:Expedition 52

File:ISS 2017.06.05.jpg

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson handed over command of the International Space Station to Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikin in a traditional Change of Command ceremony, which began at 15:50 UTC on June 1.

After spending 194 days aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 51 crew members Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and Thomas Pesquet undocked from the station at 10:47 UTC, officially marking the start of Expedition 52.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=2 June 2017|title=Expedition 51 Duo Undocks and Heads to Earth|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/02/expedition-51-duo-undocks-and-heads-to-earth/}}{{PD-notice}} Novitskiy and Pesquet landed their Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft in Kazakhstan at 14:10 UTC on June 2.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=2 June 2017|title=Expedition 51 Crew Back on Earth After 196 Days|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/02/expedition-51-crew-back-on-earth-after-196-days/}}{{PD-notice}}

On June 3, a SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off with a Dragon resupply ship as part of SpaceX mission CRS-11 from Cape Canaveral pad 39A{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=3 June 2017|title=Dragon Launches to Station, Cygnus Departs Sunday|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/03/dragon-launches-to-station-cygnus-departs-sunday/}} with supplies and a new Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) prototype.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=19 June 2017|title=Station Kicks off Week with Solar Array Study and Biological Research|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/19/station-kicks-off-week-with-solar-array-study-and-biological-research/}}{{Cite web|last=Banik|first=Jeremy|title=Roll-Out Solar Array|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1876|website=nasa.gov}} Jack Fischer undocked the Cygus OA-7 dubbed "SS John Glenn" from the station on June 4 to make room for the Dragon resupply.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=4 June 2017|title=Cygnus Departs Station Day Before Dragon Arrives|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/04/cygnus-departs-station-day-before-dragon-arrives/}} Fischer and Whitson grappled the Dragon cargo craft on June 5 with the Canadarm2 and docked it on the Earth-facing side of the Harmony module on the Pirs docking compartment.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=5 June 2017|title=Dragon Attached to Station for Cargo Transfers|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/05/dragon-attached-to-station-for-cargo-transfers/}} The Roscosmos Progress MS-06 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on June 14, carrying more than 3 tons of supplies.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=14 June 2017|title=Russian Rocket Launches on Two-Day Cargo Delivery to Station|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/14/russian-rocket-launches-on-two-day-cargo-delivery-to-station/}} The Progress MS-06 docked on June 16 to the aft port of Zvezda.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=16 June 2017|title=Russian Cargo Craft Delivers Over Three Tons of Supplies|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/16/russian-cargo-craft-delivers-over-three-tons-of-supplies/}}

Fischer and Whitson performed observations of mold and bacteria samples for student-led biology experiments and protein crystal sample experiments.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=15 June 2017|title=Crew Researches Mold, Rodents and Stem Cells as Cargo Ship Chases Station|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/15/crew-researches-mold-rodents-and-stem-cells-as-cargo-ship-chases-station/}}{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=8 June 2017|title=Station Trio Works New Science Delivered Aboard Dragon|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/08/station-trio-works-new-science-delivered-aboard-dragon/}} Whitson cared for rodents in the Rodent Habitat Facility to understand healing mechanisms and the efficiency of osteoinductive drugs in low gravity{{Cite web|last=Hammamieh|first=Rasha|title=Tissue Regeneration-Bone Defect|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1764|access-date=11 September 2021|website=nasa.gov}} and performed experiments for a cardiac stem cell study to understand the effects of microgravity on the aging process.{{Cite web|last=Kearns-Jonker|first=Mary|title=Functional Effects of Spaceflight on Cardiovascular Stem Cells|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7464|website=nasa.gov}} Fischer and Whitson set up a seedling growth botany study to investigate the effects of light and microgravity on Arabidopsis thaliana.{{Cite web|last=Medina|first=Franciso-Javier|title=Seedling Growth-3|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1080|website=nasa.gov}} Fisher was also the subject of a Vascular Echo study{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=23 June 2017|title=Crew Explores Cardiac Research and Tiny Satellites Today|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/06/23/crew-explores-cardiac-research-and-tiny-satellites-today/}} that examined changes in blood vessels and the heart while in space and their recovery back on Earth.{{Cite web|last=Hughson|first=Richard Lee|title=Cardiac and Vessel Structure and Function with Long-Duration Space Flight and Recovery|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1664|website=nasa.gov}} Yurchikhin studied pain sensation in space to help researches develop proposals to improve health care in orbit.{{Cite web|title=Algometriya Experiment|url=https://www.energia.ru/en/iss/researches/human/17.html|website=energia.ru|access-date=2021-09-11|archive-date=2019-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015084440/https://www.energia.ru/en/iss/researches/human/17.html|url-status=dead}} Yurchikhin, Whitson and Fischer also took body measurements{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=26 June 2017|title=Crew Preps for Solar Array Jettison and Dragon Departure|work=blogs.nasa.gov}} for the in-flight conditions that could be compared to pre- and post-flight conditions.{{Cite web|last=Rajulu|first=Sudhakar|title=Quantification of In-Flight Physical Changes - Anthropometry and Neutral Body Posture|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1024|website=nasa.gov}} Whitson started a cancer study{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=24 July 2017|title=Launch Preps in Kazakhstan; Cancer Therapies Researched on Station|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/24/launch-preps-in-kazakhstan-cancer-therapies-researched-on-station/}} to evaluate antibody-drug conjugates, which can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy while reducing its side effects.{{Cite web|last=Sinha|first=Sourav|title=Efficacy and Metabolism of Azonafide Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in Microgravity|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2080|website=nasa.gov}}

Fischer and Whitson released the SpaceX Dragon CRS-11 on July 3 at 6:41 UTC.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=3 July 2017|title=Dragon Cargo Craft Flies Away From Station|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/03/dragon-cargo-craft-flies-away-from-station/}}

Whitson tested her ability to work on interactive tasks as part of a Fine Motor Skills study{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=6 July 2017|title=Crew Studies Space Impacts on Humans and Tech|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/06/crew-studies-space-impacts-on-humans-and-tech/}} to measure how motor skills are affected by long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of adaptation and recovery after returning to Earth.{{Cite web|last=Holden|first=Kritina|title=Effects of Long-Duration Microgravity on Fine Motor Skills: 1 year ISS Investigation|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1545|website=nasa.gov}} Fischer finished operations with a Group Combustion Module experiment, where droplets of decane were arranged on a thin-fiber lattice so that the flame and temperature distribution could be measured as the flame spreads.{{Cite web|last=Mikami|first=Masato|title=Elucidation of Flame Spread and Group Combustion Excitation Mechanism of Randomly-distributed Droplet Clouds|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1029|website=nasa.gov}} Whitson and Fischer also collected their own blood, urine and saliva samples for the Fluid Shifts experiment{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=7 July 2017|title=New Crew in Final Training Before Late July Launch|work=blogs.nasa.gov}} that measured how much fluid shifts from the lower body to the upper body in microgravity and the effects on the human eye.{{Cite web|last=Stenger|first=Michael|title=Fluid Shifts Before, During and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1126|website=nasa.gov}} Whitson started the Mag3D experiment{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Catherine|title=Crew Starts Week with Emergency Drill and Magnetic Cell Study|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/10/crew-starts-week-with-emergency-drill-and-magnetic-cell-study/}} that magnetizes cells to make them easier to handle in microgravity.{{Cite web|last=Souza|first=Glauco|title=Magnetic 3D Cell Culture for Biological Research in Microgravity|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1671|website=blogs.nasa.gov}} Whitson also setup gear for a Two Phase Flow experiment{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Catherine|date=12 July 2017|title=Crew Researches Exercise, Protein Crystals and High Temps|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/12/crew-researches-exercise-protein-crystals-and-high-temps/}} that studied interfacial behaviors of perfluorohexane, an electronic coolant, under different conditions.{{Cite web|last=Ohta|first=Haruhiko|title=Interfacial behaviors and Heat transfer characteristics in Boiling Two-Phase Flow|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1034|website=nasa.gov}} Fischer used the exercise bike to research the effectiveness of high intensity, low volume exercise, which showed that maximum intensity exercise appears better for aerobic capacity than normal intensity exercise in microgravity.{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Alan|title=Evaluation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Submaximal Estimates of VO2max Before, During, and After Long Duration International Space Station Missions|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=644|website=nasa.gov}}

Fyodor Yurchikhin maintained the life support system on the Russian side of the station by preplacing pumps and hoses and re-pressurizing the cabin.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=7 July 2017|title=New Crew in Final Training Before Late July Launch|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/07/new-crew-in-final-training-before-late-july-launch/}} Jack Fischer replaced a failed water separator inside the Tranquility module that was part of the Common Cabin Air Assembly that controls the stations humidity and temperature.{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Catherine|date=11 July 2017|title=Magnetic Cell Studies and AC Repairs on Orbit Today|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/11/magnetic-cell-studies-and-ac-repairs-on-orbit-today/}} Fischer also installed new equipment in the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF).{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mike|date=13 July 2017|title=New Science Gear Installed, Cargo Craft Packed for Disposal|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/13/new-science-gear-installed-cargo-craft-packed-for-disposal/}}

File:Exp. 52 circular crew portrait.jpg

On July 28, the Soyuz MS-05 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with Randy Bresnik of NASA, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos and Italian Paolo Nespoli of ESA.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=28 July 2017|title=New Crew Blasts Off to Station|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/category/expedition-52/page/2/}} They docked later that day while both spacecraft were over Germany.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=28 July 2017|title=New Crew Docks to Station|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/07/28/new-crew-docks-to-station/}}

Nespoli and Bresnik recorded their experiences with space headaches,{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=2 August 2017|title=Astronauts Look at Ways to Prevent Space Headaches and Bone Loss|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2283.html}} researches later concluded that changes in cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure caused them, opposed to the theory that it was space motion sickness.{{Cite web|last=Vein|first=A.|title=Space Headaches|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=174|website=nasa.gov}} Fischer and Whitson studied a new drugs effects on mouse bone atrophy, current therapies cannot restore lost bone, but the new drug from the University of California at Los Angeles had the potential to rebuild bone and block further bone loss.{{Cite web|last=Soo|first=Chia|title=Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=2017|website=nasa.gov}}

On August 16, Fischer and Nespoli captured the SpaceX CRS-12 Dragon using the station's robotic arm and installed it on the station's Harmony module.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=16 August 2017|title=Robotic Arm Reaches Out and Grapples Dragon|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/08/16/robotic-arm-reaches-out-and-grapples-dragon/}} The Dragon delivered more than 6,400 pounds of supplies including an ice cream treat for the astronauts.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=16 August 2017|title=Dragon Installed to Station for Month of Cargo Swaps|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/08/16/dragon-installed-to-station-for-month-of-cargo-swaps/}}

Yurchikhin and Ryazankiy exited the Pirs Docking Compartment on August 17.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=17 August 2017|title=Cosmonauts Begin Spacewalk|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/08/17/cosmonauts-begin-spacewalk/}} They manually deployed 5 nanosatellites and collected test containers from various locations outside the Russian segment of the space station.{{Cite news|last=Whiting|first=Melanie|date=17 August 2017|title=Spacewalk Comes to a Close|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/08/17/spacewalk-comes-to-a-close/}}

Peggy Whitson, Jack Fischer and Fyodor Yurchikhin touched down on September 3 at 1:21 UTC southeast of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan,{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=2 September 2017|title=Touchdown! Expedition 52 Back on Earth|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/09/02/touchdown-expedition-52-back-on-earth/}} in their Soyuz MS-04 capsule.{{Cite news|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=1 September 2017|title=Record-Setting NASA Astronaut, Crewmates Prepare for Return to Earth|work=blogs.nasa.gov|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/09/01/record-setting-nasa-astronaut-space-station-crewmates-prepare-for-return-to-earth/}} Whitson completed a 288-day mission, her third long duration mission which brought her career total to 665 days in space, a new record for U.S. and 8th on the all time list of days in space. Fischer and Yurchikin completed 136 days in space, giving Yurchikin a total of 673 days in space, placing him 7th of all time at that time.

Resupply missions that visited the International Space Station during Expedition 52:

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{{Portal |Spaceflight}}

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{{ISS expeditions}}

Category:Expeditions to the International Space Station

Category:2017 in spaceflight