaceX The Expedition 67 crew members are training for this weekend’s arrival of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft to the International Space Station as it prepares for its launch on Thursday. Mission managers have given the go for the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship as it counts down to a liftoff toward the space station at 8:44 p.m. EDT on Thursday . Dragon, attached to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and carrying 5,800 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies, rolled out to the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday. The U.S. commercial cargo craft will orbit Earth for a day-and-a-half before docking to the Harmony module ’s forward port at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday. NASA TV, on the agency’s app and website, will begin its live launch coverage at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday. NASA astronauts Jessi...

Astronauts (from left) Jessica Watkins and Samantha Cristoforetti are pictured inside the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) during cargo stowage activities. The Expedition 67 crew members kicked off Tuesday with health checks before moving on to space agriculture and spacewalk preparations. The International Space Station ’s residents also worked on a host of life support systems and cargo operations. NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins began her day setting up the Health Maintenance System in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module . She and fellow astronauts Kjell Lindgren , Bob Hines , and Samantha Cristoforetti , took turns during the morning measuring their temperatures, blood pressures, pulses, and respiratory rates. Afterward, Watkins replaced components on a life support device that ensures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels remain safe aboard the station. Hines restocked the Human Research Facility ’s supply kit with sample tubes, gloves, and wipes. Watkins and Hines later ...

(Clockwise from top) Astronauts Jessica Watkins, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Bob Hines check thermal system components inside the Unity module. Preparations for a cargo mission this week and a spacewalk next week are keeping the Expedition 67 crew busy aboard the International Space Station . The seven orbital residents are also staying busy with their ongoing research into human biology, space physics, and robotics. The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft attached to the Falcon 9 rocket is due to roll out to the launch pad soon at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is scheduled to launch at 8:44 p.m. EDT on Thursday carrying 5,800 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies to replenish the orbiting lab. Dragon will orbit Earth for a day-and-a-half before docking to the Harmony module ’s forward port at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday. NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins spent an hour-and-a-half Monday morning studying Dragon’s approach and rendezvous maneuvers. She will be on duty Saturday ...

Expedition 67 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren checks airflow and water absorption capabilities on spacesuit components at the maintenance work area inside the International Space Station’s Harmony module on May 20, 2022. Artificial intelligence, hearing tests, and a microscope setup topped the research agenda aboard the International Space Station on Friday. The seven Expedition 67 crew members also divided their day with ongoing spacewalk preparations, training video recording, and orbital plumbing duties. The astronauts have been exploring space manufacturing techniques to take advantage of the weightless environment that could advance the production and output of Earth and space industries. The current Intelligent Glass Optics study investigates using artificial intelligence as a way to adapt Earth-bound manufacturing processes for microgravity. NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins opened up the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) on Friday swapping sample...