Life in Orbit: The Delayed Seven
Astronaut and naval diver-turned-surgeon celebrates a humbling space adventure aboard the International Space Station from June 9 to June 13, 2025.
It's a change of pace on the International Space Station (ISS) this week (June 9 through June 13), what with the visiting crew's arrival delayed just before launch. With a lighter workload than usual, the Expedition 73 crew - a diverse mix of astronauts from NASA, the Japan AeroSpace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Russian space agency Roscosmos - found themselves with a bit more time to reflect and reminisce during their seventh week in orbit.
Orbital Musings
"Space, she's one hell of an environment," says Jonny Kim, a NASA astronaut and former U.S. Navy Seal and medic, reflecting on his time maintaining the ISS. "Setting down a pair of pliers? Forget it. You'll lose them faster than you can say 'zero gravity'."
This week, Kim traded his surgical scrubs for a space suit to clean filters, examine seals, and swap out chipsets for the ISS' network servers. With Mission Control keeping an eye on him via live video feed, Kim found himself fumbling for missing parts, wrestling with the uncooperative laws of physics in a ballet of tools and equipment.
Science and Maintenance
While the crew enjoyed a break from the usual busy schedule, they still had their share of tasks to tend to. Among the research conducted aboard the ISS this week was:
Ultrasound 2
The astronauts performed their first set of eye exams using the biomedical device called Ultrasound 2. Anne McClain and Nichole Myers, joined by Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA, worked with a ground-based doctor to determine if their time in space has had any impact on their eyes.
Solid Combustion Experiment Module
Onishi also swapped out sample cartridges for an ongoing fire experiment in Japan's Kibo laboratory. This research is aimed at improving the safety of spacecraft and habitation modules for future missions beyond Earth.
Station Upkeep
The crew also devoted time to maintenance and upkeep of the ISS' systems, including:
Enhanced European Exploration Exercise Device (E4D)
Onishi and Kim added grease to the E4D, a device intended for future missions to the moon. The E4D offers astronauts a chance to exercise in much the same way they would on Earth, with resistance devices designed for rowing, cycling, and climbing.
Waste and Hygiene Compartment
In the Tranquility Node 3 module, McClain drained the tanks for the U.S. segment's bathroom.
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)
Inside the Quest airlock, Ayers serviced a U.S. spacesuit, followed by cleaning and documenting the metal oxide containers used to scrub carbon dioxide from the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) during spacewalks.
Other maintenance tasks included monitoring the ISS' decibel levels, checking water quality, and clearing ventilation ducts of floating debris.
Astronaut Milestones
Expedition 73 flight engineer Anne McClain marked two milestones this week: her 46th revolution around the sun, on June 7, and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, on June 14. McClain, who is currently a colonel in the U.S. Army, spoke with Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the U.S. Army, to mark the occasion.
"Thank you for your service to the Army and for all our soldiers out there celebrating the 250th birthday of our incredible United States Army," McClain said. "I am proud to represent the Army, which is really an army of innovators, leaders, and problem solvers."
The Waiting Game
The delayed visitors to the ISS are former astronaut Peggy Whitson and a crew of three astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland, who are currently slated for the Axiom Mission 4. As of now, a new launch date has yet to be determined. In the meantime, the crew continues their work in orbit, adapting to the challenges of life in space and carrying on the torch of exploration and discovery.
- While reflecting on his duties maintaining the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Jonny Kim mused about the unique environment of space, likening it to history's great challenges and the unknown territories scientists have explored throughout the ages.
- As part of their week's tasks on the ISS, astronaut Anne McClain participated in the Ultrasound 2 research, contributing to the advancement of technology in space medicine and adding to the history of scientific exploration in zero gravity.
- In keeping with the ISS' maintenance schedule, astronauts conducted routine checks on the station's systems, including assessing the decibel levels for future environmental research, another example of how science and technology are intertwined in the endeavor to understand our environment and the cosmos.
