Engine Section 3 Artemis (Photo Release - July 24)
Teams from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida transport the agency’s Artemis III SLS(Space Launch System) core stage boat-tail from the spaceport's Space Systems Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Thursday, July 24.
Used during the assembly of the SLS core stage, the boat-tail is a fairing-like structure that protects the bottom end of the core stage.
It was 20 years ago today that Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex (LC)-39B on flight STS-114...the first space shuttle mission to fly since the 2003 Columbia disaster.
STS-114 didn't go exactly as planned—with a large bird colliding with Discovery's external tank (ET) as the vehicle was rising from its mobile launch platform at LC-39B during liftoff, and two incidents occurring where debris broke off from the ET during ascent to low-Earth orbit...with one piece hitting Discovery's starboard wing. Fortunately, the impact was not strong enough to cause any damage to the orbiter.
Also, an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) was required to remove two gap fillers that were protruding from the heat shield tiles on the belly of Discovery. Even though these fillers did not pose a threat to the orbiter during re-entry, NASA erred on the side of caution and conducted this EVA anyway.
On July 27, one day after launch, NASA additionally erred on the side of caution by postponing future space shuttle flights as the agency continued to examine why pieces of debris were still being liberated from the external tank during launch. It wasn't till Discovery embarked on the second Return to Flight mission, STS-121(on July 4, 2006), that NASA enjoyed an issue-free shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
Discovery completed STS-114 by landing at Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 in California...on August 9, 2005.
NASA Tests New Liquid Hydrogen Tank for Crewed Artemis Missions (News Release)
As teams get ready for the first crewed Artemis mission, which will take a crew of four around the Moon and back in 10 days, engineers with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program tested the new liquid hydrogen sphere, which holds one of the cryogenic propellants used to power the SLS(Space Launch System) rocket, at Launch Complex 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
To minimize time between launch attempts since SLS holds approximately 600,000 gallons of chilled liquid hydrogen, the team built an additional liquid hydrogen storage sphere at the launch pad. To ensure that the tank functions properly and can safely flow the -423° Fahrenheit super-cool liquid gas to the Mobile Launcher and SLS during launch countdown, the Artemis launch team successfully practiced flowing liquid hydrogen from both tanks to ensure there were no issues.
Once SLS and the Orion spacecraft are stacked, teams will roll the vehicle to the pad for a wet dress rehearsal, which will allow another opportunity to test the new hydrogen sphere prior to launch. This marks the completion of the final ground system verification and validation test for Artemis II. In the meantime, integrated testing with SLS and Orion continue inside Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building prior to rolling out to the pad for launch.
NASA Welcomes Senegal as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release)
Senegal signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, becoming the latest nation to commit to the responsible exploration of space for all of humanity.
Director General of the Senegalese space agency (ASES) Maram Kairé signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Senegal. Jonathan Pratt, senior bureau official for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Abdoul Wahab Haidara, ambassador of Senegal to the United States, also participated in the event.
“Senegal’s adherence to the Artemis Accords reflects our commitment to a multilateral, responsible and transparent approach to space,” said Kairé. “This signature marks a meaningful step in our space diplomacy and in our ambition to contribute to the peaceful exploration of outer space.”
Astronomers from Senegal have supported NASA missions by participating in multiple observations when asteroids or planets pass in front of stars, casting shadows on Earth. In 2021, NASA also collaborated with Kairé and a group of astronomers for a ground observation campaign in Senegal. As the asteroid Orus passed in front of a star, they positioned telescopes along the path of the asteroid’s shadow to estimate its shape and size.
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will approach Orus in 2028, as part of its mission to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
The Artemis Accords introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety, transparency and coordination of civil space exploration on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Signing the Artemis Accords means to explore peaceably and transparently, to render aid to those in need, to ensure unrestricted access to scientific data that all of humanity can learn from, to ensure activities do not interfere with those of others, to preserve historically-significant sites and artifacts, and to develop best practices for how to conduct space exploration activities for the benefit of all.
More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues its work to establish a safe, peaceful and prosperous future in space.
Ax-4 Crew Splashes Down Completing First Mission to the International Space Station for India, Poland and Hungary (News Release)
After undocking from the International Space Station on Monday, July 14 at 6:15 a.m. CT, the Axiom Mission 4(Ax-4) crew safely splashed down off the coast of California aboard SpaceX Dragon Grace on Tuesday, July 15 at 4:31 a.m. CT.
The Ax-4 crewmembers, led by Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S., includes Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. For each of these countries, this mission has realized the return to human spaceflight, with all three nations sending astronauts to space for the first time in more than 40 years. Additionally, this marks the first time that astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary have conducted a mission on board the International Space Station.
“The Ax-4 mission is a powerful demonstration of what’s possible through commercial space,” said Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space. “By enabling astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary to carry out scientific research aboard the space station, we are supporting these nations in their contributions to human spaceflight. This mission reflects Axiom Space’s vision of a thriving low-Earth orbit economy, where access to space is no longer limited to a few, but extends to all who seek to explore, discover and innovate.”
Over the course of their 18-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory, the Ax-4 crew conducted more than 60 scientific experiments across a wide range of disciplines, including life sciences, materials research, Earth observation and technology demonstrations. These investigations represented the interests of 31 countries, underscoring the mission’s global impact in advancing science and innovation in microgravity.
In addition to the scientific research, the crew participated in over 20 outreach events, connecting with a diverse global audience that included government officials, students, researchers, the media and aspiring astronauts. These engagements served as a platform to share the mission’s goals, inspire future generations, and highlight the importance of international collaboration.
Ax-4 is the fourth in Axiom Space’s series of human spaceflight missions to the International Space Station. As the only private company to have successfully executed private astronaut missions to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Space has expanded access to low-Earth orbit by enabling governments, academic institutions, private organizations and individuals to engage in research, technology demonstrations and educational outreach in space. In parallel, these missions serve as a precursor for Axiom Space’s long-term vision—the launch and operation of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.
Axiom Space’s previous missions have included astronauts from the United States, Spain, Israel, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Türkiye and Sweden, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA). With Ax-4, Axiom Space continues to build a foundation for the future of commercial space, demonstrating the importance of international participation.
Artemis III Liquid Oxygen Tank Moves to Vertical Configuration at Michoud (Photo Release)
Teams at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans lift a liquid oxygen tank from a horizontal to a vertical position and place it into a production cell on July 12. The process, called a breakover, will allow technicians to rappel into the empty tank and install its aft sump subassembly, securing it from the inside. This tank will be used on the core stage of NASA’s SLS(Space Launch System) rocket for its Artemis III mission.
The propellant tank is one of five major elements that make up the 212-foot-tall rocket stage. The core stage, along with its four RS-25 engines, produce more than two million pounds of thrust to help launch NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit and to the lunar surface for Artemis.
Axiom Space’s Next-Gen Spacesuit is Crew Tested for First Time in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab (News Release)
In June, Koichi Wakata, Axiom Space astronaut and Chief Technology Officer, was the first to test the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL).
The Axiom Space-developed spacesuit will enable astronauts to explore the Moon for the first time in over 50 years as part of the Artemis III mission to the lunar South Pole.
The tests were first conducted with Wakata, followed by NASA spacesuit engineers Kristine Davis and Richard Rhodes, and focused on the integration of the AxEMU into the NBL facility. The NBL is one of the world's largest indoor pools, used for astronaut training and mission preparation, allowing astronauts to simulate lunar surface tasks in partial gravity or spacewalks in zero gravity.
The Axiom Space Extravehicular Activity (EVA) program team tested the operations and capabilities of the communications, breathing and cooling systems of the spacesuit in the pool. The team worked to familiarize the NBL divers with the AxEMU’s operations and support systems.
In preparation of the Artemis III mission, Axiom Space and NASA’s Artemis Program teams will continue to conduct tests in the NBL to train for EVA tasks on the lunar surface.
The AxEMU continues to undergo extensive testing to ensure that it will be ready to support Artemis III. This year, the EVA program team accomplished several key achievements, including completing its first three crewed tests in the NBL; 23 tests in NASA’s Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) that provides a simulated reduced gravity environment; multiple field evaluations using lunar tools; and lunar regolith challenge testing demonstrating that the suit exceeds its mission requirements in this area. The spacesuit continues to undergo integrated tests with the Lunar Terrain Vehicles(LTVs) and is scheduled to enter the Critical Design Review (CDR) later this year.
Axiom Space remains laser-focused on the development of this next-generation spacesuit providing astronauts with increased flexibility, mobility and safety capabilities. Stay tuned to axiomspace.com/axiom-suit for more updates.
