Astronauts and Explorers

Offworld Biology: Astronaut Zena Cardman Prepares Liver Tissue Research

By Keith Cowing
Status Report
NASA
September 1, 2025
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Offworld Biology: Astronaut Zena Cardman Prepares Liver Tissue Research
NASA ID: iss073e0545092 iss073e0545092 (Aug. 26, 2025) — larger image

NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Zena Cardman works inside a portable glovebag aboard the International Space Station’s Harmony module.

Cardman was installing experiment modules containing liver tissue into an artificial gravity generator for a biotechnology investigation exploring how bioprinted, or engineered, liver tissues containing blood vessels behave in microgravity.

Results may improve long term health for astronauts and improve quality of life for patients on Earth.

Astrobiology, space biology,

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻