Expedition 74 begins week with Dragon preparations and science gear maintenance.

Expedition 74 crew prepared for an upcoming SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon visit and completed maintenance on science hardware aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station started the week with Dragon spacecraft preparations and upkeep of onboard science equipment. The crew is preparing for incoming missions this month while carrying out microgravity research. Flight Engineer Chris Williams worked on monitoring tools for a Dragon approach and packed research samples and used hardware into a cargo Dragon. Roscosmos crew members performed fitness evaluations, equipment disposal, ventilation cleaning, and laboratory experiment setups. Key activities this week: - The crew prepared for NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission, targeted to launch from Cape Canaveral no earlier than Feb. 11, which the article says will bring Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev to the station. - Flight Engineer Chris Williams reviewed the computers and procedures for Dragon approach and rendezvous and packed completed experiments, associated research samples, used hardware and trash into a Dragon cargo spacecraft for return. - Williams serviced science hardware by replacing power, control, and stowage components in the TangoLab facility and swapping a hard drive inside the Advanced Space Experiment Processor-4 that supports microbiology and physics studies. - Roscosmos Flight Engineer Sergei Mikaev completed an exercise evaluation while monitored with electrodes and a blood pressure cuff, packed obsolete hardware and trash for disposal inside Progress 92, and cleaned the Zvezda service module ventilation system. - Station Commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov set up the Plasma Kristall-4 experiment in the Columbus lab, switched the experiment gas from neon to argon, and conducted a photographic inspection of windows inside Zvezda. Summary: The crew's operations keep station systems and experiments prepared for the expected Crew-12 Dragon arrival targeted no earlier than Feb. 11. Ongoing servicing of science hardware and packing of research samples will support continued microgravity research and ground analysis.