What did the crew of Expedition 36 accomplish during their 166 days in orbit?

Space · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While the world watched, the crew of Expedition 36 conducted vital research on the International Space Station. From studying how microgravity affects the human brain and eyes to investigating wireless power transfers, their mission pushed the boundaries of what we understand about life and physics in space.

Expedition 36 was a significant period of scientific discovery aboard the International Space Station. The crew involved in this mission included Commander Pavel Vinogradov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, alongside Chris Cassidy of NASA and cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. These three individuals spent a total of 166 days living and working aboard the station before returning to Earth. They were joined by Expedition 37 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, NASA Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg, and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano.

The scientific scope of the mission was diverse, covering human biology, space physics, and advanced technology. Key research areas included the study of eye and brain function in microgravity, which is critical for understanding long-term human spaceflight. The crew also worked on promoting augmented-reality Earth observations and investigating the mechanics of wireless power transfers. Additionally, the mission included experiments to explore the complexities of fuel physics.

Beyond the laboratory, the mission involved complex orbital operations and maintenance. The crew performed several spacewalks to maintain the station. Notably, on August 22, 2013, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Alexander Misurkin conducted a spacewalk lasting 5 hours and 58 minutes. Other spacewalks were performed by Chris Cassidy and Luca Parmitano on July 9 and July 16, 2013, with durations of 6 hours and 7 minutes and 1 hour and 32 minutes, respectively. The mission also saw the arrival of various visiting vehicles, including the HTV-4 Kounotori and the ATV-4, to support station operations.

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