Monday, January 29, 2024

Pan over Luminous in Lepus: Spiral Galaxy IC 438 | Hubble Space Telescope

Pan over Luminous in Lepus: Spiral Galaxy IC 438 | Hubble Space Telescope

This image shows the spiral galaxy IC 438, which lies about 130 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Lepus (the Hare). Lepus lies just south of the celestial equator (the ring around the middle of Earth that falls at right angles to its rotation axis). Appropriately, Lepus is flanked by the constellations Canis Major (the Greater Dog) and Orion (the Hunter), whilst Canis Minor (the Lesser Dog) lies very nearby, meaning that in artistic representations of the constellations, Lepus is often shown as being pursued by Orion and his two hunting dogs. 

Lepus is one of the 88 constellations that are officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It is worth clarifying that, whilst the actual constellations themselves only comprise a handful of stars, the area of sky covered by those stars is often referred to using the name of the constellation. For example, when we say that IC 438 is in Lepus, we do not mean that the galaxy is part of the constellation—perhaps obviously, as it is not a single star, but an entire galaxy! Rather, we mean that it falls in the region of sky covered by the Lepus constellation stars. 


Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz), N. Bartmann

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 29, 2024


#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #IC438 #SpiralGalaxy #Lepus #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #HubbleSpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #IAU #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The PHANGS Image Collection | James Webb Space Telescope

The PHANGS Image Collection | James Webb Space Telescope


A treasure trove of images from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope showcases near- and mid-infrared portraits of 19 face-on spiral galaxies. This new set of images show stars, gas, and dust on the smallest scales ever observed beyond our own galaxy. Teams of researchers are studying these images to uncover the origins of these intricate structures. The research community’s collective analysis will ultimately inform theorists’ simulations, and advance our understanding of star formation and the evolution of spiral galaxies.

These Webb images are part of a large, long-standing project, the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) programme, that is supported by over 150 astronomers worldwide.

Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured millions of stars in these images that sparkle in blue tones. There are stars spread throughout the spiral arms, while others are clumped tightly together in star clusters.

The telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) data highlights glowing dust, showing us where it exists behind, around, and between stars. It also spotlights stars that have not yet fully formed—they are still encased in the gas and dust that feed their growth, like bright red seeds at the tips of dusty peaks. 

To the amazement of astronomers, Webb’s images also show large, spherical shells in the gas and dust that may have been created by exploded stars.

The spiral arms’ extended regions of gas also reveal details in red and orange. Astronomers study the spacing of these features to learn how a galaxy distributes its gas and dust. These structures will provide key insights about how galaxies build, maintain, and shut off star formation.

Evidence shows that galaxies grow from inside out—star formation begins at galaxies’ cores and spreads along their arms, spiraling away from the center. The farther a star is from the galaxy’s core, the more likely it is to be younger. In contrast, the areas near the cores that look lit by a blue spotlight are populations of older stars. The galaxy cores that are awash in pink-and-red diffraction spikes may indicate an active supermassive black hole or saturation from bright star clusters toward the center.


Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, STScI, J. Lee (STScI), T. Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team, E. Wheatley (STScI), N. Bartmann  

Release Date: Jan. 29, 2024



#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #PHANGSGalaxies #SpiralGalaxies #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

The Antennae Galaxies | Hubble’s Inside The Image | NASA Goddard

The Antennae Galaxies | Hubble’s Inside The Image | NASA Goddard


The Hubble Space Telescope has taken over 1.5 million observations over the years. One of them is the incredible image of the Antennae Galaxies.

The Antennae Galaxies, officially designated as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, present a celestial ballet within the vast cosmic theater. Located approximately 68 million light-years away in the Corvus constellation, these interacting galaxies are entangled in a cosmic dance, their long tidal tails resembling the antennae of an insect, hence their name.

In this video, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman explains this breathtaking image and how important Hubble is to exploring the mysteries of the universe.


Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Producer, Director & Editor: James Leigh

Director of Photography: James Ball

Executive Producers: James Leigh & Matthew Duncan

Production & Post: Origin Films 

Video Credits:

Hubble Space Telescope Animation:

ESA/Hubble - M. Kornmesser & L. L. Christensen

Duration: 2 minutes, 52 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 29, 2024


#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #Galaxies #AntennaeGalaxies #NGC4038 #NGC4039 #Corvus #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Pan over PHANGS Image Collection | James Webb Space Telescope

Pan over PHANGS Image Collection | James Webb Space Telescope

A treasure trove of images from the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope showcases near- and mid-infrared portraits of 19 face-on spiral galaxies. This new set of exquisite images show stars, gas, and dust on the smallest scales ever observed beyond our own galaxy. Teams of researchers are studying these images to uncover the origins of these intricate structures. The research community’s collective analysis will ultimately inform theorists’ simulations, and advance our understanding of star formation and the evolution of spiral galaxies.


Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, STScI, J. Lee (STScI), T. Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team, E. Wheatley (STScI), N. Bartmann  

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 29, 2024


#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #PHANGSGalaxies #SpiralGalaxies #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #JWST #Infrared #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #CSA #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Spiral Galaxy UGC 11105 in Hercules | Hubble Space Telescope

Spiral Galaxy UGC 11105 in Hercules | Hubble Space Telescope


This softly luminous galaxy—lying in the constellation Hercules, about 110 million light-years from Earth—seems outshone by the sparkling foreground stars that surround it. The type II supernova which took place in this galaxy in 2019, while no longer visible in this image, definitely outshone the galaxy at the time! To be more precise, UGC 11105 has an apparent magnitude of around 13.6 in the optical light regime. (This image was created using data that covers the heart of the optical regime, in addition to ultraviolet data.) Astronomers have different ways of quantifying how bright celestial objects are, and apparent magnitude is one of them.

Firstly, the ‘apparent’ part of this quantity refers to the fact that apparent magnitude only describes how bright objects appear to be from Earth, which is not the same thing as measuring how bright they actually are. For example, in reality the variable star Betelgeuse is about 21,000 times brighter than our Sun, but because the Sun is much, much closer to Earth, Betelgeuse appears to be vastly less bright than it. The ‘magnitude’ part is a little harder to describe, because the magnitude scale does not have a unit associated with it, unlike, for example, mass, which we measure in kilograms, or length, which we measure in meters. Magnitude values only have meaning relative to other magnitude values. Furthermore, the scale is not linear, but is a type of mathematical scale known as ‘reverse logarithmic’, which also means that lower-magnitude objects are brighter than higher-magnitude objects. 

As an example, UGC 11105 has an apparent magnitude of around 13.6 in the optical, whereas the Sun has an apparent magnitude of about -26.8. Accounting for the reverse logarithmic scale, this means that the Sun appears to be about 14 thousand trillion times brighter than UGC 11105 from our perspective here on Earth, even though UGC 11105 is an entire galaxy! The faintest stars that humans can see with the naked eye come in at about sixth magnitude, with most galaxies being much dimmer than this. Hubble, however, has been known to detect objects with apparent magnitudes up to the extraordinary value of 31, so UGC 11105 does not really present much of a challenge. 

Image Description: A spiral galaxy, with two prominent arms that are tightly wound around the brighter core. The arms disperse into a wide halo of stars and dust at their ends, giving the galaxy an oval shape. It is flanked by a number of bright stars in the foreground, each with a little cross over it due to light diffraction, and distant background galaxies as well.


Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz)

Release Date: Jan. 29, 2024


#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #UGC11105 #SpiralGalaxy #Hercules #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HST #HubbleSpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Virgin Galactic 06 Spaceflight Recap: First Ukrainian Woman in Space

Virgin Galactic 06 Spaceflight Recap: First Ukrainian Woman in Space


Congratulations to The First Ukrainian Woman to Fly to Space!
Lina Borozdina, a native of Odessa, became the first Ukrainian to make a tourist flight beyond the Earth on Galactic 06.

Galactic 06, Virgin Galactic’s sixth commercial spaceflight, was launched from Spaceport America, New Mexico, on January 26, 2024, at 10am MT. VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo, transported four passengers: Lina Borozdina, Robie Vaughn, Franz Haider, Neil Kornswiet. The flight reached an apogee of 55.1 miles (~88 km). “Galactic 06’ flight marked the first time all four seats aboard VSS Unity were occupied by private astronauts”.


VSS Unity was commanded by C.J. Sturckow with pilot Nicola Pecile. Michael Masucci commanded mothership VMS Eve joined by pilot Dan Alix.

· Astronaut 023 – Lina Borozdina, Ukraine and Nevada, U.S.

· Astronaut 024 – Robie Vaughn, Texas, U.S.

· Astronaut 025 – Franz Haider, Austria

· Astronaut 026 – Neil Kornswiet, California, U.S.

‘Galactic 06’ Flight Facts

· Take-off Time 10:00 am MT

· Altitude at Release 44,493 ft

· Apogee 55.1 miles

· Top Speed Mach 2.98

· Landing Time 10:56 am MT


Learn more at: https://www.virgingalactic.com


Video Credit: Virgin Galactic

Acknowledgement: SciNews

Duration: 1 minute, 54 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 28, 2024


#NASA #Space #Earth #CommercialSpaceflight #VirginGalactic #SpaceShipTwoVehicle #Galactic06 #VSSUnity #SuborbitalFlight #Astronauts #LinaBorozdina #RobieVaughn #FranzHaider #NeilKornswiet #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceportAmerica #SpaceTourism #NewMexico #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Telescopio Gemini Sur en Chile captura imagen de peculiar galaxia enredada en su propia red de brazos polvorientos

Telescopio Gemini Sur en Chile captura imagen de peculiar galaxia enredada en su propia red de brazos polvorientos

Cosmoview Episodio 74: Descubierta por el astrónomo William Herschel en 1784, NGC 4753 presenta algunas características verdaderamente fascinantes. En esta imagen capturada por el telescopio Gemini Sur, una mitad del Observatorio Internacional Gemini, operado por NOIRLab de NSF, las intrincadas líneas de polvo de la galaxia son un espectáculo digno de contemplar. NGC 4753 se ubica a unos 60 millones de años luz de distancia en la constelación de Virgo. Es miembro del Grupo de galaxias NGC 4753 en la Nube de Virgo II; una serie de al menos 100 cúmulos galácticos y galaxias individuales que se extienden desde el borde sur del Supercúmulo de Virgo. Un estudio de 1992 acerca de NGC 4753 reveló que su compleja red de enredadas líneas de polvo, es probablemente el resultado de una fusión con una cercana galaxia enana que ocurrió hace unos 1.300 millones de años.


Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Images and Videos: 

Image Processing: J. Miller (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)

Pan: Produced by Konstantino Polizois

Zoom: Zero-project - Through the Looking Glass

Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2024


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #español #Galaxies #Galaxy #NGC4753 #Virgo #Constellation #VirginIICloud #Cosmos #Universe #GeminiSouthTelescope #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Galaxy NGC 4753: The Aftermath of a Past Merger | Gemini South Telescope

Galaxy NGC 4753:  The Aftermath of a Past Merger | Gemini South Telescope

Cosmoview Episode 74: Discovered by astronomer William Herschel in 1784, NGC 4753 displays truly fascinating features. In this image captured by the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory operated by National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab, the galaxy’s intricate dust lanes are a sight to behold. NGC 4753 is located about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. 

It is a member of the NGC 4753 Group of galaxies within the Virgo II Cloud—a series of at least 100 galaxy clusters and individual galaxies stretching off the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. A 1992 study of NGC 4753 found that its complex network of twisted dust lanes is likely the result of a merger with a nearby dwarf galaxy companion about 1.3 billion years ago.

The 8.1 meter diameter Gemini South telescope is located on a mountain in the Chilean Andes called Cerro Pachón, where very dry air and negligible cloud cover make this another prime telescope location.


Video Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Images and Videos:   

Image Processing: J. Miller (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)

Pan: Produced by Konstantino Polizois  

Zoom: Zero-project - Through the Looking Glass 

Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2024


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #NGC4753 #Virgo #Constellation #VirginIICloud #Cosmos #Universe #GeminiSouthTelescope #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Zoom to The Twisted Dusty Disk of Galaxy NGC 4753 | Gemini South Telescope

Zoom to The Twisted Dusty Disk of Galaxy NGC 4753 | Gemini South Telescope

Discovered by astronomer William Herschel in 1784, NGC 4753 displays truly fascinating features. In this image captured by the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory operated by National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab, the galaxy’s intricate dust lanes are a sight to behold. NGC 4753 is located about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. 

It is a member of the NGC 4753 Group of galaxies within the Virgo II Cloud—a series of at least 100 galaxy clusters and individual galaxies stretching off the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. A 1992 study of NGC 4753 found that its complex network of twisted dust lanes is likely the result of a merger with a nearby dwarf galaxy companion about 1.3 billion years ago.

The 8.1 meter diameter Gemini South telescope is located on a mountain in the Chilean Andes called Cerro Pachón, where very dry air and negligible cloud cover make this another prime telescope location.


Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Duration: 1 minute

Images and Videos:  

Image Processing: J. Miller (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2024


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #NGC4753 #Virgo #Constellation #VirginIICloud #Cosmos #Universe #GeminiSouthTelescope #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Pan on The Twisted Dusty Disk of NGC 4753 | Gemini South Telescope

Pan on The Twisted Dusty Disk of Galaxy NGC 4753 | Gemini South Telescope

Discovered by astronomer William Herschel in 1784, NGC 4753 displays truly fascinating features. In this image captured by the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory operated by National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab, the galaxy’s intricate dust lanes are a sight to behold. NGC 4753 is located about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. 

It is a member of the NGC 4753 Group of galaxies within the Virgo II Cloud—a series of at least 100 galaxy clusters and individual galaxies stretching off the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster. A 1992 study of NGC 4753 found that its complex network of twisted dust lanes is likely the result of a merger with a nearby dwarf galaxy companion about 1.3 billion years ago.

The 8.1 meter diameter Gemini South telescope is located on a mountain in the Chilean Andes called Cerro Pachón, where very dry air and negligible cloud cover make this another prime telescope location.


Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Image Processing: J. Miller (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)

Duration: 30 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 25, 2024


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #NGC4753 #Virgo #Constellation #VirginIICloud #Cosmos #Universe #GeminiSouthTelescope #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Virgin Galactic Completes Sixth Private Astronaut Flight: Galactic 06

Virgin Galactic Completes Sixth Private Astronaut Flight: Galactic 06

Galactic 06, Virgin Galactic’s sixth commercial spaceflight, was launched from Spaceport America, New Mexico, on January 26, 2024, at 10am MT. VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo, transported four passengers: Lina Borozdina, Robie Vaughn, Franz Haider, Neil Kornswiet. The flight reached an apogee of 55.1 miles (~88 km). “Galactic 06’ flight marked the first time all four seats aboard VSS Unity were occupied by private astronauts”.

VSS Unity was commanded by C.J. Sturckow with pilot Nicola Pecile. Michael Masucci commanded mothership VMS Eve joined by pilot Dan Alix.

· Astronaut 023 – Lina Borozdina, Ukraine and Nevada, U.S.

· Astronaut 024 – Robie Vaughn, Texas, U.S.

· Astronaut 025 – Franz Haider, Austria

· Astronaut 026 – Neil Kornswiet, California, U.S.

‘Galactic 06’ Flight Facts

· Take-off Time 10:00 am MT

· Altitude at Release 44,493 ft

· Apogee 55.1 miles

· Top Speed Mach 2.98

· Landing Time 10:56 am MT


Video Credit: Virgin Galactic

Acknowledgement: SciNews

Duration: 1 minute, 36 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2024


#NASA #Space #Earth #CommercialSpaceflight #VirginGalactic #SpaceShipTwoVehicle #Galactic06 #VSSUnity #SuborbitalFlight #Astronauts #LinaBorozdina #RobieVaughn #FranzHaider #NeilKornswiet #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceportAmerica #SpaceTourism #NewMexico #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Saturday, January 27, 2024

China's Commercial Kuaizhou Rocket: Successful Vertical Liftoff & Landing Test

China's Commercial Kuaizhou Rocket: Successful Vertical Liftoff & Landing Test

On January 26, 2024, China's Kuaizhou rocket, created by the China Space Sanjiang Group, achieved a successful first vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) test. This test, executed by a reusable test rocket, lasted 22 seconds at 3 p.m. Beijing Time. This is the third competing Chinese startup to have independently accomplished such flights in less than a year. The other firms include China's Landspace and iSpace.


Credit: China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Duration: 46 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 27, 2024

#NASA #Space #Satellites #Earth #China #中国 #ChinaKuaizhouRocket #ReusableRocket #LaunchVehicle #VTVL #MethaneLiquidOxygen #CH4LOX #ChinaSpaceSanjiangGroup #JiuquanSatelliteLaunchCenter #JSLC #InnerMongolia #CommercialSpace #CommercialSpaceflight #Satellites #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA Artemis V Moon Rocket Engine Test#6: Preparing for Crewed Missions

NASA Artemis V Moon Rocket Engine Test#6: Preparing for Crewed Missions

An Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 rocket engine (RS-25 developmental engine E0525) completed a 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 27, 2024, at 12:55 CST. This was the sixth 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. 27, 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

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Training at Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Training at Kennedy Space Center

(Left to right) NASA Astronauts Jeanette Epps, Matthew Dominick, Michael Barrett, and Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia pose for a group photo at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps: Mission Specialist of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission
NASA Astronaut Michael Barratt: Pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission
(Left to right) NASA Astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia, and NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps
Roscosmos Cosmonaut and SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Specialist Alexander Grebenkin of Russia
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps: Mission Specialist of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Missionifiman re-9 b
NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-8 Pilot Michael Barratt

Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 can be seen participating in the Crew Equipment Interface Test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

NASA's 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

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

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

Official SpaceX Crew-8 portrait with Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Aleksandr Grebenkin of Russia, and Pilot Michael Barratt, Commander Matthew Dominick, and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps—all three NASA astronauts

NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps, Mission Specialist of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Commander 
Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia, Mission Specialist of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission
NASA Astronaut Michael Barratt, Pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission

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

NASA's 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 Credits: SpaceX/NASA/Bill Stafford

Image Dates: Jan. 12-25, 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

Remembering NASA's Fallen Heroes | This Week @NASA

Remembering NASA's Fallen Heroes | This Week @NASA


Week of January 26, 2023: Remembering our fallen heroes, an agency town hall to talk safety, and the end of an historic mission on Mars . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!

NASA remembered the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger STS-51L, and Columbia STS-107 during the agency's Day of Remembrance on Jan. 25, 2024.

The annual Day of Remembrance honors all members of the NASA family that lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. NASA paused to honor them and reflect on maintaining a strong safety culture.

Visit NASA's Day of Remembrance tribute page:

https://nasa.gov/dor


Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Video Producer & Editor: Andre Valentine

Narrator: Emanuel Cooper

Duration: 2 minutes, 30 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 27, 2024

#NASA #Space #Earth #Moon #Mars #Astronomy #Science #NASARemembers #Astronauts #Apollo1 #SpaceShuttleChallenger #STS51L #SpaceShuttleColumbia #STS107 #Scientists #Engineers #Heroes #Leaders #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HD #Video