Category Archives: In Space Infrastructure

Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Sept.25.2020

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

** ISS National Lab Mission Overview: Northrop Grumman CRS-14 – ISS National Lab

Northrop Grumman’s 14th commercial resupply mission (CRS-14) to the International Space Station (ISS)is slated for launch no earlier than September 29 at 10:26 p.m. ET from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The ISS U.S. National Laboratory is sponsoring more than 20 payloads on this mission that will bring value to our nation, and further enable a sustainable market in low Earth orbit. These payloads represent a diverse mix of research and technology development seeking to leverage the unique space-based environment of the orbiting laboratory to push the limits of fundamental and applied science.

** Northrop Grumman’s CRS-14 Mission to the International Space Station: What’s on Board – NASA

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft soon heading to the International Space Station carries thousands of pounds of scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, commercial products, and cargo. The company’s 14th commercial resupply mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than Sept. 29 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The craft’s cargo includes critical materials that support research ranging from cancer therapies to vegetable growth and a commercial product as part of NASA’s goal to achieve a sustainable economy in low-Earth orbit. Learn more here: 14th Cygnus Carries Toilet, Cancer Research, VR Camera to ISS | NASA

** Expedition 64 Crew Final Qualification Training September 23, 2020 – NASA

Expedition 64 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, conducted final qualification training for their upcoming International Space Station mission at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia Sept. 22 and 23. Ryzhikov, Kud-Sverchkov and Rubins are scheduled to launch on Oct. 14 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station.

** Expedition 64 GCTC Crew News Conference – NASA

** 2020 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Workshop: BiofabricationISS National Lab

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Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Sept.18.2020

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

** Astronaut Jeanette Epps – First Operational Boeing Crew Mission to ISSSpace Snack

NASA has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station. Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada for a six-month expedition planned for a launch in 2021 to the orbiting space laboratory. The flight will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts. The spaceflight will be the first for Epps, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1992 from LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She completed a master’s degree in science in 1994 and a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 2000, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.

** Earth Views from the International Space StationAmericaSpace

The International Space Station’s High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) experiment is an external camera platform located on the Columbus module of the space station. In addition to providing beautiful views of Earth, one of the goals of HDEV is to monitor the longevity and quality of its image sensors in the space environment. HDEV operations began April 30, 2014 and only a single bad pixel has been identified. Credit: NASA

** ISS transit of Mars, September 14, 2020Tom Glenn

The International Space Station (ISS) transits Mars, as captured from San Diego, CA on September 14, 2020 at 05:15:47 PDT (12:15:47 UT). This required being positioned exactly on the line shown in the map in the video, to within less than 100m accuracy on the ground. This is complicated by the fact that the ISS orbit is inherently unstable in low Earth orbit, which causes the predicted ground path to change by small amounts leading up to the event. Even at the time of the event, the best prediction is associated with a small amount of error, on the order of one ISS diameter (~100m). At the time of this image, my telescope was sitting directly on the GPS coordinates of the predicted centerline of the transit, but you can see the center of the ISS was ever so slightly below the disk of Mars. However, it was close enough, and part of the solar arrays appear to touch the planetary disk in one frame. Still images at higher quality are available at the following links https://flic.kr/p/2jH5Dnu https://flic.kr/p/2jH6zRa

** The International Space Station: A Remarkable Feat of Human CooperationMegaprojects

** International Space Station – Episode 55 – 2019 MissionsKevin Gustafson – YouTube

In this episode we review the launches and departures to the International Space Station in 2019. This includes the Soyuz MS-14 test launch, and the record breaking Progress MS-11 and MS-12 fast track rendezvous.

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Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Sept.11.2020

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

** Down to Earth – Palace in the Sky – NASA Johnson

In this episode of Down to Earth, former NASA astronaut Jack Fischer recalls his experiences from his time aboard the International Space Station and discusses how the spirit of exploration contributes to humanity’s future. #SpaceStation20th

** 20 Years of Science: NASA Explorers S4 Bonus – NASA

This season on NASA Explorers, you’ve seen what it takes to send science to the International Space Station through the eyes of one team of researchers. They are just two of thousands more scientists who have sent experiments to the orbiting laboratory over the past two decades. Take a look back at those 20 years of microgravity science along with the researchers who helped make it happen. Hear more from the researchers featured in this episode: Twenty Years aboard ISS Through the Eyes of Researchers | NASA

** Expedition 63 In Flight with Fox News Radio and Astronaut Chris Cassidy – September 8, 2020 – NASA

SPACE STATION COMMANDER DISCUSSES LIFE IN SPACE WITH FOX NEWS RADIO Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA discussed the progress of his long-duration mission during an in-flight interview Sept. 8 with Fox News Radio. Cassidy is heading into the home stretch of a six-and-a-half month flight on the orbital outpost, aiming for a return to Earth on Oct. 22.

** Auroras captured from space station – ‘5 Objects’ seen – Space.com

Cosmonaut Ivan Vagner recently captured footage of the auroras over the Antarctic. “5 objects” appeared in the the time-lapse according to Vagner in a tweet. The imagery was sent to Roscosmos for analysis. — Full Story: https://www.space.com/russian-cosmona…

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Videos: “Space to Ground” + other ISS reports – Sept.5.2020

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

** Students Use Ham Radio to Call an Astronaut in SpaceNASA Johnson

On May 15, 2020, Canadian students used ham radio to talk with NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, currently aboard the International Space Station. Thanks to ham radio operators and the International Space Station program, the students were able to participate from their homes. Learn more about ham radio aboard the space station: https://go.nasa.gov/2DRPAeK Learn more about the research being conducted on station: https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

** Tropical Storm Laura Viewed From International Space StationNASA Johnson

External cameras on the International Space Station captured views of Tropical Storm Laura from approximately 250 miles above. The station passed directly over the tropical system on Sunday, August 23 prior to the storm making landfall on Cuba. The National Hurricane Center is projecting Laura to strengthen into a hurricane once in the Gulf of Mexico with landfall expected on the Gulf coast later this week.

** Every Spacecraft Which Has Visited The Space StationScott Manley

Over the last 2 decades there have been over 200 spacecraft which have visited the space station, built by many nations and organizations, with different designs. So I thought it might be nice to make a summary of every spacecraft for comparison since we’re getting close to the 20th anniversary and 100th crew to visit the ISS.

** NASA Makes Fifth State of Matter Aboard Space StationNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Solid, liquid, gas, plasma… did you know there’s also a fifth state of matter? Since 2018, NASA’s Cold Atom Lab has been using the microgravity environment on the International Space Station to help chill atoms to almost absolute zero – the coldest temperature matter can reach. At these low temperatures, Cold Atom Lab produces the fifth state of matter, called a Bose-Einstein condensate.

Experiments with this fifth state of matter could lend deeper insight into how our world works on a fundamental level. For example, scientists will be able to measure the very faint tug of gravity that is still present aboard the station, and put Albert Einstein’s theory about this fundamental force to the test. Studies of Bose-Einstein condensates aboard the station could also lead to new technologies, like better tools for navigation and more precise clocks. For more information, visit https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov

 

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2020 ISS Research & Development Conference opens on Thursday, August 27th

The 2020 International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) will be held on line starting this Thursday, Aug 27th (Agenda):

Day 1 of ISSRDC Online Series to Feature
NASA Leadership and Promote Commercialization of Low Earth Orbit

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), August 25, 2020 – The 9th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) kicks off as a virtual event this Thursday, August 27, bringing together researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, and the general public to showcase the benefits of conducting research and technology development onboard our nation’s industrial incubator in low Earth orbit (LEO). Each year, ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), NASA, and the American Astronautical Society.

This year, the conference will take place as an online series featuring three days of virtual plenary sessions: Day 1 on August 27, Day 2 on September 17, and Day 3 on October 22. The virtual sessions are free to attend; however, registration is required for each day.

On Day 1 of the ISSRDC Online Series, NASA leadership will provide a variety of programmatic updates that have direct impacts on the space station, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will give a welcome address. Additionally, multiple sessions will focus on the rising LEO economy, with commercial launch partners and private-sector researchers discussing how they are leveraging the ISS to validate facilities and business models. Highlighted below are the Day 1 sessions, many of which allow for questions and answers within the webcast platform.

10:00-10:15 a.m. EDT
Welcome Message from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

10:15-10:25 a.m. EDT
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate Update
Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA

10:30-11:00 a.m. EDT
NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Program Update (with Q&A)
Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA

11:00-11:30 a.m. EDT
LEO Commercialization
Speakers include:

  • Phil McAlister, Director of Commercial Spaceflight Program, NASA
  • Angela Hart, LEO Commercialization Manager, NASA
  • Robyn Gatens, Deputy Director, ISS Division and System Capability Leader, NASA

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. EDT
State of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory (with Q&A)
(Moderated by Jeff Foust, Senior Writer, Space News)
Speakers include:

  • Alex MacDonald, Chief Economist and ISS National Lab Program Executive, NASA
  • Ken Shields, Chief Operating Officer, CASIS
  • Marybeth Edeen, Manager of ISS Research Integration Office, NASA

12:30-12:45 p.m. EDT
ISS Program Office Updates
Joel Montalbano, Manager, ISS Program, NASA

12:45-2:00 p.m. EDT
Building the LEO Economy (with Q&A)
(Moderated by Mike Gold, Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations, NASA)
Speakers include:

  • Carissa Christenson, Chief Executive Officer, Bryce Analytics and Engineering
  • Michael Suffredini, Co-founder and President/Chief Executive Officer, Axiom Space
  • Richard Dalbello, Vice President Business Development, Virgin Galactic
  • Andrew Rush, Chief Executive Officer and NASA Advisory Council member for Regulatory and Policy, Made In Space
  • Nicole Wagner, President and Chief Executive Officer, LambdaVision

The ISSRDC Online Series is free to the public, but registration is required to join the webcast. To view the full agenda and register for Day 1, please visit the conference website.

About the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation’s newest national laboratory to optimize its use for improving quality of life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by non-NASA U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The ISS National Lab manages access to the permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space.

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