Japanese Astronaut Observes Typhoons from Space Station

On October 9, 2025, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui shared captivating observations of two typhoons from the International Space Station (ISS). This week, as scientific and maintenance activities continued aboard the ISS, updates regarding these efforts were limited due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Yui’s social media posts provided a glimpse into his unique perspective of the powerful storms below.

Yui, an Expedition 73 flight engineer with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), reported on the status of Typhoon 22, noting that its eye had become less distinct but it continued to maintain its intensity. He also highlighted Typhoon 23, which was farther away but still visible, swirling with thick rain clouds. In his post, he advised followers to “stay safe while keeping up with the latest typhoon information.”

Scientific Endeavors at the ISS

Alongside these observations, Yui and his fellow crew members engaged in various scientific tasks and preparations for the upcoming arrival of Japan’s next-generation cargo vehicle, HTV-X. Yui communicated with ground controllers to conduct a checkout of PROX, a device that will play a critical role when the HTV-X approaches for berthing.

In a social media update on October 8, Yui expressed his readiness for the task, stating, “Preparations to welcome HTV-X to the ISS are steadily progressing. Just like with Kounotori-kun, I’ve been assigned to operate the arm and grasp it this time as well. The responsibility is significant, but I’ll cooperate with everyone to reliably carry out the mission!” His enthusiasm highlights the collaborative spirit aboard the ISS, where astronauts from different nations work together toward common goals.

As of October 10, there are seven crew members aboard the ISS, including Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov from Roscosmos, along with fellow cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov. American astronauts Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, and Mike Fincke from NASA are also part of the team.

Current Status and Operations

The ISS currently has two docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX’s Dragon “Endeavour”, which is attached to the zenith port of the Harmony module, and Roscosmos’ Soyuz MS-27, located at the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node. In addition, four cargo spacecraft are docked: Roscosmos’ Progress MS-31 and Progress M-32, as well as SpaceX’s CRS-33 Dragon and Northrop Grumman’s NG-23 Cygnus XL, named “SS William C. ‘Willie’ McCool,” which is berthed to the Unity node.

As of this date, the ISS has been continuously crewed for an impressive 24 years, 11 months, and 8 days, showcasing the enduring human presence in low Earth orbit and the ongoing commitment to scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration.