National Aeronautics and Space Administration

International Space Station

EXPEDITION 68 began in September 2022 and ends in March 2023. This expedition will include research investigations focused on biology, 

Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development, providing the foundation for continuing human spaceflight beyond lowEarth orbit to the Moon and Mars. 

THE CREW:

During Expedition 68, crew members will conduct experiments studying cardiovascular 

health in microgravity and how spaceflight affects properties of heart cells derived 

from stem cells, continuing efforts to establish a functional 3D heart tissue model that 

researchers can use to test new drugs. The BioFabrication Facility will return to the orbiting 

laboratory after receiving upgrades back on Earth, ready to embark on the next stages of 

3D printing knee cartilage and cardiac tissue samples. Exploration studies will include 

astronauts growing crops of red dwarf tomatoes as part of NASA’s research into plant 

growth in microgravity, which will be a critical piece of missions to the Moon and Mars. 

They will also study liquid behavior in environments that simulate the gravity of the Moon 

and Mars, which could contribute to better design of exploration systems such as lunar 

rovers, life support systems, and rocket fuel tanks. 

THE SCIENCE:

What are some investigations 

the crew is operating?

Born: Novosibirsk, Russia

Spaceflights: First flight

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3eagnd4

Anna Kikina (Roscosmos) 

Flight Engineer

[MISSION SUMMARY]

Born: Sverdlovsk, Russia

Spaceflights: Expedition 56/57

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3wJzMrV

Sergey Prokopyev (Roscosmos) 

Commander

Born: Kostanay, Kazakhstan

Spaceflights: First flight

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3Q5wfLp

Dmitri Petelin (Roscosmos) 

Flight Engineer

Born: San Diego, California

Spaceflights: First flight

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3wjFXDI

Twitter: @Astro_Josh

Instagram: @Astro_Cassada

Josh Cassada (NASA) 

Flight Engineer

Born: Petaluma, California

Spaceflights: First flight

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3czZXdz

Twitter: @AstroDuke

Nicole Mann (NASA) 

Flight Engineer

Born: Los Angeles, California

Spaceflights: First flight 

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3TyAhyw

Frank Rubio (NASA) 

Flight Engineer

Born: Saitama, Japan

Spaceflights: STS-72, STS-92, STS-119/127 

(Expedition 18/19/20) and Expedition 38/39

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/3wJbn5s

Twitter: @Astro_Wakata

Koichi Wakata (JAXA) 

Flight Engineer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

NP-2022-10-018-JSC

International

Space Station

Mission

Summary

■ BioFabrication Facility

The biological 3D printer, BioFabrication Facility (BFF), is returning to 

the International Space Station after coming back to Earth for upgrades. 

BFF was designed to print organ-like tissues in microgravity, acting 

as a steppingstone in a long-term plan to manufacture human organs 

in space for use by patients on Earth. Sponsored by the ISS National 

Laboratory, the first experiment to be conducted in the upgraded 

facility is BFF-Meniscus-2. The study attempts to print a meniscus, 

also known as knee cartilage tissue, using only bioinks and cells. The 

next experiment, BFF-Cardiac, tries to print and process cardiac tissue 

samples for study and eventual use on Earth. These are important steps 

in BFF’s long-term mission.

Plant Habitat-03

Plants that are exposed to the stresses of spaceflight undergo epigenetic 

changes: the addition of extra information to DNA rather than editing 

existing information. NASA’s Plant Habitat-03 investigation seeks to 

examine if these additions space-grown plants experience can be 

transmitted through seeds to the next generation. Seeds produced in 

orbit by space-grown plants are returned to Earth, processed, and flown 

back to space. These space-grown seeds are grown alongside seeds 

from Earth-grown plants to help determine whether second-generation 

adaptations continue to build up or stabilize. This could help researchers 

determine whether growing a generation of plants in space provides an 

advantage to the next generation.

Catastrophic Post-Wildfire Mudflows

Severe wildfires affect not only forest canopies, but also the ground 

below. This damage to plants and soil can cause increased rain runoff, 

leading to landslides. These devastating mudflows are comprised of a 

mixture of air, water, and sand, but the structure and properties of the 

slurry are not well understood. Catastrophic Post-Wildfire Mudflows 

studies the formation and stability of this bubble-sand structure in 

microgravity. Without the sedimentation that occurs on Earth due 

to gravity, researchers can examine what other forces govern the 

structure and properties of the mudflow. A better understanding of these 

phenomena could improve the understanding, modeling, and predicting of 

mudflows and support development of solutions to prevent mudflows. 

Falcon Goggles

Space travelers all face the transition from one gravity field to another. 

On future exploration missions, astronauts may encounter three different 

gravity fields: weightlessness while traveling in space, the gravity of 

another planet, and Earth’s gravity when they return. These transitions 

can affect spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, 

balance, and locomotion. The Falcon Goggles test hardware that 

captures high-speed video of a subject’s eyes, providing precise data on 

ocular alignment and balance. Devices like this support preparation of 

astronauts for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, and can 

improve similar technologies on Earth.

Neural Integration System

This Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) sponsored study uses 

tiny worms to examine how microgravity affects the nervous system. 

Research has shown that spaceflight can affect the nervous system, and 

neural networks may transmit the effects of microgravity throughout 

the body. This investigation examines the molecular sources that are 

responsible for a variety of diseases caused by the body no longer 

carrying the loads of gravity. Results could support development of 

countermeasures to protect crew members on future space missions and 

contribute to improving health for Earth’s aging population, especially 

those with neuromuscular dysfunctions such as Parkinson’s disease.

International Space Station Expedition 68 marks the 24th year of operation since the start of its 

assembly on orbit. Today, the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada, and the European Space Agency are 

partnering in the operation of the largest ever orbital outpost managed by humankind. 

Seven sparkling stars in the vastness of space represent crewmembers and experts on the ground 

operating the space station. Bright sunbeams illuminate the station, a platform for scientific research, 

Earth and astronomical observation, education, as well as development of new technologies 

necessary for the exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, on the Moon and Mars.

Credits: NASA

THE MISSION PATCH:

Expedition 68 Crew Patch

Crew choice 2-4-22

Approved 5/24/22 

CMYK

Black

White

P Medium

Yellow C

P Reflex

Blue C

P 801 C

P 7682