A Galactic Triplet: Interacting Galaxies | Hubble

 A Galactic Triplet: Interacting Galaxies | Hubble

A dramatic triplet of galaxies takes center stage in this image from the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope, which captures a three-way gravitational tug-of-war between interacting galaxies. This system—known as Arp 195—is featured in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, a list which showcases some of the weirder and more wonderful galaxies in the universe.

Observing time with the Hubble Space Telescope is extremely valuable, so astronomers do not want to waste a second. The schedule for Hubble observations is calculated using a computer algorithm which allows the spacecraft to occasionally gather bonus snapshots of data between longer observations. This image of the clashing triplet of galaxies in Arp 195 is one such snapshot. Extra observations such as these do more than provide spectacular images—they also help to identify promising targets to follow up with telescopes, such as the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope.

Credit: European Space Agency/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: July 26, 2021

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxy #Galaxies #Arp195 #Lynx #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

A Galactic Triplet: Interacting Galaxies | Hubble

A Galactic Triplet: Interacting Galaxies | Hubble

A dramatic triplet of galaxies takes center stage in this image from the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope, which captures a three-way gravitational tug-of-war between interacting galaxies. This system—known as Arp 195—is featured in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, a list which showcases some of the weirder and more wonderful galaxies in the universe.

Observing time with the Hubble Space Telescope is extremely valuable, so astronomers do not want to waste a second. The schedule for Hubble observations is calculated using a computer algorithm which allows the spacecraft to occasionally gather bonus snapshots of data between longer observations. This image of the clashing triplet of galaxies in Arp 195 is one such snapshot. Extra observations such as these do more than provide spectacular images—they also help to identify promising targets to follow up with telescopes, such as the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope.

Credit: European Space Agency/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton

Release Date: July 26, 2021

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxy #Galaxies #Arp195 #Lynx #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Great Galaxies of The Perseus Galaxy Cluster | Hubble

Great Galaxies of The Perseus Galaxy Cluster | Hubble

Two things capture your attention in this spectacular image taken by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3): the two enormous galaxies that flank the left and right sides of the image. The galaxy on the left is a lenticular galaxy, which rejoices in the name of 2MASX J03193743+4137580. The side-on spiral galaxy on the right is more simply named UGC 2665. Both galaxies lie approximately 350 million light-years from Earth, and they both form part of the enormous Perseus galaxy cluster. 

Perseus is an important figure in Greek mythology, renowned for slaying Medusa the Gorgon—who is herself famous for the unhappy reason that she was cursed to have living snakes for hair. Given Perseus’s impressive credentials, it seems appropriate that the eponymous galaxy cluster is one of the biggest objects in the known Universe, consisting of thousands of galaxies, only a few of which are visible in this image.

The wonderful detail in the image is thanks to the WFC3’s powerful resolution and high sensitivity. The WFC3 is sensitive to both visible and infrared light, so those are the wavelengths that are captured in this image. The Perseus supercluster looks very different at other wavelengths. Whilst in this image the spaces between the galaxies appear dark and peaceful, when the X-ray emission is observed the Perseus cluster appears to be burning with bright intense light.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Hubble & NASA, W. Harris

Acknowledgement: L. Shatz

Duration: 30 seconds 

Release Date: July 5, 2021

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxy #Galaxies #2MASXJ031937434137580 #UGC2665 #GalaxyClusters #PerseusSupercluster #Perseus #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Great Galaxies of The Perseus Galaxy Cluster | Hubble

Great Galaxies of The Perseus Galaxy Cluster | Hubble

Two things capture your attention in this spectacular image taken by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3): the two enormous galaxies that flank the left and right sides of the image. The galaxy on the left is a lenticular galaxy, which rejoices in the name of 2MASX J03193743+4137580. The side-on spiral galaxy on the right is more simply named UGC 2665. Both galaxies lie approximately 350 million light-years from Earth, and they both form part of the enormous Perseus galaxy cluster. 

Perseus is an important figure in Greek mythology, renowned for slaying Medusa the Gorgon—who is herself famous for the unhappy reason that she was cursed to have living snakes for hair. Given Perseus’s impressive credentials, it seems appropriate that the eponymous galaxy cluster is one of the biggest objects in the known Universe, consisting of thousands of galaxies, only a few of which are visible in this image.

The wonderful detail in the image is thanks to the WFC3’s powerful resolution and high sensitivity. The WFC3 is sensitive to both visible and infrared light, so those are the wavelengths that are captured in this image. The Perseus supercluster looks very different at other wavelengths. Whilst in this image the spaces between the galaxies appear dark and peaceful, when the X-ray emission is observed the Perseus cluster appears to be burning with bright intense light.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Hubble & NASA, W. Harris

Acknowledgement: L. Shatz

Release Date: July 5, 2021

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxy #Galaxies #2MASXJ031937434137580 #UGC2665 #GalaxyClusters #PerseusSupercluster #Perseus #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

A Bear on Planet Mars? | NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

A Bear on Planet Mars? | NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Wait . . . what? Is this a peculiar formation or do your eyes deceive you? 

There is a hill with a V-shaped collapse structure ("the nose"), two craters ("the eyes"), and a circular fracture pattern ("the head"). The circular fracture pattern might be due to the settling of a deposit over a buried impact crater. Maybe "the nose" is a volcanic or mud vent and the deposit could be lava or mud flows?

"Maybe just grin and bear it!" ;)

Seeing familiar objects or patterns in otherwise random or unrelated objects or patterns is called pareidolia. It is a form of apophenia, which is a more general term for the human tendency to seek patterns in random information. 

Black and white images are less than 5 km across; enhanced color images are  less than1 km.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a spacecraft designed to study the geology and climate of Mars, to provide reconnaissance of future landing sites, and to relay data from surface missions back to Earth. It was launched on August 12, 2005, and reached Mars on March 10, 2006. 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Narration: Tre Gibbs

Tre's website: www.tregibbs.com

Duration: 52 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Mars #Planet #RedPlanet #Hill #Craters #Pareidolia #Geology #Landscape #Terrain #MRO #HiRISE #Spacecraft #JPL #Caltech #UA #UniversityOfArizona #UnitedStates #SolarSystem #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Long Duration Human Spaceflight: Hibernation Research | European Space Agency

Long Duration Human Spaceflight: Hibernation Research | European Space Agency

Did you know that the European Space Agency (ESA) is researching human hibernation for long distance spaceflight to Mars or beyond? Hibernating astronauts could be the best way to save mission costs, reduce the size of spacecraft by a third and keep crew healthy on their way to Mars. An ESA-led investigation suggests that human hibernation goes beyond the realm of science-fiction and may become a game-changing technique for space travel.

When packing for a return flight to the Red Planet, space engineers account for around two years’ worth of food and water for the crew.

Torpor during hibernation is an induced state that reduces the metabolic rate of an organism. This ‘suspended animation’ is a common mechanism in animals who wish to preserve energy.

Reducing the metabolic rate of a crew en route to Mars down to 25% of the normal state would dramatically cut down the amount of supplies and habitat size, making long-duration exploration more feasible.

Mimicking therapeutic torpor, the idea of putting human into a state of hibernation, has been around in hospitals since the 1980s—doctors can induce hypothermia to reduce metabolism during long and complex surgeries. However, it is not an active reduction of energy and misses most of the advantages of torpor. Studies on hibernation to visit other planets could offer new potential applications for patient care on Earth.

Animals hibernate to survive periods of cold and food or water scarcity, reducing their heart rate, breathing and other vital functions to a fraction of their normal life, while body temperature lowers close to ambient temperature. Tardigrades, frogs and reptiles are very good at it.

Lower testosterone levels seem to aid long hibernation in mammals, estrogens in humans strongly regulate energy metabolism.

With the crew at rest for long periods, artificial intelligence will come into play during anomalies and emergencies.

The possibilities of hibernation for medical use is of particular interest to the European research community and could transform how we approach many severe illnesses.

Inducing torpor is already used in some medical environments such as surgical theathers to replace anesthesia in those patients allergic to anesthetic drugs.

The step to space research is closer than you might think. Get involved with spaceflight research via https://www.esa.int/spaceflightAO

Find out about our commercial partnerships and opportunities in human and robotic exploration via https://www.esa.int/explorationpartners to run your research in microgravity as well.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

Duration: 8 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2023

#NASA #ESA #Space #Science #Astronauts #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #Mars #RedPlanet #Exploration #HumanBiology #AnimalBiology #Hibernation #Torpor #LifeSupport #LongDurationMissions #LifeSciences #Europe #MedicalResearch #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Expedition 68: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 | International Space Station

Expedition 68: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 | International Space Station

The four SpaceX Crew-6 members pose for a portrait underneath a Falcon 9 rocket booster at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left, are Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos; Commander Stephen Bowen and Pilot Warren "Woody" Hoburg, both from NASA; and Mission Specialist Sultan Alneyadi from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

SpaceX Crew-6 crew members inside SpaceX Hangar X at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

SpaceX Crew-6 crew members pose for a photo on the SpaceX helipad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

SpaceX Crew-6 crew members pose for a photo during a training session at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A in Florida

The four crew members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station are Mission Specialist Sultan Al Nedayi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos (Russia), Pilot William Hoburg (NASA), and Commander Stephen Bowen (NASA). Launch is scheduled for no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.

Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (United Arab Emirates) will make history by being the first astronaut from the Arab world to spend six months on the International Space Station (ISS). AlNeyadi has undergone a 20-month long rigorous training for the Crew-6 mission. AlNeyadi began his training in September 2018, at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City in Moscow, Russia.

Cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (Russia)

Andrey Valerievich Fediaev (Russian Cyrillic: Андрей Валерьевич Федяев; born February 26, 1981) is a Russian cosmonaut. Fediaev received his an engineering degree in air transport and Air Traffic Control from the Balashov Military Aviation School in 2004. Following graduation, Fediaev joined the Russian Air Force in the 317th mixed aviation segment. He obtained the rank of major before his retirement in 2013. He logged over 500 hours in Russian aircraft.

Fediaev was selected as a cosmonaut in 2012. He reported to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 2012 and was named a test cosmonaut on June 16, 2014.

On July 15, 2022, he was assigned to the SpaceX Crew-6 mission after a recent crew swap agreement between NASA and Roscosmos.

NASA Astronaut William Hoburg's Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/warren-hoburg

https://www.nasa.gov/content/warren-hoburg-phd-nasa-astronaut

NASA Astronaut Stephen Bowen's Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/stephen-g-bowen

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Credit: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX)

Image Dates: Aug. 8, 2022 - Jan. 13, 2023

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Science #ISS #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Spacecraft #SpaceXCrew6 #Astronauts #SultanAlNedayi #MBRSC #UAE #Cosmonaut #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Роскосмос #WilliamHoburg #MIT #StephenBowen #USNavy #CCP #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes | This Week @NASA

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes | This Week @NASA

Honoring our fallen heroes, working on a nuclear option for space travel, and the next crewed mission to the space station . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Video Producer: Andre Valentine

Video Editor: Haley Reed

Music: Universal Production Music

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 27, 2023

#NASA #Space #Earth #ISS #SpaceXCrew6 #Moon #Artemis #Astronomy #Science #NASARemembers #Astronauts #Apollo1 #SpaceShuttleChallenger #SpaceShuttleColumbia #Scientists #Engineers #Heroes #History #SolarSystem #Exploration #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Iceberg Larger than London Breaks Off Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf | ESA

Iceberg Larger than London Breaks Off Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf | ESA

Satellite imagery confirms an iceberg around the size of Greater London broke off Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf due to a natural process called ‘calving’. The iceberg, measuring 1550 sq km, detached from the 150 m-thick ice shelf a decade after scientists first spotted massive cracks in the shelf.

For more information on the newly-birthed A81 iceberg: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Giant_iceberg_breaks_away_from_Antarctic_ice_shelf

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 27, 2023

#ESA #Space #Earth #Planet #Satellites #Copernicus #Sentinel #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #Atmosphere #Oceans #Climate #ClimateChange #Meteorology #Antarctica #BruntIceShelf #Iceberg #A81Iceberg #STEM #Education #HD #Video

International Space Station Research: Annual Highlights 2022 | NASA Johnson

International Space Station Research: Annual Highlights 2022 | NASA Johnson

"For over 20 years, the International Space Station has conducted research in microgravity to develop technologies, unlock biological phenomena, and more! In 2022 the station’s unique laboratory enabled measurements of the Earth’s surface temperature, paved the way in experimental quantum physics, and conducted hundreds of experiments across scientific disciplines."

The Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station publication shares some of the space station’s outstanding achievements of 2022. The full publication is available for download at: www.nasa.gov/stationresultsresourcelibrary

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Education

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the  International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 55 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 27, 2023

#NASA #Space #Earth #Science #ISS #Microgravity #Research #Laboratory #Experiments #Astronauts #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Space to Ground: SpaceX Crew-6 | Week of Jan. 27, 2023

NASA's Space to Ground: SpaceX Crew-6 | Week of Jan. 27, 2023

NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. The four crew members of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station are Mission Specialist Sultan Al Nedayi (UAE), Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev (Russia), Pilot William Hoburg, and Commander Stephen Bowen. The quartet are scheduled to lift off aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour at 2:07 a.m. EST on Feb. 26, 2023, and dock to the Harmony module’s space-facing port just over half-a-day later.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the  International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2023

#NASA #ESA #Space #Earth #Science #ISS #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Spacecraft #SpaceXCrew6 #Astronauts #SultanAlNedayi #MBRSC #UAE #Cosmonaut #AndreyFedyaev #Russia #Россия #Роскосмос #WilliamHoburg #MIT #StephenBowen #USNavy #CCP #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Artemis II Crewed Moon Mission: European Service Module | Kennedy Space Center

Artemis II Crewed Moon Mission: European Service Module | Kennedy Space Center

Technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida begin installing the orbital maneuvering system engine nozzle and heat shield for the Artemis II European Service Module inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building on Jan. 13, 2023. Artemis II will be the first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The service module will provide the power necessary to propel Orion on a trip around the Moon, including the in-space maneuvering capability and other commodities necessary to sustain crew for the duration of the mission.

With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon and establish long-term exploration in preparation for missions to Mars. SLS and NASA’s Orion spacecraft, along with the commercial human landing system and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, are NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Learn more about the Artemis II Mission:

https://www.nasa.gov/subject/14152/artemis-ii-was-exploration-mission-2/

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Orion/Artemis_II

Credit: NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

Image Date: Jan. 13, 2023

#NASA #ESA #Space #Astronomy #Earth #Moon #MoonToMars #Mars #Artemis #ArtemisII #Orion #Spacecraft #ESM #SLS #Rocket #ISS #Astronauts #Science #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Europe #ESA #SolarSystem #Exploration #STEM #Education

New Mars Images | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL

New Mars Images | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL

MSL - sol 3716 - Mastcam

MSL - sol 3723 - MAHLI

Mars2020 - sol 620 - SuperCam

MSL - sol 3721 - Mastcam

Mars2020 - sol 682 - Supercam RMI

Mars2020 - sol 687 - Mastcam-Z

MSL - sol 3721 - Mastcam

Mars2020 - sol 684 - Watson

Support FriendsofNASA.org | For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Celebrating 10 Years+ on Mars! (2012-2023)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.

Mars Helicopter (Ingenuity)

Launch: July 30, 2020    

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Image Release Dates: Jan. 22-26, 2023

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #Technology #Engineering #JPL #UnitedStates #MoonToMars #CitizenScience #KevinGill #PipploIMP #ThomasAppéré #STEM #Education

Snoopy Handover from NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission Team to Peanuts Crew

Snoopy Handover from NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission Team to Peanuts Crew

Snoopy is officially handed over to Melissa Menta, senior vice president with Peanuts Worldwide LLC, inside Launch Control Center Firing Room 1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 18, 2023. Snoopy served as the zero-gravity indicator during the Artemis I mission. Snoopy was secured inside Orion during the mission, a journey beyond the Moon and back to prepare for crewed missions to the Moon. 

Artemis I launched atop the Space Launch System rocket on Nov. 16, 2022 from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39B. Orion returned to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 11, 2022, after traveling more than 1.4 million miles. NASA has held an association with Snoopy since the Apollo Era—the character has contributed to the excitement for NASA human spaceflight missions, helping inspire generations to dream big, and is a symbol of NASA’s safety culture and mission success.

The Artemis I mission was the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, the SLS rocket, and Kennedy Space Center's Exploration Ground Systems. 

Learn more about Artemis I: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i

Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Image Date: Jan. 18, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Earth #Moon #Snoopy #GravityIndicator #MoonToMars #Mars #Artemis #ArtemisI #SLS #Rocket #Orion #Spacecraft #ISS #Astronauts #Science #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Europe #ESA #SolarSystem #Exploration #Apollo #History #STEM #Education

Astronauts Nicole & Koichi on First Spacewalk | International Space Station

Astronauts Nicole & Koichi on First Spacewalk | International Space Station

Astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) during a seven-hour and 21-minute spacewalk

Astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) takes a "space-selfie" during a spacewalk

Astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) during a seven-hour and 21-minute spacewalk

Expedition 68 crew members after a spacewalk

Astronaut Nicole Mann in her spacesuit after a spacewalk

Astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) in his spacesuit after a spacewalk

Expedition 68 crew members after a spacewalk

Mann and Wakata completed work left over from a previous spacewalk for a platform on which a set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) for the station’s 1B power channel will be installed later this year, as well as most of the work to install a similar mounting platform for a set of iROSAs for the 1A power channel.

The installation is part of a series of spacewalks to augment the International Space Station’s power channels with new iROSAs. Four iROSAs have been installed so far, and two more will be mounted to the platforms installed during this spacewalk in the future.

NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata concluded their spacewalk at 3:35 p.m. EST after 7 hours and 21 minutes. It was the 258th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, upgrades, and maintenance, the first spacewalk of 2023, and the first spacewalk for both astronauts.

Follow Expedition 68 crew updates at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 68 Crew

Station Commander: Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Flight Engineers Anna Kikina & Dmitri Petelin

NASA: Flight Engineers Nicole Mann, Frank Rubio & Josh Cassada

JAXA (Japan): Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the  International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Date: Jan. 20, 2023 

#NASA #Space #Earth #Astronauts #Spacewalk #EVA #NicoleMann #KoichiWakata #JAXA #Japan #FrankRubio #JoshCassada #Cosmonauts #Роскосмос #Russia #Science #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition68 #JSC #UnitedStates #Canada #CSA #Research #Laboratory #STEM #Education

Planet Mars: A New Impact Event | NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Planet Mars: A New Impact Event | NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

This impact disturbed dust over an area more than two kilometers wide, large enough to be visible in Mars Color Imager (MARCI) daily global images. The largest new crater is about 35 meters in diameter, making it the about the 16th largest new crater found on Mars. By “new crater” we mean that its formation is documented by before and after images, usually acquired by MRO’s Context Camera. There are many other new craters formed up to a kilometer away from the biggest crater. These appear unusual for secondary craters produced by the main 35-meter crater, and are probably more like primary craters resulting from fragmentation of the bolide high in the Martian atmosphere.

Location:

Latitude (centered)

37.804°

Longitude (East)

44.787°

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a spacecraft designed to study the geology and climate of Mars, to provide reconnaissance of future landing sites, and to relay data from surface missions back to Earth. It was launched on August 12, 2005, and reached Mars on March 10, 2006. 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Narration: Tre Gibbs

Tre's website: www.tregibbs.com

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Jan 26, 2023

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Mars #Planet #RedPlanet #Bolide #ImpactCrater #Geology #Landscape #Terrain #MRO #HiRISE #Spacecraft #JPL #Caltech #UA #UniversityOfArizona #UnitedStates #SolarSystem #STEM #Education #HD #Video