This week, the Expedition 73 crew on the International Space Station had a lighter workload due to a delayed visiting crew. They took the opportunity to reflect on their maintenance work and personal milestones during their seventh week in orbit.

Orbital observation

Expedition 73 flight engineer Jonny Kim, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and medical doctor turned NASA astronaut, shared his humbling experience working behind the science racks on the ISS. He noted the challenges of maintenance work in microgravity, where every action requires careful consideration to prevent losing tools.

Kim's tasks included cleaning air filters, examining seals, and swapping out chipsets for the laboratory's network servers, all while being monitored by Mission Control through live video feeds.

Science status

Research conducted aboard the space station this week included ultrasound eye exams, a solid combustion experiment, and neutron radiation measurements. The crew worked on various experiments to understand the effects of space on the human body and spacecraft safety.

Station keeping

In addition to scientific research, the crew spent time maintaining the space station's systems. Tasks included adding grease to exercise equipment, draining waste tanks, and servicing spacesuits for future spacewalks.

Astronaut activity

NASA astronaut Anne McClain celebrated her birthday and marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army's founding this week. She expressed gratitude for the Army's service and highlighted its legacy of innovation and leadership.

Waylaid visitors

Due to concerns about air leaks from the Russian segment of the station, the launch of the Axiom Mission 4 crew was delayed. Former astronaut Peggy Whitson and her crew are awaiting a new launch date as additional fixes are considered.

By the numbers

As of Friday, there are 7 crew members aboard the ISS, including astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, and JAXA. The station is also home to two docked crew spacecraft and two docked cargo spacecraft, supporting ongoing research and maintenance activities.