Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.
=== International Space Station & NASA
** Space to Ground: Historic Spacewalk: Jan. 31, 2025 – NASA Johnson
NASA’s Space to Ground is your weekly update on what’s happening aboard the International Space Station.
** An animated view of ISS assembly:
How the International Space Station was built
[️ Jared Owen]pic.twitter.com/AOumNdBwGv
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 28, 2025
=== Commercial space habitats
** Axiom Space
The International Space Station is scheduled to be in operation until 2030. We have revised the Axiom Station module sequence to enable our commercial space station to become an independent orbital platform as early as 2028. The new on-orbit assembly sequence will start with the… pic.twitter.com/howOpcpxzw
— Koichi Wakata 若田光一 (@Astro_Wakata) January 23, 2025
— Space Minds with Kam Ghaffarian – SpaceNews on Youtube
In this week’s episode our guest is Kam Ghaffarian, Chairman, Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines and other companies. Inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing, starting in his basement, and finally reaching the moon. This is Kam Ghaffarian’s inspirational story.
.@NASA and its international partners have approved the crew for @Axiom_Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the @Space_Station, launching from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than spring 2025. Check it out : https://t.co/nqePOA42wl pic.twitter.com/LsLQ8ZdfCI
— NASA’s Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) January 29, 2025
** Sierra Space
Our Dream Chaser spaceplane is one step closer to resupplying the @Space_Station, thanks to a successful test in collaboration with @NASA. The test demonstrated several key capabilities of Dream Chaser, including its ability to power-on, air-cool, and exchange data with multiple… pic.twitter.com/b9OVaWusqR
— Sierra Space (@SierraSpaceCo) January 29, 2025
** VAST
** Vast and SpaceX request proposals for research projects on the Haven-1 Lab that will advance progress in long-term human habitation in space: Vast and SpaceX Issue Joint Request for Research Proposals to Advance Long-Term Human Habitation in Space | VAST – Jan.28.2025
Vast and SpaceX announced a joint request for research proposals from the global space science community aimed at advancing long-term human habitation and exploration in space. Building on their established partnership, the two companies seek high-impact research projects to support humanity on Earth and advance our capacity to live and work in Earth orbit and beyond. Submitted proposals will be evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, feasibility, and alignment with mission objectives. Approved research proposals will be able to leverage the capabilities of the Haven-1 Lab, Dragon spacecraft, and/or private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Haven-1 is scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station and crewed microgravity research, development, and manufacturing platform. This groundbreaking facility will enable cutting-edge research and technological advancements, opening new frontiers in space science.
…
While no direct funding will be provided to the research project, Vast and SpaceX will offer selected researchers access to a hosted orbital laboratory, on-orbit crew time, and support for project design and flight qualification—at no cost.
…
For additional information and details on how to submit a proposal, please visit SpaceX.com/research.
** Haven-1 Development Update – January 2025 – VAST Youtube
Here is the latest as we build the team, facilities, and hardware to launch the world’s first commercial space station. Every step brings us closer to redefining space exploration. Stay tuned for more milestones as we make history. We are proud to bring space station primary structure manufacturing back to the United States.
This video captures 90 minutes of exposure time of our night sky and star trails, representing a full orbit in low-Earth orbit—the future home of Haven-1. pic.twitter.com/GByGxFFgFM
— Vast (@vast) January 23, 2025
=== Chinese space habitats
** Chinese astronauts welcome Year of the Snake in space – VideoFromSpace
China’s Shenzhou-19 astronauts sent their Lunar New Year greetings home from the nation’s Tiangong space station to welcome in the Year of the Snake.
SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shenzhou-19 space mission crew:
“We are in the space home of the Chinese people, wishing you all a happy Chinese New Year! We wish the people of the whole country good health and all the best in the Year of Snake! May our great motherland enjoy harmony and prosperity!”
** Chinese Astronaut Shares Joys of Life in Space – CCTV Video News Agency
Chinese astronaut Wang Haoze of the Shenzhou 19 crew shared that her favorite activity in space is to gaze at the breathtaking sceneries of the mountains and rivers of her homeland, savoring the beauty of the Earth from orbit.
Wang Haoze, China’s first female space flight engineer, along with fellow astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, is on a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station. The trio arrived at the orbiting station following the launch of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Oct 30 last year.
** Shenzhou-19 Commander Reflects on Mid-Mission Progress, Says Good to Be Back to Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency
Chinese astronaut and commander of the Shenzhou-19 space mission Cai Xuzhe shared his experience of returning to the Chinese space station while delivering a mid-mission progress review.
China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Oct 30 last year, sending three astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, to the orbiting space station for a six-month mission.
Cai first joined the journey into space as a crew member of the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022. He was honored with the title “Heroic Astronaut” for his service and accomplishments during that mission.
=== In-space habitat technologies
** ThinkOrbital wins NASA NIAC grant to study in-space assembly of large structures: NASA NIAC selects ThinkOrbital | ThinkOrbital – Jan.16.2025
With the Construction Assembly Destination NIAC award, ThinkOrbital will
perform a study to identify the challenges associated with fabricating a shipyard in space using technologies and assets available today. Building on their ISAM&C [In Space Assembly, Manufacturing, & Construction] technology and their expertise in the field, ThinkOrbital will develop CONOPS, preliminary designs, and a cost analysis of deploying a shipyard to low Earth orbit.
More at Space Shipyards Could Build Missions in Orbit | Universe Today – Jan.28.2025
… ThinkOrbital has some pedigree in doing ISAM&C tasks that no one else has done before. In May 2024, they launched and successfully tested the first-ever weld in space. The mission flew on a Falcon 9, spot-welded together some quarter-inch pieces of aluminum, and returned it to Earth, where the welds were closely examined.
They used a method called electron beam welding, which has several advantages for use in space. First, it doesn’t require as much power as a traditional arc welder—only around 2KW, equivalent to a household iron. Second, it doesn’t create a lot of heat, which can degrade the metal being welded and cause issues like splintering, which can become dangerous in zero-gravity situations.
— ThinkOrbital ThinkPlatform-3 Assembly video – ThinkOrbital on Youtube
— ThinkOrbital Flight-1: world’s first autonomous in-space welding – ThinkOrbital on Youtube
We have launched world’s first autonomous in-space welding system!
We are thrilled to announce that we’ve achieved the majority of our Flight-1 objectives, marking a significant leap forward in space innovation. Our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, from the groundbreaking first-ever autonomous in-space weld to the historic return of flown-in-space Electron-beam welder samples. These samples will be meticulously analyzed by NASA and the European Space Agency, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries.
Throughout this milestone-filled journey, we have:
Designed and built the world’s first autonomous in-space welding system.
Conducted and passed rigorous vibration, shock, and thermal testing.
Garnered FAA and FCC flight authorization.
Successfully launched and landed on Falcon 9 on May 6, 2024.
This is just the beginning of our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of possibility in space exploration. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we chart a course towards new frontiers!
— NASA Just Funded This Project. Assembling Large Structures in Space [NIAC 2025] – Fraser Cain
Space Docks are everywhere in science fiction. It’s the most logical way to build big constructions in space. So, NASA funded a futuristic project that studies the possibility of assembling structures in space.
Guest: Dr Vojtech Holub
https://thinkorbital.com/
NIAC award, Construction Assembly Destination:
https://www.universetoday.com/170640/…
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stm…
00:00 Intro
01:26 Welding in space experiment
08:03 The NIAC award
27:39 Current obsessions
30:01 Final thoughts and more interviews
** Overview article about rotating habitats to simulate gravity: A potpourri of artificial gravity topics | Space Settlement Progress – Jan.29.2025
In this month’s post we explore a few concepts and challenges related to artificial gravity (AG) that when explored and understood will enable human’s to live healthy lives and thrive in space. First up, Austria-based architect and civil engineer Werner Grandl, a researcher of space stations and space colonies, and mechanical engineer Clemens Böck describe their concept for the evolving construction of a spinning Artificial Gravity Orbital Station (AGOS) in this Research Gate working paper. AGOS is envisioned as a potential successor to the International Space Station (ISS).
=== Lunar habitation
** How NASA Plans to Revolutionize Lunar Excavation – NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
How does NASA plan to use resources on the surface of the Moon?
One method is the ISRU Pilot Excavator, or IPEx!
Designed by Kennedy Space Center’s Swamp Works team, the primary goal of IPEx is to dig up lunar soil, known as regolith, and transport it across the Moon’s surface.
Learn more about IPEx: https://www.nasa.gov/isru-pilot-excav…
** Derek Webber on The Space Show – Jan.24.2025 – Lunar Commerce, Moon vs Mars, etc
Derek Webber returned to the program to discuss his excellent new book, “Lunar Commerce: A Primer [Amazon commission link].” During the hour and 45 minutes we engaged in a detailed discussion about lunar commerce from what we can do now to a long time in the future. Part of this discussion centered on going to Mars, the Moon as a digression, then new Trump Administration lunar and/or Mars policy, cislunar, launchers, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and so much more. We had several listener calls plus multiple emails with a few listeners sending us multiple emails as extensions of their first one. Derek’s book names companies, policies, all sorts of good items are jam packed into the nearly 200 pages jammed pack with excellent information.
=== Mars habitation
** “A science-driven program that could get astronauts on the Red Planet by 2031”: The Mars Dream Is Back — Here’s How to Make It Actually Happen | Robert Zubrin/The New Atlantis – Spring 2025
America now has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to open the space frontier by initiating a sustained program of human exploration of Mars. Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship launch system will soon be operational, offering payload delivery capability comparable to a Saturn V Moon rocket at about five percent of the cost. Musk has positioned himself close to President Donald Trump, who at his inauguration in January promised that his administration would be “launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” As far as meeting the central political and technical conditions for making a bold reach to the Red Planet are concerned, it’s game on.
There are, however, several problems. First and foremost, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency that one would expect to lead such an endeavor, is currently not competent to do so. And while SpaceX is far more competent, it should not be put into the position of executing a Mars mission alone, as some would like. NASA needs to be leading the effort because America should go to Mars, not just a private space enterprise. But to effectively lead human space exploration, NASA first needs to be fixed.
=== Space settlement
** Broadcast 4325 JOHN JOSSY, Space Settlement 2025 | The Space Show
We welcomed John Jossy back to the show, especially at the last minute when the planned guest cancelled due to illness. John brought us current on space settlement matters as we start the new year with a new administration. Our topics in the mentioning of a new space film documentary, the Gerald Black Space Review article on phasing out SLS and Orion, Starship impact, the new Dr. Joel Sercel of TransAstraYouTube video on creating civilizations in space, plus John’s own list of special items including links to the relative subjects and materials. John also posted a short agenda items list of his discussion point on the blog for this program.
=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:
- Calendar:
- Exploring the Potential of Lunar Helium-3 Mining | Beyond Earth Institute. On Zoom. Thu Feb 6, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:30 pm EST
- ISS:
- Lunar Gateway Station:
- Habitat technologies:
- Settlement technologies:
- General settlement topics:
- Resources:
=== Earth views from ISS
** Night Lights and Aurora – UCTVInsight
Enjoy the creativity of astronaut Don Pettit, currently on his 4th mission aboard the ISS, as he captures surreal photos of Earth. His long-duration exposures reveal tracks of urban night lights as the ISS passes over. The stars show their own curving pattern, and the aurora adds even more mystery. This magical dance is accompanied by the music of Chilean composer Mario Quiroga. He is a “musico-terapista” (musical therapist), who creates floating music with his digital synthesizers, designed to help soothe the soul. Here we feature his “Aurora Boreal” composition, like a musical magic carpet as we soar over these ethereal views. Recorded on 11/9/2024.
** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA
Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.
The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8
Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov
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