The core issue is that life in orbit isn’t just science—it’s an ongoing, high-stakes human story. And this is where the details matter most. But here’s where it gets controversial: does a five-day snapshot on the International Space Station reveal the full spectrum of life in microgravity, or are we missing the quieter, behind-the-scenes realities that truly define long-term space endurance?
3 astronauts settle into their new life in orbit | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 1-5, 2025
The Expedition 73 crew, newly arrived and soon to depart, prepared for what lies ahead during their final week together aboard the International Space Station, December 1–5, 2025.
Orbital observation
Last night, one crewmember described a cold, snowy view of the Japanese archipelago from space. The post noted how even from orbit the scene looked frigid, and while the imagery was striking, it also sparked concern for friends and loved ones back home.
In the foreground, the scene featured Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo ship, the S.S. William C. "Willie" McCool, and the newly docked Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft.
Science status
Expedition 73 conducted several research activities this week. In the CIPHER study, Zena Cardman and Jonny Kim collected blood samples, assessed cognitive performance, and tracked exercise, all to monitor health before, during, and after spaceflight. Cardman then prepared samples for long-term analysis using a centrifuge and a science freezer.
Astrobee, the free-flying robotic assistants, continued to be evaluated with help from Earth-based scientists and crewmembers like Kim to extend the range of experiments astronauts can perform while dwelling in microgravity.
Station keeping
The crew also focused on station maintenance. New crew member orientation took place as Chris Williams received a briefing from Mike Fincke and Kimiya Yui to familiarize him with hardware, operations, and systems onboard.
A ‘closet’ inventory was conducted by Roscosmos flight engineer Oleg Platonov to document clothing and towel stock in the Russian segment.
To improve the design of spacecraft fuel tanks, Fincke inspected and photographed cryogenic fluids inside a microgravity glovebox, capturing data on how these fluids behave in space.
Astronaut activity
Jonny Kim and Chris Williams cleaned and inspected the European Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) after its installation in the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory. NASA notes the E4D’s testing aims to determine its effectiveness for providing cycling, rowing, and resistance exercise to protect muscles, bones, and heart health in weightlessness.
By the numbers
As of Friday, December 5, there are 10 people aboard the ISS: Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov and Roscosmos crewmates Oleg Platonov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikaev, and Alexey Zubritsky; NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Jonny Kim, and Chris Williams; and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui.
There are three docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavour at the Harmony module’s space-facing port, Roscosmos’ Soyuz MS-27 at the Prichal node’s Earth-facing port, and Soyuz MS-28 at the Rassvet module’s Earth-facing port.
There are four cargo spacecraft: Roscosmos’ Progress MS-31 (92P) at the Poisk module’s space-facing port, Progress MS-32 (93P) at the Zvezda service module’s aft port, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL S.S. Willie C. McCool berthed to Unity, and Japan’s HTV-X1 attached to the Harmony node’s Earth-facing port.
As of Friday, the space station has been continuously crewed for 25 years, 1 month, and 3 days.
Reference
Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist, and founder/editor of collectSPACE.com, a daily news site and community focused on space history and its pop-culture intersections. He also contributes to Space.com and co-authored Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space (Smithsonian Books, 2018).
Pearlman’s work has earned multiple honors: induction into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame (2009), the American Astronautical Society’s Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History (2021), and the Kolcum News and Communications Award from the National Space Club Florida Committee (2023).
Would this week’s observations alter your view of long-duration spaceflight—whether due to the human factors, the technical routines, or the ongoing logistics of operating a home in orbit? Share your thoughts in the comments.
