A Busy Week on the ISS

The Expedition 73 crew has been hard at work aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during a bustling week filled with exciting research and important cargo activities.

Heartwarming Connections Across the Cosmos

This week, Japan’s astronaut Kimiya Yui made headlines by connecting with schoolchildren from Takacho in Hyogo Prefecture via amateur radio. "This is the first time talking with Japanese children during a mission!" Yui excitedly shared on social media.

Communicating through ham radio has been a tradition in space since the early 1980s, allowing astronauts to engage with people on Earth without interrupting official communications. Yui reflected on the uplifting experience, saying, "I gained energy from interacting with the children, and it helped me get through the subsequent work smoothly!"

Scientific Breakthroughs in Space!

A slew of groundbreaking research took place aboard the ISS this week. NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim tackled studies aimed at understanding how space travel affects eyesight and balance. They utilized virtual reality goggles and other specialized equipment to examine changes in their senses.

In an intriguing twist, Cardman employed ultrasound technology to monitor arterial stiffness, while Kim processed samples of bone stem cells to study bone density loss during long-duration missions.

Meanwhile, Yui spearheaded an experiment involving tobacco plants and algae, exploring their potential for future lunar and Martian agriculture.

In the realm of nutrition, Fincke showcased a vibrant tray of purple kefir—a fermented milk drink—used in an experiment testing whether yeast and yogurt could produce essential vitamins for upcoming space crews!

Keeping the Space Station Running Smoothly

Alongside their research, the crew focused on vital station maintenance and preparations for incoming cargo shipments. Last week, they bid farewell to the Progress MS-30 cargo vehicle on September 9.

Cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky were busy prepping for the September 13 docking of the Progress M-32 vehicle. Additionally, the team is gearing up for the arrival of Northrop Grumman's "XL" Cygnus cargo craft, set to be captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm on September 17.

An Insightful Chat with an Astronaut

In a candid interview with MIT’s Technology Review Magazine, Mike Fincke expressed pride in his team's dedicated approach to science aboard the ISS. "We go above and beyond to give the best results that we can. I take great pride in that," he remarked.

An International Crew in Space

As of September 12, the ISS housed seven astronauts. The crew includes Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov and cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov from Russia, alongside NASA's Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, and Mike Fincke, plus Kimiya Yui from Japan.

Currently, the ISS boasts two docked crew spacecraft—SpaceX's Dragon "Endeavour" and Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-27—as well as two cargo vessels: Roscosmos' Progress MS-31 and SpaceX's CRS-33 Dragon.