4 Sept 2025

Exercise research and space physics took precedence aboard the International Space Station while a pair of Expedition 73 crew members enjoyed an off-duty day. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew also focused on maintaining science hardware and inventorying lab gear.

The main purpose of research on the orbital outpost is discovering new phenomena impossible to achieve in Earth’s gravity environment. The new unique insights help provide advanced treatments for both Earthbound and space-caused ailments and may lead to commercial and industrial innovations benefitting households and promoting business and space communities.

The lack of gravity aboard a spacecraft affects an astronaut’s body leading to accelerated muscle and bone loss among other symptoms. One way to counteract the microgravity-influenced effects is through daily two-hour workouts on specialized equipment which also benefit a crew member’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Beginning his day with the Cardiobreath exercise study, NASA Flight Engineer Mike Fincke wore a sensor-packed headband and vest measuring his health data while he pedaled on the Destiny laboratory module’s exercise cycle. The data will be downlinked to Earth helping doctors plan fitness programs to protect astronaut health on long-term missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. After his lunch period, Fincke turned his attention to a physics study investigating pharmaceutical manufacturing and 3D printing techniques in space. He set up the Colloidal Solids research hardware inside Destiny’s Microgravity Science Glovebox that may advance human health on and off the Earth.

Flight Engineer Kimiya Yui of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) focused on servicing an array of experimental hardware throughout the orbital lab on Thursday. He first replaced moisture-absorbing cassettes inside an artificial gravity-generating biology research device. Next, he analyzed station water samples for hazardous chemicals then tested a new device that measures the quality of the station’s atmosphere to protect crew health. Yui also inspected the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device that is testing smaller, more advanced workout gear for future spaceflights beyond low Earth orbit.

NASA Flight Engineers Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman took a well-deserved break on Thursday following several days of unpacking the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and installing new science experiments aboard the station. One new experiment they activated and began working on is looking at how microgravity affects bone stem cell samples to learn how to protect an astronaut’s skeletal system in space and treat aging conditions and bone diseases on Earth.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Oleg Platonov kicked off a 24-hour session wearing sensors for an experiment measuring how microgravity affects his heart rate and blood pressure during his daily activities and through his sleep shift. Station Commander Sergey Ryzhikov and Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky partnered together throughout the day inventorying a variety of Roscosmos lab gear including safety equipment, spacesuit components, and interior lighting systems.

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NASA astronaut Mike Fincke works out on the International Space Station’s advanced resistive exercise device that mimics free wights in Earth’s gravity and has the capability to work out all major muscle groups.