Science on Orbit: Brain, Cancer, and Biotech Research Lead Latest ISS Activity

Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the 11 crew members from Expedition 73 and the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) have resumed scientific operations, diving deep into investigations on brain circulation, cancer cell observation, and advanced biotechnology.

Cerebral Circulation in Microgravity

ISS Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA began by attaching sensors to his neck and chest to monitor blood flow between the brain and the heart. This data will help researchers understand how blood circulation adapts to microgravity — critical for long-duration missions.

Ax-4 astronauts Peggy Whitson and Tibor Kapu also participated in cerebral flow experiments. Whitson assisted Kapu as he wore a specialized Doppler ultrasound cap and a pressure cuff to visualize blood flow in the cerebral artery and measure blood pressure. The results aim to protect astronauts’ visual perception and cognitive function during spaceflight.

Later, Whitson used a fluorescence microscope to study cancer cells, aiming to improve early detection and prevention techniques under space conditions.

Biotech Meets Space: Tardigrades, Wearables, and More

NASA flight engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers supported the Ax-4 crew with research operations. Ayers prepared a microscope in the Destiny lab module for Shubhanshu Shukla, who studied how tardigrades — resilient microscopic animals — survive extreme environments, including microgravity.

Meanwhile, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a Polish astronaut on Ax-4, explored the use of nanomaterials in wearable devices that monitor astronaut health — potentially applicable in future space and Earth-based healthcare systems.

NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim collected and processed blood samples with Onishi, storing them in the station’s scientific freezer. He later conducted maintenance tasks in the Harmony and Quest modules.

Progress 90 Departs, Progress 92 Prepares to Launch

The uncrewed Progress 90 cargo craft ended its seven-month mission on Tuesday, undocking from the Poisk module at 1:42 PM CDT. It will safely reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a planned demise over the South Pacific.

Its replacement, Progress 92, is standing by at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for launch on Thursday at 2:32 PM CDT, carrying over 3,000 pounds of food, fuel, and supplies. The craft is expected to dock with the station’s Poisk module on Saturday at 4:27 PM CDT.
🛰 Live coverage of the launch and docking will be available on NASA+.

Roscosmos Team Prepares for Docking

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy conducted TORU (Teleoperated Mode) docking training for Progress 92. Ryzhikov also installed equipment for hyperspectral imaging of landmarks across Mexico and South America, while Zubritskiy captured photos of Progress 90’s departure.

Kirill Peskov, another Roscosmos crew member, verified systems linked to the European Robotic Arm and completed a 24-hour session measuring heart activity and blood pressure using biomedical sensors.