WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2 (ANI): The 11 astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), comprising members of Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), resumed a packed schedule of scientific research on Tuesday, focusing on areas including brain circulation, cancer cell observation, and biotechnology, NASA reported.
JAXA astronaut and Station Commander Takuya Onishi conducted an experiment measuring blood flow from the brain to the heart by attaching sensors to his neck and chest. The data, collected under microgravity conditions, will help medical experts understand how circulation adapts to space, potentially aiding in the development of countermeasures for long-duration missions.
Ax-4 crew members Peggy Whitson and Tibor Kapu continued their cerebral circulation studies. Whitson assisted Kapu, who wore a specialized cap while undergoing a Doppler ultrasound scan of his cerebral artery, paired with a cuff to measure blood pressure. The findings aim to preserve astronauts’ visual and perceptual abilities in space.
Whitson also examined cancer cells under a fluorescence microscope, as part of an effort to identify methods for earlier cancer detection and prevention in space environments.
NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers supported the Ax-4 team throughout the day. McClain helped private astronauts operate research hardware and oversaw scientific procedures aboard the station. Ayers prepared a microscope in the Destiny lab module for Ax-4 astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who investigated how tardigrades—microscopic aquatic animals known for their resilience—adapt to the harsh conditions of space.
Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski explored the use of nanomaterials in wearable health-monitoring devices for astronauts, furthering advancements in space-based biotechnologies.
NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim began his day alongside Commander Onishi, collecting and processing blood samples for preservation in the onboard science freezer. Kim later reorganized equipment inside the Harmony module and installed ventilation components in the Quest airlock.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Progress 90 cargo craft ended its seven-month mission by undocking from the Poisk module at 2:42 pm (local time). The uncrewed spacecraft, filled with station trash, will burn up safely over the South Pacific Ocean upon reentry.
Its successor, Progress 92, is poised for launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:32 pm (local time) on Thursday. It is expected to dock with the ISS’s Poisk module at 5:27 pm on Saturday, carrying nearly 3,000 pounds of food, fuel, and supplies for the crew.
Roscosmos Flight Engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy prepared for the upcoming docking by training with the telerobotically operated rendezvous unit (TORU). Ryzhikov also set up hyperspectral imaging equipment to capture Earth imagery over Mexico and South America, while Zubritskiy documented the departure of Progress 90.
Fellow cosmonaut Kirill Peskov continued monitoring his cardiovascular health with sensors that tracked his heart and blood pressure over a 24-hour period, and checked equipment used for operating the European robotic arm.
The day marked another productive session aboard the ISS, as international collaboration drives scientific innovation in the unique environment of space. (ANI)
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