International Space Station

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has returned to Earth filled with several thousand pounds of science experiments and lab hardware for retrieval and analysis completing a six-month stay at the International Space Station. The Expedition 74 crew now turns its attention toward March when two more cargo spaceships depart the orbital outpost and complete their resupply missions. Meanwhile, advanced space biology and technology research wrapped up the week in space.

At 11:44 p.m. PST, the unpiloted SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of California, marking the return of the company’s 33rd Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station for NASA.

At 12:05 p.m. EST, the unpiloted SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the forward-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module following a command from ground controllers at SpaceX.

The unpiloted SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will undock at 12:05 p.m. EST from the forward-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module and fire its thrusters to move safely away from the orbiting complex. NASA will not stream splashdown but will post updates on its space station blog. 

Human research, advanced robotics, and experimental workout gear filled the schedule for the Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The orbital residents also continued packing a SpaceX Dragon with science experiments and space hardware for its departure on Thursday.

The Expedition 74 crew will finalize the packing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as it nears its departure later this week. Science operations were still underway aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday as the orbital residents explored how living and working in weightlessness is affecting their bodies.

Expedition 74 was off duty on Monday following a weekend of crew handover activities, cargo packing, and microbiology research. A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will also depart the International Space Station for return to Earth later this week.

The Expedition 74 crew wrapped up the week with cardiac and respiratory studies and conducting space exercise research to keep astronauts healthy off the Earth. The International Space Station residents also packed a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft before its return to Earth and maintained science and life support hardware.

Relaxation, exercise, and biomedical studies were the key research objectives for the Expedition 74 crew on Thursday as NASA and its partners investigate ways to keep astronauts healthy on long-term missions. The International Space Station is also orbiting higher after the docked Progress 93 cargo craft fired its thrusters on Wednesday.

Vein scans and pharmaceutical research topped the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 74 crew rounded out the day with Dragon cargo transfers, lab familiarization activities, and life support maintenance duties.