The Expedition 73 crew threw out their trash, ready for the arrival of recent cargo and performed host to a world staff of scientists, all whereas conducting science and sustaining their dwelling away dwelling throughout their week aboard the Worldwide Area Station.
Orbital statement
On Thursday (July 3), NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers noticed a firework, of kinds, in area.
“Simply. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite,” wrote the Expedition 73 flight engineer on social media. “Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Occasions, that occur above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical exercise within the thunderstorms beneath.”
“We now have an awesome view above the clouds, so scientists can use these kinds of footage to raised perceive the formation, traits and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms,” she wrote.
Science standing
Among the many analysis that was carried out by the Expedition 73 crew aboard the area station this week was:
Earthshine from ISS — NASA flight engineer Jonny Kim used a digital camera to {photograph} the moon. Greater than only a fairly image, although, his session was timed to coincide with a selected phase of the lunar cycle so scientists may use the ensuing imagery to check “Earthshine,” the reflection of our planet’s mild bouncing off the lunar floor. The analysis may result in a greater understanding of how the local weather and different elements of our environment have an effect on Earth’s albedo (or shine).
Muscle Stimulation — When you do not use it, you lose it. Scientists have identified for many years that dormancy on and off Earth can result in muscle degradation. Astronauts historically fight this by exercising day by day. This week, Nichole Ayers examined out electrical stimulation as an add on to her exercise. Anne McClain assisted Ayers within the exercise by working the tools to measure the outcomes.
Drain Mind 2.0 — Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi and Ayers took turns carrying electrodes on their necks and chests to measure how their blood flows from their brains to their hearts. The information collected from the trials will assist enhance our understanding of how blood and its motion all through our our bodies adapts to weightlessness.
On the Russian aspect of the station, Sergey Ryzhikov captured hyperspectral imagery of landmarks in each Mexico and South America. He additionally examined digital actuality specs to see how his steadiness and visible notion have adjusted to being in microgravity.
Station protecting
The Expedition 73 crew additionally devoted time to sustaining the area station’s programs, together with:
Progress MS-29 — Russia’s 91st uncrewed cargo ship devoted to supplying the ISS departed on Tuesday (July 1), after seven months being docked to the space-facing port on the Poisk module. Cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy accomplished filling the Progress with refuse and tools not wanted earlier than the spacecraft left the station.
Progress MS-31 — Ryzhikov and Zubritskiy additionally used a laptop computer pc to observe remotely docking the subsequent cargo ship to reach, ought to Progress M-31’s autonomous system go awry. Launched on Thursday, the area freighter is scheduled to dock to the Poisk module on Saturday (July 5).
Emergency tools — Jonny Kim with NASA spent a part of his day on Wednesday conducting a routine checkout of the station’s provide of moveable emergency {hardware}, comparable to hearth extinguishers and respiratory masks.
Astronaut exercise
On Thursday, Colorado-born Nichole Ayers answered reporters’ questions from KMGH-TV in Denver.
“Rising up there proper in Colorado, I acquired to see the Thunderbirds fly over yearly, so I knew that the Air Drive Academy existed … and rising up within the shuttle period, as quickly as I discovered you would fly the shuttle, I used to be like, ‘That is what I wish to do!'” Ayers stated, explaining what attracted her to turning into a NASA astronaut.
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
The 4 members of the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) crew “hit the bottom operating” once they started their first full week aboard the area station.
Commander Peggy Whitson labored on most cancers analysis, observing how tumor cells react to microgravity. Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla with the Indian Area Analysis Organisation (ISRO) studied the expansion and genetic habits of algae and the way microscopic creatures known as tardigrades survive and reproduce in area.
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of the European Area Company (ESA), one in every of Ax-4’s two mission specialists, examined an acoustic monitoring machine designed to enhance how sound ranges are tracked aboard the area station. On the similar time, Tibor Kapu of the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) astronaut program, monitored radiation ranges utilizing a dosimeter, whereas additionally rising microgreens.
The 4 additionally participated in a number of outreach actions, together with talking with aspiring feminine astronauts from Mexico, Spain, Germany and the U.Ok.; addressing the members of Poland’s Parliament; and connecting with college students in India.
By the numbers
As of Friday (July 4), there are 11 folks aboard the Worldwide Area Station: Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA, Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim of NASA and Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos, all flight engineers, in addition to Ax-4 commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA and Tibor Kapu of HUNOR.
There are three docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX’s Dragon “Endurance” connected to the ahead port of the Concord module, Dragon “Grace” on the space-facing port of Concord and Roscosmos’ Soyuz MS-27 connected to the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node.
There’s one docked cargo spacecraft: Roscosmos’ Progress Progress MS-30 (91P) connected to the aft port of the Zvezda service module. Progress MS-31, launched on Thursday (July 3) is predicted to dock to the space-facing port of the Poisk module on Saturday (July 5).
As of Friday, the area station has been repeatedly crewed for 24 years, 8 months and three days.
