Thursday, August 31, 2023
Images of the Day: Beauty Pics of Orion and the Gateway...
Alberto Bertolin, Bradley Reynolds
Just thought I'd end the month of August with these great illustrations of NASA's Gateway lunar space station and the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. The first time that Orion astronauts will visit Gateway should be during the Artemis 4 mission in 2028.
Enjoy!
NASA
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Monday, August 28, 2023
A Technology Demonstration Known as ILLUMA-T Will Soon Be Tested at the ISS...
NASA / Dave Ryan
NASA to Demonstrate Laser Communications from Space Station (News Release)
NASA uses the International Space Station (ISS) — a football field-sized spacecraft orbiting Earth — to learn more about living and working in space. For over 20 years, the space station has provided a unique platform for investigation and research in areas like biology, technology, agriculture and more.
The ISS serves as a home for astronauts conducting experiments, including advancing NASA’s space communications capabilities.
In 2023, NASA is sending a technology demonstration known as the Integrated LCRD Low-Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) to the space station. Together, ILLUMA-T and the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), which launched in December 2021, will complete NASA’s first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system.
With ILLUMA-T, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program office will demonstrate the power of laser communications from the space station. Using invisible infrared light, laser communications systems send and receive information at higher data rates.
With higher data rates, missions can send more images and videos back to Earth in a single transmission. Once installed on the space station, ILLUMA-T will showcase the benefits that higher data rates could have for missions in low-Earth orbit.
“Laser communications offer missions more flexibility and an expedited way to get data back from space,” said Badri Younes, former deputy associate administrator for NASA's SCaN program. “We are integrating this technology on demonstrations near Earth, at the Moon, and in deep space.”
In addition to higher data rates, laser systems are lighter and use less power — a key benefit when designing spacecraft. ILLUMA-T is approximately the size of a standard refrigerator and will be secured to an external module on the space station to conduct its demonstration with LCRD.
Currently, LCRD is showcasing the benefits of a laser relay in geosynchronous orbit – 22,000 miles from Earth – by beaming data between two ground stations and conducting experiments to further refine NASA’s laser capabilities.
“Once ILLUMA-T is on the space station, the terminal will send high-resolution data, including pictures and videos to LCRD at a rate of 1.2 gigabits-per-second,” said Matt Magsamen, deputy project manager for ILLUMA-T. “Then, the data will be sent from LCRD to ground stations in Hawaii and California. This demonstration will show how laser communications can benefit missions in low-Earth orbit.”
ILLUMA-T is launching as a payload on SpaceX’s 29th Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA. In the first two weeks after its launch, ILLUMA-T will be removed from the Dragon spacecraft’s trunk for installation on the station’s Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility (JEM-EF), also known as Kibo — meaning “hope” in Japanese.
Following the payload’s installation, the ILLUMA-T team will perform preliminary testing and in-orbit checkouts. Once completed, the team will make a pass for the payload’s first light — a critical milestone where the mission transmits its first beam of laser light through its optical telescope to LCRD.
Once first light is achieved, data transmission and laser communications experiments will begin and continue throughout the duration of the planned mission.
Testing Lasers in Different Scenarios
In the future, operational laser communications will supplement radio frequency systems, which most space-based missions use today to send data home. ILLUMA-T is not the first mission to test laser communications in space but brings NASA closer to operational infusion of the technology.
Aside from LCRD, ILLUMA-T’s predecessors include the 2022 TeraByte InfraRed Delivery system, which is currently testing laser communications on a small CubeSat in low-Earth orbit; the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration, which transferred data to and from lunar orbit to the Earth and back during the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer mission in 2014; and the 2017 Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science, which demonstrated how laser communications can speed up the flow of information between Earth and space compared to radio signals.
Testing the ability for laser communications to produce higher data rates in a variety of scenarios will help the aerospace community further refine the capability for future missions to the Moon, Mars and deep space.
Source: NASA.Gov
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NASA / Dennis Henry
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Endurance Has Arrived at the ISS...
NASA TV
Expedition 69 Welcomes Crew-7 Members Aboard Station (News Release)
NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov have arrived at the International Space Station.
The Dragon spacecraft hatch was opened at 10:58 a.m. EDT on Sunday, shortly after the station crew opened the hatch between the space station and the pressurized mating adapter.
Crew-7 joins the Expedition 69 crew of NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg and Frank Rubio, as well as UAE astronaut (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and Andrey Fedyaev.
Source: NASA.Gov
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The @SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft docked to the station’s Harmony module at 9:16am ET today. The four #Crew7 members are now prepping for hatch opening. https://t.co/XR8weAFc9k pic.twitter.com/qh3ItKAHqc
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) August 27, 2023
Saturday, August 26, 2023
ISS Update: Crew Dragon Endurance Is Headed Back to the Orbital Outpost...
NASA / Joel Kowsky
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 Launches to International Space Station (Press Release)
An international crew of four representing four countries is in orbit following a successful launch to the International Space Station at 3:27 a.m. EDT on Saturday, August 26, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The agency’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh commercial crew rotation mission for NASA.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, for a science expedition aboard the orbital laboratory.
“Crew-7 is a shining example of the power of both American ingenuity and what we can accomplish when we work together,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Aboard station, the crew will conduct more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations to prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, all while benefitting humanity on Earth. By partnering with countries around the world, NASA is engaging the best scientific minds to enable our bold missions, and it’s clear that we can do more – and we can learn more – when we work together.”
During Dragon’s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California, and NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Named Endurance, the Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 8:39 a.m. on Sunday, August 27. NASA Television, the NASA app and the agency’s website will provide live coverage of docking and hatch opening.
NASA will also cover welcome remarks by the crew aboard the orbital outpost at 11:30 a.m.
Crew-7 will join the space station’s Expedition 69 crew of NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg and Frank Rubio, as well as UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and Andrey Fedyaev. For a short time, the number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 until Crew-6 members Bowen, Hoburg, Alneyadi and Fedyaev return to Earth a few days later.
Crew-7 will conduct new scientific research to benefit humanity on Earth and prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. Experiments include the collection of microbial samples from the exterior of the space station, the first study of human response to different spaceflight durations, and an investigation of the physiological aspects of astronauts' sleep.
These are just some of the science experiments and technology demonstrations that will take place during their mission.
“The International Space Station is an incredible science and technology platform that requires people from all around the world to maintain and maximize its benefits to people on Earth,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “It’s great seeing Crew-7 launch with four crew members representing four countries who will live and work on humanity’s home in space as we continue the nearly 23 years of a continuous human presence aboard the microgravity laboratory.”
The Crew-7 mission enables NASA to maximize use of the space station, where astronauts testing technologies, performing science and developing the skills needed to operate future commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit and explore farther from Earth. Research conducted aboard the space station provides benefits for people on Earth and paves the way for future long-duration trips to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis missions.
Meet Crew-7
This is Moghbeli’s first trip into space since her selection as a NASA astronaut in 2017. The New York native earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with information technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, and a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
Moghbeli, a helicopter and Marine Corps test pilot, has more than 150 combat missions and 2,000 hours of flight time in over 25 different aircraft. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland.
As mission commander, Moghbeli is responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry. She will serve as an Expedition 69/70 flight engineer aboard the station.
Mogensen was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009 and became the first Danish citizen in space after launching aboard a Soyuz for a 10-day mission to the space station in 2015. He is from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mogensen completed undergraduate studies and received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College London in England before gaining his doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Mogensen has since served as a crew member for NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations undersea missions 17 and 19.
Mogensen was the European astronaut liaison officer at NASA Johnson from 2016 to 2022, working as a capsule communicator for astronauts aboard the station and as ground support for spacewalks. As the pilot on Crew-7, he is responsible for spacecraft systems and performance aboard the station.
Mogensen will serve as an Expedition 69 flight engineer and Expedition 70 commander.
Furukawa is making his second trip to space, having spent 165 days aboard the space station as part of Expeditions 28 and 29 in 2011. He is from Kanagawa, Japan, and was selected as a JAXA astronaut in 1999.
Furukawa is a physician and received his medical degree from the University of Tokyo, and later a doctorate in medical science from the same university. He served as a crew member on the 13th NEEMO mission, and later, was appointed head of JAXA’s Space Biomedical Research Group.
Aboard the station, Furukawa will become a flight engineer for Expedition 69/70.
Borisov is making his first trip to space and will serve as a mission specialist, working to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and entry phases of flight. He entered the Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corps as a test cosmonaut candidate in 2018 and will serve as a flight engineer for Expedition 69/70.
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Friday, August 25, 2023
Photos of the Day: Booster 9 Lights Up Again...
SpaceX
Earlier today, SpaceX's Booster 9 (B9) vehicle conducted a second static fire at Starbase in Texas...culminating in a successful demonstration that lasted a full six seconds and only resulted in two of B9's 33 Raptor 2 engines shutting down before the test was complete.
With another static fire accomplished, it remains to be seen when Starship 25 will be re-attached to B9 for flight. Of course, we're still waiting on the Federal Aviation Administration to grant SpaceX approval to launch Starship Super Heavy on the suborbital Integrated Flight Test 2.
Stay tuned!
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Super Heavy Booster 9 static fire successfully lit all 33 Raptor engines, with all but two running for the full duration. Congratulations to the SpaceX team on this exciting milestone! pic.twitter.com/1hzs768vHg
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2023
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The Original SLS Launch Platform Is Back at the Pad for Testing Before the Next Artemis Mission...
NASA / Kim Shiflett
Mobile Launcher Arrives at Launch Pad 39B for Artemis II Preps (News Release - August 17)
After an approximately four-mile journey over the course of two days, Mobile Launcher 1 arrived on August 17 at Launch Complex 39B from its park site location at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will remain at the pad for several months as teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program prepare for Artemis II, the first crewed mission under Artemis.
Teams will conduct a variety of tests and continue ground systems upgrades on both structures. These preparations include testing the pad’s new 1.4-million-gallon liquid hydrogen sphere and emergency egress system.
After testing at the pad is complete, the Mobile Launcher will travel to the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for rocket-stacking operations ahead of launching Artemis II.
Source: NASA.Gov
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👏 What a day!
— NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (@NASAGroundSys) August 15, 2023
As if today's mobile launcher 2 construction wasn't exciting enough, teams also moved our crawler transporter 2 underneath our other ML, mobile launcher 1, and performed hydraulic 'push-ups' to prepare for the upcoming roll to Pad 39B!
Mobile launcher 1 has been… pic.twitter.com/vdUje9qSxu
After a full day of crawling closer to Launch Pad 39B at @NASAKennedy, our teams have stopped just short of the launch pad's gates.
— NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (@NASAGroundSys) August 16, 2023
Stay tuned for more coverage on the mobile launcher 1's roll to the pad and follow us for updates on all things build, launch, and recover… pic.twitter.com/7Ac22P3nY5
Wondering how @JacobsConnects and @NASA are preparing to send humans back to the moon? 🚀🌙
— Jacobs (@JacobsConnects) August 19, 2023
Read more ⬇️ to learn more about what comes next for the Artemis program. https://t.co/oOypptRXZ8
📸: #NASA#BoldlyMovingFoward #WeAreGoing #Artemis pic.twitter.com/L81AZaMDnA
Friday, August 18, 2023
Starship Update: Booster 9 Has Received New Hardware for Super Heavy's Next Flight...
SpaceX
Earlier today, SpaceX shared these online photos of the vented interstage that was recently connected to Booster 9 at Starbase in Texas.
This special interstage will allow Starship Super Heavy to conduct a "hot-staging" during flight...which allows Starship 25 (on the next Starship Flight Test) and future vehicles to fire their six Raptor 2 engines immediately after separation from their first-stage boosters.
SpaceX is apparently aiming for August 31 as the earliest launch date to attempt another flight of Super Heavy, but this obviously depends on how fast the Federal Aviation Administration responds to the Starship Mishap Report (pertaining to the April 20 test) that SpaceX submitted to the agency a few days ago.
Stay tuned!
SpaceX
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Photos of the Day: The Latest Update on the Permanent Home for Endeavour...
Richard T. Par
Earlier today, I visited the California Science Center near downtown Los Angeles to check out the latest progress on space shuttle Endeavour's future home, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
Unfortunately, I was unable to get a glimpse of the two aft skirts for Endeavour's twin solid rocket boosters after they were recently installed at their permanent location in the construction site. But just down the road, I took photos of Endeavour's external fuel tank, ET-94, as workers continued to prep this flight artifact before it is moved to the construction site sometime next year.
And of course, I visited Endeavour inside her temporary home at the Samuel Oschin Pavilion—which will permanently close after December 31 so the orbiter can be prepped for relocation to the Air and Space Center as well. I plan on going to the California Science Center to take pictures of Endeavour during this exciting milestone!
Richard T. Par
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Richard T. Par
My trip to the California Science Center today was mostly focused on the current and future home of Endeavour, but I couldn't ignore the historic artifacts celebrating the early days of the space program...#Mercury #Gemini #ApolloSoyuz pic.twitter.com/gEM3DixRhv
— Rich Par (@AstroPnoy) August 18, 2023
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Assembly Begins on the Launch Platform for the SLS Block 1B Rocket...
NASA
Bechtel Begins Construction for NASA’s Mobile Launcher 2 (Press Release)
Bechtel-led team bolts together first steel
Bechtel today announced that construction started at the Mobile Launcher 2 project, located at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The milestone was marked by bolting together the first pieces of steel that will become the foundation of the structure.
Bechtel is partnering with NASA to build the Mobile Launcher 2 to support NASA’s Artemis mission to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars.
Mobile Launcher 2 will change the landscape at Kennedy Space Center. The new launcher – which will be designed, built and tested by Bechtel – will grow to more than 390 feet in height and withstand a launch environment of greater than 2,200° Fahrenheit, blast pressures of more than 130 psi, and thrust of more than 8.9 million pounds.
This infrastructure will safely service the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
"I am proud of our team for achieving this significant milestone in partnership with NASA,” said Bechtel Project Manager, Felice Presti. “It is incredible to see the complex designs of my Bechtel colleagues come together in this new, innovative structure that will support the SLS rocket and NASA’s Artemis mission to further deep space exploration. I look forward to continuing safe progress on the mobile launcher as we work from bolting to liftoff.”
As the Artemis mission progresses, the SLS rocket will adapt to meet the demands of each unique mission. The SLS rocket is designed to evolve as necessary to carry the Orion spacecraft, four astronauts and their support equipment to the Moon.
Beginning construction on Mobile Launcher 2 underscores Bechtel’s ongoing commitment to the mission and community. The Bechtel-led team has awarded more than $100 million in procurements in the local area, and over $425 million around the United States through partnerships in 33 states and growing.
In the months ahead, additional steel trusses and girders from our team of suppliers around the country will arrive at Kennedy Space Center, be prepared through a specialized blasting and coating process, and eventually assembled at the Parksite.
Source: Bechtel.com
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📹 Timelapse: Watch from the mobile launcher 2 parksite as teams from @Bechtel begin to set in place the first 'super assembly' onto the temporary mount mechanism. The Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy, where the @NASA_SLS rocket will be assembled, can be seen in back.… pic.twitter.com/4rSzVtILBg
— NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (@NASAGroundSys) August 15, 2023
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
A Major Milestone Is Achieved on the Path to Orion's First Crewed Flight to the Moon...
NASA / Kim Shiflett
Artemis II Orion Crew Module Acoustic Testing Complete (News Release)
On August 13, engineers and technicians inside the high bay of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida successfully completed a series of acoustic tests to ensure that the Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission can withstand the speed and vibration it will experience during launch and throughout the 10-day mission around the Moon, the first Artemis mission with astronauts.
During the testing, engineers surrounded the crew module with large stacks of speakers, and attached microphones, accelerometers and other equipment to measure the effects of different acoustic levels. Engineers and technicians will now analyze the data collected during the tests.
Prior to testing, the four Artemis II astronauts visited the high bay and viewed their ride to the Moon. With this test complete, technicians at Kennedy are on track to integrate Orion’s crew and service modules this fall.
Source: NASA.Gov
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NASA / Kim Shiflett
Friday, August 11, 2023
Orion's First Crew Members Will Test Docking Maneuvers During Their Flight to the Moon...
United Launch Alliance
Technicians Add “Target” to NASA Artemis II Rocket Hardware (News Release - August 10)
A critical auxiliary target for NASA’s Artemis II mission is ready for flight following testing at United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Florida facility. Teams with the company added the target onto the in-space propulsion stage for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at ULA’s Delta Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 16.
Following the safe separation of NASA’s Orion spacecraft from the rocket’s upper stage, the four astronauts aboard Orion will use the target affixed to the in-space stage for a proximity operations demonstration to test Orion’s piloting qualities. The recently-installed target underwent illumination testing in May to ensure that the target will be visible in the different lighting conditions of space.
The SLS rocket delivers propulsion in phases to send the Artemis missions to the Moon. Its ICPS (interim cryogenic propulsion stage) and its single RL10 engine fires twice during the Artemis II mission to put the Orion spacecraft and astronauts into a high-Earth orbit, where they will then check out Orion’s manual handling qualities using the ICPS and its auxiliary target before then heading to the Moon.
During the demonstration, astronauts will use the two-foot target to test navigation and other critical Orion systems to assess its ability to approach and fly alongside another large spacecraft in space before future Artemis missions that require docking capabilities.
NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems.
SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.
Source: NASA.Gov
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United Launch Alliance
Thursday, August 10, 2023
VSS Unity Has Sent Her First Trio of Private Passengers to the Edge of Space Today!
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic Completes First Private Astronaut Spaceflight Galactic 02 (Press Release)
Third Successful Spaceflight in Just Over Three Months
Historic Mission Flew First Olympian, First Female Astronauts from Caribbean and Most Women Flown in a Single Mission to Space
Galactic 03, the Company’s Third Commercial Spaceflight, Planned for September
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“Virgin Galactic” or the “Company,”) today announced the completion of its first private astronaut flight, Galactic 02. The mission achieved multiple historic milestones, showcasing how Virgin Galactic spaceflights are broadening access to space for a diverse, global community of astronauts.
Flying private astronauts Jon Goodwin from the United Kingdom, and Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers from Antigua and Barbuda, Galactic 02 achieved the following:
- First female astronauts from the Caribbean
- First mother-daughter duo to go to space
- Most women flown in a single space mission
- Youngest person to go to space
- First Olympian to go to space
- First majority female spaceflight
- The sixth and seventh Black women to go to space
- Second person with Parkinson’s to go to space
- Third oldest person to go to space
In-Flight Facts:
Take-off Time: 8:30 AM, MDT (7:30 AM, PDT)
Release Altitude: 44,300 feet (13,503 meters)
Apogee: 55 miles (89 kilometers)
Landing Time: 9:30 AM, MDT (8:30 AM, PDT)
Source: Virgin Galactic
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That magical moment when your dreams comes true #Galactic02 pic.twitter.com/k5NsNlXb6u
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) August 10, 2023
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
The First Crewed Flight of the CST-100 Is Now Scheduled for No Earlier Than Next Spring...
NASA
NASA, Boeing Provide Update on Starliner Crew Flight Test (News Release - August 8)
NASA and Boeing teams continue to make progress in preparing for Starliner’s first crewed flight to and from the International Space Station.
In a media teleconference on August 8, leaders from NASA and Boeing discussed the path forward for the spacecraft, including work to address two technical issues identified during the agency’s certification process to ensure that the system meets crew safety requirements.
The Starliner team expects to have the Crew Flight Test spacecraft ready in March 2024. A specific target launch date will be set closer to spacecraft readiness, and with consideration of the International Space Station, United Launch Alliance and Eastern Range availability.
A replay of the teleconference is available on NASA’s YouTube channel.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are assigned to fly Starliner and United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station. The duo will remain docked at the orbiting laboratory for about two weeks to evaluate the new spacecraft and its systems before returning to Earth in the Western United States.
Following a successful first flight with crew, NASA will complete work to certify the Starliner system as an operational crew system for long-duration crew rotation missions to the space station.
Source: NASA.Gov
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Images of the Day: Orion Meets the First Group of Astronauts That It's Flying to the Moon...
NASA / Kim Shiflett
KSC Orion Media Day - Artemis II Crew (Photo Release)
Artemis II crew members, shown inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, stand in front of their Orion crew module on August 8, 2023.
From left to right are: Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; Victor Glover, pilot; Reid Wiseman, commander; and Christina Hammock Koch, mission specialist.
The crew module is undergoing acoustic testing ahead of integration with the European Service Module. Artemis II is the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term lunar presence for science and exploration under Artemis.
Source: NASA.Gov
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NASA / Kim Shiflett
NASA / Kim Shiflett
NASA / Kim Shiflett
NASA / Kim Shiflett
NASA / Kim Shiflett
Monday, August 7, 2023
Construction Continues on the Third Space Launch System Booster in Louisiana...
NASA / Eric Bordelon
Technicians Lift, Prepare Artemis III SLS Intertank for Next Phase of Production at NASA Michoud (Photo Release)
Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans lift the intertank of the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage for NASA’s Artemis III mission to move it to another location in the 43-acre factory for further inspection and production.
The intertank is the backbone of the rocket’s core stage and is located between the mega rocket’s liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank. In addition to joining the rocket’s two massive propellant tanks, the intertank houses avionics and electronics and serves as an attachment point for the rocket’s two solid rocket boosters positioned on either side of the core stage.
The liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank hold 733,000 gallons of super-cold propellant to power the stage’s four RS-25 engines needed for liftoff. Together, the rocket’s four RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters provide more than 8.8 million pounds of thrust to launch NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon.
NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep-space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon.
SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.
Source: NASA.Gov
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NASA / Eric Bordelon
NASA / Evan Deroche
NASA / Eric Bordelon
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Starship Super Heavy Update: Booster 9 Fires Up Its Engines at Starbase's Upgraded Launch Pad...
SpaceX
Earlier today, a static fire was conducted for Booster 9 atop the upgraded Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) at Starbase in Texas. The static fire was shorter than expected...with four of the 33 Raptor 2 engines shutting off prematurely and the test lasting only 2.74 seconds, instead of the planned 5-second duration.
While it appears that SpaceX still has issues to work out with the Raptor 2s, the OLM seemed to do its job in counteracting the force of Booster 9's thrust (which, even though the engine test only lasted less than 3 seconds, was still more powerful than a Falcon Heavy rocket at full throttle) with a newly-installed water deluge system.
Check out these photos of Booster 9 conducting today's static fire as well as a spin prime test of the Raptor 2 engine pumps last Friday. An image and video of the July 28 test of the water deluge system is at the bottom of this entry.
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Drone view of Booster 9 static fire test pic.twitter.com/ARv6H6njgu
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 6, 2023
Additional view of Starship flame deflector test pic.twitter.com/fOLVfAZVZ2
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 28, 2023
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Looking Ahead to Crew Dragon's Eighth Government Flight to the ISS...
NASA
Space Station Assignments Out for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission (Press Release - August 4)
Four crew members are now assigned to launch on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission for a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station.
NASA astronauts Commander Matthew Dominick, Pilot Michael Barratt and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Alexander Grebenkin, will join Expedition 70 and 71 crew members aboard the station in early 2024 to conduct a wide-ranging set of operational and research activities.
This will be the first spaceflight for Dominick, who became a NASA astronaut in 2017. He is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego, California, and a master’s in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
Dominick is an active-duty U.S. Navy astronaut. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, and then served as a test pilot specializing in testing landing on and catapult launches from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
This will be Barratt’s third trip to the space station. In 2009, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19 and 20 as the station transitioned its standard crew complement from three to six, and performed two spacewalks.
Barratt flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 2011 on STS-133, which delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fourth Express Logistics Carrier. He has spent a total of 212 days in space.
Born in Vancouver, Washington, Barratt considers Camas, Washington, to be his hometown. He earned a bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a doctor of medicine from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Barratt completed residencies in internal medicine at Northwestern and aerospace medicine along with a master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. After nine years as a NASA flight surgeon and project physician, Barratt joined the astronaut corps in 2000.
This will also be Epps’ first trip to the space station. She is from Syracuse, New York, and earned a bachelor’s in physics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and a master’s in science and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Prior to joining NASA, Epps worked at Ford Motor Company and the Central Intelligence Agency. She was selected as an astronaut in July 2009, and has served on the Generic Joint Operation Panel working on space station crew efficiency, as a crew support astronaut for two expeditions, and as lead capsule communicator in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Epps was previously assigned to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. NASA reassigned Epps to allow Boeing time to complete development of Starliner while also continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for future mission needs.
Grebenkin, who graduated from Irkutsk High Military Aviation School, Irkutsk, Russia, majoring in engineering, maintenance and repair of aircraft radio navigation systems, is also flying on his first mission. He graduated from Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics with a degree in radio communications, broadcasting and television.
This is the eighth rotational mission to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.
For more than 22 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As a global endeavor, 244 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas.
The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low-Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low-Earth orbit economy, NASA is able to more fully focus its resources on deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.
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Friday, August 4, 2023
The S.S. Laurel Clark Has Docked to the ISS...
NASA TV
Cygnus Installed on Station, Crew Begins Cargo Ops (News Release)
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft installation at the International Space Station is now complete. Cygnus, carrying over 8,200 pounds of cargo and science experiments, launched atop the company’s Antares rocket at 8:31 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 1, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
At 5:52 a.m., NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg, along with NASA astronaut Frank Rubio as backup, captured Cygnus using the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm.
Highlights of space station research facilitated by delivery aboard this Cygnus are:
- The final iteration of a series of spacecraft fire protection experiments
- A new potable water dispenser that provides hot water and improved sanitization
- Neural cells that will be cultured into 3D cell models for gene therapy testing
- A probe that measures plasma density of the upper atmosphere
- A memory card that contains creative works from students around the world
Cygnus will remain at the space station until October before it departs for a destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Source: NASA.Gov
Thursday, August 3, 2023
A Fourth Commercial Crew Will Take Up Residence Aboard the Orbital Outpost Next Year...
NASA
NASA Selects Axiom Space for Another Private Space Mission in 2024 (Press Release)
NASA and Axiom Space have signed an order for the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than August 2024 from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“I am pleased to see another milestone in our efforts to transition low-Earth orbit from primarily a government-sponsored activity to one where NASA is one of many customers,” said Phil McAlister, director of commercial space at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “NASA has been directed to develop commercial platforms to sustain a continuous United States presence in low-Earth orbit and to transition beyond International Space Station operations. These private astronaut missions are helping to pave the way for that transition.”
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is expected to spend up to 14 days docked to the space station. A specific launch date depends on overall spacecraft traffic to the orbital outpost, and other planning constraints.
NASA and Axiom Space mission planners will coordinate in-orbit activities for the private astronauts as they work with station crew members and flight controllers on the ground.
"Our Axiom Space team is looking forward to a fourth mission to the International Space Station,” said Michael Suffredini, CEO and president of Axiom Space. “Each mission allows us to build on the foundation we have set for the world's first commercial space station, Axiom Station, preparing our teams and orbital platform to succeed the International Space Station operations in low-Earth orbit. These missions are instrumental in expanding commercial space activities and access to space for individuals and nations around the world, as well as developing the knowledge and experience needed to normalize living and working in microgravity.”
Axiom Space will submit four proposed crew members for the Ax-4 mission to NASA and its international partners for review. If approved, the prime crew members for the mission will be confirmed.
The Ax-4 crew members will train with NASA, international partners and SpaceX for their flight. Axiom Space has contracted SpaceX as launch provider for transportation to and from the space station, and to familiarize the private astronauts with systems, procedures and emergency preparedness for the Dragon spacecraft.
Axiom Space is obtaining NASA services via both a mission-specific order and a reimbursable Space Act Agreement.
Through the mission-specific order, Axiom Space is obtaining from NASA crew supplies, cargo delivery to space, storage and in-orbit resources for daily use. The order also accommodates up to seven contingency days aboard the space station.
This mission is subject to NASA’s pricing policy for the services that are above space station baseline capabilities.
The order also identifies capabilities NASA may obtain from Axiom Space, including the return of scientific samples that must be kept cold and other cargo, and the capability to use the private astronaut mission commander’s time to complete NASA science or perform tasks for the agency.
Through Space Act Agreements, Axiom Space will reimburse NASA for services to enable the mission, such as training for crew members and use of facilities at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, SpaceX has a reimbursable agreements with NASA Kennedy for launch services.
NASA announced its selection of Axiom Space for the third private astronaut mission in March. NASA and its international partners are reviewing the proposed crew members now, and an announcement is expected later this year.
The mission is now targeted to launch no earlier than January 2024.
NASA made the selection for the third and fourth private astronaut missions from proposals received in response to its September 2022 NASA Research Announcement and evaluated the mission proposals based on the provider’s ability to execute a mission successfully, NASA’s ability to support the proposed mission, and the mission’s contribution to the agency’s goal of low-Earth orbit commercialization.
For more than 22 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence in low-Earth orbit. The agency's goal is a low-Earth orbit marketplace where NASA is one of many customers, and the private sector leads the way.
This strategy will provide services that the government needs at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on its Artemis missions to the Moon and eventually Mars while continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions.
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Wednesday, August 2, 2023
The Media Will Be Briefed on Orion's First Crewed Flight to the Moon Next Week...
NASA
Join NASA Administrator, Artemis II Moon Crew for Mission Update (Press Release - August 1)
NASA will host a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 8, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, to provide Artemis II mission preparations and crew training updates. Artemis II will send a crew of four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and bring them back safely, paving the way for future long-term human exploration missions to the lunar surface, and eventually Mars.
NASA will provide live coverage of the news conference on NASA Television, the NASA app and the agency’s website. Watch the update live at:
https://www.nasa.gov/live
Participants will include:
- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
- NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy
- Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
- Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, NASA
- Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, NASA
- Christina Hammock Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, NASA
- Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, CSA (Canadian Space Agency)
Accreditation to participate in person has passed for this event. To ask questions via phone, media must dial into the news conference no later than 15 minutes prior to the start time.
For dial-in information, please contact the Kennedy newsroom no later than 1 p.m. at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term lunar presence for science and exploration under Artemis and is the first mission with astronauts to the Moon in more than 50 years. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.
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