NASA Astronauts Wilmore, Williams’ Space Station Science Highlights

[NASA]

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NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts (from top) Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station’s Harmony module and the Starliner spacecraft.

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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station.

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NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore prepare orbital plumbing hardware for installation inside the International Space Station’s bathroom, also known as the waste and hygiene compartment, located in the Tranquility module.

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NASA astronaut and Boeing Crew Flight Test Pilot Suni Williams, inside the International Space Station’s Unity module, displays portable carbon dioxide monitors recently delivered aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter.

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NASA astronaut and Boeing Crew Flight Test Commander Butch Wilmore performs spacesuit maintenance inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock.

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NASA astronaut and Boeing Crew Flight Test Pilot Suni Williams installs the Packed Bed Reactor Experiment, experimental life support hardware, inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox located aboard the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory module.

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Clockwise from bottom, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, Mike Barratt, Tracy C. Dyson, and Butch Wilmore, pose for a team portrait inside the vestibule between the Unity module and the Cygnus space freighter from Northrop Grumman. Dyson holds a photograph of NASA astronaut Patrica Hilliard for whom the Cygnus spacecraft, S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson, is named after.

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Clockwise from bottom, NASA astronauts Mike Barratt, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams are at work inside the International Space Station’s Unity module. The trio was configuring the ArgUS Mission 1 technology demonstration hardware to test the external operations of communications, computer processing, and high-definition video gear in the vacuum of space.

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NASA astronauts (from left) Tracy C. Dyson and Suni Williams enjoy an ice cream dessert with fresh ingredients delivered aboard the Northrop Grumman Cygnus space freighter. The duo was enjoying their delicious snack inside the International Space Station’s Unity module where crews share meals in the galley.

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NASA astronauts (from left) Tracy C. Dyson, Expedition 71 Flight Engineer, and Suni Williams, Pilot for Boeing’s Crew Flight Test, work inside the NanoRacks Bishop airlock located in the port side of the International Space Station’s Tranquility module. The duo installed the the ArgUS Mission-1 technology demonstration hardware inside Bishop for placement outside in the vacuum of space to test the external operations of communications, computer processing, and high-definition video gear.

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NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore processes samples from Gaucho Lung, an experiment studying how the mucus lining in human airways affects drug delivery to the lungs.

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NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore (at center) pose with Expedition 71 Flight Engineers (far left) Mike Barratt and Tracy C. Dyson (far right), both NASA astronauts, in their spacesuits aboard the International Space Station’s Quest airlock.

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NASA astronauts (from left) Suni Williams, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps pose for a portrait during dinner time aboard the International Space Station’s Unity module. Williams is the pilot for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test and Dyson and Epps are both Expedition 71 Flight Engineers.

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Since the start of International Space Station operations more than two decades ago, crews have lived and worked in microgravity to conduct an array of research that benefits life on Earth and future space exploration missions, and perform operational tasks to keep the state-of-the-art scientific lab in its highest-operating condition.

The space station has seen the arrival of more than 270 people. The latest visitors include NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived on June 6 as part of the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test.

Both veterans of two previous spaceflights, Wilmore and Williams quickly immersed themselves in station life, living and working in low Earth orbit alongside the Expedition 71 crew. The pair has completed a host of science and operational tasks, including fluid physics research, plant facility maintenance, robotic operations, Earth observations, and more.

Check out some highlights from Wilmore and Williams’ mission below.

(From left) NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore perform maintenance work on the Plant Water Management (PWM) system. The duo is investigating how fluid physics, such as surface tension, hydroponics, or air circulation, could overcome the lack of gravity when watering and nourishing plants grown in space. The PWM, located in the station’s Harmony module, uses facilities to promote space agricultural activities on spacecraft and space habitat.

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Providing adequate water and nutrition to plants grown in space is critical as missions expand in low Earth orbit and beyond to the Moon and eventually Mars.

Throughout their stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, Wilmore and Williams have tested how different techniques could benefit crop growth in space through the Plant Water Management investigation.

This investigation uses the physical properties of fluids—surface tension, wetting, and system geometry—to overcome the lack of gravity and provide hydration to plants, which could advance the development of hydroponic systems for use during future space travel.

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore is pictured installing a light meter inside the Veggie facility to obtain light measurements and adjust the light settings inside the plant research device.

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Another investigation taking a deeper look at growing plants in space is the Vegetable Production System, or Veggie. Crews living aboard the space station have used Veggie to grow fresh produce and even flowers, providing astronauts with nutritious fresh foods, boosting morale, and enhancing well-being.

In preparation for upcoming work with Veggie, Wilmore installed a light meter inside the facility, which will help crew members obtain light measurements and adjust light settings in the future when they practice their green thumb in space.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams speaks into the microphone during a HAM Radio session with students from Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

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For more than two decades, astronauts aboard the space station have connected with students and hobbyists worldwide, sharing details about living and working in microgravity.

In early August, Williams used the Ham Radio to connect with students from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and answer questions about station research as the orbiting lab passed overhead.  

These space-to-Earth calls inspire younger generations to pursue interests and careers in STEM and provide school communities with opportunities to learn about space technology and communications.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams observes a pair of Astrobee free-flying robots as they demonstrate autonomous docking maneuvers inside the Kibo Laboratory Module.

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Astrobee, a set of three free-flying robots, are often buzzing around the orbiting lab, demonstrating how technology could assist astronauts with various tasks such as routine chores and maintenance.

Throughout the mission, Williams powered up and observed Astrobee operations as ground controllers remotely mapped the interior of the orbiting lab, practiced docking maneuvers, and tested how the robots carry out various tasks.

(From top left) The Strait of Gibraltar separating Spain and Morocco, captured by NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore; Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is seen docked to the Harmony module’s forward port. This long-duration, nighttime photo, shows light trails of civilization over the coast of Mumbai, India; (From bottom left) Two Patagonian Lakes, Viedma and Argentino, are pictured as the station orbited 272 miles above; Wilmore is photographed inside the cupola while taking pictures of Earth.

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Since the early days of human spaceflight, astronauts have been photographing Earth from space, capturing the wonder and environmental condition of our home planet.

Orbiting 250 miles above, crew members often spend their free time shooting photos from the cupola, or “window to the world.” The space station’s unique vantage point provides a glimpse at how Earth has changed over time and gives scientists a better look at key data from the perspective of the orbital complex while also improving crews’ mental well-being.

During their mission, the astronaut duo has captured hundreds of photographs of Earth, ranging from auroras, land, sea, orbital sunrises and sunsets, and more.

Wilmore and Williams continue to support daily space station operations as NASA and Boeing evaluate possible return options. For the latest updates on NASA’s commercial crew activities, including the Boeing Crew Flight Test, visit the Commercial Crew Program blog.

For daily space station updates and to learn more about the research being conducted in microgravity, visit the space station blog.

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