Today, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Walter Villadei, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, and Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt completed their sixth full day (flight day nine) on the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew is now halfway through their mission and spent time today speaking with their local and regional media outlets.
Villadei prepared Barilla Ready Made Pasta and then completed a questionnaire on the preparation, aroma, taste, texture, and the overall eating experience. This activity is part of an effort to develop a broader range of tasty foods in space for future space explorers.
Wandt completed another Orbital Architecture cognitive assessment with the fNIRS headcap.
Wandt also took photos of thunderstorm clouds in the cupola with the Thor-Davis camera, which can take images of lightning at up to 100,000 frames per second, giving accurate pictures of what happens during a lightning strike. This ESA-sponsored project is investigating lightning activity at the top of thunderstorm clouds that extend into the stratosphere to better understand the role of thunderstorms on atmosphere dynamics and chemistry.
MLA supported Villadei in recording a video tour of the ISS for educational outreach.
Gezeravcı participated in a fireside chat with the Türkiye Minister of Industry and Technology along with members of the delegation. Watch the event here.
Gezeravcı also recorded a vlog to document his experiences and what he has learned and observed on the space station, which will be later used for outreach engagements.
Tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. CT, MLA will talk to his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy. During the event, MLA will participate in a Q&A with midshipmen. Watch the event live, here.
Gezeravcı will participate in a Q&A with students from schools affected by the recent earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye.
Villadei did an interview with Italian media outlet RAI1 to discuss the importance of scientific research, space exploration, education, and what it means to represent Italy on the Ax-3 mission.
Wandt participated in an interview with one of Sweden's largest TV channels, SVT. During the event, Wandt discussed the experiments he is conducting on the ISS and his experience as an Ax-3 astronaut.
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