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International Space Station

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    Astronaut Health Studies Fill Crew Day Before Thursday’s Cargo Launch

    Astronaut Suni Williams (left) and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov pose for a portrait wearing personal protective equipment before entering the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.

    Keeping astronauts healthy on long term space missions is a key research topic this week aboard the International Space Station. Back on the ground, a cargo craft is counting down to its launch to resupply the Expedition 72 crew. NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Nick Hague worked together all day Wednesday exploring how living …

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    Space Biology, Student Robotics Top Day as Cargo Craft Departs

    Nov. 19, 2024: International Space Station Configuration. Five spaceships are parked at the space station including the SpaceX Dragon Freedom, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, the Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply ship, the Soyuz MS-26 crew ship, and the Progress 89 resupply ship.

    Space biology to improve health and robotics to promote education were the primary research topics aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The Expedition 72 crew members also saw the departure of a cargo craft as another one prepares for launch. NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit continued nourishing research samples and servicing an artificial gravity-generating …

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    Space Station Raises Orbit Avoiding Orbital Debris

    This mosaic depicts the space station pictured from the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft on Nov. 8, 2021.

    The Progress 89 thrusters were fired at 2:09 p.m. CST today for 5 minutes, 31 seconds, to raise the orbit of the International Space Station to provide an extra margin of distance from a piece of orbital debris from a defunct defense meteorological satellite that broke up in 2015. The Pre-determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) …

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    Monday’s Research Boosting Astronaut Health Amid Cargo Mission Preps

    NASA astronaut Nick Hague processes samples for a biotechnology experiment that explores using microorganisms and cell cultures to produce materials and biomolecules on a commercial scale.

    The Expedition 72 crew members began the week exploring the numerous ways living in space affects the human body to develop advanced therapies promoting health on and off the Earth. The orbital residents are also preparing for the departure of a cargo ship and the arrival of another this week at the International Space Station. …

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    Advanced Life Support, Robotics, and Repair Tech Studies Wrap Up Week

    A long-exposure shot taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit shows the intricacies of stars in the Milky Way as the International Space Station orbited 253 miles above the Atlantic Ocean.

    The Expedition 72 crew explored new technologies on Friday including life support systems supported by photosynthesis, capturing satellites with robots, and cold welding in microgravity. The International Space Station residents also continued checking out spacesuits while keeping up standard lab maintenance tasks at the end of the week. Using micro-algae to remove carbon dioxide, produce …

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    Station Crew Studies Immunity, Digestion Systems to Benefit Health

    Star trails, an aurora, and Earth's atmospheric glow highlight this long-duration photograph taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 259 miles above the North Pacific Ocean.

    The Expedition 72 crew’s space biology research on Thursday explored how the human immune and digestion systems react to weightlessness to improve health on Earth and in space. The seven residents aboard the International Space Station also worked on a variety of other experiments while continuing the upkeep of the orbital lab. NASA astronauts Suni …

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    DNA Tech, Life Science Top Science Schedule as Station Boosts Orbit

    Astronauts (from left) Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore partner together inside the Kibo laboratory module on space biology research.

    Wednesday’s research schedule aboard the International Space Station was packed with DNA-like nanomaterials, ultrasound scans, and a variety of advanced science hardware maintenance.  The Expedition 72 crew also continued its ongoing life support and systems servicing ensuring the upkeep of the orbital outpost. NASA Flight Engineers Suni Williams and Nick Hague continued exploring manufacturing DNA-like …

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    Biotech and Human Research Fill Station Crew’s Schedule

    Astronaut Butch Wilmore installs portable experiment hardware inside the Destiny laboratory module aboard the International Space Station.

    Biotechnology research topped the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday to advance in-space manufacturing of health therapies. The Expedition 72 crew members also took a physical fitness test, studied futuristic piloting techniques, and maintained a variety of research and electronics hardware throughout the day. NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Nick Hague …

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    Dragon Spacecraft Boosts Station for First Time

    The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is pictured by an external camera attached to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

    NASA and SpaceX monitored operations as the company’s Dragon spacecraft performed its first demonstration of reboost capabilities for the International Space Station at 12:50 p.m. EST on Friday. The spacecraft’s Draco thrusters adjusted the station’s orbit through a reboost of altitude by 7/100 of a mile at apogee and 7/10 of a mile at perigee, …

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    Science Activation and Training Top Friday’s Orbital Schedule

    NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 Flight Engineer and Commander respectively, discuss orbital lab maintenance procedures aboard the International Space Station.

    A host of activities topped Friday’s schedule aboard the orbital outpost as the Expedition 72 crew penned in time for experiment activation, spacesuit work, training, and more. International Space Station Commander Suni Williams spent the first half of her day on spacesuit duty, removing the impact shields and inspecting the gear for any leaks. In …

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