Expedition 72 thread

[ddspaceman]

Week Wraps with Dragon Preps and Life Science

Mark Garcia Posted on November 1, 2024

Four Expedition 72 crew members are preparing take a short ride to a different International Space Station port this weekend to make way for an upcoming cargo mission. In the meantime, the orbital residents wrapped up the workweek with life science experiments and lab maintenance.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov reviewed procedures on Friday for the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft’s relocation maneuver scheduled to begin at 6:35 a.m. EST on Sunday when they undock from the Harmony module’s forward port. They will be joined inside Freedom by station Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore, both NASA astronauts, as they redock to Harmony’s space-facing port at 7:18 a.m. Hague and Gorbunov launched as SpaceX Crew-9 members to the orbital outpost on Sept. 28 aboard Dragon Freedom. However, they will return to Earth in February next year bringing home Williams and Wilmore.

Harmony’s vacated forward port will await the arrival of the next Dragon cargo mission set to launch at 9:29 p.m. on Monday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dragon will dock to Harmony at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday delivering nearly 6,000 pounds of new science experiments and station supplies. Hague and Wilmore will be on duty monitoring Dragon’s arrival

NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit joined the four Dragon crewmates at the end of Friday’s shift and called down to mission controllers to discuss Sunday’s Dragon relocation. Pettit will be on duty Sunday inside the space station monitoring Dragon as it completes its automated relocation maneuver.

Pettit earlier joined Hague drawing their blood samples, spinning them in a centrifuge, then stowing the specimens in a science freezer for preservation and later analysis. Pettit later removed components from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility preparing the research device for new experiments being delivered aboard the next Dragon cargo mission. Hague spent the rest of Friday reviewing procedures to command Dragon during Sunday’s relocation maneuver.

Williams and Wilmore started their Friday shift on orbital maintenance. Williams replaced filters on the Tranquility module’s water recycling system as Wilmore installed an instrumentation box on the advanced resistive exercise device. The duo later trained for the two upcoming Dragon missions rounding out the day.

In the Roscosmos segment of the orbiting lab, Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner assisted Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin with maintenance activities in the aft end of the Zvezda service module. Earlier, Ovchinin explored spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques future crew members might use on planetary missions. Gorbunov started his day closing operations for an experiment that images Earth’s nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet wavelengths before joining Hague for Dragon relocation procedure reviews.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/01/week-wraps-with-dragon-preps-and-life-science/

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft is pictured through the window of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with a vivid green and pink aurora below.

[ddspaceman]

Nick Hague
@AstroHague
Thinking of my crewmate and dear friend @AstroDrewMorgan as Crew-9 prepares to undock from the forward International Docking Adapter (IDA) on @Space_Station and dock Dragon Freedom to the IDA Drew and I installed together during a spacewalk in 2019. All that said, Go Falcons!

https://twitter.com/AstroHague/status/1852424335845405057

[ddspaceman]

Don Pettit
@astro_Pettit
Expedition 72 with Crew-8 in thermal infrared (all 11 of us minus me taking the photo). Just before Crew-8 boarded their Dragon spacecraft for return to Earth, I snapped an all-crew photo with our thermal infrared camera. Can you identify the crew? Hint, two are in their SpaceX spacesuits).

https://twitter.com/astro_Pettit/status/1852430562507583617

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
This week on #SpaceToGround, learn how @NASA_Astronauts vote from space, the Exp 72 crew celebrates Halloween, we celebrate 24 years of continuous human presence aboard the space station, and an upcoming Dragon relocation will make room for a cargo and science delivery. 🔬🚀

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1852463124504559801

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
Beginning at 6:15am ET on Sunday, watch the @SpaceX #Dragon spacecraft with four Exp 72 crewmates aboard move to a different station port live on @NASA+.

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1852841869153325318

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
Live now on @NASA+, watch the @SpaceX #Dragon spacecraft with four Exp 72 crewmates aboard undock from the station at 6:35am ET today and redock to a different port at 7:18am.

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1853033129109553545

[ddspaceman]

SpaceX Dragon Redocks to Station Before Next Cargo Mission

Mark Garcia Posted on November 3, 2024

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, with Expedition 72 crew members NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, autonomously redocked with the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 7:25 a.m. EST.

The port relocation frees up Harmony’s forward-facing port for the 31st SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than 9:29 p.m., Monday, Nov. 4. This was the fifth port relocation of a Dragon spacecraft with crew aboard following previous moves during the Crew-1, Crew-2, Crew-6, and Crew-8 missions.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/03/spacex-dragon-redocks-to-station-before-next-cargo-mission/

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with four Expedition 72 crew members aboard is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s space-facing port less than an hour after undocking from Harmony’s forward port. Credit: NASA TV

[centaurinasa]

ISS config. after relocation.

[Targeteer]

On what sounds like an off day for the US Segment crew, Suni was working on EMU 3009 in the airlock.

[ddspaceman]

Astronauts Relax with Light Science Before Dragon Cargo Mission Arrives

Mark Garcia Posted on November 4, 2024

Four of the seven Expedition 72 crew members aboard the International Space Station had a light duty day on Monday awaiting a space delivery due to arrive Tuesday morning. However, there was still time aboard the orbital outpost for a heart health study, DNA research, spacesuit work, and more.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon cargo spacecraft atop is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida counting down to a lift off at 9:29 a.m. EST today. Dragon is packed with over 6,000 pounds of science, supplies, and hardware to replenish the lab residents. NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore will be on duty monitoring Dragon’s automated rendezvous and docking scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday. Afterward, station Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Don Pettit, both NASA astronauts, will join the duo and begin unloading critical research samples and hardware to begin exploring the solar wind, radiation tolerance in plants, and more aboard the orbital outpost.

Watch Dragon’s launch and docking live on the NASA+ streaming service via the web or the NASA app. Coverage also will air live on NASA Television, YouTube, and on the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.

The NASA quartet mostly had an off-duty day on Monday following Sunday morning’s short ride aboard the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft to different space station docking port. Hague commanded Williams, Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov inside Dragon as it undocked from the Harmony module’s forward port at 6:35 a.m. then redocked to Harmony’s adjacent space-facing port at 7:25 a.m. opening it up for Tuesday’s Dragon cargo delivery. Pettit remained inside the space station monitoring the crew’s automated relocation maneuver aboard the Dragon crew spacecraft.

However, Hague spent about an hour on Monday gathering hardware that will measure his heart and breathing activity during an upcoming exercise session for the Cardiobreath human research study. Wilmore had a quick task setting up a student-designed DNA experiment that will explore the genetic risks, including cancer, of living and working in space. Williams was on spacesuit duty during the second part of her day inspecting the spacewalking gear for leaks. Pettit spent a few moments logging his daily meals in a space health app for the EveryWear technology demonstration.

Gorbunov had a full schedule aboard the station on Monday operating a variety of Earth observation gear imaging the nighttime atmosphere and landmarks on the ground in different wavelengths. Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin inventoried personal cosmonaut items then worked on ventilation systems in the Nauka science module. Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner charged video camera batteries then stowed trash and other discarded items inside the Progress 88 resupply ship before its departure later this month.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/04/astronauts-relax-with-light-science-before-dragon-cargo-mission-arrives/

Thrusters on the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft fire adjusting the vehicle’s approach toward the station for a docking to the Harmony module’s forward port in November of 2023.

[ddspaceman]

Don Pettit
@astro_Pettit
Two cities and a river. Resistencia and Corrientes, Argentina, separated by the Paraná River yet connected by a bridge. These interior cities shine like a beacon of civilization surrounded by remote Amazon basin darkness.

Nikon Z9, Nikon 200mm f2 lens, 1/250 sec, f2, ISO 25600, Photoshop (denoise, levels, contrast, color).

https://twitter.com/astro_Pettit/status/1853522173769433467

[ddspaceman]

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-31: Dragon Launches at 9:29 p.m. EST

Stephanie Plucinsky Posted on November 4, 2024

At 9:29 p.m. EST, over 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo launched to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for the company’s 31st commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The spacecraft lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

About 9 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the rocket’s second stage, open its nosecone, and begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station. 

Dragon will arrive at the orbiting outpost at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, and dock autonomously to the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module.

NASA will provide live coverage of the spacecraft’s arrival beginning at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 5 on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialresupply/2024/11/04/nasas-spacex-crs-31-dragon-launches-at-929-p-m-est/

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
The @SpaceX #Dragon is delivering brand new @ISS_Research today for the Exp 72 crew to investigate the solar wind, radiation tolerance in plants, and more aboard the orbital outpost. Check out the mission overview... https://go.nasa.gov/4huxWAD

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1853802459237699724

[ddspaceman]

SpaceX
@SpaceX
Dragon is now targeted to dock with the @Space_Station at ~9:50 a.m. ET

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1853804680305893719

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
Watch the @SpaceX #Dragon cargo spacecraft approach the station and dock at 9:55am ET today to deliver over 6,000 pounds of science, supplies, and hardware to the Exp 72 crew live on @NASA+ now.

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1853788463008768392

[ddspaceman]

SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Docks to Harmony Module

Mark Garcia Posted on November 5, 2024

At 9:52 a.m. EST, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the forward port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module.

The spacecraft carried over 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory on SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The mission launched at 9:29 a.m. Nov. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/05/spacex-dragon-cargo-spacecraft-docks-to-harmony-module/

The International Space Station is viewed from a camera aboard the approaching SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. The SpaceX Dragon Freedom crew spacecraft is pictured (at center) docked to the Harmony module’s space-facing port. Credit: NASA+

[ddspaceman]

ISS Research
@ISS_Research
Casual pedal in space 🚴

@AstroHague rides CEVIS, an exercise cycle, while aboard @Space_Station. Cardio exercise is essential for maintaining muscle mass and fitness while in microgravity. Crew can exercise for 30 to 90 minutes per session on CEVIS. http://go.nasa.gov/4bMs6XI

https://twitter.com/ISS_Research/status/1853830886535708901

[ddspaceman]

NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Talks with KATU-TV Portland 241029 – Tuesday, October 29, 2024

[ddspaceman]

NASA Astronaut Butch Wilmore Talks with Tennessee Tech – Tuesday, November 5, 2024

[ddspaceman]

Crew Unpacks New Station Science Delivered Aboard Dragon

Mark Garcia Posted on November 6, 2024

New science experiments and research samples delivered aboard the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft on Tuesday are being installed today aboard the International Space Station. Meanwhile, more science and lab maintenance continued ensuring the upkeep of the orbital outpost.

The four NASA astronauts representing the Expedition 72 crew, Flight Engineers Don Pettit, Nick Hague, and Butch Wilmore, and Commander Suni Williams, spent the day unloading the research-packed Dragon that arrived on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The quartet quickly transferred the advanced research hardware and temperature-sensitive specimens into the space station and installed them into research racks and cold storage.

Pettit entered Dragon and removed new space biology hardware to explore space-caused inflammation changes then installed it inside the Kibo laboratory module for activation. Hague partnered together with Wilmore and disconnected Dragon’s portable science freezers containing critical science samples then installed them in station EXPRESS racks for upcoming processing and analysis. Williams also participated in the Dragon science hardware transfers before joining Wilmore to unpack frozen research sample bags for stowage in a variety of station science freezers.

The space station’s three cosmonauts, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, spent Wednesday on their task list of Roscosmos science experiments and lab maintenance.

Ovchinin and Vagner worked together throughout the day in the Zvezda service module setting up an X-ray spectrometer that was delivered aboard the Progress 89 resupply ship on Aug. 17. The duo installed cables and electronics components to support the astrophysics observation study that will be installed outside the orbital lab on a later date. Gorbunov closed out an experimental session observing Earth’s nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet wavelengths then spent the rest of his shift servicing electronics and life support systems.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/06/crew-unpacks-new-station-science-delivered-aboard-dragon/

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is pictured from an external space station camera approaching the orbital outpost above Argentina on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Credit: NASA+