Category Archives: Space Systems

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

** Launch of Northrop Grumman’s 19th Cargo Mission to the Space Station (Official NASA Broadcast) – NASA

Watch live as medical studies, a new water dispenser, artwork from students around the world, and other research and supplies lift off for the International Space Station on Northrop Grumman’s next rocket launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia.

The mission’s uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft (named S.S. Laurel Clark) is scheduled to blast off atop an Antares rocket no earlier than Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at 8:31 p.m. EST (0031 Aug. 2 UTC), docking with the ISS on Friday, Aug. 4.

** Meet the Next Crew Members Flying to the Space Station (Official NASA Briefing) – NASA Video

Crew members from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission, and astronaut Loral O’Hara, who will fly to space for the first time, will discuss their upcoming missions to the International Space Station.

Crew-7 will carry NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli as well as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the space station no earlier than Aug. 17, 2023.

O’Hara is set to launch aboard a Soyuz rocket on Sept. 15, 2023, to join the other crew members to conduct science experiments and research aboard the orbiting laboratory.

More on Crew-7: https://go.nasa.gov/471ovnh

** Astronaut controls humanoid robot from International Space Station – VideoFromSpace

The humanoid Rollin’ Justin simulates planetary operations during a ground-to-space exercise in 2018, with European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst. Gerst and Justin are both part of the German space agency (DLR). Gerst controlled the robot from the International Space Station, in a test of future lunar or Mars operations.

** Greece wildfires seen from International Space Station – The Independent

The smoke from wildfires currently littering multiple Greek Islands was filmed from the International Space Station.

The fires have forced tens of thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate the tourist hotspot islands of Rhodes and Corfu.

The evacuation order came after Jet2 and Tui cancelled all flights to Rhodes until Friday 28 July.

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

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” & other space habitat reports – July.24.2023

July 24, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** Astronaut Answers Wyoming Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Space Grant Student Questions July 19, 2023 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Stephen Bowen answered pre-recorded questions about life and work on the orbiting laboratory during an in-flight event July 19 with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Wyoming students. Bowen is in the midst of a science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

** NG-19 Research: Axonis Therapeutics – ISS National Lab

Researchers from biomedical startup Axonis will launch an investigation on Northrop Grumman’s 19th Commercial Resupply Services mission to the space station seeking to improve treatments for patients suffering from neurological disorders. This video highlights how the space-based environment of the orbiting laboratory may facilitate the development of more effective treatments for patients on Earth.

** NG-19 Research: Emory University – ISS National Lab

Heart disease may be the leading cause of death in the United States, but researchers from Emory University are working toward a solution. Researchers from Emory will continue research on the space station to examine how microgravity affects the growth and function of cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) as they mature into tissue-like structures. This video provides insight into their investigation launching on Northrop Grumman’s 19th Commercial Resupply Services mission to the space station.

** Northrop Grumman’s CRS-19 mission to space station – What experiments are onboard? – VideoFromSpace

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft will carry several experiments to the International Space Station. The CRS-19 mission is scheduled to launch in August 2023.

** ISS crew plays ‘Space Dart’ game with ping pong ball and hoops – VideoFromSpace

The International Space Station enjoys their down time with a few rounds of “Space Dart.” The game uses a pair of hoops and a ping pong ball.

** Jettisoned equipment seen floating away from space station in cupola view – VideoFromSpace

An FSE (Flight Support Equipment) was jettisioned using the International Space Station’s robotic arm in July 2023. NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg explains and watches it float away from the orbital laboratory.

** China’s Shenzhou-16 astronauts conduct spacewalk outside Tiangong space station – VideoFromSpace

See footage of a spacewalk conducted outside the Tiangong space station by Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Zhu Yangzhu on July 20, 2023.

** Targeted Training, Tacit Cooperation Behind Success of Shenzhou-16 Crew’s First Spacewalk: Expert – CCTV Video News Agency

Expert said behind the success of Shenzhou-16 crew’s first extravehicular activities (EVAs) on Thursday is professional and targeted training, and tacit cooperation.

** Shenzhou-16 Fulfilling Diverse Missions Smoothly in Orbit – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-16 astronaut crew is conducting diverse missions in an orderly manner on China’s Tiangong space station.

** China’s Tiangong Open for Space Science Project Submissions – CCTV Video News Agency

China is inviting scientists to submit space science and application projects that they want to conduct at China’s Tiangong space station.

** 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 Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” & other space habitat reports – July.17.2023

July 17, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** Expedition 69 Astronaut Frank Rubio Talks with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – July 13, 2023 – NASA Video

Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio of NASA discussed life and work aboard the International Space Station during an in-flight interview July 13 with the Congressional Hispanic caucus on Capitol Hill. Rubio is in the midst of a record breaking 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. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars. When Rubio returns to Earth in September. he will have spent a total of 371 days in space, the longest single spaceflight by a US astronaut.

** Expedition 69 Astronaut Steve Bowen Talks with WCVB-TV Boston – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Steve Bowen of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview July 12 WCVB-TV Boston. Bowen 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. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

** Shenzhou-16 Crew Do Experiments in Tiangong Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-16 mission crew, stationed on China’s Tiangong space station, has carried out experiments in cutting-edge fields since their entry at the end of May.

** Building the First Space Docks! – Gateway Spaceport LLC

If you want to join our effort to build big stations in orbit or work in space then please join our Crew membership at the following address.
https://gatewayspaceport.com/membership/

** 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 Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” & other space habitat reports – July.12.2023

July 12, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** NRCSD26 Deployments – Nanoracks

Nanoracks [… on July.6.2023] deploying 6 CubeSats from the International Space Station.

** Boom! Lockheed Martin bursts inflatable space habitat in test – VideoFromSpace

Lockheed Martin is developing inflatable habitats for use in space. Watch several views of a habitat prototype being inflated past its limit.

** Science on Northrop Grumman’s CRS-19 Mission to the Space Station – NASA

Northrop Grumman’s 19th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station is carrying scientific investigations including a 3D neuron cell culture to test gene therapy, instruments to monitor plasma density, and an updated potable water dispenser system.

The Cygnus spacecraft carrying these experiments to the orbiting laboratory is scheduled to lift off no earlier than August 1 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

Learn more about some of the science that’s traveling to the space station on this mission: https://go.nasa.gov/43futh0

** Expedition 69 Astronaut Steve Bowen Talks with WCVB-TV Boston – NASA Video

** NSS Space Forum – Commercial LEO Space Stations and the NASA Commercial LEO Destinations Program – National Space Society

Space Forum, January 12, 2023

Commercial LEO Space Stations and the NASA Commercial LEO Destinations Program

Featuring the NSS Space Ambassadors

NASA is supporting the development of commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to facilitate the creation of a cost-effective and robust commercial human spaceflight economy. Development and operation of commercial destinations in LEO is a key to achieving this goal. This special space forum, featuring the NSS Space Ambassadors, will provide a review of the NASA Commercial LEO Destinations Program and an overview of each of the four commercial partners: Axiom, Blue Origin, NanoRacks, and Northrop Grumman.

The detailed program includes the following topics:

• NASA Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) Program by Jim Plaxco
• Axiom Space Station by Ken Ruffin
• Blue Origin Station by Vanessa Farsadaki
• NanoRacks Station by Mark Armstrong
• Northrop Grumman Station by Prathmesh Barapatre
• Question and Answer Session

Enjoy this comprehensive review of the next phase in opening space for development and settlement.

** 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 Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” & other space habitat reports – July.3.2023

July 3, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** Expedition 69 SpaceX Dragon CRS-28 Cargo Ship Departs International Space Station June 29, 2023 – NASA Video

Loaded with scientific experiments and supplies, the unpiloted SpaceX Dragon undocked from the International Space Station June 29, completing a three-week-long mission to the outpost for the company’s 28th commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The SpaceX spacecraft undocked from the zenith port of the Harmony module, headed for a splashdown off the coast of Florida June 30 to complete its flight that delivered several tons of experiments and hardware to the station.

** Watch SpaceX’s Dragon cargo ship undock from ISS for return trip – VideoFromSpace

The SpaceX Dragon CRS-28 cargo ship undocked from the International Space Station on June 29, 2023. Full Story: https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-c…

It [made] a parachute-aided splashdown off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida on Friday (June 30) at around 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT), NASA officials said

** Expedition 69 Space Station Crew Talks with WBTS-TV Boston, AccuWeather June 29, 2023 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 69 Flight Engineers Woody Hoburg and Steve Bowen of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview June 29 with WBTS-TV (NBC, Boston) and AccuWeather. Hoburg and Bowen are 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. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

** Latest update – Gravitics Inc

Six months of incredible engineering and fast prototyping. We’re just getting started. pic.twitter.com/EjuuyY3aRI

— Gravitics (@GraviticsInc) July 1, 2023

** What is MMOD Shielding? – Gravitics Inc

Gravitics MMOD Shielding tests were a success. In this video you can learn more about what goes into building the outer shell of a spacecraft, complete with solar cells, electrical harnessing, heat radiators, and protection against debris and radiation.

** China’s Space Station Complex to Adopt New Configurations: Agency – CCTV Video News Agency

China’s space station complex will adopt other new configurations beyond the current “three modules and three spacecraft” configuration in the coming months, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).