In a new photo from inside the International Space Station, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Marcus Wandt captures a dizzying array of experiments being conducted in orbit. The photo, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Jan. 25, shows the interior of the Destiny module, the space station’s main research laboratory, filled with various equipment and cords, and Wandt’s legs and feet floating in the foreground due to weightlessness. The Destiny module houses 24 equipment racks supporting studies related to health, safety, and quality of life. The unique microgravity environment of the space station allows researchers to better understand humans and the world we live in by conducting experiments in the absence of gravity.“An astronaut’s perspective,” Wandt wrote in the X post, “How does this photo make you feel: relaxed, stressed, giddy or wanting to rearrange everything?”
Wandt, alongside mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı, commander Michael López-Alegría, and mission pilot Walter Villadei, launched to the space station on Jan. 18 as part of Axiom Space’s Mission 3 (Ax-3). The four Ax-3 astronauts are carrying out over 30 experiments spanning various fields in science and technology to advance human spaceflight and enhance life on Earth. Despite the apparent clutter, astronauts are trained to maintain cleanliness to ensure the safety and functionality of the ISS.
