Science Maintenance and Window Inspections Kick Off Week for International Space Station Crew

Washington D.C. - The seven-member Expedition 73 crew living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS) began the new week with a series of maintenance tasks, including science supporting physics research gear and window inspections.

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX review potential launch dates as early as Thursday, June 19, for the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, known as Axiom Mission 4.

In orbit, NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers conducted a fluid physics study on microgravity, testing computer models that may predict the behavior of high-concentration protein fluids. This research could benefit pharmaceutical manufacturing and 3D printing techniques on Earth.

Flight Engineers Jonny Kim and Anne McClain also completed tasks in the Materials Science Laboratory (MSL) and Destiny laboratory module, respectively. Kim used a radio frequency identification system to test inventory management in space, while McClain conducted a cognition test to understand how her brain function adapts to weightlessness.

Station Commander Takuya Onishi from JAXA inspected and cleaned windows on the Kibo laboratory module, ensuring clear visibility during nighttime orbital passes for better imagery. Meanwhile, Roscosmos Flight Engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy conducted a respiratory study by measuring sound as they exhaled rapidly.

The week-long routine includes routine maintenance, scientific experiments, and crew activities to keep the ISS running smoothly. For updates on station activities, follow the space station blog on X or visit the ISS Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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