Astronauts Focus On Science Research And Experiments On The Space Station

Astronauts on the space station (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA The International Space Station (ISS) is packed with astronauts on duty on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. The astronauts are part of the 73rd Expedition and Axiom 4 (Ax-4) Mission.

They are working on quite important scientific studies. Some are investigating brain circulation, observing cancer cells, studying biotechnology, and working on other crucial experiments.

The Commander of Takuya Onishi Station, an astronaut from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) who joins Expedition 73, installed sensors to measure blood flow from his brain to his heart. This data will be used to understand the adaptation of blood circulation in a weightless condition.

Meanwhile, NASA Aviation Technicians Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers support the crew of the Ax-4. McClain helps astronauts operate research hardware, while Ayers prepares a microscope in the Destiny laboratory module for Shubhanshu Shukla from Ax-4.

On the other hand, NASA Aviation Engineer Jonny Kim collected blood samples with Onishi. He processed the sample in centrifus and stored it in a science freezeer's cupboard to be preserved in the long term.

Another astronaut who focuses on science research is Kirill Peskov. The astronaut checked the laptop computer for European robotic arm surgery and completed a 24-hour session with sensors measuring heart activity and blood pressure.

The Ax-4 crew also worked on special science missions while at the station. Whitson and Tibor Kapu are known to study brain circulation for their mission experiments.

During this study, Whitson helped Kapu use Doppler ultrasonography to take pictures of blood flow in its cerebral arteries. Once the Kapu blood pressure is measured, the results will be used to protect the crew's visual processing in microgravity.

Whitson also observed cancer cells under fluorescence microscopy. The study aims to study how to detect and prevent cancer early, a step forward in space medical research.

Astronaut Ax-4 Sryptawosz Uznawaski-Wi Duniewski explores the use of nanomaterials in wearable devices. This device is designed to monitor the crew's health in real-time while in space.