All posts by TopSpacer

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – July.17.2024

July 17, 2024 TopSpacer

A selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: Midpoint: July 05, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** How Do Astronauts Get Fresh Fruits and Veggies in Space? – NASA Johnson

How do astronauts get fresh fruits and veggies in space? While some are shipped to the International Space Station, there’s another option: They can grow them themselves.

In microgravity, crews have successfully grown a variety of plants including mustard greens, kale, and… you guessed it: peppers. Learn how space gardening works and why it helps astronauts.

** Expedition71 NASA Astronaut Matt Dominick Talks With KGTV-TV San Diego – Friday, July 12, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Matt Dominick of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview July 12 with KGTV-TV, San Diego. Dominick is in the midst of a long-duration mission aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

—- Testing of thrusters for Axiom habitats:

And the rockets’ (blue) glare! Axiom Space’s Propulsion Team conducted a Thruster Vacuum Test – over 600 starts on the thruster with the longest continuous burn time at 3 minutes. This test validates design, function, and performance. Vacuum testing is important because it… pic.twitter.com/bZlHcIZizx

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) July 4, 2024

—- Pioneering the Future of Commercial Space | Tech.eu Summit London 2024 – Axiom Space Youtube

Matt Ondler, President @Axiom Space

—- New, improved space suits. An overview of spacesuits in development by Axiom, Collins, and SpaceX: Tomorrow’s spacesuits | Aerospace America – June.2024

For its lunar suit, Axiom chose yet a third method of entry. Instead of the zippers on the Apollo suit, Artemis III astronauts will don their Axiom suits through the rear, via a hatch on the side of the life support systems backpack — similar to the door of a front-loading washing machine. After swinging open the hatch, an astronaut inserts feet, then arms, “and you just kind of fall into it,” Ralston says. Axiom chose a design without a rigid frame, believing this would reduce the chance of astronauts injuring themselves if they contorted their bodies while putting on the suits.

That soft outer pressure garment — made of a material that Axiom is not disclosing — is interspersed with joints at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. “We’ve done a lot of testing to iterate the types of basic joints that we use and how we pattern the different soft goods to enable flexibility, like bending your elbow or bending your arm,” Ralston says.

** Look inside the first commercial space station | Hard Reset – FreeThink

The international space station is getting an update, and its future iteration is not just a space station – it’s a space factory. Axiom Space is launching the first commercial space station in the next few years, which will open the door to a new era in the space economy.

To become the first commercial space station, Axiom has had to rethink everything about how we live in space. We got a tour of the space station development facility, which is … inside an abandoned retail store?

Axioms’s approach might seem scrappy, but these unassuming ingredients are coming together to make something incredible. With a series of four-week sprints, nimble mock-ups allow experienced astronauts to test out the designs they’ll be relying on in space.

Follow us as we get a preview inside the future of space tech.

0:00: Welcome to Hard Reset: Axiom Space
0:28: Axiom Space is pioneering the first commercial space factory
1:06: What is the potential of manufacturing in space?
4:06: Why implement a fail-fast approach to space?
4:54: Are higher-volume space habitats possible?
8:32: How can we strike a balance of practicality vs. aesthetics in space design?
9:20: How many tools does it take to assemble and disassemble the ISS?
12:10: How can we make space suit improvements for mobility and fit issues?
17:08 : How fast can this tech orbit the earth?
18:12: What is the future of space manufacturing?

** Gravitics

Gravitics will build a habitat module for Axiom‘s commercial space station:

Gravitics, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a $125-million contract by Axiom Space to provide a pressurized spacecraft that will support Axiom Station operations. The Gravitics spacecraft will play a utility role and will be capable of providing various services while attached to the commercial space station.

“Axiom Space and Gravitics are working together to develop space infrastructure to enable a sustainable global space economy in low-Earth orbit,” said Matt Ondler, President of Axiom Space. “Our next-gen platform, Axiom Station, will provide new pathways to space for traditional space users and non-traditional industries. We are expanding commercial opportunities in space, from in-space manufacturing to technology demonstrations to research and innovative solutions that will advance civilization.”

More at:

** Sierra Space – Astro Garden project aims for high production of vegetables in space.

Astro Garden is a large-scale vegetable production system that offers a sustainable means of producing fresh food for crew while also augmenting life support functions.

Learn how our team developing the next generation hybrid life support systems: https://t.co/i4ydhZhd5O pic.twitter.com/AfxhGCnses

— Sierra Space (@SierraSpaceCo) July 10, 2024

** American commercial space stations increasingly international – Laura Forczyk

The US space industry is preparing to transition from the government-run International Space Station to commercial space stations. These private facilities are increasing their ties to non-American companies and governments to expand their customer and user base. Meanwhile, India and Russia have their own sovereign space station plans.

Gravitics to Build Space Infrastructure for Commercial Space Station: https://www.gravitics.com/news/axi4css

Japanese venture seeks to develop commercial space station module: https://spacenews.com/japanese-ventur…

Moon Monday #183 and Indian Space Progress #17: The one where Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan converge: https://jatan.space/moon-monday-issue…

Roscosmos chief approves schedule of creating Russian orbital station through 2033: https://tass.com/science/1811099

Grow your business in space: https://astralytical.com/

=== China

** Second EVA for Shenzhou-18 crew: China Station Crew: 2nd Spacewalk, Installation of Space Debris Protection Devices (Video) | Leonard David – July.5.2024

—- Shenzhou-18 Crew Complete Multiple Tasks in Second Spacewalk – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-18 crew aboard China’s orbiting space station successfully completed multiple tasks in their second spacewalk on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

—- China’s Shenzhou-18 crew preps for 2nd spacewalk, conducts experiments – VideoFromSpace – July.3.2024

Astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu are preparing for a 2nd spacewalk aboard the Tiangong space station. They’ve also been conducting and maintaining combustion experiments. Full Story: https://www.space.com/china-shenzhou-…

** New Discoveries Made on Zirconium Alloy at China’s Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency

Chinese researchers have conducted in-orbit solidification experiments on zirconium alloy materials in the microgravity environment at China’s Tiangong space station, making important discoveries.

=== Lunar habitation

** Lunar tech initiative: How the Applied Physics Laboratory is tackling Artemis moon exploration | SpaceNews – July.2.2024

The APL is home to a Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium, funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). That consortium is tackling an array of issues for STMD’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, each important to solve before humanity can spend an extended stay on the moon.

** Radar from LRO satellite shows evidence of a lunar cave promising as a shelter for Moon base:

Abstract of Nature paper:

Several potential subsurface openings have been observed on the surface of the Moon. These lunar pits are interesting in terms of science and for potential future habitation. However, it remains uncertain whether such pits provide access to cave conduits with extensive underground volumes. Here we analyse radar images of the Mare Tranquillitatis pit (MTP), an elliptical skylight with vertical or overhanging walls and a sloping pit floor that seems to extend further underground. The images were obtained by the Mini-RF instrument onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2010. We find that a portion of the radar reflections originating from the MTP can be attributed to a subsurface cave conduit tens of metres long, suggesting that the MTP leads to an accessible cave conduit beneath the Moon’s surface. This discovery suggests that the MTP is a promising site for a lunar base, as it offers shelter from the harsh surface environment and could support long-term human exploration of the Moon.

A view from orbit of the Mare Tranquillitatis pit crater.
Credits: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

=== Space habitat technology

** Broadcast 4227 Joe Carroll | The Space Show – July.9.2024

Joe addressed artificial gravity via different methods, companies working on some type of spin gravity space station, what we need to know before humans leave LEO for long duration flights, challenges, Artemis, Mars and much more

** Microgravity biology research:

— Using microgravity to understand osteoarthritis:

Early-onset #osteoarthritis is an “epidemic among young women playing sports like soccer in high school and college.” Researchers from @MIT are looking to the microgravity environment of space for answers. #womenshealth
Details: https://t.co/LA2MdWnuEw

— ISS National Lab (@ISS_CASIS) July 17, 2024

— Astronauts Struggle To Eat Their Space Food and Scientists Want to Know Why | Universe Today – July.16.2024

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: NorCal #BAYAREA to SoCal – Jul 3, 2024 – 07:26 PDT – ISS Above

NASA EHDC6 Live views of the Earth from the International Space Station

** 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

====

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

Outpost in Orbit:
A Pictorial & Verbal History of the Space Station

Astronomy, Education, Space participation

Night sky highlights for July 2024

July 2, 2024 TopSpacer

Check out the night sky this month, July 2024. Here are videos highlighting the top sights to observe.

** What’s Up: July 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in July 2024?
The Moon and planets come together twice in the morning sky – at the start and end of July, find the elusive planet Uranus with some help from Mars, and two star clusters – M6 and M7 – are well placed for viewing in the evening.

0:00 Intro
0:xx Moon & planet highlights
x:xx Use Mars to locate planet Uranus
x:xx Star clusters M6 & M7 in Scorpius
x:xx July Moon phases

Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch….

** Tonight’s Sky: July 2024 – Space Telescope Science Institute – Tonight’s Sky

In July, find the Scorpius constellation to identify the reddish supergiant Antares, which will lead you to discover a trio of globular star clusters. Keep watching for space-based views of these densely packed, spherical collections of ancient stars, as well as three nebulas: the Swan Nebula, the Lagoon Nebula, and the Trifid Nebula.

About this Series … “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky.

** What to see in the night sky: January 2024 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine

What’s in the night sky tonight? Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel talk us through July 2024’s night-sky highlights, including noctilucent clouds, Ceres and Pluto at opposition, Galilean Moon transits and deep-sky objects in the Milky Way.

00:00 Intro
00:18 Inner planets
03:38 Outer planets
08:10 Noctilucent clouds
12:20 Ceres at opposition
12:45 Galilean moons transit
13:14 Pluto at opposition
16:39 Milky Way and deep-sky objects
19:50 Summer Triangle

** Sky & Telescope’s Sky Tour Podcast – July 2024 | Summer Stargazing and the Moon – Sky & Telescope Youtube

Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Join us for the July 2024 episode and get some #stargazing tips, check dates for the #Moon’s #phases, watch #Saturn migrate into the evening #sky, and tour of the #stars of summer.

Listen and subscribe to this podcast at https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/ and don’t forget to subscribe to S&T’s YouTube channel to get alerts about new videos, including this monthly podcast

Learn more about #observing and #stargazing on our website, https://skyandtelescope.org/ and subscribe to our monthly magazine at https://skyandtelescope.org/subscribe.

Space habitat reports – July.1.2024

July 1, 2024 TopSpacer

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about government and commercial space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: Laying the Groundwork: June 28, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** Expedition 71 Space Station Crew Talks with Yahoo Finance – Friday, June 28, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Tracy Dyson and Jeanette Epps of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview June 28 with Yahoo Finance. Dyson and Epps are in the midst of a long-duration mission aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** NASA accidentally broadcasts space station medical emergency drill – Hear it here! – VideoFromSpace

On June 12, 2024, NASA accidentally broadcasted a drill that simulated an astronaut with a medical emergency. A NASA flight surgeon can be heard suggesting treatment during the call the Internatlonal Space Station. Full Story: https://www.space.com/no-emergency-si…

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

—- Axiom aims to offer “in-space cloud computing” services from its orbital habitat: Axiom Space Plans To Test Orbital-Based Data Center Tech on ISS This Year | FMN News

Axiom plans to test their new designs on ISS this year. “We plan to fly and install an Axiom Data Center Unit (AxDCU) prototype onboard the ISS,” Aspiotis says. That prototype will “Test and demonstrate use cases for in-space cloud computing, AI/ML, data fusion and cybersecurity applications. The primary objectives are: (a) continue to develop the orbital data center market by demonstrating and proving the efficacy of in-situ cloud computing use cases, and (b) raise the technical readiness level of commercial and terrestrial-grade hardware operating in a space station environment.”

As Axiom completes its ODC development, the company sees a good market for its services, “Any terrestrial company that could stand to benefit from space-derived data or insights being processed and delivered with lower latency and more security could be a user of ODCs. Financial institutions requiring faster insights from Earth observation data could be an example,” said Aspiotis.

—- Axiom says it’s space suit development projects remain on track:

@Axiom_Space continues development & testing of #AxEMU to deliver a next-gen spacesuit for #Artemis, ready for the challenges of the lunar south pole. We are on track, meeting/exceeding all milestones for the nation’s return to the Moon by 2026.

** Gravitics

—- Gravitics will work with NASA to develop procedures and systems for certifying space structures much larger than the usual satellite type of spacecraft. The company signed a Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA

… to develop verification and validation by similarity approaches for 6 to 8-meter diameter structures.

“It is time to build bigger,” said Colin Doughan, CEO of Gravitics. “I am optimistic that the qualification and validation solutions being pioneered by Gravitics will be used across the industry from 6 to 8-meter diameter payloads and beyond.”

More at:

** Sierra Space

—- Robb Report tours inside of the Sierra inflatable habitat: Inside Sierra Space’s LIFE Inflatable Space Station | Robb Report – June.25.2024

Robb Report’s recent visit to the aerospace company’s headquarters and research facility in Louisville, Colorado, included an exclusive tour of its inflatable space habitat. The full-scale prototype is designed to launch into space inside a conventional rocket and then expand—while in orbit—into globular living quarters.

“Walking through it now might feel claustrophobic, but when you’re floating, it’s very roomy,” says Sierra Space’s chief safety officer Angie Wise. Above her is an upside-down hammock harnessed to the ceiling—“The astronauts have to strap in, or they’ll float around”—and beside it, a copy of sci-fi thriller Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (who also wrote The Martian), nestled within its own perch like a makeshift nightstand.

** Starlab / Voyager Space

—- Starlab aims to launch Starlab habitat on a Starship:

Team #Starlab is out at @SpaceX this week working closely with their team as we work towards our launch on Starship. Starlab will launch on a single flight prior to @Space_Station decommissioning. pic.twitter.com/FiuxTToXrC

— Starlab (@Starlab_Space) June 24, 2024

—- Starlab will use Palantir Technologies data management software for space station:

Palantir will become the exclusive supplier of enterprise-wide software data management solutions for the Starlab commercial space station.

Palantir’s AI-driven software enables analysts, users, and decision-makers alike to optimize the entirety of space architecture. Palantir helps deliver cutting-edge, adaptable software solutions from the ground to the edge – helping ensure space capabilities are maximally resilient, effective, and accessible,

=== Lunar habitation

** China’s Plan to Establish a Permanent Base on the Moon – Dongfang Hour

While the US and its partners are planning to carry out the Artemis Program in the coming decade, China is preparing the competing “ILRS”, aka the International Lunar Research Station. In this episode, we do a deep dive into China’s permanent lunar base project and its scientific and political ramifications.

If you like what you see and would like to support me, please consider joining our small Patreon community at / dongfanghour !
We also have some very cool space merch available at https://shop.dongfanghour.com.

00:00 Artemis and the ILRS (introduction)
00:43 China’s Moon Program: Early Beginnings
01:58 Chang’e 1 to Chang’e 6
02:35 First Mention of the ILRS
03:21 Private Internet Access
05:14 The ILRS Becomes a Sino-Russian Project
06:02 ILRS Phase 1 – Moon Base “Basic Model”
06:57 ILRS Phase 2 – Moon Base “Construction Phase”
10:09 How China plans to launch the ILRS hardware
11:20 Can the ILRS become international?

** Gateway Lunar Space Station Flyby – NASA Johnson

NASA and its international partners will explore the scientific mysteries of deep space with Gateway, humanity’s first space station to orbit the Moon. Witness Gateway in stunning detail with this video that brings the future of lunar exploration to life.

For more information about Gateway, visit: nasa.gov/gateway.

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: SoCal – Los Angeles – San Diego – Jun 25, 2024 – 10:38 PDT – ISS Above

NASA EHDC6 Live views of the Earth from the International Space Station

** Expedition 71 International Space Station Flyover of Hurricane Beryl – Monday, July 1, 2024 – NASA Video

The International Space Station flew 260 miles over Hurricane Beryl at approximately 9 a.m. EDT Monday, July 1, 2024. External cameras on the orbiting laboratory captured views of the storm as it traveled across the Caribbean near the Windward Islands as a Category 4 hurricane with winds around 130 miles per hour.

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA

====

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

Outpost in Orbit:
A Pictorial & Verbal History of the Space Station

Astronomy, Education, Space Science

ESO: Galaxy suddenly brightened by massive black hole

June 18, 2024 TopSpacer

A new report from the European Southern Observatory (ESO):

Astronomers see a massive black hole awaken in real time

In late 2019, the galaxy SDSS1335+0728 suddenly started shining brighter than ever before and was classified as having an active galactic nucleus, powered by a massive black hole in the galaxy’s core. This is the first time the awakening of a massive black hole has been observed in real time. This artist’s impression shows the growing disc of material being pulled in by the black hole as it feeds on the gas available in its surroundings, making the galaxy light up.

In late 2019 the previously unremarkable galaxy SDSS1335+0728 suddenly started shining brighter than ever before. To understand why, astronomers have used data from several space and ground-based observatories, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), to track how the galaxy’s brightness has varied. In a study out today, they conclude that they are witnessing changes never seen before in a galaxy — likely the result of the sudden awakening of the massive black hole at its core.

“Imagine you’ve been observing a distant galaxy for years, and it always seemed calm and inactive,”

says Paula Sánchez Sáez, an astronomer at ESO in Germany and lead author of the study accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

“Suddenly, its [core] starts showing dramatic changes in brightness, unlike any typical events we’ve seen before.”

This is what happened to SDSS1335+0728, which is now classified as having an ‘active galactic nucleus’ (AGN) — a bright compact region powered by a massive black hole — after it brightened dramatically in December 2019 [1].

Some phenomena, like supernova explosions or tidal disruption events — when a star gets too close to a black hole and is torn apart — can make galaxies suddenly light up. But these brightness variations typically last only a few dozen or, at most, a few hundreds of days. SDSS1335+0728 is still growing brighter today, more than four years after it was first seen to ‘switch on’. Moreover, the variations detected in the galaxy, which is located 300 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, are unlike any seen before, pointing astronomers towards a different explanation.

The team tried to understand these brightness variations using a combination of archival data and new observations from several facilities, including the X-shooter instrument on ESO’s VLT in Chile’s Atacama Desert [2]. Comparing the data taken before and after December 2019, they found that SDSS1335+0728 is now radiating much more light at ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths. The galaxy also started emitting X-rays in February 2024.

“This behaviour is unprecedented,”

says Sánchez Sáez, who is also affiliated with the Millennium Institute of Astrophysics (MAS) in Chile.

“The most tangible option to explain this phenomenon is that we are seeing how the [core] of the galaxy is beginning to show (…) activity,”

says co-author Lorena Hernández García, from MAS and the University of Valparaíso in Chile.

“If so, this would be the first time that we see the activation of a massive black hole in real time.”

Massive black holes — with masses over one hundred thousand times that of our Sun — exist at the centre of most galaxies, including the Milky Way.

“These giant monsters usually are sleeping and not directly visible,”

explains co-author Claudio Ricci, from the Diego Portales University, also in Chile.

“In the case of SDSS1335+0728, we were able to observe the awakening of the massive black hole, [which] suddenly started to feast on gas available in its surroundings, becoming very bright.”

[Hernández García says,]

“[This] process (…) has never been observed before,”

[…] Previous studies reported inactive galaxies becoming active after several years, but this is the first time the process itself — the awakening of the black hole — has been observed in real time. Ricci, who is also affiliated with the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University, China, adds:

“This is something that could happen also to our own Sgr A*, the massive black hole (…) located at the centre of our galaxy,”

but it is unclear how likely this is to happen.

Follow-up observations are still needed to rule out alternative explanations. Another possibility is that we are seeing an unusually slow tidal disruption event, or even a new phenomenon. If it is in fact a tidal disruption event, this would be the longest and faintest such event ever observed.

“Regardless of the nature of the variations, [this galaxy] provides valuable information on how black holes grow and evolve,”

Sánchez Sáez says.

“We expect that instruments like [MUSE on the VLT or those on the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)] will be key in understanding [why the galaxy is brightening].”

Notes

[1] The SDSS1335+0728 galaxy’s unusual brightness variations were detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) telescope in the US. Following that, the Chilean-led Automatic Learning for the Rapid Classification of Events (ALeRCE) broker classified SDSS1335+0728 as an active galactic nucleus.

[2] The team collected archival data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and the eROSITA instrument on IKI and DLR’s Spektr-RG space observatory. Besides ESO’s VLT, the follow-up observations were conducted with the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR), the W. M. Keck Observatory, and NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Links

Research paper
Photos of the VLT
Find out more about ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope on our dedicated website and press kit
For journalists: subscribe to receive our releases under embargo in your language
For scientists: got a story? Pitch your research

=== Amazon Ads ===

Orion Skyline 6″ Dobsonian Reflector Telescope Kit

===

An Infinity of Worlds:
Cosmic Inflation and the Beginning of the Universe

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – June.17.2024

June 17, 2024 TopSpacer

Here is a new selection of videos, updates, and news items about government and commercial space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: Flight Test: June 14, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** Boeing Starliner successfully delivers crew of two to ISS for first time

After completion of this final test mission, Starliner can begin regular transport of crews to the Station.

— First crewed Boeing Starliner docks with the International Space Station – VideoFromSpace

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have arrived at the International Space Station aboard Boeing Starliner. The spacecraft docked with the orbital outpost on June 6, 2024.

— Boeing Starliner crew enters space station after docking – VideoFromSpace

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed ingress onto the International Space Station shortly after docking on June 6, 2024.

** A view of the Starliner docked to the ISS:

Maxar demonstrates the ability of its imaging satellites to view not just earth but other spacecraft as well by releasing an image of the Boeing Starliner crew vehicle docked to the ISS.

In-space of @Boeing Starliner’s first-ever astronaut mission!

Taken June 7, these satellite images show the spacecraft docked to the International Space Station (ISS).

This type of imagery collection, known as non-Earth imaging (NEI), is a breakthrough capability that… pic.twitter.com/zfpP14GRCx

— Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) June 12, 2024

** Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab: 2024-7 – ISS National Lab

On May 22, 2024, the ISS National Lab held a webinar is to discuss the ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) 2024-7 soliciting proposals focused on applied research and development, translational medicine, technology readiness level maturation, and technology demonstration.

** NASA Astronaut Butch Willmore Answers Tennessee Student Questions – Tuesday, June 11, 2024 – NASA Video

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore discussed living and working in space as part of the Crewed Flight Test (CFT) of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft during an in-flight interview with Tennessee Tech University on June 11. Wilmore is an alumnus of the school and is the midst of completing a test flight to check out Starliner’s systems ahead of spacecraft certification. Wilmore will remain at the space station for about a week to complete a series of test objectives before departing the complex for a landing in the southwestern United States alongside NASA astronaut Suni Williams.

** Metal 3D printing in microgravity has been accomplished aboard the ESA’s Columbus laboratory module by an industrial team led by Airbus:

The Metal 3D Printer’s design is based on stainless-steel wire being fed into the printing area, which is heated by a high-power laser, about a million times time more powerful than a standard laser pointer. As the wire dips into the melt pool, the end of the wire melts so that metal is added to the print.

The print process is overseen entirely from the ground. All the onboard crew has to do is open a nitrogen and venting valve before the printing starts. For safety reasons the printer operates within a fully sealed box, preventing excess heat or fumes from escaping.

Four shapes have been chosen for subsequent full-scale 3D printing, which will later be returned to Earth to be compared with reference prints made on the ground in normal gravity.

—- 3D printing metal in space! Tech developed by Airbus – VideoFromSpace

Airbus is developing a 3D printer that heats up metal to “1,200 degrees Celsius to produce new parts such as radiation shields, tooling or equipment directly in orbit.”

** First Space Station missions for new ESA astronauts – European Space Agency, ESA

Watch the replay as ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announces the first two astronaut missions for the new ESA astronaut class of 2022 on the first day of the Space Council, held in Brussels on 22 and 23 May 2024.

ESA’s most recent class of astronauts selected in 2022 includes Sophie Adenot, Pablo Álvarez Fernández, Rosemary Coogan, Raphaël Liégeois, and Marco Sieber. They recently completed one year of basic training and graduated as ESA astronauts on 22 April at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Germany, making them eligible for spaceflight. During their missions aboard the International Space Station, ESA astronauts will engage in a diverse range of activities, from conducting scientific experiments and medical research to Earth observation, outreach and operational tasks.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

—- Update from Axiom on module construction: Axiom Station Update | Habitat One – Axiom Space Youtube

Axiom Station’s ‘Habitat One’ module has taken another major step towards completion at the Thales Alenia Space production facility in Turin, Italy. Take a look at the module bulkhead and forward cone coming together as Axiom Space expands global access to low Earth orbit.

—- An overview of Axiom’s space habitat program. Includes comments from George Motter, senior vice president at Axiom Space and chief engineer for Axiom Station. Rocket science: Axiom Space balances risk with reward in its quest to design a new space station. | MMA Limitless Magazine – May.9.2024

The goal is to build a station that

will be the first commercial space laboratory. He and his colleagues have big dreams for the structure, which will enable new innovations in physics, biology, and other sciences that thrive in microgravity. They want this next-generation orbital platform to be useful and comfortable— one step closer to our science fiction dreams.

—- Axiom EVA spacesuit update: AxEMU Artemis III Integrated Test – Axiom Space Youtube

The first Artemis III Integrated Test is now complete.
Axiom Space, along with NASA and SpaceX, tested how the #AxEMU and elements such as Starship will work together during the Artemis III mission. Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight, Peggy Whitson, and NASA astronaut Douglas Wheelock donned the AxEMU, providing crucial data and expertise.

Learn more about how we’re suiting humanity’s return to the moon with #AxEMU: https://bit.ly/3VsF0F1.

** Sierra Space

—- Pressure testing update

Our LIFE285 Ultimate Burst Pressure test article’s softgoods integration instrumentation, painting and photogrammetry preparation has been completed. The test article passed a rigorous inspection prior to being transported for a low pressurization test located at @NASA_Marshall. pic.twitter.com/KrPjxNlClt

— Sierra Space (@SierraSpaceCo) June 12, 2024

** VAST Space

—- The Exploration Company provide cargo supply services for Vast’s second orbital station. The Exploration Company, which is based in Europe, is developing the uncrewed Nyx vehicle for orbital supply operations.

–— The European Space Agency (ESA) becomes a Vast partner. ESA will use the Haven-1 station “for astronaut missions and research activities as well as commercial business development“. ESA will also help enable European companies to “supply subsystems and equipment for future Vast space stations“. ESA will also encourage the development and use of European crew and cargo transport services to support Vast stations.

—- VAST unveils structural prototype:

Haven-1 Primary Structure Pathfinder pic.twitter.com/dbFsm0bAk7

— VΛST (@vast) May 22, 2024

—- VAST CEO Max Haot talked recently with CNBC’s Morgan Brennan: Space Station Acceleration with VAST CEO Max Haot | Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan – May.16.2024

—- Free-Flying Stations, with Jed McCaleb & Max Haot (Vast) – Payload on Youtube

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Jed McCaleb, Founder, and Max Haot, CEO, the leaders behind VAST, a company advancing the development of commercial space stations. Jed, a seasoned software entrepreneur, and Max, a veteran in space and internet ventures, bring their unique expertise to the ambitious goal of advancing human habitation in space.

Our conversation covers the critical aspects of creating economically viable space stations, the strategic role of life support systems, and the significance of reducing transportation costs. We also explore:

– Space station economics, pros/cons of competition
– Military opportunities and sensitivities in space station use
– Integration of Launcher post-acquisition
– Challenges and excitement of Haven One’s launch
– Vast’s product roadmap

And much more…

• Chapters •
00:00 Intro
00:53 Jed’s career path and creating Vast
02:57 Balancing aspirations and making money
04:57 Max’s history building business and how he came to Vast
08:49 Max’s primary objective at Vast
11:22 Jed’s experience building a hardware company
12:31 Market opportunity for a free flying space station
15:20 Haven 1
19:17 Building components in house
21:07 Materials use and construction safety
23:03 Vast’s approach vs competitors
29:45 Importance of being first in the market
31:41 Is the market large enough to sustain multiple station providers?
33:25 Common misconceptions of space station investment
38:02 Vast x SpaceX partnership
40:55 Product roadmap
43:22 Coinciding with Starship timelines
45:06 Will Starship be converted into a space station?
46:10 Fundraising
47:09 Economics around Haven 1
51:37 Military applications
53:30 Utilization after acquisition
54:13 What excites you and keeps you up at night?

** Starlab – Voyager Space

—- MDA Space partners with Starlab

Welcome @MDA_space as a new strategic partner & equity owner of #StarlabSpace joining @voyagerspace_ @AirbusSpace & Mitsubishi Corp. This partnership extends our global reach into Canada, with MDA Space providing external robotics tech & mission ops. https://t.co/b0ZxeX1oqN pic.twitter.com/XWN2erLZ63

— Starlab (@Starlab_Space) May 29, 2024

—- Paragon Space Development Corp. to provide water purification system for Starlab habitat: Paragon Announces Water Purification System EDU for Starlab | Aviation Newswire – May.30.2024

=== Chinese space habitats

** China’s space station crew conducts spacewalk to install ‘space debris protection devices’ – VideoFromSpace

Spacewalking astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu successfully installed space debris protection devices and more outside the Tiangong space station on May 28, 2024. Astronaut Li Cong assisted from inside the orbital outpost.

** See zebrafish swim in space on China’s Tiangong space station – ISS Above

China is studying zebrafish aboard the Tiangong space station and they are doing just fine. Full Story: https://www.space.com/china-tiangong-…

** Shenzhou-18 Crew Conducts Maintenance, Scientific Experiments Aboard Tiangong Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-18 mission crew has been busy conducting various facility maintenance works and scientific experiments aboard China’s Tiangong space station over the past month.

=== Space station technology

** BE Webinar: The Next Steps Toward Artificial Gravity – Beyond Earth Institute on Youtube

Long-term human space migration has always been tempered by the challenge of a microgravity environment. This webinar, moderated by BE’s Senior Technical Advisor, Steve Hoeser, will focus on the pathways forward for mitigating the effects of microgravity. Panelists will discuss the value of revisiting investigations into spin gravity as an avenue to address the microgravity problem.

Panelists:
-Steve Hoeser (Moderator) – Senior Technical Advisor, Beyond Earth Institute
-Donna Roberts, MD, MS – Deputy Chief Scientist, ISS National Lab
-Dr. Dana Levin – Chief of Space Medicine, Vast Space
-Gary Hudson – President, Space Studies Institute
-Dr. Ted Hall – Extended Reality Software Developer, University of Michigan

=== Space resources

** TransAstra: Revolutionizing Asteroid Mining and the Future of Space Economy | Presented by Celestron – Cosmos Safari

Check out this Celestron Cosmos Safari podcast interview with Joel Sercel, CEO of TransAstra, which is developing technologies to access and utilize the resources of space:

Prepare to ignite your cosmic curiosity as we join forces with Joel Sercel, the visionary CEO of TransAstra, to navigate the extraordinary complexities and boundless opportunities of space engineering. Our interstellar conversation steers us through the nuances of space junk cleanup, asteroid mining, and the potential gold rush lurking in the cosmos. Joel describes how our future in space is sooner than we can imagine, as we harness the vast resources of space to sustain humanity’s future. Discover the sheer brilliance behind technologies reshaping our celestial pursuits, from AI-enhanced telescope arrays to propulsion systems that could rewrite the rules of space travel.

Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and yearned for the secrets it holds? This episode grants you access to the pioneering minds and technologies that are making the stars a little closer to home. Joel provides a guided tour of TransAstra’s four-pronged strategy for space resource utilization; detect, move, capture, and process. We traverse the philosophical corridors of terraforming ethics and the practical concerns of low-gravity health implications, leaving no asteroid unturned in our quest to comprehend humanity’s place in the cosmos.

Our journey culminates in a thoughtful exploration of mankind’s innate drive to explore the unknown. Uncover the entrepreneurial spirit that propels us toward the stars, consider the future of space colonization, and ponder the impact of AI on the space industry’s trajectory. With each revelation from our episode, we invite you to stretch your imagination across the galaxy, and in doing so, find inspiration to be part of the next chapter in our cosmic safari.

Join us each month as we continue to explore the universe’s greatest mysteries, with experts like Joel Sercel guiding the way.

A Special Thanks to Will Young at https://www.deepskydude.com/ for the right to use his awesome music.

0:00 Engineering the Future of Space
15:57 Space Exploration and Conversation
32:04 Space Force-Funded TKO Turnkey Observatory
41:06 Overview of RASA Astrograph Telescope
48:57 Asteroid Mining for Space Exploration
59:33 Future of Space Colonization and Exploration
1:09:42 Asteroid Prospect Telescopes in Space
1:17:00 Asteroid Mining and Rocket Propulsion Future
1:29:32 Vision of Human Expansion Into Space
1:43:54 Values, AI Impact, Cosmos Safari Podcast
1:50:10 Great Chat and Podcast Announcement

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** NASA ISS crewmember Matthew Dominick posted a cool video of the Starliner crew vehicle with aurora in the background:

Timelapse video of aurora streaming behind Starliner taken from a Dragon window with Butch and Suni in the window of Starliner. Their flashlights light up the cabin.

0.5 second interval, f 1.4, 6400 ISO, 1/4 second exposure, 24mm lens. pic.twitter.com/gZuxYZu0Af

— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) June 16, 2024

** Timelapse NRAL Canadarm2 05 29 2024 – ISS Above

Just a quick little (5 hour) Canadarm2 operation to move an experiment payload from one port on the Nanoracks Airlock (NRAL) to another.