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-4 Mission Overview – NASA Johnson

The next flight to the International Space Station is ready to launch! NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission will deliver four new crewmembers to the space station and power the next increment of groundbreaking science research. Join NASA’s Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, for a look into their expedition to low-Earth orbit, and share their excitement about the prospect of flying on the Dragon vehicle for the first time.

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 Flight Day 1 Highlights – NASA Johnson

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts lifted off at 3:52 a.m. EDT Wednesday, April 27, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bound for the International Space Station for the fourth NASA and SpaceX commercial crew rotation mission aboard the microgravity laboratory. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Crew Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, and Jessica Watkins, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, into orbit to begin a six-month science mission on the space station. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, will dock autonomously to the forward port of the station’s Harmony module around 8:15 p.m. EDT.

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 Flight Day 2 Highlights – NASA Johnson

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts docked autonomously to the forward port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module at 7:37 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 27. NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, and Jessica Watkins, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, arrived after a one-day journey to begin a six-month science mission on the space station. Following docking Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti joined the Expedition 67 crew of NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsakov, and Denis Matveev.

**  NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 Docks to the Space Station (Official NASA Broadcast) – NASA

Watch NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts arrive at the International Space Station aboard their Dragon spacecraft Freedom. Docking is scheduled for approximately 7:40 p.m. EDT (23:40 UTC). Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, astronauts Bob Hines, Jessica Watkins, and Kjell Lindgren of NASA, alongside Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency), will spend nearly six months conducting new scientific research in areas such as materials science, health technologies, and plant science to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth. Crew-4 lifted off on April 27 at 3:52 a.m. ET (7:52 UTC) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Watch the launch broadcast replay: https://youtu.be/JNKPbe_gacg

** An astronaut gets ready for bed | Cosmic Kiss – European Space Agency, ESA on Youtube

ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer gives a glimpse into his evening routine aboard the International Space Station during his Cosmic Kiss mission. Matthias’s crew quarters, known as CASA (short for Crew Alternate Sleep Accommodation), is located within the European Columbus science laboratory module. But before he floats into his sleeping bag in there for the night, Matthias takes a little detour to one of the three “bathrooms” currently on board the Space Station. Separated from the work areas and installed in different modules of the USOS and Russian segments of the Station to allow them some privacy, the astronauts on board share these bathrooms to wash up, take a “shower” in space and brush their teeth. More info on Cosmic Kiss here: https://bit.ly/ESACosmicKiss

** Time-lapse of NASA growing peppers aboard the International Space Station for Plant Habitat-04 – NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

NASA grew chili peppers aboard the International Space Station in the Advanced Plant Habitat for 137 days in 2021 in the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-4) experiment. PH-04 used the NuMex ‘Española Improved’ pepper, a hybrid developed by New Mexico State University. NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough initiated the experiment on July 12, 2021. Expedition 66 flight engineer Mark Vande Hei performed the first harvest on Oct. 29, 2021 and made the second and final harvest on Nov. 26, 2021. Astronauts ate some of the peppers harvested and packaged samples for analysis. Those samples returned to Earth on April 25, 2022, along with the first mission with an entirely private crew to the space station, Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1). To learn more about the experiment visit: https://www.nasa.gov/content/plant-ha…

** Concrete Hardening | Cosmic Kiss 360° – European Space Agency, ESA on Youtube

ake a look inside the box and join ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer from a very special perspective as he supports the @DLR Mason/Concrete Hardening experiment. The Concrete Hardening experiment investigates the behaviour of various concrete mixtures containing cement and sand or simulated ‘Moon dust’ combined with water and various admixtures. On Earth, higher density components tend to move downward but in weightlessness they are likely to be more evenly distributed. Researchers will analyse the concrete mixed by Matthias in space for strength, bubble and pore distribution as well as crystal structures, comparing this to ground samples. Their findings will facilitate the development of new, improved concrete mixes that could be used to construct habitats on the Moon or Mars and build more sustainable housing on Earth. Follow Matthias: https://bit.ly/ESACosmicKiss

** 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:

** Expedition 67 – Axiom Mission 1 International Space Station Farewell Remarks – April 19, 2022 – NASA Video

The Expedition 67 crew and astronauts of the Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) shared reflections on the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station prior to the mission’s planned departure. NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev joined Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy for the farewell remarks. The Ax-1 crew will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour and splashdown off the coast of Florida to complete their mission.

** Russian Cosmonauts Conduct Spacewalk To Activate New Station Robotic Arm – NASA Johnson

Expedition 67 cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev conducted the first in a series of spacewalks April 18 outside the International Space Station to install a control panel for a new European robotic arm attached to the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module and activate the arm. The European robotic arm launched on Nauka, and will be used to move payloads and spacewalkers around the Russian segment of the complex.

** Samantha’s second space mission: Minerva – European Space Agency, ESA on Youtube

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will return to the International Space Station in April 2022. Her second space mission is known as Minerva. Inspired by Roman mythology, Samantha says the Minerva mission name and patch pay homage to the competence and sophisticated craftmanship of all those who make human spaceflight possible. Samantha will travel to the Station alongside @NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob “Farmer” Hines and Jessica Watkins. Collectively known as Crew-4, the astronauts will be launched from @NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on a @SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. When Samantha arrives at the Station, her Minerva mission officially begins. This will see her live and work aboard the orbital outpost for approximately five months. During this time, she will support over 35 European and many more international experiments in orbit. Samantha will also hold the role of US Orbital Segment (USOS) lead, responsible for operations within the US, European, Japanese and Canadian modules and components of the Space Station. As her launch draws closer, Samantha continues her training with International Space Station partners. Learn more about Mission Minerva: https://bit.ly/MissionMinerva

** Touchdown! Shenzhou 13 crew lands in China’s Inner Mongolia region – VideoFromSpace

The Shenzhou 13 astronauts Zhai Zhigang (commander), Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu are returned to Earth after over 170 days in space on April 15, 2022 (April 16 – BJT). They touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)

** NLRA 2022-7: Leveraging the ISS National Lab to Enable Digital Engagement For K-12/Higher Education – ISS National Lab – YouTube

An informational webinar regarding NLRA 2022-7 was held on March 29, 2022.

** Veteran Astronaut Rex Walheim on Ax-1 and this new era of human spaceflight – Axiom Space

Axiom Space is guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leader in providing space infrastructure as a service, Axiom offers end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while privately developing its successor – a permanent commercial destination in Earth’s orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com.

** 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:

** Ax-1 Astronauts speak with Houston-area students at Space Center Houston – Axiom Space

Axiom Space is guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leader in providing space infrastructure as a service, Axiom offers end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while privately developing its successor – a permanent commercial destination in Earth’s orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com.

** Ax-1 Mission Update – Flight Day Seven – Axiom Space

** Expedition 67 – NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Talks to Media Before Departing Station – April 15, 2022 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 67 Flight Engineers Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron of NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer reflected back and discussed their six-month mission aboard the orbital outpost during a crew news conference April 15. The Crew-3 astronauts are nearing the end 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.

** Space Tango: Expanding Capabilities and Partnerships for Stem Cell Discovery and Manufacturing – ISS National Lab – YouTube

During the stem cell session of the 2020 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Onboard the ISS workshop, Jana Stoudemire, commercial innovation officer at Space Tango, discusses how Space Tango is supporting space-based stem cell research and talks about the company’s mission to manufacture health and technology products in space that lead to valuable and transformational solutions.

** Johnson and Johnson: The Promise of Bioprinting – ISS National Lab – YouTube

During the biomanufacturing session of the 2020 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Onboard the ISS workshop, Orchid Garcia, research fellow and lead for 3D bioprinting and tissue regen technologies at Johnson & Johnson, discusses the company’s approach to gaining a deeper understanding of tissue regeneration and bioprinting technologies to develop new ways to diagnose and treat patients on Earth.

** STEMonstrations: Area and Volume – NASA Johnson

Astronauts Megan McArthur and Aki Hoshide discuss how engineers designed the U.S. Destiny module so that every cubic inch of volume is used efficiently. Astronauts give a tour of the orbiting module aboard the International Space Station and discuss how engineers use area and volume calculations to strategically design how the space is used in microgravity. Be sure to check out https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstrations for more videos like this, along with their corresponding Classroom Connection lesson plans.

** Matthias’s first spacewalk | Cosmic Kiss – European Space Agency, ESA on Youtube

On 23 March 2022, ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer successfully performed his first extravehicular activity (EVA) alongside fellow @NASA astronaut Raja Chari. The spacewalk, dubbed “US EVA 80”, was carried out in support of assembly, refurbishment and maintenance work on the International Space Station. In this video, Matthias Maurer answers questions and reports on his experiences, feelings and the challenges he faced during his almost seven-hour-long spacewalk. …

** Chinese astronauts packing for return trip & jump rope in space! – VideoFromSpace

Chinese astronauts Wang Yaping, Ye Guangfu, and Zhai Zhigang are preparing for the return to Earth and even find time for some jump rope. Credit: Space.com | footage courtesy: China Central Television (CCTV) | edited by [Steve Spaleta]

** Shenzhou-13 to Separate from Space Station Core Module – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-13 crewed spacecraft, which has completed all its scheduled tasks, will separate from the space station core module Tianhe at an appropriate time and land at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Thursday. …

** 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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Adult Set for Display,
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====

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