At 9:20 a.m. EDT, the hatch closed between the Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station in preparation for undocking and return to Earth of the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) with astronauts Peggy Whitson, John Shoffner, Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. NASA Television will air live coverage resuming at 10:45 a.m. in advance of the planned …
NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website are providing live coverage from the International Space Station for the closure of the hatches between the station and the Dragon spacecraft to prepare for undocking and departure of the second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2). Hatch closure is expected at …
Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) Axiom-2 (Ax-2): The Ax-2 crew had a productive holiday weekend performing more outreach and science. Ali and Ray participated in three ICE Cubes Mediaset events where they conducted demonstrations of the Nanoracks Liquid Fireworks, Space Kite, and Heat Transfer payloads and conducted a Q&A with children in Saudi Arabia. John took …
Life science for the benefit of human beings living on and off the Earth once again filled the research schedule aboard the International Space Station for the Expedition 69 and Axiom Mission-2 (Ax-2) crew members. Flight Engineers Frank Rubio of NASA and Sultan Alneyadi of UAE (United Arab Emirates) worked on a pair of space …
Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) Axiom-2 (Ax-2): Commercial, Outreach, and Payload Activities: Multiple NASA-sponsored and ESA-sponsored PAO events were performed today, including three ICE Cubes Media Set events and two NASA-sponsored PAO events. The PAO events included a live event with students from Middlesboro Middle School in John’s hometown of Middlesboro, Kentucky. Two HAM radio events …
The final two TROPICS CubeSats successfully deployed from a Rocket Lab Electron rocket after launch. The rocket named Coming To A Storm Near You lifted off at at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 25, (3:46 p.m. NZST Friday, May 26th). The team is now working to seek signal acquisition from this pair of TROPICS CubeSats. …
NASA’s TROPICS CubeSats have deployed from the Rocket Lab Electron kick stage. The two CubeSats will reach low Earth orbit to begin their mission. Each of the CubeSats was designed to last approximately two years, but analysis, lifetime testing of key parts, and on-orbit experiences with similar hardware could help the satellites surpass their design …
The second stage of Rocket Lab’s Electron has cut off and separated from the payload fairing’s kick stage. In around 20 minutes, the kick stage engine will ignite and burn for almost four minutes before it cuts off.
The Electron rocket has successfully completed the battery hot swap, switching power between batteries. The next milestone is second stage separation in about two minutes.
NASA’s two TROPICS CubeSats have lifted off atop Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 at Māhia, New Zealand at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 25, (3:46 p.m. NZST Friday, May 26th). A series of milestones will occur within several minutes after launch. The rocket will reach Max-Q – the speed at which the …
