Expedition 73 thread

[ddspaceman]

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
Today we spent time inspecting each hatch.
A hatch is like a door between rooms in a house.
In the event of an emergency such as a sudden depressurization, this will need to be closed to ensure your safety, so it is very important to check that the hatch seal is not damaged.
I checked it carefully using a magnifying glass.

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1935094603117470104

[ddspaceman]

Axiom Space
@Axiom_Space
The #Ax4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida to maintain all medical and safety protocols. The crew is in good health and high spirits and looks forward to launch! https://axiom.space/Ax4LaunchUpdate

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1935167090723279231

[ddspaceman]

Axiom Space
@Axiom_Space
The #Ax4 crew is targeted to launch no earlier than June 22 at 3:42 AM EDT from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Tune in for the launch broadcast starting at 1:35 AM EDT.

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1935378225351262593

[ddspaceman]

NASA Shares New Space Station Ops, Axiom Mission 4 Launch Update

Mark A. Garcia
June 18, 2025

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4.

The change in a targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

The crew will lift off aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/18/nasa-shares-new-space-station-ops-axiom-mission-4-launch-update/

The Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, crew with (from left to right) Tibor Kapu of Hungary, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland.
Credit: SpaceX

[ddspaceman]

Nichole “Vapor” Ayers
@Astro_Ayers
We flew over Hurricane Erick this morning (last night for those on Earth), and I caught some of the lightning in the storm. I shoot these at 120 frames per second, and this bolt of lightning stuck around for over 40 frames!

In these pictures, you can see the clear bolt outline, the flash from the discharge, and then another bolt show up just below it. Our Earth, even when storming, is incredible. 🌎 ⚡

https://twitter.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1935415114402033715

[ddspaceman]

Crew Videotapes, Photographs Station Activities and Hardware for Training and Inspection

Mark A. Garcia
June 18, 2025

Video and photography operations filled the Expedition 73 crew’s schedule on Wednesday helping mission controllers monitor robotic activities, train future crews, and verify lab inventories. Meanwhile, more exercise research and spacesuit checks rounded out the crew’s day aboard the International Space Station.

Station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) activated the Internal Ball Camera 2 inside the Kibo laboratory module at the beginning of his shift. Onishi set up a camera downlinking video in real time of the ball camera’s free-flying movements. Ground engineers were analyzing the ball camera as it performed several tasks to continue improving the accuracy of its automated maneuvers. The small, spherical camera is demonstrating the ability to autonomously take photographs and videos of the crew performing research and maintenance activities.

Afterward, Onishi joined NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim to configure and stage high-definition video cameras throughout the orbital outpost, recording the duo as they participated in a variety of daily tasks. Each took turns recording themselves performing duties such as research operations, life support maintenance, and biomedical activities. Onishi and Kim narrated their work then downloaded the videos to train future crews preparing for upcoming missions to the space station.

Kim began his day reconfiguring the sensor-packed Bio-Monitor vest and headband and reapplying sensors that he wore during his sleep shift measuring his health data. Next, while wearing the same biomedical device he exercised for two hours. First, on the advanced resistive exercise device and then on the COLBERT treadmill. Kim is wearing the health-monitoring hardware for a 48-hour session, testing its comfort while doctors review the downlinked data that includes heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and more.

NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers also focused on visual media as they videotaped and photographed cargo packed in crew transfer bags. The NASA duo documented the cargo, seeking to identify obsolete hardware for disposal and lost or unknown items for identification. Ayers also maneuvered throughout the station’s U.S. segment while filming the spacecraft’s internal configuration including science racks, life support hardware, and safety gear for mission controllers’ assessment.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergey Ryzhikov was back on spacesuit operations inside the Poisk module on Wednesday. He first checked the oxygen pressure in Poisk where spacewalks in Roscosmos Orlan spacesuits are staged. Next, he inspected the suits’ life support components. Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov monitored Ryzhikov’s maintenance work once again continuing to familiarize himself with spacesuit operations.

Ryzhikov later pointed a camera toward Earth targeting mountains, lakes, and forests in different wavelengths for analysis. Peskov organized cargo space inside the Zarya module and searched for small electronics gear. Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritskiy also participated in the standard cargo work inside the Rassvet module. He also serviced the Zvezda service module’s oxygen generator filling its condensate water tanks.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/general-blog/2025/06/18/crew-videotapes-photographs-station-activities-and-hardware-for-training-and-inspection/

JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi monitors the Internal Ball Camera 2 inside the Kibo laboratory module. The spherical, free-flying robotic camera tests the automation of capturing video and imagery enabling more crew time for important duties such as microgravity research.
NASA

[ddspaceman]

NASA Space Operations
@NASASpaceOps
Students from New York and Utah will hear from NASA astronauts aboard the @Space_Station as they answer prerecorded questions in two separate events.

Watch the 20-minute Earth-to-space calls on the @NASASTEM YouTube Channel.

Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronauts-to-answer-questions-from-students-in-new-york-utah/

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceOps/status/1935418115145244817

[ddspaceman]

Katya Pavlushchenko
@katlinegrey
The planned #ISS orbit correction was performed today at 02:34 UTC to maintain the station’s orbit altitude. The engines of #ProgressMS30 fired for 208.4 seconds with an impulse of 0.3 m/s. The average orbit altitude of the ISS became 416.18 km.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1935549724808941966

[ddspaceman]

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
Yesterday was a hectic day as we found ourselves pressed for time, but the JAXA task carried out the necessary preparations for a software update for the ELF electrostatic levitation furnace.

Experimental equipment in orbit will be updated to make it easier to conduct experiments, obtain better data, and be easier to maintain.

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1935578970432688498

[ddspaceman]

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
The ISS has an attic-like storage space called the Z1 truss, and today I worked there for the first time.
Since it's a room that's rarely entered, the area in front of the hatch leading to it is usually used as a convenient place to store luggage.
The previous video shows the process of replacing the cargo that had been temporarily moved aside to make way for work on the Z1 truss.

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1935824819431329902

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
There version in Space

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1935820969429381571

[ddspaceman]

NASA Provides Latest Axiom Mission 4 Launch, Station Operations Update

Mark A. Garcia
June 19, 2025

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. NASA has made the decision to stand down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days.

The space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module. Because of the space station’s interconnected and interdependent systems, NASA wants to ensure the station is ready for additional crew members, and the agency is taking the time necessary to review data.

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX appreciate the historic nature of this mission for the nations of India, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the world. The crew remains in quarantine in Florida, and the astronauts stand ready to launch when the station is ready to receive them.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain healthy on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/19/nasa-provides-latest-axiom-mission-4-launch-station-operations-update/

The Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left to right: ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Axiom Space

[ChrisC]

(Takuya Onishi tweet)  The ISS has an attic-like storage space called the Z1 truss, and today I worked there for the first time.
Since it's a room that's rarely entered, the area in front of the hatch leading to it is usually used as a convenient place to store luggage.

Huh.  Today I learned that the Z1 truss segment has a small pressurized volume inside it, behind that CBM hatch.  Is there a vestibule there and another hatch, like at other node junctions, and the pressurized volume ("dome") is behind that?  Or are they talking about the vestibule itself used for storage, and the far hatch is never opened?

(Note: I'm not talking about the area in front of the CBM that's seen in that video.)

[russianhalo117]

(Takuya Onishi tweet)  The ISS has an attic-like storage space called the Z1 truss, and today I worked there for the first time.
Since it's a room that's rarely entered, the area in front of the hatch leading to it is usually used as a convenient place to store luggage.

Huh.  Today I learned that the Z1 truss segment has a small pressurized volume inside it, behind that CBM hatch.  Is there a vestibule there and another hatch, like at other node junctions, and the pressurized volume ("dome") is behind that?  Or are they talking about the vestibule itself used for storage, and the far hatch is never opened?

(Note: I'm not talking about the area in front of the CBM that's seen in that video.)

There isn't much to see, just the extended length PCBM vestibule with the Z1 bulkhead wall with velcro MLI on it. After mating storage space became available following removal of the four ACBM CPA's which drove the bolt drive motor assemblies:
https://timelessmoon.getarchive.net/amp/media/ksc-00pp1391-d3bb65
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:118032main_hassman_iss_briefing4_med_cropped.png
https://picryl.com/amp/media/ksc-00pp1384-54cce3
https://timelessmoon.getarchive.net/amp/media/ksc-00pp1387-3d19a1

[ChrisC]

Aha, so it is really just the vestibule, or just like one, since there's no opposing hatch and no further volume beyond it.  Screenshot from first link (original is a WEBP image that probably wouldn't preview here).  Thank you!

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
Caught a fish! Hope you enjoy this round of space fishing for beautiful auroras. If you’re wondering what the reflections in the lower left are, I made a rookie mistake of not having the shroud completely cover the window so you can see some crew activity (the cupola is located adjacent to one of our exercise devices).

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1936066582217642158

[ddspaceman]

Expedition 73 Wraps Week with Relaxation, Light Science, and Emergency Drill

Kelcie Nicole Howren
June 20, 2025

Friday was mostly a light-duty day for the seven-member Expedition 73 crew aboard the International Space Station. However, the orbital residents did set aside some time at the end of the week for research, an emergency drill, and a conference with mission managers on the ground.

NASA flight engineers Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim joined station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and wrapped up their shift with a pair of space-to-ground conferences. The quartet’s first conference was with the chief of NASA’s astronaut office followed by a second conference with their expedition’s flight director. The short bi-weekly conferences are held so the astronauts and mission managers can discuss a range of topics including upcoming missions and crew activities.

Earlier in the day, Ayers spent a few moments swapping syringes containing protein samples and installing test cells inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox. She was maintaining a fluid physics study exploring surface tension to contain liquids and observe proteins without contacting solid walls. Results may benefit pharmaceutical manufacturing and 3D printing techniques on and off the Earth.

Kim completed a 48-hour session wearing the sensor-packed Bio-Monitor vest and headband that continuously measured his health data as he worked, exercised, and slept. Doctors are testing the health-monitoring hardware for its comfort and reviewing the downlinked data that includes heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. He also joined cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky to practice an emergency drill on station.

Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov worked a half-shift on Friday, servicing Earth observation gear that captures imagery of landmarks on the ground in a variety of wavelengths. Ryzhikov spent the second half of his day on electronics maintenance in the station’s Roscosmos segment.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/20/expedition-73-wraps-week-with-relaxation-light-science-and-emergency-drill/

City lights dot the northeastern landscape of China with a wispy aurora above Earth’s horizon in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above Asia. In the bottom foreground, is the Kibo laboratory module’s Exposed Facility, an external research platform, and the orbital outpost’s main solar arrays.
NASA

[ddspaceman]

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
Today we held an in-orbit press conference.
Thank you to everyone who came to the event and to those who watched it on YouTube.
Our long stay has gone by quickly and we are already well past the halfway point.
I plan to cherish every single day of the rest of my stay.
https://youtube.com/live/106IOilLZjo?si=f22t8DydkjWUK291

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1936182537757315405

[ddspaceman]

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
Italian Boots 🇮🇹
It has a very distinctive shape, so you can easily find it.

good morning.
Have a great weekend everyone ♪

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1936369724775907373

[ddspaceman]

ISRO Spaceflight
@ISROSpaceflight
With the Axiom-4 mission having been delayed indefinitely, the ISRO's chairman and their 13-member support staff stationed in the US are now set to return to India. 🇮🇳

Grp. Cpt. Shubhanshu Shukla and his backup Grp. Cpt. Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will remain in the US awaiting a new launch date.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/are-indian-astronauts-being-called-back-from-us-as-ax-4-mission-is-postponed-2744175-2025-06-21

https://twitter.com/ISROSpaceflight/status/1936400011505586186

[ddspaceman]

大西卓哉 （JAXA宇宙飛行士）Takuya Onishi
@Astro_Onishi
GT:
Neutral stance in space

Ever since coming to space, I've vaguely thought that cutting my toenails is quite difficult, but today I suddenly realized that I'm using my abdominal muscles a lot.
To get from a neutral position with your whole body relaxed to a position for cutting nails, and then to maintain that position.

The force of returning to neutral posture is surprisingly large 🤔

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1936551103283269894