The physical toll of maintaining humanity's orbital outpost

Space · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Maintaining the International Space Station is a grueling cycle of high-stakes exterior labor and meticulous maintenance. From replacing failed pumps to swabbing the station's hull for microbes, astronauts must balance intense physical excursions with the repetitive, essential chores required to keep their orbital home habitable.

The logistical demands of the International Space Station (ISS) are illustrated by the high frequency of extravehicular activities (EVAs). During a period involving Expedition 75, the crew completed four spacewalks in a single month. These missions are not merely exploratory; they are essential repairs and upgrades. To illustrate, a cosmic particle detector was readied for upcoming improvements, while the station's outer surface was wiped for microbes and a navigation aid for a spacecraft was fitted by Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot over almost seven hours. Other missions involved installing modification kits for future solar arrays and replacing failed space-to-ground antennas.

However, these high-profile tasks are often complicated by the harsh realities of space hardware. During an 8-hour and 3-minute excursion by Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, the team attempted to replace a failed ammonia pump module. The mission was ultimately unable to remove the failed unit because of a leak in one of the four ammonia line connectors, highlighting the technical risks inherent in orbital plumbing. These repairs are critical for the station's life support and cooling systems, yet they remain susceptible to mechanical failures.

When not outside the station, the crew engages in a different kind of labor: the 'behind-the-scenes' maintenance that ensures survival. Such tasks involved transferring water into spacesuit tanks, capturing images of gloves for checking, and sending down footage from cameras on helmets. Other crew members manage cargo transfers from the Cygnus XL spacecraft, pack waste for disposal in the Progress 94 resupply ship, and clean ventilation systems. This cycle of intense physical labor followed by meticulous cleaning and cargo management defines the daily reality of orbital life.

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

• Beyond the hull: how astronauts maintain the International Space Station
• The grueling physical and technical reality of orbital maintenance
• The high-stakes engineering of maintaining life in orbit
• The high-stakes choreography of maintaining a space station
• The relentless, invisible maintenance required to keep the International Space Station orbiting
• The high-stakes marathon of repairing a cooling system in orbit
• The quiet camaraderie following six hours in the vacuum of space
• How microgravity is being used to manufacture human organs and retinas
• The high-stakes logistics of repairing a failing space station
• The International Space Station is becoming a laboratory for 3D printing
• The grueling reality of life outside the International Space Station
• SpaceX delivers over 5,000 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station

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