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NASA Artemis II Crew Suggests Naming Lunar Crater in Honor of Astronaut Reed Wiseman’s Late Wife

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The crew of NASA’s historic Artemis II mission honored the late Carol Wiseman, the wife of astronaut Reed Wiseman, by proposing to name a moon crater in her memory. This poignant moment was broadcast live on a NASA livestream.

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Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen informed mission control on Monday that his team aimed to “honor our mission by naming two craters on the moon.”

One of the craters is named after Carol Wiseman, the wife of Artemis II commander Reed Wiseman, who succumbed to cancer in 2020 at the age of 46.

“We lost a loved one. Her name was Carol, and she was the mother of Katie and Ellie, Reed’s daughters,” Hansen expressed.

He referred to the crater as a “bright spot on the moon.”

“We like to call it Carol,” Hansen noted.

NASA astronaut Reed Wiseman and his late wife Carol Taylor Wiseman. The moon’s craters as seen from the Orion spacecraft on Monday.
Wiseman family via NASA. NASA

Following Hansen’s heartfelt eulogy, the crew linked arms and floated in zero gravity, with both Wiseman and NASA astronaut Christina Koch visibly emotional.

Carol Wiseman “dedicated her life to helping others as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.” NASA reported.

“Despite his numerous professional accolades, Mr. Reed views his journey as a single parent as the greatest challenge and most rewarding period of his life,” according to Wiseman’s NASA biography.

Wiseman was named commander of the Artemis II mission in 2023. Prior to the launch, he voiced concerns about the time away from his family that the mission entailed.

“As a single father of two daughters,” he said, “it would be simpler to stay home and watch soccer on weekends, but we have four individuals capable of exploring unique opportunities in our civilization.”

The Artemis II crew also suggested naming the second crater “Integrity,” inspired by the name of their Orion spacecraft.

Following the mission, the naming proposal will be formally submitted to the International Astronomical Union, which will decide on the naming of the crater and its features.

The Artemis II team of four accomplished the mission’s lunar flight on Monday, reaching a record distance from Earth. At the mission’s peak, the astronauts were approximately 42,752 miles away, surpassing the record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.

“By achieving the greatest distance ever traveled by humans from Earth, we pay tribute to the extraordinary efforts and achievements of our predecessors in space exploration,” Hansen communicated to mission control upon confirming the milestone.

“We will continue our journey further into space until Mother Earth brings us back to what we cherish most,” he stated. “But most importantly, we challenge this generation and the next to ensure this record does not last.”

Wiseman, Koch, Glover, and Hansen commenced their journey home, officially exiting the moon’s sphere of influence at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday, approximately 41,000 miles from the moon. NASA confirmed.

After 10 days in space, the crew is set to return to Earth on Friday, splashing down off the coast of San Diego.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Artemis II Astronaut Reveals Stunning View of Moon’s Far Side in Exclusive Space Interview

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HOUSTON — The Artemis II mission astronauts have crossed the halfway point to the moon, witnessing the far side of the lunar surface for the first time in history.

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In a recent interview with NBC News from orbit, NASA astronaut Christina Koch observed that the moon looked strikingly different through the window of the Orion capsule compared to how we see it from Earth.

“The dark areas just aren’t in their usual places,” she remarked. “It felt like a completely different moon.”

Koch, alongside fellow astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, consulted their research materials to decode their extraordinary views.

“We’re seeing the dark side of the moon—an experience we’ve never had before,” Koch stated.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch illuminated by a screen aboard the Orion spacecraft, while Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen gazes out of the window.

Wiseman, Koch, Glover, and Hansen embarked on their ten-day lunar expedition on Wednesday, marking humanity’s first exploration of the moon in over five decades. They are the first humans to launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, officially on their way to the moon after a vital engine burn propelled them out of Earth’s orbit on Thursday night.

Wiseman described the flight as an “incredible achievement,” noting that the astronauts’ views of both Earth and the moon were truly “awe-inspiring.”

“Earth is in a near-total solar eclipse while the moon is basking in near-full daylight,” he said. “The only way to appreciate this perspective is to be positioned between the two celestial bodies.”

Koch added that, despite their excitement, the crew managed to find time to relax and sleep comfortably within the 16.5-foot-wide Orion capsule, which offers habitable space roughly similar to that of a camper.

Sleep is among the many essential aspects that occupy a space traveler’s day.

“Being human here is one of the most rewarding facets of this mission,” Koch said. “We’re just humans trying to thrive. One moment we could be marveling at the far side of the moon, and then, it might hit us, ‘Hmm, perhaps I should change my socks,’ and start hunting for them. That encapsulates the essence of human spaceflight.”

The four astronauts took the opportunity to communicate with their families on Friday and Saturday, an experience Wiseman described as a significant highlight.

“It was surreal,” he expressed. “For a brief moment, I was reunited with my little family. It was the best moment of my life.”

The Artemis II crew has been busy since their move into space. Shortly after launch, they initiated tests of various life support systems on the Orion capsule. Although they faced a few minor setbacks, including technical issues with email and the space toilet, the flight has been mostly smooth sailing.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA Plans Astronaut Moon Mission Launch for April 1st

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NASA has exciting news! On Thursday, the space agency announced its plans to launch four astronauts on a long-anticipated mission around the moon, aiming for a launch date as early as April 1.

Lori Glaze, the acting deputy administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, stated that the team is on schedule to return the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 19.

“Everything is progressing well,” Glaze declared during a news conference.

The mission, named Artemis II, marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion capsule will carry astronauts. It’s the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years.

This 10-day mission will have a crew of NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will orbit the moon farther from Earth than any humans have ever ventured.

The launch is targeted for April 1 at 6:24 p.m. ET; however, this date hinges on the completion of the rocket’s checkout in its hangar and further work on the launch pad.

NASA made the decision to proceed with the launch attempt shortly after mission managers and top officials gathered for a two-day flight readiness review, where they formally certify rockets and spacecraft for flight.

Glaze noted that Wiseman, Koch, Glover, and Hansen took part in the flight readiness review virtually, sharing their vital insights.

“Their participation reaffirmed the importance of having transparent discussions about our future steps and the risks involved,” she explained.

The astronauts are currently training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and will enter quarantine on-site starting Wednesday to minimize germ exposure before launch. If everything goes smoothly, they will travel to Kennedy Space Center on March 27, as noted by Sean Quinn, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program Manager.

The impressive 322-foot-tall Space Launch System rocket has been undergoing repairs since its relocation from the launch pad on February 25.

This action followed a crucial refueling test on February 19, known as a “wet dress rehearsal,” where NASA simulated nearly every step of a launch countdown. Despite a successful rehearsal, engineers later identified a blockage in the helium flow to a section of the rocket’s upper stage, prompting the cancellation of the launch to make necessary repairs and missing out on a March launch window.

Quinn mentioned that engineers have recently replaced a faulty seal that was obstructing the helium flow. The team is also adding new batteries and conducting tests on the systems of the rocket and Orion spacecraft.

The February 19 wet dress rehearsal was NASA’s second attempt to fill a Space Launch System rocket with over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant. The earlier attempt that month was cut short due to a hydrogen fuel leak discovered at the rear of the rocket, eliminating the opportunity for a February launch.

NASA is exploring a launch opportunity that includes April 2, which wasn’t initially considered, but was added after further analysis. If needed, there is also an opportunity on April 30.

The agency has opted not to speculate on any potential launch dates beyond April due to possible delays.

Thus far, the SLS rocket and Orion capsule’s only spaceflight was the unmanned lunar orbit during the 2022 Artemis I mission, which faced a six-month delay due to a hydrogen leak.

Recently, NASA announced significant revisions to its Artemis moon program. Following Artemis II, the agency has rescheduled the Artemis III mission to land astronauts on the moon to mid-2027 and will instead operate in low-Earth orbit to test technologies. These tests will involve rendezvous and docking with SpaceX’s and Blue Origin’s commercially developed lunar landers.

After that, Artemis IV is slated for a 2028 launch to safely land astronauts on the moon.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated these changes aim to enhance safety and minimize delays in fulfilling President Donald Trump’s objective of returning astronauts to the lunar surface and establishing a sustainable human presence there.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA Identifies Astronaut Involved in Medical Incident on the ISS

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Astronauts Finke, Cardman, Yui, and Platonov have been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) since early August, with plans originally extending until late February.

However, following an incident, NASA executives and the agency’s medical director decided to bring the astronauts back to Earth one week early.

Finke stated, “After a thorough evaluation, NASA has concluded that the safest decision is to return Crew-11 early. It is not an emergency; rather, it is a crafted plan to utilize advanced medical imaging technology not accessible on the space station.”

The Crew-11 astronauts departed the ISS on January 14, undocking from the space station in the same SpaceX Dragon capsule that initially transported them. Following an 11-hour journey, the capsule landed in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast during the early morning hours on January 15.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman remarked in a post-landing news conference that while there were “serious conditions” in orbit, the crew has remained safe and stable since the incident.

Finke expressed gratitude towards his Crew-11 teammates, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Kud Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev. He also acknowledged the instrumental support from the teams at NASA, SpaceX, and medical professionals at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

“Their professionalism and commitment undoubtedly led to positive outcomes,” he added.

Finke concluded by sharing that he is “doing very well” and is engaging in standard post-flight repair work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“Spaceflight is an incredible privilege that humbles our humanity,” he said. “Thank you for your continued support.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Enhancing Astronaut Durability: The Challenges of Tardigrade Adaptation

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Tardigrade Resilience

Tardigrades Exhibit Extreme Resilience

How can space explorers be shielded from cosmic radiation without using massive lead enclosures? Some researchers propose leveraging the unique properties of a protein found in tardigrades that can protect DNA, but the solution is more complex.

Corey Nislow and his team at the University of British Columbia have identified a protein named Dsup (short for Damage Suppressor) that not only protects against radiation but also against various mutagenic substances. However, this protection comes with trade-offs, such as diminished cell viability.

“All the benefits we observe come at a cost,” Nislow states.

Tardigrades, often called water bears, are known for their incredible survival abilities, thriving under extreme conditions such as high radiation, harsh temperatures, desiccation, and even the vacuum of space. In 2016, Dsup was discovered as a critical component of this resilience. When human cells were genetically modified to express Dsup, they displayed enhanced radiation resistance without any adverse effects.

This led to the hypothesis that Dsup could serve as a protective agent against harmful radiation and mutagens. One potential method involves administering the mRNA that encodes Dsup, encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), similar to the technology utilized in mRNA coronavirus vaccines.

“A couple of years ago, I was fully convinced that delivering Dsup mRNA through LNPs to space crews would be highly effective; it wouldn’t alter their genomes but would serve as an efficient countermeasure against DNA damage,” Nislow mentions.

However, ongoing research involving genetically engineered yeast cells producing Dsup has revealed that high concentrations can be toxic, while lower levels can inhibit growth.

Dsup seems to safeguard DNA by physically enveloping it, which, in turn, complicates access for proteins necessary for RNA synthesis and DNA replication before cellular division. It also poses challenges for DNA repair proteins attempting to mend the DNA, particularly in cells with limited repair capabilities, where significant repairs may not occur.

Nislow speculates that Dsup could be beneficial for protecting astronauts, animals, and plants, but emphasizes the importance of controlling its expression levels to optimize its protective effects.

“I completely concur,” says James Byrne, from the University of Iowa, who is studying whether Dsup can shield healthy cells during cancer radiation therapy.

Byrne notes the potential risks associated with continuous Dsup production in all human cells but suggests that temporary expression during periods of need could be advantageous.

“It is undeniable that exceeding a certain threshold can render Dsup toxic,” he acknowledges. Simon Glass from the University of Montpellier also observes that low levels of Dsup can extend the lifespan of nematodes by providing oxidative stress protection, indicating that our understanding of Dsup’s mechanisms remains incomplete.

Jessica Tyler from Weill Cornell Medicine has also engineered yeast to produce Dsup, noting that lower levels than those examined by Nislow appeared beneficial without compromising growth.

“Thus, I disagree with the assertion that Dsup’s protective benefits come at a significant cost,” Tyler affirms, while agreeing on the necessity for regulated Dsup expression.

Although current technologies do not allow for the introduction of the ideal cells to produce Dsup at desired levels, Nislow expresses optimism about future advancements. “There is significant investment and interest in developing effective delivery systems,” he remarks. “This is a challenge that many in the pharmaceutical industry are eager to tackle.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

NASA Moves Moon Rocket to Launch Pad for Upcoming Astronaut Mission

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NASA is set to roll out a massive 322-foot-tall rocket towards its launch pad this Saturday, a crucial milestone in the preparation for its highly anticipated Artemis II mission, which aims to send four astronauts around the moon.

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will transport the Orion capsule containing the astronauts, beginning its slow four-mile trek from NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7 a.m. ET. Viewers can catch the event, known as the “rollout,” live on NASA’s YouTube channel.

This event marks the beginning of essential tests and rehearsals that will pave the way for the first manned flight to the moon in over 50 years. Artemis II is tentatively scheduled for launch between February 6 and 11, with additional windows available in March and April.

The rollout is a critical phase for mission managers as they assess the rocket’s health and safety prior to setting a formal launch date.

“These are the kind of days we are living in,” stated John Honeycutt, chairman of the Artemis II mission management team, during a recent press conference.

Artemis II will feature a crew of four, including NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. They are scheduled to spend 10 days in space, initially orbiting Earth before heading into lunar orbit.

The deployment process is expected to take up to 12 hours. The Crawler Transporter, a giant mobile platform, will carry the 11 million-pound Artemis II rocket to NASA’s historic launch pad 39B, previously used in the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.

NASA has indicated that the stacked rocket will move forward at a cautious pace, approximately 1 mile per hour.

Upon reaching the launch pad, preparations will begin for the essential launch day walkthrough, known as a wet dress rehearsal. This procedure includes refueling the rocket and conducting all standard protocols leading up to the T-29 second mark on the countdown, as detailed by Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell Thompson.

“Launch day will closely mirror a wet dress rehearsal,” she explained. “The two main differences are sending our team to the pads and proceeding past the 29-second mark.”

This wet dress rehearsal serves as an opportunity for mission managers to evaluate the rocket’s systems in a real-world context while allowing engineers to identify any potential fuel leaks or technical issues.

If any problems arise, the rocket will be returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building for necessary repairs. However, if everything proceeds smoothly, NASA may soon announce a target launch date.

The Artemis II mission will serve as the most rigorous test yet for the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, marking the first time the system will carry a crew.

During their time in the Orion capsule, astronauts will test the spacecraft’s docking capabilities and life support systems while in orbit around both Earth and the Moon.

Success in this mission will establish a foundation for Artemis III, slated for 2027, aiming to land astronauts near the moon’s south pole.

Returning to the moon has emerged as a priority for the U.S. government, particularly amid a new space race with China, which aims to land its own astronauts on the Moon by 2030.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA Astronaut Exits Space Station Early Over Health Concerns, Resulting in Droplets Falling

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Four astronauts successfully returned to Earth early Thursday morning, concluding an eventful and extraordinary week in space. The crew made an early departure from the International Space Station as a result of medical issues that emerged during their mission.

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Finke, Japanese astronaut Kamiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov made a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 3:41 a.m. ET after an 11-hour journey.

“On behalf of SpaceX and NASA, welcome home, Crew-11,” mission controllers communicated to the astronauts shortly after the Dragon capsule’s touchdown.

This return marks a historic moment, being the first instance in the ISS’s 25-year history where a mission was terminated early due to medical complications.

On Thursday, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavor spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California.
NASA

Out of respect for medical privacy, NASA has not disclosed the identities of the crew members involved or specific details surrounding the medical incident. The situation remains stable and is not deemed an emergency.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated in a recent press conference that the early return decision was made with an emphasis on precaution.

The medical issue led to the cancellation of a planned spacewalk scheduled for January 8, during which Cardman and Finke were set to perform modifications outside the ISS.

The recovery team approaches the Dragon capsule.
NASA

Prior to leaving the space station, Finke reassured that he and his colleagues were “stable, safe, and well cared for.”

“This decision was made to facilitate proper medical evaluation in a controlled environment with complete diagnostic capabilities,” Finke mentioned in a statement on LinkedIn. “While it’s bittersweet, it’s the right call.”

The astronauts returned in the same SpaceX Dragon capsule that had transported them to the ISS.

The return mission proceeded without incident, with air traffic controllers reporting favorable weather conditions at the landing site off the California coast. The capsule’s drogue and main parachutes deployed successfully just before landing, ensuring a safe splashdown.

NASA’s Crew 11 Endeavor spacecraft during recovery efforts.
NASA

SpaceX recovery teams promptly arrived to assess the capsule and ensure it was safe to open the hatch. Dolphins were also spotted joyfully swimming in the vicinity.

The Crew-11 astronauts spent 165 days aboard the space station. For Cardman and Platonov, this represents their first spaceflight, while Yui has now completed her second journey. Finke has successfully finished four missions in total.

The astronauts were scheduled to stay on the ISS until late February but returned early, leaving only three crew members onboard: NASA’s Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev.

Inside the International Space Station’s Kibo Experiment Module: NASA astronaut Mike Finke, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, and JAXA astronaut Kamiya Yui.
NASA/AP

The next crew rotation for the space station is expected to launch by February 15, but NASA is exploring options for an expedited flight. Nonetheless, Williams is likely to be the only NASA astronaut responsible for U.S. scientific experiments and operations at the station for several weeks to come.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Nasa Astronaut Set to Depart Space Station for Medical Reasons

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Four astronauts are set to return from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday night, departing weeks earlier than originally planned due to health concerns.

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Finke, alongside Japanese cosmonaut Kamiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, will make their journey back to Earth aboard the same SpaceX Dragon capsule that previously transported them to the ISS. This group, known as “Crew-11,” is expected to undock at around 5:05 p.m. ET.

This incident marks the first time in the ISS’s 25-year history that a mission has had to be cut short due to a medical issue while in orbit. Though NASA has not disclosed specifics regarding the affected crew members or the nature of their medical issues, citing privacy concerns, officials reassured the public that the situation is stable and does not warrant an emergency evacuation.

“First and foremost, we’re all okay,” Finke stated in a LinkedIn post over the weekend. “Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for. This decision allows for a comprehensive medical evaluation on the ground where all diagnostic capabilities exist. This is the correct decision, even if it feels somewhat bittersweet.”

If undocking proceeds as scheduled, Crew-11 astronauts are anticipated to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast around 3:41 a.m. ET on Thursday. The journey back will take approximately 11 hours, including a deorbit burn to slow the spacecraft before it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, culminating in a parachute landing underwater.

Arriving at the ISS in August, Cardman, Finke, Yui, and Platonov were initially slated to remain until the end of February. However, a recent medical incident involving a crew member led NASA to cancel a planned spacewalk, which Cardman and Finke were set to conduct for station exterior renovations. Following this, the decision was made to expedite the crew’s return as a precautionary measure.

“After thorough consultation with Chief Medical Officer Dr. J.D. Polk and various agency leaders, we concluded that it is in the best interest of the astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of the original schedule,” stated NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Thursday.

The astronauts are expected to land on Earth before the next space station crew takes off, but NASA confirms that Flight Engineer Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts will remain aboard. NASA officials are exploring options to expedite the next launch. The upcoming mission, known as Crew 12, is planned for a launch by February 15, but Williams will presumably be the sole NASA astronaut managing U.S. scientific experiments and operations on the ISS for several weeks.

During a “change of command” ceremony prior to departure on Monday, Finke officially handed over command of the space station to cosmonaut Sergei Kud-Sverchkov.

“Sergei, it is both an honor and a pleasure to hand over command to you,” Finke remarked.

He referred to the crew’s unexpectedly early departure as “an interesting time,” reminiscing positively about their experience in orbit.

“We come from diverse places around the globe and work collaboratively,” Finke concluded. “This is a fantastic representation of what humanity can achieve together.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Dirt on Spacecraft Might Be Necessary for Astronaut Health

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The International Space Station may be a little too clean

geopix/alamy

A strategy to keep the spacecraft as clean and infertile as possible to ensure that astronauts do not get sick may be a mistake. Researchers studying the International Space Station (ISS) say our immune system may require stimulation from certain types of molecules and microorganisms to maintain good health.

“The general concept is to have as few microorganisms as possible, but the question is whether it's the best thing for long-term space travel.” Peter Drestein At the University of California, San Diego. “And that's related to places on earth, such as research. [stations]hospitals and submarines, can spend more than a few months. ”

One reason for sterilizing spacecraft is to avoid covering contaminated planets such as Mars with microorganisms from Earth, but the main concern is that infections that can easily be treated on our planets can become a major problem with spacecraft.

Dorrstein and his team analyzed over 700 surface swabs mounted on the ISS.

“The space station doesn't have many molecules and microorganisms,” he says. “It's at the extreme edge of human life.”

The team believes this lack of exposure to the usual wide range of molecules and microorganisms could be one of the reasons why there is a major change in the universe's immune system. On space stations, astronauts are often subject to rashes, abnormal allergies, fungal or bacterial infections, and activation of latent viruses such as Epstein Barr found in one of the samples.

“We don't fully understand that,” says Drestein. “But the way I see this is that you have to ping your immune system regularly.”

Researchers say they need to find ways to ensure that environments like space stations are “more diverse in molecules and microorganisms, but without introducing infectious pathogens.”

One way to do this is Subtilis Bacillus Instead of disinfectant, Drestein says. B. subtilis It is already widely used for antifungal activities.

Growing a variety of plants is also helpful. “We know from other studies that when people are exposed to more plant molecules, they tend to have a reduced connection to asthma and allergies,” Drestein says. He says these plant molecules are not entirely present in the space station.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Elon Musk and the astronaut lamented how politics hindered space flights

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Musk referred to Mogensen as an “idiot” and used a light pejorative term that escalated quickly.

“SpaceX could have brought them back a few months ago.” The tweet was posted. “I presented this directly to the Biden administration, and they rejected it. The return was delayed for political reasons. Idiot.”

Mogensen, who shuttled between the space station on a SpaceX rocket and capsule, replied 13 minutes later, acknowledging Musk’s earlier praise for his work with SpaceX.

“Like me, you know that Butch and Suni are back with Crew-9, just like me, as planned since September last year.” He mentioned in another tweet about NASA’s plan to bring Willmore and Williams back to Earth alongside two current space station crews. “Even now, you haven’t sent a rescue ship to bring them back. They’ve returned to the Dragon Capsules they’ve been working on with the ISS since September last year.”

Mogensen was the commander of the Space Station from September 2023 to March 2024, continuing to be stationed at his recent orbital post.

Neither the White House nor NASA immediately responded to requests for comment.

Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who led the space station in 2013, also reiterated his initial comment on X on February 14th.

“Suni and Butch have never been ‘stuck’ in space,” Hadfield stated. “They are well-prepared and dedicated to their missions, like all professional astronauts. Leading the Space Station Commander is Suni, and they are onboard spacecraft working diligently on behalf of NASA and all their partners. I commend their dedication.”

Spatt’s role as one of Trump’s top political advisers has raised new questions about his tendency to disseminate false and misleading information. Musk has also recently spread several misleading claims regarding fraud and spending within the US government.

Wilmore and Williams were launched on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024 to the International Space Station, intending to spend about a week as part of their test flight.

However, the capsule encountered several issues and was forced to prolong its stay at the space station. Ultimately, NASA decided to return the Starliner to Earth in September.

Elon Musk in Washington on February 13th.
Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Under the Biden administration, NASA has requested SpaceX to bring Willmore and Williams back to Earth. Their return, initially set for this month, was postponed to late March. NASA cited the need to “finalize” the new SpaceX spacecraft that will transport four new crews to the space station.

This flight, called Crew-10, is scheduled to carry NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Ayers, Russian astronaut Kiril Peskov, and Japanese astronaut Onishi to the space station.

Upon their arrival, Wilmore and Williams will depart the station in another Dragon capsule, alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Golbunov.

Typically, incoming crews overlap with outgoing ones during handover periods, allowing astronauts to exchange information about ongoing experiments, maintenance tasks, and other protocols.

Musk also reiterated on Thursday. He suggested that the space station should be deorbited, proposing a timeline of two years instead of NASA’s plan to deorbit the facility by 2030.

“It has served its purpose. There are limited further utilities,” he stated. “Let’s aim for Mars.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA astronaut Suni Williams reveals her Thanksgiving plans from space

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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are ready to break Thanksgiving bread in orbit.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams said she and her fellow crew members will be taking the day off to celebrate.

“I’m packing a lot of Thanksgiving-y food,” Williams said Wednesday in an interview with NBC News. “Smoked turkey, cranberries, apple cobbler, green beans and mushrooms, and mashed potatoes.”

She added that she plans to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade before dining with American and Russian colleagues.

Williams has been living and working on the International Space Station for almost six months. She and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore arrived at the orbiting outpost in early June as test pilots for the first manned flight of Boeing’s Starliner space capsule.

The two were scheduled to stay on the ISS for only about a week, then return to Earth on the Starliner. However, problems with the spacecraft kept them in orbit for months longer than expected. Wilmore and Williams are scheduled to return home in February in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

Starliner’s difficult mission was a dramatic, months-long story for NASA and Boeing. But Williams said she doesn’t feel like she’s “stranded” in space.

“Our control team and management always had the option of us returning home,” she said. “Yes, we came here on the Starliner. We’re coming back on the Dragon, but there was always a plan for how we were going to get home.”

In the last few weeks, NASA dodged the rumors Williams reportedly suffered from health problems while in space. Although some news articles suggested that the astronauts had lost significant weight, the agency’s medical director said on Nov. 14 that the health of Williams and others on board the space station was He said the condition was good.

Williams told NBC News that he is enjoying his time in orbit and is in good spirits.

“We feel good, we exercise and we eat properly,” she said. “We’re having a lot of fun here, too. So people are worried about us. Really, don’t worry about us.”

June 5, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Chris O’Meara / AP File

Despite problems that occurred during Starliner’s voyage (mainly thruster and helium leaks), the capsule returned to Earth without a crew on September 7th. Williams said he wished he had been able to see Starliner’s mission to completion.

She added that Boeing and NASA would not hesitate to send Starliner into space again if they ironed out the problems that arose during the test flight.

“It might not be tomorrow because we need to incorporate some of the lessons we learned,” she said. “But once we knew we were on the right path, we fixed some of the issues we had — absolutely.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA Successfully Completes First Mission Simulating Astronaut Life on Mars

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NASA is working on developing the technology to send astronauts to Mars. Early 2030s The mock journey was the first of three planned journeys to the habitat as part of NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission.

Upon emerging from the habitat, the volunteers were welcomed by a cheering crowd.

“Hello. It’s really great to be able to say hello to you all,” CHAPEA Commander Haston said with a laugh.

The mission aimed to test how the group would handle the challenges humans would encounter on Mars. The crew faced environmental stress, communication delays, and limited resources. They consumed preserved foods as well as vegetables they cultivated during their quarantine.

Brockwell, who also serves as an aeronautical engineer, structural engineer, and public works manager at CHAPEA, noted that the mission provided valuable insights on sustainability.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to implement the concept that resources should be used at a sustainable rate and waste should be managed effectively,” he said.

The crew of the first CHAPEA mission arrived at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas on July 6 after completing a one-year mission.
Josh Valcarcel / NASA / CHAPEA

“Without following these principles we cannot live, dream, create, or explore for long periods of time. But if we do follow them we can achieve and sustain amazing and inspiring things, like exploring other worlds,” Brockwell added.

Mars Dune Alpha is located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The habitat is A sandbox full of red sand There, participants will simulate a “Mars walk.” The habitat will have private rooms, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. There will also be areas for medical, recreational, fitness, and work activities, according to NASA.

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Accidental Broadcast of NASA Astronaut Medical Training

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NASA had to reassure the public that there was no emergency on the International Space Station after audio from a medical training drill was mistakenly played during a livestream on Wednesday night.

The regularly scheduled livestream was interrupted at 6:28pm ET by an unidentified speaker, apparently a flight surgeon, communicating with the ISS crew about what to do for the commander, who was suffering from severe pressure illness.

The speaker advised crew members to “check the pulse again” before placing the injured astronaut in a spacesuit filled with pure oxygen. She said any treatment was “the best treatment” and better than nothing.

“Unfortunately, Commander's prognosis is relatively uncertain,” she said.

“I'm concerned that there are people with severe DCS,” she said. [decompression sickness] He “hits” and tells the crew to get him suited up as quickly as possible.

She mentions that there is a hospital in San Fernando, Spain, with a hyperbaric treatment facility, apparently implying that she would order an emergency evacuation of the space station.

But after stirring up fear among space enthusiasts listening in, NASA revealed that this scenario wasn't real: All crew members aboard the ISS were safely asleep at the time.

NASA said there was “no emergency on board the International Space Station.”

“At approximately 5:28 p.m. CDT, audio was broadcast on NASA's livestream from a ground-based simulated audio channel indicating the crew member was experiencing symptoms associated with decompression sickness,” NASA said in a statement. X's message.

“The audio was inadvertently transmitted from an ongoing simulation in which crew and ground teams were training for various scenarios in space and is not related to an actual emergency,” NASA said in a statement.

“The International Space Station crew was asleep at the time. All crew members are healthy and safe, and tomorrow's spacewalk will begin as scheduled at 8 a.m. EDT,” it added.

The emergency training came after two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS last week.

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Ed Dwight, the first black astronaut, finally receives recognition.

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Ed Dwight spent his childhood on a farm on the outskirts of Kansas back in the 1930s. The airfield was nearby, and as a young child, he would often visit to watch the planes and the pilots. Most of the planes were returning from hunting trips, and the inside was stained with blood and empty beer cans on the floor.

“They would say to me, ‘Hey, can you clean my plane? I’ll give you a dime,’” Dwight, 90, recalls. But when he was eight or nine years old, he wanted more than a dime. He wanted to fly.

“My first flight was the most exciting thing in the world,” Dwight says with a laugh. “There were no roads or stop signs. You were free as a bird.”

It took years for Dwight to entertain the thought of becoming a pilot himself. “It was white people’s territory,” he says. But when he saw an image of a black pilot shot down in South Korea on the front page of a newspaper, he immediately decided that he wanted to fly.

With that decision, Dwight set in motion a chain of events that would nearly lead him to become one of the first astronauts. Dwight was hand-picked by President John F. Kennedy’s White House to join Chuck Yeager’s test pilot program at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert as he rose through the ranks in the Air Force.

US Air Force Colonel Ed Dwight.
Provided by Ed Dwight/National Geographic, via AP

However, after Kennedy’s assassination, Dwight’s path to NASA disappeared and he was not selected for the space program. In recent years, Dwight has finally begun to receive recognition with the release of the new National Geographic Documentary “Space Race,” which tells the story of Dwight, a pioneer who was nearly one of the first black astronauts.

When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into orbit in 1957, it influenced the formation of NASA. Dwight was not initially thinking about becoming an astronaut, but political leaders became conscious of the image that American astronauts could project about American democracy, and then Dwight got an unexpected invitation to train to become an astronaut. He received acclaim for appearing on the covers of black magazines such as Jet and Sepia, but faced hostility by police officers and other developments during his training. Dwight was the only one selected by the White House to train at that time, yet eventually was not among the 14 selected in 1963, following Kennedy’s assassination.

Air Force Col. Ed Dwight sits in the cockpit at the beginning of flight training in 1954.
Provided by Ed Dwight/National Geographic, via AP

Despite not becoming an astronaut, Dwight accomplished many things, including founding a construction company and earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture. He has created sculptures of notable black historical figures and had some of his sculptures flown into space aboard the Orion spacecraft. NASA even named an asteroid after him. For subsequent black astronauts, Dwight serves as an influential figure and is honored to be considered a pioneering black astronaut.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover, from left, Ed Dwight and Leland Melvin, on Thursday in Pasadena, California.
Chris Pizzello/AP

Dwight is filled with gratitude for the experiences he had and the opportunity to meet many influential figures throughout his life. He envisions that astronauts and influential leaders should have the chance to view the Earth from above to understand the futility of racism. “We’re flying around the galaxy in this little ball,” Dwight says.

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