Space news

Payloads: Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM): Yesterday, the ASIM external hardware was robotically moved to Columbus External Payload Facility Starboard Deck X-Direction (SDX) and today power was re-established. More information on this experiment (ASIM) can be found here.  Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (AC-2): Routine periodic touching was performed for experiment placards deployed in various locations …

Payloads: BioFabrication Facility (BFF)-Cardiac: Sample Media Bag S/N 23957 and 23958 were retrieved from Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI-3). More information on the current experiment (BFF-Cardiac) can be found here. Cold Atom Lab (CAL): Science Module-3 was partially removed in preparation for installing Module-4. More information on the current experiment (Cold Atom …

Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (AC-2): The crew performed routine touching on the experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. More information on this experiment can be found here. BioFabrication Facility (BFF) – The crew exchanged multiple cassettes, and the ground team was able to perform a successful biological print. Following the …

Payloads: B Complex: In support of the B Complex experiment, the crew set up the Optical Coherence Tomography 2 (OCT2) hardware and performed a scanning session. OCT is used to obtain cross-sectional images of the eye. More information on this experiment can be found here. BioFabrication Facility (BFF) – The crew exchanged multiple cassettes, and …

PrK Operations: This morning, the crew closed the hatch to the PrK at 9:56 AM CDT. Payloads: B Complex: In support of the B Complex experiment, the crew set up the Optical Coherence Tomography 2 (OCT2) hardware and performed a scanning session. OCT is used to obtain cross-sectional images of the eye. More information on …

PrK Operations: After completing gas and water transfers from Progress 87P to the ISS, the Progress 87P hatch was closed early this morning. This afternoon, the crew closed the PrK hatch according to the plan. Payloads: BioFabrication Facility (BFF) – The crew exchanged multiple cassettes, and the ground team was able to perform a successful …

Payloads: ADvanced Space Experiment Processor-2 Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory-03 (ADSEP-PIL-03): The crew gained access to the ADSEP-2 facility and exchanged the experiment cassettes in Module C. The crew also took photos of these experiment activities being performed. ADSEP-PIL-03 grows crystals of several commercially relevant small molecules, each having various structures that may be altered by a …

PrK Hatch Open: This morning, the crew opened hatches to the PrK and Progress 87P according to the plan. After the hatches were open, the crew completed transfers of gas and water from Progress 87P to the ISS. The PrK hatch will remain open until tomorrow afternoon. Payloads: ADvanced Space Experiment Processor-2 Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory-02 …

Soyuz 70S Undock: The crew is sleep shifting today in preparation for 70S undocking later this evening. The Soyuz 70S vehicle is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 10:54 PM CDT today to return NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya. The vehicle is scheduled to land in …

Payloads: BioFabrication Facility (BFF): The crew gained access to the BFF interior volume, performed print tip replacements and syringe exchanges. This will support upcoming biological printing science activities. Using 3D biological printers to produce usable human organs has long been a dream of scientists and doctors around the globe. However, printing the tiny, complex structures …

Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (AC-2): Routine periodic touching was performed for experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. Antimicrobial Coatings-2 tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health and spacecraft systems as well …

Payloads: Four Bed Carbon Dioxide (4BCO2) Scrubber: The crew collected Carbon Dioxide (CO2) effluent samples from the 4BCO2 system. These samples will be returned to the ground for analysis. 4BCO2 demonstrates a technology for removing CO2 from the atmosphere on a spacecraft. The technology is based on the current system in use on the ISS …

Payloads: ADSEP-PIL-02: Fluid Loops were replaced on Modules A, B and C. In-Space Production Application – Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory – 02 (InSPA-PIL-02) (ADSEP-PIL-02) aims to study the effect of microgravity on the production of various types of crystals. Understanding the effect of microgravity on these crystals may have important applications for research and development of …

Payloads: Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research on Varying Mission Durations (CIPHER): The CIPHER investigation aims to improve our understanding of physiological and psychological changes in humans on missions that range from weeks to one year in duration. Conducting the same research over missions of different durations allows scientists to extrapolate the data …

Payloads: Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research on Varying Mission Durations (CIPHER): The crew performed the doff and closeout of the Blood Pressure 13-hour data collection sequence and stowed the hardware. The 48hour BioMonitor data collection was concluded and the hardware was doffed and stowed. Optical Tomography was also performed a subject. The …

Payloads: ADvanced Space Experiment Processor-2 (ADSEP-2): A fluid replacement was performed on Modules B and C. The ADSEP-2 is an automated multipurpose facility with three independent thermal zones that accommodate one cassette each and an internal computer that controls the functions of the cassettes. Cassettes house and process samples for a variety of biological and …

SpX-30 Docking: Following launch on Thursday, March 21st, the SpX-30 Cargo Dragon docked at 6:32 AM CDT, March 23rd. SpX-30 was docked to the Node 2 Zenith port and has successfully delivered a plethora of science investigations, crew supplies, and hardware to the ISS crew. 71S Docking: The 71S vehicle successfully docked to the NM …

Payloads: Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research on Varying Mission Durations (CIPHER): A Vestibular Exam using Falcon Goggles was performed. The CIPHER investigation aims to improve our understanding of physiological and psychological changes in humans on missions that range from weeks to one year in duration. Conducting the same research over missions of …

Soyuz 71S Launch: 71S launch was planned for today at 8:21 AM CDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome but was scrubbed on the pad. NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya are safe, along with the 71S Soyuz spacecraft. SpX-30 Cargo Dragon Launch: The SpX-30 Dragon spacecraft successfully launched aboard …

Payloads: Advanced Resistive Exercise Device Kinematics (ARED-K): Isometric Mid-Thigh Pulls (IMTP) were performed on ARED. The ARED-K investigation assesses the current exercise programs to allow for the improvement of exercise prescriptions by conducting a biomechanical analysis of exercise on the ARED onboard the ISS. Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): Troubleshooting steps were performed on the lower …

Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings (AC-2): The crew performed the routine periodic touching of two experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. They also took photos of the placards. AC-2 tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new …

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Payloads: BioFabrication Facility (BFF): The crew reviewed the procedure, gained access to the BFF experiment chamber, and attempted to unclog two smart pump systems. Unfortunately, the unclog attempt was not successful. New Bioink syringes will arrive on SpX-30 which will allow the operations to continue. Using 3D biological printers to produce usable human organs has …

"Frustration with Artemis’s high price tag is justifiable."

Italian rocket maker Avio has announced that the solid fuel P160C booster has passed its critical design review. The booster will be used aboard...

On Thursday, March 14th, SpaceX completed the third Integrated Flight Test (IFT-3) of its Starship launch vehicle. Notably, IFT-3 successfully achieved the first complete ascent of the combined Starship and Super Heavy system. SpaceX demonstrated several important test objectives during an approximately 40-minute coast phase, but the Starship vehicle was ultimately lost during reentry at the end of the flight. The nominal flight path included only about half of a complete orbit around the Earth; nevertheless, Starship has demonstrated the capability to achieve orbital flight, setting the stage for its test campaign to accelerate in support of its obligations under the Artemis program.

ISS Reboost: At 8:11 AM CDT, the ISS performed a reboost using the Aft Progress 87P rendezvous and docking (R&D) thrusters. The purpose of this reboost was to set up proper phasing conditions for the upcoming Soyuz 71S launch and Soyuz 70S landing. The burn duration was 17 minutes 20 seconds with a delta-V of …

U.S. regulators have approved ground rules for allowing SpaceX and other satellite operators to use radio waves from terrestrial mobile partners to keep smartphone users connected outside cell tower coverage.

With a $1.3 billion defense backlog, the company is eyeing opportunities for in-orbit services and transportation vehicles

SpaceX was successful in its third test flight of the largest rocket ever as Starship took to the skies at 8:25 am...

SpaceX is still collecting and analyzing data from the third Starship test flight, but it is clear it scored many successes. They may have lost Starship over the Indian Ocean, […]

SpaceX’s Starship vehicle lifted off on its third test flight March 14, making significant progress compared to its first two.

SpaceX launched the third test flight of its Starship rocket on Thursday and reached space, as the company pushed development of the mammoth vehicle past new milestones.

The company says the geosynchronous market is moving more towards small satellites

A pair of Chinese spacecraft, apparently intended for lunar orbit, have potentially been lost following an issue with a Long March rocket's upper stage on Wednesday.

The European Space Agency has published a call to begin work on a demonstrator of a reusable launch vehicle upper stage. Published on 13 March,...

Nicky Fox, the head of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, again urged the NASA science community to stick together in these tough budget times and not split into factions fighting each […]

President Biden’s FY2025 request for the U.S. Space Force is $29.4 billion, $600 million less than what he asked for in FY2024. Congress is still working on the FY2024 request. […]

NASA is revamping a major series of Earth science missions, delaying some and relying more on international partners for others to reduce costs.

The startup won a $15 million Strategic Funding Increase, or STRATFI, agreement from SpaceWERX.

The FAA issued a launch license today for SpaceX to conduct the third Orbital Flight Test (OFT-3) of their Starship rocket tomorrow, March 14. The date was announced last week […]

Ship 28 and Booster 10 excelled in nearly every aspect and nearly completed every objective during its launch at the first attempt from Starbase, Texas.

It has been a tough start for the fledgling private aerospace industry in Japan. On March 13th 2024, private aerospace company SPACE ONE aimed to perform the first private satellite launch from Japan. Launching from the company’s Space Port Kii, the Kii-based Advanced & Instant ROcket System (KAIROS) rocket carried a payload for the Japanese government, a satellite that would’ve acted as a temporary contingency incase of malfunctions aboard active intelligence satellites. This satellite however would not be deployed, or even delivered to space, as about five seconds after the rocket launched, the rocket detonated.

Omnispace is exploring how its proposed constellation of more than 600 low Earth orbit satellites could help connect phones and other devices subscribed to MTN, Africa’s largest terrestrial mobile network operator.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given SpaceX its license to launch its massive Starship rocket on its 3rd flight test. While...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to launch its third Starship test flight as soon as Thursday morning after federal regulators signed off on the attempt.

Once on the chopping block, SDA now has a $4.2 billion budget to build a satellite network of hundreds of satellites

Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (AC-2): The crew performed the routine periodic touching of two experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. Antimicrobial Coatings-2 tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health and spacecraft …

Recent alleged Houthi attacks on underwater communication cables illustrate the need for more resilient connectivity technology, such as optical ground station networks.

"There are so many investments that we could be making, but there are also Moonshots."