Tag Archives: Crew

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

Apollo 17 Astronauts Share Moonwalk Insights and Advice with NASA’s Artemis II Crew

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When it comes to advice for the four NASA astronauts poised to embark on their lunar voyage this Wednesday, Harrison Schmidt is undoubtedly the expert you want to hear from.

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At 90 years old, Schmidt made history when he walked on the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972, the last human mission to our lunar neighbor.

NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to launch on Wednesday at 6:24 PM, marking a new chapter in lunar exploration. The mission aims to orbit the moon, paving the way for a future landing in 2028, mirroring Apollo 8’s pivotal role for Apollo 11.

According to Schmidt, the Artemis II astronauts will encounter many of the surreal vistas he experienced over fifty years ago.

“Every day, every hour, every minute is a new experience,” Schmidt remarked in an interview with NBC News.

Mr. Schmidt today.
NBC News

To the Artemis II team, Schmidt advises: “Train well. Be prepared for the unexpected. But most importantly, have fun.”

Since the days of Apollo 17, much has changed. At that time, Schmidt and the crew were entrenched in a space race against the Soviet Union, whereas NASA is now in competition with China, which has its sights set on landing astronauts on the moon by 2030.

The Apollo 17 crew spent nearly 13 days in space, including three on the moon, traveling 30 kilometers on the lunar rover, the furthest any crew has gone, while collecting a record-breaking 243 pounds of geological samples.

Astronaut Harrison H. Schmidt, Lunar Module Pilot, aboard the Lunar Module LM before it lifts off from the moon in 1972.
Eugene A. Cernan/NASA

Schmidt recounts the unforgettable experience of entering lunar orbit in darkness on the moon’s far side, shielded from Earth’s view.

“As we were landing on the east side of the moon with the sun barely peeking over the horizon, stepping into that incredible darkness was surreal. The moon was visibly illuminated by Earth’s light, casting a beautiful bluish hue,” Schmidt reminisced.

Schmidt stands near the U.S. flag on the moon during a spacewalk on December 13, 1972.
JSC/NASA

The Artemis II astronauts will have an unprecedented view of the moon’s far side.

“We’ve discovered that roughly 60% of the far side has never been seen by human eyes due to its lighting conditions,” remarked Reed Wiseman, the Artemis II mission commander. “Apollo focused on lighting for landings on the near side, but this moonwalk offers a different perspective. It’s truly remarkable.”

Following Apollo 17’s conclusion, the U.S. shifted its focus away from sustaining a human presence on the moon. The 1970s budget cuts led to the cancellation of further Apollo missions, prompting a priority shift toward the space station.

The crew of Apollo 17 captured this view of Earth on December 7, 1972, while heading toward the moon.
JSC/NASA

Unlike the Apollo missions, NASA’s Artemis program intends to establish a sustainable lunar presence, laying the groundwork for future missions to Mars.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if we see people live on the moon for months or even years within our lifetime,” Schmidt expressed. “Mars is within our reach, and we will continue pushing forward.”

What fuels his optimism? “As humans, exploration is ingrained in our nature,” Schmidt asserted.

“From our origins in Africa to the present, the drive to explore and expand is deeply embedded within us,” he concludes.

Schmidt trained in the Lunar Module Simulator at Kennedy Space Center before the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
NASA

As Apollo 17 ventured away from the moon, Commander Gene Cernan remarked: “We depart just as we came; with God’s will, we will return carrying peace and hope for all mankind.”

If everything goes according to plan, Artemis II will be a significant stride in that journey. By the mission’s sixth day, the crew expects to come within just 6,000 miles of the moon’s surface, potentially reaching farther from Earth than any human has traveled before.

“This mission is essential for our nation,” Schmidt asserts. “China is clearly vying for space control, just as it is on Earth. Thus, this national initiative must be executed effectively.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Four Astronauts Arrive at Space Station Following Early Departure of Previous Crew

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Four new crew members, including two from the United States, received a warm welcome upon their arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday.

The spacecraft, transporting NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fezyaev, docked with the ISS at 3:16 p.m. ET.

“Everyone arrived safely. We have been looking forward to this moment for a long time,” commented Sergei Kud Sverchkov, a current member of the Russian Federation’s Roscosmos crew on board.

The Dragon spacecraft was propelled into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early Friday morning.

“We’re thrilled to be here and ready to get to work,” Meir said after meeting the ISS crew. “We made it. We’re here. We love you.”

Later, Adenot mentioned how much she enjoyed the journey.

“It was quite a ride, but it was a lot of fun,” she remarked. “Seeing the Earth from above is mesmerizing; you can’t distinguish any lines or boundaries.”

They arrived at an unusually quiet orbital laboratory.

Originally, the four crew members were expected to overlap in space with the departing team on Mission Crew 11. However, that group had to return to Earth early due to medical issues. (NASA has maintained privacy regarding the identities of the affected astronauts.)

The Crew-11 astronauts departed on January 14, leaving behind NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Kudo Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev on the ISS.

The four new arrivals will be designated Crew 12, increasing the ISS’s occupancy to seven astronauts.

“Floating in zero gravity is an incredible experience,” Hathaway said after greeting fellow passengers. “The journey was fantastic, shared with great friends from Crew 12.”

A time-exposure shot of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday.
John Rau/AP

The crew launched from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket at 5:15 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

NASA delayed the launch by two days due to high winds affecting the flight path earlier in the week. The agency continuously monitors weather conditions for safe ascent and emergency scenarios.

Recently, a Falcon 9 incident during an unmanned mission to deploy SpaceX’s Starlink satellites prompted NASA to review safety findings before this launch.

Following the Feb. 2 incident, SpaceX paused launches for an investigation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA later permitted SpaceX to resume operations, successfully deploying Starlink satellites thereafter.

NASA officials confirmed in a recent press conference that there have been no significant issues while the ISS has been understaffed, allowing a relaxed timeline for the arrival of new crew members.

“We anticipate additional support soon, but will launch when ready,” stated Dina Contera, NASA’s deputy director of ISS programs at the Johnson Space Center.

Crew-12 members, from left, Andrei Fezyaev, Jack Hathaway, Jessica Meir, and Sophie Adenot during a press conference at NASA.
NASA

The Crew-12 mission members are slated to stay at the ISS for approximately eight months, where they will conduct scientific research including food production in space, examine how microgravity impacts blood flow, and study bacteria linked to pneumonia. NASA states these endeavors will enhance research for future missions to the Moon and Mars and will provide benefits for humanity on Earth.

This mission marks Hathaway and Adenot’s first spaceflight, while Fezyaev is on his second journey. Meir has previously spent 205 days aboard the ISS starting in July 2019 and made history with fellow astronaut Christina Koch during NASA’s first all-female spacewalk. They are also part of the Artemis II lunar orbit mission set to launch in March.

On Saturday, Meir expressed her surprise at the collaborative spirit that has turned the ISS into a beacon of human achievement.

“This represents a commitment from five nations, underpinned by trust, collaboration, and powered by science, innovation, and curiosity that has been upheld for decades,” she stated before entering the ISS. “Looking back at Earth from these windows, we are reminded that cooperation is not just possible, but essential. There are no borders in space, and hope transcends all.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Two NASA astronauts are launched into the space station by a new crew and begin the return process.

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Four astronauts were launched into orbit on their way to the International Space Station on Friday evening. The astronauts included NASA’s Anne McLain and Nicole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Onysia, and Russian astronaut Kirill Peskov. They were lifted from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 7:03 pm and soared into the blue sky over Florida approximately 48 hours after the initial launch.

“This mission is evidence of what humans can achieve when we work together,” Ayers radioed mission control during the smooth countdown.

The Crew 10 mission is part of the regular rotation of NASA crew members to the space station. This particular mission is drawing more attention as it involves the anticipated return of NASA astronauts Snie Williams and Butch Willmore back to Earth.

Crew-10 Mission Roscosmos Cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, NASA ASTRONUTS NICHOLE AYERES and ANNE MCCLAIN and JAXA ASTRONAUT TAKUYA ONISHI on Wednesday.Gregg Newton / AFP / Getty Images

Williams and Wilmore have been in the spotlight for months due to unusual circumstances in orbit. They were initially scheduled for a one-week stay in June as part of a test flight for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft but encountered vehicle issues that extended their stay at the space station.

The new crew will relieve Williams, Wilmore, and two others for a six-month stint at the space station, including NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Golvnov.

The crew of Crew 10 was launched atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The first reusable booster stage successfully returned to Earth about ten minutes after liftoff, landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

“Tonight was an honor to fly with you,” said a SpaceX flight director to the crew in orbit. “We will support you on your journey and wish you the best.”

The crew of 10 astronauts will spend over 28 hours in low-Earth orbit traveling to the space station. They are expected to reach the space station on Saturday. The return crew could depart as early as March 19th, according to NASA.

More than 270 people arrived at the space station. NASA astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni Williams arrived on June 6th.NASA

The recent launch attempts added drama to the situation. The countdown was halted on Wednesday with 40 minutes remaining due to a ground system issue at the launch pad. The astronauts were already strapped inside the dragon capsule when the decision was made.

The Crew 10 Group consists of a mix of experienced astronauts and first-timers, all with a background as pilots. McLain and Onisi are visiting the space station for the second time, while Ayers and Peskov are on their first space flight journey.

Arrivals at the space station mark the beginning of a handover period which includes training new crews and catching up on scientific experiments, maintenance work, and other projects.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is being prepared for launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday.Craig Bailey/Reuters

Williams, Wilmore, Hague, and Golbunov are expected to return to Earth via the SpaceX Dragon Capsule, where Hague and Golbunov originally flew to the space station. The Starliner spacecraft, which encountered issues, is being brought back to Earth without any crew onboard.

The extended stay of Williams and Wilmore in low-earth orbit has gained political attention, with claims by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump regarding their return to Earth. However, NASA has planned to use SpaceX vehicles for the return journey since the announcement in August.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

SpaceX Crew Makes History with First ‘Stand-Up’ Private Spacewalk During Polaris Dawn Mission

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Jared Isaacman looks out the hatch of the Dragon capsule.

SpaceX

SpaceX made history today when its private astronauts conducted the first-ever private spacewalk as part of the Polaris Dawn mission.

As SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft orbited Earth at an altitude of about 740 km at a speed of more than 25,000 km per hour, the two astronauts partially ejected from the spacecraft, one at a time.

The four-man crew began evacuating the cabin at 10:31 GMT, eventually manually opening the hatch at approximately 10:50 GMT. All crew members were wearing new SpaceX spacesuits that have been thoroughly tested on Earth but not in orbit.

Jared Isaacman, the mission commander, head of SpaceX's Polaris program and billionaire co-financier, was the first person to step out of the spacecraft and look down at Earth. “It certainly is a perfect world from up here,” Isaacman said, lifting his head and torso from the capsule.

Isaacman then went through a series of suit mobility and safety checks before returning to his seat in the spacecraft a few minutes later, after which Crew Dragon fired its thrusters to maintain an optimal orbit and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis performed a spacewalk.

Neither Isaacman nor Gillis fully exited the spacecraft, making the event technically a stand-up extravehicular activity (SEVA) rather than a full spacewalk. Previous SpaceX promotional materials for the mission stated: Astronauts completely exit the capsule.

While all previous spacewalks to date have been conducted by government-trained astronauts, the Polaris Dawn crew will be all civilians: along with Isaacman and Gillis are retired U.S. Air Force test pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineer Anna Menon.

Isaacman also took part in SpaceX's groundbreaking flight in 2021, which was the first orbital spaceflight with only private citizens on board. That flight used the exact same Crew Dragon spacecraft as the latest mission.

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission is reminiscent of earlier space programs of the 1960s and 1970s because the Crew Dragon capsule does not have an airlock, making it one of the most dangerous spacewalks ever attempted.

Once SEVA is complete, the remainder of the mission will see the crew spend up to two more days in orbit before returning to Earth.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Boeing Starliner spacecraft embarks on return voyage without crew members

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Wilmore and Williams were present to assist with the detachment of Starliner from the space station.

“We’re cheering for you. You’re going to be fine,” Williams communicated to mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before the capsule separated. “Bring us back to Earth. Best of luck.”

Starliner’s journey back will mark the end of a turbulent few months for Boeing and NASA, whose test flights were meant to show that the spacecraft could reliably transport astronauts to low Earth orbit and pave the way for NASA to approve Boeing for regular flights to the space station.

However, the issues with the thrusters are the latest setback for Boeing’s Starliner program, which is already more than $1.5 billion over budget and years behind schedule even before its first launch. An initial uncrewed test flight that NASA required before Boeing’s spacecraft could carry astronauts also failed, leading the company to try again in 2022.

NASA officials stated earlier this week that they are collaborating with Boeing to enhance Starliner’s thrusters, and further analysis will be conducted once the spacecraft returns and engineers evaluate its performance.

To prepare for a potential thruster malfunction as Starliner embarks on its return journey, flight controllers adjusted the capsule’s usual undocking process: After separating from the space station, Starliner would automatically move away from the station in case of any issues.

Preliminary data showed that the thrusters successfully completed all 12 scheduled burns during the retreat, according to NASA.

Several hours later, at 11:17 pm EST, Starliner’s engines will execute a 59-second “de-orbit burn,” decelerating the spacecraft and initiating its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. As it nears the landing location in New Mexico, parachutes will be deployed to slow the capsule, with airbags beneath the spacecraft deployed to cushion the landing.

For Boeing, a successful return of the Starliner spacecraft will be mixed feelings: If all goes well, it could demonstrate that NASA astronauts could safely ride back on the spacecraft, although NASA’s senior leadership unanimously opted for SpaceX to handle the return flight to reduce the risk of further setbacks.

Boeing designed the Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which began in 2011 to support private spacecraft in place of NASA’s retired space shuttle fleet. Competitor SpaceX is developing its Crew Dragon spacecraft under the same program, which has been conducting regular round-trip missions to the space station since 2020.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Boeing’s Starliner Successfully Launches Crew to International Space Station

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Starliner launched on June 5th from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Joe Raedl/Getty Images

Boeing has successfully launched its Starliner spacecraft with a crew for the first time on its third attempt, a landmark launch that gives NASA two commercial options for sending astronauts into space: Boeing and SpaceX.

Starliner was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. June 5th, 10:52 AM (local time) After several years of delays, the manned launch has finally come to fruition. Initially, the manned launch was expected to take place by the end of 2017, but the plans fell behind schedule. The mission was finally scheduled to launch in May, but a valve failure forced NASA to abort the mission. The second launch on June 1 was scheduled for Discarded Due to computer problems.

But the third launch just a few days later was successful, with the capsule reaching orbit as planned. Carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, they made the 24-hour journey to the International Space Station, where they will stay for about a week to test various systems before returning to Earth aboard the same spacecraft.

The capsule was named Calypso. Reportedly Named after Jacques Cousteau's oceanographic ship, the mission's goal is to verify that Starliner is safe to transport crew to the ISS. If these tests are successful and the two astronauts return safely to Earth aboard Starliner, similar ships could begin annual crewed flights to the space station.

Each Starliner is designed to last up to 10 round trips, carrying up to seven people per flight, though a standard operational flight will likely only carry three or four astronauts.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Two contracts won Ten years ago, there were bids for a shuttle ship to transport crew to the International Space Station. One bid was for Boeing's Starliner, the other was SpaceX's Dragon capsule. Dragon outdid Starliner with its first crewed flight in 2020.

Starliner will be the sixth manned orbital spacecraft launched by the United States, following Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle and Dragon.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX Dragon packed up by ISS crew for return to Earth

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< p >The SpaceX Dragon supply ship (photographed from the window of the SpaceX Dragon Freedom crew ship) carrying more than 5,800 pounds of new scientific experiments and crew supplies approaches the International Space Station in the South Atlantic Ocean in July 2022. Credit: NASA< /p >

< p >The crew of Expedition 70 finished packing the U.S. cargo ship before departure Wednesday. International space station. The seven orbiting residents also collaborated on various human studies to learn how to keep humans healthy in space.< /p >

< p >On Wednesday, the four astronauts worked together to coordinate the final cargo transport inside the spacecraft. Space X Dragon cargo spaceship. The Dragon had been berthed at the station since November 11 and was scheduled to unberth at 9:05 p.m. EST Wednesday from the forward port of the Harmony module’s orbital outpost. Due to weather conditions, we are scheduled to depart on Thursday, December 21st at 5:05pm ET.< /p >

< p >The agency will provide live coverage of Dragon’s undocking and departure starting at 8:45 p.m. NASA+via streaming services web or NASA app. The coverage will also be broadcast live on NASA Television. YouTubeand the agency’s Website.learn how Stream NASA TV Through various platforms including social media.< /p >

< p >SpaceX’s Dragon supply ship approached the International Space Station in April 2023 carrying more than 6,200 pounds of scientific experiments, crew supplies, and other cargo to replenish the crew for Expedition 68. At the time this photo was taken, both spacecraft were flying 429 miles above the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. Credit: NASA< /p >

< p >Astronauts Jasmine Mogberg and Andreas Mogensen began their science return mission in the morning, transferring frozen research samples from the station’s science freezer to an insulated Dragon science transport bag. Astronauts Loral O’Hara and Satoshi Furukawa continued handing over samples in the Destiny, Kibo, and Columbus experimental modules and packed them into Dragon. NASA aeronautical engineers O’Hara and Mogbeli concluded their study by storing fresh astronaut blood samples inside Dragon for recovery and analysis on Earth. Mogbeli will be the last crew member to leave the Dragon and close the hatch several hours before departure.< /p >

< p >Seven Expedition 70 crew members take portraits inside the Kibo laboratory module on the International Space Station. Front row (from left) are ESA (European Space Agency) Commander Andreas Mogensen, NASA flight engineers Jasmine Moghberg and Loral O’Hara. Behind him are Roscosmos aeronautical engineers Nikolai Chubut, Konstantin Borisov and Oleg Kononenko. Satoshi Furukawa, flight engineer at JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). Credit: NASA< /p >

< p >All four crew members went to work and had blood and saliva samples taken. Cryptography A suite of 14 experiments examining how living in zero gravity affects the human body. O’Hara also took cognitive tests to understand how the brain works in space. Moghbeli downloaded the medical data stored on the health monitoring vest and headband. After all, Furukawa and Mogensen JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and ESA (european space agency) Each used an ultrasound 2 machine to scan the veins in each other’s necks, shoulders, and legs.< /p >

< p >The three astronauts lived and worked on the station, but remained focused on their mission. Roscosmos-Based scientific experiments and laboratory maintenance. Aviation engineers Konstantin Borisov and Nikolai Chubut participated in two different fitness evaluations. Borisov started pedaling on an exercise cycle, while Chubb jogged on a treadmill with a sensor attached to measure aerobic activity. Aeronautical engineer Oleg Kononenko conducted another of his 3D printing sessions to demonstrate manufacturing tools and consumables in microgravity.< /p >

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Source: scitechdaily.com

Health and Biology Experiments Conducted by ISS Crew during Dragon’s Countdown

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Loral O’Hara, NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 aeronautical engineer, proudly displays the research hardware that supports the UMAMI (Understanding Microgravity for Animal-Microbial Interactions) astrobiology experiment. Dr. O’Hara has in her possession an Advanced Space Experiment Processor (ADSEP) fluid processing cassette (FPC) that facilitates observations of the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microorganisms and their animal hosts. Credit goes to NASA for this image.

The top research goals for the Expedition 70 crew earlier in the week included crew health and astrobiology. The crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) were occupied with various standard laboratory maintenance tasks. In the meantime, SpaceX’s Dragon cargo spacecraft is scheduled to depart as early as Wednesday.

Studying the effects of weightlessness is a priority for doctors and scientists, as they observe how various life forms, including humans, adapt and survive in the harsh environment of microgravity. NASA and its international partners are planning further long-term missions into space in order to learn more about the biology of aging and its impact on disease mechanisms. NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 flight engineer Jasmine Moghbeli was seen wearing a BioMonitor vest and headband to test her ability to comfortably monitor the health of astronauts throughout the day. She also spent time processing cell samples in the Kibo experimental module’s life science glovebox.

Today, a pair of CubeSats were deployed outside the orbital outpost for exploration. Flight engineer Satoshi Furukawa of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) photographed the deployment of two small satellites and then maintained and supported optical hardware regenerative medicine experiment. In the end, Furukawa prepared: Sapphire-VI Fire safety experiments conducted remotely on board a ship Cygnus space cargo ship After leaving the space station.

Astronauts Loral O’Hara and Andreas Mogensen were stowing their spacewalk gear in Quest’s airlock. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen used the Advanced Space Experiment Processor 2 (ADSEP-2) to store and process samples for a variety of biological and physical science experiments.

Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Konstantin Borisov inspected and photographed eggs packed inside a centrifuge in the Nauka scientific module. Flight engineer Nikolai Chubut spent the day developing the life support systems inside the Zarya and Zvezda modules.

The Dragon supply mission’s departure was targeted for 5:05 p.m. EST Wednesday, Dec. 20, with coverage beginning at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA+ streaming service and NASA Television. As the departure was being organized, joint teams continued to work to assess optimal autonomous ports of entry and return weather conditions.

Source: scitechdaily.com

The ISS Crew Stay Busy While Waiting for SpaceX’s Dragon to Navigate through Weather Conditions

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This night view of southern Europe looks from Milan, Italy, northwest to southeast (bottom right), across the Adriatic Sea to Split, Croatia. At the time this photo was taken, the International Space Station was orbiting 423 miles above eastern France.
Credit: NASAExpedition 70 crews continue to pack up the U.S. cargo spacecraft for departure early next week. The seven residents living on the ship are international space station (ISS) has also explored virtual reality while providing various scientific and life support hardware services.
NASA and space x The undocking of the SpaceX Dragon cargo replenishment spacecraft from the International Space Station will be postponed to Sunday, Dec. 17, due to inclement weather as a cold front moves through the spray belt off the coast of Florida.The joint team will continue to assess weather conditions to determine the best opportunity for Dragon to autonomously leave the space station and determine the next available opportunity by 5:05 p.m. EST Monday, December 18th.The vibrant city lights of Tokyo were captured from the International Space Station, orbiting 421 miles above the sky.
Credit: NASAWeather permitting for Monday’s undock, coverage of Dragon’s departure will begin at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA streaming service. web or NASA app. The coverage will also be broadcast live on NASA Television. YouTubeand the agency’s Website. After re-entering the atmosphere, the spacecraft will fly off the coast of Florida, but the event will not be broadcast on NASA TV.
NASA astronaut Jasmine Moghbeli and NASA’s Satoshi Furukawa JAXA The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) has resumed transferring cargo freezers packed with science from the station’s Express Rack to Dragon. The two activated and configured the scientific freezer within the Dragon, securing biological samples stored for recovery and analysis on Earth.
Prior to this, Moghbeli replaced hardware in the Solution Crystallization Observation Facility, a research instrument that studies crystal morphology and growth. She also shook up mixing tubes containing seed samples for astrobotany research. Furukawa reconnected the power and communications units within the combustion research hardware in Kibo’s laboratory module.
Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island shaped like a palm tree, is a highlight of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in this nighttime photo taken from the International Space Station, which orbits 454 miles above the Persian Gulf. Masu.
Credit: NASAESA Commander Andreas Mogensen (european space agency) His day began with an experiment aimed at strengthening computer programming skills Promote STEM careers for students across the globe. Mogensen then donned virtual reality goggles and watched a 360-degree film to understand the stabilizing effects of the nervous system. VR mental care experiment.
NASA flight engineer Loral O’Hara spent the day performing laboratory maintenance throughout the orbiting outpost. She replaced orbital plumbing components, deployed a portable her fan inside the Tranquility module, and replaced a broken wireless antenna inside the Unity module.
The space station’s three astronauts remained focused on scientific activities and maintaining the orbital system. After breakfast, flight engineers Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chubb scanned the stomach again with an ultrasound machine. Roscosmos Research on spatial digestion. Mr. Kononenko relocated the eggs into incubators for biological experiments, and Mr. Chubb transferred the dismantled life support equipment from the Zarya module to Unity. Flight engineer Konstantin Borisov spent the morning working on the orbital plumbing and ended the day by photographing and inspecting the windows of the Zvezda service module.

Source: scitechdaily.com