Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Strong aurorae dazzle astronauts from space - heliophysics - Astronomy magazine

Strong aurorae dazzle astronauts from space: A recent large flare from the Sun caused a stunning aurora. One astronaut captured a fantastic shot from his perch aboard the International Space Station.

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Status Check:Soyuz Spacecraft Leak

At this time,no decision about the viability of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft that sprung a coolant leak last night has been made.Last night,Roscosmos Cosmonaut Anna Kikina carefully surveyed the Soyuz with the European Robotic Arm camera.It is believed the leak sprung from an external coolant source on the Soyuz.The Roscosmos engineers will review the survey data gathered in accordance with their policies and procedures.Then Roscosmos and NASA will jointly decide whether the Soyuz is fit to transport two of the three cosmonauts currently on the ISS,along with NASA Astromaut Frank Rubio,back to Earth at the designated time.Alternatively,a second Soyuz could be launched from Baikanur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to replace the leaky one.

Chandra Sees Stellar X-rays Exceeding Safety Limits - Astrophysics/Planetary Science

Chandra Sees Stellar X-rays Exceeding Safety Limits: Astronomers have made the most extensive study yet of how magnetically active stars are when they are young. This gives scientists a window into how X-rays from stars like the Sun, but billions of years younger, could partially or completely evaporate the atmospheres of planets orbiting them.

Soyuz spacecraft at space station leaking 'particles' into space - It is believed to be a coolant leak from the exterior of the spacecraft.

The leak has now stopped and the Soyuz spacecraft is being examined by the European Robotic Arm.The astronauts and cosmonauts on the ISS are safe.

Monday, December 12, 2022

Orion splashdown

You will see some flaring out the window of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle during re-entry and a tranquil splashdown in the Pacific off the coast of Baja California,Mexico.Some time lapse sequences and animation are included.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Artemis 1 signal reacquired after engine burn - View is amazing! 5 December 2022

You will see Earth in a crescent phase after the Orion spacecraft completed its powered flyby burn,sending it on a homeward course.

Monday, December 5, 2022

Space Station Solutions for Artemis Missions to the Moon and Beyond - NASA

Space Station Solutions for Artemis Missions to the Moon and Beyond: Getting a spacecraft to the Moon or Mars is quite literally rocket science. How ISS research is developing solutions for deep space human exploration missions.

Thursday, December 1, 2022

NASA & ESA Leaders Discuss Distant Retrograde Orbit Departure Burn of Orion Spacecraft

You will hear in this video just how well the Orion spacecraft is working,how hard it has been pushed,and what the difference is between an anomaly and a funny,what the splashdown will be like and how much it can be adjusted for bad weather.

Monday, November 28, 2022

NASA's Artemis I Orion spacecraft enters distant retrograde orbit around moon

In this video you will see the bright flare when the Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) burn commences.At the beginning of the video,in the right-hand corner you can see the receding Moon in the feed from the Deep Space Network (DSN).This blog suspects that the feed goes in and out as the DSN requires it to with its data requirements.It's working very hard during this demanding mission,with all the data traffic.

Hemingway’s Widow: The Life and Legacy of Mary Welsh Hemingway - new book

Thursday, November 24, 2022

NASA Artemis I mission update - Moon flyby imagery and upcoming events

This is a good update with lots of specifics.You will find out exactly what steps are next and when in this potentially record-breaking mission.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

NASA’s Webb Reveals an Exoplanet Atmosphere as Never Seen Before - Astrophysics

NASA’s Webb Reveals an Exoplanet Atmosphere as Never Seen Before: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope just scored another first: a molecular and chemical profile of a distant world’s skies.

NASA Update After Orion’s First Close Flyby of the Moon (Nov. 21, 2022) - News conference

This video includes photos of minor to moderate damage to the Mobile Launch Platform and flame trench that occurred during liftoff of the Space Launch System rocket.Repairs will be made in preparation for Artemis II,the first crewed mission on Orion in a few years'time.There is also a photo of the Snoopy weightlessness detector.

Monday, November 21, 2022

See NASA's Artemis I Orion spacecraft, Moon and Earth in same shot during close approach

What you will see in this video is mostly the European Service Module to your left;the small,blue marbled Earth in the center;and the large,grey Moon on the right.At the end of the video,you will see an amazing shot of the small Earth disappearing beind the big Moon.

William Barr | Full Episode 11.18.22 | Firing Line with Margaret Hoover ...

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Artemis I Stack Ready for Return to the Launch Pad

No earlier than 12:01 am EST on 4 November 2022,the Artemis I stack of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will begin its return from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Space Launch Complex 39B at the NASA Kennedy Space Center,Florida on the mobile launch platform and crawler transporter.The twin solid rocket boosters are ready for flight following testing of the reaction control system and installation of flight batteries.Batteries were also replaced on the Boeing Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS),which had passed a series of tests to confirm its readiness.Confidence checks were also performed on the launch vehicle stage adapter and core stage forward skirt.Charging of secondary payloads on the Orion stage adapter is complete,NASA said in its blog.* Furthermore,teams recharged,replaced and reinstalled several radiation instruments and the crew seat accelerometer inside Orion.Specimens for the space biology payload will be refereshed at Launch Pad 39B.The hatches of the Lockheed Martin Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)and Launch Abort System (LAS) have been closed for rollout,while final closeouts will be made at the pad prior to launch.Launch will occur no sooner than 14 November.* Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

President Biden warns of growing threats to Democracy: 'We're facing a defining moment'

Thursday, October 27, 2022

NASA’s InSight Lander Detects Stunning Meteoroid Impact on Mars and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed the crater

NASA’s InSight Lander Detects Stunning Meteoroid Impact on Mars: The agency’s lander felt the ground shake during the impact while cameras aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted the yawning new crater from space.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

NASA Readies Superstack for Upcoming JPSS-2 Launch

NASA Readies Superstack for Upcoming JPSS-2 Launch: Two very different payloads flying on one rocket are ready for their ride to space.They are a weather/climate observation satellite and an inflatable heat shield for crewed missions to Mars.

Friday, October 14, 2022

Meet the Desert RATS Crew for Upcoming Artemis Rover Mission Simulations

Meet the Desert RATS Crew for Upcoming Artemis Rover Mission Simulations: As NASA works to develop technologies needed to establish a long-term presence at the Moon with future Artemis missions, pressurized rovers in which humans can live and work will play an important role.

Thursday, October 13, 2022

NASA Reschedules Artemis I Launch

Following the cancelation of launch because of Hurricane Ian,NASA has rescheduled the Artemis I launch of the Orion spacecraft on the new Space Launch System rocket for a lauch window opening on 14 November 2022 from Space Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center,Florida.Launch will take place at 12:07 am Eastern.Backup dates are 14 and 19 November 2022.With a 14 November launch,the mission around the Moon will last about 25.5 days,and splashdown in the Pacific will occur on 9 December* Standard maintenance will be conducted in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB),including minor repairs on the thermal protection system;recharging and replacement of batteries;reinstalling secondary payloads;and servicing the flight termination system,before rollback to Pad 39B no earlier than 4 November.

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Advanced Technology Aircraft Carrier Joins Up With NATO Allies,Partners

On 4 October 2022,the US Navy's newest aircraft carrier,USS Gerald R. Ford,named for the 38th president and US Navy veteran of World War II,departed Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia on its maiden deployment to the Atlantic Ocean.The carrier is notable for its advanced electromagnetic technology.This includes the Electromagnetic Launching System (EMALS),which replaces the traditional steam catapults,that will up the number of aircraft launches per day by 25%.There are also electromagnetic weapons elevators,which will increase the speed of missile and bomb transport up to the flight deck from the warship's magazine.* So the deployment is being made directly under the Chief of Naval Operations,Admiral Mike Gilday,rather than the customary combatant commander,to enable the Navy to better assess the significance of the dozens of improvements made by this advanced technology.Partcipating in the multinational deployment will be 20 ships ;9,000 military personnel from 9 NATO Allies and Partners;and 60 US Navy aircraft.Said the Ford commanding officer,Captain Paul Lunzilatta: USS Gerald R. Ford is going to sail to the high seas with our Partners.We want interoperability,we want interchangeability with our Partners.Our NATO Partners that are sailing with us-we're going to work with them every day,every night.That's what it means to operate on the high seas.Air defence exercises.Long-range maritime strike.We're going to do pretty much every mission that's in the portfolio for naval aviation,and we're excited about that.* The deployment will involve air,maritime and ground assets from several NATO Allies and Partners in order to strengthen deterrence and defence efforts and improve effectiveness and interoperability,the Navy said.The drills will also encompass anti-subsurface warfare and distributed maritime operations.NATO Allies and Partners participating in the deployment are:Canada,Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,the Netherlands,Spain, Sweden and the US.* The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group,Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG 12),includes Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW 8);Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2);guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60);Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61),USS McFaul (DDG 74) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116);USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO-188);USNS Robert E. Perry (T-AKES);US Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753);and a submarine.The late President Ford's daughter,Susan Ford Bales,is the new carrier's sponsor.Follow on members of the Gerald R. Ford-class include Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and Pre-Commissioning Unit Enterprise (CVN 80).Lead contractor of the Ford-class is Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII).*

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Space Station Science Highlights

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Space Station Science Highlights: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station in early October from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Artemis I Update 27 September 2022

On Monday,NASA decided that a rollback from Space Launch Complex 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building was necessary because of threatening weather from Hurricane Ian.Not only does it put the Orion spacecraft/Space Launch System rocket stack at risk;there is also the necessity to give staff members time to prepare themselves and their families for the imminent emergency.So the rollback began at about 11 p.m. on 26 September.This postponement may result in delaying the next launch window for the uncrewed test flight till November.

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Artemis I Launch Postponed

The launch of NASA'S Artemis I uncrewed test flight,scheduled for a launch window beginning 27 September 2022,has been postponed due to inclement weather in the form of Tropical Storm Ian,which is expected to become a hurricane affecting Florida.It looks as though a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building could be necessary to safeguard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.This follows successful completion of a tanking test in which a workaround of hydrogen leaks that may crop up was verified.

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

NASA Hosts National Space Council Meeting, Vice President Chairs Event

NASA Hosts National Space Council Meeting, Vice President Chairs Event: Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the importance of climate, human spaceflight, and STEM education during the Biden-Harris Administration’s second National Space Council meeting Friday, held at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Monday, September 5, 2022

When Will Artemis I Be Launched?

The answer isn't known yet.The hydrogen leak that caused the second scrub may be repairable on the pad,which could open up the date of 19 September,when the next two-week launch window begins.The problem with that is,the U.S. Space Force requires that the flight termination system be re-certified every 25 days,and to do that,you have to transport the rocket back into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for the necessary procedures.The flight termination system is required by the Space Force to ensure public safety,since it is what would destroy a rocket gone astray.The Space Force is in charge of the Eastern Range,including public safety within it,so it is the authority in this case.NASA may ask the Space Force for a waiver of the re-certification requirement,but the Space Force would have the final say. If the rocket must be transported back to the VAB,the launch will have to be delayed till sometime in October.Bear in mind that SpaceX is to launch the SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the ISS on a Falcon 9 rocket in early October with two NASA Astronauts,a JAXA Astronaut and a ROSCOMOS Cosmonaut on board.That means the Artemis I launch has to be reconciled with the SpaceX Crew-5 launch. The Eastern Range is a rocket range managed from Patrick Space Force Base,Florida by Space Launch Delta 45 and controls all launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base and NASA Kennedy Space Center.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Hubble Sees Red Supergiant Star Betelgeuse Slowly Recovering After Blowing Its Top - photos

Hubble Sees Red Supergiant Star Betelgeuse Slowly Recovering After Blowing Its Top: Analyzing data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and several other observatories, astronomers have concluded that the bright red supergiant star Betelgeuse quite literally blew its top in 2019.

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Caught in a Solar Storm on the Way to Mars - Sky&Telescope

Caught in a Solar Storm on the Way to Mars: A chance alignment between Earth and a Mars-bound spacecraft has given us a rare glimpse at the motions of high-energy particles from the Sun.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Artemis I Space Radiation Research to Help Moon, Mars Explorers

Artemis I Space Radiation Research to Help Moon, Mars Explorers: Scientists are working to understand space radiation as NASA prepares to take astronauts beyond Earth’s protective atmosphere and magnetic field to the Moon and beyond. Without adequate protection, space radiation can pose a significant threat to the human body.

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Just Pointing Out Something That Might Interest You

Hello,I have just written a blog post called "Orion Program Update:Launch Windows Set for Artemis I Mission - plus a closer look at the Orion capsule".You can find it on another blog I write called The Taylor Star - aerospace & defence,available at the link in the right hand column below or at http://extracontent.blogspot.com Please note that NASA is using Roman numerals for the Artemis missions,so I have corrected my numeration accordingly.

Next PM | Penny Mordaunt | Promo Video | Race to succeed Boris Johnson

Sensory Overload | Down to Earth - S2:E2 - NASA Johnson Space Center

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Meet NASA’s Orion Spacecraft

Meet NASA’s Orion Spacecraft: Orion, NASA’s newest spacecraft built for humans, is developed to be capable of sending astronauts to the Moon and is a key part of eventually sending them on to Mars.

Friday, June 10, 2022

As Artemis Moves Forward, NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon

As Artemis Moves Forward, NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon: NASA is getting ready to send astronauts to explore more of the Moon as part of the Artemis program, and the agency has selected SpaceX to continue development of the first commercial human lander that will safely carry the next two American astronauts to the lunar surface.

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Thursday, May 12, 2022

What Is a Black Hole? by NASA

What Is a Black Hole?: A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out.

Sagittarius A*: NASA Telescopes Support Event Horizon Telescope in Studying Milky Way's Black Hole - the first ever photo of our own black hole

Sagittarius A*: NASA Telescopes Support Event Horizon Telescope in Studying Milky Way's Black Hole: Multiple telescopes, including Chandra, observed the Milky Way's giant black hole simultaneously with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). This combined effort gave insight into what is happening farther out than the field-of-view of the EHT.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

New NASA Black Hole Sonifications with a Remix

New NASA Black Hole Sonifications with a Remix: Since 2003, the black hole at the center of the Perseus galaxy cluster has been associated with sound. Now a new sonification brings more notes to this black hole sound machine. This new sonification – that is, the translation of astronomical data into sound – is being released for NASA’s Black Hole Week this year.

Monday, April 25, 2022

NASA Extends Exploration for 8 Planetary Science Missions

NASA Extends Exploration for 8 Planetary Science Missions: Following a thorough evaluation, NASA has extended the planetary science missions of eight of its spacecraft due to their scientific productivity and potential to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the solar system and beyond.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Revised and Updated:Crew-4 Launch Delayed by Bad Weather for Axiom-1 Mission Return Flight

The NASA/ESA Crew-4 launch to the International Space Station on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has been delayed by bad weather at the SpaceX splashdown sites for the Crew Dragon Endeavour capsule that carried four private Axiom astronauts to the ISS.The Endeavour capsule is currently docked at the docking port the Crew-4 Freedom capsule will need to use,so there cannot be a Crew-4 launch until the Axiom astronauts are able to return.The return of the Endeavour capsule cannot be till Thursday night at the earliest.Then there must be a two-day hold while NASA reviews data.* Nonetheless,the four Crew-4 astronauts went ahead with their dry run exercise Wednesday,donning their SpaceX spacesuits and riding out to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A in Tesla vehicles.They rode the elevator up to the Crew Dragon Freedom capsule,walked through the access arm,got into the capsule and assumed their launch positions. Realistically,the Crew-4 launch will be next week at the earliest.* Preparations are meanwhile underway for the uncrewed test flight (0FT-2) of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner,which is to be launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on 19 May 2022.OFT-1 took place in December 2019,but was partially unsuccessful because of software glitches.ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing.* Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT) Update:NASA has announced in its blog that the Endeavour capsule will depart the ISS on Saturday night, with splashdown off the Florida coast on Sunday afternoon.After a two-day program review to ensure that Crew-4 launch aligns with integrated operational timelines and data review from Endeavour's splashdown,and to arrange for Crew-4 recovery assets in the event of an abort,Crew-4 will have launch opportunities for early morning Tuesday and further chances on Wednesday and Thursday.

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Monday, February 28, 2022

NASA Promotes Howard Hu to Lead Orion Ahead of First Artemis Mission

NASA Promotes Howard Hu to Lead Orion Ahead of First Artemis Mission: NASA has selected Howard Hu as the Orion Program manager, based at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

NASA Telescope Spots Highest-Energy Light Ever Detected From Jupiter

NASA Telescope Spots Highest-Energy Light Ever Detected From Jupiter: The planet’s auroras are known to produce low-energy X-ray light. A new study finally reveals higher-frequency X-rays and explains why they eluded another mission 30 years ago.

Sunday, January 16, 2022

LauncherOne launches “Above the Clouds”

Virgin Orbit Launches Payloads From Boeing 747

On 13 January 2022,Virgin Orbit launched and deployed seven satellites via the Cosmic Girl aircraft,which is a modified Boeing 747-400,and a LauncherOne rocket carried under the aircraft's left wing at the Mojave Air and Spaceport,California.The satellites included a national security mission for the U.S. DoD Space Test Program (STP) of the Defense Innovation Unit.The aim of the STP is to develop space capabilities for the joint warfighter.This national security launch was part of the STP Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI).* The Virgin Orbit launch procedure allows direct injection into orbit that no ground-launched vehicle can provide,thus saving customers time and money (less fuel is required).As well,the Virgin Orbit launch system enables launch through weather and cloud layers that would cancel a ground launch.Thus it facilitates launching anytime anywhere and without warning-aspects critical to military mission success.* Besides the Defense Department,other customers on the launch included Spire Global and Poland's SatRevolution firm.The CubeSats deployed will conduct experiments in advanced space communications;space navigation and propulsion;and global agricultural applications.To date,Virgin Orbit and its wholly-owned subsidiary VOX Space LLC have successfully launched and deployed 26 satellites.* The flight team was lead by pilot Eric Bippert and Flight Lieutenant Mathew "Stanny" Stannard,Royal Air Force Test Pilot.* Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (VORB),Spire Global Inc (SPIR),Boeing (BA)

Friday, January 7, 2022

Artemis Imagery

Artemis Imagery: Gary Cox describes the imaging systems on board the Orion spacecraft that will enable the earthbound to see the Earth and Moon from deep space during Artemis missions. HWHAP Episode 226.

Alien Antimatter Crashes into Earth

Alien Antimatter Crashes into Earth: It came from outer space. And it was tiny.

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Biden Admin. Steps Up Efforts To Prevent Another Jan. 6

Fox News Host Deeply Troubled by Insurrection,Texts Show

A series of texts written by Fox News host Sean Hannity,and quoted by the House Select Committee investgating the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in its letter to Hannity requesting that he appear before the committee,reveal his serious unease over the events surrounding the violent 6 January 2021 events inspired by former President Donald Trump and several of his associates- 31 December 2020 to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows: We can't lose the entire WH counsel's office.I do NOT see January 6 happening the way he (Trump) is being told.After the 6th he should announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voter integrity.Go to Fl (Florida) and watch Joe (Biden) mess up daily.Stay engaged.When he speaks people will listen. 5 January 2021 to Meadows: I am very worried about the next 48 hours.Pence pressure (Trump's pressure on Vice President Mike Pence to illegally derail the Electoral College certification of President-elect Biden).WH counsel will leave (resign in protest). 10 January to Meadows and Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio): Guys,we have a clear path to land the plane in nine days (get Trump settled down in Florida before President-elect Biden is sworn in).He can't mention the election again.Ever.I did not have a good call with him today.And worse,I'm not sure what is left to do or say,and I don't like not knowing if it's truly understood (that Trump must stop repeating the Big Lie about the election being stolen from him.)Ideas?* Mr.Hannity was not just a host on Fox News,but was clearly acting as an advisor to former President Trump-to no avail,as it turned out.Mr.Trump failed to call off the insurrection and continues to falsely claim to this day that he was robbed of a second term in office.