Aboard

• Astronauts on the International Space Station have activated upgrades to NASA’s Cold Atom Lab (CAL), a specialized facility used to study quantum physics. • On May 8, 2026, astronaut Jessica Meir installed hardware updates, including optical fibers, to the minifridge-sized laboratory. • These upgrades are critical for improving the lab's ability to create ultra-cold atoms, allowing researchers to observe quantum phenomena that are impossible to study on Earth.

• Five astronauts aboard the International Space Station were ordered to take shelter and prepare for evacuation for approximately two hours on Friday due to a worsening air leak. • The emergency was triggered by a crack located on the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory, which Russian crews attempted to repair. • NASA has since reversed the evacuation alert, allowing the crew to resume normal operations after the situation was stabilized.