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

** #LaunchAmerica Boosts Space Station Science – NASA Johnson

The International Space Station orbits more than 250 miles above the surface of our planet, offering the only platform for scientists to conduct long-duration research in microgravity. During its nearly 20 years of continuous occupation, the space station’s residents have conducted almost 3,000 experiments in many scientific fields, as well as technology demonstrations. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is part of ongoing efforts to keep enough hands onboard to continue this legacy. Learn more: https://go.nasa.gov/2WQgu2p Learn more about the research being conducted on station: https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

**  Know Your Crew! With Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley – NASA Johnson

The first astronauts ever to launch on a SpaceX rocket and crew vehicle have been training together for this flight for years, so you’d guess that they know each other pretty well. See for yourself—NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, have fun answering questions about each other as they get set to make history.

** Expedition 63 Event with Discovery Channel, CBS News , and Houston Chronicle – May 21, 2020 – NASA

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA discussed the progress of his mission on the orbital complex and the impending arrival of the first U.S. astronauts to launch on a commercial crew vehicle during a series of in-flight interviews May 21 with the Discovery Channel, CBS News and the Houston Chronicle. Cassidy, who is in the midst of a planned six-and-a-half month on the station, is preparing for the arrival of NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Robert Behnken, who are scheduled to launch May 27 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft – the first launch of U.S. astronauts on an American rocket since the retirement of the space shuttle in July 2011.

** How Do We Prepare for Long-Duration Human Spaceflight Missions – NASA

How Do We Prepare for Long-Duration Human Spaceflight Missions presented by Donald L. Henninger, Ph.D. – Chief Technologist, Crew & Thermal Systems Division, NASA Johnson Space Center

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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:

** Astronaut Chris Cassidy Meets Astrobee – NASA Johnson

It turns out that astronauts could use some help with their chores, just like many of us on Earth. Astrobee, a free-flying robotic system developed by researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center, will help astronauts reduce time they spend on routine duties, leaving them to focus more on the things that only humans can do. Current International Space Station Commander Chris Cassidy gives us a sneak peek into his workday with his “crewmates” – three robots named Honey, Queen and Bumble.

** Expedition 63 Cygnus CRS 13 Release – May 11, 2020

U.S. CARGO SHIP DEPARTS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Three months after arriving at the International Space Station with scientific experiments and supplies for the outpost’s residents, the unpiloted Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship departed the orbital laboratory May 11, headed for several weeks in orbit as a free-flying science platform. Ground controllers at Mission Control, Houston sent commands to release Cygnus from the Canadarm2 robotic arm after it had been unberthed from the station’s Unity module. Dubbed the “SS Robert H. Lawrence” after the Air Force major selected to be the first African-American to fly in space, Cygnus will remain in orbit as a platform from which small Cubesat satellites will be launched and fire suppression experiments will be conducted before it is deorbited May 29 or 30 to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere where it will burn up harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean.

** Expedition 63 InFlight with Chris Cassidy and CNN and HGTV

SPACE STATION COMMANDER DISCUSSES THE PROGRESS OF HIS MISSION WITH THE MEDIA Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA discussed his mission on the orbital laboratory and the upcoming arrival of the first commercial crew astronauts during a pair of interviews May 12 with CNN and HGTV’s “At Home” podcast. Cassidy is in the second month of a planned six-and-a-half mission on the station.

** “What is it like to be an Astronaut?”

What is it like to be an Astronaut? presented by Serena Aunon, MD, NASA Astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center

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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:

** Cross-Cutting Computational Modeling Project – NASA Johnson

** DM-2 Crew Interviews – Douglas Hurley

With the first mission to return human spaceflight launches to American soil now targeted to lift off May 27, NASA astronauts and Demo-2 crew members Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley shared their thoughts and experiences prior to their historic mission. NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission is a flight test with NASA astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft set to lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Interviews were recorded on April 17, 2020.

** DM-2 Crew Interviews – Robert Behnken

With the first mission to return human spaceflight launches to American soil now targeted to lift off May 27, NASA astronauts and Demo-2 crew members Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley shared their thoughts and experiences prior to their historic mission. NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission is a flight test with NASA astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft set to lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Interviews were recorded on April 17, 2020.

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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:

** NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy Speaks with NASA Interns – April 28, 2020

** #NASAatHome: Spaceport Series Episode 10: America’s return to human spaceflight

A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Hear from two subject matter experts as they discuss the mission set to launch May 27.

** Progress MS-14 docking to the ISS – SciNews

The Progress MS-14 spacecraft automatically docked to the Earth-facing port of the Zvezda Service Module on the Russian segment of the International Space Station 25 April 2020, 05:12 UTC (01:12 EDT). ISS Progress 75 mission was launched by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle on 25 April 2020, at 01:51 UTC (07:51 local time; 24 April, 21:51 EDT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft will remain docked at the ISS for more than seven months, departing in December 2020.

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Outpost in Orbit:
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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:

** Down to Earth–Celebrating Earth Day from Above

In celebration of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary, hear NASA and International Astronauts recount their experiences of Earth during their time working and living on the International Space Station as it turns 20 years old this year. #SpaceStation20th #EarthDay50th If you missed an episode of “Down to Earth”, watch other Astronauts describe their experiences in previous episodes of the series here. https://go.nasa.gov/2tkHsDf

** Expedition 63 ABC Earth Day with Chris Cassidy – April 22, 2020

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA discussed the view of Earth from orbit and other issues related to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day during a downlink conversation April 22 with ABC News. Cassidy also took the opportunity to answer questions about Earth Day for NASA social media sites during the in-flight event. Cassidy arrived at the station April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission.

** Commercial Crew Program: What’s It All About?

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with Boeing and SpaceX on launches to and from the International Space Station. Join NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Mike Hopkins as they explore the ins and outs of the Commercial Crew Program. This video will guide you through NASA’s partnerships with commercial companies and how these rockets will return American astronauts to launching from American soil for the first time since 2011. Learn about what will happen as the rocket heads toward the space station and how the crew capsule will safely return astronauts home. Be sure to visit https://www.nasa.gov/stem/ccp for more STEM educational resources to build on the excitement of the Commercial Crew launches with your students. Commercial Crew Next Gen STEM through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers a way for K-12 students to learn more about this exciting moment in American history through engineering design challenges, coding activity, digital badging, virtual reality and more.

** #NASAatHome: Spaceport Series Episode 8: The future of plants in space. Matt Romeyn and Ralph Fritsche talked

about the Advanced Plant Habitat and the future of space crop production. Find out why one of the new crops slated to grow in space is Hatch Chile Pepper, and we’ll check in on the popcorn challenge.

**  Why an NFL Quarterback Interned at NASA – NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

What do NFL quarterbacks do in the offseason? Well, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Joshua Dobbs spent part of his time away from the football field at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dobbs, who played his college football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, recently completed an internship as an aerospace engineer at Kennedy.

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