![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2021\/03\/march13spacewalk.jpg\")
The crew of Expedition 64<\/a> took time to catch up on maintenance tasks for the International Space Station<\/a> during a week bookended by some major activities: a spacewalk including NASA astronauts\u00a0Victor Glover<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Hopkins<\/a> the previous Saturday and a Soyuz relocation maneuver<\/a> coming up on Friday.<\/p>\n NASA astronaut Shannon Walker<\/a> worked with Astrobee<\/a>, a technology demonstration starring small, free-flying cube-shaped robots, for the Astrobatics<\/a> investigation. Like the name implies, the handy robots demonstrate what kind of acrobatics they are capable of performing using robotic manipulators to execute \u201chopping,\u201d or self-toss maneuvers, as a means of propulsion. The increasingly complex moves attempted within the safe confines of the orbiting laboratory show what future robotic explorers may be capable of doing not only for advanced human space exploration missions, but as mechanical assistants to the astronauts.<\/p>\n In the Russian segment, Commander\u00a0Sergey Ryzhikov<\/a>\u00a0tested space station circuitry while Flight Engineer\u00a0Sergey Kud-Sverchkov<\/a> conducted an eye examination \u2014 part of an ongoing effort track changes that occur to the shape of the crew members\u2019 eyes during and after extended stays in microgravity.<\/p>\n Hopkins, along with crewmate Kate Rubins<\/a>, performed additional upkeep for the spacesuits used during the latest excursion outside the station \u2014 this the fifth spacewalk of 2021. The pair stowed spacewalking tools and took care to scrub and disinfect the tubing that moves water throughout the suits.<\/p>\n Another duo hard at work aboard the orbiting outpost \u2014 Glover and Soichi Noguchi<\/a> of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) \u2014 performed maintenance to the Water Recovery System-1 Rack to regain functionality of its water-processing capability, also switching out a smoke detector in the midst of their efforts. The pair later returned the T2 treadmill to its normal configuration.<\/p>\n Learn more about station activities by following the\u00a0space station blog<\/a>,\u00a0@space_station<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0@ISS_Research<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter as well as the\u00a0ISS Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0ISS Instagram<\/a>\u00a0accounts.<\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Catherine Williams <\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The crew of Expedition 64 took time to catch up on maintenance tasks for the International Space Station during a week bookended by some major activities: a spacewalk including NASA astronauts\u00a0Victor Glover\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Hopkins the previous Saturday and a Soyuz relocation maneuver coming up on Friday. NASA astronaut Shannon Walker worked with Astrobee, a technology demonstration \u2026 Continue reading