The International Space Station crew closed the week with targeted human research and maintenance aimed at protecting astronaut health on long-duration missions. Expedition 73 advanced studies on bone stem cell behavior and neuro-vestibular adaptation in microgravity, while completing spacesuit safety checks, ocular assessments, and routine systems work across the U.S. and Russian segments. Full details are available in NASA’s update here.
Bone loss mechanisms under the microscope
NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim processed bone stem cell samples in the Kibo laboratory’s Life Science Glovebox. The investigation, recently delivered aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo craft, examines molecular pathways involved in space-induced bone loss. The objective is to refine countermeasures that protect skeletal health during missions and inform potential therapies for aging-related bone conditions on Earth.
Neuro-VR to map spatial adaptation
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov conducted a neuro-vestibular session using virtual reality goggles and computerized stimuli to study how balance and spatial orientation adjust in weightlessness. Findings from the ongoing test series are expected to guide future training and in-flight countermeasures for crews operating in microgravity.
EVA safety and life-support upkeep
NASA Flight Engineer Zena Cardman performed pressure and leak checks on Extravehicular Mobility Unit jetpack components (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue) in the Quest airlock. She also inspected and cleaned metal oxide canisters that scrub carbon dioxide from spacesuits, part of routine life-support maintenance.
Cardman, along with NASA’s Mike Fincke and JAXA’s Kimiya Yui, completed scheduled eye exams using the Ultrasound 2 device. Medical teams monitored the downlinked scans in real time to track changes in the cornea, lens, and optic nerve during extended spaceflight.
Station operations and outreach
Commander Sergey Ryzhikov serviced ventilation systems in the Zvezda service module and later captured imagery of terrestrial landmarks across Australia and South America. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky removed navigation hardware from the Progress 92 cargo ship, which docked July 5, and joined Platonov to record an educational segment demonstrating object motion in microgravity.
Next up: Cygnus resupply on Falcon 9
NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5:49 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 15, for the next commercial resupply mission to the ISS. The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, delivering research and cargo to the orbiting laboratory.
Why this matters
- Supports development of bone health countermeasures for deep-space expeditions.
- Improves understanding of neuro-vestibular adaptation to enhance crew performance.
- Tracks ocular changes to safeguard vision during long stays in orbit.
- Maintains EVA safety systems essential for external maintenance and research.
- Demonstrates sustained international collaboration in ISS science and operations.
