Expedition 73 crewmates pose for a playful portrait through a hatch thermal cover

iss073e0814504 (Sept. 18, 2025) --- Four Expedition 73 flight engineers pose for a playful portrait through a circular opening in a hatch thermal cover aboard the International Space Station. The cover provides micrometeoroid and orbital debris protection while maintaining cleanliness and pressure integrity in the vestibule between Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft and the orbital outpost. The opening allows for visual inspection of hatch alignment, access to the hatch handle or pressure equalization valve, and visibility for sensors or cameras during berthing operations. Clockwise from left, are JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui and NASA astronauts Jonny Kim, Zena Cardman, and Mike Fincke.