Following a landmark all-female spacewalk on May 1, 2025, the Expedition 73 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has been diligently engaged in post-spacewalk activities, scientific experiments, and maintenance tasks to ensure the station’s optimal performance and contribute to ongoing research initiatives.
Post-Spacewalk Operations and Maintenance
NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, who conducted the fifth all-female spacewalk in history, have been focusing on post-extravehicular activity (EVA) procedures. Their tasks included reorganizing the Quest airlock, servicing their spacesuits, checking water tanks, and collecting water samples for chemical analysis.
During their 5-hour and 44-minute spacewalk, McClain and Ayers installed a modification kit on the ISS’s port side truss structure to prepare for the arrival of a new roll-out solar array. They also relocated a communications antenna, installed a jumper cable, and removed bolts from a micrometeoroid cover.
Scientific Research and Experiments
NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim has been photographing tomato plants as part of a space agriculture study aimed at understanding crop cultivation without photosynthesis in microgravity conditions.
JAXA astronaut and Expedition 73 Commander Takuya Onishi utilized a specialized 3D microscope to observe the behavior of bacteria samples in liquid. This research is crucial for monitoring water quality, detecting infectious microorganisms, and ensuring the safety of both crew members and spacecraft systems.
Earth Observation and Station Maintenance
Roscosmos cosmonauts have been actively participating in Earth observation and station maintenance tasks. Flight Engineer Sergey Ryzhikov captured images of a landslide in Brazil, providing valuable data for Earth science studies. Kirill Peskov, serving as Flight Engineer, carried out safety checks by reviewing the radiation devices utilized during McClain and Ayers’ spacewalk, and followed up with routine upkeep by servicing the smoke detectors in the Nauka laboratory module.
The Expedition 73 crew’s ongoing efforts in maintenance and scientific research continue to enhance our understanding of space operations and contribute to the success of current and future missions aboard the International Space Station.
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