Preparation intensifies as new crews prepare to dock with the orbital outpost

Space · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: As new missions approach the International Space Station, the crew on board is working tirelessly. From reorganizing cargo in the Harmony module to testing specialized exercise devices, every detail is being managed to ensure a seamless transition for the incoming astronauts and cosmonauts.

The International Space Station serves as a complex laboratory where research and logistics must be perfectly synchronized. For example, before the NASA SpaceX Crew-13 mission was scheduled to launch and dock on October 1, the Expedition 75 crew was busy with essential preparations. Station commander Jessica Meir worked to reorganize cargo within the Harmony module’s pressurized mating adapter-2 to create space for the incoming Dragon spacecraft. Flight engineers Anil Menon and Jack Hathaway also staged necessary supplies in the Harmony module. These preparations ensure the new crewmates have immediate access to essential equipment upon arrival.

Scientific research continues alongside these logistical tasks. ESA flight engineer Sophie Adenot utilized the Columbus laboratory module to test the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D), evaluating its effectiveness in maintaining fitness for long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars. Meanwhile, researchers are investigating how microgravity affects human physiology, such as how it impacts cognition during manual piloting or how it affects the microcirculatory system. Additionally, researchers are studying how microgravity influences blood pressure. This is being done by having Roscosmos flight engineers Anna Kikina and Pyotr Dubrov wear specialized cuffs.

One specific area of study involves fluid shifts caused by weightlessness. Roscosmos flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev has been testing a lower body negative pressure suit, a device designed to reverse fluid shifts from the head toward the feet. This technology aims to help crews adjust more rapidly to Earth's gravity following long-term missions in microgravity. Such research is vital as space agencies look toward much longer journeys into deep space. This study helps scientists understand how weightlessness impacts the microcirculatory system. Such insights are crucial for long-term spaceflight safety.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Preparing for the arrival of Crew-13 at the International Space Station
• The meticulous logistics of welcoming new humans to orbit
• The Logistics of Life in Orbit: Preparing a Space Station Home
• How the International Space Station prepares for its next rotating crews
• The ritual of spaceflight: why astronauts visit the Kremlin before launch
• Before heading to orbit, astronauts pay tribute at the Kremlin Wall
• Preparing for liftoff: the final training for the next ISS crew
• Astronauts prepare for space station mission with traditional tributes in Moscow
• Why astronauts still visit Red Square before heading into orbit
• The ritual of tribute before a journey into orbit
• The rigorous preparation behind the next crew rotation to the International Space Station
• How the International Space Station manages its rotating crew of astronauts

More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics