![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2019\/07\/blog_iss060e002090.jpg\")
<\/a>Three Expedition 60<\/a> crewmates aboard the International Space Station<\/a> spent the day servicing a variety of research hardware. Back on Earth, three different rockets are preparing to replenish the orbiting lab with a new crew and more science and supplies.<\/p>\n NASA astronauts Christina Koch<\/a> and Nick Hague<\/a> have been working on an array of science gear today supporting numerous advanced microgravity experiments.<\/p>\n Koch installed the HERMES<\/a> facility researching the dynamics of asteroid and planetary surfaces with no atmospheres. She then checked out the Photobioreactor<\/a> that explores microalgae as a means to support hybrid life support systems.<\/p>\n Hague was over in the Kibo laboratory module<\/a> this morning configuring backup software for the Japanese robotic arm that maneuvers external experiments. After lunch, Hague replaced gear inside the Combustion Integrated Rack<\/a> to support safe flame and fuel research in space.<\/p>\n The orbiting laboratory is gearing up for a high traffic period<\/a> at the end of July. Two new Russian spaceships and a U.S. cargo craft will be occupying three different ports bringing the station crew up to full speed.<\/p>\n Saturday will see the launch and arrival of three new Flight Engineers aboard the Soyuz MS-13 crew ship. Astronauts Drew Morgan<\/a> and Luca Parmitano<\/a> and cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov<\/a> will lift off Saturday at 12:28 p.m. EDT<\/a> from Kazakhstan and dock to the Zvezda service module<\/a> at 6:50 p.m.<\/p>\n Next, the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship is scheduled to launch from Florida at Sunday at 7:35 p.m. Hague and Koch will be at the helm of the robotics workstation in the cupola to capture Dragon on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the Canadarm2 robotic arm<\/a>.<\/p>\n Finally, Russia\u2019s Progress 73 (73P) space freighter will replace the Progress 72<\/a> when it departs the Pirs docking compartment<\/a> July 29. The 73P is due to blast off July 31 on a short two-orbit trip before automatically docking to Pirs with food, fuel and supplies for the station inhabitants.<\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Mark Garcia <\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Three Expedition 60<\/a> crewmates aboard the International Space Station<\/a> spent the day servicing a variety of research hardware. Back on Earth, three different rockets are preparing to replenish the orbiting lab with a new crew and more science and supplies.<\/p>\n NASA astronauts Christina Koch<\/a> and Nick Hague<\/a> have been working on an array of science gear today supporting numerous advanced microgravity experiments.<\/p>\n Koch installed the HERMES<\/a> facility researching the dynamics of asteroid and planetary surfaces with no atmospheres. She then checked out the Photobioreactor<\/a> that explores microalgae as a means to support hybrid life support \u2026 Continue reading Advanced Science Gear Work Ahead of Vehicle Rush Hour at Station<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Earth\u2019s limb and the atmospheric glow highlight the thin blue atmosphere back lit by the Sun\u2019s rays during a period between night and day. The light of the moon and the starry Milky Way drape the background as the International Space Station orbited 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico. <\/p>\n