Blogs

The Soyuz TMA-16M vehicle docked to the International Space Station at 9:33 p.m. EDT, over the western coast of Colombia. Aboard the space station, Expedition 43 Commander Terry Virts of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) will welcome Soyuz crew members Scott Kelly …

Aboard their Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft, Scott Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko and Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka are scheduled to dock at 9:36 p.m. EDT to the International Space Station’s Poisk module. NASA Television coverage of the docking will begin at 8:45 p.m. and can also be seen online at: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv. NASA TV will then resume at 10:45 …

The Soyuz TMA-16M launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station at 3:42 p.m. EDT (1:42 a.m. on March 28 Baikonur time). Scott Kelly of NASA, Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) now are safely in orbit. NASA TV coverage continues at https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv. Kelly, Kornienko and …

The Russian Soyuz spacecraft that will carry three additional crew members to the International Space Station stands ready for its 3:42 p.m. EDT liftoff. NASA Television coverage of the launch begins at 2:30 p.m. Watch on NASA TV or at: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv. Scott Kelly of NASA, with Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal …

Node 3 (N3) Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Status:  Earlier today ground specialist completed fine leak checks of the N3 CDRA beds.  Following the leak checks the N3 CDRA shutdown due to Air Selector Valve (ASV) 104 not reaching commanded position.  On Tuesday of this week the crew replaced ASV 106 of this same CDRA.  …

A variety of science experiments is taking up the Expedition 43 trio’s schedule today. Back on Earth, a new set of International Space Station crew members is a day away from launching to join the orbiting residents. Commander Terry Virts opened up the Combustion Integrated Rack and replaced components to get ready for upcoming work …

Ocular Health (OH): With Cristoforetti assisting as the CMO, Virts completed his Ocular Health ultrasound. Ultrasound scans were performed of his eyes, followed by cardiac echo measurements as part of the Ocular Health data collection.  The ultrasound images will be used to identify changes in globe morphology, including flattening of the posterior globe, and document …

The orbiting Expedition 43 trio worked ongoing life science Wednesday to improve life on Earth and in space. On the ground at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft rolled out to its launch pad counting down to a Friday launch to the International Space Station. In space, Commander Terry Virts scanned his …

Node 3 (N3) Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Valve Remove & Replace (R&R): Virts R&Rd the N3 CDRA Air Selector Valve (ASV) 106. The R&R was scheduled due to telemetry indication that showed this valve was taking longer than normal to reach its commanded position, which is consistent with a valve operating under high torque …

The three Expedition 43 crew members were back at work Tuesday on ongoing advanced microgravity science benefiting life on Earth and future crew members on long-term space missions. The International Space Station team is also getting ready to greet a new set of crew members and a private space freighter. Commander Terry Virts participated in …