Category Archives: Space Systems

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” ISS report – May.9.2020

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** Cross-Cutting Computational Modeling Project – NASA Johnson

** DM-2 Crew Interviews – Douglas Hurley

With the first mission to return human spaceflight launches to American soil now targeted to lift off May 27, NASA astronauts and Demo-2 crew members Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley shared their thoughts and experiences prior to their historic mission. NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission is a flight test with NASA astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft set to lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Interviews were recorded on April 17, 2020.

** DM-2 Crew Interviews – Robert Behnken

With the first mission to return human spaceflight launches to American soil now targeted to lift off May 27, NASA astronauts and Demo-2 crew members Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley shared their thoughts and experiences prior to their historic mission. NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission is a flight test with NASA astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft set to lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Interviews were recorded on April 17, 2020.

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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” ISS report – May.1.2020

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy Speaks with NASA Interns – April 28, 2020

** #NASAatHome: Spaceport Series Episode 10: America’s return to human spaceflight

A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Hear from two subject matter experts as they discuss the mission set to launch May 27.

** Progress MS-14 docking to the ISS – SciNews

The Progress MS-14 spacecraft automatically docked to the Earth-facing port of the Zvezda Service Module on the Russian segment of the International Space Station 25 April 2020, 05:12 UTC (01:12 EDT). ISS Progress 75 mission was launched by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle on 25 April 2020, at 01:51 UTC (07:51 local time; 24 April, 21:51 EDT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft will remain docked at the ISS for more than seven months, departing in December 2020.

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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” ISS report – April.25.2020

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** Down to Earth–Celebrating Earth Day from Above

In celebration of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary, hear NASA and International Astronauts recount their experiences of Earth during their time working and living on the International Space Station as it turns 20 years old this year. #SpaceStation20th #EarthDay50th If you missed an episode of “Down to Earth”, watch other Astronauts describe their experiences in previous episodes of the series here. https://go.nasa.gov/2tkHsDf

** Expedition 63 ABC Earth Day with Chris Cassidy – April 22, 2020

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA discussed the view of Earth from orbit and other issues related to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day during a downlink conversation April 22 with ABC News. Cassidy also took the opportunity to answer questions about Earth Day for NASA social media sites during the in-flight event. Cassidy arrived at the station April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission.

** Commercial Crew Program: What’s It All About?

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with Boeing and SpaceX on launches to and from the International Space Station. Join NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Mike Hopkins as they explore the ins and outs of the Commercial Crew Program. This video will guide you through NASA’s partnerships with commercial companies and how these rockets will return American astronauts to launching from American soil for the first time since 2011. Learn about what will happen as the rocket heads toward the space station and how the crew capsule will safely return astronauts home. Be sure to visit https://www.nasa.gov/stem/ccp for more STEM educational resources to build on the excitement of the Commercial Crew launches with your students. Commercial Crew Next Gen STEM through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers a way for K-12 students to learn more about this exciting moment in American history through engineering design challenges, coding activity, digital badging, virtual reality and more.

** #NASAatHome: Spaceport Series Episode 8: The future of plants in space. Matt Romeyn and Ralph Fritsche talked

about the Advanced Plant Habitat and the future of space crop production. Find out why one of the new crops slated to grow in space is Hatch Chile Pepper, and we’ll check in on the popcorn challenge.

**  Why an NFL Quarterback Interned at NASA – NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

What do NFL quarterbacks do in the offseason? Well, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Joshua Dobbs spent part of his time away from the football field at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dobbs, who played his college football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, recently completed an internship as an aerospace engineer at Kennedy.

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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” ISS report – Apr.17.2020

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** Look Back at Earth with NASA Astronaut Andrew Morgan

On Friday, April 6, 2020, NASA Astronaut Andrew Morgan began his day by taking a peaceful look back at our planet, out of the International Space Station’s cupola. The cupola serves as a place for astronauts to gaze back at Earth, and take photographs as a part of the Crew Earth Observations investigation. Images like the ones Morgan is taking here, can help us monitor how our planet is changing over time, and inform important scientific research. https://go.nasa.gov/2Vk48xC

** Expedition 62 Inflight Interview with the State of Maine – April 13, 2020

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 62 Flight Engineers Jessica Meir and Chris Cassidy of NASA, both natives of Maine, answered questions submitted by students from schools in Maine during an in-flight educational event April 13. Meir is completing a six-and-a-half month mission on the orbital outpost, heading for a landing in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz spacecraft April 17. Cassidy arrived on the station April 9 to begin a six-and-a-half month sojourn.

** Expedition 62 to 63 Change of Command Ceremony – April 15, 2020

Expedition 62 Crew Hands over Space Station to Expedition 63 Command of the International Space Station was passed from Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos to Chris Cassidy of NASA during a ceremony on the orbital outpost on April 15. Skripochka is returning to Earth April 17 with Expedition 62 crewmates Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir in the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan. Skripochka and Meir will have completed 205 days in space, while Morgan will have spent 272 in orbit. Cassidy remains on the station as commander of Expedition 63 with crewmates Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos.

** Expedition 62 Landing – April 17, 2020

International Space Station’s Expedition 62 Crew Lands Safely in Kazakhstan Expedition 62 Commander Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Flight Engineers Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan of NASA landed safely on Earth near the town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, April 17 after bidding farewell to their colleagues on the complex and undocking their Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station. Skripochka and Meir completed 205 days in space, and Morgan wrapped up a 272-day mission on the orbital outpost.

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Education, Space Systems

Make your own LEctenna like that used on the ISS to demo power-beaming

The Naval Research Lab (NRL) sent a simple device to the International Space Station (ISS) to demonstrate the reception of a Wi-FI signal and converting it to enough power to light up a LED: NRL power-beaming demonstrated on International Space Station – Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

International Space Station astronaut Jessica Meir completed the first U.S. Naval Research Laboratory power-beaming demonstration [see video below] in orbit February 12, 2020, using relatively simple components suitable for STEM activities.

Meir showed how NRL’s LEctenna™, a light-emitting rectifying antenna, converted a wireless network signal, similar to home networks, into electric power. While the current generated and light emitted was a small amount, the setup proved the concept in space.

“While this is a cool device on its own, our collaborators [at NRL] have begun investigating the wide range of possible applications for this technology in the real world,” Meir said. “We could find ways to wirelessly charge our mobile devices or remotely power drones. But one of the most interesting applications that they’re looking into is space-based solar panel arrays.”

Led by electronics engineer Paul Jaffe, researchers at NRL are investigating space solar and power beaming as a potential source of clean energy for a variety of military and civilian applications.

Space solar is simply using solar panels in space to harvest the sun’s energy, where collecting rays would be unaffected by clouds or other interference. Power beaming would send the collected energy down to Earth, where it would be converted back – just like LEctenna™ did – to usable energy.

“Some people might know about power beaming, such as for their toothbrush, or putting their phones on a charging pad,” Jaffe said. “What’s really exciting about it though, is that power can be sent wirelessly over much larger distances.”

“NASA astronaut Jessica Meir demonstrates how the LEctenna™, a light-emitting rectifying antenna constructed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, converts electromagnetic waves into electric current on the International Space Station. Similar technology could be used on the Earth’s surface to convert electromagnetic waves beamed from space-based solar arrays.” Credits NASA via NRL

The LEctenna™ demonstration proved the concept of power beaming in space, but was primarily a STEM project to inspire the next generation of innovators launched by the Department of Defense Space Test Program mission. Its simple, relatively low-cost design to convert electromagnetic waves to electric power can be replicated by students.

“LEctenna™ was a cool demonstration to raise awareness,” said Elias Wilcoski, an NRL research physicist. “We want to show students that this is technology that they can do themselves. If we can get them excited about it and space solar and power beaming, we can help bring more scientists and engineers into the fields to ensure the viability of our future.”

Here is a brief tutorial on making your own LEctenna:

Want to be able to see invisible electromagnetic waves? It’s easy to make your own LEctenna in just a few minutes to allow you to do just that! NRL’s Elias Wilcoski shows you how.

Parts used in this video:
An RF through-hole Schottky Diode (1N5711)
A through-hole LED
A plastic test tube

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