The International Space Station fires engines to avoid space debris while waiting for cargo to be delivered

The Expedition 69 crew at the International Space Station await cargo delivery from Roscosmos and the launch of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission. Amidst these events, the crew engaged in gene therapy research and preparation for the arrival of the new crew. In addition, a security maneuver was performed to move away from orbital debris, without affecting the planned missions. (Earth as seen from the International Space Station.) Source: NASA

The Mission 69 crew will receive a space rendition late Thursday night and a new crew will launch into space soon. International Space Station (International Space Station). While the orbiters were preparing for both missions, there was still some time for gene therapy research and laboratory maintenance tasks.

Roscosmos Progress 85 cargo arrival

The cosmonauts, Commander Sergey Prokopyev and Flight Engineer Dmitry Petlin, will monitor the mission. Roscosmos 85 freighters advanced during the planned automated docking at 11:50 p.m EDT. During the morning, the duo trained on the Remotely Operated Rendezvous Module, or TORU, to remotely control an incoming spacecraft in case the craft was unable to dock automatically. Progress 85 is carrying three tons of food, fuel, and supplies, and the two astronauts will begin unloading its luggage about two hours after its arrival. The cargo spacecraft will remain moored in the aft port of the Zvezda service module for six months of cargo activities.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft is seen after sunset on Aug. 22, 2023, sitting on the launchpad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations for the Crew-7 mission continue at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Image credit: NASA/Joel Kofsky

SpaceX Crew-7 launch and arrival

And just 4 hours after the resupply ship arrived, the SpaceX Crew-7 mission was scheduled to launch from NASAKennedy Space Center to the orbital laboratory. However, this launch has been cancelled. boot from SpaceX The Dragon Endurance spacecraft is now scheduled to lift off with four commercial crew members aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rocket at 3:27 a.m. Saturday.

The International Space Station prepares for the arrival of the crew of 7

Endurance piloted by NASA astronaut Yasmine Mokbeli with pilot Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency (ESA)European Space Agency) and mission specialists Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and Konstantin Borisov, will automatically dock with the space-facing port of the Harmony module about one day after liftoff. In about two hours, the quadruple will enter the station, greet the Expedition 69 crew, and begin a six-month microgravity research mission.

Biotechnology research continues on the International Space Station

Flight Engineers Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, both of NASA, and Sultan Al Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prepared for the arrival of Crew-7 on Saturday to configure the station for four new crew members. Bowen placed emergency equipment on the American portion of the orbiting laboratory, standard procedure before a new crew arrives. Hoburg created new accommodations for the crew in the Columbus Laboratory module. Al Neyadi set up computers inside the dome to monitor the arrival of Dragon Endurance on Saturday morning.

While mission preparations were underway, NASA aeronautical engineer Frank Rubio focused his time on biotechnology research. He processed cell samples looking for ways to more closely mimic the human central nervous system and brain environment Neuronics investigation. The findings may provide pathways for researchers to discover new therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Safety maneuvers on the International Space Station

On Thursday, August 24, the ISS’s Zvezda Service Module engines fired for 21.5 seconds, starting at 11 a.m. EDT, to maneuver the complex away from the expected trajectory of the orbital debris fragment. The maneuver will not affect the date of the Roscosmos Progress 85 cargo ship or the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission.