Astronaut Frank Rubio Breaks the U.S. Record for Longest Spaceflight: Yesterday, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio broke the record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut, spending his 355th consecutive day on the ISS. Rubio is scheduled to land on September 27th and will ultimately spend 371 consecutive days in orbit. Payloads: Exploration Environmental …
Calling Music Buffs: Help Make a Playlist for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Sample Delivery
Calling all music buffs! This one’s for you. We’re gearing up for the Sept. 24 landing of NASA’s first asteroid sample and we want you to provide the soundtrack. Your song requests could be featured during a week of live episodes on Third Rock Radio and on the official Return of the Rock playlists. Third …
Boreal Summer
Scientists returned to central Alaska’s boreal forests to measure plant activity during the peak of summer.
Webb Confirms Accuracy of Universe’s Expansion Rate Measured by Hubble, Deepens Mystery of Hubble Constant Tension
The rate at which the universe is expanding, known as the Hubble constant, is one of the fundamental parameters for understanding the evolution and ultimate fate of the cosmos. However, a persistent difference called the “Hubble Tension” is seen between the value of the constant measured with a wide range of independent distance indicators and …
Irresistible Gravity: Meet IXPE General Observer Program Lead Kavitha Arur
By Rick Smith A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so relentless that nothing nearby – not stars, not even light – can resist its pull. Astrophysicist Kavitha Arur can’t resist it either. She’s been fascinated with black holes since childhood. “I always enjoyed mysteries and solving puzzles, and astronomy is …
OSIRIS-REx Adjusts Course to Target Sample Capsule’s Landing Zone
On Sept. 10, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly fired its ACS (attitude control system) thrusters to point itself toward Earth, putting it on course to release its sample capsule, carrying rocks and dust from asteroid Bennu, from 63,000 miles (or 102,000 kilometers) above Earth’s surface on Sunday, Sept. 24. Yesterday’s trajectory-correction maneuver changed the spacecraft’s velocity …
Crew Relaxes, Rubio Breaks NASA Record as New Trio Preps for Launch
The seven Expedition 69 crew members enjoyed an off-duty day on Monday aboard the International Space Station. They will be welcoming three new crewmates at the end of the week when they launch and dock to the orbital outpost. Three future station crew members are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan counting down to their …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 9/08/2023
ISS Reboost: This afternoon, the ISS performed a reboost using the Aft Progress 85P rendezvous and docking (R&D) thrusters. This reboost will set up proper phasing conditions for the Soyuz 70S 2-orbit rendezvous in August. The burn was nominal with a 2.05 Payloads: Immunity Assay: Samples were retrieved and reaction tubes were prepared for centrifuge operations …
Week Ends with Microbiology, Spacesuits, and Lab Maintenance
Human research and spacesuit work topped the schedule for the Expedition 69 crew aboard the International Space Station at the end of the week. The orbital residents also analyzed microbes, maintained life support systems, and worked on cargo transfers. Researchers on the ground continuously investigate how living in space affects astronauts to keep crews healthy. …
Here’s How Sept. 24 Asteroid Sample Delivery Will Work
Early morning on Sunday, Sept. 24, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft’s sample capsule will come face-to-face with Earth’s atmosphere for the first time since the mission’s 2016 launch. On board are an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams, of rocky material collected from the surface of Bennu in 2020 – NASA’s first asteroid sample and the largest …