The Webb team has now approved 10 out of 17 science instrument modes; since last week we added (14) MIRI imaging, (2) NIRCam wide-field slitless spectroscopy, and our final NIRISS mode, (10) single-object slitless spectroscopy. As we ramp down the final commissioning activities, some openings in the schedule have appeared. The team has started to …
Payloads: BioLab: The Biological Experiment Laboratory in Columbus (Biolab) centrifuge rotor A and B belts were replaced, and reference Experiment Containers (ECs) were installed into the Biolab facility. The rotor belt replacement is a periodic maintenance activity. The multiuser research facility is used to perform space biology experiments on microorganisms, cells, tissue cultures, small plants, …
NASA, Rocket Lab, and Advanced Space are now targeting June 27, 2022, for the launch of the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon, allowing teams more time for rocket preparations. CAPSTONE’s trajectory design means that the spacecraft will arrive to its lunar orbit on Nov. 13 regardless of launch date within the current period, which runs …
European Robotic Arm (ERA) Operations: Today, by successfully grappling to base point 3, the ERA Mission 2 was completed. ERA Mission 2 was intended to be completed during RS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) # 53 which occurred in April; however, ERA was unable to complete the grapple to base point 3. In this position, ERA is …
Space gardening and the human digestive system were at the top of the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The seven Expedition 67 residents also worked throughout the day filming their activities, inspecting station hardware, and testing a new robotic arm. Space agriculture is a way to sustain healthy astronauts on future …
NASA’s Psyche mission team continues to assess ongoing issues with the spacecraft’s flight software. The team is evaluating its ability to meet a schedule to launch in 2022 – the current launch period is Sept. 20 to Oct. 11. If it is determined that launch in 2022 is not possible, a full range of actions …
European Robotic Arm (ERA) Operations: Today by adjusting and moving the angle of the ERA arms, ERA checkout and telemetry operations were completed successfully. ERA is located on MLM and is the intended to be the primary equipment for servicing the electromechanical systems on the Russian Segment once it completes commissioning. Payloads: EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments …
More information about InSight’s power level will be available here in the weeks ahead. On June 19, 2022, InSight was generating an average of 410 watt-hours of energy per Martian day, or sol. The tau, or level of dust cover in the atmosphere, was estimated at 1.12 (typical tau levels outside of dust season range …
A host of biomedical studies filled the Expedition 67 crew’s day as NASA and its international partners continue exploring how living in space long-term affects the human body. The residents aboard the International Space Station also set up a 3-D hologram device and tested a new robotic arm. The orbiting lab’s four astronauts took turns …
The Artemis I wet dress rehearsal ended today at 7:37 p.m. EDT at T-29 seconds in the countdown. Today’s test marked the first time the team fully loaded all the Space Launch System rocket’s propellant tanks and proceeded into the terminal launch countdown, when many critical activities occur in rapid succession. During propellant loading operations …
