Sunday, January 21, 2024

Earthset from Lunar Orbit: Oct. 1, 2008 | Japan's SELENE "Kaguya" Mission

Earthset from Lunar Orbit: Oct. 1, 2008 | Japan's SELENE "Kaguya" Mission


This is the kind of magnificent view astronauts will enjoy on NASA's Artemis II orbital mission around the Moon. Scheduled to launch in 2025, Artemis II will be the first crewed flight since the Apollo missions. During a roughly ten-day mission, NASA's Orion spacecraft will loop around the Moon before heading back to Earth.

Japan's robotic lunar orbiter SELENE Mission: "The largest lunar mission since the Apollo program" (2007-2009)

Kaguya’s two main high definition TV (HDTV) cameras, each a 2.2 megapixel CCD HDTV camera, took the first high-definition images of the Moon.

The SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE), Japan’s first large lunar explorer, was launched by a H-IIA carrier rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on September 14, 2007 (JST). It was better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya. It was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following the Hiten probe. It was produced by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA).

Learn more about Japan's historic SELENE mission here:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/kaguya/in-depth/

https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/past/kaguya.html

Note: This video is protected by copyright. Illegal distribution is prohibited.


Video Credit: JAXA/NHK Kaguya Orbiter Archive

Duration: 1 minutes, 4 seconds

Capture Date: Oct. 1, 2008

Release Date: July 16, 2009


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Moon #Earth #Earthset #ApolloProgram #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #Japan #SELENE #Kaguya #かぐや #LunarOrbiter #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #日本 #NHK #ISAS #NASDA #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HDTV #HD #Video

Solar Eclipse from Lunar Orbit: "Earth's Diamond Ring" | Japan SELENE Mission

Solar Eclipse from Lunar Orbit: "Earth's Diamond Ring" | Japan SELENE Mission

This is the kind of spectacular view astronauts will enjoy on NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon. Scheduled to launch in 2025, Artemis II will be the first crewed flight since the Apollo missions. During a roughly ten-day mission, NASA's Orion spacecraft will loop around the Moon before heading back to Earth.

Japan's robotic lunar orbiter SELENE Mission: "The largest lunar mission since the Apollo program" (2007-2009)

Kaguya’s two main high definition TV (HDTV) cameras, each a 2.2 megapixel CCD HDTV camera, took the first high-definition images of the Moon.

The SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE), Japan’s first large lunar explorer, was launched by a H-IIA carrier rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on September 14, 2007 (JST). It was better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya. It was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following the Hiten probe. It was produced by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA).

Learn more about Japan's historic SELENE mission here:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/kaguya/in-depth/

https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/past/kaguya.html

Note: This video is protected by copyright. Illegal distribution is prohibited.


Video Credit: JAXA/NHK Kaguya Orbiter Archive

Duration: 52 seconds

Release Date: July 9, 2009


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Moon #Earth #SolarEclipse #DiamondRing #ApolloProgram #ArtemisProgram #Japan #SELENE #Kaguya #かぐや #LunarOrbiter #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #日本 #NHK #ISAS #NASDA #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HDTV #HD #Video

Earthrise from Lunar Orbit: Nov. 7, 2007 | Japan's SELENE "Kaguya" Mission

Earthrise from Lunar Orbit: Nov. 7, 2007 | Japan's SELENE "Kaguya" Mission

This is the kind of spectacular view astronauts will enjoy on NASA's Artemis II orbital mission around the Moon. Scheduled to launch in 2025, Artemis II will be the first crewed flight since the Apollo missions. During a roughly ten-day mission, NASA's Orion spacecraft will loop around the Moon before heading back to Earth.

Japan's robotic lunar orbiter SELENE Mission: "The largest lunar mission since the Apollo program" (2007-2009)

Kaguya’s two main high definition TV (HDTV) cameras, each a 2.2 megapixel CCD HDTV camera, took the first high-definition images of the Moon.

The SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE), Japan’s first large lunar explorer, was launched by a H-IIA carrier rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on September 14, 2007 (JST). It was better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya. It was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following the Hiten probe. It was produced by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA).

Learn more about Japan's historic SELENE mission here:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/kaguya/in-depth/

https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/past/kaguya.html

Note: This video is protected by copyright. Illegal distribution is prohibited.


Video Credit: JAXA/NHK Kaguya Orbiter Archive

Duration: 2 minutes, 25 seconds

Capture Date: Nov. 7, 2007

Release Date: March 23, 2009


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Moon #Earth #Earthrise #ApolloProgram #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #Japan #SELENE #Kaguya #かぐや #LunarOrbiter #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #日本 #NHK #ISAS #NASDA #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HDTV #HD #Video

"Why China Wants to Massively Launch from the Sea" | Dongfang Hour

"Why China Wants to Massively Launch from the Sea" | Dongfang Hour

On January 11, 2024, the Chinese commercial launch company, Orienspace, launched Gravity-1, China's most power solid-fueled and sea launched rocket, becoming the fourth domestic company to have a sea launch capability.

In this episode, we discuss why Chinese launch companies are bullish on sea launch and why China is massively investing in this technology platform.


Credit: Dongfang Hour

Duration: 8 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 20, 2024


#NASA #Space #Satellites #Earth #China #中国 #OrienSpace #东方空间 #SeaLaunch #Haiyang #ShandongProvince #RocketLaunch #Gravity1 #引力1号 #SolidFuelRocket #Yunyao1 #CommercialSpace #Spaceflight #SpaceTechnology #Aerospace #AerospaceEngineering #History #STEM #Education #DongfangHour #HD #Video

Earthset from Lunar Orbit | Japan's SELENE "Kaguya" Mission

Earthset from Lunar Orbit | Japan's SELENE "Kaguya" Mission

This is the kind of spectacular view astronauts will enjoy on NASA's Artemis II orbital mission around the Moon. Scheduled to launch in 2025, Artemis II will be the first crewed flight since the Apollo missions. During a roughly ten-day mission, NASA's Orion spacecraft will loop around the Moon before heading back to Earth.

Japan's robotic lunar orbiter SELENE Mission: "The largest lunar mission since the Apollo program" (2007-2009)

Kaguya’s two main high definition TV (HDTV) cameras, each a 2.2 megapixel CCD HDTV camera, took the first high-definition images of the Moon.

The SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE), Japan’s first large lunar explorer, was launched by a H-IIA carrier rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on September 14, 2007 (JST). It was better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya. It was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following the Hiten probe. It was produced by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA).

Learn more about Japan's historic SELENE mission here:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/kaguya/in-depth/

https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/past/kaguya.html

Note: This video is protected by copyright. Illegal distribution is prohibited.


Video Credit: JAXA/NHK Kaguya Orbiter Archive

Duration: 1 minutes, 15 seconds

Capture Date: Nov. 7, 2007

Release Date: April 1, 2009


#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Moon #Earth #Earthset #ApolloProgram #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #Japan #SELENE #Kaguya #かぐや #LunarOrbiter #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #日本 #NHK #ISAS #NASDA #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HDTV #HD #Video

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Axiom Mission 3 Arrival & Welcome Remarks | International Space Station

Axiom Mission 3 Arrival & Welcome Remarks | International Space Station

Axiom Mission 3 crew members Michael Lopez-Alegria, Walter Villadei, Alper Gezeravci, and Marcus Wandt docked to the forward port of the Harmony module of the International Space Station Jan. 20, 2024, following a launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Jan. 18. Following docking, the crew opened the hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and floated aboard the International Space Station where they were greeted by members of the Expedition 70 crew. The four private crew members will conduct a mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory on the third private astronaut mission as part of NASA’s effort to open to space to more people and science.

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.

Learn more about the Ax-3 Mission here:

https://www.axiomspace.com


Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 21 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 20, 2024


#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax3Mission #Ax3 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #MichaelLópezAlegría #Spain #Espana #UnitedStates #WalterVilladei #Italy #Italy #AlperGezeravcı #Türkiye #MarcusWandt #Sweden #Sverige #MuninnMission #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Ax-3 Astronaut Marcus Wendt Begins Muninn Mission | European Space Agency

Ax-3 Astronaut Marcus Wendt Begins Muninn Mission | European Space Agency

European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden took off on January 18, 2024 as part of the Axiom-3 crew for a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. After 36 hours, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the Space Station. After the seal between the two was tested, Marcus started his Muninn Mission as he entered the International Space Station (ISS). ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen of Denmark along with the rest of the crew of Expedition 70 was waiting to welcome them to space!

Follow Marcus’s journey on the Muninn website: 

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/muninn

Marcus Wandt - Ax-3 Mission Specialist

Marcus' Biography: 

https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/marcus-wandt

Learn more about the Ax-3 Mission here:

https://www.axiomspace.com


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.

Video Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 20, 2024


#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax3Mission #Ax3 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #MichaelLópezAlegría #Spain #Espana #UnitedStates #WalterVilladei #Italy #Italia #AlperGezeravcı #Türkiye #MarcusWandt #Sweden #Sverige #MuninnMission #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Ax-3 Mission Welcoming Ceremony After Docking | International Space Station

Ax-3 Mission Welcoming Ceremony After Docking | International Space Station


A brief welcoming ceremony was held after the hatch of the “Freedom” Crew Dragon spacecraft was opened on January 20, 2024, at 7:13am EST. The crew of the “Freedom” Crew Dragon spacecraft for Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station includes commander Michael López-Alegría (Spain-USA), pilot Walter Villadei (Italy), mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı (Türkiye) and European Space Agency project astronaut Marcus Wandt (Sweden).
Learn more here: https://www.axiomspace.com

Video Credit: Axiom Space/NASA/SpaceX

Duration: 1 minute, 32 seconds

Capture Date: Jan. 20, 2024


#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax3Mission #Ax3 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #MichaelLópezAlegría #Spain #Espana #UnitedStates #WalterVilladei #Italy #Italia #AlperGezeravcı #Türkiye #MarcusWandt #Sweden #Sverige #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Ax-3 Astronaut Mission to the International Space Station | This Week @NASA

Ax-3 Astronaut Mission to the International Space Station | This Week @NASA 

Week of  January 19, 2024: The latest private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, preparing to launch more research to the space station, and how climate change is affecting our oceans and atmosphere . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!


Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Video Producer & Editor: Andre Valentine

Narrator: Emanuel Cooper

Duration: 2 minutes, 31 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 20, 2024


#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax3Mission #Ax3 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #MichaelLópezAlegría #Spain #Espana #UnitedStates #WalterVilladei #Italy #Italy #AlperGezeravcı #Türkiye #MarcusWandt #Sweden #Sverige #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Ax-3 Crew Dragon Hatch Opening | International Space Station

Ax-3 Crew Dragon Hatch Opening | International Space Station

The hatch of the “Freedom” Crew Dragon spacecraft was opened on January 20, 2024, at 7:13am EST. The crew of the “Freedom” Crew Dragon spacecraft for Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station includes commander Michael López-Alegría (Spain-USA), pilot Walter Villadei (Italy), mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı (Türkiye) and European Space Agency project astronaut Marcus Wandt (Sweden).

Learn more here: https://www.axiomspace.com

Credit: Axiom Space/NASA/SpaceX

Duration: 2 minutes

Capture Date: Jan. 20, 2024


#NASA #Space #ISS #AxiomSpace #Ax3Mission #Ax3 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #MichaelLópezAlegría #Spain #Espana #UnitedStates #WalterVilladei #Italy #Italia #AlperGezeravcı #Türkiye #MarcusWandt #Sweden #Sverige #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Friday, January 19, 2024

New Mars Images: January 2024 | NASA Mars Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

New Mars Images: January 2024 | NASA Mars Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers
Mars 2020 - sol 1032
Mars 2020 - sol 1033
Mars 2020 - sol 1035
MSL - sol 4067
Mars 2020 - sol 1024
Mars 2020 - sol 1034
Mars 2020 - sol 1024
Mars 2020 - Sol 1036



Celebrating 11+ Years on Mars (2012-2024)
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

Celebrating 2+ Years on 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 return to Earth.
Mars Helicopter (Ingenuity)
Launch: July 30, 2020    
Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

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

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
Processing: Kevin M. Gill
Image Release Dates: Jan. 16-19, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #CitizenScience #KevinGill #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis V Moon Rocket Engine Test#4: Preparing for Crewed Missions

NASA Artemis V Moon Rocket Engine Test#4: Preparing for Crewed Missions


An Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 rocket engine (RS-25 developmental engine) completed a 500-second hot fire test on the Fred Haise Test Stand (formerly A-1 Test Stand) at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, on January 17, 2024, at 16:29 CST. This was the fourth hot fire test out of the twelve planned in the final round of certification testing ahead of production of an updated set of engines for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) that will be used beginning with Artemis V. 


Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Acknowledgement: SciNews

Duration: 9 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 17, 2024


#NASA #Space #Artemis #ArtemisV #Moon #Rocket #SpaceLaunchSystem #SLS #Engine #RS25 #RS25Testing #Gimble #AerojetRocketdyne #MoonToMars #DeepSpace #Propulsion #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #NASAStennis #Mississippi #MSFC #UnitedStates #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Celebrating 25 Years of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (1999-2024)

Celebrating 25 Years of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (1999-2024)

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory with a look at our favorite Chandra X-ray images as well as composites with telescopes observing in other kinds of light. Explore the high energy universe of black holes, exploding stars, colliding galaxies, and other distant worlds Chandra brings into focus.


Video Credit: NASA/Chandra X-ray Center (CXC)/SAO/A. Jubett, Univ. of Otago/L. Eagan & M. Ljungberg

Duration: 31 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 19, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Stars #Supernovae #BlackHoles #Galaxies #Cosmos #Universe #NASAChandra #Chandra25 #SpaceTelescopes #XrayObservatory #JWST #HST #NASAMarshall #MSFC #CXC #SAO #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Prepares for Launch | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Prepares for Launch | Kennedy Space Center

Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 from right to left, NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia, mission specialist




SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Insignia

Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 participate in the Crew Equipment Interface Test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. 

SpaceX Crew-8:

NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia, mission specialist 

As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Crew-8 marks the ninth human spaceflight mission supported by a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the eighth crew rotation mission to International Space Station. Crew-8 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than mid-February 2024. They will join Expedition 70 and 71 crew members aboard the International Space Station in early 2024 to conduct a wide-ranging set of operational and research activities.

This will be Epps’ first trip to the International Space Station. She is from Syracuse, New York, and earned a bachelor’s in physics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and a master’s in science and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining NASA, she worked at Ford Motor Company and the Central Intelligence Agency. She was selected as an astronaut in July 2009, and has served on the Generic Joint Operation Panel working on space station crew efficiency, as a crew support astronaut for two expeditions, and as lead capsule communicator in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Epps previously was assigned to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. NASA reassigned Epps to allow Boeing time to complete development of Starliner while also continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for future mission needs.

This will also be the first spaceflight for Dominick, who became a NASA astronaut in 2017. He is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego, California, and a master’s in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is an active-duty U.S. Navy astronaut. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, and then served as a test pilot specializing in testing landing on and catapult launches from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

This will be Barratt’s third trip to the space station. In 2009, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19 and 20 as the station transitioned its standard crew complement from three to six, and performed two spacewalks. He flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 2011 on STS-133, which delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fourth Express Logistics Carrier. He has spent a total of 212 days in space. Born in Vancouver, Washington, he considers Camas, Washington, to be his hometown. Barratt earned a bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a doctor of medicine from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He completed residencies in internal medicine at Northwestern and aerospace medicine along with a master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. After nine years as a NASA flight surgeon and project physician, Barratt joined the astronaut corps in 2000.

Grebenkin, who graduated from Irkutsk High Military Aviation School, Irkutsk, Russia, majoring in engineering, maintenance, and repair of aircraft radio navigation systems, is flying on his first mission, too. He graduated from Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics with a degree in radio communications, broadcasting, and television.

Learn more about the SpaceX Crew-8 Mission:

NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps Official Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography

NASA Astronaut Matthew Dominick Official Biography

https://www.nasa.gov/people/matthew-dominick

NASA Astronaut Michael Barratt Official Biography

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/michael-reed-barratt/biography

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

For over 23 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As a global endeavor, more than 244 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas.

The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA is able to more fully focus its resources on deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.

Find more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

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.


Image Credit: SpaceX

Image Date: Jan. 12, 2024


#NASA #Space #Science #ISS #SpaceX #SpaceXCrew8 #Earth #Astronauts #MatthewDominick #MichaelBarratt #JeanetteEpps #Cosmonaut #AleksandrGrebenkin #LongDurationMission #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Russia #Россия #Роскосмос #SpaceLaboratory #Expedition70 #Expedition71 #STEM #Education

China Landspace's Zhuque-3 Rocket Achieves Successful 60-second Hopping Flight

China Landspace's Zhuque-3 Rocket Achieves Successful 60-second Hopping Flight

China commercial space firm Landspace has successfully conducted the first VTVL test for its reusable stainless steel rocket powered by methane-liquid oxygen.

Chinese launch startup Landspace executed its first vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) with a reusable Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 test article at 3:00 a.m. Eastern (0800 UTC) on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, via a launch and recovery site from Landspace facilities at the Jiuquan spaceport in Inner Mongolia.

The methane-liquid oxygen test article reached an altitude of around 350 meters during its roughly 60-second flight before setting down in a designated landing area. The landing had an accuracy of about 2.4m and a landing speed of about 0.75m/second, according to Landspace.

The test is part of the development of the stainless steel Zhuque-3 rocket first announced in November 2023. The company is aiming for the first flight of Zhuque-3 in 2025. The company earlier planned to execute this first VTVL test last month.

The two-stage Zhuque-3 will be 4.5 meters in diameter and have a total length of 76.6 meters. Mass at liftoff will be about 660 tons and be powered by nine Tianque-12B engines. Payload capacity to LEO will be 21,000 kilograms when expendable. It will carry up to 18,300 kg when the first stage is recovered downrange, or 12,500 kg when returning to the launch site. 

China’s reusable rocket race

The Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 test follows similar “hop” tests conducted by fellow Beijing-based launch startup iSpace in November and December 2023. The Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 is powered by an engine model that will be used for orbital flight, as with iSpace’s tests.

The recent hops also highlight the competition within the Chinese commercial launch sector to develop a reusable launch vehicle.

The Chinese government first opened up sections of the space sector to private capital in late 2014. These developments are seen to be a reaction to commercial developments in the U.S. The first launch vehicles developed were small, light-lift solid rockets. The first Chinese commercially-developed liquid propellant rockets launched last year.

Landspace meanwhile has plans to get back into orbit this year, following two successful Zhuque-2 methalox rocket launches last year. The company aims to launch three Zhuque-2 rockets in 2024, Landspace vice president Huang He told CGTN in December. It plans to double this cadence year on year, launching six times in 2025 and 12 in 2026.

Regarding Zhuque-3’s roadmap, Landspace CEO Zhang Changwu told Chinese media last month that the firm is working on a 200-ton full-flow staged-combustion-cycle engine, to be ready in 2028. 

This engine would power a two-stage reusable launch vehicle with a diameter of 10 meters. The launcher appears to challenge the planned Long March 9 reusable rocket being developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), the country’s state-owned main space contractor.

A series of Chinese state-owned and commercial launch entities are currently developing reusable rockets.


Video Credit: Landspace/CNSA WatcherCNSA Watcher

Acknowledgement: SpaceNews/Andrew Jones

Duration: 33 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 19, 2024


#NASA #Space #Satellites #Earth #China #中国 #LandSpace #蓝箭 #ZhuQue3Rocket #Zhuque3 #LaunchVehicle #VTVL #MethaneLiquidOxygen #CH4LOX #JiuquanSatelliteLaunchCenter #JSLC #InnerMongolia #CommercialSpace #CommercialSpaceflight #Satellites #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Space to Ground: En Route | Week of Jan. 19, 2024

NASA's Space to Ground: En Route | Week of Jan. 19, 2024

NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. The third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station is on its way. Scheduled to arrive to the station at 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, the quartet will spend about two weeks conducting science and research in microgravity before returning to Earth.

Follow Expedition 70 Updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 70 Crew

Station Commander: Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency (Denmark)

Roscosmos (Russia): Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, Konstantin Borisov

JAXA: Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa (Japan)

NASA: Jasmin Moghbeli, Loral O'Hara (USA)

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.

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


Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 2 minutes, 39 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 12, 2024 


#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #AxiomSpace #Ax3Mission #Astronauts #LoralOHara #JasminMoghbeli #UnitedStates #AndreasMogensen #Denmark #Danmark #Europe #SatoshiFurukawa #JAXA #Japan #日本 #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition70 #STEM #Education #HD #Video