Expedition 53

Expedition 53 was the 53rd expedition to the International Space Station, which began upon the departure of Soyuz MS-04 on September 3, 2017 and concluded upon the departure of Soyuz MS-05 on December 14, 2017. Randolph Bresnik, Paolo Nespoli and Sergey Ryazansky were transferred from Expedition 52, with Randolph Bresnik taking the commander role. Transfer of Command from Expedition 53 to Expedition 54 was done on December 13, 2017. Expedition 53 officially ended on December 14, 2017 5:14 UTC, with the undocking of Soyuz MS-05.[2]

ISS Expedition 53

Mission type	ISS Expedition
Expedition
Space Station	International Space Station
Began	12 September 2017[1]
Ended	14 December 2017[2]
Arrived aboard	Soyuz MS-05 Soyuz MS-06
Departed aboard	Soyuz MS-05 Soyuz MS-06
Crew
Crew size	6
Members	Expedition 52/53: Sergey Ryazansky Randolph J. Bresnik Paolo Nespoli Expedition 53/54: Alexander Misurkin Mark T. Vande Hei Joseph Acaba
(l-r) Acaba, Misurkin, Vande Hei, Ryazansky, Bresnik and Nespoli ISS expeditions

Crew

Position	First Part (September 2017)[3]	Second Part (September–December 2017)
Commander	Randolph J. Bresnik, NASA Second Spaceflight
Flight Engineer 1	Sergey Ryazansky, RSA Second and last Spaceflight
Flight Engineer 2	Paolo Nespoli, ESA Third and last Spaceflight
Flight Engineer 3		Alexander Misurkin, RSA Second Spaceflight
Flight Engineer 4		Mark T. Vande Hei, NASA First Spaceflight
Flight Engineer 5		Joseph M. Acaba, NASA Third Spaceflight

In March 2017, after agreements with RSA, NASA announced that Joseph Acaba will be assigned to Expedition 53 and 54 crews which previously included only Mark Vande Hei and Alexander Misurkin. Shannon Walker trained as a backup for Acaba.[4]

Mission overview

Expedition 52/53 launch and docking

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]

Expedition 53/54 launch and docking

Soyuz MS-06 launched on September 13, 2017, transporting Alexander Misurkin, Mark T. Vande Hei and Joe Acaba.[7] MS-06 docked with the (Poisk (MRM-2) module six hours later.

Spacewalks

EVA #	Spacewalkers	Start (UTC)	End (UTC)	Duration
Expedition 53 EVA 1	Randy Bresnik Mark T. Vande Hei	October 5, 2017 12:05	October 5, 2017 19:00	6 hours 55 minutes
	Replaced Latching End Effector (LEE-A) on Canadarm2, removed multi-layer insulation from a spare direct current switching unit, prepared a flex hose rotary coupler[8][9]
EVA 2	Randy Bresnik Mark T. Vande Hei	October 10, 2017 12:56	October 10, 2017 19:22	6 hours 26 minutes
	Finished Repairs to Canadarm 2 added lubricating oil to all the working parts, Replaced the Station's Cameras which are used to film NASA TV, Installed Lens Covers, Closed and Locked a Latch on the High Pressure Gas Tanks, Rotated a Pump Module in preparation for relocating to P6 on a future spacewalk, Changed the Sockets on the degraded Latching End Effector and Reinstalled them on the new unit on Canadarm 2, Removed Handrails on Tranquility in preparation for installation of the EWS Antennas on a future spacewalk.
EVA 3	Randy Bresnik Joseph M. Acaba	October 20, 2017 12:46	October 20, 2017 19:36	6 hours 49 minutes
	Finished Repairs to Canadarm 2 added lubricating oil to all working parts and installed a camera and replaced a degraded one, Replaced the Station's Cameras which are used to film NASA TV, Replaced a Blown Fuse on Dextre, Removed MLI from two ORUs stored on ESP2 in preparation for them to be moved by Dextre later this year. Three get ahead task were performed by the crew MLI was removed from the Pump Modules on ESP2 Bresnik almost got the second one, but time expired and he had to close the flap on the second Pump Module it will be moved on the next spacewalk, Installed the Radiator Grapple Bars delivered on SpaceX CRS2.

Uncrewed spaceflights to the ISS

Resupply missions that visited the International Space Station during Expedition 53:

Spacecraft - ISS flight number	Country	Mission	Launcher	Launch (UTC)	Docked/Berthed (UTC) ^†	Undocked/Unberthed (UTC)	Duration (Docked)	Deorbit
Progress MS-07 - ISS 68P	Russia	Logistics	Soyuz-2.1a	14 Oct 2017, 08:47:11	16 Oct 2017, 00:00	28 Mar 2018, 13:50	163d 13h 50m	26 Apr 2018, 04:08
Cygnus CRS OA-8E - CRS OA-8E	United States	Logistics	Antares 230	12 Nov 2017, 12:20:26	14 Nov 2017, 10:04	6 Dec 2017, 13:11 [10]	22d 3h 7m	18 Dec 2017, 12:54

References

1. Garcia, Mark. "Crew Makes It To Space, Next Stop Station". NASA. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
2. Garcia, Mark. "Expedition 53 Leaves Station, Begins Ride Home". NASA. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
3. "Upcoming ISS Expeditions". spacefacts. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
4. "NASA Announces Upcoming International Space Station Crew Assignments". NASA, press release 17-017. March 28, 2017.
5. "New Crew Blasts Off to Station | Space Station". blogs.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
6. "New Crew Docks to Station | Space Station". blogs.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
7. "Crew Makes It To Space, Next Stop Station | Space Station". blogs.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
8. Garcia, Mark (2017-10-05). "Spacewalkers Wrap Up Robotic Arm Work". NASA.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
9. Harding, Pete (2017-10-05). "Spacewalkers conduct LEE replacement task on station's robotic arm". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
10. Cygnus OA-8 Cargo Craft Departs ISS after Three-Week Stay for CubeSat Deployment & Re-Entry