Tuesday, May 31, 2022

European Companies Continue Work on Artemis 4's Orion Service Module and Lunar Gateway Components...

At Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, work continues on the European Service Module that will fly on NASA's Artemis 4 mission.
Thales Alenia Space

Orion’s European Service Module 4 Successfully Completed Integration Activities in Thales Alenia Space’s Turin Plant (News Release)

Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the primary and the secondary structure, and thermo-mechanical systems of ESA's European Service Modules (ESM)

Turin (Italy) - Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has successfully completed the activities related to the final integration of the critical systems of Orion’s European Service Module 4. The module is now on its way to Airbus Defence and Space’s clean rooms in Bremen, Germany. There, it will complete the integration and carry out final tests, supported by Thales Alenia Space engineers on-site.

The Orion spacecraft was designed to take astronauts back to the Moon, as part of NASA's Artemis Program. The overall European Service Module has been developed on behalf of ESA, providing the structure, propulsion, power, thermal control, and primary life support. Specifically, ESM4 - as part of the Artemis IV mission - will drive the International Habitat (I-HAB) to the Lunar Gateway, docking with the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) to further enhance human living capabilities in lunar orbit.

In addition to ESM 4, as for previous modules 1, 2 and 3, Thales Alenia Space will provide Airbus - Orion's ESM module prime contractor - with the critical subsystems of the forthcoming ESM 5 and 6 service modules, including structure, micro-meteorite protection, thermal control, storage, and distribution of consumables. These subsystems are crucial parts of the modules as they ensure vital and safe conditions for the crew during the entire mission.

Leonardo is also partnering in the program, supplying the photovoltaic panels (PVA) and Power Control and Distribution Units (PCDU) for ESM modules 1 to 6.

Thales Alenia Space has completed the final pre-integration phase of ESM 4's thermo-mechanical system, including the assembly of components for the Thermal Control System (TCS) and the Consumable Storage System (CSS) subsystems. Following the check of the components under Thales Alenia Space’s responsibility (including vital elements such as the system pump and radiators) with the relevant functional checks and the final completion of the activities by the prime contractor, ESM 4 will then be delivered to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Thales Alenia Space will continue to play its role of paramount importance while its engineers will contribute to the packing phase activities during transport.

In addition to being responsible for the thermo-mechanical systems for the Orion European Service Module, the company is heavily involved in Lunar Gateway, providing ESPRIT and I-HAB pressurized modules to ESA. The welding of HALO is also underway at Thales Alenia Space’s plant in Turin.

Leveraging on its one-of-a-kind legacy onboard Cygnus and the International Space Station, for which the company has provided the major part of its habitable modules, Thales Alenia Space has now become a top industrial partner onboard Lunar Gateway and Axiom commercial space station. The world leader in orbital infrastructures, the company is also involved in several studies with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and ESA - both on the surface and in lunar orbit, as well as supporting major space exploration missions.

Source: Thales Alenia Space

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An artist's concept of NASA's Gateway space station orbiting our Moon...with Mars in the distance.
Thales Alenia Space

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Photos of the Day: A New Starship Begins Testing at Starbase, TX...

Starship SN24 is transported to the Orbital Launch Site at Starbase, Texas...on May 26, 2022.
SpaceX

Just thought I'd share these official SpaceX images of Starship Serial No. 24 (SN24) being transported to the Orbital Launch Site (OLS) at Starbase in Texas.

SN24's rollout from Starbase's High Bay occurred on May 26, with the prototype vehicle beginning cryogenic testing at the OLS the very next day. It remains to be seen when Super Heavy Booster 7 will join Starship at the pad to undergo tests as well.

It also remains to be seen when the Federal Aviation Administration will publicize its final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) that will decide when Starship's much-anticipated orbital test flight will occur. The expected release date for the PEA was May 31.

Happy Memorial Day weekend to my fellow Yanks!

Starship SN24 is transported to the Orbital Launch Site at Starbase, Texas...on May 26, 2022.
SpaceX

Starship SN24 is transported to the Orbital Launch Site at Starbase, Texas...on May 26, 2022.
SpaceX

Starship SN24 is about to arrive at the Orbital Launch Site in Starbase, Texas...on May 26, 2022.
SpaceX

Saturday, May 28, 2022

NASA Has Officially Set a Date for the Space Launch System's Return to Pad 39B for Its Wet Dress Rehearsal...

NASA's Space Launch System rocket stands tall on the pad at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B...on March 18, 2022.
NASA

June 6 Set for Artemis I Moon Rocket to Roll for Next Tanking Test (News Release - May 27)

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are targeted to return to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, for the next wet dress rehearsal attempt ahead of the Artemis I mission. First motion is currently slated for 12:01 a.m., the morning of the 6th, with tanking operations to begin no earlier than June 19.

The rehearsal is the final test needed before launch and calls for NASA to load propellant into the rocket’s tanks, conduct a full launch countdown, demonstrate the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and drain the tanks to practice the timelines and procedures that will be used for launch.

While inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), teams completed several major objectives, including assessing the liquid hydrogen system leak at the tail service mast umbilical, replacing the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) gaseous helium system check valve and support hardware, and modifying the ICPS umbilical purge boots. The addition of hazardous gas detectors above the upper stage allows for additional visibility into any potential leaks during cryogenic operations.

The hatches, or access points, of the crew module and launch abort system are now closed in preparation for rollout. Engineers installed rain gutters on the crew access area to help prevent moisture from entering the crew module while the spacecraft and rocket are at the launch pad. Teams have started retracting the service platforms that surround the Moon rocket and spacecraft in the VAB for rollout configuration ahead of their return to the launch pad.

NASA will provide livestream views for the rollout of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft from VAB and arrival at Launch Complex 39B. For more information about the launch availability, click here.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Friday, May 27, 2022

The Development of Artemis Spacesuits Will Achieve a Major Milestone Next Week...

An artist's concept of two astronauts working on the surface of the Moon.
NASA

NASA to Pick Next Generation Spacesuits for Moonwalking, Spacewalking (Press Release - May 26)

NASA will announce at 2 p.m. EDT (1 p.m. CDT) Wednesday, June 1, the company, or companies, selected to move forward in developing the next generation of spacesuits for Artemis missions at the Moon and the International Space Station during an event at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The announcement will air live on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and the NASA app.

Event participants will include:

- Vanessa Wyche, director, NASA Johnson
- Lindsay Aitchison, program executive for Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, NASA Headquarters
- Lara Kearney, manager, Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, NASA Johnson
- Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Johnson

Media are invited to attend in-person and hear remarks by key NASA officials involved in the selection followed by a question-and-answer session.

U.S. media interested in participating in person must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than 6 p.m. (5 p.m. CDT) Friday, May 27, by calling 281-483-5111 or emailing jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov. To participate by phone, media must contact the newsroom by 6 p.m. (5 p.m. CDT) Tuesday, May 31. A copy of NASA’s media accreditation policy is online.

New spacesuits that allow humans to explore the lunar surface and unlock new spacewalk capabilities outside the International Space Station are a critical part of advancing human exploration in space and demonstrating continued American leadership.

Under Artemis, new exploration spacesuits, together with human surface mobility systems, the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion Spacecraft, ground systems, Gateway, and human landing systems, will enable NASA to return humans to and establish a long-term presence at the Moon and to eventually explore Mars.

Source: NASA.Gov

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Assembly Continues on Flight Hardware for Orion's Third Journey to the Moon...

Work is completed on the liquid hydrogen tank for the interim cryogenic propulsion stage that will fly on the Space Launch System's Artemis 3 mission to the Moon.
United Launch Alliance

Upper Stage Propulsion System for Future Artemis Mission Reaches Major Milestone (News Release - May 25)

While the Artemis I team prepares for its upcoming mission, NASA and contractor teams are already building rockets to support future Artemis Moon missions.

In United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) factory in Decatur, Alabama, major components have been completed for the Artemis III interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) that will provide the power to send astronauts to the Moon.

The ICPS, which is built by ULA under a collaborative partnership with Boeing, provides in-space propulsion for the Orion spacecraft after the solid rocket boosters and core stage put SLS into an Earth orbit, and before the spacecraft is flying on its own. The liquid hydrogen tank (above) is built, and soon it will be mated to the intertank (below) that connects it with the liquid oxygen tank.

The intertank is comprised of composite-material truss structures in an X design. The eight bottles around the perimeter of the trusses store helium used to pressurize the stage's propellant tanks.

The liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks provide propellant for a single RL10 engine built by Aerojet Rocketdyne in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Artemis III ICPS will provide the big push needed to propel Orion toward the Moon and send the crew on the first mission where humans once again will land on the lunar surface.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Assembly continues on the intertank for the interim cryogenic propulsion stage that will fly on the Space Launch System's Artemis 3 mission to the Moon.
United Launch Alliance

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Starliner Clears a Major Hurdle Before Sending Astronauts into Space by the End of This Year...

Starliner releases its heat shield prior to inflating its six airbags just as the Boeing capsule approached its landing zone at White Sands Missile Range’s Space Harbor in New Mexico...on May 25, 2022.
NASA / Bill Ingalls

NASA, Boeing Complete Starliner Uncrewed Flight Test to Space Station (Press Release)

NASA and Boeing safely landed the company’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft Wednesday in the desert of the western United States, completing the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station to help prove the system is ready to fly astronauts.

About four hours after departing the space station, Starliner touched down onto its airbags at 4:49 p.m. MDT, wrapping up the six-day flight, which tested the end-to-end capabilities of the crew-capable spacecraft. The landing followed a deorbit burn at 4:05 p.m., separation of the spacecraft’s service module, and successful deployment of its three main parachutes and six airbags.

“NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and our industry partner, Boeing, today took a major and successful step on the journey to enabling more human spaceflight missions to the International Space Station on American spacecraft from American soil,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The OFT-2 mission represents the power of collaboration, which allows us to innovate for the benefit of humanity and inspire the world through discovery. This golden era of spaceflight wouldn’t be possible without the thousands of individuals who persevered and poured their passion into this great achievement.”

As part of the flight test for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Boeing accomplished planned test objectives, including:

- Starliner launch and normal trajectory to orbital insertion
- Launch of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V and dual-engine Centaur second stage
- Ascent abort emergency detection system validation
- Starliner separation from the Atlas V rocket
- Approach, rendezvous, and docking with International Space Station
- Starliner hatch opening and closing, astronaut ingress, and quiescent mode
- Crew habitability and internal interface evaluation
- Starliner undocking and departure from space station
- Starliner deorbit, and crew module separation from service module
- Starliner descent and atmospheric entry with aero-deceleration system
- Precision targeted landing and recovery

“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and perseverance shown by the NASA, Boeing and ULA team culminating in the successful completion of Starliner’s second Orbital Flight Test from start to finish,” said Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “Throughout this process, Starliner has provided a tremendous amount of valuable data, which we’re continuing to assess in our effort to bring the spacecraft online and fully operational for crew flights to the space station as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The flight test began Thursday, May 19, when Starliner launched on the ULA Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Following liftoff, Starliner successfully entered Earth’s orbit, performed a series of demonstrations of its capabilities, and docked with the orbital outpost 26 hours after launch. The Expedition 67 crew aboard the station opened hatches and entered the capsule for the first time, inspecting the spacecraft and verifying integration with station power and communications systems for longer stays in the future. The station crew also unloaded 500 pounds of cargo delivered by Starliner and sent 600 pounds of cargo back to Earth.

“Congratulations to the NASA and Boeing teams,” said Joel Montalbano, manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program. “I am excited to see the completion of a critical step in bringing another system online to transport long-duration crew members to and from the International Space Station. Soon, we hope to see crews arrive to the space station on Starliner to continue the important microgravity scientific research and discovery made possible by the orbiting laboratory.”

A critical step in validating the performance of Boeing’s systems, OFT-2 brings the nation a significant step closer to having two unique human transportation systems to carry astronauts to and from the space station from U.S. soil.

“We have had an excellent flight test of a complex system that we expected to learn from along the way and we have,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Boeing Commercial Crew Program. “With the completion of OFT-2, we will incorporate lessons learned and continue working to prepare for the crewed flight test and NASA certification. Thank you to the NASA and Boeing teammates who have put so much of themselves into Starliner.”

Starliner carried a “passenger” on this flight test – a lifelike test device named Rosie.

During OFT-1, Rosie was outfitted with 15 sensors to collect data on what astronauts will experience during flights on Starliner. For OFT-2, spacecraft data capture ports previously connected to Rosie’s 15 sensors were used to collect data from sensors placed along the seat pallet, which is the infrastructure that holds all the crew seats in place. Among the cargo returned were three Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System reusable tanks that provide breathable air to station crew members. The tanks will be refurbished on Earth and sent back to the station on a future flight.

Boeing retrieved the spacecraft from the desert and will transport it back to the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for processing.

After NASA and Boeing review and process data from this test flight, teams will continue plans for Starliner and its next mission, the Crew Flight Test to the space station.

Source: NASA.Gov

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With six airbags inflated, Starliner approaches its landing zone at White Sands Missile Range’s Space Harbor in New Mexico...on May 25, 2022.
NASA / Bill Ingalls

Technicians in hazmat suits inspect Starliner for hydrazine leaks after the capsule touched down at White Sands Missile Range’s Space Harbor in New Mexico...on May 25, 2022.
NASA / Bill Ingalls

Starliner's side hatch is opened by Boeing's team after the capsule touched down at White Sands Missile Range’s Space Harbor in New Mexico...on May 25, 2022.
NASA TV

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

The Engine Section for the Space Launch System's Fourth Flight Continues to Undergo Assembly in Louisiana...

At NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana, the engine section for the Space Launch System's Artemis 4 core stage booster is moved to the Vertical Assembly Building for its next phase of production...on May 12, 2022.
NASA / Michael DeMocker

NASA Readies Artemis IV (Photo Release - May 12)

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility prepare to move the engine section of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis IV to the Vertical Assembly Building for the next step in production. This hardware is the first large piece manufactured for the Artemis IV mission and makes up the lowest portion of the 212-foot-tall core stage.

When complete, the engine section will house the four RS-25 engines and include vital systems for mounting, controlling and delivering fuel from the propellant tanks to the rocket’s engines. Together with its four RS-25 engines and its twin solid rocket boosters, it will produce 8.8 million pounds of thrust to send NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon and, ultimately, Mars.

Offering more payload mass, volume capability, and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit, the Human Landing System, and Orion spacecraft, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

Source: NASA.Gov

Monday, May 23, 2022

A JAXA Astronaut Will Be Among the First Crew Members to Venture to NASA's Lunar Space Station...

An artist's concept of NASA's Gateway orbiting the Moon.
NASA

President Biden: NASA to Welcome Japanese Astronaut Aboard Gateway (Press Release)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in Tokyo Monday where they announced progress on collaboration for human and robotic lunar missions. They confirmed their commitment to include a Japanese astronaut aboard the lunar Gateway outpost and their shared ambition to see a future Japanese astronaut land on the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program.

“In recent years, the alliance between Japan and the United States has grown stronger, deeper, and more capable as we work together to take on new challenges – just as important as the opportunities – of a rapidly changing world,” said President Biden. “A great example of this: We viewed Japan's lunar rover... a symbol of how our space cooperation is taking off, looking towards the Moon and to Mars. And I'm excited about the work we'll do together on the Gateway station around the Moon and look forward to the first Japanese astronaut joining us in the mission to the lunar surface under the Artemis program.”

The United States and Japan are working to formalize the Japanese astronaut’s inclusion on Gateway through an Implementing Arrangement later this year.

“Our shared ambition to see Japanese and American astronauts walk on the Moon together reflects our nations’ shared values to explore space responsibly and transparently for the benefit of humanity here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “With this historic announcement, President Biden is once again showing nations throughout the world that America will not go alone but with like-minded partners. Under Artemis, it’s our intention to invest in and explore the cosmos with countries that promote science, economic opportunity, and a common set of shared values.”

As part of ongoing collaborations on space and Earth science missions, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the United States and Japan’s continued cooperation on Earth science data sharing to improve scientific understanding of the Earth’s changing climate.

In addition, the president confirmed the United States’ intention to provide Japan with a sample from the asteroid Bennu in 2023, collected from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. Japan provided the United States with an asteroid sample collected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 asteroid sample-return mission in 2021.

JAXA is also a critical partner to NASA in helping the agency achieve its goals in science and human exploration, including on the International Space Station and through Artemis. In 2020, Japan became an original signatory of the Artemis Accords and finalized an agreement with NASA to provide several capabilities for Gateway’s I-HAB, which will provide the heart of Gateway life support capabilities and additional space where crew will live, work, and conduct research during Artemis missions.

JAXA’s planned contributions include I-HAB’s environmental control and life support system, batteries, thermal control, and imagery components, which will be integrated into the module by ESA (European Space Agency) prior to launch. These capabilities are critical for sustained Gateway operations during crewed and uncrewed time periods.

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Sunday, May 22, 2022

NASA Aims to Roll the Space Launch System Back to Pad 39B Next Month...

An image I took of NASA's Space Launch System rocket from Playalinda Beach Road Vista 5...on March 26, 2022.

Artemis I Moon Rocket to Return to Launch Pad 39B in Early June (News Release - May 20)

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are slated to return to Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in early June for the next wet dress rehearsal attempt.

Engineers successfully completed work on a number of items observed during the previous wet dress rehearsal test. This includes addressing the liquid hydrogen system leak at the tail service mast umbilical, replacing the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) gaseous helium system check valve and support hardware, modifying the ICPS umbilical purge boots, and confirming there are no impacts to Orion as a result of storms and subsequent water intrusion at the launch pad. The team also updated software to address issues encountered during core stage tanking of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen during previous rehearsal attempts.

The purge boots are not flight hardware, but enclose an area around the ICPS umbilical – the connection between the mobile launcher and the upper stage – to protect it from the natural environment during propellant loading.

Meanwhile the contractor for gaseous nitrogen has completed their repairs to the distribution system that will be used to support the Artemis testing and launch campaign. The repairs and tests ensured the system is ready to support tanking operations. During wet dress rehearsal and launch, teams use gaseous nitrogen to purge the rocket including its umbilical plates and to support other operations.

Engineers also are completing some of the forward work originally scheduled to take place in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after wet dress rehearsal. This includes opening the Orion crew module hatch and installing some payloads, such as hardware elements for the Callisto technology demonstration, a flight kit locker, and container assemblies for a space biology experiment.

Following completion of a few remaining verifications, teams will retract platforms inside the VAB to prepare SLS and Orion to roll out to pad 39B. Plans call for the next wet dress rehearsal to take place about 14 days after the rocket arrives at the pad.

Source: NASA.Gov

Saturday, May 21, 2022

CST-100 Update: Space Station Crew Members Have Entered Starliner for the First Time!

NASA astronaut Bob Hines works inside the cabin of Boeing's Starliner capsule...with 'Rosie the Rocketeer' and a zero-g indicator of Jebediah Kerman, the Kerbal Space Program's mascot, visible in the foreground on May 21, 2022.
NASA TV

Astronauts Open Starliner Hatch to ISS (News Release)

Floating inside the Harmony module, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) opened the hatch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and moved inside to become the first people to enter the spacecraft on orbit. Starliner docked to the ISS yesterday afternoon to complete a major milestone of the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) for the uncrewed vehicle. Because the docking occurred late in the ISS crew’s workday, the hatch opening did not take place until this morning.

“This is a momentous day in NASA’s history and just paving the way to the future as we start enabling commercial flights here in low-Earth orbit, while NASA pivots to the Moon and eventually on to Mars,” said NASA Astronaut Bob Hines.

The crew will spend the next several days unloading some cargo from Starliner and performing systems tests inside the spacecraft. They will close the hatch on May 24 and then work with ground controllers on May 25 to see Starliner disconnect from the station and make its return flight home to Earth.

Source: StarlinerUpdates.com

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A close-up of the Jebediah Kerman zero-g indicator inside the cabin of Boeing's Starliner capsule...on May 21, 2022.
Serg Korsakov

Friday, May 20, 2022

ISS Update: Starliner Has Safely Arrived at the Orbital Outpost!

Boeing's Starliner capsule is about to dock with the International Space Station...on May 20, 2022.
Serg Korsakov

Starliner Docks to the International Space Station for the First Time (News Release)

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft docked to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time today as the two vehicles orbited about 250 miles above Earth. The docking showed that the spacecraft can effectively execute a rendezvous and docking with the ISS. Starliner will be able to complete this action repeatedly as it takes crews to the orbiting laboratory in the future.

After launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida yesterday, Starliner took a carefully-crafted course to the ISS that allowed Starliner to show its systems were working well on orbit before approaching the station and connecting to the orbital complex. Starliner achieved soft capture 26 hours and 34 minutes into the flight test on the spacecraft’s first docking attempt.

Springs on the Starliner’s docking system settled out all motion between ISS and Starliner before the docking ring retracted and 12 hooks closed to complete the docking process. Teams at Starliner Mission Control commanded the spacecraft from the ground, connecting the systems between Starliner and the ISS that allow electrical power and data to flow between the two vehicles.

The ISS crew is slated to open Starliner’s hatch tomorrow and float aboard the spacecraft, becoming the first people to see inside a Starliner while in space. Waiting for them will be anthropometric test device and veteran space traveler “Rosie the Rocketeer.” Now orbiting as one complex, Starliner will go into a quiescent phase that will see most of its systems powered down until the spacecraft is ready to undock and come back to Earth.

Source: StarlinerUpdates.com

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As seen from inside SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom vehicle, Boeing's Starliner capsule is about to dock with the International Space Station...on May 20, 2022.
Samantha Cristoforetti

Boeing's Starliner capsule is about to dock with the International Space Station...on May 20, 2022.
NASA TV

Boeing's Starliner capsule fires its thrusters as it approaches the International Space Station for docking...on May 20, 2022.
Serg Korsakov

Boeing's Starliner capsule moments after it successfully docked to the International Space Station...on May 20, 2022.
NASA TV

Boeing's Starliner capsule docked to the International Space Station...as seen from inside SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom vehicle on May 20, 2022.
Samantha Cristoforetti

Thursday, May 19, 2022

CST-100 Update: Starliner Is Finally En Route to the ISS!

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing's Starliner capsule lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-41 pad in Florida...on May 19, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky

Starliner Launches to Space Station on Uncrewed Flight Test for NASA (Press Release)

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is in orbit, heading for the International Space Station following launch Thursday of the next-generation spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on a mission designed to test the end-to-end capabilities of the crew-capable system as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Starliner lifted off on NASA’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) at 6:54 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following an orbital insertion burn 31 minutes later, Starliner was on its way for a rendezvous and docking with the space station.

“I am so proud of the NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance teams who have worked so hard to see Starliner on its way to the International Space Station,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Through adversity, our teams have continued to innovate for the benefit of our nation and all of humanity. I look forward to a successful end-to-end test of the Starliner spacecraft, which will help enable missions with astronauts aboard.”

Launch and orbital insertion are major milestones for the company’s second uncrewed flight, bringing the U.S. closer to having two independent crew systems fly missions to and from the space station.

Starliner is scheduled to dock to the forward port of the station’s Harmony module around 7:10 p.m. Friday, May 20. After a successful docking, the crew of Expedition 67 will open Starliner’s hatch about 11:45 a.m. Saturday, May 21. Coverage of docking and hatch opening will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

“I am incredibly grateful to our NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance teams that have demonstrated persistence, resolve, and dedication to ensuring we were ready for launch today and for this flight test,” said Kathryn Lueders, NASA associate administrator for space operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We have learned so much as we’ve worked together to prepare for this mission, and we look forward to watching the spacecraft arrive at the space station for the first time, and continuing to learn and improve as we prepare to fly our astronauts on Starliner.”

For the flight test, Starliner is carrying about 500 pounds of NASA cargo and crew supplies, and more than 300 pounds of Boeing cargo to the International Space Station. Following certification, NASA missions aboard Starliner will carry up to four crew members to the station, enabling the continued expansion of the crew and increasing the amount of science and research that can be performed aboard the orbiting laboratory.

OFT-2 will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying Boeing’s crew transportation system for regular flights with astronauts to and from the space station.

“We’ve learned a lot about the capability of our spacecraft and the resilience of our team since the first Starliner launch,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Boeing Commercial Crew Program. “We still have a lot of operational testing ahead as we prepare to rendezvous with the space station, but we’re ready to demonstrate the system we’ve worked so hard on is capable of carrying astronauts to space.”

ULA controlled the launch of the Atlas V rocket from its Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center in Cape Canaveral. As Starliner ascended into space, Boeing commanded the spacecraft from its mission control center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Boeing and ULA teams also provided support to controllers from Kennedy Space Center and Colorado, respectively, throughout the countdown to launch. NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“We are proud of our partnership role with Boeing in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and want to thank our mission partners as this is truly a collective accomplishment,” said Tory Bruno, president and CEO, United Launch Alliance. “The successful launch today marks the first critical step toward the future of human spaceflight onboard an Atlas V, and we look forward to the remainder of the mission and to safely flying astronauts in the future.”

Starliner is scheduled to depart the space station Wednesday, May 25, when it will undock and return to Earth, with a desert landing in the western U.S. The spacecraft will return with more than 600 pounds of cargo, including Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System reusable tanks that provide breathable air to station crew members. The tanks will be refurbished on Earth and sent back to the station on a future flight.

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After lifting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-41 pad in Florida, Boeing's Starliner capsule heads toward the International Space Station courtesy of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket...on May 19, 2022.
NASA / Joel Kowsky


Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Photos of the Day: Starliner Is Back at the Pad for Orbital Flight Test 2...

The Atlas V rocket and Starliner capsule stand tall on the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-41 in Florida...on May 18, 2022.
United Launch Alliance

A few hours ago, the mobile transporter carrying United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V rocket and Boeing's Starliner capsule arrived at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 pad in Florida.

With the vehicle now in position for Orbital Flight Test (OFT)-2, ULA is putting the final touches for Thursday's liftoff. The Crew Access Tower's swing arm has been extended to Starliner so technicians can place final cargo into the spacecraft, and 25,000 gallons of RP-1 fuel is currently being loaded into the Atlas V's core stage booster by the launch team.

OFT-2 is scheduled to depart from SLC-41 for the International Space Station (ISS) at 6:54:47 PM, Eastern Daylight Time (3:54:47 PM, Pacific Daylight Time) tomorrow...with the weather forecast at 70% GO. Once it is in orbit, it will take Starliner 24 hours to reach the ISS.

The Atlas V rocket and Starliner capsule stand tall on the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-41 in Florida...on May 18, 2022.
United Launch Alliance

The Atlas V rocket and Starliner capsule stand tall on the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-41 in Florida...on May 18, 2022.
United Launch Alliance

The Crew Access Tower's swing arm is extended to the Starliner capsule at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-41 launch pad in Florida...on May 18, 2022.
United Launch Alliance

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The First Lunar Mission Under the Artemis Program Is Set to Launch at the End of This Month...

The Electron rocket that will send NASA's CAPSTONE spacecraft to the Moon sits atop its pad at Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab Begins Payload Integration for CAPSTONE Mission to the Moon (Press Release - May 16)

Rocket Lab will launch the CAPSTONE spacecraft to a unique lunar transfer orbit using the Electron launch vehicle and Lunar Photon spacecraft bus, charting a new path for NASA's Moon-orbiting space station to be used by Artemis astronauts

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, today announced that the CAPSTONE spacecraft has arrived at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand in preparation for launch to lunar orbit. With the spacecraft now at the launch site, Rocket Lab will begin payload integration with the Electron rocket and Photon spacecraft bus ahead of the launch window opening on May 31.

Designed and built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, a Terran Orbital Corporation, and owned and operated by Advanced Space, the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) CubeSat will be the first spacecraft to test the Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) around the Moon. Researchers expect this orbit to be a gravitational sweet spot in space – where the pull of gravity from Earth and the Moon interact to allow for a nearly-stable orbit – allowing physics to do most of the work of keeping a spacecraft in orbit around the Moon. NASA has big plans for this unique type of orbit. The agency hopes to park bigger spacecraft – including the lunar-orbiting space station Gateway – in an NRHO around the Moon, providing astronauts with a base from which to descend to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis program.

CAPSTONE will be launched to an initial low-Earth orbit by Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle and then placed on a ballistic lunar transfer by Rocket Lab’s Lunar Photon spacecraft bus. Unlike the Apollo lunar missions of the 1960s and 70s, which took a free-return trajectory to the Moon, this fuel-efficient ballistic lunar transfer makes it possible to deploy CAPSTONE to such a distant orbit using a small launch vehicle. Standing at just 59 feet tall, Electron is the smallest rocket to attempt a launch to the Moon.

Around ten minutes after lift-off on Electron, Rocket Lab’s Lunar Photon spacecraft bus, with CAPSTONE attached, will separate from the rocket and carry out a series of orbit-raising maneuvers, stretching its orbit into a prominent ellipse around Earth. About six days after launch, a final burn from Photon’s 3D-printed HyperCurie engine will accelerate Photon to 24,500 miles per hour, enabling it to escape low-Earth orbit and set CAPSTONE on a course for the Moon. Within 20 minutes of the final burn, Photon will release CAPSTONE into space for the first leg of the CubeSat’s solo flight. CAPSTONE’s journey to NRHO is expected to take around four months from this point. Once successfully inserted into the orbit, CAPSTONE is expected to remain there for at least six months, allowing NASA to study the orbit dynamics.

“CAPSTONE’s arrival at Launch Complex 1 marks a major milestone in this historic mission. We’re excited to move into the final integration and test phase ahead of launch day,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. “This is our most ambitious Photon mission yet and a significant step toward providing scientific missions with dedicated and affordable access to interplanetary orbits. Less than four years after our first Electron mission for NASA, it’s fantastic to be working with the agency and its partners again to go beyond low-Earth orbit and pave the way for humanity’s return to the Moon.”

Rocket Lab has carried out 26 Electron launches since 2017, but the CAPSTONE mission will be Rocket Lab’s first launch beyond low-Earth orbit. Rocket Lab also operates two Photon spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, but the CAPSTONE mission is the first to employ the high-energy variant of the Photon spacecraft bus, powered by the HyperCurie engine, designed to support lunar and interplanetary missions. CAPSTONE is the first in a series of interplanetary missions for Photon, including the ESCAPADE mission to Mars in 2024 and Rocket Lab’s private mission to Venus in 2023.

Source: BusinessWire.com

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An artist's concept of Rocket Lab's Lunar Photon spacecraft transporting CAPSTONE to the Moon.
Rocket Lab

An artist's concept of NASA's Gateway orbiting the Moon.
NASA

Monday, May 16, 2022

On This Day in 1992: Endeavour Completes Her First Space Shuttle Mission...

A photo that I took of Endeavour as she was about to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California...completing her first space shuttle mission, STS-49, on May 16, 1992.

30 years ago today, two of my siblings and I went down to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California to watch Endeavour land after completing her maiden shuttle flight, STS-49.

I was in 6th grade at the time, and unfortunately, I didn't have a DSLR camera with a nice telephoto lens to get a better shot of the brand-new orbiter touching down on the runway in the Mojave Desert. But I'm just grateful that I was in position to take the image above!

This October will mark 10 years since I went to Westchester, a city near Los Angeles International Airport, to view Endeavour up-close as she began her 3-day journey through the streets of L.A. to her final home at the California Science Center. Hail Endeavour!

Posing with Endeavour in the city of Westchester near Los Angeles International Airport...on October 12, 2012.

Saturday, May 14, 2022

The Core Stage Booster for the Space Launch System's Fourth Flight Continues to be Fabricated in Louisiana...

At NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana, the barrel for the Space Launch System's Artemis 4 liquid oxygen tank is lifted out of the Vertical Weld Center for its next phase of production...on May 10, 2022.
NASA / Michael DeMocker

Artemis IV Liquid Oxygen Tank Aft Barrel Moves to Next Phase of Production (Photo Release)

Move crews at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility lift the aft liquid oxygen tank (LOX) barrel out of the Vertical Weld Center (VWC) for its next phase of production. The aft barrel will eventually be mated with the forward barrel and the forward and aft domes to form the LOX tank, which will be used in the Space Launch System’s (SLS) Artemis IV mission.

The LOX tank holds 196,000 gallons of super-cooled liquid oxygen to help fuel four RS-25 engines. The SLS core stage is made up of five unique elements: the forward skirt, liquid oxygen tank, intertank, liquid hydrogen tank, and the engine section.

The liquid oxygen hardware, along with the liquid hydrogen tank will provide propellant to the four RS-25 engines to produce more than two million pounds of thrust to help launch NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon.

Together with its four RS-25 engines, the rocket’s massive 212-foot-tall core stage — the largest stage NASA has ever built — and its twin solid rocket boosters will produce 8.8 million pounds of thrust to send NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon and, ultimately, Mars.

Offering more payload mass, volume capability and energy to speed missions through space, the SLS rocket, along with NASA’s Gateway in lunar orbit, the Human Landing System, and Orion spacecraft, is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration and the Artemis lunar program. No other rocket is capable of carrying astronauts in Orion around the Moon in a single mission.

Source: NASA.Gov

Friday, May 13, 2022

The Space Launch System Moves One Step Closer to Returning to Pad 39B Later This Month...

A low-angle view of NASA's Space Launch System rocket inside the Vehicle Assembly Building's High Bay 3 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on September 20, 2021.
NASA / Frank Michaux

Work Continues to Return Artemis I Moon Rocket Back to Launch Pad for Next Test (News Release)

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue to work on the main tasks needed to prepare the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to return to launch pad 39B for the next wet dress rehearsal attempt.

After re-tightening the flange bolts on the tail service mast umbilical lines to address a hydrogen leak identified during the previous wet dress rehearsal, engineers determined the seals on the bolts are no longer relaxing, and the system should remain tightly sealed during propellant loading. As a precaution, teams also moved the location of a heavy cantilevered filter on the tail service mast umbilical, which filters out any contaminants in the gaseous helium – a purge gas – that travels through the drain assist purge line. Engineers did not identify any leaks at its previous location, but relocating the filter will ensure it does not contribute to future leaks. Engineers conducted additional leak checks and have not detected any leaks at ambient air temperature.

Additionally, after replacing the helium check valve on the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS), engineers found a damaged rubber O-ring seal in the flight side of the quick disconnect – the area that separates the ICPS from the mobile launcher during launch. The O-ring came loose and entered the valve, preventing the valve from sealing correctly. Teams removed the flight and ground side of the quick disconnect system and replaced support hardware that was downstream of the check valve. Work is underway to determine the root cause to prevent any recurrences. Next, teams will re-pressurize the system and test the replaced hardware on the upper stage.

The supplier for gaseous nitrogen completed upgrades to its facility to meet the requirements for the next wet dress rehearsal attempt. Engineers will test the system next week to ensure its ready to support tanking operations. During wet dress rehearsal and launch, teams pump gaseous nitrogen into dry structures to protect avionics during propellant loading.

Teams also completed additional work needed, such as inspecting the Orion spacecraft for water damage that may have occurred during a heavy thunderstorm at the spaceport during the initial wet dress rehearsal attempt. Teams determined there was no damage to the systems inside the capsule and continue with inspections and wrapping up other work before retracting the platforms inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to prepare to roll SLS and Orion back to the launch pad. NASA will announce dates for rolling out to the pad and the next wet dress rehearsal attempt once work inside the VAB and testing of the nitrogen system are nearing completion.

Source: NASA.Gov

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Moon Samples from the Apollo Program Pave the Way for a Future Moon Base in the Artemis Era...

By day 6 of a NASA/University of Florida experiment, there were noticeable differences between plants grown in volcanic ash lunar simulant (left) and those grown in lunar soil (right) obtained by Apollo astronauts in 1969 and 1972.
UF / IFAS photo by Tyler Jones

Scientists Grow Plants in Lunar Soil (News Release)

NASA-funded study breaks new ground in plant research

In the early days of the Space Age, the Apollo astronauts took part in a visionary plan: Bring samples of the lunar surface material, known as regolith, back to Earth where they could be studied with state-of-the-art equipment and saved for future research not yet imagined. Fifty years later, at the dawn of the Artemis era and the next astronaut return to the Moon, three of those samples have been used to successfully grow plants. For the first time ever, researchers have grown the hardy and well-studied Arabidopsis thaliana in the nutrient-poor lunar regolith.

“This research is critical to NASA’s long-term human exploration goals as we’ll need to use resources found on the Moon and Mars to develop food sources for future astronauts living and operating in deep space,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “This fundamental plant growth research is also a key example of how NASA is working to unlock agricultural innovations that could help us understand how plants might overcome stressful conditions in food-scarce areas here on Earth.”

Scientists at the University of Florida have made a breakthrough discovery — decades in the making — that could both enable space exploration and benefit humanity. “Here we are, 50 years later, completing experiments that were started back in the Apollo labs,” said Robert Ferl, a professor in the Horticultural Sciences department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and a communicating author on a paper published on May 12, 2022, in Communications Biology. “We first asked the question of whether plants can grow in regolith. And second, how might that one day help humans have an extended stay on the Moon.”

The answer to the first question is a resounding yes. Plants can grow in lunar regolith. They were not as robust as plants grown in Earth soil, or even as those in the control group grown in a lunar simulant made from volcanic ash, but they did indeed grow. And by studying how the plants responded in the lunar samples, the team hopes to go on to answer the second question as well, paving the way for future astronauts to someday grow more nutrient-rich plants on the Moon and thrive in deep space.

To Boldly Go, We Must Boldly Grow

“To explore further and to learn about the solar system we live in, we need to take advantage of what’s on the Moon, so we don’t have to take all of it with us,” said Jacob Bleacher, the Chief Exploration Scientist supporting NASA’s Artemis program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Bleacher points out that this is also why NASA is sending robotic missions to the Moon’s South Pole where it’s believed there may be water that can be used by future astronauts. “What’s more, growing plants is the kind of thing we’ll study when we go. So, these studies on the ground lay the path to expand that research by the next humans on the Moon.”

Arabidopsis thaliana, native to Eurasia and Africa, is a relative of mustard greens and other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. It also plays a key role for scientists: due to its small size and ease of growth, it is one of the most studied plants in the world, used as a model organism for research into all areas of plant biology. As such, scientists already know what its genes look like, how it behaves in different circumstances, even how it grows in space.

Working with Teaspoon-sized Samples

To grow the Arabidopsis, the team used samples collected on the Apollo 11, 12, and 17 missions, with only a gram of regolith allotted for each plant. The team added water and then seeds to the samples. They then put the trays into terrarium boxes in a clean room. A nutrient solution was added daily.

“After two days, they started to sprout!” said Anna-Lisa Paul, who is also a professor in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida, and who is first author on the paper. “Everything sprouted. I can’t tell you how astonished we were! Every plant – whether in a lunar sample or in a control – looked the same up until about day six.”

After day six, however, it was clear that the plants were not as robust as the control group plants growing in volcanic ash, and the plants were growing differently depending on which type of sample they were in. The plants grew more slowly and had stunted roots; additionally, some had stunted leaves and sported reddish pigmentation.

After 20 days, just before the plants started to flower, the team harvested the plants, ground them up, and studied the RNA. In a biological system, genes are decoded in multiple steps. First, the genes, or DNA, are transcribed into RNA. Then the RNA is translated into a protein sequence. These proteins are responsible for carrying out many of the biological processes in a living organism. Sequencing the RNA revealed the patterns of genes that were expressed, which showed that the plants were indeed under stress and had reacted the way researchers have seen Arabidopsis respond to growth in other harsh environments, such as when soil has too much salt or heavy metals.

Additionally, the plants reacted differently depending on which sample – each collected from different areas on the Moon – was used. Plants grown in the Apollo 11 samples were not as robust as the other two sets. Nonetheless, the plants did grow.

Sowing the Seeds for Future Research

This research opens the door not only to someday growing plants in habitats on the Moon, but to a wide range of additional questions. Can understanding which genes plants need to adjust to growing in regolith help us understand how to reduce the stressful nature of lunar soil? Are materials from different areas of the Moon more conducive to growing plants than others? Could studying lunar regolith help us understand more about the Mars regolith and potentially growing plants in that material as well? All of these are questions that the team hopes to study next, in support of the future astronauts traveling to the Moon.

“Not only is it pleasing for us to have plants around us, especially as we venture to new destinations in space, but they could provide supplemental nutrition to our diets and enable future human exploration,” said Sharmila Bhattacharya, program scientist with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division. “Plants are what enable us to be explorers.”

This research is part of the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis Program, or ANGSA, an effort to study the samples returned from the Apollo Program in advance of the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon’s South Pole. BPS helped support this work, which also supports other fundamental plant research, including Veggie, PONDS, and Advanced Plant Habitat.

About BPS

NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Placing a plant grown during the NASA/University of Florida experiment into a vial for future genetic analysis.
UF / IFAS photo by Tyler Jones

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

OFT-2 Update: Starliner Is Ready to Fly to the International Space Station 8 Days from Now...

The CST-100 Starliner capsule is mated to its Atlas V rocket inside the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida...on May 4, 2022.
NASA / Frank Michaux

Flight Readiness Concludes for Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test-2 (News Release)

NASA and Boeing are proceeding with plans for the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station following a full day of briefings and discussions during a Flight Readiness Review that took place at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Launch of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for 6:54 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 19, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

OFT-2 will test the end-to-end capabilities of Starliner from launch to docking, atmospheric re-entry, and a desert landing in the western United States. OFT-2 will provide valuable data that will help NASA certify Boeing’s crew transportation system to carry astronauts to and from the space station.

Source: StarlinerUpdates.com

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

A Third Latin American Nation Has Joined NASA's Moon Exploration Initiative...

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy looks on as Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez signs the Artemis Accords at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC...on May 10, 2022.
NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

NASA Welcomes Vice President of Colombia for Artemis Accords Signing (News Release)

During a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington Tuesday, May 10, the Republic of Colombia became the 19th country to sign the Artemis Accords. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy participated in the signing ceremony for the agency, and Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Colombia.

The Artemis Accords establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations, including those participating in NASA’s Artemis program.

"NASA is proud to have Colombia join the family of nations signing the Artemis Accords,” said Melroy. “Our efforts to create a sustainable presence at the Moon and later Mars requires the partnership and expertise of a diverse and robust cadre of nations that embrace peaceful exploration of space. We look forward to our future collaborations with Colombia as the world explores together.”

Colombia is the third Latin American country to sign the Artemis Accords, following Brazil and Mexico.

“I am very honored being here today at NASA signing the Artemis Accords representing Colombia in a very significant moment of the bilateral relationship as we celebrate this year, the 200th anniversary of the U.S. – Colombia diplomatic relations,” said Ramírez. “It is a substantial steppingstone for my country as we continue to develop our knowledge, national capacity, and understanding of the importance of space for future generations of Colombians to come.”

NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, announced the establishment of the Artemis Accords in 2020. The Artemis Accords reinforce and implement the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. They also reinforce the commitment by the United States and partner nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.

Additional countries will sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues to work with its international partners to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space. Working with both new and existing partners will add new energy and capabilities to ensure the entire world can benefit from our journey of exploration and discovery.

Source: NASA.Gov

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A computer-generated rendering of NASA's Orion spacecraft docked to the Lunar Gateway.
ESA

Monday, May 9, 2022

Blue Origin Gears Up for Its Next Suborbital Flight to Space...

The six-member crew of Blue Origin's NS-21 mission.
Blue Origin

NS-21 to Fly Six Customer Astronauts, Including First Mexican-Born Woman to Visit Space (News Release)

Blue Origin today announced the crew flying on its NS-21 mission will include: investor and NS-19 Astronaut Evan Dick; electrical engineer and former NASA test lead Katya Echazarreta; business jet pilot and Action Aviation Chairman Hamish Harding; civil production engineer Victor Correa Hespanha; adventurer and Dream Variation Ventures co-founder Jaison Robinson; and explorer and co-founder of private equity firm Insight Equity Victor Vescovo, Commander, USN (Ret.). Katya will become the first Mexican-born woman and youngest American woman to fly to space, and she will be flying as part of Space for Humanity’s sponsored Citizen Astronaut Program. Victor Correa Hespanha will be the second Brazilian to fly to space.

Each astronaut on board NS-21 will carry a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, whose Postcards to Space program gives students access to space on Blue Origin’s rockets. The Club’s mission is to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM for the benefit of Earth.

This mission will be the fifth human flight for the New Shepard program and the 21st in its history. The flight date will be announced soon.

Meet the Crew:

Evan Dick

Evan is an engineer, investor, and Managing Member of Dick Holdings, LLC., and flew onboard NS-19 on December 11, 2021. Evan formerly served as Senior Vice President for D.E. Shaw and Managing Director of Highbridge Capital Management, and he is a charitable supporter of the Darwin Foundation and Population Relief International Corp. Evan is an ATP-rated pilot and volunteer for Starfighters Aerospace, as well as an avid sailor and motorcyclist.

Katya Echazarreta

Katya was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her mission is to provide representation for women and minorities interested in STEM fields. She is the co-host of the YouTube series Netflix IRL and Electric Kat on the CBS show Mission Unstoppable. Katya is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University and earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UCLA in 2019. Following graduation, she spent nearly four years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on five NASA missions, including the Perseverance Rover and Europa Clipper.

Katya’s seat is sponsored by Space for Humanity, a nonprofit whose mission is to expand access to space for all of humanity.

Hamish Harding

Hamish is Chairman of Action Aviation, a business jet brokerage company he founded in 2004, and also a business jet pilot. In 2019, he and former International Space Station Commander Col. Terry Virts broke the Round-the-World record in a Gulfstream G650ER for any aircraft flying over the North and South poles. In addition to holding several aviation world records, Hamish has travelled to the South Pole twice, and in 2021 dived the Challenger Deep with Victor Vescovo to a depth of 36,000 ft in a two-person sub. Hamish lives in the United Arab Emirates with his wife, two teenage sons, and two golden retrievers.

Victor Correa Hespanha

Victor is a 28-year-old civil production engineer from Minas Gerais (Brazil). As a child he dreamed of becoming an astronaut, and now, after buying his first NFT, he's honored to be the second Brazilian to fly to space and the world’s first cryptonaut.

Victor’s seat is sponsored by the Crypto Space Agency, whose mission is to combine the space industry's technology with the innovation and financial power of the crypto markets to accelerate humankind’s off-world future.

Jaison Robinson

Jaison founded JJM Investments, a commercial real estate company, and co-founded Dream Variations Ventures (DVV) with his wife, Jamie. DVV invests in technology and sports start-ups. He’s an avid scuba diver and skydiver, has broken the sound barrier in a MiG-29 fighter jet, spent a week hiking in Antarctica, and climbed to the tallest waterfall in the world in Venezuela. He was a finalist on Survivor: Samoa in 2009. Jaison earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford, with study at Oxford, and a JD from the University of Chicago. He is also an Eagle Scout and played water polo at Stanford and on the United States National Team.

Victor Vescovo

Victor is a co-founder of private equity investment firm Insight Equity. He has completed the “Explorer’s Grand Slam,” which includes summiting the world’s seven summits and skiing to the North and South Poles. In 2020, he became the first person to repeatedly dive to the deepest point in the ocean, Challenger Deep (now twelve times). He is the first person to visit the deepest point in the world’s five oceans and executed the deepest wreck dive in history. Victor is a commercially-rated multi-engine jet and helicopter pilot, as well as a certified submersible test pilot. He holds degrees from Stanford, MIT, and Harvard Business School, and served 20 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer, retiring as a Commander (O-5).

Source: Blue Origin

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A New Shepard rocket lifts off from Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas on a flight that took it 389,846 feet above the Earth...on July 18, 2018.
Blue Origin