Category Archives: Living in Space

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – Aug.24.2024

August 24, 2024 TopSpacer

Here is a new selection of videos, updates, and articles about space habitats (govt. and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** The parking lot is packed at the ISS:

These are the 6 visiting spaceships currently docked to the Space Station. It’s a shell game to make room for new ships as they arrive. Delaying @Boeing Starliner has made it more complicated – final decision tomorrow: https://t.co/hLcFwxgtrV
image: @NASA pic.twitter.com/fuhpdblCXK

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) August 23, 2024

** Progress 89 Cargo Ship Docking – Saturday, August 17,2024 – NASA Video

The uncrewed Roscosmos ISS Progress 89 cargo spacecraft docked to the Zvezda module August 17 after launching to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan August 14 on a Soyuz booster rocket. Progress is filled with over three tons of supplies and cargo and will remain docked to the space station for approximately six months.

** NASA’s Northrop Grumman 21st Cargo Resupply Services Rendezvous and Capture- Tuesday, August 6, 2024 – NASA Video

Loaded with food, fuel, and supplies, the unpiloted Northrop Grumman CRS-21 Cygnus cargo craft arrived to the International Space Station August 6 where it was installed to the nadir port of the Unity module. Dubbed the “SS Richard ‘Dick’ Scobee” for the late NASA astronaut who perished during the Challenger accident, Cygnus launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on August 4 atop an SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will remain docked to the space station for approximately six months.

** NASA’s Northrop Grumman 21st Cargo Resupply Services Installation – Tuesday, August 6, 2024 – NASA Video

** Many questions remain with NASA’s plan to deorbit ISS with SpaceX – Laura Forczyk

SpaceX is building a Dragon-modified deorbit vehicle to send the International Space Station into the ocean. But many questions remain, such as the exact timeline, the budget, the salvaged materials, the transition to commercial space stations, and more.

** ISSRDC 2024 Day2 Fireside Chat: Technology Development on the ISS and Future LEO Platforms – ISS National Lab

During this session, launch providers and implementation partners that support the International Space Station Program highlighted the challenges and successes of launching projects to low Earth orbit (LEO), and highlighted some of the recent investigations they supported. This panel discussed the level of detail required behind the scenes to support a project or launch, while showcasing the diversity of experimentation taking place on this space station, and how the work supported now sets the foundation for research on future R&D platforms in LEO.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Overviews of commercial space stations:

— Looking ahead to the next 25 years of private space stations | Space.com – July.18.2024

“In the short term, commercial space stations are an essential next step to fill the void left by the impending decommissioning of the ISS,” said Lauren Andrade, a spokesperson for the Beyond Earth Institute. “Beyond that, commercial space stations offer a flexibility and capital that government-run projects simply do not possess.”

— Companies prepare next generation of space stations for orbit | Fox News – July.5.2024

NASA is working with at least three companies that are designing space stations to replace the International Space Station before it de-orbits in 2031.

“NASA can utilize those resources in our exploration of the heavens, back to the moon and on to Mars. Then we can rent space on a commercial space station to do our research, to prepare our astronauts for longer flights out into the cosmos,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said. “We’ve given them seed money so that they can jump start developing space stations.”

The cost to the U.S. government is a factor, but Nelson believes the investment will pay off.

** Axiom Space

— Axiom CEO resigns post and joins board of directors: Axiom Space CEO Transitions to Board of Directors | Axiom Space – Aug.6.2024

Axiom Space today announced the transition of CEO Mike Suffredini to a position on the company’s Board of Directors, following eight years of leading the company to significant achievements in the space industry.

— Fourth Axiom mission to the ISS on a SpaceX Dragon space ship to feature multi-national crew:

Axiom Space has announced that it is partnering with India, through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Poland, with European Space Agency (ESA) support and Hungary to send three national astronauts to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the company’s next commercial human spaceflight mission to the orbiting laboratory.

— The critical design review is the key final step before starting construction of the operational hardware:

Hab-1 reaches CDR! During Critical Design Review, Axiom Space updates NASA on its module design, soliciting Agency feedback & moving Axiom Station one step closer to LEO. pic.twitter.com/GkhEa26ill

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) July 18, 2024

— Axiom space suit news: Axiom Space and Nokia Partner to Enable High-Speed Cellular Network Capabilities in Next-Gen Lunar Spacesuits | Axiom Space – Aug.21.2024

Axiom Space has partnered with Nokia to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into the next-generation spacesuits that will be used for the Artemis III lunar mission.

Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), supporting HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will enable Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface.

— Axiom takes Alexa to space: Axiom Space and AWS Demonstrate AI Assistant On Orbit | Axiom Space – Aug.23.2024

In some cases, spacecraft operate in relative isolation, devoid of direct human interaction and decision-making. However, by integrating virtual assistants, we can revolutionize a spacecraft’s architecture and functionality. As humanity ventures farther from Earth, our reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) assistants will inevitably grow. Axiom Space, in collaboration with Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS), envisions a future where spacecraft interact with humans as seamlessly as humans interact with each other. A significant step in this direction occurred during Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), where Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant underwent a technology demonstration. During Ax-3, Axiom Space tested Alexa on an Amazon Echo device on the ground before flying it to the International Space Station (ISS) for evaluation. This milestone represents a crucial step toward creating “Earth-independent” AI assistants capable of supporting astronauts during future Mars missions.

** Gravitics

— Space Station Foundations, with Colin Doughan (Gravitics) – Payload

This week’s Pathfinder features Colin Doughan, CEO of Gravitics, a Seattle-based startup that specializes in the development of modular space infrastructure to support the expansion of stations and orbital platforms. Their primary product is the StarMax module, which can be customized in various sizes to accommodate different launch vehicles and mission requirements.
Colin shares his journey into the aerospace industry and his vision for building real estate platforms in space. With a background that includes nearly 20 years at Lockheed Martin and founding Altius Space Machines (acquired by Voyager), Colin brings a considerable amount of experience in infrastructure development.

We explore:
– The approach Gravitics takes in developing scalable station modules
– The market potential for free-flying stations and the impact of new launch vehicle capabilities
– Operator vs builder model in space stations
– Challenges in scaling manufacturing and testing for space environments
– The future of artificial gravity and its importance for long-term space habitation

And much more…

• Chapters •
00:00 – Intro & Epsilon ad
02:04 – Colin’s background
03:23 – Colin’s first business venture
04:02 – Why start a space station business?
05:25 – Evolution of the Gravitics’s vision
06:57 – Zero G modules
07:36 – Business model
08:26 – Why not operate modules?
10:04 – How do you perceive the market opportunity for free-flying space stations?
18:19 – Design decisions
22:25 – Turning a competitor into a customer
25:02 – Gravitics’s approach vs existing providers
26:14 – Is there enough capital and investors to sustain this market?
30:26 – Countries creating their own launch capabilities
33:24 – StarMax
35:44 – Insourcing vs outsourcing
36:52 – Scaling manufacturing
40:05 – Testing
42:50 – Technical challengers that keep Colin up at night
44:42 – Commercial and government traction
48:34 – Long-term view
50:09 – ETA for Elysium?
50:35 – Who’s going to play Colin in the future movie about Gravitics?

** Sierra Space

— Burst test of full scale expandable habitat module validates design goals: Sierra Space Heralds Giant Leap in Microgravity Research and Manufacturing with Historic Test of Expandable Space Station Technology | Sierra Space – July.25.2024

Sierra says

that its expandable space station technology successfully passed a seventh key validation test, and second full-scale structural test, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The results herald a giant leap towards building the world’s first end-to-end business and technology platform in Low Earth Orbit, enabling humanity to find the answers to some of the toughest problems faced on Earth.

Completion of the successful Ultimate Burst Pressure test, which occurred on June 18 in collaboration with ILC Dover (an Ingersoll Rand Business) and NASA, accelerates Sierra Space’s revolutionary softgoods technology towards on-orbit operations. Planned for an initial stand-alone pathfinder mission before the end of the decade, the technology will also feature as a key element of the Orbital Reef commercial space station. The test will close out Milestone #8 for Orbital Reef with Blue Origin under NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program.

Some data for the test:

- Company’s second Ultimate Burst Pressure test of a full-size, inflatable space station structure occurred on June 18
- Test unit stood over 20’ tall and was comparable in size to an average family home
- The article was 300 m³ in volume, or 1/3^rd the volume of the International Space Station
- Test results exceeded NASA’s recommended x4 safety levels by 22%
- Two 4-ft x 4-ft steel blanking plates were integrated into the highest loaded cylinder section of the article; both were 50 lbs. lighter than the ones used in the first full-scale test and accommodate larger windows

The test article in the company’s historic first full-scale burst test last December peaked at 77 psi, which well exceeded (+27%) NASA’s recommended level of 60.8 psi (maximum operating pressure of 15.2 psi multiplied by a safety factor of four). This most recent test in June showed similar results – within five percent of the pressure loading of December’s test article – with this one reaching 74 psi, exceeding NASA’s 4x safety factor by 22 percent. These back-to-back test results accelerate Sierra Space’s path to flight certification, verifying scalability for 10 cubic-meter and up to 1,400 cubic-meter structures based on the company’s current softgoods inflatable architecture. Sierra Space is currently gearing up for a first test of its 500 cubic-meter space station technology next year.

— Advancing Next-Gen Space Station Tech with Sierra Space and NASA – Sierra Space Youtube

** Vast

— Vast testing habitat components:

At Vast’s Vibe Test Lab, we’re rigorously testing Haven Demo and Haven-1 components for launch dynamics to LEO. Our in-house setup means quick design iterations, faster timelines, seamless integration, and enhanced quality. pic.twitter.com/vj4DKXWfHD

— VΛST (@vast) August 2, 2024

— Vast news:

** Starlab – Voyager Space

An artist’s rendering of a Starlab space station. Credits: Starlab

— Starlab – Sizzle Reel – Summer 2024 – Voyager Space on Vimeo

— The Power of Microgravity – Jim Bridenstine – Voyager Space on Vimeo

— Starlab: the most international commercial space station – Laura Forczyk

Among the current commercial space station players, Starlab is the most intentionally international, forming partnerships all over the world. Will this help the small upcoming space station become profitable and sustainable? Other commercial space station companies should take note.

** Max Space – Expandable Space Habitats

— Space Café Radio Frontiers – How expandable structures will become a game changer in space – SpaceWatch.Global

Innovating Space with Expandable Architecture: An Interview with Max Space”s Aaron Kemmer and Maxim de Jong

Join Torsten Kriening, Publisher at SpaceWatch.Global, in an enlightening conversation with Maxim de Jong and Aaron Kemmer from Max Space. Delve into the groundbreaking technologies behind expandable and inflatable space structures, their applications, and the future of real estate in space. Learn about Max Space’s mission to maximize usable space in orbit, from initial small modules to potentially vast habitats in space and on the Moon. This episode explores the challenges and innovations in creating habitable volumes for long-term human presence beyond Earth.

— Outline of the Max Space plan:

Max Space: Expandable Habitats for Space Commercialization

Key Points:

1. Launching in 2026: New expandable space habitat technology

2. Innovation: Larger, stronger, cheaper than current options

3. Founded by space industry veterans Aaron Kemmer and Maxim de Jong

4.… pic.twitter.com/nytJ3dG8N7

— Treky (@treky_ai) July 28, 2024

=== Chinese space habitats

** Shenzhou-18 Crew Carry Out Various Experiments in Orderly Manner – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-18 crew, who began their six-month mission on April 25, have carried out various space science experiments as scheduled.

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

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. …

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?

=== Lunar habitation

** Our Water-Based Lunar Architecture – Lockheed-Martin Youtube channel

Science fiction is becoming reality. The Artemis program is taking us back to the Moon, and this time we’ll establish a presence that will eventually take us farther into space than ever before. The building blocks of space infrastructure required to carry humanity on this journey are in development today.

Dive into our vision of a water-based lunar architecture on the Moon that demonstrates our commitment to sustainable space exploration. This journey to the Moon is not just for knowledge, but securing our future, enabling Mars exploration, permanent bases and returning valuable resources to Earth.

Jump in our rover and take a tour of the lunar south pole to see the infrastructure needed to maintain a permanent presence on the Moon. Some of the highlights include:
Transportation: technology like the Orion spacecraft to transport humans to and from the Moon.
Mobility: vehicles to explore the Moon’s surface.
Power: a grid providing continuous power regardless of the Sun’s position.
Habitation: reliable, lightweight and spacious shelters made of inflatable softgoods technology.
Space Resources: water ice harvesting and regolith mining to support life on the Moon.

Our approach for a responsible and effective path forward is water-based, nuclear-enabled and commercially-invested. To learn more about our vision for humanity’s future in space, visit: https://lmt.co/3YqBr48

To download our novella white paper to see our vision for how this future will play out, visit: https://lmt.co/3YtDAvZ

More at:

Artemis Base Camp at Moon’s South Pole – An Industrial-strength Look | Leonard David – Aug.7.2024
- A Water-Based Lunar Architecture | Lockheed Martin
- Lockheed Martin’s Vision for Humanity’s Future in Space | Lockheed Martin – Whitepaper

** OffWorld Prospector 1: A Lunar Prospecting and ISRU Demonstration Mission – Dallas Bienhoff, OffWorld Inc – Future In-Space Operations (FISO) Telecon Presentations

Presentation slides (pdf)

Here is also a review of the presentation: Offworld’s Prospector 1 mission to demonstrate ISRU on the Moon | Space Settlement Progress – Aug.11.2024

** Other lunar settlement news:

=== Mars habitation

** Mars Society conference update: NASA and space advocates consider Mars sample return options | Geekwire – Aug.11.2024

Tesla’s Cybertruck may look ungainly on Earth, but a pressurized version of the vehicle might be just the thing for gathering up samples of Martian rock and soil for return to Earth. That’s one of the way-out concepts that was discussed in Seattle during the past week’s convention of the Mars Society, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Robotically controlled Cybertrucks could be part of a Mars exploration system that also includes SpaceX’s Starship super-rocket as well as spaceworthy versions of all-terrain vehicles and humanoid robots built by Tesla, according to mission plans suggested by Mars Society co-founder Robert Zubrin, retired NASA engineer Tony Muscatello and business analyst Kent Nebergall.

Zubrin said the Starship-based concept could even accelerate progress toward crewed missions to Mars.

=== More space settlement presentations

** The Space Café Podcast #112: How to Build Our New Home Beyond Earth – SpaceWatch.Global

In this episode of the Space Café Podcast, host Markus discusses the intricacies of space habitation with Dr. Barbara Imhof, a prominent space architect from Liquifer. They explore the challenges and innovations in making off-Earth living comfortable and sustainable, including construction methods on the Moon, dealing with lunar dust, and creating multifunctional spaces. They also touch on the importance of cooperation for space missions and the influence of seeing Earth from space on human perspective. Barbara shares insights into upcoming projects and discusses ongoing efforts to develop near-future space habitats.

** Interview with Camisha Simmons – The Space Show – Aug.11.2024

We welcomed attorney Camisha Simmons to the program to discuss private party and commercial space property rights and asteroid mining legal concerns for space development. Ms. Simmons is a speaker on these issues at conferences including ISDC [National Space Society‘s International Space Development Conference].

** Moonshot for Life: Smithsonian’s Lunar Biodiversity Preservation Project – SpaceWatch.Global TV

In episode 113 of the Space Cafe Podcast, host Markus explores a groundbreaking concept with Dr. Mary Hagedorn, a distinguished researcher at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. The discussion centers on the ambitious idea of creating a backup of Earth’s biodiversity on the Moon.Key Topics:

• The critical state of coral reefs and the impact of climate change
• The concept of a lunar biorepository for safeguarding genetic material
• Technical, logistical, and ethical aspects of the project
• Implications for conservation, space exploration, and Earth’s future

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction to the Space Cafe Podcast
00:43 Exploring the concept of “Planet B”
01:48 Meet Dr. Mary Hagedorn
03:44 Current state of coral reefs
04:45 The ecological significance of corals
06:46 Conservation challenges and efforts
09:43 Cryopreservation (https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159…) and biorepositories
19:58 The Moon as a potential biorepository
29:36 Strategic selection of key species for preservation
30:38 Challenges in genetic diversity and permitting
31:24 Sampling and preservation techniques
38:16 Citizen science (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/en…) and global collaboration
43:25 Philosophical and practical considerations for space colonization
46:45 Technical challenges and future prospects
01:02:34 Inspirational vision and call to action

This episode offers a fascinating look at the intersection of conservation biology and space exploration, presenting innovative solutions to preserve Earth’s biodiversity for future generations.

** Living in Space [Aug.13.2024] – Space Renaissance

Participants: Jim Crisafulli, Henk Rogers, Tom Matula, Jerry Stone, Susan Jewell, Dinis Afonso Ribeiro, Gary Barnhard, Werner Grandl, Joe Pelton, Madhu Tangavelu, Adriano V. Autino

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

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: California – Eureka – Sacramento – Central Valley – Wildfire smoke – Aug 18, 2024 12:55 PM – ISS Above

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

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

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

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Lego Ideas International Space Station
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Outpost in Orbit:
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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

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

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.

** 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

====

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

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.

** Highlight: Night Buenos Aires Argentina – Jun 2 2024 – 23:58 ART – ISS Above

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

====

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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

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – May.18.2024

May 18, 2024 TopSpacer

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

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: The ISS Toolbox: May 17, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** Space to Ground: Preparing for Guests: May 10, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** NASA Astronaut Matt Dominick Talks with KMGH, Denver – Friday, May 10, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Matt Dominick discussed living and working in space during an in-flight interview with KMGH-TV/ABC Denver May 10. Dominick is in the midst of a long duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

Join NASA as we go forward to the Moon and on to Mars — discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox.

** Space Station Crew Answers Tucson AZ Student Questions – Tuesday May 14, 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 May 14 with students participating in the TRiO Upward Bound program at the Desert Vista campus of the Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. 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 Gateway lunar station:

✨ Gateway Assemble! ️ With our international and industry partners, we’re constructing the first space station in lunar orbit. As Gateway expands, module by module, our capacity to explore and unravel the secrets of deep space will grow alongside it. https://t.co/OWVIgYbHAw pic.twitter.com/EoDGZrDb2S

— NASA’s Gateway Program (@NASA_Gateway) May 16, 2024

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space – Overview of Axiom’s space projects: Axiom Space eyes the moon while continuing to dream big in Earth orbit | Space.com – May.8.2024

Axiom Space was founded in 2016, so it’s coming up on that 10-year mark — and the Houston-based company has already checked off a lot of boxes that were likely on its milestone list.

For example, Axiom has organized three all-private crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and obtained a NASA contract to send the first commercial module to the ISS. The company is also building the spacesuits that NASA’s Artemis astronauts will use during their exploration of the lunar surface.

** Blue Origin – A look at the Orbital Reef space station program that involves a collaboration of Blue, Sierra Space and others: Commercial Space Stations Approach Launch Phase – Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef aces milestones while Europe and China aim high | IEEE Spectrum – May.10.2024

Blue Origin is one of a number of private-sector actors aiming to harbor commercial activities in low Earth orbit (LEO) as the creaking and leaking International Space Station (ISS) approaches its drawdown. Partners in Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef program, including firms Redwire, Sierra Space, and Boeing, are each reporting progress in their respective components of the program. The collaboration itself may not be on such strong ground. Such endeavors may also end up slowed and controlled by regulation so far absent from many new, commercial areas of space.

Orbital Reef recently aced testing milestones for its critical life support system, with assistance from NASA. These included hitting targets for trace contaminant control, water contaminant oxidation, urine water recovery, and water tank tests—all of which are required to operate effectively and efficiently to enable finite resources to keep delicate human beings alive in orbit for long timeframes.

** VAST Space making progress on the Haven-1 habitat:

—- Haven-1’s solar wing completed its qualification testing. – VAST Youtube

The first Haven-1 solar wing has completed its qualification campaign, culminating in a deployment test performed at Vast in Long Beach with support from our partner, DHV.

The wing’s six deployable solar panels produce 1.2kW of power in standard orbit conditions. With Haven-1 set to fly twelve wings, a total of 14.4kW is available to power avionics, payloads, and everything in between.

Check out the @vast Haven-1 primary structure pathfinder! The world’s first private space station. Taking reservations today! pic.twitter.com/zsg6gCsN8x

— Garrett Reisman (@astro_g_dogg) May 7, 2024

** How Polaris Dawn Will Do The First Commercial Spacewalk! – Everyday Astronaut

I got to speak with the crew of Polaris Dawn to learn more about their exciting mission including the features of the brand new SpaceX EVA suit and all the details about the first commercial spacewalk from a Crew Dragon capsule!

Learn more about their mission by visiting http://polarisprogram.com/dawn

=== Chinese space habitats

** Why China’s Shenzhou is Better Than Russia’s Soyuz – Scott Manley

China’s Shenzhou spacecraft is heavily inspired from Soyuz, and there are likely systems copied directly from Soyuz. However, with the benefits of 21st century development it’s not wedded to many of the limitations imposed by the Soyuz heritage.

Which oddly enough means that between the last flight of Shuttle and the first Crewed flight of Dragon it was the best operational human rated spacecraft…. I never thought about that until I wrote this description.