Category Archives: Space Systems

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” & other space habitat reports – May.15.2023

May 15, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** Russian Spacewalk 58 Animation – May 23, 2023 – NASA Johnson

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station May 12 to assist in the deployment and activation of a radiator on the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module that was installed in April. It was the 263rd spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance and upgrades, the 6th for Prokopyev and the 4th for Petelin.

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** LIVE: Russian cosmonauts step out of the ISS [May.12.2023] – Reuters

Russian cosmonauts step out of the International Space Station to deploy and activate a radiator on one of its modules.

** Hypnotic stars view from the International Space Station – European Space Agency, ESA

Our astronaut Thomas Pesquet filmed this timelapse during his second mission to the International Space Station.

https://youtube.com/shorts/kcr9nCGoOPg?feature=share

** VAST Announces the HAVEN-1 and VAST-1 Missions – VAST

Scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1 and subsequent human spaceflight missions will accelerate access to space exploration

Press release: https://www.vastspace.com/updates/vas…

Vast, a pioneer in space habitation technologies, announced today their plans to launch the world’s first commercial space station, called Haven-1. Scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit no earlier than August 2025, Haven-1 will initially act as an independent crewed space station prior to being connected as a module to a larger Vast space station currently in development. The mission will be quickly followed by Vast-1, the first human spaceflight mission to Haven-1 on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The vehicle and its four-person crew will dock with Haven-1 for up to 30 days while orbiting Earth. Vast also secured an option with SpaceX for an additional human spaceflight mission to Haven-1.

This represents the first time in history that a commercial space station company has both a contracted launch for its space station and a visiting human spaceflight mission.

** Axiom Mission 2: ISS National Lab-sponsored Science – ISS National Lab

The second launch of an all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by Axiom Space builds on the new era of privatized utilization of the orbiting laboratory.

Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) will send four private astronauts to the space station. It will also carry more than 20 payloads sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory that will be performed during the space expedition onboard the orbiting outpost. These investigations span diverse disciplines, from life sciences to biomanufacturing, materials science, technology demonstrations, and education projects.

** Tianzhou-6 docking – SciNews

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft docked to the rear docking port of the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱), on 10 May 2023, at 21:16 UTC (11 may, at 05:16 China Standard Time). Tianzhou-6 (天舟六号) is the fifth cargo mission to the China Space Station (中国空间站).

** Chinese Astronauts Enter Tianzhou-6 to Unload Cargo – CCTV Video News Agency

China’s Shenzhou-15 astronauts have entered the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft on Friday morning to unload goods and equipment after the cargo craft’s docking with the orbiting Tiangong space station.

** More Material Space Testing to Be Conducted Thanks to China’s Newly Launched Tianzhou-6 – CCTV Video News Agency

China’s cargo craft Tianzhou-6, which has just successfully docked with the space station complex, has carried a variety of materials which will be used for experiments and tests in the lab cabin or on the extravehicular platform.

** 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 – May.8.2023

May 8, 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 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 Relocates Crew Dragon Capsule on Space Station – May 6, 2023 – NASA Video

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour undocked from the zenith port of the Harmony module on the International Space Station and relocated for a docking to the forward port of Harmony on May 6. Aboard the Dragon for the brief flight were NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg as well as UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Roscosmos cosmonaut, Andrey Fedyaev. The maneuver opened the zenith port of Harmony for the arrival of a SpaceX cargo vehicle later this summer.

** Roscosmos Cosmonauts Prepare to Conduct Spacewalk – NASA Johnson

This computer-generated animation is a depiction of a scheduled spacewalk by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin outside the International Space Station to assist in the movement of an experiment airlock from the Rassvet module to the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module. The spacewalk, scheduled to take place on May 3rd, will be the fifth in Prokopyev’s career and the third for Petelin.

** Cosmonaut tosses ‘obsolete hardware’ into space during spacewalk – VideoFromSpace

During a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on May 3, 2023, Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev jettisoned a “5-kilogram bundle of obsolete hardware into the vacuum of space,” according to NASA.

** Healthy food in the International Space Station | Minerva Mission – European Space Agency, ESA

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti shares how she maintains a healthy and balanced diet during her Minerva mission aboard the International Space Station. She introduces her “piatto unico” meal allowance, featuring freeze-dried meals that are self-balanced according to the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate guidance and Mediterranean diet principles. As she showcases two of her favourite meals, a wholegrain wheat couscous with vegetables and legumes, and a spelt salad with Mediterranean little tunny, dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and asparagus, she emphasizes the importance of selecting local, seasonal, and natural ingredients for optimal nutrition and taste. Join Samantha on her culinary journey in space

** Tianzhou-5 undocking – SciNews

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Tianzhou-5 (天舟五号) cargo spacecraft was undocked from the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱) on 5 May 2023, at 07:26 UTC (15:26 China Standard Time), and started an “independent flight stage”. Tianzhou-5 will be re-docked to the China Space Station(中国空间站), on the front port of the Tianhe Core Module, after the departure of the Shenzhou-15 (神舟十五) crew spacecraft.

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

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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” & other space habitat reports – May.2.2023

May 2, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** Canadarm dance | 4K timelapse – European Space Agency, ESA

Timelapse video made during ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet’s second mission to the International Space Station, “Alpha”. The camera is setup to take pictures at intervals of two a second, and the pictures are then edited into this video that plays at 25 pictures a second. The video is around 12 times faster than real speed.

Thomas shared this video on social media saying:

“We often mention robotics on the International Space Station but it doesn’t mean we are playing with robots. We have a 17–m-long, fully-articulated robotic arm on the outside, proudly built by the Canadian Space Agency. It is hugely important to our operations here: it grabs visiting vehicles, moves astronauts around during spacewalks, and does a lot of outside maintenance and logistics. It is always a fun (and to be honest, a bit tense because it’s not easy) moment when we get to fly it though our control panels and joysticks from the Cupola or the Lab (there are no windows there but we have lots of outside cameras).”

Over 200 experiments are planned during Thomas’ time in space, with 40 European ones and 12 new experiments led by CNES.

** Astronauts Prepare Station For Solar Array Upgrades – NASA Johnson

On April 28, NASA astronaut Steve Bowen (EV1) and UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi (EV2) will conduct a spacewalk to continue installation of hardware to support future power system upgrades outside the International Space Station. This will be the 261st spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. It will be the eighth spacewalk for Bowen and the first for Alneyadi, also the first for any UAE astronaut. This computer-generated animation of the spacewalk is narrated by ISS Expedition 69 Spacewalk Officer Sandy Fletcher.

** See the 1st Arab astronaut to spacewalk and NASA crewmate work outside ISS – NASA Video

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi became the 1st Arab astronaut to take a spacewalk as he and NASA astronaut Steve Bowen work outside the International Space Station on April 28, 2023. Learn more about Sultan Al Neyadi: https://www.space.com/sultan-al-neyad…

The spacewalkers prepped the space station for a power upgrade.

** Space-Grown Crystals Offer Clarity on Parkinson’s Disease – ISS National Lab

Apr 2, 2019: Parkinson’s disease affects more than 5 million people on Earth. Research on the International Space Station could provide insight into this chronic neurodegenerative disease and help scientists find ways to treat and prevent it. In this video, NASA astronaut Serena Auñon-Chancellor narrates as European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Alexander Gerst uses a microscope to examine and photograph the LRRK2 crystals.

Learn more about this research: https://go.nasa.gov/2FtsPiY

** Commercial space station company Gravitics CEO Colin Doughan – Becoming Off-Worldly Together

Gravitics CEO Colin Doughan tells us about the future of commercial space stations and what it might look like to live and work in space on StarMax and future artificial gravity space stations.

Want to attend our monthly guest webinars live as well as get exclusive access to monthly training webinars, weekly chats, and resources to get ready for your future spaceflight. We’re a community of future astronaut hopefuls supporting each other on our paths to space.

becomeoffworldly.com

** CMG Airs Exclusive Livestreaming of China’s Tiangong Space Station on Space Day – CCTV Video News Agency

In celebration of the eighth Space Day of China on Monday, the China Media Group (CMG) aired a four-hour exclusive livestreaming of China’s Tiangong space station in conjunction with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

** 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 – Apr.24.2023

April 24, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** NRCSD25 Deployments [April 24, 2023] – Nanoracks

A recording of the live web stream on April 24, 2023 showing the deployment by Nanoracks of 6 CubeSats from the International Space Station.

Deployment of the ExAlta-2 (3U), LightCube (1U), and ArkSat-1 (1U) CubeSats happens at the 32:52 point in the video.

Deployment of the NEUDOSE (2U), AuroraSat (2U), and YukonSat (2U) CubeSats happens at the 42:52 point in the video.

** The Ballad of the Overview Effect | Down to Earth – NASA Johnson

In preparation for Earth Day, view our beautiful planet from above, with commentary from NASA astronauts.

** Earth in 4K – Space Station Expedition 67-68 Edition – NASA Johnson

The people who’ve been to Earth orbit for the rare opportunity to see our home planet from a whole different angle say this blue marble in space is really quite beautiful and awe-inspiring when seen from 250 miles straight up. Here’s your chance to see if you agree: these ultra-high definition video scenes, captured between March 2022 and March 2023 during the International Space Station’s Expeditions 67 and 68, let you imagine yourself as a station crew member with an hour off duty and nothing better to do than look out the window as the world, literally, passes by.

HD Download: https://images.nasa.gov/details/jsc20…

** Expedition 69 Northrop Grumman CRS-18 Cygnus Cargo Craft Departs Space Station – April 21, 2023 – NASA Video

The unpiloted Northrop Grumman CRS-18 Cygnus cargo craft was released from the nadir port of the Unity Module of the International Space Station April 21 by flight controllers on the ground in Houston, Texas. NG-18 launched on November 7, 2022 on an Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, beginning a two-day flight to the International Space Station. Following a April 21 deorbit engine firing, Cygnus will begin a destructive re-entry in which the spacecraft, filled with trash, will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.

** Space Station Astronauts Discuss Life in Space with Medscape Cardiology and KDKA-TV – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 18 with Medscape Cardiology. Following this event, Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg of NASA discussed life board the space station during an in-flight interview with KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. Rubio and Hoburg are in the midst of long-duration missions 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.

** Post Malone Calls NASA Astronauts in Space for Earth Day – NASA

Artist and music producer Post Malone spoke with NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg, who are currently living and working on the International Space Station.

In a special Earth Day conversation, Posty chatted with the astronauts about what it’s like to see Earth from above and what makes our blue planet special.

The space station is an orbiting laboratory traveling at a speed of 17,500 mph (25,000 kph), completing one trip around Earth about every 90 minutes. Crew members carry out research and conduct thousands of experiments that have contributed to medical and social benefits on our home planet, allowing us to find new ways to combat disease and develop technologies to deliver clean water to remote communities in need. More: https://nasa.gov/iss

Celebrate Earth Day with NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/earth-day-2023

** Robotic arm on space station moves radiator during Russian spacewalk – VideoFromSpace

During a Russian spacewalk outside the International Space Station on April 18, 2023, the European robotic arm moved a radiator from the Rassvet module to the Nauka module. Full Story: https://www.space.com/iss-spacewalk-r…

** The European Robotic Arm in action – SciNews

The European Robotic Arm was used to move a radiator from the Rassvet Module and attach it to the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module, during Roscosmos’ Spacewalk 56, on 19 April 2023. ERA consists of two end effectors, two wrists, two limbs and one elbow joint together with electronics and cameras. Both ends act as a “hand” for the robot.
Credit: ESA/NASA/Roscosmos
Music: “No.1 A Minor Waltz by Esther Abrami” courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

** Shenzhou 15 astronauts set Chinese record for most spacewalks by single crew – VideoFromSpace

Shenzhou 15 astronauts Fei Junlong and Zhang Lu completed the crew’s 4th spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station on April 15, 2023. It broke the record for most spacewalks by single Chinese crew. Full Story: https://www.space.com/china-shenzhou-…

** 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 – Apr.17.2023

April 17, 2023 TopSpacer

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

** SpaceX CRS-27 Dragon undocking and departure – SciNews

The SpaceX Dragon CRS-27 cargo spacecraft autonomously undocked from the forward-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module, on 14 April 2023, at 15:05 UTC (11:05 EDT). The CRS-27 Dragon spacecraft departed the ISS with 1950 kg (4,300 pounds) of return cargo, consisting of completed research and station hardware, having previously supported the CRS-22 and CRS-24 missions.

** Expedition 69 Astronaut Sultan Alneyadi Talks with United Arab Emirates Media April 11, 2023 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Sultan Alneyadi of UAE (United Arab Emirates) discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 12 with members of the media. Alneyadi is in the midst of his first 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 NASA’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

** Expedition 69 Astronaut Woody Hoburg Talks with Finding Mastery Podcast – April 11, 2023 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 11 with the “Finding Mastery” podcast. Hoburg is in the midst of 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.

** Ax-2: Science on the Mission – Axiom Space

The Axiom Space In-Space Manufacturing and Science Team and select principal investigators will highlight the science research, technology demonstrations, and in-space manufacturing projects that will occur on the Ax-2 mission, as well as touch upon Axiom Station and the future on in-space solutions.

Participants include:
Dr. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist, Axiom Space
Jana Stoudemire, Director of In-Space Manufacturing, Axiom Space
Mishaal Ashemimry, Microgravity Research Lead, Saudi Space Agency
Mari Anne Snow, Chief Executive Office, Eascra Biotech
Dr. Clive Svendsen, Executive Director of Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai
Dr. Catriona Jamieson, Director, Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center at UC San Diego Health
Dr. Anthony Atala, Director, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Dava Newman, Director, MIT Media Lab

Learn more at https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/a…

https://youtu.be/3czYRJasicg

** Gravitics assembles a mock-up of the StarMax space station module – Gravitics Inc

#SpaceStationSaturdays – Introducing the StarMax Mockup, a full size interior concept model of our StarMax space station module. This is a tool for understanding how to use large space station interiors. What would you or your business do in space? pic.twitter.com/0R75CF0nNR

— Gravitics (@GraviticsInc) April 15, 2023

** Shenzhou-15 Astronauts Complete In-Orbit Tests on Stirling Thermoelectric Converter – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-15 astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station completed tests for a free-piston Stirling thermoelectric converter, marking the country’s first successful verification on the use of the technology in orbit.

** Shenzhou-15 Astronauts Complete In-Orbit Experiment with Two-Photon Microscope – CCTV Video News Agency

During their stay in the orbiting Chinese Tiangong space station, China’s Shenzhou-15 mission crew members successfully carried out in-orbit verification experiments using a two-photon microscope, which was independently developed by China.

**Shenzhou-15 Astronauts Creating Record with Most Spacewalks – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-15 astronauts on board the orbiting Chinese Tiangong space station completed their fourth spacewalk on Saturday, setting a domestic record for the most spacewalks by a single crew.