Blogs

Payloads Astrobee:  The crew removed the Perching Arm from an Astrobee Freeflyer Honey in preparation of ReSWARM operations.  Astrobee is made up of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots which are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes …

All seven Expedition 65 crew members are gearing up three spacewalks the first of which is set to start next week. Two astronauts will go on the first spacewalk then two cosmonauts will conduct the second and third spacewalks. The other three crewmates will provide support to the spacewalkers. The first spacewalk on Aug. 24 …

Payloads Advanced Imaging, Folding, and Assembly of Colloidal Molecules (ACE-T-9):  The crew removed the two desiccant bags and ACE-T-5 Module, then installed the new ACE-T-9 Module.  The crew took photos of both Module’s capillaries including an overall view and a closer view of each individual capillary (three per module).  The ACE-T-9 investigation involves the imaging, …

The Expedition 65 crew spent Tuesday on a variety of biology experiments exploring how living in microgravity affects the human muscle system. The residents aboard the International Space Station are also intensifying their preparations for three spacewalks over the coming weeks. Astronauts Megan McArthur of NASA and Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) split …

Payloads Cardinal Muscle:  Crew removed the Cardinal Muscle samples from Glacier in preparation for operations.  Muscle mass diminishes with age on Earth via a condition called sarcopenia, and astronauts experience similar and accelerated loss of muscle mass during spaceflight.  Tissue Engineered Muscle in Microgravity as a Novel Platform to Study Sarcopenia (Cardinal Muscle) evaluates whether …

Two astronauts and two cosmonauts are gearing up for three spacewalks set to begin next week at the International Space Station. The Expedition 65 crew is also continuing to unpack a U.S. cargo craft in the middle of ongoing science and maintenance activities. The first spacewalk is planned to take place on Aug. 24. Commander …

NASA and Boeing have decided to postpone the launch of Orbital Flight Test-2 to the International Space Station as teams continue work on the CST-100 Starliner propulsion system. Engineering teams have been working to restore functionality to several valves in the Starliner propulsion system from inside United Launch Alliance’s Vertical Integration Facility that did not …

Payloads Cardinal Muscle:  A crewmember prepared for Cardinal Muscle operations by retrieving the Saline bags and inserting them into SABL-2.  In addition, a crewmember removed the Cardinal Muscle samples from the Glacier cold stowage facility.  Muscle mass diminishes with age on Earth via a condition called sarcopenia, and astronauts experience similar and accelerated loss of …

What does water vapor have in common with Sisyphus, the mythological Greek character cursed to roll a rock uphill only to have it roll back down again? Water is continuously cycling on Earth between bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and rivers, land surfaces, and in the atmosphere. When water warms and evaporates from […]