59 Progress (59P) Status: Last night Russian ground controllers resumed 59P troubleshooting during Russian ground passes and were able to establish communications with the vehicle and review telemetry. Russian controllers configured the refueling system to feed the thrusters and made two unsuccessful attempts to command the thrusters to stabilize the vehicle’s angular rotation. Per Mission …
Science Continues on the International Space Station
The Expedition 43 crew continued their work on Wednesday with a variety of research and technology demonstration activities. NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Terry Virts studied the effects of microgravity on living organisms for the Rodent Research experiment. They are looking at mice and how their body systems change in space. The results may promote …
Progress 59 Cargo Craft Updates
UPDATE (4/29 9:50 a.m. EDT): Docking has been called off for the Progress 59 spacecraft. Russian flight controllers are continuing to assess the vehicle and what the plan going forward will be. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. UPDATE (4/28 11:00 p.m. EDT): Russian flight controllers are continuing attempts to communicate with …
Elusive Earthquake Imagery
Several readers have asked us to post satellite imagery related to the earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. While we regularly post imagery of natural hazards, the weather and the satellites haven’t cooperated in this case. Some people assume NASA’s satellite fleet can collect images of virtually any part of the world in near-real […]
ISS Daily Summary Report – 04/28/15
59 Progress (59P) Status: 59P launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:09 AM CDT and achieved orbital insertion. Shortly after the third stage separation, the ground experienced partial loss of communication with the vehicle. Mission Control Center (MCC)-Moscow attempts to re-gain communication with the vehicle over subsequent ground passes were unsuccessful. The next troubleshooting …
Final Fieldwork and an Aquifer Sighting
April 25, 2015 — The team had come back exhausted and cold but very happy to have a warm meal and bed on Thursday (April 23). Anatoly and I were very excited to have everyone safe after the very long and stormy two weeks they had had in the field. On Friday (April 24), the next […]
Russian Progress Spacecraft Launch Coverage
On Tuesday, Apr. 28 at 2:45 a.m. EDT, NASA Television will provide live coverage of the launch of a Russian Progress spacecraft carrying more than three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 43 crew aboard the International Space Station. Launch of ISS Progress 59 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is planned …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 04/27/15
59 Progress (59P) Launch/Dock: 59P is scheduled to launch tomorrow from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:09 AM CDT. Docking to the ISS Docking Compartment (DC)-1 is scheduled to occur tomorrow at 8:07 AM CDT. Rodent Research-2 Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (RR-2 CASIS): Virts and Kelly configured the Bone Densitometer and …
Crew Begins New Week With Focus on Biological Studies
The Expedition 43 crew kicked off a new week by focusing on a number of biological experiments. The crew participated in the Sprint study which evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in crew members during long-duration missions. Crew members also took part …
Wow, That Was a Lot of Snow
April 24, 2015 — I believe in one of my first blog posts I mentioned that we were working in an area of high accumulation (snowfall) on the Greenland Ice Sheet. I would like to change that to an area of VERY HIGH accumulation! Actually Southeast Greenland does receive the largest amount of snowfall on the […]