The crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is engaging in a mix of scientific research and technological experimentation this week, following the arrival of new supplies and time-sensitive scientific equipment. From August 25 to 29, 2025, the **Expedition 73** team, which includes seven astronauts and cosmonauts, is preparing for an altitude re-boost of the ISS while also embracing innovative teleoperation technology.
Innovative Gaming Skills Enhance Space Research
Among the crew, **Jonny Kim**, a NASA astronaut, is leveraging his background as a gamer to assist in future missions to the Moon and Mars. Before joining NASA, Kim was a Navy SEAL and medical doctor, but he has now revealed a lesser-known passion for video games. In a social media update on August 27, he stated, “Growing up, I played a lot of video games — and while I still enjoy gaming with my kids, time is scarcer these days.”
Working alongside the **Surface Avatar** team at the **European Space Agency (ESA)**, Kim tested advanced teleoperation systems that allow astronauts to control robotic devices remotely. He described the experience as combining elements of real-time strategy and role-playing games, stating, “A joystick and advanced robotic arm controller let me mimic finger and wrist movements with precision.”
Kim highlighted how the technology provides a real-time perspective on operations, noting, “I could enlarge a mini-map to see each robot’s perspective, like a ‘fog of war’ in strategy games.” This capability allows for simultaneous command of multiple robotic units, enhancing efficiency in scientific tasks.
Scientific Endeavors on the ISS
In addition to gaming innovations, the Expedition 73 crew is conducting several critical scientific experiments aboard the ISS. One of the standout projects is the **MVP Cell-07** experiment, which arrived on the **SpaceX Dragon** spacecraft on August 25. Led by fellow astronaut **Zena Cardman**, this research focuses on the maturation of 3D-printed vascularized liver tissue in a microgravity environment. Cardman set up the experiment using a portable microgravity glovebag to observe how blood vessels behave in weightlessness.
Another key project involves the **Ultrasound 2** experiment, where **Kimiya Yui** from **JAXA** and **Mike Fincke** from NASA collaborated to study the redistribution of bodily fluids in microgravity. Fincke donned a specially designed thigh cuff while Yui recorded data from electrodes placed on Fincke’s chest, aiming to identify countermeasures to the physiological effects of microgravity.
The crew is also busy unpacking over **5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms)** of supplies from the recent **SpaceX CRS-33** mission, which was delivered on August 25. Kim, Fincke, and Yui are involved in transferring frozen science samples from the spacecraft to the ISS’s onboard freezers.
As the crew works to maintain the ISS’s systems, they also prepared for a re-boost of the orbital complex’s altitude. This effort is essential for ensuring the continued functionality of the space station, which has been continuously crewed for nearly **25 years**.
With a diverse range of activities, the astronauts aboard the ISS are not only pushing the boundaries of scientific research but also demonstrating how gaming technology can play a role in future space exploration. As Kim aptly noted, “It was not just a technology demonstration, but a glimpse into how play, imagination, and innovation intersect to shape the future of exploration.”
As Expedition 73 continues its mission, the blend of rigorous scientific inquiry and creative technological application exemplifies the evolving landscape of space exploration.