ICYMI: Expedition 68 Crew Debrief and Awards Ceremony

by Sumer Loggins | 2023-12-13

On December 6, 2023, the Expedition 68 crew debrief and awards ceremony took place at Space Center Houston’s IMAX theater. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 astronauts reflected on their time aboard the International Space Station and awarded Johnson Space Center employees and partners who helped make the expedition a success.

A dark-lit image of people sitting in an auditorium in front of a large screen. — Guests gathered at Space Center Houston’s IMAX theater for the Expedition 68 crew debrief and awards ceremony on December 6, 2023. **Credit: NASA/David DeHoyos**

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The special event featured three Crew-5 astronauts:

Nicole Aunapu Mann, spacecraft commander
Josh Cassada, pilot
Koichi Wakata, mission specialist

Frank Rubio, a flight engineer from Expedition 68 to Expedition 69, was also in attendance for a celebration of his homecoming. Rubio spent 371 days aboard the International Space Station, setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut.

Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche provided opening remarks and welcomed NASA’s Associate Administrator Bob Cabana. “We would not be here tonight celebrating a crew’s return from the International Space Station without STS-88 crewmember, Associate Administrator Bob Cabana,” said Wyche.

Johnson’s Center Operations Director Joel Walker gave special thanks to the agency’s commercial and international partners who helped contribute to the successful mission.

NASA astronaut and Deputy Director of Flight Operations Kjell Lindgren struck the ceremonial bell to complete the 68th voyage to the orbiting laboratory.

An image of a mission patch with an orange dragon in the shape of a five in the middle. — NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 insignia contains a fire-breathing dragon in the shape of the number five, representing the fifth operational Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station. The fire transitions to the colors of the Commercial Crew Program to represent the teams who made this mission possible. The four crew members of Crew-5 mission are NASA astronauts Nicole Aunapu Mann and Josh Cassada; JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina.

During Expedition 68, the crew studied cardiovascular health and explored 3D printing knee cartilage and cardiac tissue samples. The astronauts also grew red dwarf tomatoes and observed liquid behavior in artificial gravity to support future missions.

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Watch below to relive the journey of Expedition 68 with the mission's astronauts and celebrate those who helped make the voyage a success.