A short weekly wrap-up of the latest news and science from the International Space Station.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
There is never a dull moment onboard the orbiting laboratory. There were three spacewalks to fix a cosmic particle detector and now two space cargo ships are on their way to the station.
The Expedition 61 crew enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast ahead of another spacewalk set for this Monday. A European experiment also tests controlling a rover on Earth from the station.
Throughout spaceflight history, 14 women have completed spacewalks. On October 18, Jessica Meir brought that number up to 15 when she floated outside the airlock alongside 4-time spacewalker Christina Koch for the first all-female extravehicular activity.
50 years ago flight controllers managed history's greatest adventure. Astronauts Christina Koch and Nick Hague reflected on the historic moon landing ahead of the arrival of a new crew Saturday.
Astronauts have been growing fresh produce on station. This week some of that food will return to Earth for analysis. The crew also performed an experiment to investigate time perception in space.
The crew explored radiation exposure in space ahead of the 4th of July holiday. The astronauts also sent down an Independence Day message as the station nears 20 years of continuous human presence.
Three residents of the space station safely returned to planet Earth, but not before another station crewmember sequenced DNA to explore how damaged DNA repairs itself in space.
Astrobee, a free-flying robot, took its first spin around the station. The crew also released four small cube satellites from different countries into low earth orbit.
NASA opens the station for commercial business as the crew worked on the BioNutrients experiment to provide astronauts with necessary vitamins on future long duration missions
Two cargo spacecraft departed from the space station this week. Also, the crew installed an experiment to continue studying plant growth in space for future long duration missions.
Two cosmonauts wished the world's first spacewalker a Happy Birthday during their own spacewalk this week. The rest of the crew is loading the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft with science for return to Earth on Monday.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague is exploring how space radiation damages DNA and how the cell repair mechanism works in microgravity.
A new science experiment will allow scientists to monitor carbon dioxide emission hotspots from space. Also the kidney cells experiment will examine how microgravity affects the health of the kidney.
The SpaceX Dragon became the sixth spaceship at the station Monday delivering about 5,500 pounds of supplies. Also, researchers are exploring microalgae as a dietary boost for future astronauts going to the moon by 2024.
With the station back to full power, SpaceX is ready to launch their 17th resupply mission. Astrobee, a new free-flying robot will assist the crew with chores on board station.
Since the arrival of the U.S. Cygnus space freighter the crew has been unloading the new cargo, including a new air scrubber system, and new materials to be tested in the harsh environment of space.
The U.S. Cygnus space freighter delivered new science today that will challenge future scientists. Also, Christina Koch's will stay in space until February 2020 and new astronauts Jessica Meir and Drew Morgan are now due to launch to the station.
Two astronauts completed the third spacewalk of the year. The first crewed Boeing flight has been extended to a full-duration expedition. Also, results from the One-Year Mission Twins Study are in!
A Russian cargo ship brought food, fuel and supplies to station this week. Meanwhile, two astronauts get ready to complete the last of three spacewalks to upgrade the batteries on station.
This week two astronauts conducted the second in a series of three spacewalks to upgrade the space station's power storage capacity. Also, did you know there have been over 2500 experiments on the Space Station?
Two spacewalkers are working outside today to upgrade the space station's power storage capacity.
Three new crew members arrived at the station after six hours in the Soyuz spacecraft, bringing the crew complement back to six.
This week the crew welcomed the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the station, after completing it's five day mission Dragon undocked and returned to Earth.
This week astronauts onboard the station have been preparing for a special visitor.
Astronauts are preparing an experiment that will test the ability to store fuel for long duration missions. The crew also conducted leak checks to ensure their space suits are in proper working condition.
A U.S. cargo craft departed the station today. Now it will deploy CubeSats before reentering Earth's atmopshere. Next, NASA is preparing for commercial crew missions.
A U.S. spaceship is being packed with trash before it leaves the station next week and students are teaming up with the crew for a high-flying robotics competition.
Nick Hague will launch again with Alexey Ovchinin, this time taking NASA astronaut Christina Koch with them. Back in space, two cosmonauts went for a spacewalk to inspect a Soyuz crew ship before it returns to Earth.
A new crew reached the station Monday faster than a flight from New York to London! The SpaceX Dragon resupply ship launched this week too carrying over a ton of science experiments.
Watching cement dry in space? It could impact the construction of future lunar or Martian habitats. Plus a new crew and cargo are due at the station next week.
The International Space Station celebrated 20 years in space and the crew feasted for Thanksgiving after a pair of space deliveries this week. #SpaceToGround
Two space deliveries, one in honor of a legendary U.S. astronaut, are launching to the space station this weekend carrying supplies and goodies for the crew just in time for the holidays. #SpaceToGround
The crew said farewell to a Japanese spaceship this week. The resupply ship will send protein crystal samples back to Earth before it burns up over the Pacific Ocean Saturday.
Astronauts are teaching scientists how they grip and manipulate objects in space to help engineers design inteligent controls and interfaces aboard spacecraft. NASA also delivered the first 8K video of the crew working in space this week.
The Expedition 57 Commander got fired up for science this week working on gear that studies flames and gases. Outside the station, a device is making the study of pulsars NICER.
Two crew members are safe following an aborted ascent to space last week. Meanwhile, science continues on the station as NASA astronauts get familiar with SpaceX hardware and facilities.
A Japanese supply ship, loaded with new science and supplies, was captured at the station on Thursday. The crew will soon unpack the new Life Sciences Glovebox that will help us better protect space explorers on long voyages.
Ivanka Trump visited Johnson Space Center with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and talked to the Expedition 56 crew. The astronauts also checked U.S. spacesuits ahead of upcoming spacewalks.
A Japanese cargo craft is set to lift off today to the station after a typhoon caused delays. The Expedition 56 crew also shared spectacular imagery Hurricane Florence.
The Expedition 56 crew is getting ready for the arrival of a Japanese cargo craft next week and a pair of spacewalks soon afterward. A space fan also wants to know if astronauts play sports in space.
The BEST experiment is studying how life adapts in space and has the potential to be a game changer. Meanwhile, pressure is holding steady on the station after the crew patched up a small hole on a Soyuz spaceship.
Two spacewalkers installed an animal tracker outside the station this week. A study inside the station is observing how liquids behave in the open cabin of the orbital lab.