Major Events on the ISS: Eclipse, Spacewalk, and Varied Endeavors Marked by Return to Earth

Every month aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is packed with activity, science, and research, and April was no exception. From astronaut departures to spacewalks and observing a total eclipse, the month was full of exciting events. Let’s take a closer look at all the amazing things that happened on the ISS in April.

The month began with 10 astronauts aboard the ISS, with three due to depart soon. Flight Engineer Tracy Dyson arrived in late March on the Soyuz MS-25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. That’s her third visit to space, and she will spend six months on the station. Commander Oleg Novitsky was on his fourth visit to space, while spaceflight participant Maryna Vasileuskaya became the first Belarusian woman in space.

Vasileuskaya not only took breathtaking photographs of different locations on Earth but also conducted research on how diet affects microbes living in a crew member’s gut system. She and astronaut Loral O’Hara returned to Earth on the Soyuz MS-24, landing in Kazakhstan on April 6.

Expedition 71 officially began with the undocking of the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Tracy Dyson, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko. They will remain on the station until this fall, continuing their important scientific research.

Speaking of research, Loral O’Hara has been conducting numerous experiments during her time aboard the ISS. From 3D printing human heart tissues to investigating cancer treatments and manufacturing new materials, she has been busy performing a wide range of scientific investigations. One significant experiment involved producing flawless optical fibers in space, which are of superior quality compared to those made on Earth. Over 11 kilometers (seven miles) of fibers were produced and will be returned to Earth for analysis.

The crew has also been participating in the Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research on Varying Mission Durations (CIPHER) study. This study consists of 14 different experiments, covering various aspects of human physiology and psychology in space. By understanding how the human body is affected by and adapts to long-duration spaceflight, researchers hope to improve life on Earth for people with tissue degradation as they age and enhance the health of astronauts on longer missions.

Different members of the crew have taken part in specific aspects of the study. For example, Mike Barratt checked his eye function and blood pressure, while Tracy Dyson monitored his eye movements. Jeanette Epps wore a specialized thigh cuff to study fluid flows in the body, and Matthew Dominick and Tracy Dyson measured blood flow, pressure, and electrical heart activity to investigate blood pressure issues.

The crew has also been involved in the fascinating field of bioprinting. Using the BioFabrication Facility in the Columbus laboratory module, they have been 3D printing cardiac tissue samples and processing them for incubation. This research has implications for printing food, medicines, and replacement organs and tissues on future missions.

Crew members have been monitoring each other’s health closely, conducting eye scans and collecting blood and saliva samples for various studies. These investigations delve into spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), microbial resistance to antibiotics, and the effects of microgravity on bacteria.

Astronauts aboard the ISS had a unique perspective on a total eclipse that passed over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Although they only witnessed a partial eclipse from the station, they were able to photograph the moon’s shadow as it raced across the Earth below them.

In April, Russian cosmonauts performed an extravehicular activity (EVA), also known as a spacewalk. They completed various objectives, including deploying a radar panel and installing experiments and hardware on the station’s modules. EVA preparations began two weeks prior, with suit checks and collecting tools.

Astronauts also focused on the future. The first crewed flight test of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner is scheduled for May 6. The spacecraft, hoisted on top of the Atlas V rocket, will carry two astronauts who will spend about a week on the ISS. This mission marks an important milestone for NASA’s commercial crew program and the first use of an Atlas V for a crewed spacecraft.

As April came to an end, preparations were underway for the next Soyuz crew launch this fall. NASA astronaut Don Pettit will join Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexy Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner on the MS-26 craft. Pettit has extensive experience in space, having already spent almost 370 days there. He is well-known for his photography and inventions, such as the zero-g coffee cup.

Looking back, April marked the 10-year anniversary of SpaceX’s CRS-3 mission to the ISS. This mission was significant as it was the first time a Dragon capsule flew on a Falcon 9 rocket and the first ocean soft landing of a Falcon booster. Over the past decade, the Dragon spacecraft has played an important role in delivering supplies and conducting scientific research on the ISS.

April was a busy and eventful month aboard the International Space Station. From scientific research to spacewalks and observing a total eclipse, the astronauts had a lot on their plate. Their work contributes to our understanding of space and its effects on the human body, paves the way for future exploration, and showcases the remarkable beauty of our planet from space.