National Aeronautics and Space Administration

International Space Station

EXPEDITION 37begins Sept. 11 and ends Nov. 10. This expedition will include many research

projects focusing on human health and human physiology, as well as student 

experiments in areas such as antibacterial resistance, hydroponics and cellular division. There is one Russian spacewalk planned for 

Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazanskiy.

Expedition 37 includes a variety of research, but several new investigations 

will focus on human health and human physiology. The crew also will

perform experiments that cover technology demonstration, Earth and space 

science, and biology and biotechnology. The crew also will engage in 

educational activities. Eleven new experiments were designed by the Student 

Spaceflight Experiments Program.

Born: Simferopol, Ukraine

Interests: Scuba diver

Spaceflights: Exp. 15, Exp. 22/23 

Cosmonaut Bio

Oleg Kotov (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(AH’-leg KO’-tuff)

Born: Batumi, Georgia

Interests: Collecting stamps and space logos, sports,

history of cosmonautics, reading

Spaceflights: STS-112, Exp. 15, Exp. 24/25, Exp. 36/37

Cosmonaut Bio

Fyodor Yurchikhin (Roscosmos) - Commander

(fee-YOH-dur yur-CHEE-kihn)

Born: Paternò, Italy

Interests: Scuba diving, snowboarding, skydiving, weight 

training, swimming, reading, and music

Spaceflights: Exp. 36/37 is his first mission

Twitter: @astro_luca

Astronaut Bio

Luca Parmitano (ESA) - Flight Engineer

(LU-ka par-muh-TAN-oh)

Born: Vining, Minn.

Interests: Running marathons and sewing

Spaceflights: STS-124, Exp. 36/37

Twitter: @AstroKarenN

Astronaut Bio

Karen L. Nyberg (NASA) – Flight Engineer

Born: Moscow, Russia

Interests: Numismatics, playing guitar, tourism, sports

Spaceflights: Exp. 37/38 will be his first mission

Cosmonaut Bio

Sergey Ryazanskiy (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(Sir-gey Rih-ZAN-skee)

Born: Lebanon, Mo.

Interests: Backpacking, camping, snow skiing, weight 

lifting, running, hockey, football

Spaceflights: Exp. 37/38 will be his first mission

Twitter: @AstroIllini

Facebook: facebook.com/trainastronaut

Astronaut Bio

Mike Hopkins (NASA) – Flight Engineer

Soyuz 36 TMA-10M • Launch: Sept. 25, 2013 • Landing: March 12, 2014

THE CREW:

Soyuz 35 TMA-09M • Launch: May 28, 2013 • Landing: Nov. 10, 2013

THE SCIENCE:

What's

the crew

working

on?

[MISSION SUMMARY]
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

NP-2013-09-027-JSC

International

Space Station

Mission

Summary

n Salivary Markers 

The Salivary Markers 

investigation involves 

the collection of blood, 

saliva, urine and a health 

assessment on six subjects 

preflight, in-flight and 

postflight to determine 

if immune system 

impairment caused by 

spaceflight increases the 

possibility for infection or 

poses a significant health 

risk to crewmembers 

aboard the International 

Space Station. The investigation is designed to determine the effects of 

long-term exposure to microgravity on a host of salivary antimicrobial 

proteins, hidden viruses that may reactivate, antibacterial properties of 

saliva, and blood markers associated with the cells and mechanisms 

that defend the immune system.

n Biochemical Profile

Blood and urine are commonly used to assess an astronaut's health 

as well as conduct research in physiological disciplines by measuring 

key physical characteristics in these fluids that may reflect illness 

or disease. In support of research studies, this project will collect, 

process and store blood and urine samples obtained during the 

preflight, in-flight and postflight phases of International Space Station 

missions and maintain a database of results from the analysis of 

these samples. This database will offer supporting evidence to 

scientists by providing metabolic profiles of the effects of spaceflight 

on human physiology.

n Body Measures 

Currently, NASA does not have 

sufficient in-flight human body 

measurement data gathered to 

assess the impact of physical 

body shape and size changes 

on spacesuit sizing. This study 

will involve collecting body 

measurement data using digital 

still and video imagery and 

a tape measure to measure segmental length, height, depth, and 

circumference data for all body segments - chest, waist, hip, 

arms, legs, etc. - from astronauts for preflight, in-flight and 

postflight conditions.

n NanoRacks Experiments

Eleven experiments are from the Student Spaceflight Experiments 

Program, part of the National Center for Earth and Space Science 

Education. Student teams from across the United States designed 

their own experiments using flight approved fluids and materials. 

Research areas include antibacterial resistance, hydroponics, cellular 

division, combining substances with oxygen in microgravity, seed 

growth, photosynthesis and the food making process in microgravity.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, created some 525 years ago as a blend of art and 

science and a symbol of the medical profession, is depicted amongst the orbits of a 

variety of satellites circling the Earth at great speed. Da Vinci’s drawing, based on the 

proportions of man as described by the Roman architect Vitruvius, is often used as a 

symbol of symmetry of the human body and the universe as a whole. Almost perfect in 

symmetry as well, the International Space Station, with its solar wings spread out and 

illuminated by the first rays of dawn, is pictured as a mighty beacon arcing upwards 

across our night skies, the ultimate symbol of science and technology of our age. Six 

stars represent the six members of Expedition 37 crew, which includes two cosmonauts 

with a medical background, as well as a native of Da Vinci’s Italy.

THE MISSION PATCH:

Dr. Jeff Ryder, NASA, performs 

an altered strength to body 

weight ratio study in the Exercise 

Physiology and Counter Measures 

Project, similar to the Body 

Measures investigation to be 

conducted aboard the International 

Space Station. (NASA)

This is an example of a kit used to collect 

saliva samples. The rolled gauze is displayed 

in the upper left-hand corner of the picture, 

which is placed into the mouth to absorb 

saliva. (NASA)