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International Space Station

Biomedical Research, Crew Swap Operations Pack Busy Day Aboard Station

From left, Expedition 74 flight engineer Jessica Meir of NASA smiles after welcoming Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina and NASA astronaut Anil Menon aboard the International Space Station following their docking to the Prichal module inside the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft with Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov (out of frame).
From left, Expedition 74 flight engineer Jessica Meir of NASA smiles after welcoming Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina and NASA astronaut Anil Menon aboard the International Space Station on July 14, 2026.
NASA/Chris Williams

Biomedical research to keep the Expedition 74 crew healthy and advance health on Earth packed Tuesday’s schedule aboard the International Space Station. The orbital residents are also handing over their mission responsibilities as three crewmates prepare to return to Earth this weekend.

Blood pressure measurements, vein scans, and eye checks kept the crew busy as they conducted a variety of health studies to help doctors understand how the human body adapts to a long-term spaceflight. The research data also provides researchers unique insights unobtainable in Earth’s gravity and enables opportunities to develop advanced treatments for space-related and Earthbound conditions.

CSA (Canadian Space Agency) is testing the ability of its sensor-packed Bio-Monitor vest and headband to comfortably and continuously monitor health throughout an astronaut’s shift. NASA flight engineer Chris Williams wore the health-wear for a 24-hour recording session while also using CSA’s Mobil-o-Graph to measure his blood pressure during his work shift.

NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir peered into medical imaging hardware operated by NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway inside the Harmony module for a standard eye exam. Doctors on the ground assisted the crew as they examined Meir’s retina, cornea, and lens in real time. Hathaway also operated the Ultrasound 3 biomedical device and scanned the veins of Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev. Meir set up the PhysioTool research gear to measure the cognition level of flight engineer Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) as she performed a mental acuity task.

NASA flight engineer Anil Menon is continuing to get up to speed with living aboard the orbital outpost with his fellow crewmates flight engineers Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, who began their mission on July 14. Menon is also picking up new skills from Williams, who is handing over his mission responsibilities before he ends his mission and flies back to Earth with Kud-Sverchkov and Roscosmos flight engineer Sergei Mikaev in a few days. Menon, Dubrov, and Kikina also gathered together and reviewed the location and operation of safety gear.

Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev have been packing personal items and cargo inside the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft they will ride back to Earth when they depart the space station over the weekend ending Expedition 74. The trio began their mission launching from Kazakhstan on Nov. 27, 2025 and docking to the Rassvet module the same day.

Roscosmos flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev photographed growing microbes to analyze how they adapt to microgravity and learn how to maintain safe, sterile conditions during biological experimentation aboard a spacecraft. Fedyaev then inspected orbital plumbing components and serviced ventilation gear throughout the station’s Roscosmos segment.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.