NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools in ISS
NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools on ISS.
NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools on ISS.
Tag: spaceflight
NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools in ISS
The first female astronaut from Russia in decades might fly to ISS in 2013
The first female astronaut from Russia in decades might fly a six month mission to ISS in 2013.
The first female astronaut from Russia in decades might fly a six month mission to ISS in 2013.
Names of China’s second class of astronauts revealed by stamp collectible
The names of China’s second class of astronauts, kept secret by the government there, has been revealed by a stamp collectible.
The names of China’s second class of astronauts, kept secret by the government there, has been revealed by a stamp collectible.
Phobos-Grunt now appears to be breaking up
Doomed: Phobos-Grunt now appears to be breaking up.
Doomed: Phobos-Grunt now appears to be breaking up.
The Hubble Space Telescope has now been used as a reference in more than 10,000 science papers
And the winner is: The Hubble Space Telescope has now been used as a reference in more than 10,000 peer-reviewed science papers.
And the winner is: The Hubble Space Telescope has now been used as a reference in more than 10,000 peer-reviewed science papers.
The next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon has slipped again
The next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon has slipped again.
This article notes how an ISS status report that had indicated approval for a merger of the next two Falcon 9 test flights was premature.
The next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon has slipped again.
This article notes how an ISS status report that had indicated approval for a merger of the next two Falcon 9 test flights was premature.
The X-37B: what is it for?
X-37B has successfully passed the 270 day milestone in its now extended mission.
Lots of people have speculated about the military’s plans for the X-37B. I think the Air Force is actually telling us in this quote:
» Read more
Uganda’s suborbital spaceplane, under construction in the backyard of the designer’s mother
Uganda’s space program: the construction of its first aircraft — in the backyard of the designer’s mother’s home — to be followed by a space shuttle! With pictures and video.
At first glance this looks absurd and a pipe dream. However, stranger things have happened. I wish them all the success in the world.
Uganda’s space program: the construction of its first aircraft — in the backyard of the designer’s mother’s home — to be followed by a space shuttle! With pictures and video.
At first glance this looks absurd and a pipe dream. However, stranger things have happened. I wish them all the success in the world.
How to build a washing machine for interplanetary travel
How to build a washing machine for interplanetary travel.
How to build a washing machine for interplanetary travel.
Mysterious Metal Object Crashes Through Roof of Warehouse
Junk from space? A mysterious three pound metal object crashed through the roof of a Massachusetts warehouse yesterday.
Junk from space? A mysterious three pound metal object crashed through the roof of a Massachusetts warehouse yesterday.
Europe has ceased its effort to contact Phobos-Grunt
Bad news: Europe has ceased its effort to contact Phobos-Grunt.
Bad news: Europe has ceased its effort to contact Phobos-Grunt.
Over-the-counter osteoporosis drug appears to keep astronauts from losing bone density on long space flights
Big news: New research on ISS now shows that the standard over-the-counter osteoporosis drugs used by millions on Earth appears to keep astronauts from losing bone density during long space flights.
Beginning in 2009, the group administered the drug to five long-stay astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), including Koichi Wakata, 48, and Soichi Noguchi, 46. The five took the drug — an over-the-counter bisphosphonate used to treat osteoporosis — once a week starting three weeks before they lifted off until they returned to Earth. The researchers then monitored the astronauts’ bone mass over time and compared the results to those for 14 astronauts that had never taken the drug.
The results showed that the 14 who had never taken the drug had average bone density loss of 7 percent in the femur, and 5 percent in the hip bone. The five astronauts on bisphosphonate, however, only had average bone density loss in the femur of 1 percent, and even a 3 percent increase in the hip bone. Calcium levels in their urine, which rise the more bone mass is lost, were also very low.
If these results hold up, they might very well solve one of the biggest challenges faced by any interplanetary traveler. Up until now, bone loss during long weightless missions never seemed to average less than 0.5 percent per month. After spending three years going to and from Mars, an astronaut could thus lose about almost 20 percent of their bone mass in their weight-bearing bones, and would probably be unable to return to Earth.
Thus, a mission to Mars seemed impossible, unless we could build a ship with some form of artificial gravity, an engineering challenge we don’t yet have the capability to achieve.
If these already tested drugs can eliminate this problem, then the solar system is finally open to us all. All that has to happen now is to do some one to two year manned missions on ISS to test the drugs effectiveness for these long periods of weightlessness.
Big news: New research on ISS now shows that the standard over-the-counter osteoporosis drugs used by millions on Earth appears to keep astronauts from losing bone density during long space flights.
Beginning in 2009, the group administered the drug to five long-stay astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), including Koichi Wakata, 48, and Soichi Noguchi, 46. The five took the drug — an over-the-counter bisphosphonate used to treat osteoporosis — once a week starting three weeks before they lifted off until they returned to Earth. The researchers then monitored the astronauts’ bone mass over time and compared the results to those for 14 astronauts that had never taken the drug.
The results showed that the 14 who had never taken the drug had average bone density loss of 7 percent in the femur, and 5 percent in the hip bone. The five astronauts on bisphosphonate, however, only had average bone density loss in the femur of 1 percent, and even a 3 percent increase in the hip bone. Calcium levels in their urine, which rise the more bone mass is lost, were also very low.
If these results hold up, they might very well solve one of the biggest challenges faced by any interplanetary traveler. Up until now, bone loss during long weightless missions never seemed to average less than 0.5 percent per month. After spending three years going to and from Mars, an astronaut could thus lose about almost 20 percent of their bone mass in their weight-bearing bones, and would probably be unable to return to Earth.
Thus, a mission to Mars seemed impossible, unless we could build a ship with some form of artificial gravity, an engineering challenge we don’t yet have the capability to achieve.
If these already tested drugs can eliminate this problem, then the solar system is finally open to us all. All that has to happen now is to do some one to two year manned missions on ISS to test the drugs effectiveness for these long periods of weightlessness.
Some further information on the flight of the X-37B
Some further information on the ongoing flight of the X-37B.
Some further information on the ongoing flight of the X-37B.
Signals transmitted to Phobos-Grunt this week have failed to raise its orbit
Phobos-Grunt has once again failed to respond to signals transmitted this week in an attempt to raise its orbit.
Phobos-Grunt has once again failed to respond to signals transmitted this week in an attempt to raise its orbit.
An ISS status report confirms that NASA has combined the next two Dragon test missions into one flight
From Clark Lindsey: An ISS status report has confirmed that NASA has combined the next two Dragon test flights into one mission.
From Clark Lindsey: An ISS status report has confirmed that NASA has combined the next two Dragon test flights into one mission.
Nanosail-D has sailed home, burning up in the atmosphere on September 17
The solar sail Nanosail-D has sailed home, burning up in the atmosphere on September 17.
The flight phase of the mission successfully demonstrated a deorbit capability that could potentially be used to bring down decommissioned satellites and space debris by re-entering and totally burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. The team continues to analyze the orbital data to determine how future satellites can use this new technology.
The concept being tested appears to use a solar sail as a navigating tool for guiding defunct satellites back into the atmosphere.
The solar sail Nanosail-D has sailed home, burning up in the atmosphere on September 17.
The flight phase of the mission successfully demonstrated a deorbit capability that could potentially be used to bring down decommissioned satellites and space debris by re-entering and totally burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. The team continues to analyze the orbital data to determine how future satellites can use this new technology.
The concept being tested appears to use a solar sail as a navigating tool for guiding defunct satellites back into the atmosphere.
The 1960s space race: The US orbits its first living animal, Enos the chimpanzee
An evening pause: Fifty years ago today the United States succeeded for the first time in placing a living animal in orbit, four years after the Soviet’s launched the dog Laika into space. On November 29, 1961 NASA orbited a chimpanzee named Enos as a dress rehearsal for John Glenn’s orbital flight, then scheduled for early in 1962. See this article for some details about Enos difficult flight.
Since the flights of Gagarin, Titov, Shepard, and Grissom earlier in 1961, the 1960s space race had seemed in abeyance as NASA geared up for its first orbital manned mission, while the Soviets were typically silent about their plans. Yet, for those like myself who were alive at that time, the suspense never abated. What would happen next? Could the U.S. beat the Russians to the Moon? Only time would tell.
The landing date of the X-37B remains a mystery, even as it nears a record mission length
The landing date of the X-37B has been extended, even as it nears a record mission length.
The landing date of the X-37B has been extended, even as it nears a record mission length.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev raised the prospect of criminal prosecution for recent space failures
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has raised the idea of criminal prosecution for those responsible for his country’s recent space failures.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has raised the idea of criminal prosecution for those responsible for his country’s recent space failures.
Curiousity has launched
Curiousity has successfully launched. More updates here.
Curiousity has successfully launched. More updates here.
SpaceX is expanding its Florida operations
More commercial space news; SpaceX is expanding its Florida operations in anticipation of a increased launch rate of Falcon 9 and Dragon capsules in the coming years.
More commercial space news; SpaceX is expanding its Florida operations in anticipation of a increased launch rate of Falcon 9 and Dragon capsules in the coming years.
Building Boeing’s CST-100 manned capsule, the smart way
Building Boeing’s CST-100 manned capsule, the smart way.
From pressure seals used on the international space station to rendezvous and docking sensors developed for the Pentagon’s Orbital Express experiment, Boeing is drawing heavily on heritage space and aviation programs for its proposed CST-100 commercial human spacecraft.
Cheaper also.
Building Boeing’s CST-100 manned capsule, the smart way.
From pressure seals used on the international space station to rendezvous and docking sensors developed for the Pentagon’s Orbital Express experiment, Boeing is drawing heavily on heritage space and aviation programs for its proposed CST-100 commercial human spacecraft.
Cheaper also.
A preview of the new Mars unmanned rover Curiousity, set for launch on Saturday
A preview of the new Mars unmanned rover Curiousity, set for launch on Saturday. This is the part of its mission that scares me the most:
The final stages of the entry, descent and landing sequence will be especially tense as the rover, dubbed Curiosity in a student naming contest, is gently lowered to the surface on cables suspended from a rocket-powered “sky crane” making its debut flight. Too large to use airbags like those that cushioned NASA’s Pathfinder, Spirit and Opportunity rovers, Curiosity will rely instead on landing rockets positioned above the rover, avoiding the challenge of coming up with a reliable way to get a one-ton vehicle off of an elevated, possibly tilted lander. Instead, Curiosity will be set down on its six 20-inch-wide wheels, ready to roll.
If it works.
A preview of the new Mars unmanned rover Curiousity, set for launch on Saturday. This is the part of its mission that scares me the most:
The final stages of the entry, descent and landing sequence will be especially tense as the rover, dubbed Curiosity in a student naming contest, is gently lowered to the surface on cables suspended from a rocket-powered “sky crane” making its debut flight. Too large to use airbags like those that cushioned NASA’s Pathfinder, Spirit and Opportunity rovers, Curiosity will rely instead on landing rockets positioned above the rover, avoiding the challenge of coming up with a reliable way to get a one-ton vehicle off of an elevated, possibly tilted lander. Instead, Curiosity will be set down on its six 20-inch-wide wheels, ready to roll.
If it works.
ESA tracking station loses contact with Phobos-Grunt
The ESA tracking station that had made contact with Phobos-Grunt earlier this week failed repeatedly yesterday to re-establish contact.
The ESA tracking station that had made contact with Phobos-Grunt earlier this week failed repeatedly yesterday to re-establish contact.
An update on the efforts to save Phobos-Grunt
An update on the efforts to save Phobos-Grunt.
“The first pass was successful in that the spacecraft’s radio downlink was commanded to switch on and telemetry was received,” said Wolfgang Hell, ESA’s Service Manager for Phobos–Grunt. Telemetry typically includes information on the status and health of a spacecraft’s systems. “The signals received from Phobos–Grunt were much stronger than those initially received on 22 November, in part due to having better knowledge of the spacecraft’s orbital position.”
The second pass was short, and so was used only to uplink commands – no receipt of signal was expected. However, the following three passes in the early morning of 24 November proved to be more difficult: no signal was received from Phobos–Grunt.
An update on the efforts to save Phobos-Grunt.
“The first pass was successful in that the spacecraft’s radio downlink was commanded to switch on and telemetry was received,” said Wolfgang Hell, ESA’s Service Manager for Phobos–Grunt. Telemetry typically includes information on the status and health of a spacecraft’s systems. “The signals received from Phobos–Grunt were much stronger than those initially received on 22 November, in part due to having better knowledge of the spacecraft’s orbital position.”
The second pass was short, and so was used only to uplink commands – no receipt of signal was expected. However, the following three passes in the early morning of 24 November proved to be more difficult: no signal was received from Phobos–Grunt.
ESA antenna contacts Phobos-Grunt again, this time downloading telemetry data
An ESA tracking station has once again contacted Phobos-Grunt, this time downloading telemetry data.
“We have again established contact with the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, we obtained telemetry reports, they are being analyzed by our colleagues from the Lavochkin Research and Production Association,” ESA spokesman Rene Pischel said.
An ESA tracking station has once again contacted Phobos-Grunt, this time downloading telemetry data.
“We have again established contact with the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, we obtained telemetry reports, they are being analyzed by our colleagues from the Lavochkin Research and Production Association,” ESA spokesman Rene Pischel said.
Training space tourists for their suborbital flight
Training space tourists for their suborbital flight.
In the NASTAR Center’s Observation Lounge, trainees can watch the centrifuge through a large window, as well as see a live video feed of its rider. Meanwhile, Henwood iterates the importance of the correct timing of breaths. “If you’re going to need it, you’re going to want to do it right.” Failing to begin the manoeuvre before the onset of the g’s can result in loss of consciousness.
“You’ll tell me when to breathe?” the first flier of the course says over the intercom to Greg Kennedy, NASTAR Center’s director of educational services and the monitor of participants’ in-flight safety.
“Yes,” Kennedy says. “Are you ready for your flight?”
Training space tourists for their suborbital flight.
In the NASTAR Center’s Observation Lounge, trainees can watch the centrifuge through a large window, as well as see a live video feed of its rider. Meanwhile, Henwood iterates the importance of the correct timing of breaths. “If you’re going to need it, you’re going to want to do it right.” Failing to begin the manoeuvre before the onset of the g’s can result in loss of consciousness.
“You’ll tell me when to breathe?” the first flier of the course says over the intercom to Greg Kennedy, NASTAR Center’s director of educational services and the monitor of participants’ in-flight safety.
“Yes,” Kennedy says. “Are you ready for your flight?”
An ESA tracking station in Australia has made contact with Phobos-Grunt
An ESA tracking station in Australia has made contact with Phobos-Grunt.
It appears that the chances of saving the spacecraft remain slim, though improved.
An ESA tracking station in Australia has made contact with Phobos-Grunt.
It appears that the chances of saving the spacecraft remain slim, though improved.
Debris from destroyed satellite may force ISS astronauts to take shelter
China attacks! Debris from a satellite that China destroyed in an anti-satellite test in 2007 may force ISS astronauts to take shelter tonight.
China attacks! Debris from a satellite that China destroyed in an anti-satellite test in 2007 may force ISS astronauts to take shelter tonight.
Russia is considering shifting its planetary research from Mars to the Moon, following the failure of Phobos-Grunt
Russia is considering shifting its planetary research from Mars to the Moon, following the failure of the Phobos-Grunt mission to Mars.
Russia is considering shifting its planetary research from Mars to the Moon, following the failure of the Phobos-Grunt mission to Mars.