NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Wraps Up Space Station Science

4 Min Read

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Wraps Up Space Station Science

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission with agency astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov returned to Earth after a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.

During their stay, Cardman, Fincke, and Yui contributed more than 850 hours of research to help prepare humanity for the return to the Moon and future missions to Mars, while improving life back on Earth.

Here’s a glimpse into the science completed during the Crew-11 mission:

Bolstering bone resilience

NASA astronaut Zena Cardman works with bone stem cells aboard the International Space Station to improve our understanding of how bone loss occurs during spaceflight. Studying bone cell activity in microgravity could help researchers learn how to control bone loss to protect astronauts’ bone density during future long-duration space missions and inform treatments for diseases like osteoporosis on Earth. 

Learn more about MABL-B.

Observing Earth and beyond

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui photographs the Earth from the International Space Station’s cupola. For more than 40 years, astronauts have used hand-held cameras to capture millions of images documenting Earth’s geographic features, weather patterns, urban growth, changes to its surface, and the impacts of natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.

Astronauts also use the cupola and other viewports aboard the space station to gaze into the cosmos without Earth’s atmospheric interference. Just as viewing Earth from 250 miles above provides a new perspective on our home planet, looking out into the stars from the orbiting laboratory offers a clearer view of our universe.

Space catch

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke poses aboard the International Space Station with a new device designed to test an inflatable capture bag’s ability to open, close, and stay airtight in microgravity. This technology could be used to remove space debris from orbit, protecting future spacecraft and crew members. It also may enable trapping samples during exploration missions and support the capture and mining of small asteroids.

Learn more about Capture Bag Demo.

Tracking internal temperature

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke wears a temperature-monitoring headband that tracks how the human body regulates its core temperature during spaceflight. Adjusting to living and working aboard the International Space Station can influence human temperature regulation. This headband provides an easy, non-invasive way to collect temperature data while astronauts conduct their daily activities. The sensor is also being tested on Earth and may help prevent hyperthermia in people working in high-temperature environments.

Learn more about T-Mini.

A new cargo vehicle

JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) new cargo resupply spacecraft, HTV-X1, is shown after being captured by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm during the Crew-11 mission. The spacecraft launched from Tanegashima Space Center on Oct. 26, 2025, delivering approximately 12,800 pounds of science, supplies, and hardware to the orbital complex. New cargo spacecraft expand the station’s capability to support more research and receive critical supplies.

Making nutrients on demand

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui holds yogurt bags produced aboard the International Space Station that could provide important nutrients during missions far from Earth. Certain nutrients degrade when stored for long periods of time, and deficiency in even one can lead to illness. Researchers are building on previous experiments to develop a method for producing on-demand vitamins and nutrients in space using microorganisms.

Learn more about BioNutrients-3.

Celebrating a historic milestone

The Expedition 73 crew poses for a portrait to commemorate 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station. In the front row from left, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky. In the back row, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui.

A truly global endeavor, the space station has been visited by more than 290 people from 26 countries, along with a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. Since the first crew arrived, NASA and its partners have conducted thousands of research investigations and technology demonstrations to advance exploration of the Moon and Mars and benefit life on Earth.

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

International Space Station

Space Station Research and Technology Resources

Space Station Research Results

Latest News from Space Station Research

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…
Christian M. Getteau

NASA Data Helps Maine Oyster Farmers Choose Where to Grow

6 Min Read

NASA Data Helps Maine Oyster Farmers Choose Where to Grow

When oyster farmer Luke Saindon went looking for a place to grow shellfish in Maine, he knew that picking the wrong patch of water could sink the farm before it began. So Saindon did something oyster farmers couldn’t have done a generation ago: He used NASA satellite data to view the coastline from space.

“Starting a farm is a big venture,” said Saindon, the director for The World Is Your Oyster farm in Wiscasset, Maine. “If you choose the wrong spot, you can blow through a lot of money without ever bringing oysters to market.”

NASA satellites had been passing over these waters for years, recording temperatures and other conditions. Using a site-selection tool created by University of Maine researchers, Saindon examined satellite maps showing where water temperatures and food levels might be best for growing oysters. The maps pointed him toward a wide, shallow bay near his home. Four years later, the farm is still there — and the oysters are thriving.

Saindon believes that using the satellite data to select his oyster farm site resulted in faster-than-average growth rates.

“This is an example of how NASA’s Earth science program supports our nation,” said Chris Neigh, the Landsat 8 and 9 project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “We collect global data, but its value grows when it’s used locally to help communities work smarter and make their livelihoods more sustainable.”

From orbit to oyster

That same satellite-based approach is now the foundation of a study published Jan. 15 in the journal Aquaculture. Led by University of Maine scientists Thomas Kiffney and Damian Brady, the research demonstrates how temperature data from Landsat — the joint NASA and U.S. Geological Survey mission — combined with European Sentinel-2 satellite estimates of oyster food availability, namely plankton, can predict how quickly eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) reach market size.

The team built a satellite data–driven model of how oysters divide their energy among growth, survival, and reproduction. Feed the model sea surface temperature and satellite estimates of chlorophyll and particulate organic matter — signals of how much plankton and other edible particles are in the water — and it predicts how fast oysters will grow, a big step beyond just spotting good or bad sites for farms.

“By showing where oysters grow faster, the model can help farmers plan ahead,” Kiffney said. “That could mean better decisions about when to seed, when to harvest, and how much product to expect, all of which reduces financial risk.”

That kind of insight is increasingly valuable in Maine, where oyster farming has grown rapidly over the last decade. From 2011 to 2021, the industry’s value increased 78%, rising from about $2.5 million to more than $10 million. As the sector scales up, understanding the finer details of Maine’s coastal waters has become essential — and that’s where NASA satellites come in.

The stakes are considerable. “It takes two to three years of scoping in order to get your permit to grow, and then it can take two years for those oysters to reach market,” Brady said. “So if you’ve chosen the wrong site, you’re four years in the hole right off the bat.”

Sharper eyes on coast

Maine’s coastline measures about 3,400 miles (5,500 kilometers) if you follow the tide line. It is a coast of drowned valleys and glacier-scoured granite. Water depth, temperature, and circulation can shift dramatically within a few miles. This complexity makes oyster site selection notoriously difficult, and some satellites that see the coast in broad strokes miss the small, patchy places where oysters live.

“What makes Landsat so powerful for aquaculture is its ability to see finer-scale patterns along the coast,” where farmers put oyster cages in the water, Neigh said.

Landsat 8 and 9’s pixels — 98 to 328 feet (30 to 100 meters) across — are able to distinguish more subtle temperature differences between neighboring coves. For a cold-blooded oyster, those distinctions can translate into months of growth. Warm water accelerates feeding and shell development. Cold water slows both.

A challenge for satellites is clouds. Maine’s sky is frequently overcast, and together Landsat 8 and 9 pass over any given point only every eight days. To work around this, the research team analyzed 10 years of Landsat data (2013–2023) and built seasonal “climatologies,” or average temperature patterns for every 98-foot (30-meter) pixel along the coast. Sentinel-2 imagery added estimates of chlorophyll and particulate organic matter, the drifting microscopic food that oysters pull from the water column with rhythmic contractions of their gills.

Field tests at multiple sites showed the technique’s accuracy. “We validated the model against seven years of field data,” Brady said. “It’s a strong indication that these remotely sensed products can inform not just where to grow, but how long it will take to harvest.”

Turning satellite science into tools for growers

The University of Maine team is now developing an online tool to put this model into practice. A grower will be able to click on a coastal location and receive an estimate for time-to-market.

The researchers also assist with workshops through Maine’s Aquaculture in Shared Waters program, teaching farmers how to interpret temperature and water clarity data and apply them to their own sites.

For farmers like Saindon, that translates into something simpler: confidence and efficiency. “Having these kinds of tools lowers the barrier for new people to get into aquaculture,” he said. “It gives you peace of mind that you’re not just guessing.”

The Maine project is helping pave the way for other NASA missions. The PACE satellite (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) launched in 2024 and is now delivering hyperspectral observations of coastal waters. Where earlier sensors could estimate how much plankton was present, PACE can begin to identify the different plankton species themselves. For oysters, mussels, and other filter feeders, that specificity matters. Not all plankton are equal food: Different kinds offer different nutrition, and some plankton are harmful to oysters.

A next step will be turning that richer picture of coastal life into forecasts people working on the water can use, helping farmers trade some of the coast’s mystery for evidence they can apply to their harvest.

By Emily DeMarco

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

Earth

Your home. Our Mission. And the one planet that NASA studies more than any other.

Earth Observatory

NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day: images, stories, and discoveries about the environment, Earth systems, and climate.

Explore Earth Science

Earth Science in Action

NASA’s unique vantage point helps us inform solutions to enhance decision-making, improve livelihoods, and protect our planet.

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…

Clouds Swimming over Lago Argentino

When an astronaut aboard the International Space Station snapped this photograph of Lago Argentino in Patagonia on December 27, 2025, a school of fish-shaped clouds lingered over the glacial lake’s teal waters. Determining the clouds’ type and origin from the photograph alone is challenging, but several NASA scientists and university researchers offered a theory after reviewing the image.

“The lens shape reminds me of lenticular clouds, which usually form near or over mountains,” said Maria Hakuba, a research scientist in the aerosols and clouds group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “The edges of the cloud also look quite smooth rather than ‘fuzzy,’ which suggests they’re ice clouds that are relatively high up.”

Lenticular clouds form as a result of lee waves, which develop when prevailing winds are forced up and over a topographic barrier, often a mountain range, and when the overlying air is stable. Air expands and cools at the crest of the waves, causing vapor to condense and form cloud droplets. Conversely, air on the other side of the waves descends, warming the air and causing the cloud to evaporate. The result is a set of seemingly stationary clouds that hover in place downwind of mountains. Lenticular clouds are often eye-catching, sometimes described as having shapes like almonds, upside-down dinner plates, lentils, flying saucers, or stacks of pancakes.

Hazem Mahmoud, an atmospheric science lead at NASA’s Langley Research Center, agreed that the clouds were likely lenticular and offered additional insight. MODIS (Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer) data suggest cloud-top altitudes near 9,200 meters (30,000 feet) and cloud-top temperatures around 220 Kelvin, along with relatively large particle sizes consistent with the presence of ice crystals, he said. “The high altitude and microphysical properties suggest Cirrocumulus lenticularis,” he said.  

Strong surface-level winds common in Patagonia likely swept across the glacial lakes of Los Glaciares National Park, forcing unusually moist air over the Andes, producing the lens-shaped clouds. Sublimation—the conversion of ice directly into water vapor—of glacial ice likely contributed to their formation by adding extra moisture into the air, he added.

Wind shear and turbulence may have caused the elongated, trailing appearance that made the clouds resemble a school of fish, Mahmoud explained. These forces stretched and organized the clouds horizontally above the lake, while shadows cast onto the landscape accentuated their forms. “Together these clouds tell a remarkable story of interaction between the lake’s moisture source, the Andes’ dynamic topography, and atmospheric circulation,” he said.

Santiago Gassó, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, agreed they were likely lenticular clouds, citing the environmental context and Patagonia’s reputation as a hotspot for lenticular cloud formation.

“Very often the clouds here are stationary and trapped by lee waves on the downwind side of the mountains,” Gassó said. “They often don’t precipitate because most of the moisture gets left on the west side of the mountain.” The stereotypical image of lenticular clouds is that they sit stationary at the top of mountains, but in reality, they tend to drift away “depending on the turbulence and flow,” he added.       

All three scientists agreed that without analyzing more data, it’s hard to say definitively whether the cloud is lenticular or a type of cumulus. The challenge with a single astronaut photograph or satellite image is that we largely see the cloud-top properties, Mahmoud said. “If we also had lidar or cloud radar data, we could measure the vertical structure and thickness and more confidently differentiate a thin lenticular layer from a deep cumulonimbus column,” he said.  

Whether cumulus or lenticular, it’s a coincidence that “fish” is the name atmospheric scientists sometimes use to describe formations of a type of shallow convective cloud found over the ocean. It was one of the patterns, along with “sugar,” “gravel,” and “flowers,” identified by a team of researchers who analyzed decades of MODIS cloud observations.

Readers with a penchant for cloud classification can participate in GLOBE Clouds, a GLOBE citizen science project that makes it possible for students and members of the public to contribute to NASA research projects. As part of the project, participants have the opportunity to use Clouds Wizard, a feature that guides users through cloud identification with a series of interactive questions, animations, and photos.

Astronaut photograph ISS074-E-8940 was acquired on December 27, 2025, with a Nikon Z9 digital camera using a focal length of 116 millimeters. It is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 74 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Adam Voiland.

References & Resources

• Alexander, J.M. & Teitelbaum, H. (2011) Three-dimensional properties of Andes mountain waves observed by satellite: A case study. Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 116(D23).
• American Meteorological Society Lenticularis. Accessed January 14, 2026.
• American Meteorological Society Cumulus. Accessed January 14, 2026.
• Bony, S., et al. (2020) Sugar, Gravel, Fish, and Flowers: Dependence of Mesoscale Patterns of Trade-Wind Clouds on Environmental Conditions. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(7), e2019GL085988.
• DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics (2020, September 7) Discovery of record-breaking mountain waves above the South American Andes. Accessed January 14, 2026.
• The GLOBE Observer What is GLOBE Clouds? Accessed January 14, 2026.
• Mount Washington Observatory A Closer Look at Lenticular Clouds. Accessed January 14, 2026.
• NASA Earth Observatory (2024, September 12) Marvelous Lenticularis. Accessed January 14, 2026.
• Pautet, P.D., et al. (2021) Mesospheric Mountain Wave Activity in the Lee of the Southern Andes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 126(7).  
• Smith, R. (2005) Orographic Atmospheric Phenomena in Patagonia: A preliminary survey. Croatian Meteorological Journal, 40(40), 325-328.
• World Meteorological Organization Lenticularis. Accessed January 14, 2026.

Downloads

December 27, 2025

JPEG (10.18 MB)

You may also be interested in:

Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.

The Galaxy Next Door

3 min read

The Large Magellanic Cloud—one of our closest neighboring galaxies—is a hotbed of star formation that is visible to both astronauts…

Article

Kamchatka Peaks Pierce the Clouds

3 min read

The peninsula in eastern Siberia features rugged terrain with towering, snow-covered peaks and cloud-filled valleys stretching between the Pacific Ocean…

Article

Nighttime Over the Eastern Pacific

2 min read

A long-exposure photo taken from low Earth orbit captured the brilliant illumination coming from airglow, lightning, and stars.

Article

Keep Exploring

Discover More from NASA Earth Science

Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters

Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.

Earth Observatory Image of the Day

NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery.

Explore Earth Science

Earth Science Data

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…

Coverage, Briefing Set for NASA’s Artemis II Moon Rocket Roll to Pad

NASA’s integrated SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission is inching closer to launch – literally.

The agency is targeting no earlier than 7 a.m. EST, Saturday, Jan. 17, to begin the multi-hour trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A pre rollout mission news conference, live feed of rollout, and a media gaggle will stream on NASA’s YouTube channel. Individual streams for each of these events will be available from that page. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.

The time of rollout is subject to change if additional time is needed for technical preparations or weather.

All times are Eastern. Events are as follows:

Friday, Jan. 16:

12 p.m.: Artemis II Rollout, Mission Overview News Conference

• John Honeycutt, Artemis II mission management team chair
• Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, Exploration Ground Systems
• Jeff Radigan, Artemis II lead flight director, Flight Operations Directorate
• Lili Villarreal, landing and recovery director, Exploration Ground Systems
• Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate

Saturday, Jan. 17:

7 a.m.: Rollout, Artemis II Live Views from Kennedy Space Center feed begins

9 a.m.: Artemis II Crew Rollout Media Event

• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the Artemis II crew, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will answer questions about their preparations and the mission for media in-person at the countdown clock.

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2 will carry the 11-million-pound stack at about one mile per hour along the four-mile route from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B, on a journey that will take up to 12 hours.

To participate in the news conference by telephone, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start to: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov. 

These events will be open in-person only to media previously credentialed for launch. The deadline has passed for in-person accreditation for Artemis II events at Kennedy.

Rollout to the pad marks another milestone leading up to the Artemis II mission. In the coming weeks, NASA will complete final preparations of the rocket and, if needed, rollback SLS and Orion to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work. While the Artemis II launch window opens as early as Friday, Feb. 6, the mission management team will assess flight readiness after the wet dress rehearsal across the spacecraft, launch infrastructure, and the crew and operations teams before selecting a launch date.

Follow NASA’s Artemis blog for mission updates.

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Learn more about Artemis at:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis

-end-

Rachel Kraft / Lauren Low
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov / lauren.e.low@nasa.gov

Tiffany Fairley
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
tiffany.l.fairley@nasa.gov

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…
Jennifer M. Dooren

New York–Newark–Jersey City Metropolitan Area

The New York–Newark–Jersey City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which spans 23 counties across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and has a population of about 19.9 million, is pictured at approximately 3:29 a.m. local time Dec. 20, 2025, from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the Atlantic coast.

Crew members aboard the orbital lab have produced hundreds of thousands of images of the land, oceans, and atmosphere of Earth, and even of the Moon through Crew Earth Observations. Their photographs of Earth record how the planet changes over time due to human activity and natural events. This allows scientists to monitor disasters and direct response on the ground and study a number of phenomena, from the movement of glaciers to urban wildlife.

Image credit: NASA

Powered by WPeMatico

Get The Details…
Monika Luabeya