The Zvezda service module’s rear port opened up today after the undocking and departure of the trash-filled Progress 91 cargo craft completing a six-and-a-half-month stay at the International Space Station. The vacant port now awaits the arrival of the Progress 93 cargo craft set to launch from Kazakhstan at 11:54 a.m. EDT on Thursday.
The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 91 spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, backing away from the station for a deorbit maneuver and destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere to dispose of trash loaded by the crew.
The Progress 93 cargo craft from Roscosmos rolled out to its launch pad today at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where will launch at 11:54 a.m. EDT on Thursday to the International Space Station. Progress 93, carrying 2.8 tons of food, fuel, and supplies to resupply the Expedition 73 crew, will arrive at the orbital outpost and automatically dock to the Zvezda service module’s aft port at 1:27 p.m. on Saturday. NASA+ will begin its live launch broadcast at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday followed by docking coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Space-based production of human tissues and preventing space-caused head and eye pressure were the main research topics at the end of the week for the Expedition 73 crew. The International Space Station is also gearing up for a pair cargo missions this month supplying the orbital residents with food, fuel, science experiments, and more.
NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are accelerating the next commercial resupply flight to the International Space Station to maximize launch opportunities following an assessment of mission readiness. NASA now is targeting no earlier than 6:11 p.m. EDT, Sunday, Sept. 14, for the launch of a Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Exercise research and space physics took precedence aboard the International Space Station while a pair of Expedition 73 crew members enjoyed an off-duty day. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew also focused on maintaining science hardware and inventorying lab gear.
Expedition 73 continued observing bone stem cells on Wednesday to learn how to protect the skeletal system in microgravity and ensure crew health on long duration space missions. The International Space Station residents also installed advanced computer hardware and practiced an emergency drill as a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft boosted the orbital outpost’s altitude.
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, SpaceX’s Dragon completed an initial burn to test the spacecraft’s new capability to help maintain the altitude of the International Space Station.
Bones and transistors were the main research topics aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday to explore how microgravity affects the human body and advanced technology. Also, the next cargo mission packed with new science, supplies, and hardware for the Expedition 73 crew is targeted to lift off in mid-September.
Bone and brain research wrapped up the week aboard the International Space Station on Friday helping doctors keep astronauts healthy when living in weightlessness. The Expedition 73 crew also checked out spacesuit gear, conducted ultrasound eye scans, and photographed Earth landmarks.
