Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui has made significant observations of two typhoons while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). On October 9, 2025, Yui shared insights into Typhoon 22 and Typhoon 23, both of which are classified as tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific region. His updates come amid a U.S. government shutdown that has limited official communications regarding ongoing activities on the ISS.
Typhoons are equivalent to hurricanes, with the terms differing based on their geographical locations. Yui noted, “The eye of Typhoon 22 has become somewhat unclear, but it still appears to be maintaining its strong intensity as before.” He also mentioned Typhoon 23, describing it as being distant but still producing thick rain clouds on its southern edge. His message concluded with a public safety reminder: “Stay safe while keeping up with the latest typhoon information!”
Scientific Activities on the Space Station
In addition to his observations of the typhoons, Yui has been engaged in essential maintenance and scientific tasks aboard the ISS. As part of his duties as a flight engineer for Expedition 73, he collaborated with his crewmates and ground controllers to test PROX, a device intended for use when Japan’s next-generation cargo vehicle, the HTV-X, approaches the station for docking.
Yui expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming mission, stating, “Preparations to welcome HTV-X to the ISS are steadily progressing. Here’s the news: just like with Kounotori-kun, I’ve been assigned to operate the arm and grasp it this time as well. The responsibility is significant, but I’ll cooperate with everyone to reliably carry out the mission!”
Current Crew and Docked Vehicles
As of October 10, 2025, the ISS hosts a total of seven crew members. This includes Sergey Ryzhikov, commander of Expedition 73 from Roscosmos, along with fellow cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov. From NASA, astronauts Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, and Mike Fincke complete the crew, along with Yui.
In terms of spacecraft, two crewed vehicles are currently docked at the station: SpaceX’s Dragon “Endeavour”, which is attached to the zenith port of the Harmony module, and Roscosmos’ Soyuz MS-27, secured to the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node. Additionally, four cargo spacecraft are present, including Roscosmos’ Progress MS-31 and Progress M-32, SpaceX’s CRS-33 Dragon, and Northrop Grumman’s NG-23 Cygnus XL.
The ISS has maintained a continuous human presence for an impressive span of 24 years, 11 months, and 8 days, marking a significant achievement in human spaceflight. As the crew continues their work, they remain vigilant in observing and responding to the dynamic weather conditions below.
