Space Station Photos: Expedition 53 Mission Crew in Orbit

The Big Picture

In Houston, Pope Francis is visible on the Mission Control screens as he speaks with astronauts aboard the ISS. [Full Story: Hello to the Heavens: Pope Francis Phones the Space Station]

Hanging On

Astronaut Mark Vande Hei is pictured tethered to the outside of the U.S. Destiny laboratory module during a spacewalk on Oct. 10, 2017. [Full Story: Astronauts Breeze Through Spacewalk at the International Space Station]

Handy-Astronauts

Astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Randy Bresnik work outside the ISS during a spacewalk on Oct. 5, 2017. [Full Story: Astronauts Give a 'Hand' to Robotic Arm on Spacewalk Outside Station]

Paolo Nespoli & Randy Bresnik

Astronauts and Expedition 52-53 crew members Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency and Randy Bresnik of NASA shake hands in space.

Randy Bresnik

NASA astronaut and ISS flight engineer Randy Bresnik takes photos of Earth from the Cupola window.

Hurricane Irma by Randy Bresnik - Sept. 9, 2017

Hurricane Irma approaches Florida on Sept. 9, 2017 in this view from the International Space Station by NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik.

Pomp and Circumstance

Expedition 52/53 backup crew (left to right), JAXA's Norishige Kanai, Roscosmos' Alexander Misurkin and NASA's Mark Vande Hei take part in a traditional ceremony on July 18, 2017.

Keeping Traditions

As part of traditional pre-launch ceremonies, Expedition 52/53 backup crewmembers partake in tea inside a tent at Baikonur's space museum.

Ready for Take Off

Flight engineers, from left to right, Paolo Nespoli of ESA, Sergei Ryazanskiy or Roscosmos and NASA's Randy Bresnik, walk toward the launch pad, preparing for the July 28 launch of Expedition 52.

Suited Up

From inside the Soyuz MS-05, NASA's Randy Bresnik waits for technicians to complete a pressure suit check on his Russian Sokol Suit. He and his fellow crewmembers Sergei Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos and Paolo Nespoli of ESA headed to the ISS on July 28 for a four and a half month mission.