National Aeronautics and Space Administration

International Space Station

EXPEDITION 51 began in April 2017 and ends in June 2017. This expedition includes fluidphysics, astrophysics and microbiology. One spacewalk is tentatively planned

 during Expedition 51.

During Expedition 51, researchers will explore the microorganisms present 

aboard the space station, measure the charges of cosmic rays and study the 

way foods and medications respond to lypholization in microgravity. 

Soyuz MS-04 Launch: April 2017 • Landing: September 2017

THE CREW:

Soyuz MS-03 Launch: November 2016 • Landing: June 2017

THE SCIENCE:

What are 

some of the 

investigations 

the crew is 

operating?

Born: Mount Ayr, Iowa

Interests: weightlifting, biking, basketball and water 

skiing

Spaceflights: STS-111, STS – 113, Exps. 5, 16, 50/51

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/2eoOV8r

Twitter: @AstroPeggy

Peggy Whitson (NASA) – Commander

[MISSION SUMMARY]

Born: Batumi, Adjar ASSR, Georgian SSR

Interests: collecting stamps and space logos, sports, 

history of cosmonautics and reading

Spaceflights: STS-112, Exps. 15, 24/25, 36/37, 51/52

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/2o9PO9F

Fyodor Yurchikhin (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

Born: Rouen, France

Interests: basketball, jogging, swimming, squash, mountain 

biking, kite surfing, skiing, sailing and mountaineering

Spaceflights: Exps. 50/51

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/YSS3Jl

Twitter: @thom_astro

Instagram: @thom_astro

Thomas Pesquet (ESA) – Flight Engineer

Born: Louisville, Colorado.

Interests: spending time with my family, flying, camping, 

traveling and construction

Spaceflights: Exps. 51/52

Bio: https://go.nasa.gov/2o9FY7o

Twitter: @Astro2Fish

Jack Fischer (NASA) – Flight Engineer

Born: Cherven, Minsk Region, Belorussia

Interests: football, tourism, hunting, fishing, table tennis 

and reading

Spaceflights: Exps. 33/34, 50/51 

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/2eoGOsu 

Oleg Novitskiy (Roscomos) – Flight Engineer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

NP-2017-04-013-JSC

International

Space Station

Mission

Summary

Extremophiles

Just as humans have maintained a constant presence aboard the 

space station since 2000, so have microorganisms. Because the facility 

isn’t influenced by any other biological environment, only by entering 

and exiting crewmembers and supplies, the station is a special and 

unusual microbial habitat. Higher radiation, lower nutrient levels and 

a microgravity environment make the station an extreme biotope for 

microbes. Archaea and extremophilic bacteria have not been considered 

as a significant contributor to the microbiome that inhabits the ISS, 

although they constitute a significant part of the microbial communities 

that have been found in spacecraft assembly clean rooms. 

This investigation will test for the Archaea and extremophile bacteria 

by sampling locations within the interior of the space station over a period 

of approximately six months and comparing them against samples from 

spacecraft clean rooms and visiting vehicles. 

■ Eli Lilly Lypholization

Lypholization, or freeze-drying, is used in in formulating pharmaceutical 

drugs, as well as preserving food and medications both on Earth and in 

space. The Eli-Lilly Lypholization investigation studies how this process 

occurs in a microgravity environment, and what improvements may 

be made to the current lypholization processes in the pharmaceutical 

industry, as well as other industries. 

Results from this investigation will improve our understanding of how 

foods, drugs and other compounds may be preserved in space, aiding in 

the planning of future, long duration spaceflight. 

Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass

Cosmic rays reach Earth from far outside the solar system with 

energies well beyond what man-made accelerators can achieve. The 

Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass (CREAM) instrument, attached to the 

Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility, measures the charges 

of cosmic rays ranging from hydrogen to iron nuclei. The data collected 

from the CREAM instrument will be used to address fundamental 

science questions such as:

• Do supernovae supply the bulk of cosmic rays?

• What is the history of cosmic rays in the galaxy?

• Can the energy spectra of cosmic rays result from a single 

 mechanism?

Tested in several long duration balloon flights, the CREAM instrument 

holds the longest known exposure record for a single balloon-borne 

experiment at approximately 161 days of exposure. CREAM’s three 

year mission will help the scientific community to build a stronger 

understanding of the fundamental structure of the universe. 

From as early as the 11th century, coats of arms have been used as emblems 

representing groups as small as families to as large as countries. The Expedition 51 

patch is designed as a modernized international coat of arms, blending the traditional 

shield shape with our modernized symbol of achievement, the International Space 

Station. The background represents our home world and its inhabitants on the left, and 

outer space to the right. The bi-color International Space Station is the bridge between 

the two, symbolizing the benefits on Earth of space research, and at the same time our 

mission to explore deeper into space, on a path to further discovery and knowledge.

THE MISSION PATCH: