Astronaut Kim Recaps Space Mission

On December 19, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim will share insights from his recent eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station during a press conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST. The conference will be broadcast live on NASA’s YouTube channel, with options for media participation both in-person and via phone.

Kim, who returned to Earth on December 9, spent 245 days in space as a flight engineer for Expedition 72/73. Alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, Kim traveled nearly 104 million miles, completing 3,920 orbits of Earth. Their mission saw the arrival of nine visiting spacecraft and the departure of six, contributing significantly to the station’s ongoing research and operations.

During his tenure in orbit, Kim engaged in a variety of scientific studies and technological demonstrations. He explored the behavior of bioprinted tissues in microgravity, a study that could enhance tissue production for medical treatments on Earth. Kim also tested the remote operation of multiple robots in space, a part of the Surface Avatar study aimed at developing robotic assistants for future exploratory missions. Additionally, his work on in-space manufacturing of DNA-mimicking nanomaterials holds potential for advancing drug delivery technologies and supporting new therapeutic and regenerative medicines.

For further details on the International Space Station’s research and operations, visit NASA’s official website. Media wishing to attend the conference in person or participate by phone are required to contact the NASA Johnson newsroom for accreditation.