Expedition 53

Soyuz MS-05 launched on July 28, 2017, transporting Randy Bresnik, Sergey Ryazansky and Paolo Nespoli, who would make up the Expedition 52/53 crew.[5] MS-05 docked with the Rassvet module six hours later.[6]

Soyuz MS-06 launched on September 13, transporting Alexander Misurkin, Mark T. Vande Hei and Joe Acaba.[7] MS-06 docked with the (Poisk (MRM-2) module six hours later.

On September 17, the SpaceX CRS-12 Dragon cargo spacecraft was released by Bresnick and Nespoli using the Canadarm2, clearing the Harmony module's docking port.[8] It touched down in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Long Beach, California.[9] It landed with the Lung Tissue Experiment,[9] which grew lung tissue using stem cells in microgravity,[10] the CASIS PCG7 study,[9] which grew larger versions of the protein LRRK2 to help study Parkinson's disease,[11] and mice from the Rodent Research-9 study,[9] that looked at cartilage loss in hip and knee joints.[12]

Nespli and Ryazanskiy were the subjects of a bone marrow experiment[13] that looked at the negative effects of microgravity on bone marrow and blood cells produced in bone marrow.[14] Bresnik was the subject of a study on physiological changes due to microgravity,[13] he is one of 33 astronauts that had signed on to participate in NASA's Biological Specimen Repository.[15] Vande Hei worked on a camera for the Meteor experiment,[16] which took high-resolution video and images of the earth's atmosphere for space-based observations of meteor chemical composition.[17] Acaba installed a Fast Neutron Spectrometer[16] that had a better suited technique for measurements in mixed radiation fields.[18] Ryazanskiy, Nespoli and Bresnik took measurements of themselves for Sarcolab-3,[16] to investigate the deterioration of the calf muscle where it joins the Achilles tendon.[19] Bresnik and Nespoli also tested out a Miniature Exercise Device-2 (MED-2)[20] that used small robotic actuators to provide motion and resistance for crew workouts in a smaller package than previous exercise devices.[21] Acaba setup hardware for the Veggie-3 experiment[22] that grew Extra Dwarf Pak Choi, Amara Mustard and Red Romaine Lettuce to set the ground work to feed future long-duration missions to space.[23] Ryazanskiy and Acaba installed radiation sensors on the U.S. portion of ISS[24] to characterize the radiation environment aboard the station.[25]

On October 5, Bresnik and Vande Hei completed a 6 hour and 55 minute spacewalk.[26] They replaced of the two Latching End Effectors (LEE) on Canadarm2.[26] They also were able to get ahead by removing insulation from a DC switching unit and preparing a flex hose rotary couple.[26] This was Vande Hei's first spacewalk and Bresnik's third of their careers.[26]

For their second spacewalk in less than a week, Bresnik and Vande Hei completed a 6 hour and 26 minute spacewalk on October 10.[27] They lubricated the LEE they installed on October 5, replaced a faulty camera system, replaced a smudged lens cover and removed two handrails outside the Tranquility module.[27] This would be Vande Hei's second space walk and final one of this mission.[27]

After a scrubbed launch attempt on October 12,[28] the Progress MS-07 resupply ship launched from Baiknour Cosmodrome on October 14[29] and docked with the station on October 16 about 252 miles over eastern China.[30] The Progress had three tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station.[31]

EVA 3 on October 20, 2017

On October 20, Bresnik and Acaba exited the station for their 3rd spacewalk of the mission.[32] They installed a new camera system on the end of Canadarm2's LEE, an HD camera on the starboard truss of the ISS and replaced a fuse on the Dextre robotic arm.[32] Bresnik also installed a new radiator grapple bar, prepped one of two spare pumps and started work on the second.[32] This was Bresnik's 5th career spacewalk, bringing his total EVA hours to 32, and Acaba's third spacewalk, bringing his total hours to 19.[32]

In addition to their duties as researchers and maintenance technicians, astronauts Vande Hei and Acaba shared their science and technology studies with students from Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio.[33] The crew also documented life aboard the station for the CSA's study called "At Home in Space",[33] testing a hypothesis that despite their different backgrounds, due to the isolation and confined environment of the ISS, astronauts share a common space culture.[34] Vande Hei also setup gear to analyze the air in the space station for dust[35] to highlight any health impacts and maintain crewmember well being.[36] Nespli participated in a Fine Motor Skills study[35] and how those motor skills are affected by a microgravity environment.[37] To monitor microgravity vision impairment,[38] Misurkin, Ryazanskiy, Nespoli and Vande Hei examined each other's eyes.[39]

After a scrubbed launch attempt on November 11,[40] the Cygnus resupply ship, named after Gene Cernan, launched atop an Orbital ATK Antares rocket on November 12[41] from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.[42] The spacecraft docked with the ISS on November 14th with 7,400 pounds of research and supplies.[43] The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (or BEAM) was outfitted in late November for future stowage operations by removing excess gear including inflations tanks and sensors.[44] The old gear from BEAM and trash was placed into the Cygnus resupply ship for disposal.[44] The spacecraft was detached from the station on December 5th by Vande Hei, Acaba and ground controllers.[45]

Expedition 53 crew (from left) Nespoli, Ryazanskiy and Bresnik aboard Soyuz MS-05

On December 13, with an official change of command ceremony, Expedition 53 Commander Randy Bresnik handed the station over to Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin.[46] They undocked from the station on December 14, ending Expedition 53 and starting Expedition 54.[47] They touched down later that day southeast of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.[48] At the end of the mission, Bresnik had logged 150 days in space over two missions, Ryazanskiy had 306 days over two missions and Nespoli logged 313 days over three missions.[48]