The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew recently joined the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) from the Expedition 70 mission. This marks the first all-European crewed mission to the Station. With the addition of the Ax-3 crew, there are now 11 astronauts aboard the ISS and a total of 14 people in orbit, including three taikonauts from the Shenzhou 17 mission on the Chinese Tiangong space station.

Although the record for the highest number of people in orbit is currently 17, this number was briefly surpassed last May when the launch of China’s Shenzhou 16 crew added three more astronauts. However, the Axiom-2 crew departed within a day of the Chinese crew’s launch. In addition, Virgin Galactic Unity 25 and Virgin Galactic-06 suborbital missions also contributed to a record of 20 people in space at an altitude of over 80 kilometers.

The Ax-3 crew is the third entirely private astronaut mission to visit the ISS and is led by Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, who is visiting the station for the second time. Lopez-Alegria has been in space six times and his experience includes three Shuttle missions. He is accompanied by Pilot Walter Villadei and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravci and Marcus Wandt. The quartet will spend about two weeks conducting over 30 science and research experiments in microgravity before returning to Earth.

The ISS crew has been busy conducting various experiments related to robotics, long-duration missions, and crew health and wellbeing. The Astrobee free-flying robots have been testing their maneuvering capabilities using a perching arm to grapple station handrails. These tests will inform future robotic missions and could have implications for terrestrial robots as well.

Astronauts have also been conducting experiments related to long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. These experiments include studying the impacts of spaceflight on plant defense responses, developing models to predict the risk of cancer growth in space, and testing the manufacture of superior fiber optic cables in microgravity.

In terms of crew health and wellbeing, astronauts have been wearing devices to monitor their sleep-wake patterns and overall health. They have also been testing a new LED lighting system in their sleeping quarters, which aims to mimic variations in light intensity and color experienced on Earth.

In addition to these experiments, the crew has been performing essential maintenance tasks and participating in outreach projects, such as recording educational videos for students and teachers. The ISS continues to be a hub for research, improvement of life in space, and inspiration for future generations.

Overall, the ISS Roundup highlights the ongoing scientific discoveries and advancements being made on the International Space Station. From studying the effects of microgravity on neurodegenerative diseases to testing new technologies for long-duration missions, the work being done on the ISS is pushing the boundaries of human exploration in space. With each mission, scientists and astronauts are gaining valuable insights that will help pave the way for future space travel and colonization efforts.