The Expedition 73 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) commenced their week with the much-anticipated arrival of an extra-large cargo shipment. This delivery, facilitated by Northrop Grumman's inaugural Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, not only brought essential supplies and scientific equipment but also included heartfelt care packages from their loved ones back on Earth.
Among the numerous supplies and scientific instruments delivered to the ISS, the crew was thrilled to receive various sweet treats. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim shared on social media, “The best part of cargo vehicles docking to the International Space Station is the care packages our loved ones send.” In a delightful photo, Kim was seen holding traditional Korean dishes, including kimchi and Korean BBQ pork. His fellow crewmates, Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Kimiya Yui, also displayed their own care package goodies, such as gummy bears, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey candies. “Thanks to everyone at NASA who ensures these are packaged with love,” Kim expressed.
This week, the Expedition 73 crew engaged in several groundbreaking research projects aboard the ISS:
MVP Cell-07 and Multi-use Variable-g Platform: Jonny Kim and Kimiya Yui collaborated on studying bioprinted liver tissues, focusing on how their blood vessels respond to the unique conditions of microgravity. The findings could significantly enhance the production of high-quality vascularized tissues and organs, benefiting both astronauts and patients on Earth. Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B: Astronaut Zena Cardman prepared bone stem cell samples for storage, aimed at researching methods to protect astronauts' skeletal systems and potentially treating bone diseases on Earth. BioNutrients-3: Mike Fincke continued his work on a study analyzing yeast, yogurt, and fermented milk samples for their potential to produce essential vitamins and nutrients for future long-duration space missions. Plasma Kristall-4: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov prepared equipment to observe complex plasmas while capturing images of glaciers and mountains across South America and Africa, documenting both natural and human impacts on the environment.The Expedition 73 crew also dedicated time to maintaining the ISS systems and preparing for upcoming research initiatives. Notably, cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky spent part of their week unloading and transferring fluids from the newly arrived Russian Progress 93 resupply ship.
Meanwhile, Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman skillfully captured Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL using the ISS's Canadarm2 robotic arm. Ground controllers then took over to securely install the resupply vessel on the Unity node.
In an exciting outreach effort, Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman participated in an interview during the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York, discussing their experiences aboard the ISS. Cardman remarked, “It’s a dream come true to be here. It takes years of preparation, with numerous teams of instructors and classmates preparing us on the ground. It’s such an honor to finally be up here, carrying out this mission that we spent so long dreaming about.” She also highlighted the significance of sharing this journey with a friend, saying, “It is really amazing to have a friend up here with me.”
As of Friday, September 19, the ISS was home to a total of seven crew members: Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov from Roscosmos; fellow cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov; and NASA astronauts Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, alongside Kimiya Yui from JAXA. The space station currently accommodates two docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour attached to the zenith port of the Harmony module, and Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-27 at the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node. Additionally, there are four docked cargo spacecraft, including Roscosmos' Progress MS-31 (92P), Progress M-32 (93P), SpaceX's CRS-33 Dragon, and Northrop Grumman's NG-23 Cygnus XL, the SS William C. 'Willie' McCool, berthed to the Unity node.
