A Delicious Delivery to the ISS

The crew of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station (ISS) kicked off an exciting week with the arrival of the much-anticipated Cygnus XL cargo ship. This extra-large delivery not only brought essential scientific equipment and supplies but also a delightful array of care packages from loved ones on Earth.

A Tasty Treat for the Space Crew

Among the tons of cargo, astronaut Jonny Kim shared on social media the joy of receiving sweet snacks: "The best part of cargo vehicles docking to the ISS is the care packages our loved ones send!" Kim was seen enjoying kimchi and Korean BBQ pork, while his crew mates displayed their haul of gummy bears, Mike & Ike candies, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey chocolates. He expressed gratitude for the thoughtful packaging from NASA, stating, "Thanks to everyone who ensures these are packaged with love."

Cutting-Edge Research in Space

While indulging in treats, the crew also engaged in groundbreaking scientific research. Highlights from their work include:

**MVP Cell-07 and Multi-use Variable-g Platform:** Jonny Kim and Kimiya Yui from JAXA studied bioprinted liver tissues, observing how blood vessels reacted in microgravity, a potential game-changer for manufacturing high-quality tissues and organs.

**Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B:** Zena Cardman prepared bone stem cell samples, crucial for safeguarding astronauts’ skeletal health and targeting bone ailments on Earth.

**BioNutrients-3:** Mike Fincke delved deeper into effective nutrient production using yeast and fermented samples, aiming to ensure astronauts receive essential vitamins during long missions.

**Plasma Kristall-4:** Oleg Platonov set up hardware to examine complex plasmas, capturing striking images of glaciers and mountain ranges across South America and Africa to monitor environmental conditions.

Keeping the Station Running Smoothly

The crew also maintained the ISS systems and prepared for future experiments. Cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky worked diligently unloading the Russian Progress 93 resupply ship, while Kim and Cardman successfully captured the Cygnus XL, dubbed the "SS William C. 'Willie' McCool," with the Canadarm2 robotic arm.

Space Talk and Inspiration

In an inspiring outreach effort, Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman shared their experiences aboard the ISS during an interview at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York. Cardman reflected, "It's a dream come true to be here, carrying out this mission that we spent so long dreaming about," emphasizing the years of preparation it took to reach space.

Kim echoed her sentiments, adding, "It's been an extra-special treat to be up here with a classmate. It is really amazing to have a friend up here with me."

The Current Crew and Cargo Count

As of September 19, seven astronauts inhabit the ISS: Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov, cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov, NASA astronauts Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, and Mike Fincke, along with Kimiya Yui from JAXA. The ISS hosts multiple docked spacecraft, including SpaceX's Dragon "Endeavour" and Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-27, along with four cargo ships, including the newly arrived Cygnus XL.