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Human Research Collections: The crew performed collections for several Human Research experiments today. Samples were collected and stowed in Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI).  Samples were collected for Biochemical Profile, Repository, and Multiomics. The Biochemical Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples obtained from astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Specific …

The Geminids are a meteor shower that occurs in December every year. The best night to see the shower is Dec. 13 into the early hours of Dec. 14. The Geminid meteor shower is caused by a stream of debris left by the asteroid, 3200 Phaethon. When the Earth passes through the trails of dust …

The six crew members aboard the International Space Station are getting ready for the arrival of new resupply ship early Tuesday. The crew is also exploring human research and physics and cleaning spacesuits. Japan’s sixth cargo craft, the Kounotori HTV-6, has been orbiting Earth and chasing the International Space Station for three days after its …

NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn of the Launch Services Program recapped today’s launch attempt. The hydraulic system problem developed en route, after takeoff, in the last 25 minutes prior to the initial 8:30 a.m. launch time. The hydraulic system in question was not for the L-1011 aircraft itself, but for the system that allows the Pegasus …

The L-1011 is headed back to the Skid Strip runway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with an expected arrival time of 9:27 a.m. EST.

Today’s launch of NASA’s CYGNSS spacecraft has been scrubbed due to problems with the hydraulic pump that controls the release of the Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket from the L-1011 carrier aircraft. A hydraulic pump aboard the Orbital ATK L-1011 airplane, which is required to release the latches holding Pegasus in place, is not receiving …

The launch team’s strategy, according to NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn, is to continue down to the L-4 minute mark. If the hydraulic pump is not functioning property at that point, the team will not continue the countdown. Although there are some new storm cells that could begin affecting the flight path in the next …

The Stargazer L-1011 is flying west now in its racetrack pattern in order to set up for a second launch attempt at 9:05 a.m. EST. Meanwhile, the team continues troubleshooting a problem with the hydraulic system that controls the release of the Pegasus XL rocket from the aircraft.

Should a second launch attempt be approved for today, the drop time would be 9:05 a.m. EST for release and launch of the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA’s CYGNSS spacecraft.

Due to a hydraulic pump problem aboard the L-1011 Stargazer aircraft and weather concerns at the drop point, the 8:40 a.m. launch attempt will be bypassed and the team will determine whether a second attempt is possible during today’s launch window. Pilots aboard the aircraft have been directed to recycle for a possible second attempt.