The crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is currently engaged in vital scientific research and operational tasks, including a significant supply delivery. From August 25 to 29, 2025, the seven astronauts and cosmonauts of Expedition 73 received over 5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms) of supplies via a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. This delivery included essential materials for a variety of scientific experiments and preparations for upcoming orbital maneuvers.
Among the crew is Jonny Kim, a former Navy SEAL turned astronaut, who is utilizing his background in gaming to advance teleoperation technologies for future space missions. In a recent social media post, Kim shared his enthusiasm for a demo that combined gaming elements with real-world applications. “Growing up, I played a lot of video games—and while I still enjoy gaming with my kids, time is scarcer these days,” he wrote. The demo allowed him to control a robotic arm with precision, simulating finger and wrist movements while receiving real-time data on a heads-up display.
Innovative Robotics in Space
Working closely with the Surface Avatar team at the European Space Agency (ESA), Kim tested how teleoperations could be beneficial for missions to the Moon and Mars. The setup included a joystick and an advanced controller, which offered him the ability to manage multiple robotic units simultaneously. “I could enlarge a mini-map to see each robot’s perspective, like a ‘fog of war’ in strategy games, and send parallel commands to different units,” he explained. This approach not only enhances scientific capabilities but also showcases how creativity and innovation can intersect in the field of space exploration.
Kim’s favorite part of the demonstration involved maneuvering a rover equipped with a deployable unit capable of accessing tight spaces, such as caves. “It was not just a technology demonstration, but a glimpse into how play, imagination, and innovation intersect to shape the future of exploration,” he noted.
Scientific Endeavors and Maintenance Tasks
The scientific activities conducted during this week were diverse and impactful. One notable experiment was the Maturation of Vascularized Liver Tissue Construct in Zero Gravity, which arrived aboard the SpaceX Dragon. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman initiated the experiment, focusing on how 3D-printed liver tissue reacts to microgravity. This research could have significant implications for regenerative medicine.
Additionally, astronaut Mike Fincke and Kimiya Yui from JAXA collaborated on the Ultrasound 2 experiment, exploring countermeasures for fluid redistribution in microgravity. Fincke wore a specially designed thigh cuff while Yui collected data from electrodes on Fincke’s chest, furthering understanding of physiological changes in space.
In addition to scientific work, the Expedition 73 crew engaged in routine maintenance of the ISS systems. Kim assisted in unloading supplies from the SpaceX Dragon, ensuring the laboratory remained stocked for ongoing research. NASA engineers at Mission Control in Houston also took remote control of the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to inspect a reboost kit, essential for maintaining the ISS’s altitude.
As of August 29, 2025, the ISS houses a total of seven crew members, including Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov from Roscosmos and fellow flight engineers from NASA and JAXA. The station remains continuously crewed for 24 years and 9 months, demonstrating the enduring commitment to human presence in low Earth orbit.
With each scientific endeavor and technological advancement, the ISS continues to pave the way for future exploration beyond our planet.
