The International Space Station closed the week focused on space biomedical research while preparing for two mid-September cargo missions that will replenish supplies and expand the orbiting laboratory’s research portfolio. As Expedition 73 continued investigations into tissue engineering and astronaut health, mission teams finalized operations for the upcoming arrival of Progress 93 and Cygnus XL.
Space health experiments advance
Work on space-based biomanufacturing progressed with bioprinted liver tissues delivered by a recent cargo flight. Crew members processed these samples inside an artificial gravity research device to study how microgravity influences the formation of blood vessels in engineered tissue. The multi-week investigation aims to refine bioprinting approaches, inform countermeasures for long-duration crews, and potentially benefit patient therapies on Earth.
Another line of research targeted the headward fluid shifts that can occur in orbit and contribute to eye and vision changes. Astronauts evaluated a specialized thigh cuff designed to redistribute fluids and lessen pressure on the head and eyes. The test series combined continuous blood pressure measurements, ultrasound imaging of veins, and cardiac monitoring via chest electrodes to assess physiological responses and optimize protocol timing.
Complementing these studies, a Roscosmos crew member completed a 24-hour session of cardiovascular monitoring during regular on-orbit activities and sleep. The data feed a broader effort to characterize cardiac function and adaptation in microgravity.
Operations and crew readiness
In advance of visiting traffic, cosmonauts configured and trained on the TORU manual rendezvous simulator inside the Zvezda service module. The training ensures the crew can remotely guide an arriving spacecraft should an automated docking system experience an issue, preserving redundancy for station logistics.
Station systems and robotics also remain in focus. The Canadarm2 robotic arm and its fine-tuned helper, Dextre, stand ready to support vehicle capture and external operations. Robotics capabilities are critical to berthing U.S. commercial cargo vehicles and conducting maintenance tasks away from the crew’s immediate workspace.
Cargo traffic: what to expect
Two resupply missions are set to arrive in close succession, bringing food, fuel, equipment, and new experiments to orbit:
- Sept. 11, 11:54 a.m. EDT: Roscosmos Progress 93 is scheduled to launch, carrying roughly three tons of cargo. Docking to the Zvezda aft port is planned about two days later, pending nominal flight operations.
- Sept. 14, 6:11 p.m. EDT: Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL is targeted to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, with more than 11,000 pounds of science and supplies. After approximately two and a half days on orbit, Canadarm2 will capture Cygnus for installation on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.
These missions sustain continuous research across life sciences, physical science, technology demonstrations, and Earth observation while providing critical maintenance hardware and crew provisions.
Why it matters
The current slate of investigations and cargo traffic underscores the station’s role as a platform for microgravity health research and in-space manufacturing. Tissue engineering studies conducted on orbit could accelerate vascularized tissue printing techniques and inform future medical applications. Countermeasure testing for fluid shifts supports astronaut safety on missions to the Moon and Mars and deepens understanding of human physiology.
The tight cadence of visiting vehicles highlights a mature logistics chain that blends international and commercial assets. From manual docking contingencies to robotic capture and berthing, the operations reinforce the reliability and flexibility required to sustain a permanently crewed outpost.
For full mission details and ongoing updates, see NASA’s official post: Space Biomedical Research Wraps Week as Station Gears Up for Two Cargo Missions.
