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| Image credit: Roscosmos/Anna Kikina |
International Space Station Activities
The crew of the International Space Station carried out routine research and maintenance and prepared for October's crew swap. Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway performed research into how their bodies have changed shape over the course of their mission. Hathaway also performed colloidal crystal research. Andrey Fedyaev tested the lower body negative pressure suit and set up Earth-imaging equipment. Sophie Adenot performed exercise research. Anil Menon practised procedures for monitoring an incoming Crew Dragon spacecraft ahead of the arrival of Crew-13. The American astronauts all worked on transferring cargo in and out of the Cygnus XL cargo craft, as well as beginning to pack Crew Dragon Freedom with cargo ahead of the departure of Crew-12. Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina conducted respiratory research. The three cosmonauts also worked on unloading cargo from the Progress MS-35 cargo vehicle, which arrived on Saturday. [Source: NASA]
Crew-13 Launch Date
According to the current OEM for the International Space Station, SpaceX Crew-13 is aiming to launch on Thursday 1st October 2026, before docking with the ISS a few hours later. The mission was originally scheduled to launch on 12th September but was delayed after an oxidizer leak was discovered in the propulsion system of Crew Dragon Grace. The new launch date has not been officially confirmed by NASA or SpaceX. [Source: Jay Keegan]
UPDATE: NASA have confirmed this launch date. [Source: NASA]
Albania Signs Artemis Accords
Albania have become the 73rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, a United States led set of agreements regarding mineral rights and other arrangements for international cooperation in space exploration. Albania do not have much of a space programme. Since 2023 they have operated two Argentinian-built Earth imaging satellites. [Source: NASA]
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