Category Archives: In Space Infrastructure

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – June.17.2024

Here is a new selection of videos, updates, and news items about government and commercial space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: Flight Test: June 14, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** Boeing Starliner successfully delivers crew of two to ISS for first time

After completion of this final test mission, Starliner can begin regular transport of crews to the Station.

— First crewed Boeing Starliner docks with the International Space Station – VideoFromSpace

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have arrived at the International Space Station aboard Boeing Starliner. The spacecraft docked with the orbital outpost on June 6, 2024.

— Boeing Starliner crew enters space station after docking – VideoFromSpace

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed ingress onto the International Space Station shortly after docking on June 6, 2024.

** A view of the Starliner docked to the ISS:

Maxar demonstrates the ability of its imaging satellites to view not just earth but other spacecraft as well by releasing an image of the Boeing Starliner crew vehicle docked to the ISS.

** Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab: 2024-7 – ISS National Lab

On May 22, 2024, the ISS National Lab held a webinar is to discuss the ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) 2024-7 soliciting proposals focused on applied research and development, translational medicine, technology readiness level maturation, and technology demonstration.

** NASA Astronaut Butch Willmore Answers Tennessee Student Questions – Tuesday, June 11, 2024 – NASA Video

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore discussed living and working in space as part of the Crewed Flight Test (CFT) of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft during an in-flight interview with Tennessee Tech University on June 11. Wilmore is an alumnus of the school and is the midst of completing a test flight to check out Starliner’s systems ahead of spacecraft certification. Wilmore will remain at the space station for about a week to complete a series of test objectives before departing the complex for a landing in the southwestern United States alongside NASA astronaut Suni Williams.

** Metal 3D printing in microgravity has been accomplished aboard the ESA’s Columbus laboratory module by an industrial team led by Airbus:

The Metal 3D Printer’s design is based on stainless-steel wire being fed into the printing area, which is heated by a high-power laser, about a million times time more powerful than a standard laser pointer. As the wire dips into the melt pool, the end of the wire melts so that metal is added to the print.

The print process is overseen entirely from the ground. All the onboard crew has to do is open a nitrogen and venting valve before the printing starts. For safety reasons the printer operates within a fully sealed box, preventing excess heat or fumes from escaping.

Four shapes have been chosen for subsequent full-scale 3D printing, which will later be returned to Earth to be compared with reference prints made on the ground in normal gravity.

—- 3D printing metal in space! Tech developed by Airbus – VideoFromSpace

Airbus is developing a 3D printer that heats up metal to “1,200 degrees Celsius to produce new parts such as radiation shields, tooling or equipment directly in orbit.”

** First Space Station missions for new ESA astronauts – European Space Agency, ESA

Watch the replay as ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announces the first two astronaut missions for the new ESA astronaut class of 2022 on the first day of the Space Council, held in Brussels on 22 and 23 May 2024.

ESA’s most recent class of astronauts selected in 2022 includes Sophie Adenot, Pablo Álvarez Fernández, Rosemary Coogan, Raphaël Liégeois, and Marco Sieber. They recently completed one year of basic training and graduated as ESA astronauts on 22 April at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Germany, making them eligible for spaceflight. During their missions aboard the International Space Station, ESA astronauts will engage in a diverse range of activities, from conducting scientific experiments and medical research to Earth observation, outreach and operational tasks.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

—- Update from Axiom on module construction: Axiom Station Update | Habitat One – Axiom Space Youtube

Axiom Station’s ‘Habitat One’ module has taken another major step towards completion at the Thales Alenia Space production facility in Turin, Italy. Take a look at the module bulkhead and forward cone coming together as Axiom Space expands global access to low Earth orbit.

—- An overview of Axiom’s space habitat program. Includes comments from George Motter, senior vice president at Axiom Space and chief engineer for Axiom Station. Rocket science: Axiom Space balances risk with reward in its quest to design a new space station. | MMA Limitless Magazine – May.9.2024

The goal is to build a station that

will be the first commercial space laboratory. He and his colleagues have big dreams for the structure, which will enable new innovations in physics, biology, and other sciences that thrive in microgravity. They want this next-generation orbital platform to be useful and comfortable— one step closer to our science fiction dreams.

—- Axiom EVA spacesuit update: AxEMU Artemis III Integrated Test – Axiom Space Youtube

The first Artemis III Integrated Test is now complete.
Axiom Space, along with NASA and SpaceX, tested how the #AxEMU and elements such as Starship will work together during the Artemis III mission. Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight, Peggy Whitson, and NASA astronaut Douglas Wheelock donned the AxEMU, providing crucial data and expertise.

Learn more about how we’re suiting humanity’s return to the moon with #AxEMU: https://bit.ly/3VsF0F1.

** Sierra Space

—- Pressure testing update

** VAST Space

—- The Exploration Company provide cargo supply services for Vast’s second orbital station. The Exploration Company, which is based in Europe, is developing the uncrewed Nyx  vehicle for orbital supply operations.

–— The European Space Agency (ESA) becomes a Vast partner. ESA will use the Haven-1 station “for astronaut missions and research activities as well as commercial business development“. ESA will also help enable European companies to “supply subsystems and equipment for future Vast space stations“. ESA will also encourage the development and use of European crew and cargo transport services to support Vast stations.

—- VAST unveils structural prototype:

Haven-1 Primary Structure Pathfinder pic.twitter.com/dbFsm0bAk7

—- VAST CEO Max Haot talked recently with CNBC’s Morgan Brennan: Space Station Acceleration with VAST CEO Max Haot | Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan – May.16.2024

—- Free-Flying Stations, with Jed McCaleb & Max Haot (Vast) – Payload on Youtube

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Jed McCaleb, Founder, and Max Haot, CEO, the leaders behind VAST, a company advancing the development of commercial space stations. Jed, a seasoned software entrepreneur, and Max, a veteran in space and internet ventures, bring their unique expertise to the ambitious goal of advancing human habitation in space.

Our conversation covers the critical aspects of creating economically viable space stations, the strategic role of life support systems, and the significance of reducing transportation costs. We also explore:

– Space station economics, pros/cons of competition
– Military opportunities and sensitivities in space station use
– Integration of Launcher post-acquisition
– Challenges and excitement of Haven One’s launch
– Vast’s product roadmap

And much more…

• Chapters •
00:00 Intro
00:53 Jed’s career path and creating Vast
02:57 Balancing aspirations and making money
04:57 Max’s history building business and how he came to Vast
08:49 Max’s primary objective at Vast
11:22 Jed’s experience building a hardware company
12:31 Market opportunity for a free flying space station
15:20 Haven 1
19:17 Building components in house
21:07 Materials use and construction safety
23:03 Vast’s approach vs competitors
29:45 Importance of being first in the market
31:41 Is the market large enough to sustain multiple station providers?
33:25 Common misconceptions of space station investment
38:02 Vast x SpaceX partnership
40:55 Product roadmap
43:22 Coinciding with Starship timelines
45:06 Will Starship be converted into a space station?
46:10 Fundraising
47:09 Economics around Haven 1
51:37 Military applications
53:30 Utilization after acquisition
54:13 What excites you and keeps you up at night?

** Starlab – Voyager Space

—- MDA Space partners with Starlab

—- Paragon Space Development Corp. to provide water purification system for Starlab habitat: Paragon Announces Water Purification System EDU for Starlab | Aviation Newswire – May.30.2024

=== Chinese space habitats

** China’s space station crew conducts spacewalk to install ‘space debris protection devices’ – VideoFromSpace

Spacewalking astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu successfully installed space debris protection devices and more outside the Tiangong space station on May 28, 2024. Astronaut Li Cong assisted from inside the orbital outpost.

** See zebrafish swim in space on China’s Tiangong space station – ISS Above

China is studying zebrafish aboard the Tiangong space station and they are doing just fine. Full Story: https://www.space.com/china-tiangong-…

** Shenzhou-18 Crew Conducts Maintenance, Scientific Experiments Aboard Tiangong Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-18 mission crew has been busy conducting various facility maintenance works and scientific experiments aboard China’s Tiangong space station over the past month.

=== Space station technology

** BE Webinar: The Next Steps Toward Artificial Gravity – Beyond Earth Institute on Youtube

Long-term human space migration has always been tempered by the challenge of a microgravity environment. This webinar, moderated by BE’s Senior Technical Advisor, Steve Hoeser, will focus on the pathways forward for mitigating the effects of microgravity. Panelists will discuss the value of revisiting investigations into spin gravity as an avenue to address the microgravity problem.

Panelists:
-Steve Hoeser (Moderator) – Senior Technical Advisor, Beyond Earth Institute
-Donna Roberts, MD, MS – Deputy Chief Scientist, ISS National Lab
-Dr. Dana Levin – Chief of Space Medicine, Vast Space
-Gary Hudson – President, Space Studies Institute
-Dr. Ted Hall – Extended Reality Software Developer, University of Michigan

See also The benefits of artificial gravity for space settlements | Space Settlement Progress – June.15.2024

=== Space resources

** TransAstra: Revolutionizing Asteroid Mining and the Future of Space Economy | Presented by Celestron – Cosmos Safari

Check out this Celestron Cosmos Safari podcast interview with Joel Sercel, CEO of TransAstra, which is developing technologies to access and utilize the resources of space:

Prepare to ignite your cosmic curiosity as we join forces with Joel Sercel, the visionary CEO of TransAstra, to navigate the extraordinary complexities and boundless opportunities of space engineering. Our interstellar conversation steers us through the nuances of space junk cleanup, asteroid mining, and the potential gold rush lurking in the cosmos. Joel describes how our future in space is sooner than we can imagine, as we harness the vast resources of space to sustain humanity’s future. Discover the sheer brilliance behind technologies reshaping our celestial pursuits, from AI-enhanced telescope arrays to propulsion systems that could rewrite the rules of space travel.

Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and yearned for the secrets it holds? This episode grants you access to the pioneering minds and technologies that are making the stars a little closer to home. Joel provides a guided tour of TransAstra’s four-pronged strategy for space resource utilization; detect, move, capture, and process. We traverse the philosophical corridors of terraforming ethics and the practical concerns of low-gravity health implications, leaving no asteroid unturned in our quest to comprehend humanity’s place in the cosmos.

Our journey culminates in a thoughtful exploration of mankind’s innate drive to explore the unknown. Uncover the entrepreneurial spirit that propels us toward the stars, consider the future of space colonization, and ponder the impact of AI on the space industry’s trajectory. With each revelation from our episode, we invite you to stretch your imagination across the galaxy, and in doing so, find inspiration to be part of the next chapter in our cosmic safari.

Join us each month as we continue to explore the universe’s greatest mysteries, with experts like Joel Sercel guiding the way.

A Special Thanks to Will Young at https://www.deepskydude.com/ for the right to use his awesome music.

0:00 Engineering the Future of Space
15:57 Space Exploration and Conversation
32:04 Space Force-Funded TKO Turnkey Observatory
41:06 Overview of RASA Astrograph Telescope
48:57 Asteroid Mining for Space Exploration
59:33 Future of Space Colonization and Exploration
1:09:42 Asteroid Prospect Telescopes in Space
1:17:00 Asteroid Mining and Rocket Propulsion Future
1:29:32 Vision of Human Expansion Into Space
1:43:54 Values, AI Impact, Cosmos Safari Podcast
1:50:10 Great Chat and Podcast Announcement

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** NASA ISS crewmember  Matthew Dominick posted a cool video of the Starliner crew vehicle with aurora in the background:

** Timelapse NRAL Canadarm2 05 29 2024 – ISS Above

Just a quick little (5 hour) Canadarm2 operation to move an experiment payload from one port on the Nanoracks Airlock (NRAL) to another.

** Highlight: Night Buenos Aires Argentina – Jun 2 2024 – 23:58 ART – 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

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

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

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – May.18.2024

Here is a new selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: The ISS Toolbox: May 17, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** Space to Ground: Preparing for Guests: May 10, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** NASA Astronaut Matt Dominick Talks with KMGH, Denver – Friday, May 10, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Matt Dominick discussed living and working in space during an in-flight interview with KMGH-TV/ABC Denver May 10. Dominick is in the midst 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.

Join NASA as we go forward to the Moon and on to Mars — discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox.

** Space Station Crew Answers Tucson AZ Student Questions – Tuesday May 14, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Tracy Dyson and Jeanette Epps of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview May 14 with students participating in the TRiO Upward Bound program at the Desert Vista campus of the Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Dyson and Epps are in the midst of a long-duration mission 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.

** NASA Gateway lunar station:

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space – Overview of Axiom’s space projects: Axiom Space eyes the moon while continuing to dream big in Earth orbit | Space.com – May.8.2024

Axiom Space was founded in 2016, so it’s coming up on that 10-year mark — and the Houston-based company has already checked off a lot of boxes that were likely on its milestone list.

For example, Axiom has organized three all-private crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and obtained a NASA contract to send the first commercial module to the ISS. The company is also building the spacesuits that NASA’s Artemis astronauts will use during their exploration of the lunar surface.

** Blue Origin – A look at the Orbital Reef space station program that involves a collaboration of Blue, Sierra Space and others: Commercial Space Stations Approach Launch Phase – Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef aces milestones while Europe and China aim high | IEEE Spectrum – May.10.2024

Blue Origin is one of a number of private-sector actors aiming to harbor commercial activities in low Earth orbit (LEO) as the creaking and leaking International Space Station (ISS) approaches its drawdown. Partners in Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef program, including firms Redwire, Sierra Space, and Boeing, are each reporting progress in their respective components of the program. The collaboration itself may not be on such strong ground. Such endeavors may also end up slowed and controlled by regulation so far absent from many new, commercial areas of space.

Orbital Reef recently aced testing milestones for its critical life support system, with assistance from NASA. These included hitting targets for trace contaminant control, water contaminant oxidation, urine water recovery, and water tank tests—all of which are required to operate effectively and efficiently to enable finite resources to keep delicate human beings alive in orbit for long timeframes.

** VAST Space making progress on the Haven-1 habitat:

—- Haven-1’s solar wing completed its qualification testing. – VAST Youtube

The first Haven-1 solar wing has completed its qualification campaign, culminating in a deployment test performed at Vast in Long Beach with support from our partner, DHV.

The wing’s six deployable solar panels produce 1.2kW of power in standard orbit conditions. With Haven-1 set to fly twelve wings, a total of 14.4kW is available to power avionics, payloads, and everything in between.

** How Polaris Dawn Will Do The First Commercial Spacewalk! – Everyday Astronaut

I got to speak with the crew of Polaris Dawn to learn more about their exciting mission including the features of the brand new SpaceX EVA suit and all the details about the first commercial spacewalk from a Crew Dragon capsule!

Learn more about their mission by visiting http://polarisprogram.com/dawn

=== Chinese space habitats

** Why China’s Shenzhou is Better Than Russia’s Soyuz – Scott Manley

China’s Shenzhou spacecraft is heavily inspired from Soyuz, and there are likely systems copied directly from Soyuz. However, with the benefits of 21st century development it’s not wedded to many of the limitations imposed by the Soyuz heritage.

Which oddly enough means that between the last flight of Shuttle and the first Crewed flight of Dragon it was the best operational human rated spacecraft…. I never thought about that until I wrote this description.

=== In-space settlements

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: Desert Agriculture – Egypt (close to the River Nile) and Saudi Arabia – Mar 21, 2024 – 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

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

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

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – May.6.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space Station Crew Talks with Syracuse.com – The Post-Standard – Friday, May 3, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Jeanette Epps and Matt Dominick of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview May 3 with the Post-Standard/Syracuse.com. Epps and Dominick are in the midst of a long-duration mission 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.

** SpaceX Crew-8 Dragon relocation – SciNews

SpaceX’s Crew-8 “Endeavour” Crew Dragon spacecraft, with NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, was relocated from the forward-facing port to the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module, on 2 May 2024. The relocation was performed in order to make way for the arrival of for the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on Boeing’s Crew Flight Test, currently scheduled for 6 May 2024. The “Endeavour” Crew Dragon previously supported the Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1 and Crew-6 missions.
Credits: NASA/SpaceX

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space tests their lunar spacesuit in the Neutral Buoyance Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston:

** Testing underway for Axiom’s “Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU)” space suit for lunar surface activities:

** Sierra Space shows the development path for their inflatable space stations

See the blog post at Building the World’s First Commercial Space Station | Sierra Space – Apr.30.2024

Our LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) technology launches on a conventional rocket. Its inflatable structure remains tightly packed upon deployment. One of the first in our product line, LIFE 285, will inflate into a structure that is three stories tall and 27 feet in diameter once it reaches space—essentially the size of a three-story apartment, with each floor being nine feet tall.

The inflatable structural shell is made up of a tightly woven fabric (Vectran) that’s up to five times stronger than steel once inflated and offers a balance of properties unmatched by other high-performance fibers. This strong structural shell, as well as its spacious interior, makes it perfect for both LEO and long-duration missions to the moon, Mars and the stars.

Why an inflatable softgoods shell? The problem with large, metallic space stations is that they’re hard (and expensive) to launch into space. That’s where the magic of an inflatable spacecraft comes into play. Launched in a packed state, it can easily reach space and expand to huge volumes.

Once fully inflated, the interior of LIFE 285 will be able to accommodate anywhere from four to twelve people, depending on the purpose and length of the mission.

It can also be fully packed with essential supplies and work space tools, including an Astro Garden® for a constant supply of fresh produce, ample sleeping quarters, a medic chamber, and exercise equipment. It will help serve as a place where innovations and groundbreaking research come together for longer duration space missions.

—- Sierra continues pressure tests of the inflatable module structures:

** VAST

=== Chinese space habitats

** Shenzhou-17 undocking – SciNews

The Shenzhou-17 (神舟十七) crew spacecraft undocked from the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱), departing the China Space Station (中国空间站), on 30 April 2024, at 00:43 UTC (08:43 China Standard Time). The Shenzhou-17 spacecraft is expected to make a parachute-assisted landing at the Dongfeng landing site, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, returning the sixth crew of three astronauts on a mission to the China Space Station (中国空间站): Hongbo Tang (汤洪波, commander), Shengjie Tang (唐胜杰) and Xinlin Jiang (江新林).

** Research Aboard China Space Station to Probe Origins of Life – CCTV Video News Agency

The China Space Station will undertake a number of new experiments during the Shenzhou-18 mission that may help answer key questions about the origins of life and work toward breakthroughs in medicine and spaceflight engineering.

=== Lunar habitation

** DARPA-backed study examines architectures for lunar bases.

The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) is a NASA supported organization based at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL). LSIC recently hosted a meeting for DARPA’s  10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10), a seven month program that

aims to rapidly develop foundational technology concepts that move away from individual scientific efforts within isolated, self-sufficient systems, toward a series of shareable, scalable systems that interoperate — minimizing lunar footprint and creating monetizable services for future lunar users. 

Participant teams in LunA-10 presented their findings at the LSIC meeting. Here, for example, are some slides from SpaceX, which presented plans for development of a lunar base using Starships:

Presentations from all the teams are available in this document (pdf).

For even more about lunar base technologies, see the presentation, NASA Lunar Surface Operations & Power Grid (pdf), given by Jeffrey Csank of NASA Glenn Research Center at a 2023 meeting.

** China is Building a Lunar Satellite Constellation – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

As China ramps up its lunar exploration program in the coming decade, space-based lunar infrastructure is going to be a key enabler. Spacecraft and ground-based vehicles will increasingly need positioning and communication services, which is why China has launched a plan to establish a lunar satellite constellation called the “Queqiao constellation”. The focus on the back side and the lunar south pole also means that communications will require relay satellites.
In preparation for this lunar constellation, expected in the 2030s, China has been launching single Queqiao spacecraft: the “Queqiao” in 2018, “Queqiao-2” in March 2024, and “Queqiao-3” by the end of the decade.
In this video, we cover this quest for lunar infrastructure, a low key but essential milestone for the establishment of China’s future lunar outpost, the ILRS.

If you like what you see and would like to support me, please consider joining our small Patreon community at / dongfanghour !
We also have some very cool space merch available at https://shop.dongfanghour.com .

00:00 Introduction
00:17 Lunar exploration & tidal locking
01:11 Queqiao-1 and Queqiao-2 relay missions
03:11 Launching the Queqiao lunar constellation
05:47 Equivalent projects by NASA and ESA

See also China’s Next Moon Lander – Ready for Sample-collecting Sendoff | Leonard David – Apr.28.2024.

** China unveils international moon base concept animation – VideoFromSpace

China has unveiled a concept video for a international research base on the moon.

=== Mars habitation

=== Future space habitat designs

** How Robots Will Help Humans Conquer The Moon – Fraser Cain

When humans will return to the Moon they will need a lot of assistance to set up a settlement and carry out all the missions. They will need a lot of robots to do that. How exactly will it pan out? Figuring out with Professor Yang Gao from King’s College London.

** When you hear “Bernal Sphere”…  – SSI: Space Studies Institute Youtube – SSI Website

Just a little video for fun.
Oh, and this design isn’t public domain. Just sayin’. Credit where credit is due please, and Thank you.

Want to know the story of “The Model”? Look here: https://ssi.org/an-oneill-colony-in-s…
And scroll down to the bottom to see what is and what is not a “Bernal Sphere” …and why.

** Jerry Stone illustrates Island 0, a Gerard O’Neill Island 1 demonstrator – Space Renaissance

Jerry Stone illustrates Island 0, a Gerard O’Neill Island 1 demonstrator, in the frame of the Expanding Humanity To Outer Space International Cooperation Youth Event (EHTOS)
Moderator: Ghanim Alotaibi
Lecturer: Jerry Stone
Participants: Werner Grandl, Guy çignolet, Mahhad, B. Daniel, Adriano V. Autino

=== Polaris Program – SpaceX EVA suit unveiled. Will be used on first Polaris mission

On May 4th, the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Suit designed by SpaceX was unveiled to the public. The initial application of the suit will be during the Polaris Dawn mission, which aims to reach the highest altitude yet for a Dragon spacecraft. They will attempt also to carry out the first EVA by private astronauts.

At approximately 700 kilometers above the Earth, the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) with SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, upgraded from the current intravehicular (IVA) suit. Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require thousands of spacesuits; the development of this suit and the execution of the EVA will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions.

The Dragon has no airlock so when the hatch is opened, all four crew members must be in suits.

=== The Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Suit – SpaceX Youtube

At ~700 km above Earth, the EVA suit will support the Polaris Dawn crew in the vacuum of space during the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk.

Evolved from the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit, the EVA suit provides greater mobility, a state-of-the-art helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD) and camera, new thermal management textiles, and materials borrowed from Falcon’s interstage and Dragon’s trunk.

Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require millions of spacesuits. The development of this suit and the execution of the spacewalk will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions as life becomes multiplanetary.

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: Mexico City and Volcanic activity – May 5, 2024 07:40 CST – ISS Above

NASA EHDC6 Live views of the Earth from the International Space Station — Watch live at / issaboveyou

** 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

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

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

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – Apr.27.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos, news items, and articles about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space to Ground: Outside the Hatch: April 26, 2024 – NASA Johnson

** NASA Astronaut Discusses Life in Space with CBS News – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Matt Dominick of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 23 with CBS News Streaming Service. Dominick is in the midst of a long-duration mission 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.

** Space Station Crew Prepares Science for Dragon Departure – NASA Johnson

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick closes out the Dragon spacecraft in preparation for its scheduled departure in late April. Dragon will return to Earth with samples and hardware from several experiments for further study.

Watch the return coverage via NASA+: https://go.nasa.gov/3QFeKon

** Roscosmos spacewalk to be conducted outside Space Station – NASA Johnson

This animation discusses the upcoming spacewalk in which Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of the Expedition 71 crew will egress the Poisk airlock to complete the deployment of one panel on a synthetic radar system on the Nauka module and install equipment and experiments on the Poisk module to analyze the level of corrosion on station surfaces and modules. It will be the 270th spacewalk in support of station maintenance and upgrades, the seventh for Kononenko and the second for Chub.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom negotiating with NASA for changes in installation sequence of ISS modules:

** Team Axiom Crew Earth Observations – Axiom Space Youtube – Axiom Space

Happy Earth Day! During a mission, crews conduct multiple experiments aimed at advancing research and innovation #ForEarth, as well as getting some of the best views of our planet. Thanks to Ax-3 Commander Michael López-Alegría, some members of #TeamAxiom received some memorable photos.
— — —

Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, which will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. For more information about Axiom Space, visit www.axiomspace.com.

** Gravitics wins Space Force grant to develop orbital platforms based on company’s space habitat modules: Gravitics Awarded U.S. Space Force Contract for Tactically Responsive Space Development | Gravitics – Apr.25.2024

Gravitics, Inc. announced today it has been awarded a $1.7M Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct-to-Phase II contract from SpaceWERX. In partnership with Space Systems Command’s Space Safari Program Office, this effort will focus on a new mission area for Gravitics, Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS). Under this contract, Gravitics will leverage its commercial space station product architecture to develop orbital platforms that will enable rapid and flexible response options for the United States Space Force. Gravitics’ commercial space station modules can support a wide range of military and civilian applications, including in-space rapid response applications.

“We are looking at all options to meet the mission on tactically relevant timelines. The Gravitics space station module offers an unconventional and potentially game-changing solution for TacRS,” said Lt Col Jason Altenhofen, Space Safari’s Director of Operations. “As we look into the future, the innovative use of commercial technologies will be an important aspect to solving some of our toughest challenges.”

“Developing and manufacturing commercial space station modules will continue to be at the core of our company mission,” said Colin Doughan, CEO of Gravitics. “Gravitics is thrilled to have the opportunity to offer these commercial capabilities to the Department of Defense.

I’ll note that Gravitics is not a contractor in NASA’s commercial space station partnership program. So I’m sure they are eagerly looking for support from other funding sources such as the Space Force.

** Roadmap Artificial Gravity Station – VAST Youtube

VAST releases this animation demonstrating how a multi-module station would provide artificial gravity via spin. The outermost end of a module will become the floor for that volume. Moving outward from the center, a person would experience increasing gravity. This would allow one floor to provide lunar level gravity and another floor farther out to provide Mars gravity.

=== Chinese space habitats

— Replay! China’s Shenzhou 18 crew launches to Tiangong space station – VideoFromSpace

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launched the Shenzhou 18 crew to the Tiangong space station from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on April 25, 2024. Full Story: https://www.space.com/china-launches-…

— China’s Shenzhou-18 Manned Spaceship Docks with Space Station Combination – CCTV Video News Agency

China’s Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship successfully docked with the space station combination on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

— Shenzhou-18, Shenzhou-17 Astronauts Meet Inside Space Station – CCTV Video News Agency

The astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship met with their Shenzhou-17 colleagues after arriving at the Tiangong space station in the early hours of Friday (Beijing Time).

— Zebrafish Enter Orbit on China Space Station, In Stable Condition – CCTV Video News Agency

Four zebrafish brought into orbit by the Shenzhou-18 spaceflight mission are in stable condition after being transferred to a lab module aboard the China Space Station on Friday morning, according to an institute responsible for the experiment.

** Lunar habitation:

— Chinese Scientists Unveil Lunar Research Station Prototype – CCTV Video News Agency

Chinese scientists have recently unveiled their groundbreaking prototype for a lunar research station.

Known as the “Moon Pot,” this innovative structure was designed by a team of researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Resembling an arched structure reminiscent of an eggshell, the Moon Pot aims to provide a living and research space for astronauts on the moon.

** Work to Land Taikonauts on Moon Before 2030 Goes Smoothly – CCTV Video News Agency

Work to land China’s taikonauts on the moon before 2030 is going on smoothly, with component systems under research and development as planned, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said at a press conference in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Wednesday.

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: Australia NSW – Canberra – Apr 26, 2024 – 14:09 AEST – ISS Above

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

** Highlight: NorCal – SoCal #BayArea #SaltonSea – Apr 27, 2024 09:54 PDT – 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

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

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

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitat reports – Apr.21.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Space Station Crew Talks with AccuWeather – Thursday, April 18, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 70 Flight Engineers Mike Barratt and Tracy Dyson of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 18 with Accuweather. Barratt and Dyson are in the midst of a long-duration mission 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.

** Astronaut Matt Dominick Talks with University of San Diego – Friday, April 19, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 19 with San Diego University. Dominick is in the midst of a long-duration mission 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.

 ** Other ISS news, articles, and resources:

** ESA astronaut class of 2022 graduation ceremony (Trailer) – European Space Agency, ESA

As they reach the end of one year of rigorous basic astronaut training, ESA astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot, Rosemary Coogan, Pablo Álvarez Fernández, Raphaël Liégeois, Marco Sieber and Australian Space Agency astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg will receive astronaut certification at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre on 22 April 2024.

The group was selected in November 2022 and began their training in April 2023.

Basic astronaut training provides the candidates with an overall familiarisation and training in various areas, such as spacecraft systems, spacewalking, flight engineering, robotics and life support systems, as well as survival and medical training.

Following certification, the new astronauts will move on to the next phases of pre-assignment and mission-specific training, paving the way for future missions to the International Space Station and beyond.

Join us for the graduation ceremony live on ESA Web TV on Monday 22 April from 10:00 – 11:30 CEST.

=== Commercial space habitats

** 2024 February – North Houston Space Society – Megan Yang – Building Axiom Station – Axiom Space Youtube – Axiom Space

Megan Yang, an engineer at Axiom, gate a talk in February about the design and construction of the Axiom commercial space station.

** Solenoid valves assembly – VAST Youtube –  VAST

Our solenoid valves are designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested in our Long Beach facility. These valves control gaseous oxygen and nitrox flow into Haven-1’s habitable space.

** Starlab – Voyager Space

This article about using space activities to market goods and services discusses a collaboration between Starlab  and Hilton: Brands in Space: What’s behind the rush to advertise in the final frontier?  | Marketplace – Apr.10.2024

NASA is assisting private companies in building commercial space stations like Voyager Space’s Starlab — a low-Earth orbital designed for astronauts to conduct scientific research in place of the ISS after its shutdown — which will be launched in 2028 at the earliest. Hilton partnered with Voyager Space to design the interior of the space station in hopes to make a more comfortable zero gravity environment.

“We’re looking at this through the lens of space tourism,” Hilton Senior Vice President of Global Design Larry Traxler said. “How do we elevate the stay?”

This isn’t the first time Hilton and Voyager Space partnered for a space stunt. In late 2019, the global hospitality company Nanoracks — most of which was acquired by Voyager Space the following year — and Zero G Kitchen, a food development company creating products for space, teamed up to bake a batch of the famous Doubletree cookies in the ISS. 

=== Other space habitat and settlement news, articles, events, etc:

** EarthSpace 2024 – EarthLight Foundation – A streamed event for Earth Day:  April 22, 2024 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM Eastern

Join some of the planet’s top experts as we discuss topics vital to both saving the Earth and expanding life into the cosmos. EarthSpace 2024 is a unique event, built on the idea that opening the High Frontier must be done differently than any frontier in the past.

Contrary to some who cast the space revolution as a wasteful escapist extravaganza, EarthSpace helps begin a new conversation. A conversation about how we not only can open the High Frontier responsibly and sustainably, but that we must, to help save the MotherWorld of Earth.

Starting with a new philosophy – that this time, for the first time, as humans move into a new frontier, we do so based on an ethos that comes from our love of life and respect for our environment, rather than leaving a path of destruction and waste in our wake.

** NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest 

The National Space Society’s

annual space settlement contest invites students to design an orbital space habitat. The contest, open for 6-12th grade students, was sponsored by the NASA Ames Research Center from 1994-2018 in conjunction with the National Space Society and since then is being sponsored by NSS. The single highest scoring team or individual attending ISDC will receive the Herman Rubin Award for $5,000.

The contest this year received 5,200 entries from over 29,000 students, whoc came from 28 countries. The 2024 contest winners and finalists are listed here.

Here is a video from 2022 about the contest:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Highlight: USA KY NC ARISS – Apr 18 2024 13:53 EDT – ISS Above

During this pass, NASA Astonaut Jeanette Epps was speaking with Mountain View Elementary Murietta GA students via a direct ARISS ham radio downlink event.

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

**  Highlight: NM -ABQ – Apr 4, 2024 – 11:46 MDT – 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

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Ads ===

Lego Ideas International Space Station
21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

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