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

** Thanksgiving Message from the International Space Station – NASA

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer shared their thoughts about spending Thanksgiving in orbit and the foods they plan to enjoy. Vande Hei is in the midst of a year-long mission, while Chari, Marshburn, Barron and Maurer arrived on the space station Nov. 11 for a planned six-month mission. Together, they’re living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human spaceflight missions

** STEMonstrations: Moment of Inertia – NASA

NASA Astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough discuss moment of inertia and its effects on rotating objects. Watch as Megan demonstrates what happens to her angular speed as she alters her moment of inertia in microgravity aboard the International Space Station. Be sure to check out https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstrations for more videos like this, along with their corresponding classroom connection lesson plans.

** New Space Station Module Docks to the International Complex – NASA

The Russian “Prichal” Node Module and the attached Progress M-UM docked to the “Nauka” Multipurpose Laboratory (MLM) of the International Space Station November 26 following a launch from the Baikonur Cosmondrome in Kazakhstan on November 24. The node module will serve as a multi-hatch docking port for Russian visiting vehicles to the complex.

** Expedition 66 ESA Education Event – November 24, 2021 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 66 flight engineer Mattias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency) discussed living and working in space during an in-flight downlink November 24 with students from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Ireland. Maurer launched in November on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance for a planned six-month science mission to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions.

** Expedition 66 – Northrup Grumman Cygnus 16 Release – November 202, 2021 – NASA Video

More than three months after arriving at the International Space Station to deliver more than three tons of food, supplies and scientific experiments, the unpiloted Northrop Grumman “SS Ellison Onizuka” Cygnus cargo craft departed the complex, headed for destructive entry back into the Earth’s atmosphere in December. Ground controllers at Mission Control, Houston sent commands to release Cygnus from the grasp of the Canadarm 2 robotic arm after it was detached from the Earth-facing port of the station’s Unity module. Cygnus launched on Aug. 10 atop a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.

** Video Shows Beautiful Images of Earth Shot from China’s Tiangong Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency

China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Tuesday released a video of Earth shot from China’s Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) space station.

** A Glimpse into How Chinese Astronaut Works Out in Space – CCTV Video News Agency

A footage released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Wednesday has given people a glimpse into Chinese astronauts’ life at the country’s space station, showing how the crew member Ye Guangfu works out hard to stay fit for better performing the crew’s tasks in space.

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

** Astronauts Show How NASA’s DART Mission Will Change an Asteroid’s Motion in Space – NASA

NASA’s DART spacecraft will intentionally crash into an asteroid to test if impacting an object is a viable way to deflect an asteroid, should a threat ever be discovered in the future. Watch as NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet demonstrate how DART’s mission will work. Spoiler alert: it’s like a pillow fight in microgravity. DART is a spacecraft designed to impact an asteroid as a test of technology. DART’s target asteroid is NOT a threat to Earth. This asteroid system is a perfect testing ground to see if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future.

** Russian Anti-Satellite Weapon Causes Emergency On Space Station – Scott Manley

Yesterday the Russian military tested a new Anti-Satellite missile on an old, dead Soviet satellite. The test was a success and now there are thousands of pieces of debris crossing the orbit of the Space Station. Space is big, and the chances of an impacts are low, but this particular satellite was relatively close to the altitude of the ISS, rather than low down like recent US and Indian tests meaning the debris will remain in orbit longer and have a long term cost for operations in Low Earth Orbit.

** How To Deorbit The International Space Station Safely – Scott Manley

The International Space Station may one day be forced to return to Earth, so that it safely burns up over the ocean, and this is actually a surprisingly complicated task given the huge mass of the station and the limited propulsion available. The plans aren’t final by any means, but this discusses the problems and one particular option using multiple progress spacecraft to augment the propulsion and propellent available for deorbiting this historic orbital facility….

** Why Commercial Space Stations Are The Future NASA Wants – Scott Manley

In the last month or so we’ve seen a couple of major private space station plans revealed to the world – Orbital Reef lead by Blue Origin and Starlab Lead by Nanoracks. These are likely just the tip of the iceberg as NASA is currently reviewing proposals for the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations project.

** Announcing Orbital Reef – Your Address in Orbit – Blue Origin

Blue Origin and Sierra Space have announced plans for Orbital Reef, a commercially developed, owned, and operated space station to be built in low Earth orbit. The station will open the next chapter of human space exploration and development by facilitating the growth of a vibrant ecosystem and business model for the future. Orbital Reef is backed by space industry leaders and teammates including Boeing, Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University. Designed to open multiple new markets in space, Orbital Reef will provide anyone with the opportunity to establish their own address on orbit. This unique destination will offer research, industrial, international, and commercial customers the cost competitive end-to-end services they need including space transportation and logistics, space habitation, equipment accommodation, and operations including onboard crew. The station will start operating in the second half of this decade. Learn more at OrbitalReef.com

** First spacewalk by a Chinese female astronaut during Shenzhou 13 crew space station mission – South China Morning Post

The crew of China’s Shenzhou 13 mission completed their first spacewalk of their mission on board the Tiangong space station on November 7, 2021. One of the crew members venturing outside was Wang Yaping who became China’s first female astronaut to complete a spacewalk. She joined Zhai Zhigang for what was the first planned activity of China’s longest space flight yet, a six-month mission during which the crew will focus on station expansion. Related story: China’s astronauts complete spacewalk at new Tiangong space station https://sc.mp/dhg5

See also:

• Sierra Space raises $1.4 billion – SpaceNews
• Blue Origin and Sierra Space developing commercial space station – Blue Origin
• Ax-1 ISS research mission opens private LEO era — Axiom Space
• NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement – National Space Society

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