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

** Expedition 69 Crew Relocates Soyuz MS-23 on International Space Station -April 6, 2023 – NASA Video

The Roscosmos Soyuz MS-23 undocked from the Poisk module on the International Space Station and relocated for a docking to the Prichal module April 6. Aboard the Soyuz for the brief flight were NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Dimitri Petelin and Soyuz commander Sergey Prokopyev. The maneuver opened the Poisk docking port for the arrival of the Progress 84 resupply vehicle that will launch later this spring. MS-23 launched uncrewed Feb. 24 to replace the damaged Soyuz MS-22 which undocked and returned to Earth March 28.

 

** Russia and the U.S. team up in space to relocate Soyuz to new ISS port – CBS News

A Soyuz spacecraft has been successfully relocated to a new port on the International Space Station. This will clear the way for a trio of upcoming Russian spacewalks. CBS News senior space analyst William Harwood joins “CBS News Mornings” to explain the collaboration that took place between Russian cosmonauts and U.S. astronauts to make the move possible.

** 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 Mission Overview – Axiom Space – Youtube

Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and the Saudi Space Commission will provide an overview of the Ax-2 mission. The event will provide a high-level review of mission operations and objectives and officially kicks off major media effort for the Ax-2 mission.

00:00
06:22 Opening Remarks
07:56 Michael Suffredini, CEO & President, Axiom Space
13:38 Peggy Whitson, Ax-2 Commander, Axiom Space
16:56 Mishaal Ashemimry, Microgravity Research Lead, Saudi Space Agency
19:38 Angela Hart, Commercial LEO Development Program Manager, NASA
21:12 Joel Montalbano, International Space Station Program Manager, NASA
23:13 Sarah Walker, Director of Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX
26:32 Q&A session with press

See also:

• Ax-2 Mission
• Axiom Space targeting May 8 for launch of next astronaut mission | Space.com – Apr.6.2023
• Second Axiom Space mission to ISS scheduled for May | SpaceNews – Apr.7.2023

** NASA Groundlink: Q&A with Crew Isolated in HERA Habitat (C6M4) – NASA Johnson

Crew members Sandra Herrmann and Katie Koube, from HERA Campaign 6 Mission 4, answer questions from students all over the world. NASA’s “Groundlink” series connects students with crew currently inside NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog, or HERA, a habitat here on Earth. Through simulation of long-term human space travel, these crew are on a mission to help scientists learn more about how isolation, confinement, and remote conditions will affect astronauts on Artemis missions to the Moon and on future missions to Mars.

Similar to educational Downlinks, which connect students with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, Groundlinks give students the opportunity to ask HERA crew their questions. Through the crew’s answers, students can learn more about how NASA prepares humans to live and work in space.

Students can submit questions to analog crew members on HERA’s website: https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/hera

NASA’s Human Research Program pursues methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, and the International Space Station, this team scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives NASA’s quest to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as space travel expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Learn more about how NASA innovates for the benefit of humanity at: https://www.nasa.gov/hrp

** 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

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

** Artemis II: Meet the Astronauts Who will Fly Around the Moon – NASA

Four astronauts have been selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission: Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.

Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon to verify today’s capabilities for humans to explore deep space and pave the way for long-term exploration and science on the lunar surface.

More: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii

** Russia’s leaky Soyuz spacecraft undocks from space station for return to Earth – VideoFromSpace

Russia’s Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft that sprung a major coolant leak undocked from the International Space Station on March 28, 2023 at 5:57 a.m. EDT (0957 GMT). It is scheduled to land in Kazakhstan about 2 hours later. Full Story: https://www.space.com/leaky-soyuz-spa…

There was no crew aboard.

** StarMax Space Station Module Pressure Test – Gravitics Inc – YouTube

First ever pressure test of the Gravitics space station prototype was successful

On Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, Gravitics conducted a pressure vessel test of an 8 meter diameter StarMax prototype hull, ahead of building our first StarMax prototype. In the weeks leading up to the test date, the team worked vigorously to build and prepare the test article by joining two 8-meter domes, preparing our data analytics software, and building out a safe test site. The test was a complete success, reaching an internal pressure level of 26.6 PSIG (pounds per square inch gauge) and exceeding the test goal parameters set by the engineering and manufacturing teams.

Reaching and surpassing the goals for this test means Gravitics has proven the space worthiness of our 8 meter StarMax hull. This test represents a key milestone in Gravitics’ drive to expand human life into the solar system and continue to push the boundaries of what humanity will achieve in space.  #BuildtheSky

** China’s Shenzhou-15 Astronauts Complete Third Spacewalk – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-15 astronauts onboard China’s Tiangong space station completed their third spacewalk on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

** 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

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

** Expedition 68 SpaceX Dragon CRS-27 Cargo Ship Space Station Docking – March 16, 2023 – NASA Video

Loaded with scientific experiments and supplies, the unpiloted SpaceX CRS-27 cargo ship automatically docked to the International Space Station’s forward port of the Harmony module March 16. The SpaceX resupply craft launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida March 14 with several tons of experiments and hardware on board and will remain on orbit for a month-long visit.

** Homecoming | Down to Earth – S2:E8 – NASA Johnson

In the final episode featuring astronaut Victor Glover and his daughter, Corinne, they discuss the excitement of returning to Earth from an extended mission on the International Space Station.

** China Wants to Expand its Space Station – Dongfang Hour

A 4th Space Station module? In this episode, we uncover China’s plans to expand the Tiangong Space Station, combining the past and current statements from space industry officials, hints in space station animations, and known characteristics of the current space station models.

** ISS Live video stream – IBM/ISS HD Earth Viewing Experiment

Currently, live views from the ISS are streaming from an external camera mounted on the ISS module called Node 2. Node 2 is located on the forward part of the ISS. The camera is looking forward at an angle so that the International Docking Adapter 2 (IDA2) is visible. If the Node 2 camera is not available due to operational considerations for a longer period of time, a continuous loop of recorded HDEV imagery will be displayed. The loop will have “Previously Recorded” on the image to distinguish it from the live stream from the Node 2 camera. After HDEV stopped sending any data on July 18, 2019, it was declared, on August 22, 2019, to have reached its end of life. Thank You to all who shared in experiencing and using the HDEV views of Earth from the ISS to make HDEV so much more than a Technology Demonstration Payload!

====

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

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

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5: A Scientific Mission – NASA

From growing tomatoes to studying cosmic rays to observing quantum mechanics, the four crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission contributed to more than 100 scientific investigations and technology demonstrations during their five months aboard the International Space Station. These experiments help prepare humans for future space exploration missions while bringing benefits for humanity back to Earth.

Learn more about the science of Crew-5 as our astronauts get ready to head home: https://go.nasa.gov/3T2gbgw

** Expedition 68 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Space Station Farewell Remarks – March 8, 2023 – NASA Video

NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, Stephen Bowen, and Woody Hoburg, as well as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Andrey Fedyaev, Sergey Prokopyev, Dimitri Petelin, and Anna Kikina gave remarks on March 8 aboard the International Space Station in anticipation of the upcoming departure of the Crew-5 mission. Mann, Cassada, Wakata, and Kikina, crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5, are headed home wrapping up their long-duration mission on the orbital outpost.

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Flight Day 3 Highlights – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina began their journey back to Earth on Saturday, March 11. SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance closed its hatches and autonomously undocked shortly after at 2:05 a.m. EST. NASA and SpaceX are targeting 9:19 p.m. EST Saturday for a splashdown that will wrap up a nearly six-month science mission living and working 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.

** Students from the Caribbean and Central America Speak to the International Space Station – NASA Johnson

During this event, students from the Caribbean and Central America had the opportunity to speak with Astronaut Josh Cassada to learn about natural disaster research and monitoring, as seen from the unique perspective of the International Space Station. More than 400 questions were submitted by schools in the region. The selected questions were related to climate change and monitoring hazard events such as hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and coastal erosion.

Learn more about the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program at https://www.ariss.org/.

** UAE VP calls space station to talk to SpaceX Crew-6 astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi – VideoFromSpace

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum from the United Arab Emirates called the International Space Station to talk to UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi. AlNeyadi recently arrived at the orbital laboratory as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission. Full Story: https://www.space.com/united-arab-emi…

** SpaceX CRS-27 mission to space station – Science payloads explained – VideoFromSpace

Learn what science payloads are being shipped aboard Cargo Dragon to the International Space Station on the SpaceX CRS-27 mission. See the CRS-26 launch: https://www.space.com/spacex-launch-c…

** SpaceX CRS-27 Research Overview; Cardinal Heart 2.0 – ISS National Lab – YouTube 

Researchers from Stanford University are launching a new series of tissue chip investigations to the space station to evaluate heart cells and test new therapeutics for improving the quality of life of patients on Earth and beyond. Learn more about this investigation!

** China’s Two-photon Microscope Captures Cell Images of Astronauts in Orbit – CCTV Video News Agency

The Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-15 have successfully obtained the three-dimensional structural images of their skin cells with the country’s self-developed two-photon microscope, a recent video released by the China Manned Space Agency showed.

** 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

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

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 Flight Day 2 Highlights – NASA Video

NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev docked to the zenith port of the Harmony module of the International Space Station March 3 following a launch the day before on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following docking, the quartet opened the hatch and floated onboard the orbital outpost before providing welcoming remarks as their mission aboard the space station began. The four crew members will conduct a long-duration science 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.

** Expedition 68 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Talks with Media Before Station Departure – March 1, 2023 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina answered questions and gave remarks about their mission during a news conference March 1. The Crew-5 astronauts have been aboard the space station since October and will return to Earth via a parachute assisted splashdown this month. The four crew members have been 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.

** Expedition 68 Uncrewed Soyuz MS-23 International Space Station Docking – February 26, 2023 – NASA Video

An uncrewed Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft docked to the Poisk module of the International Space Station on Feb. 25 after launching atop a Soyuz 2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Feb. 23. Soyuz MS-23 launched to replace the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio launched on last September that incurred a coolant loop leak in December.

** Aurora timelapse – European Space Agency, ESA on Youtube

Timelapse video made during ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti’s second mission to the International Space Station, “Minerva”. This timelapse was recorded looking aft (out from the rear) of the Space Station, showing the aurora shimmering away beyond the horizon.

https://youtube.com/shorts/N3yBEzRPLC4?feature=share

** China recruits six more astronauts for ‘space missions in 2023’ – VideoFromSpace

China has recruited 6 astronauts for missions to the Tiangong space station in 2023. See Chinese astronauts conduct underwater training for spacewalks and more here.

** China Succeeds in Lighting Fire for First Time in Space – CCTV Video News Agency

China has successfully lit a fire for the first time in a combustion test on board its orbiting space station, marking a new milestone that lights the way for studying how fire behaves in microgravity.

The very first ball of flame was ignited on Feb. 16 aboard Mengtian, one of the two lab modules that make up the basic T-shaped structure of the space station along with the core module, with camera footage capturing the stunning and rarely-seen image in an environment where gravity loses its grip on materials of all forms.

** Shenzhou-15 Astronauts Complete Their Second Spacewalk – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-15 astronaut trio on board the orbiting Chinese Tiangong space station have concluded their second spacewalk after completing half of their six-month journey in orbit, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

** China Space Station: Expansion Plan Discussed | Leonard David – Feb.25.2023

According to Zhou, CMS has outlined the future mode of station expansion.

“We could develop it to a six-module configuration with a total weight of about 180 tons,” he said. Furthermore, the chief designer said that the designed life of the station is ten years, but could be expanded to 15, 20 or even 30 years. “This is a big challenge, not just expansion, but technology upgrades as well,” Zhou said.

In the foreseeable future, Zhou said, “we will send the Chinese to step on the Moon. We will explore how human beings can use the resources on the Moon and how to live on the moon for a long period and get ready for manned deep space exploration,” he said.

** ISS Live video stream – IBM/ISS HD Earth Viewing Experiment

Currently, live views from the ISS are streaming from an external camera mounted on the ISS module called Node 2. Node 2 is located on the forward part of the ISS. The camera is looking forward at an angle so that the International Docking Adapter 2 (IDA2) is visible. If the Node 2 camera is not available due to operational considerations for a longer period of time, a continuous loop of recorded HDEV imagery will be displayed. The loop will have “Previously Recorded” on the image to distinguish it from the live stream from the Node 2 camera. After HDEV stopped sending any data on July 18, 2019, it was declared, on August 22, 2019, to have reached its end of life. Thank You to all who shared in experiencing and using the HDEV views of Earth from the ISS to make HDEV so much more than a Technology Demonstration Payload!

====

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====

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