Space Scientists Continue Work Amidst Government Shutdown
Even as a government shutdown unfolds on Earth, the team of Expedition 73 is undeterred, carrying on with their scientific research and critical maintenance work on the International Space Station.
Greetings from Outer Space!
One of the team members shared a glimpse of his day in space on social media. He mentioned how he spent his day juggling between strenuous workouts and capturing mesmerizing photos of Earth. In his post, he revealed that he had photographed the Mediterranean region, and later, Japan's Honshu. He also acknowledged the people who had waved at the space station from Earth while he was exercising by the window.
Progress in Research
The crew of Expedition 73 has been involved in various scientific experiments throughout the week. Here are a few highlights:
- A team member activated an innovative device designed to extract moisture from the station's atmosphere, potentially allowing for reuse.
- Another crew member set up a new experiment to study the process of condensation. This research could contribute to the design of thermal systems for future space missions.
- Sample cassettes were installed for a study related to the production of medicines in microgravity conditions.
Maintenance and Future Preparations
Apart from conducting research, the team also undertook several activities to keep the space station in good shape and get ready for upcoming studies.
- Two team members worked on a project to study the behavior of fluids in microgravity. They replaced electrical cables, assembled components, and positioned foam coarsening samples.
- A bag designed to remain open, close, and stay airtight in the weightless environment of space was tested. This bag could potentially be used to capture and dispose of space debris.
- A device used to heat samples to extremely high temperatures using lasers was also serviced. This included replacing specimen handling hardware and configuring cables.
The Crew in Numbers
As of the last update, there are seven people aboard the International Space Station. The team includes the commander and two additional team members from a space agency, along with three members from another space agency, and one participant from a third space agency.
There are two docked crew spacecraft: one attached to the top port of a module and the other attached to the Earth-facing port of a different module.
Additionally, there are four docked cargo spacecraft: two docked to the space-facing and aft port of one module respectively, one docked to the forward port of another module, and one berthed to a different module.