Space habitat reports – Feb.5.2024 | Space-for-All at HobbySpace

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement. Starts with NASA’s latest Space to Ground report for the International Space Station:

** Expedition 70 Northrop Grumman Cygnus Cargo Craft Arrives at Space Station – Feb. 1, 2024 – NASA Video

Loaded with food, fuel, and supplies, the unpiloted Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft arrived to the International Space Station Feb. 1 where it was installed to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module. Dubbed the “SS Patricia (Patty) Hilliard Robertson” for the late NASA astronaut who succumbed from injuries sustained from a plane crash, Cygnus launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Jan. 30 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will remain docked to the space station for approximately six months. The mission is the 20th Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services flight to the space station for NASA.

** Expedition 70 Northrop Grumman Cygnus Cargo Craft Secured to Space Station – Feb. 1, 2024 – NASA Video

** Expedition 70 Space Station Crew Answers California Student Questions – Feb. 5, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA Expedition 70 Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara discussed living and working in space during an in-flight event Feb. 5 with students attending the Emblem Academy in Saugus, California. Moghbeli and O’Hara are 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.

** What happens to astronauts during space station reboosts? Crew demonstrates – VideoFromSpace

International Space Station crew members demonstrate their motion during a recent reboost of the oribal outpost. NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli explains.

** Window to the world in 360° | Muninn – European Space Agency, ESA

Join ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt inside the seven-windowed cupola, the International Space Station’s “window to the world” and and pan around to enjoy the view.

The ESA – European Space Agency-built Cupola is the favourite place of many astronauts on the International Space Station. It serves not only as a unique photo spot, but also for observing robotic activities, arriving spacecraft and spacewalks.

Marcus was launched to the International Space Station on the Dragon spacecraft as part of Axiom Mission 3 on 18 January 2024. His two-week mission on board is known as Muninn.

Follow Marcus’s journey on the Muninn website, check our launch kit in English or Swedish and connect with Marcus on his Instagram and X accounts.

Muninn website: https://www.esa.int/Science_Explorati…
Marcus Wandt’s Instagram: / esaastro_marcus
Marcus Wandt’s X: / astro_marcus

** Hassell and ESA unveil their concept for a permanent base on the moon – New Scientist

The European Space Agency has unveiled its Lunar Habitat Master Plan, a conceptual design for a scalable moon base.

Commissioned by ESA’s Discovery programme and designed by architectural firm Hassell, the ideas will guide the agency’s technological development of such structures, so it can solve some of the issues moon dwellers could face in a future where research, exploration, tourism and prospecting may all form part of a lunar economy.

“More people on the moon in a sustainable way. This is a good picture to have in mind,” says ESA advanced manufacturing engineer Advenit Makaya, who was involved in the design process. The concept aims to address problems that might arise from having people on the lunar surface for extended periods. This includes protecting astronauts from the harsh environment, such as radiation and dust, and dealing with extreme temperatures, lack of water, oxygen and power.

The habitat is designed around a series of inflatable pods that would make minimal contact with the surface, reducing issues with abrasive dust. These would then be protected by a shell made of blocks, 3D printed using lunar soil, known as regolith, that can be interlocked into place over the pods to absorb radiation. We might also be able to get water or oxygen from the regolith. And to mitigate temperature fluctuations, and maximise solar power efficiency, the base would be built on the edge of Shackleton crater at the moon’s south pole where it would face the sun for longer.

Both ESA and Hassell admit their design is some way from becoming a reality, but flexibility is at the heart of it. “Is it a case of running before we can walk? I don’t think so. These things take a long, long time to plan,” says Xavier De Kestelier, the global head of design for Hassell and the lead architect on the project. “We need to keep on exploring the science.”

–
Learn more ➤ https://www.newscientist.com/article/…

** Ax-3 Mission | On-Orbit Science Briefing – Axiom Space

Since arriving at the International Space Station, the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew has been hard at work. Join Dr. Lucie Low, Axiom Space’s Chief Scientist, to discuss the various research projects being conducted onboard during this mission.

** Expedition 70 Axiom Mission 3 International Space Station Farewell Remarks – Feb. 2, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Axiom Mission-3 crewmembers Michael López-Alegría, Walter Villadei, Alper Gezeravcı, and Marcus Wandt provided farewell remarks February 2 ahead of their scheduled undocking from the space station February 3. The crew has been living and working on the International Space Station since January 20 following a launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 18. Axiom Mission-3 is the third private astronaut mission to the space station.

** Gravitics – Latest posting on X:

On January 5th, NASA announced that the agency will increase its investment in next generation space stations by $99.5 million, in another step towards Low Earth Orbit (LEO) commercialization. Blue Origin and Voyager Space, along with Axiom Space are NASA’s primary partners in… pic.twitter.com/Hc2z4ld8qc

— Gravitics (@GraviticsInc) January 27, 2024

** VAST update on X:

We have officially surpassed the 300 employee mark!

We recently held our first all hands of 2024. We continue to be full speed ahead on the development of Haven-1, scheduled to launch no earlier than August 25.

Check out our careers page for more information on our culture,… pic.twitter.com/9KkCU6ju8j

— VΛST (@vast) January 31, 2024

** Starlab Sizzle Reel – Voyager Space on Vimeo

Starlab is a new-era space platform, set to serve a global customer base of space agencies, researchers, and companies. Our space station will ensure a continued human presence in low-Earth orbit and a seamless transition of microgravity science and research from the International Space Station into the new commercial space station era.

See latest announcement: Starlab Space Selects SpaceX’s Starship for Historic Launch | Voyager Space – Jan.31.2024.

Starlab Space LLC (Starlab Space), the transatlantic joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus, today announced the selection of SpaceX to launch the Starlab commercial space station to low-Earth orbit (LEO). Starship, SpaceX’s fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond, will launch Starlab in a single mission prior to the decommissioning of the International Space Station.

“SpaceX’s history of success and reliability led our team to select Starship to orbit Starlab,” said Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Voyager Space. “SpaceX is the unmatched leader for high-cadence launches and we are proud Starlab will be launched to orbit in a single flight by Starship.”

** Shenzhou-17 Crew Displays Scientific Research Facilities at Tiangong Station – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-17 crew members displayed various scientific research facilities at China’s Tiangong space station recently.

** Other news and articles:

** Highlight: Winter over Utah – SLC – Provo – Uinta Mtns – Feb 4, 2024 – 11:26 MST – ISS Above

NASA EHDC6 Live views of the Earth from the International Space Station

** Highlight: Colors of the Sahara – Chad – Egypt Feb 3, 2024 8:12 UTC – ISS Above

** 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