The Progress 90 cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) after a successful launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the Expedition 72 crew remains busy conducting scientific research and maintenance activities aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Astronaut Suni Williams checks out the Astrobee robotic free-flyer outfitted with tentacle-like arms containing gecko-like adhesive pads to demonstrate satellite capture techniques. Credit: NASA
The uncrewed Progress 90 lifted off at 7:22 a.m. EST, carrying nearly three tons of food, fuel, and other supplies. The spacecraft is on a two-day journey and is scheduled to automatically dock with the ISS's Poisk module at 9:36 a.m. EST on Saturday. Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner will oversee the final approach, monitoring the cargo ship’s automated rendezvous systems.
Space Biology and Fire Safety Studies
NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Nick Hague are continuing their research into how spaceflight affects the human immune system. On Thursday, they used specialized luminescence hardware to study inflammation by imaging biological samples. This research aims to understand how the body responds to injury and infection in space, providing insights to protect astronaut health during long-duration missions.
NASA Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore focused on fire safety research, replacing samples in the Combustion Integrated Rack. This experiment investigates how flames spread in microgravity, with findings expected to improve fire prevention strategies in space.
Spacesuit and Maintenance Tasks
Wilmore also worked on servicing a newly delivered spacesuit from the SpaceX Dragon cargo ship. He removed securing hardware, installed camera and data cables, and conducted standard maintenance, including emptying and refilling water tanks for two spacesuits in the Quest airlock. NASA Commander Suni Williams assisted Wilmore while also performing repairs in the Tranquility module’s waste and hygiene compartment, the station’s main bathroom facility.
Roscosmos Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov installed Earth observation equipment to capture visible and near-infrared images of natural and human-made changes on Earth’s surface. Meanwhile, Ovchinin spent the day disinfecting the Zvezda service module and cleaning its ventilation systems. Vagner conducted a fitness evaluation using Zvezda’s treadmill and tested a 3D printer’s ability to manufacture tools and components aboard the station.
As the Progress 90 spacecraft approaches, the Expedition 72 crew remains engaged in a diverse array of activities, ensuring both the station’s maintenance and the advancement of scientific understanding. The arrival of the new cargo on Saturday will further support ongoing operations and experiments aboard the ISS.
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