Exploring Life in Space: Highlights and Challenges on the ISS (June 23-27, 2025)

They’ve made it! After a long wait, the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) crew aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon "Grace" docked at the International Space Station. They’ll stay there for two weeks, joining the Expedition 73 crew, which has been busy with scientific and maintenance work.

Life in Space

In space, orientation feels different. Astronaut Nichole Ayers shared insights with students from P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School. She explained, “It’s surprising how quickly your mind adapts. On Earth, gravity dictates up and down. But in space, you can chat with someone who’s upside down as easily as if they were right side up."

Just moments after her statement, fellow astronaut Anne McClain demonstrated this by flipping upside down. “Our equipment is set up on walls, and you quickly get used to it. You can even move through modules while doing flips, and your body handles it without any issues.”

Current Research Highlights

The Expedition 73 team has been working on some intriguing research:

Fluid Management: Commander Takuya Onishi and flight engineer Jonny Kim wore special cuffs on their legs to change fluid distribution in their bodies. In microgravity, fluids tend to collect in the head, which can lead to discomfort. They used ultrasound technology to check if the cuffs worked.
Fluids Physics Experiment: Nichole Ayers conducted ongoing research on using surface tension to separate liquids from their containers. This could have implications for developing new pharmaceuticals.
Bio-Analyzer: Anne McClain activated a device to assess cellular and molecular samples collected in the station.

Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy focused on studying blood vessel flow, while Kirill Peskov monitored radiation levels on board.

Station Maintenance

The crew also took time for essential tasks:

Crew Training: Onishi, Kim, and Ayers filmed training videos for incoming astronauts, highlighting important locations and equipment.
Storage Organization: McClain and Onishi rearranged cargo in the station’s storage area to make room for more supplies. They documented their work for Mission Control’s review.
System Checks: Ryzhikov maintained the Russian segment’s oxygen generator, and Zubritskiy replaced ventilation filters.

Welcome Aboard, Axiom Mission-4

The Axiom Mission-4 crew arrived on June 26, 2025. They include Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla from ISRO, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from ESA, and Tibor Kapu from HUNOR. This mission marks a historic moment, as it’s the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary are aboard.

They brought over 60 experiments from 31 countries, signaling a new record for Axiom missions. As the team settles in, they occupy available spaces—Whitson in the Quest airlock, Shukla in Dragon, Uznański-Wiśniewski in Columbus, and Kapu in Kibo.

By the Numbers

As of June 27, there are 11 people aboard the ISS. This includes:

Expedition 73 Crew: Commander Takuya Onishi, Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Jonny Kim, Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritskiy.
Axiom Mission-4 Team: Commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.

The station also has three docked crew spacecraft and two cargo vehicles. Remarkably, the ISS has been continuously crewed for 24 years, 7 months, and 26 days.

The blend of science, technology, and international cooperation aboard the ISS illustrates a bright future for space exploration. Each mission adds valuable knowledge, helping to pave new paths in research and discovery.

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