Trending

International Space Station crew bioprints blood vessels and preps for 29 October spacewalk

By /
Update: TrendDesh reported on the planned ISS spacewalks earlier this week. This story adds the crew's 22 October preparations and bioprinting work.

Crew members aboard the International Space Station spent 22 October 2026 bioprinting blood vessels, checking a spacesuit and training on robotic arms ahead of a spacewalk next week, NASA said in its station blog.

International Space Station: NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins assists CSA astronaut Josh Kutryk as he practises suiting up in an ISS airlock simulator at Johnson Space Center
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins assists CSA astronaut Josh Kutryk as he practises suiting up in an ISS airlock simulator at Johnson Space Center Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (public domain).

Bioprinting on the International Space Station

A bioprinter, called the BioFabrication Facility, in the station’s Columbus laboratory module printed blood vessels using vascular cells, NASA said. NASA flight engineer Luke Delaney started the work by removing cells from a science freezer, thawing them and mixing them with a biological printing material. He then loaded the mix into the bioprinter and powered it on. NASA flight engineer Anil Menon wrapped up the session by preserving and nourishing the newly printed tissue inside the bioprinter so it can be cultivated. NASA describes the Expedition 75 crew’s day as busy, with research, spacesuit checks, robotics training and Earth photography all on the schedule in low Earth orbit. The printed blood vessel tissue was kept inside the bioprinter so it could be cultivated after the session ended, NASA said in its update.

Key Facts

  • Date: 22 October 2026 (Expedition 75)
  • Bioprinting: blood vessels printed in the BioFabrication Facility, Columbus module
  • Spacewalk: 29 October, Anil Menon and Josh Kutryk (CSA)
  • Task: install a roll-out solar array on the port-side truss
  • Planned length: 6 hours 45 minutes

Spacesuit check before the 29 October spacewalk

Menon joined NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins to help Canadian Space Agency (CSA) flight engineer Joshua Kutryk try on a spacesuit in the Quest airlock, checking fit, comfort and systems. NASA said suit fit checks also account for body changes in microgravity, such as spinal elongation. Menon and Kutryk are scheduled to leave Quest together on 29 October for a spacewalk to install a roll-out solar array on the station’s port-side truss. Delaney trained on a computer to operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which he will command to support the spacewalkers. He and Watkins will also help the pair in and out of their suits and guide them during the planned excursion of six hours and 45 minutes.

Robotics and Earth photography

Roscosmos flight engineer Sergey Teteryatnikov practised operating the European robotic arm attached to the Nauka science module, NASA said. He then installed and activated Earth observation gear to photograph Asian and South American landmarks in visible and near-infrared light while the crew slept. Roscosmos flight engineer Anna Kikina photographed lakes in eastern Africa through a window of the Zvezda service module and helped Teteryatnikov set up the cameras. Station commander Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos began his shift on plumbing work inside Zvezda and finished it photographing his crewmates at work. The photo NASA used with the update shows Watkins helping Kutryk practise suiting up in an airlock simulator at the Johnson Space Center in Houston during earlier training.

Why It Matters: Printing tissue in microgravity is a step toward growing human tissue for research, and the new solar arrays will boost the station's power supply.

Also on TrendDesh: Anil Menon readies for two ISS spacewalks on 29 October and 5 November to add new solar arrays · RS-25 engine fired for 500 seconds at NASA Stennis to test new heat shield for Artemis rockets

Source: NASA Space Station blog, 22 Oct 2026 · NASA: International Space Station · NASA Space Station blog

Share

Today’s News 23 Oct 2026 · 21 stories

  1. Ethiopia conflict: WHO scales up health response in Afar, Amhara and Tigray1Ethiopia conflict: WHO scales up health response in Afar, Amhara and TigrayOct 23, 2026
  2. Rajasthan tourist police reunite lost child at Amer and return a purse at Jantar Mantar2Rajasthan tourist police reunite lost child at Amer and return a purse at Jantar MantarOct 23, 2026
  3. ESA Council names Andrzej Banasiak and Nicolaus Hanowski as new directors3ESA Council names Andrzej Banasiak and Nicolaus Hanowski as new directorsOct 23, 2026
  4. PM e-Bus Sewa in Rajasthan: 250 of 675 electric buses delivered to eight cities4PM e-Bus Sewa in Rajasthan: 250 of 675 electric buses delivered to eight citiesOct 23, 2026
  5. International Space Station crew bioprints blood vessels and preps for 29 October spacewalk5International Space Station crew bioprints blood vessels and preps for 29 October spacewalkOct 23, 2026 · Reading now
  6. India Energy Week 2027 in Kolkata to showcase compressed biogas, GOBARdhan workshop told6India Energy Week 2027 in Kolkata to showcase compressed biogas, GOBARdhan workshop toldOct 23, 2026
  7. Maternal health in Rajasthan: zero maternal deaths at 19 medical colleges and 58 district hospitals in October7Maternal health in Rajasthan: zero maternal deaths at 19 medical colleges and 58 district hospitals in OctoberOct 23, 2026
  8. BIS Care app: BIS seizes 300 batteries with fake registration numbers in Chennai8BIS Care app: BIS seizes 300 batteries with fake registration numbers in ChennaiOct 23, 2026
  9. PFBR Kalpakkam: BHAVINI marks Formation Day after first criticality of 500 MW reactor9PFBR Kalpakkam: BHAVINI marks Formation Day after first criticality of 500 MW reactorOct 23, 2026
  10. First Training Squadron of Indian Navy arrives in Maldives on long range deployment10First Training Squadron of Indian Navy arrives in Maldives on long range deploymentOct 23, 2026
  11. National Livestock Mission: Central team praises Rajasthan mobile vet units and animal insurance11National Livestock Mission: Central team praises Rajasthan mobile vet units and animal insuranceOct 23, 2026
  12. re-KYC campaign: RBI launches nationwide saturation drive until 31 December from Deekshabhoomi12re-KYC campaign: RBI launches nationwide saturation drive until 31 December from DeekshabhoomiOct 23, 2026
  13. Commemorative 200 rupee coin released by President Murmu for Mata Sahib Hasi Devi’s 200th birth anniversary13Commemorative 200 rupee coin released by President Murmu for Mata Sahib Hasi Devi’s 200th birth anniversaryOct 23, 2026
  14. New Guinea fires: NASA image shows smoke as El Nino drought fuels record emissions14New Guinea fires: NASA image shows smoke as El Nino drought fuels record emissionsOct 23, 2026
  15. Nuakhai in Raipur: President Murmu tells youth to dream big and respect women15Nuakhai in Raipur: President Murmu tells youth to dream big and respect womenOct 23, 2026
  16. Psyche spacecraft goes pedal to the metal toward its asteroid after a Mars flyby16Psyche spacecraft goes pedal to the metal toward its asteroid after a Mars flybyOct 23, 2026
  17. James Webb Space Telescope image shows stars brewing in the N159 nebula17James Webb Space Telescope image shows stars brewing in the N159 nebulaOct 23, 2026
  18. X-59: NASA test pilot Mike Lippert flies the quiet supersonic jet for the first time18X-59: NASA test pilot Mike Lippert flies the quiet supersonic jet for the first timeOct 23, 2026
  19. Roman Space Telescope enters final commissioning phase as NASA says observatory is fully functional19Roman Space Telescope enters final commissioning phase as NASA says observatory is fully functionalOct 23, 2026
  20. Hubble gravitational lens image shows a galaxy magnified twice as NASA prepares Roman20Hubble gravitational lens image shows a galaxy magnified twice as NASA prepares RomanOct 23, 2026
  21. Ebola in DR Congo reaches an eighth province as WHO tracks a new case in Nigeria21Ebola in DR Congo reaches an eighth province as WHO tracks a new case in NigeriaOct 23, 2026

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top