Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is actively progressing with the integration of new crew members, the advancement of critical scientific research, and the implementation of new orbital maintenance technologies. This phase of the mission highlights the ongoing international collaboration in space exploration.
The SpaceX Crew-11 mission launched on August 1, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center, carrying NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Michael Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They successfully docked with the ISS on August 2, 2025, joining the existing Expedition 73 crew. This expanded crew, which also includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky, is focused on pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding and operational capabilities in space.
The research aboard the ISS is diverse, with a focus on human adaptation to the space environment and fundamental scientific principles. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman is leading the "Maturation of Vascularized Liver Tissue Construct in Zero Gravity" experiment, investigating the behavior of blood vessels within 3D-printed liver tissue under microgravity. Meanwhile, Kimiya Yui and Mike Fincke are testing a new countermeasure to mitigate fluid redistribution effects in space, collecting data through specialized equipment.
A significant development for the station's longevity and operational efficiency occurred on August 24, 2025, with the arrival of the SpaceX CRS-33 resupply mission. This flight delivered over 5,000 pounds of essential cargo, including advanced scientific experiments. Crucially, CRS-33 carried a "boost kit" propulsion module, designed to perform orbital reboosts to counteract atmospheric drag. Demonstration reboosts using this new capability are scheduled to begin in September 2025 and will continue periodically through the fall. This boost kit offers approximately 1.5 times the reboost capacity of a Russian Progress spacecraft and is part of NASA's long-term strategy for managing the station's orbit.
Further enhancing operational capabilities, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is testing teleoperation technologies that utilize joystick controls to precisely mimic human movements with an advanced robotic arm. This initiative aims to foster new methods in astronaut training and remote operational control, crucial for future complex missions requiring intuitive human-robot collaboration.
The ISS continues to serve as a vital platform for international cooperation. The diverse crew of Expedition 73 exemplifies shared goals in scientific discovery, advancing our understanding of space and human physiology while reinforcing the interconnectedness of global efforts in exploration.