The United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket slated to launch NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, has made significant progress toward liftoff, planned for Sept. 12. Prelaunch preparations are well underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where the rocket is coming together at Space Launch Complex 2. Earlier this month …
Umbilical Interface Assembly (UIA) Remove and Replace (R&R) Troubleshooting: During the UIA R&R yesterday, the crew noted that the Oxygen (O2) Supply line was approximately 2-3 mm too short to be properly mate without applying a tensile, stretching force to make contact. Initial troubleshooting was unsuccessful, and the O2 line was left partially connected and …
Today’s science activities aboard the International Space Station are looking to improve cancer therapies and benefit cement processing on Earth. Meanwhile, two astronauts are practicing to capture the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft next week. Cancer research in space can unlock positive benefits that are cloaked by Earth’s gravity possibly leading to advanced therapies. Flight Engineer …
Predetermined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) Status: Last night’s possible PDAM for object #99999 was not required. A second update to the object’s trajectory was received overnight and the Probability of Collision (PC) had dropped well into the green threshold. Concern level was low and PDAM planning was no longer needed. MagVector 3D: The crew relocated …
The Expedition 56 crew members are configuring the International Space Station for several new experiments being delivered on the upcoming SpaceX Dragon cargo mission. The orbital residents also explored space physics and serviced U.S. spacesuits. NASA astronauts Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold worked on science hardware today to support new research being delivered aboard Dragon …
Predetermined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) for Object #99999: Teams continue to track the ISS conjunction with object #99999 (Unknown Object) with a Time of Closest Approach (TCA) of 01:42 AM CDT tomorrow morning. While the latest tracking information on the object has dropped the Probability of Collision (PC) into the green threshold, it has not …
The Expedition 56 crew members are getting ready for the arrival next week of the 15th SpaceX Dragon mission to the International Space Station. The space residents also explored how microgravity impacts health and physics today while setting up a variety of cubesats for deployment. The Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX that will launch the …
The Expedition 56 crew members researched microbes and plants today and conducted more eye exams to benefit future space residents as well as people on Earth. The Cygnus space freighter continues to be packed for its release in July as robotics controllers get ready to inspect the vehicle. NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor stowed genetically modified …
Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Shut down: Yesterday afternoon the Lab CDRA shut down due to an Air Selector Valve (ASV) fault on valve 104. Initial recovery attempts, and subsequent troubleshooting, were unsuccessful. Node 3 CDRA is active and Amine Swingbed was also activated, in order to better manage ppCO2 over the weekend. Teams …
Quite a wide variety of science activities took place today aboard the International Space Station exploring time perception, exercise and eyesight. The Expedition 56 crew members also worked on station plumbing, stowed satellite deployer gear and checked out communications gear. Two-time station resident Alexander Gerst started his morning helping doctors understand how living in space …
