ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS of RESULTS from the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION October 1, 2019 – October 1, 2020
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Crew Autonomy for Deep Space Exploration: Lessons from the Antarctic Search for Meteorites
Acta Astronautica 94 (2014) 83–92 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Acta Astronautica journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/actaastro Crew autonomy for deep space exploration: Lessons from the Antarctic Search for Meteorites Stanley G. Love a,n, Ralph P. Harvey b a NASA Johnson Space Center, Mail Code CB, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058, USA b Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, 112A. W. Smith Building, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA article info abstract Article history: Future piloted missions to explore asteroids, Mars, and other targets beyond the Moon Received 1 May 2013 will experience strict limitations on communication between vehicles in space and control Received in revised form centers on Earth. These limitations will require crews to operate with greater autonomy 20 June 2013 than any past space mission has demonstrated. The Antarctic Search for Meteorites Accepted 4 August 2013 (ANSMET) project, which regularly sends small teams of researchers to remote parts of the Available online 12 August 2013 southern continent, resembles a space mission in many ways but does not rely upon a control center. It provides a useful crew autonomy model for planners of future deep space exploration missions. In contrast to current space missions, ANSMET gives the crew Keywords: Human space flight the authority to adjust competing work priorities, task assignments, and daily schedules; Crew autonomy allows the crew to be the primary monitor of mission progress; demands greater crew Human exploration accountability for operational errors; requires the crew to make the most of limited Deep space exploration communication bandwidth; adopts systems designed for simple operation and failure Space flight analog recovery; and grants the crew a leading role in the selection and stowage of their Antarctica equipment. -
Report of the Commission on the Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration
1 ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Burlington House, Piccadilly London W1J 0BQ, UK T: 020 7734 4582/ 3307 F: 020 7494 0166 [email protected] www.ras.org.uk Registered Charity 226545 Report of the Commission on the Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration Professor Frank Close, OBE Dr John Dudeney, OBE Professor Ken Pounds, CBE FRS 2 Contents (A) Executive Summary 3 (B) The Formation and Membership of the Commission 6 (C) The Terms of Reference 7 (D) Summary of the activities/meetings of the Commission 8 (E) The need for a wider context 8 (E1) The Wider Science Context (E2) Public inspiration, outreach and educational Context (E3) The Commercial/Industrial context (E4) The Political and International context. (F) Planetary Science on the Moon & Mars 13 (G) Astronomy from the Moon 15 (H) Human or Robotic Explorers 15 (I) Costs and Funding issues 19 (J) The Technological Challenge 20 (J1) Launcher Capabilities (J2) Radiation (K) Summary 23 (L) Acknowledgements 23 (M) Appendices: Appendix 1 Expert witnesses consulted & contributions received 24 Appendix 2 Poll of UK Astronomers 25 Appendix 3 Poll of Public Attitudes 26 Appendix 4 Selected Web Sites 27 3 (A) Executive Summary 1. Scientific missions to the Moon and Mars will address questions of profound interest to the human race. These include: the origins and history of the solar system; whether life is unique to Earth; and how life on Earth began. If our close neighbour, Mars, is found to be devoid of life, important lessons may be learned regarding the future of our own planet. 2. While the exploration of the Moon and Mars can and is being addressed by unmanned missions we have concluded that the capabilities of robotic spacecraft will fall well short of those of human explorers for the foreseeable future. -
STS-134 Press
CONTENTS Section Page STS-134 MISSION OVERVIEW ................................................................................................ 1 STS-134 TIMELINE OVERVIEW ............................................................................................... 9 MISSION PROFILE ................................................................................................................... 11 MISSION OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................ 13 MISSION PERSONNEL ............................................................................................................. 15 STS-134 ENDEAVOUR CREW .................................................................................................. 17 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 25 ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER-2 .................................................................................................. 25 EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER 3 ......................................................................................................... 31 RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING ....................................................................................................... 43 UNDOCKING, SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE ....................................................................................... 44 SPACEWALKS ........................................................................................................................ -
Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space
SALYUT: Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space December 1983 NTIS order #PB84-181437 Recommended Citation: SALYUT: Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space–A Technical Mere- orandum (Washington, D. C.: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, OTA- TM-STI-14, December 1983). Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 83-600624 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Foreword As the other major spacefaring nation, the Soviet Union is a subject of interest to the American people and Congress in their deliberations concerning the future of U.S. space activities. In the course of an assessment of Civilian Space Stations, the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) has undertaken a study of the presence of Soviets in space and their Salyut space stations, in order to provide Congress with an informed view of Soviet capabilities and intentions. The major element in this technical memorandum was a workshop held at OTA in December 1982: it was the first occasion when a significant number of experts in this area of Soviet space activities had met for extended unclassified discussion. As a result of the workshop, OTA prepared this technical memorandum, “Salyut: Soviet Steps Toward Permanent Human Presence in Space. ” It has been reviewed extensively by workshop participants and others familiar with Soviet space activities. Also in December 1982, OTA wrote to the U. S. S. R.’s Ambassador to the United States Anatoliy Dobrynin, requesting any information concerning present and future Soviet space activities that the Soviet Union judged could be of value to the OTA assess- ment of civilian space stations. -
Geomicrobiological Processes in Extreme Environments: a Review
202 Articles by Hailiang Dong1, 2 and Bingsong Yu1,3 Geomicrobiological processes in extreme environments: A review 1 Geomicrobiology Laboratory, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China. 2 Department of Geology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA. Email: [email protected] 3 School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China. The last decade has seen an extraordinary growth of and Mancinelli, 2001). These unique conditions have selected Geomicrobiology. Microorganisms have been studied in unique microorganisms and novel metabolic functions. Readers are directed to recent review papers (Kieft and Phelps, 1997; Pedersen, numerous extreme environments on Earth, ranging from 1997; Krumholz, 2000; Pedersen, 2000; Rothschild and crystalline rocks from the deep subsurface, ancient Mancinelli, 2001; Amend and Teske, 2005; Fredrickson and Balk- sedimentary rocks and hypersaline lakes, to dry deserts will, 2006). A recent study suggests the importance of pressure in the origination of life and biomolecules (Sharma et al., 2002). In and deep-ocean hydrothermal vent systems. In light of this short review and in light of some most recent developments, this recent progress, we review several currently active we focus on two specific aspects: novel metabolic functions and research frontiers: deep continental subsurface micro- energy sources. biology, microbial ecology in saline lakes, microbial Some metabolic functions of continental subsurface formation of dolomite, geomicrobiology in dry deserts, microorganisms fossil DNA and its use in recovery of paleoenviron- Because of the unique geochemical, hydrological, and geological mental conditions, and geomicrobiology of oceans. conditions of the deep subsurface, microorganisms from these envi- Throughout this article we emphasize geomicrobiological ronments are different from surface organisms in their metabolic processes in these extreme environments. -
Year in Review—2013
MSM DEC 2013 cover SATCOM For Net-Centric Warfare December 2013 MilsatMagazine YEARYEAR ININ REVIEW—2013REVIEW—2013 MilsatMagazineDecember 2013 Publishing Operations Senior Contributors Silvano Payne, Publisher + Writer Mike Antonovich, ATEME Hartley G. Lesser, Editorial Director Bert Sadtler, Boxwood Executive Search Pattie Waldt, Executive Editor Richard Dutchik Jill Durfee, Sales Director, Editorial Assistant Tony Bardo, Hughes Simon Payne, Development Director Chris Forrester, Broadgate Publications Donald McGee, Production Manager Karl Fuchs, iDirect Government Services Dan Makinster, Technical Advisor Bob Gough, Carrick Communications Jos Heyman, TIROS Space Information David Leichner, Gilat Satellite Networks This Issue’s Authors Giles Peeters, Track24 Defence Mark A Baird, Colonel, USAF Ian Canning Hartley Lesser Jose Lujano, III, Corporal, USMC Michael Mantz Rafael Martie, Petty Officer, 1st Class, USN Susan Miller Elliot Holokauahi Pulham John Ratigan Scott Scheimreif Pattie Waldt Amy Walker Published 11 times a year by SatNews Publishers 800 Siesta Way Sonoma, CA 95476 USA Phone: (707) 939-9306 Fax: (707) 838-9235 © 2013 SatNews Publishers We reserve the right to edit all submitted materials to meet our content guidelines, as well as for grammar or to move articles to an alternative issue to accommodate publication space requirements, or Cover and Table of masthead Image... removed due to space restrictions. Submission of content does not Staff Sgt. Shelby Johnson, a squad leader with the 4th Brigade constitute acceptance of said material by SatNews Publishers. Edited Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), observes the materials may, or may not, be returned to author and/or company area around Forward Operating Base Torkham, Afghanistan, while for review prior to publication. -
The American Space Exploration Narrative from the Cold War Through the Obama Administration1
The American Space Exploration Narrative from the Cold War through the Obama Administration1 Dora Holland2,3 and Jack O. Burns4,5 1 To appear in the journal Space Policy. 2 International Affairs Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309 3 Current mailing address: 11161 Briggs Court, Anchorage, AK, 99516. 4 Center for Astrophysics & Space Astronomy, Department of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309 5 Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (D. Holland), [email protected] (J. Burns) 2 Abstract We document how the narrative and the policies of space exploration in the United States have changed from the Eisenhower through the Obama administrations. We first examine the history of U.S. space exploration and also assess three current conditions of the field of space exploration including: 1) the increasing role of the private sector, 2) the influence of global politics and specifically the emergence of China as a global space power, and 3) the focus on a human mission to Mars. In order to further understand the narrative of U.S. space exploration, we identify five rhetorical themes: competition, prestige, collaboration, leadership, and “a new paradigm.” These themes are then utilized to analyze the content of forty documents over the course of space exploration history in the U.S. from eight U.S. presidential administrations. The historical narrative and content analysis together suggest that space exploration has developed from a discourse about a bipolar world comprised of the United States and the Soviet Union into a complicated field that encompasses many new players in the national to the industrial realms. -
SPACE EXPLORERS NEED to BE SPACE FARMERS What We Know and What We Need to Know About Plant Growth in Space
MONOGRAPH Mètode Science Studies Journal, 11 (2021). University of Valencia. DOI: 10.7203/metode.11.14606 Submitted: 10/04/2019. Approved: 04/09/2019. SPACE EXPLORERS NEED TO BE SPACE FARMERS What we know and what we need to know about plant growth in space FF.. JJavieravier MMedinaedina Space exploration will require life support systems, in which plants can provide nutrients, oxygen, moisture, and psychological well-being and eliminate wastes. In alien environments, plants must adapt to a diff erent gravity force, even the zero gravity of spacefl ight. Under these conditions, essential cellular and molecular features related to plant development are altered and changes in gene expression occur. In lunar gravity, the eff ects are comparable to microgravity, while the gravity of Mars produces milder alterations. Nevertheless, it has been possible to develop and reproduce plants in space. Current research seeks to identify signals replacing gravity for driving plant growth, such as light. Counteracting gravitational stress will help in enabling agriculture in extraterrestrial habitats. Keywords: plant biology, International Space Station (ISS), microgravity, root meristem, gene ex- pression. ■ INTRODUCTION lighting and nutrient delivery, but utilizes the cabin environment for temperature control and gas On 10 August 2015, the image of three crewmembers exchange (Figure 1b). of the International Space Station (ISS) eating «The farther and longer humans go away from a lettuce, grown and harvested onboard, impacted Earth, the greater the need to be able to grow plants mass media all over the world. «It was one small bite for food, atmosphere recycling and psychological or man, one giant leap for #NASAVEGGIE and our benefi ts», said Gioia Massa (NASA, 2015), Veggie’s #JourneytoMars. -
2. Going to Mars
aMARTE A MARS ROADMAP FOR TRAVEL AND EXPLORATION Final Report International Space University Space Studies Program 2016 © International Space University. All Rights Reserved. The 2016 Space Studies Program of the International Space University (ISU) was hosted by the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel. aMARTE has been selected as the name representing the Mars Team Project. This choice was motivated by the dual meaning the term conveys. aMARTE first stands for A Mars Roadmap for Travel and Exploration, the official label the team has adopted for the project. Alternatively, aMARTE can be interpreted from its Spanish roots "amarte," meaning "to love," or can also be viewed as "a Marte," meaning "going to Mars." This play on words represents the mission and spirit of the team, which is to put together a roadmap including various disciplines for a human mission to Mars and demonstrate a profound commitment to Mars exploration. The aMARTE title logo was developed based on sections of the astrological symbols for Earth and Mars. The blue symbol under the team's name represents Earth, and the orange arrow symbol is reminiscent of the characteristic color of Mars. The arrow also serves as an invitation to go beyond the Earth and explore our neighboring planet. Electronic copies of the Final Report and the Executive Summary can be downloaded from the ISU Library website at http://isulibrary.isunet.edu/ International Space University Strasbourg Central Campus Parc d’Innovation 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden France Tel +33 (0)3 88 65 54 30 Fax +33 (0)3 88 65 54 47 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.isunet.edu I. -
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Commercial Orbital Transportation Services A New Era in Spaceflight NASA/SP-2014-617 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services A New Era in Spaceflight On the cover: Background photo: The terminator—the line separating the sunlit side of Earth from the side in darkness—marks the changeover between day and night on the ground. By establishing government-industry partnerships, the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program marked a change from the traditional way NASA had worked. Inset photos, right: The COTS program supported two U.S. companies in their efforts to design and build transportation systems to carry cargo to low-Earth orbit. (Top photo—Credit: SpaceX) SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on May 22, 2012, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Second photo) Three days later, the company successfully completed the mission that sent its Dragon spacecraft to the Station. (Third photo—Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) Orbital Sciences Corp. sent its Antares rocket on its test flight on April 21, 2013, from a new launchpad on Virginia’s eastern shore. Later that year, the second Antares lifted off with Orbital’s cargo capsule, (Fourth photo) the Cygnus, that berthed with the ISS on September 29, 2013. Both companies successfully proved the capability to deliver cargo to the International Space Station by U.S. commercial companies and began a new era of spaceflight. ISS photo, center left: Benefiting from the success of the partnerships is the International Space Station, pictured as seen by the last Space Shuttle crew that visited the orbiting laboratory (July 19, 2011). More photos of the ISS are featured on the first pages of each chapter. -
NASA Astronaut Describes Close Call Following Failed Launch 16 October 2018, by Marcia Dunn
NASA astronaut describes close call following failed launch 16 October 2018, by Marcia Dunn It was the first aborted launch for the Russians in 35 years and only the third in history. Like each one before, the rocket's safety system kept the crew alive. Hague—the first American to experience a launch abort like this—communicated in Russian throughout the more than half-hour ordeal. "All of my instincts and reflexes inside the capsule are to speak Russian," said Hague, who had two years of training in Russia. "We knew that if we wanted to be successful, we In this frame from video from NASA TV, NASA astronaut needed to stay calm and we needed to execute the Nick Hague, who survived the Oct. 11, 2018, failed procedures in front of us as smoothly and efficiently launch and emergency landing, speaks Tuesday, Oct. as we could," Hague told The Associated Press 16, 2018, from the NASA Johnson Space Center in from Houston. Houston. Hague and Russian Alexei Ovchinin were two minutes into their flight last Thursday from Kazakhstan to the International Space Station when the Soyuz rocket The astronauts experienced a few moments of failed. (NASA TV via AP) weightlessness after their Soyuz capsule catapulted away from the rocket. Hague, making his first launch, saw the curvature of Earth and the blackness of space. The NASA astronaut who survived last week's failed launch and emergency landing knew he Between the abort and touchdown, Hague looked needed to stay calm. out the window to make sure the capsule's systems were operating properly and to check their landing. -
Proxima Mission Thomas Pesquet Reaches International Space Station
Proxima mission Thomas Pesquet reaches International Space Station After completing 34 orbital revolutions of the Earth, the Soyuz spacecraft has docked with the International Space Station (ISS). France’s ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, mission commander Oleg Novitsky (Roscosmos) and U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson (NASA) have safely entered the station and are now ready to start their six-month mission. Thomas Pesquet, 38, will be the 10th French astronaut to fly in space, the fourth to stay aboard the ISS and the first to spend six months there. His mission has been named Proxima after Proxima Centauri, the star nearest our Sun, continuing the tradition of naming European missions on the ISS after stars. Thomas will be in charge of more than 50 science experiments devised by ESA and CNES, and will be contributing to numerous research projects undertaken for other programme partners. CNES is closely involved in this mission, notably through the CADMOS centre for the development of microgravity applications and space operations, located at the Toulouse Space Centre. CADMOS will be controlling 21 of the 55 experiments to be performed by Thomas Pesquet for ESA and devised and prepared seven of the experiments itself: AQUAPAD, MATISS, EVERYWEAR, PERSPECTIVES, ECHO, FLUIDICS and EXO-ISS (educational experiments). After the successful docking and the crew’s entry aboard the ISS, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall commented: “What has been a truly golden week for us is continuing with this new and crucial stage of the Proxima mission! I would like to congratulate all of the international partners who played a part in this new success.