Universe Today » Space Flight

Snowy Soyuz Touchdown!

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:13:33 +0000

The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Thursday, March 18, 2010. NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams and Russian Cosmonaut Maxim Suraev are returning from six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 21 and 22 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

In what was likely a softer –albeit colder — Soyuz landing than usual, ISS Expedition 22 astronaut Jeff Williams and cosmonaut Max Suraev landed their Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft on the snowy steppes of Kazakhstan Thursday, wrapping up a five-and-a-half-month stay aboard the International Space Station. The entire process of undocking and re-entry of the Soyuz was captured by the newest and hottest space photographer, Soichi Noguchi, (@Astro_Soichi) who has been sending down amazing Twitpics from space. See his very unique images below.
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ISS Change of Command as Russian American Crew readies Earth return

Ken Kremer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:04:07 +0000

Map of Soyuz TMA 16 Landing Site, set for Thursday, March 18 at 7:23 AM in the steppes of Kazakhstan

ISS Station Commander Jeff Williams, from NASA, handed over command of the massive orbiting outpost to Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotev, in a formal ceremony early today (Wed, March 17) in preparation for the return to earth of two crew members early Thursday. The ISS population will be reduced to a crew of three until the scheduled April 4 arrival of the next three person station crew inside a Russian capsule. Both Williams and Kotev have previously served on the ISS for long duration missions.

This marks the end to Expedition 22 and the start of Expedition 23. The five person international crew of Expedition 22 comprised Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineers Maxim Suraev, Oleg Kotov, Soichi Noguchi, and T.J. Creamer. (...)
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STS-134 Does Star Trek with New Poster

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:59:18 +0000

Look familiar? Crew poster for STS-134. Credit: NASA

I love the crew posters that NASA has been creating lately, and this one is especially cool. If you are a Star Trek fan, you likely will recognize the pose that Commander Mark Kelly and his crew are assuming. If not, take a look below.
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Spacewalking: Through an Astronaut's Eyes

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:26 +0000

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield during one of his two EVAs during the STS-100 mission in 2001. Hadfield is backdropped against the blue and white Earth, and Scott Parazynski, who shared both space walks with Hadfield and who took this photo, appears as a small reflection in Hadfield's helmet visor. Credit: NASA

What is it really like to go on a spacewalk? Some astronauts have said there are no words to describe the experience, but we talked with astronaut Chris Hadfield – the same guy who gave the best description ever of going to the bathroom in space – and asked him to convey his thoughts about his EVA experiences. Hadfield has done it again, and has now given the best description ever of a spacewalk.
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© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: astronauts, Chris Hadfield, EVA, STS-100

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Successful Engine Test Firing for SpaceX Inaugural Falcon 9

Ken Kremer — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:48:49 +0000

Photo of successful static fire of Falcon 9 at Cape Canaveral, FL on March 13. Credit: Chris Thompson/SpaceX

SpaceX announced that today’s (Mar 13) test firing of all 9 Merlin first stage engines was successful at Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral. This is a major milestone towards the planned inaugural first flight of the Falcon 9 rocket which SpaceX is building. This success follows an aborted test firing attempt on Thursday (Mar 11) and several other delays due to poor weather at the Cape this week.

The Falcon 9 will play a crucial role in resupplying cargo for the International Space Station after the scheduled retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttle program set for late this year or early 2011.(...)
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NASA manager says Shuttle Extension Possible; Key Issue Is Money not Safety

Ken Kremer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:42:20 +0000

Endeavour rolls to pad 39 A at Dawn. Will the sun set on the shuttle era forever as scheduled by late 2010, or will Congress force an extension to the shuttle program until a replacement US rocket system is available to fly Americans into space and the ISS ? Credit: Ken Kremer

NASA Shuttle program manager John Shannon said on Tuesday (Mar 9) that the Space Shuttle Program can indeed be safely extended beyond the existing plan to retire the fleet after completing the four missions currently remaining to fly by the end of 2010. The key issue now is money not safety.

“Where the money comes from is the ‘big question’. We feel like we've addressed [the issue of shuttle] recertification”, said Shannon at a press briefing at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. (...)
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Astronomy Without A Telescope – The Hitchhikers Guide To The Solar System

Steve Nerlich — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:24:26 +0000

Short on fuel, but good at astrophysics? It is possible to tour the solar system on less than 30 Altairian dollars a day by using the Interplanetary Transport Network (ITN).(...)
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Spirit Hunkered Down for Winter; Stuck Forever ? Maybe Not !

Ken Kremer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:42:47 +0000

Mosaic of microscopic images of Spirit underbelly on Sol 1925 (June 2009) showing the predicament of being stuck at Troy with wheels buried in the sulfate-rich martian soil. The sulfate deposits formed by aqueous (water-related) processes when this area dubbed “Home Plate’ was volcanically active. This false color mosaic has been enhanced and stretched to bring out additional details about the surrounding terrain and embedded wheels and distinctly show a pointy rock perhaps in contact with the underbelly. Spirit fortuitously discovered extensive new evidence for an environment of flowing liquid water at this location on Mars adjacent to ‘Home Plate’, an eroded over volcanic feature. Credit: Marco Di Lorenzo, Ken Kremer - NASA/JPL/Cornell

The plucky Mars rover ‘Spirit’ may yet rove again !

She’ll just have to outwit and outlast the unavoidably harsh cold and desperately low power levels of the looming winter in Mars southern hemisphere. Rather long odds to be sure – but she’s done it before. Remember – at this moment on Sol 2192, Spirit is 75 months into her 3 month mission ! That’s 25 times beyond her “warrenty” as Rover Principal Investigator Prof. Steve Squyres of Cornell University is extremely fond of saying. (...)
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Phoenix Still Silent as Martian Ice Recedes

Ken Kremer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:50:04 +0000

Time lapse photo mosaic was assembled from Phoenix images taken of the lander deck and martian terrain. Panorama shows the robotic arm in action as it scoops up soil samples (right) and delivers the samples to the MECA and TEGA science instruments (left). Credit: Marco Di Lorenzo, Kenneth Kremer - NASA/JPL/UA/Spaceflight

As expected, NASA’s February 2010 listening campaign for the Phoenix Mars Lander has failed to detect any signals emanating from the long silent vehicle. NASA’s attempts to reestablish contact with Phoenix were restarted in January 2010 and timed to coincide with the onset of springtime and disappearance of ice at her location in the martian north polar regions. In theory, the return of abundant sunshine striking the twin energy producing solar arrays could again power up the science lander sufficiently to revive itself and ‘phone home’ to Earth. (...)
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Get Ready for the Next Shuttle Mission, STS-131

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:24:19 +0000

The STS-131 crew: (L-R) Clay Anderson, Naoko Yamazaki (JAXA), Stephanie Wilson, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Jim Dutton, Alan Poindexter. Image credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

The astronauts are getting ready; space shuttle Discovery is getting ready. Are you ready for this fourth-to-the-last flight? Preparations have begun in earnest for the next shuttle mission, STS-131. The astronauts arrived at Kennedy Space Center Monday evening and will be here for several days of the standard prelaunch training called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. They arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility airstrip, and all expressed their excitement for the mission and their thanks to the people at KSC who prepare the shuttle for flight.
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© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: astronauts, discovery, Space Shuttle, STS-131

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STS 130: Cool Night Landing Video from the Shuttle Strip

Ken Kremer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:48:27 +0000

For my farewell from the Cape (for now) and STS 130 coverage, please check out this cool video of the STS 130 Night Landing which took place exactly 1 week ago on Sunday night, Feb 21.

It’s been a pleasure and an honor to work as a team for Universe Today; Nancy Atkinson and Ken Kremer reporting live from the Kennedy Space Center – informing all our readers about the remarkable deeds by the STS 130 and ISS astronauts & cosmonauts. As well as all the hardworking folks at NASA and the ISS partners from ESA, Russia, Canada and Japan without whom nothing would happen.(...)
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Endeavour Crew Preps for Sunday Landing as Showers Threaten Delay

Ken Kremer — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:13:17 +0000

NASA astronaut George Zamka, STS-130 commander, is pictured in a window of the newly-installed Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Endeavour remains docked with the station.

(Editor's Note: Ken Kremer is at the Kennedy Space Center for Universe Today covering the flight of Endeavour)

The crew of Endeavour is packing up their gear in the crew cabin and preparing for a Sunday evening (Feb. 21) landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida as a forecast of possible rain showers threatens to delay their return to Earth. (...)
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Scenes from Space: Best Images from STS-130 (so far…)

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:38:15 +0000

Astronaut Robert Behnken during the first EVA of the mission. Credit: NASA

The STS-130 mission has provided some of the most spectacular images of any space shuttle mission to date — from a stunning shot of space shuttle Endeavour silhouetted against Earth's colorful atmosphere, to incredible views of the International Space station, to the always amazing photos of astronauts at work in space. But that's only the beginning! Take a look at a sampling of some of the best images from the mission so far. Above, astronaut Bob Behnken works outside the ISS during the first EVA of the mission.
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Cupola Bay Window bolted to face Earth; Stunning 38 Second Video

Ken Kremer — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:54:05 +0000

The Cupola, which is akin to a ‘bay window’ in a house back on earth, was relocated overnight to the Tranquility modules Earth-facing (nadir) port and put in place at 1:25 AM EST this morning. The so called ‘Room with a View’ was then securely latched and bolted into place. Cupola is an innovative 7 windowed observation dome, built in Italy, that will provide spectacular panoramic views of the Earth, the station and the cosmos and simultaneously function as a robotics work station for approaching cargo ships.(...)
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Space Plumbers hook up crucial Tranquility cooling and power to Space Station

Ken Kremer — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:19:44 +0000

Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken work outside the International Space Station during the second spacewalk of the STS-130 mission. Credit: NASA TV

(Editor's Note: Ken Kremer is at the Kennedy Space Center for Universe Today covering the flight of Endeavour)

Astronauts Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick completed the second of their three spacewalks (EVAs) planned for the STS-130 mission early this Sunday morning Feb 14 at 3:14 AM EST. The pair worked essentially as plumbers today during the spacewalk which began at 9:20 PM Saturday night. They successfully accomplished all their assigned tasks overnight by connecting crucial Tranquility feed lines to the International Space Station (ISS). (...)
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Spectacular SRB Videos from STS-130 Provide Night-time Shuttle Love

Nancy Atkinson — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:15:31 +0000

This may be the last time we'll see this. Launch videos taken from the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters are incredible anyway, but add the fact the latest launch took place at night, and you've got a recipe for complete awesomeness! The SRB perspective of launch is unique, but go to about 2:05 in the video to watch the SRBs separate and you will swoon! Endeavour zooms away like something out of a science fiction movie. Then the sparks fly — literally and figuratively — as the SRBs fall away. Given STS-130 was the final scheduled night launch, don't miss watching this one.

© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Endeavour, SRB videos

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Tranquility attached to Space Station

Ken Kremer — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:45:19 +0000

“JEM, Soyuz, Shuttle, our new Node3, and your beautiful Earth!” Stunning Twitpic shows new Tranquility module (Node 3, center left) being prepared for attachment today to the International Space Station (ISS). Note the giant Japanese Experimental Module (JEM) and attached japanese science porch and robotic arm (at top center) in background as well as manned shuttle Endeavour and Soyuz spaceships. Three robot arms in total visible here. Credit: Astronaut Soichi Noguchi aboard ISS.

(Editor's Note: Ken Kremer is at the Kennedy Space Center for Universe Today covering the flight of Endeavour)

The new 15 ton Tranquility module which had been carefully nestled and carried to orbit inside the cavernous payload bay of shuttle Endeavour, was bolted onto the left side port of the centrally positioned Unity module of the International Space Station (ISS) early this morning (Feb 12) at 12:20 AM EST during the first of three spacewalks (EVA’s) set for the STS 130 mission.

Installing the Tranquility life support module to the ISS was the primary task for the combined STS 130 and resident ISS crew of 11 people during the planned 13 day flight of Endeavour. (...)
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Best. Shuttle Image. Ever

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:01:15 +0000

Space shuttle Endeavour in Earth's limb as it approaches the ISS prior to docking. Credit: NASA

While watching space shuttle Endeavour approach the International Space Station late Tuesday/early Wednesday, there was an amazing view shown on NASA TV, and I only hoped that someone on the ISS captured it with a high-resolution photo. They did. This amazing image shows Endeavor silhouetted against the tiny, colorful sliver of Earth's atmosphere. Where else can you get an image like this except in space?! Incredible!

And below is the flipside, the view the space shuttle astronauts had of the ISS as they got closer to their new home in space.
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Pirouettes and Twitpics from Space

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:09:27 +0000

If you were watching NASA TV late Tuesday/early Wednesday you likely saw the beautiful backflip maneuver that space shuttle Endeavour performed before docking at 12:06 a.m. EST with the International Space Station. It was a striking sight to behold (see video above) as Commander George Zamka guided the orbiter through the nine-minute Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, rotating the orbiter backwards so that space station astronauts could take high-resolution pictures of the shuttle's heat-resistant tiles. Meanwhile, the ISS astronauts not taking the hi-res images were busy taking pictures of the approaching orbiter and posting them on Twitter.
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© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ISS, Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-130

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Russia May Raise Price of Soyuz Seats

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:04:18 +0000

A Soyuz docked to the ISS. Credit: NASA

Price gouging or simple laws of supply and demand? The Soyuz will soon be the only ride in town to the International Space Station, and reportedly, Russia is considering raising the price per seat. NASA and Roskosmos have an agreement for six rides to the ISS in 2012 and 2013, at a rate of about $51 million dollars per US astronaut. "We have an agreement until 2012 that Russia will be responsible for this," Roskomos head Anatoly Perminov was quoted by the Interfax news agency. "But after that? Excuse me, but the prices should be absolutely different then!"
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Launch Scrub for STS-130

Nancy Atkinson — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:38:23 +0000

Shuttle Endeavour on the launchpad shortly after the RSS had been retracted. Image: Nancy Atkinson

The launch of space shuttle Endeavour was scrubbed about 9 minutes before the scheduled 4:39 am EST (9:49 GMT) liftoff due to low clouds that moved into the area. Mission managers have scheduled space shuttle Endeavour's next launch attempt for Monday, Feb. 8 at 4:14 a.m. EST (9:14 GMT)

The Mission Management Team will meet at 6:15 p.m. Sunday to give the "go" to fill Endeavour's external fuel tank with propellants. Tank loading will begin at 6:45 p.m.

The launch of the Solar Dynamic Observatory has subsequently been moved one day forward, and is now scheduled for Feb. 10 at 10:26 am EST.
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Countdown is on for Last Night Launch of Space Shuttle

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:26:04 +0000

Astronauts for the STS-130 mission: Commander George Zamka and Pilot Terry Virts. From the left Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, Kathryn Hire and Stephen Robinson. Photo credit: NASA/JSC

Note: Nancy Atkinson is at Kennedy Space Center covering the launch of STS-130

The official countdown clock is ticking for the STS-130 mission of space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station. This is the last planned night launch for the shuttle program, with a scheduled liftoff time of 9:39:47 GMT (4:39:47 a.m. EST) on Sunday, February 7. "Everything thus far is going exceeding well… we're right on schedule where we're supposed to be and we'll continue to work through the day on our preparations," said NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding during this morning's L-3 Countdown Status Briefing at KSC. The weather forecast might be the only issue, as forecasters are predicting a 70% chance of favorable weather, with high winds being the only concern for Sunday morning.
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Remembering Challenger

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:33:41 +0000

The Challenger 51L Crew. Credit: NASA

Mission Control: "Challenger, go at throttle up"

Commander Dick Scobee: "Roger go at throttle up"

Those were the last words heard from the Challenger crew on January 28, 1986. Then came an explosion, and the famous "Y" plume of smoke from the solid rocket boosters flying away aimlessly to nowhere.

Mission Control: "Flight Controllers looking carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction."

Today we remember the Challenger crew, pictured above: (front row) Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair; (back row) Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik.

Looking for a way to remember the crew, or want more insight on the mission or accident? Read a UT article from Sept. 2008 of how Christa McAuliffe's lost lesson plans have been given new life by a caring NASA engineer. Read a poem written by Stuart Atkinson about the Challenger accident. On Twitter, people are writing short remembrances of where they were when they heard the news. Below are more ways to remember the crew, and if you'd like, add a comment on your thoughts about the accident/or your recollections from that day.
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Next Shuttle Launch is Go; Universe Today Will Be There

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:56:07 +0000

Endeavour on the launchpad for STS-130. Credit: NASA

Liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour for the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station has been been given the go-ahead, and launch is scheduled for Feb. 7 at 4:39 a.m. EST. Universe Today will be at the launch to provide on-site coverage of all the pre- and post-launch events, and we look forward to sharing the experience with you. This is likely the last night launch of the space shuttle, and it should be a beautiful sight.

STS-130 will bring the Tranquility node and a cupola, a 7-window observation portal for the ISS. Mission managers said at a press briefing today that the issue with problematic ammonia coolant hoses on the module has been resolved. The 7-member crew will carry out three spacewalks to install and outfit the Tranquility node.

© nancy for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: international space station, Space Shuttle

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Best Description Ever of How to Go to the Bathroom in Space

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:15:42 +0000

Astronauts say it is the most-asked question they get from people. There have been books written about it. Maybe because we all have to do it, everyone wants to know how it works in zero-gravity. This past weekend I gave a presentation to about 60 Girl Scouts about living and working in space, and I knew this question was going to come up. It did, and with this video, I was prepared. Here, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield eloquently gives the best description ever of how it works to go to the bathroom in space. And he tells all in less than two minutes, too.

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