As the International Space Station traveled approximately 260 miles over Egypt, Earth’s atmosphere exhibited a radiant glow. Image source: NASA
On Wednesday, September 20, the station’s ten occupants engaged in a diverse set of activities, ranging from ophthalmological examinations to upkeep of the station and educational exercises. While newcomers to Expedition 69 acquaint themselves with various apparatus and tools, other crew members are making final preparations for their imminent departure from the space station.
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Examination of Sleep Patterns and Readiness for Extravehicular Activities
Andreas Mogensen, an astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), initiated his day by completing a survey designed to assist scientists in understanding sleep patterns in space, following the use of Sleep in Orbit hardware overnight. Later in the morning, he collaborated with NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, both first-time residents of the station, to make necessary modifications to the spacesuits intended for future extravehicular tasks.
Situated in Washington state, Mount Baker boasts an elevation surpassing 10,700 feet. This active, glacier-clad stratovolcano was visible from the International Space Station as it traversed 265 miles overhead. Image source: NASA
Medical Assessments and Investigations into Microorganisms
Subsequent to lunch, Mogensen and Moghbeli were accompanied by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa for ultrasonic eye assessments. Earlier in the day, Furukawa had collected surface swabs for microbiological studies. Following the eye examinations, he proceeded to gather air samples to further the ongoing microbial investigations.
Final Preparations for Return to Earth
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio devoted his Wednesday to preparatory activities for his forthcoming journey back to Earth, concluding a groundbreaking mission. Rubio spent a portion of his day in the Japanese Experiment Module for maintenance tasks before transitioning to departure-related preparations. This included activities such as transferring responsibilities to incoming crew members and organizing objects that will accompany the crew on the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft on their return journey.
Docked to the Prichal docking module, the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was captured in an image as the International Space Station circled 264 miles over Queensland, Australia, near the Gulf of Carpentaria coast on May 11, 2023. Image source: NASA
Rubio, alongside Roscosmos Commander Sergey Prokopyev and Flight Engineer Dmitri Petelin, had embarked on their space station journey on September 21, 2022. Their return is slated for September 27 after more than a year in orbit. Both cosmonauts took part in handover and departure preparations on Wednesday as they readied for an alteration in command while orienting new crew members.
Initial Briefings and Study of Atmospheric Luminescence at Night
Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, Roscosmos Flight Engineers who joined the space station the previous Friday, underwent initial orientation during the day. In the evening hours, they were joined by Mogensen, O’Hara, and Prokopyev to familiarize themselves with station hardware and various modules.
Simultaneously, Roscosmos Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov devoted the majority of his day to a research endeavor aimed at examining Earth’s atmospheric nocturnal glow in the near-ultraviolet spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about International Space Station Activities
What main activities were the crew members of the International Space Station engaged in?
The crew members were involved in a variety of tasks such as sleep studies, medical exams including ultrasound eye exams, microbial research, and training for future spacewalks. They were also occupied with station maintenance and crew handover preparations for those who will soon depart the space station.
What tools or hardware were used in the sleep study?
The “Sleep in Orbit” hardware was employed in the sleep study, and a questionnaire was filled out by ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen to help researchers understand sleep patterns in space as compared to Earth.
Who participated in the medical exams and microbial research?
JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa conducted ultrasound eye exams along with ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli. Furukawa also spent time collecting surface and air samples for microbial analysis.
What preparations are being made for the departing crew?
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio was engaged in final preparations for his return to Earth, which involved maintenance work in the Japanese Experiment Module, organizing objects that will accompany the crew on the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft, and handover activities.
What research was conducted regarding Earth’s atmosphere?
Roscosmos Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov focused on an experiment studying Earth’s nocturnal atmospheric glow in the near-ultraviolet spectrum.
Who are the new members of Expedition 69?
The new members familiarizing themselves with the station hardware and various modules are NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, and Roscosmos Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub.
When are the current crew members expected to depart from the International Space Station?
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, Roscosmos Commander Sergey Prokopyev, and Flight Engineer Dmitri Petelin are scheduled to leave the space station on September 27 after spending more than a year in orbit.
What geographical landmarks were visible from the International Space Station?
Mount Baker in Washington State and parts of Queensland, Australia near the Gulf of Carpentaria were among the geographical landmarks visible from the International Space Station.
More about International Space Station Activities
- International Space Station Overview
- European Space Agency Sleep Studies
- NASA’s Crew Handover Protocols
- JAXA’s Contributions to ISS Research
- Roscosmos’ Atmospheric Research Initiatives
- Expedition 69 New Crew Members
- Soyuz MS-23 Spacecraft Details
- Mount Baker Visibility from Space
8 comments
Can’t believe they are in orbit for over a year. how do they cope with bein away from family for so long?
Who knew astronauts needed to take eye exams in space? I guess health is health, no matter where you are.
Very well-written, and full of details. I never knew they had to prep for spacewalks while in orbit. I thought all of that got sorted on Earth.
so many activities, so little time. Makes me wonder how they manage stress in space.
This is so cool! I mean, they’re even observing Mount Baker from space. What’s next, live streaming a volcano eruption?
Love the detail in this article. Esp the part about the microbial research. Science never stops, not even in space.
Wow, it’s just mind-blowing how much these astronauts get done in a day. Sleep studies, microbial research and then some. Do they even get time to relax up there?
Atmospheric research, sleep studies, and oh—also preparing for a journey back to Earth. What a life they lead, these astronauts.