Blogs

The three orbiting crew members living on the International Space Station today explored the effects of microgravity on mice and microbes to understand how living in space impacts humans. Cargo transfers are also underway on the orbital complex after the arrival of the latest resupply ship. A pair of life science experiments observing mice are …

Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM):  The crew ingressed BEAM and replaced a 3.3 mm thick Radiation Environment Monitor (REM) shield that was installed onto a REM sensor on May 31, 2017 with a 10.0 mm thick shield that was also printed on the 3D printer onboard the ISS.  BEAM is an experimental expandable module attached …

The Expedition 52 crew is loading the SpaceX Dragon with cargo for return back to Earth in less than two weeks. BEAM, the experimental habitat, also received a new radiation shield today that was 3D printed aboard the International Space Station. Dragon is due to leave the International Space Station July 2 after cargo transfers …

Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) External Payload: Over the weekend, Robotic ground controllers maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) to remove the ROSA payload from the Dragon Trunk and position it at the ROSA Nominal Dynamics Operations position. When at this position, the controllers mated the …

Robotics controllers completed the unloading and set up of the third and final external experiment delivered last week aboard the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship. Inside the International Space Station, the Expedition 52 crew studied a variety of life science including plant growth, bone loss and cardiac biology. Over the weekend, engineers on the ground remotely …

67 Progress (67P) Docking: 67P rendezvous and docking to ISS Service Module (SM) aft port was completed successfully today at 6:37 am CDT.  Following hatch opening the crew began transferring early unstow items. Japanese Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD): The crew brought the JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) into the ISS and mounted the J-SSOD …

Traveling about 250 miles over the Philippine Sea, the unpiloted ISS Progress 67 Russian cargo ship docked at 7:37 a.m. EDT to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. Read more about visiting vehicle launches, departures and arrivals at the station. For more information about the current crew and …

Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) Status: Yesterday’s planned NICER deployment was not completed due to  a problem with releasing all four of the NICER launch locks. Following several attempts, the NICER team successfully released three of the four launch locks. The team continues attempts to release the fourth lock.  NanoRacks Module-52:  The crew performed …

Russia’s Progress 67 (67P) cargo craft is orbiting Earth and on its way to the International Space Station Friday morning carrying over three tons of food, fuel and supplies. Meanwhile, the three member Expedition 52 crew researched a variety of space science on Thursday while preparing for the arrival of the 67P. Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin …

67 Progress Launch: 67P launched successfully from Baikonur, Kazakhstan today at 4:20am CDT followed by a nominal ascent and orbit insertion.  All systems are performing nominally.  Docking is scheduled for Friday, June 16 at 6:42am CDT.  Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis: The crew restocked two of the four Animal Habitats and …