Blogs

September is scheduled to be a busy month for the Expedition 56 crew aboard the International Space Station. Japan is preparing to launch its seventh resupply mission and three astronauts are gearing up for two spacewalks next month. Today, a pair of astronauts familiarized themselves with the robotics maneuvers they will use when they capture …

Moon Imagery:  Today the crew took photographs of the full Moon and downlinked them for evaluation on the ground. If a spacecraft loses communication with the ground or with NASA’s Deep Space Network, its crew must navigate just as ancient mariners did, using the moon and stars. The Moon Imagery investigation collects pictures of the …

The Expedition 56 crew members started off the work week with biomedical studies and human research to understand how living in space impacts their bodies. The crew conducted eye and vision tests, tried on a specialized exercise t-shirt and researched gene expression and protein crystals. Five of the six International Space Station residents participated in …

Treadmill 2 (T2) Maintenance: The crew performed both the 6-month and yearly T2 preventative inspections and maintenance actions. During these tasks, the crew inspected the treadbelt slats and screws, cleaned the treadmill drive shaft, greased forward and rear axles, vacuumed inside the rack and around the treadmill, and inspected the bungee shackle key mount witness marks. An …

Ongoing exercise research and gym maintenance took place aboard the International Space Station to ensure astronaut health and mission success. The Expedition 56 crew members also worked on autonomous satellite operations and botany and astronomy gear. European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst has been participating in an exercise study all week developed by the German …

69 Progress (69P) Undock: Last night, 69P undocked from the Service Module (SM) Aft port at 9:16 PM CDT. This Progress vehicle will remain on-orbit conduct non-ISS free-flight experiments until 29-August. The deorbit burn is scheduled for Wednesday, August 29 at 8:24 PM CDT followed by atmospheric entry and destruction. Center for the Advancement of Science …

A Russian cargo ship departed the International Space Station Wednesday night as another resupply mission from Japan is planned in September. The Expedition 56 crew members also observed protein crystals, studied an ancient navigation technique and researched time perception in space. Two Soyuz crew ships and a Progress resupply ship remain docked at the orbital …

Loaded with trash, the Russian Progress 69 cargo craft undocked from the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 9:16 p.m. CDT, 10:16 p.m. EDT, completing a six-month delivery run to the International Space Station. The unpiloted Progress will move to a safe distance from the orbital laboratory for a week’s worth of engineering …

69 Progress (69P) Undock: This evening, 69P is scheduled to undock from the Service Module (SM) Aft port at 9:16 PM CDT. This Progress vehicle will conduct Non-ISS free-flight experiments from August 23 to August 30. The deorbit burn is scheduled for Wednesday, August 29 at 8:24 PM CDT followed by atmospheric entry and destruction.   Atomization:  …

A Russian cargo ship is packed and ready for departure tonight from the International Space Station after a six-month stay. Meanwhile, the Expedition 56 crew members explored a variety of biological phenomena impacted by the weightless environment of space. Russia’s Progress 69 (69P) cargo craft will undock from the Zvezda service module tonight at 10:16 …