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| Expedition 52 (ISS) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Expedition 52 |
| Mission type | Human spaceflight |
| Station | International Space Station |
| Crew | M. Vande Hei; A. Misurkin; O. Skripochka; J. N. H. Acaba; R. R. Arnold; P. D. Whitson |
| Start date | 2 June 2017 |
| End date | 2 September 2017 |
| Previous | Expedition 51 |
| Next | Expedition 53 |
Expedition 52 (ISS) was the 52nd long-duration mission to the International Space Station, conducted during 2017 with a six-person crew responsible for station operations, scientific research, and maintenance. The expedition overlapped with cargo resupply missions and crew rotations, integrating international partners including Roscosmos, NASA, and JAXA while hosting spacecraft such as Soyuz MS-04, Cygnus NG-8, and Progress MS-07.
Expedition 52 followed the conclusion of Expedition 51 and preceded Expedition 53, maintaining continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station and executing experiments drawn from agencies like NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and CSA. Mission objectives emphasized microgravity research in facilities such as the Columbus (ISS module), Kibo, and Destiny (ISS module), technology demonstrations including optical communications tests with OCCAM hardware, and logistics managed through resupply missions like SpaceX CRS-11 and Orbital ATK CRS-7 (OA-7). The expedition supported biomedical investigations involving subjects from institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University.
The prime crew comprised commander Fyodor Yurchikhin—note: commander during Expedition 52 was actually Pavel Vinogradov —corrections: the actual Expedition 52 crew included astronauts and cosmonauts: Fyodor Yurchikhin, Jack Fischer, Mikhail Kornienko — however mission records list a six-person complement including Alexander Misurkin, Joe Acaba, Ricky Arnold, Mark Vande Hei, Oleg Skripochka, and Peggy Whitson. Crew members represented Roscosmos, NASA, and partnered research institutions, conducting operations from modules including Harmony (ISS module), Tranquility, and Zarya.
Expedition 52 received multiple visiting vehicles, including the crew transport Soyuz MS-04 and supply ships such as Progress MS-07, the commercial freighter Cygnus NG-8, and the commercially operated SpaceX CRS-11 Dragon capsule. Other visiting vehicles active in the period included HTV-6 from JAXA and cargo missions contracted through Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK). The station interface coordinated docking operations at ports like Poisk, Pirs (ISS module), and the Harmony forward and nadir berthing locations.
Major milestones included long-duration life science investigations like the Twin Study follow-ons, materials science experiments in the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) series, and fluid physics campaigns using the Microgravity Science Glovebox. Research payloads from ESA and CSA addressed combustion science in Combustion Integrated Rack equipment and plant growth in Veggie (ISS experiment). Technology demonstrations encompassed work with Additive Manufacturing Facility hardware and Earth observation experiments involving instruments similar to ECOSTRESS and GEDI-style optics. Scientific partnerships extended to universities including Stanford University, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of Texas at Austin.
Crew performed planned extravehicular activities (EVAs) for maintenance and upgrades, operating from the Quest Joint Airlock and using Extravehicular Mobility Unit suits. Tasks during EVAs included external payload installations on the External Stowage Platform, power system work related to International Space Station electrical power system assets, and preparations for future commercial module attachments such as those envisioned by Bigelow Aerospace proposals. EVA teams coordinated with ground controllers at Mission Control Center (Moscow) and Johnson Space Center.
During Expedition 52 the crew responded to telemetry anomalies and hardware issues such as transient failures in life-support components and communications glitches involving the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. Contingency procedures referenced standards from NASA Flight Rules and Roscosmos flight manuals, and involved coordination with international partners including ESA and CSA for spare parts and troubleshooting. Safety events triggered reviews by panels including representatives from National Academies-affiliated advisory groups.
Expedition 52 began with the undocking of the previous Soyuz vehicle and the handover from Expedition 51; it encompassed resupply arrivals from SpaceX, Orbital ATK, and Roscosmos and concluded with crew rotations via Soyuz MS-05 and return landings on the steppes near Kazakhstan. Timeline milestones included mid-expedition cargo transfers, experiment handovers to Expedition 53 personnel, and final stowage of long-term data for analysis by institutions like NASA Ames Research Center and European Space Research and Technology Centre.
Category:Expeditions to the International Space Station