Payloads: Astrobee: The crew relocated stowage items from JPM Rack Fronts in preparation for the ground to perform remote Astrobee free flyer Ops. Astrobee is made up of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots, which are designed to help scientists, and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and …
Crew Trains for Cygnus Arrival During Spacewalk Preps and Science
The Expedition 65 crew is getting ready for a shipment of new science experiments and crew supplies due to launch toward the International Space Station today. The orbital residents are also gearing up for a spacewalk while conducting a variety of space research. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter sits atop an Antares rocket counting to …
How many Perseids will I see in 2021?
By Bill Cooke, NASA Meteoroid Environments Office Many Perseid-related news stories and social media posts state that the maximum rate is about 100 meteors per hour, which is a lot. So, folks get excited and go out on the peak night, braving mosquitos and other nightly hazards. But they are often disappointed; we routinely hear, …
NASA, Boeing Make Progress on Starliner Valve Issue
NASA and Boeing continued work over the weekend and Monday morning on the company’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft service module propulsion system in preparation for the Orbital Flight Test-2 mission to the International Space Station. Work progressed to restore functionality to several valves in the Starliner propulsion system that did not open as designed during the …
Astronauts Relaxing Day Before Cygnus Cargo Ship Lifts Off to Station
Northrop Grumman is “go” to launch its Cygnus space freighter atop an Antares rocket on Tuesday at 5:56 p.m. EDT. It will arrive at the International Space Station on Thursday for a capture at 6:10 a.m. with NASA Flight Engineer Megan McArthur at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Cygnus will lift off from …
NASA, Boeing Continue to Work Toward Understanding Starliner Service Module Valve Performance Issue
NASA continues to work side-by-side with Boeing to understanding the CST-100 Starliner’s service module valve performance, including the unexpected indications some of the valves were in the closed position during its Aug. 3 launch attempt of Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2). With troubleshooting ongoing in the United Launch Alliance Vertical Integration Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space …
Parker Solar Probe Speeding through Latest Science Encounter
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is speeding busily through its ninth science-gathering solar encounter.
ISS Daily Summary Report – 8/06/2021
Payloads Astrobee/RFID recon: The crew installed the RFID recon reader into the Astrobee payload bay, powered on the Astrobee free-fliers, and started the experiment run. RFID-Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management-2 (REALM-2) (RFID Recon) uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and antennas attached to a robotic free-flyer named Astrobee to identify RFID-tagged cargo on the International …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 8/05/2021
Payloads Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) humidifier installation: The crew installed the CBEF Incubator Unit (IU) humidifier on the micro-gravity CBEF IU. The Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) subrack facility; it is an incubator with an artificial gravity generator. CBEF is housed in the Saibo (living cell) Experiment …
Boeing Starliner Returned to Vertical Integration Facility for Testing
NASA and Boeing are continuing to work through steps to determine what caused the unexpected valve position indications on the CST-100 Starliner propulsion system during the countdown for its Aug. 3 launch attempt. Now that the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Starliner spacecraft on top has been returned to its Vertical Integration …