ISS operations have continued despite a partial U.S. government shutdown. NASA designates crew safety and Artemis work as "excepted," so the Expedition 73 team has maintained microgravity research, routine maintenance and recent operations such as the HTV‑X1 cargo arrival. More than 15,000 NASA civil servants were furloughed after Oct. 1; U.S. astronauts are working without immediate pay but will receive backpay. A prolonged shutdown could delay Artemis II (targeting Feb 2026) and complicate the schedule for Artemis III.
What the ISS Crew Is Doing During the U.S. Government Shutdown — and Why It Matters
ISS operations have continued despite a partial U.S. government shutdown. NASA designates crew safety and Artemis work as "excepted," so the Expedition 73 team has maintained microgravity research, routine maintenance and recent operations such as the HTV‑X1 cargo arrival. More than 15,000 NASA civil servants were furloughed after Oct. 1; U.S. astronauts are working without immediate pay but will receive backpay. A prolonged shutdown could delay Artemis II (targeting Feb 2026) and complicate the schedule for Artemis III.
12:20, 03.11.2025Science
ISS operations continue despite the U.S. government shutdown
Although a partial U.S. government shutdown has entered its second month, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) remain on duty and carrying out daily operations. NASA classifies crew safety and mission support as "excepted" functions, so the station and mission-control teams continue to operate even as many agency staff on the ground are furloughed.
Who’s on board and what they’re doing
The Expedition 73 crew has kept the laboratory running: conducting microgravity research, performing scheduled maintenance, and completing operational tasks. Seven people are currently aboard the ISS: three Roscosmos cosmonauts — Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov — Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and three NASA astronauts: Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke. All have continued to share station duties.
Like many federal employees required to work during the shutdown, the U.S. astronauts are performing essential duties without immediate pay; NASA has said affected employees will receive backpay once funding resumes.
Recent activity: HTV‑X1 and public updates
One recent milestone was the arrival of Japan’s new HTV‑X1 cargo spacecraft. The vehicle launched, rendezvoused with the ISS, and the station crew — including the NASA astronauts — took part in its capture and planned cargo transfer. While most NASA personnel have paused routine public outreach during the shutdown, Kimiya Yui has continued sharing striking orbital photography, including the HTV‑X arrival, views of comet Lemon, and auroras.
Artemis work continues, but faces risk
NASA has also designated work on the Artemis lunar program as critical. That designation allows continued progress toward launching Artemis II — a four-astronaut crewed mission to loop around the Moon — as early as February 2026. However, a prolonged shutdown could strain resources, force additional staff to work without pay, and push launch targets later in the mission’s window (which extends through April).
Delays to Artemis II would complicate the schedule for Artemis III, planned to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo. The timeline also factors into broader international competition, as other nations, including China, pursue their own lunar ambitions.
Why this matters
The shutdown highlights how essential services — especially those involving crewed spaceflight and safety — are insulated from funding interruptions, but it also underscores the operational and human cost when large numbers of skilled workers are furloughed. For now, the ISS remains a functioning laboratory in orbit thanks to the dedication of its multinational crew and the mission teams supporting them on the ground.