Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Oct.2.2020

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

** Expedition 64 Space Station Crew Departs for Kazakh Launch Site – NASA

The International Space Station’s Expedition 64 crew, Soyuz Commander Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, Flight Engineers Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos and Kate Rubins of NASA and their backups, Oleg Novitskiy and Petr Dubrov of Roscosmos and Mark Vande Hei of NASA, participated in traditional prelaunch ceremonies at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, outside Moscow on Sept. 27. Afterward, they departed for the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to complete their training for the launch of Ryzhikov, Kud-Sverchkov and Rubins from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station.

** Oct. 31, 2020: Astronauts to Launch on NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Mission – NASA

** Crew-1 Dragon Astronauts Discusses Upcoming Mission – NASA

NASA and SpaceX are beginning a regular cadence of missions with astronauts launching on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 is the first crew rotation mission with four astronauts flying on a commercial spacecraft, and the first including an international partner. NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are set to launch to the space station on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. The Crew-1 astronauts named the spacecraft Resilience, highlighting the dedication the teams involved with the mission have displayed and to demonstrate that when we work together, there is no limit to what we can achieve. They named it in honor of their families, colleagues, and fellow citizens. Launch is targeted for Saturday, October 31, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew is scheduled for a long duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting science and maintenance. The four astronauts are set to return in spring 2021. After successfully docking, the astronauts of Crew-1 will be welcomed aboard station by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. For the first time, the space station’s crew will expand to seven people with Expedition 64, increasing the amount of crew time available for research.

** How Do Astronauts Use the Potty in Space? – #AskNASA

Hygiene, eating, sleeping — life operates a tad differently when you’re in space. Join NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir as she answers some of our popular questions about living aboard the International Space Station. Jessica explains how the lack of gravity makes everyday activities not so ordinary, from washing your hair in zero gravity to using the bathroom in space. Jessica details how astronauts handle the tricky tasks and offer a sneak peek at the new space toilet planned for NASA’s Artemis program. Celebrating her most notable achievement, Jessica shares her thoughts about her first spacewalk and highlights her role in the first all-woman spacewalk.

** How the Space Station Moves In Orbit Like A Spaceship – Scott Manley

Many people don’t realise that the International Space Station is also a space ship, able to maneuver in space as required by mission operations. It has thrusters and control moment gyros to control its orientation and adjust its orbit.