New science experiments are getting underway and new research hardware is being activated aboard the International Space Station after being delivered by a Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft on Monday. The Expedition 74 crew spent Wednesday unpacking Cygnus XL and stowing the new gear and supplies throughout the orbital outpost.

A new microgravity workout machine from ESA (European Space Agency), known as the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device, or E4D, is being configured for activation and installation inside the Columbus laboratory module. NASA flight engineer Chris Williams began his day unpacking computer hardware that supports the E4D then installing it and powering it on inside Columbus. Next, he joined NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir and replaced components on the E4D to ensure its accurate motion, alignment, and system longevity. The E4D is being evaluated for its ability to support crew workouts on missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway kicked off the new Space Surface Spirulina experiment to demonstrate more efficient protein food production and carbon dioxide processing aboard spacecraft. He worked inside the Kibo laboratory module setting up the research hardware and retrieving microalgae samples for placement inside the Cell Biology Experiment Facility’s incubator unit. Scientists will observe how the spirulina microalgae grow in weightlessness to support the design of advanced, highly efficient life support systems for future space missions.

Afterward, Hathaway installed a new quantum physics module inside the Destiny laboratory module’s EXPRESS rack. The new module expands the Cold Atom Lab’s (CAL) quantum science capabilities for improved insights into general relativity and aid the search for dark matter. The CAL produces and chills clouds of atoms to about one ten billionth of a degree above absolute zero enabling the observation of atomic wave functions, a fundamental part of quantum physics. 

ESA flight engineer Sophie Adenot photographed Hathaway as he set up the new Cold Atom Lab hardware inside Destiny and performed other scientific duties. She also spent most of her day in and out of Cygnus XL unpacking lab hardware, crew supplies, and food replenishing the space station crew.

Station commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos worked throughout Wednesday conducting a photographic inspection inside the Zvezda service module. Flight engineer Sergei Mikaev assisted with the inspections then worked on life support maintenance servicing the Elektron oxygen generator and replacing carbon dioxide filters. Flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev spent his shift transferring water between the station’s U.S. and Roscosmos segments, as well as ensuring the operability of the Nauka science module’s ventilation system.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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