The Expedition 73 crew began their workweek by studying space biology to counteract the effects of weightlessness on the human body. The crew is also packing the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft for its departure this week.
NASA Flight Engineers Jonny Kim and Anne McClain tested a thigh cuff that may prevent upward blood flow towards an astronaut’s upper body, common symptoms including head and eye pressure. Doctors monitored their effectiveness in real-time to learn how to protect astronauts’ eyes.
Roscosmos Flight Engineers Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky measured exhalation rates with sensors to understand the effects of microgravity on the respiratory system. They also swapped gas bottles for a space physics study investigating complex plasmas.
Commander Takuya Onishi from JAXA joined NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers in Dragon’s cargo bay, packing essential items ahead of its undocking on Thursday. The crew will also install portable science freezers for analysis back on Earth.
Onishi processed protein crystal samples to learn how to synthesize medications during deep space missions. He also underwent a hearing exam with McClain and practiced using the European robotic arm (ERA) in preparation for future operations.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/05/19/space-biology-kicks-off-workweek-as-crew-packs-dragon