Watch Astronauts Capture Stunning Dust Clouds Over Canada and the US: Highlights from the ISS – June 2-6, 2025

Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming arrival of a visiting crew at the International Space Station (ISS). The seven astronauts and cosmonauts aboard are juggling several tasks. This week, they focused on how humans adapt to living in microgravity, keeping systems running on a docked cargo ship, and even capturing images of Earth landmarks.

One standout moment came from NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, who spotted smoke drifting from Canada’s wildfires. She described it as a striking brown cloud formation that appeared different from typical clouds. “I hope everyone stays safe!” Ayers expressed, showing concern for those affected by the fires, which have caused evacuations in several provinces and worsened air quality across multiple U.S. states.

Scientific Research

The team conducted several interesting research projects this week.

• Bio-Monitor: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim wore a Canadian device to gather health data without disrupting his daily activities.
• Virtual Reality Experiments: Cosmonaut Alexey Zubritskiy tested VR goggles to explore balance and movement in microgravity.
• Drain Brain 2.0: Expedition commander Takuya Onishi measured blood flow to detect potential blood clots using a screening tool.
• Elvis: Nichole Ayers used a 3D microscope to study deep-sea bacteria, which might help identify harmful organisms in space and on Earth.

Zubritskiy also documented landmarks in Eastern Europe; this includes images of the Volga River and the Aral Sea, both of which are affected by environmental changes.

Station Maintenance

In addition to research, the crew performed essential maintenance on the station. This included:

• BEAM: Storing hardware in the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, the station’s "float-in" closet.
• Spaceborne Computer-2: Jonny Kim replaced a processor to improve operations without relying on Earth-based support.
• Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer: Anne McClain updated this device to streamline blood testing for research.

Preparing for Visitors

The team is also getting ready for Axiom Space’s fourth commercial mission arriving on June 11. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will lead the crew, including members from India, Poland, and Hungary. McClain and Ayers are overseeing docking procedures, ensuring a smooth approach for the Dragon spacecraft.

By the Numbers

As of June 6, there are 7 people aboard the ISS, including astronauts from NASA and cosmonauts from Roscosmos. The station has been continuously crewed for over 24 years. This week highlights not only the collaboration in scientific research but also the urgency in addressing global issues like wildfires, illustrating how space activities can intersect with life on Earth.

For more insights about the ISS and its research initiatives, you can check NASA’s official page.

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