Soyuz MS-25 Crew Prepares for Departure | International Space Station

Soyuz MS-25 Crew Prepares for Departure | International Space Station

Soyuz MS-25 crewmembers (from left to right): NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of Russia

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick: "Took this picture shortly after the new Soyuz arrived last week just to show the effect of six months of space environment on the exterior the Soyuz."

Image details: 28mm, ISO 500, f16, 1/400s

Two Roscosmos (Russian) crew ships, the Soyuz MS-26 docked to the Rassvet module (foreground) and the Soyuz MS-25 (background) docked to the Prichal docking module, are pictured parked at the International Space Station as it orbited 257 miles above the Atlantic Ocean near Brazil's Amazon Delta.

Two Roscosmos (Russian) crew ships, the Soyuz MS-26 docked to the Rassvet module (foreground) and the Soyuz MS-25 (background) docked to the Prichal docking module, are pictured parked at the International Space Station as it orbited 258 miles above Sudan near the Nile River on the African continent.

NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson is now completing a six-month mission, while Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of Russia are wrapping up just over a year in low-Earth orbit at the International Space Station.  The Earth-bound trio is scheduled to depart the orbital lab inside the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft at 4:47 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. At that time, Expedition 71 will end and Expedition 72 will officially be under way. The crew inside the Soyuz will parachute to a landing just over three hours later in Kazakhstan. 

Expedition 71/72 Updates:

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

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner 

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit

For more info: www.nasa.gov/station

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.

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)/M. Dominick

Image Dates: Sept. 15-16, 2024

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #SoyuzSpacecraft #SoyuzMS25 #Astronaut #TracyDyson #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #OlegKononenko #NikolaiChub #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #SpaceLaboratory #Expedition71 #Expedition72 #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education

China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Sample Return Mission: The Documentary

China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Sample Return Mission: The Documentary

"Back to the Far Side" presents humanity's quest to unlock the mysteries of the Moon. This documentary, presented by CGTN and the China National Space Administration (CNSA), chronicles the groundbreaking Chang'e-6 mission—the first to return samples from the Moon's far side. "Weaving together myth, science and international collaboration, it captures the dreams, struggles and triumphs of the teams united by a common goal. It is a testament to human ingenuity and a call for unity in deep-space exploration."

The Chang'e-6 probe was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on May 3, 2024. It touched down on the far side of the Moon on June 2. During its two-day stay, Chang'e-6 used a scoop and drill, collecting nearly 2 kilograms of lunar material. On June 25, its returner brought back the samples and made a landing in north China.

The mission carried scientific payloads from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan, including the French radon gas detector (CNES), the European Space Agency/Swedish ion analyzer, and the Italian laser corner reflector (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana).

Chang'e-6 successfully deployed Pakistan's ICUBE-Q satellite, releasing it into lunar orbit on May 8, 2024. The 15.4-pound (7 kilogram) small satellite captured images of the Moon and Sun and collected magnetic field data.

Video Credit: CGTN

Duration: 51 minutes

Release Date: Sept. 22, 2024

#NASA #CNSA #ESA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Moon #Change6 #嫦娥六号 #LunarSampleReturn #Geology #FarSide #SouthPole #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #CLEP #InternationalCooperation #France #CNES #Italy #ASI #Sweden #STEM #Education #History #HD #Video

Change of Command Ceremony | International Space Station

Change of Command Ceremony | International Space Station

Aboard the International Space Station, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko of Russia handed over command of the space station to NASA astronaut Suni Williams during a change of command ceremony September 22, 2024. Kononenko is completing a year-long mission on the station while Williams is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions. Kononenko has broken the record for the longest continuous mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), having spent more than a year in orbit, along with his crewmate cosmonaut Nikolai Chub.

Expedition 71/72 Updates:

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

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner 

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit

For more info: www.nasa.gov/station

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.

Video Credit: NASA

Duration: 4 minutes, 27 seconds

Capture Date: Sept. 22, 2024

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #Astronauts #SunitaWilliams #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #OlegKononenko #NikolaiChub #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #SpaceLaboratory #Expedition71 #Expedition71 #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-18 Crew: Maintenance, Training & Photography | China Space Station

Shenzhou-18 Crew: Maintenance, Training & Photography | China Space Station

The Shenzhou-18 crew members on board China's orbiting Tiangong space station has been diligently carrying out a range of tasks, including routine maintenance, training exercises, and capturing panoramic images of the station's interior, as shown in videos released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024.

Approximately 400 kilometers above the Earth, the crew conducted routine inspections, maintenance, and storage configuration of the Feitian extravehicular spacesuits within the space station last week. These spacesuits are crucial for astronauts during spacewalks, serving as individual life support systems and miniature spacecraft, providing life support and operational capabilities.

The Chinese Space Station currently houses three extravehicular spacesuits. These have successfully supported the crew in completing two spacewalks during this mission.

In addition to equipment maintenance, the crew participated in in-cabin spacesuit donning and doffing training. This is essential for maintaining operational skills and further enhancing the crew's emergency response speed and dexterity in a zero-gravity environment. Data collected from these drills will contribute to the development of emergency evacuation plans.

The astronauts also conducted panoramic imaging and 3D scanning of the space station's interior, providing ground-based researchers with vital data to understand the cabin environment and create 3D models.

In the images, astronaut Li Guangsu, following ground instructions, opened the inner cabin door and worked closely with astronaut Ye Guangfu to capture images and scan the cargo airlock with specialized equipment.

Launched on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft carries three astronauts—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—on a mission designed to last six months, continuing China's advancements in human space exploration.

Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Sept. 22, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #Shenzhou18 #神舟十八 #MicrogravityExperiments #MicrogravityResearch #AstronautTraining #Taikonauts #Astronauts #Spacesuits #YeGuangfu #LiCong #LiGuangsu #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Expedition 71 Crew Photos: Summer 2024 | International Space Station

Expedition 71 Crew Photos: Summer 2024 | International Space Station

NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson works on a computer inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock where spacewalks are staged.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps swaps research components and removes samples from inside the Combustion Integrated Rack for a series of experiments exploring space flammability and fire suppression in microgravity.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams configures portable electronics gear aboard the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module.

Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Don Pettit, both from NASA, check out a digital camera aboard the International Space Station's Unity module.

NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson smiles for a portrait in the vestibule between the Kibo laboratory module and the Harmony module aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 71 crew members (from left) Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, both Roscosmos cosmonauts of Russia, and NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson pose for a portrait inside the International Space Station's Rassvet module.

Expedition 71 crew members (clockwise from bottom left) Alexander Grebenkin, from Roscosmos (Russia), and NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Jeanette Epps, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Butch Wilmore, pose for a portrait inside the International Space Station's Rassvet module.

Expedition 71 Flight Engineer (from left) Don Pettit from NASA demonstrates filling a specially-made coffee cup from a drink bag to Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin from Roscosmos (Russia). The coffee stays inside the cup due to surface tension, a property that enables liquids to resist an external force, such as microgravity, and adhere, or stick to a surface.

NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson is completing a six-month mission, while Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of Russia are wrapping up just over a year in low-Earth orbit.  The Earth-bound trio is scheduled to depart the orbital lab inside the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft at 4:47 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. At that time, Expedition 71 will end and Expedition 72 will officially be under way. The crew inside the Soyuz will parachute to a landing just over three hours later in Kazakhstan. 

Expedition 71 Updates:

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

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner 

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit

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.

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

Image Dates: Aug. 14-Sept. 14, 2024

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #Astronauts #TracyDyson #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #OlegKononenko #NikolaiChub #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #SpaceLaboratory #Expedition71 #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education

Interview with Indian Space Agency Chairman Dr. S. Somanath | NDTV

Interview with Indian Space Agency Chairman Dr. S. Somanath | NDTV

In an ambitious push to space, India's Union Cabinet approved new funding for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) missions over the next 15 years. The Chandrayaan-4 Mission; a mission to Venus; and the enhanced Gaganyaan Mission to include the Bhartiya Antariksha Space Station; and the development of a more powerful rocket all received approval. ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath stated that "India's ambitious space vision and roadmap have now been given the wings to fly high."

 

Video Credit: NDTV

Duration: 25 minutes

Release Date: Sept. 20, 2024  

#NASA #ISRO #Space #Earth #India #BhartiyaAntarikshaSpaceStation #Moon #Chandrayaan4 #Venus #VenusMission #GaganyaanMission #Astronauts #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceTechnology #Science #Engineering #SpaceResearch #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #STEM #Education #History #HD #Video

Celestial Dance: Galactic Pair ESO 77-14 in Indus | Hubble Space Telescope

Celestial Dance: Galactic Pair ESO 77-14 in Indus | Hubble Space Telescope

This Hubble image of ESO 77-14 is a snapshot of a celestial dance performed by a pair of similar-sized galaxies. Two clear signatures of the gravitational tug of war between the galaxies are the bridge of material that connects them and the disruption of their main bodies. The galaxy on the right has a long, bluish arm while its companion has a shorter, redder arm. This interacting pair is in the constellation of Indus, the Indian, around 550 million light-years away from Earth. The dust lanes between the two galaxy centers show the extent of the distortion to the originally flat discs that have been pulled into three-dimensional shapes.

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)  

Release Date: April 24, 2008

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #ESO7714 #InteractingGalaxies #Indus #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Galactic Close Encounters in Lepus | Hubble

Galactic Close Encounters in Lepus | Hubble

From objects as small as Newton's apple to those as large as a galaxy, no physical body is free from the stern bonds of gravity, as evidenced in this picture captured by the Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys onboard the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope.

Here we see two spiral galaxies engaged in a cosmic tug-of-war—but in this contest, there will be no winner. The structures of both objects are slowly distorted to resemble new forms, and in certain cases, merge together to form new, super galaxies. This particular fate is similar to that of the Milky Way Galaxy, when it will ultimately merge with our closest galactic partner, the Andromeda Galaxy. There is no need to panic however, as this process takes several hundreds of millions of years.

Not all interacting galaxies result in mergers though. The merger is dependent on the mass of each galaxy, as well as the relative velocities of each body. It is quite possible that the event pictured here, romantically named 2MASX J06094582-2140234, will avoid a merger event altogether, and will merely distort the arms of each spiral without colliding—the cosmic equivalent of a hair ruffling!

These galactic interactions also trigger new regions of star formation in the galaxies involved, causing them to be extremely luminous in the infrared part of the spectrum. For this reason, these types of galaxies are referred to as LIRGs, or Luminous Infrared Galaxies. This image was taken as part of as part of a Hubble survey of the central regions of LIRGs in the local Universe, which also used the NICMOS instrument.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Acknowledgement: Luca Limatola

Release Date: July 28, 2014

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #2MASXJ060945822140234 #InteractingGalaxies #LIRG #Lepus #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Samples from Moon's Far Side Unveiled for First Time

China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Samples from Moon's Far Side Unveiled for First Time

The lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 mission from the far side of the Moon were unveiled for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. The samples, weighing a total of 1,935.3 grams, were retrieved by Chang'e-6 in June this year, marking the first time humans have obtained research samples directly from the Moon's far side.

Earlier the week, a Chinese team of scientists published the first research paper on these lunar samples, saying that they exhibit "distinct characteristics" compared to previously obtained lunar samples.

The team found out that the Chang'e-6 soil samples have a lower density than previous samples, indicating a more porous and loosely structured composition. The plagioclase content of the Chang'e-6 samples is significantly higher than that of the Chang'e-5 samples, while their olivine content is significantly lower.

The study has also revealed that the Chang'e-6 lithic fragment samples are primarily composed of basalt, breccia, agglutinate, glasses and leucocrate.

Geochemical analysis of the Chang'e-6 lunar samples has shown that their concentration of trace elements such as thorium, uranium and potassium is markedly different from the samples retrieved by the Apollo missions and the Chang'e-5 mission.

The Chang'e-6 samples also appear slightly lighter in color due to their different mineral composition.

"The Chang'e-6 lunar samples contain a significant amount of white material, including feldspar minerals, which are more abundant than in the Chang'e-5 samples. Additionally, there are significantly more glass fragments, contributing to a lighter overall appearance for the Chang'e-6 samples," said Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission and researcher with the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In the lunar sample laboratory, the surface samples have largely be separated and packaged. Experts explained that the process of unsealing, dividing, and preparing the samples for experimentation took approximately two months.

"For the surface samples, we will separate any rock fragments larger than 1 millimeter. These larger samples may have originated from different locations, and their research methods differ from those used for powdered samples. The remaining powder samples, smaller than 1 millimeter, will be thoroughly mixed and packaged into 10-11 bottles, each containing approximately 150 grams," Li said.

In contrast, the processing of the drilled samples is more complex and is expected to take an additional one to two months. Researchers are currently handling the remaining samples in a nitrogen-filled unit.

"In terms of weight, the scooped samples make up the majority of the total 1935.3 grams, roughly 1610 grams, and the remaining is drilled samples. But a significant portion of these drilled is stuck to the sample bag and cannot be removed, complicating the determination of their exact weight. The drilled samples account for less than 20 percent of the total and are all contained within a single sample bag. We need to divide them into 1.5-centimeter segments to represent different depths. This process, which involves separating over 100 individual samples, requires extreme care. So, we may still need another month or two to finish the pre-processing," Li said.

The Chang'e-6 probe was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on May 3, 2024. It touched down on the far side of the moon on June 2. During its two-day stay, Chang'e-6 used a scoop and drill, collecting nearly 2 kilograms of lunar material. On June 25, its returner brought back the samples and made a landing in north China.

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 2 minutes

Release Date: Sept. 21, 2024

#NASA #CNSA #ESA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Moon #Change6 #嫦娥六号 #LunarSampleReturn #Geology #FarSide #SouthPole #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #InternationalCooperation #France #CNES #Italy #ASI #Sweden #STEM #Education #History #HD #Video

Galaxy Cluster Abell 3827: Our Giant Universe | Hubble Space Telescope

Galaxy Cluster Abell 3827: Our Giant Universe | Hubble Space Telescope

This detailed image features Abell 3827, a galaxy cluster that offers a wealth of exciting possibilities for study. It was observed by Hubble in order to study dark matter. This is one of the greatest puzzles cosmologists face today. The science team used Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) to complete their observations. The two cameras have unique specifications and can observe distinct parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, so this allowed astronomers to collect additional information. Abell 3827 has also been observed previously by Hubble, due to the interesting gravitational lens at its core. 

Looking at this cluster of hundreds of galaxies, it is amazing to recall that until less than 100 years ago, many astronomers thought that the Milky Way was the only galaxy in the Universe. The possibility of other galaxies had been debated previously, but the matter was not truly settled until Edwin Hubble confirmed that the Great Andromeda Nebula was in fact far too distant to be part of the Milky Way. The Great Andromeda Nebula became the Andromeda Galaxy, and astronomers recognized that our Universe was much, much larger than humanity had imagined. We can only imagine how Edwin Hubble—after whom the Hubble Space Telescope was named—would have felt if he had seen this spectacular image of Abell 3827.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Massey

Release Date: May 3, 2021

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #GalaxyCluster #Abell3827 #Indus #Constellation #GravitationalLensing #DarkMatter #Cosmology #Cosmos #Universe #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Spacecraft, Star Trails & City Lights of Asia | International Space Station

Spacecraft, Star Trails & City Lights of Asia | International Space Station

The long exposure photograph taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick shows star trails, streaks of city lights, and two Roscosmos crew ships, the Soyuz MS-26 docked to the Rassvet module (foreground) and the Soyuz MS-25 (background) docked to the Prichal docking module, as the International Space Station orbited 265 miles above central China.

This long exposure photograph taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick with a camera programmed for low sensitivity shows star trails and streaks of city lights as the International Space Station orbited 257 miles above the Molucca Sea in Indonesia.

This long exposure photograph taken by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick with a camera programmed for high sensitivity shows star trails and streaks of city lights as the International Space Station orbited 258 miles above the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam near Ho Chi Minh City.

Expedition 71 Updates:

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

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit

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: NASA's Johnson Space Center/M. Dominick

Image Date: Sept. 2, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #ISS #Planet #Earth #Asia #China #中国 #Indonesia #Vietnam #Astronauts #MatthewDominick #AstronautPhotography #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition71 #InternationalCooperation #Photography #Timelapse #STEM #Education

Flight 5 Starship & Heavy Booster Moved to Launch Pad | SpaceX Starbase

Flight 5 Starship & Heavy Booster Moved to Launch Pad | SpaceX Starbase

In these images, Starbase tower lifts the Super Heavy booster for Flight 5 to its expected catch height and Flight 5 Starship is moved to the launch pad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

"Starship is essential to both SpaceX’s plans to deploy its next-generation Starship system as well as for NASA, which will use a lunar lander version of Starship for landing astronauts on the Moon during the Artemis III mission through the Human Landing System (HLS) program."

Key Starship Parameters:

Height: 121m/397ft

Diameter: 9m/29.5ft

Payload to LEO: 100 – 150t (fully reusable)

Satellites: "Starship is designed to deliver satellites further and at a lower marginal cost per launch than our current Falcon vehicles. With a payload compartment larger than any fairing currently in operation or development, Starship creates possibilities for new missions, including space telescopes even larger than the James Webb."

Super Heavy is the first stage, or booster, of the Starship launch system. Powered by 33 Raptor engines using sub-cooled liquid methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX), Super Heavy is fully reusable and will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere to land back at the launch site.

Starship's Engines: Raptors

"The Raptor engine is a reusable methalox staged-combustion engine that powers the Starship launch system. Raptor engines began flight testing on the Starship prototype rockets in July 2019, becoming the first full-flow staged combustion rocket engine ever flown."

Raptor Engine Parameters:

Diameter: 1.3m/4ft

Height: 3.1m/10.2ft

Thrust: 230tf/500 klbf

Learn more:

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/

Download the Free Starship User Guide (PDF):

https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf

Image Credit: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)

Release Dates: Aug. 8-Sept. 20, 2024

#NASA #SpaceX #Space #Earth #Mars #Moon #MoonToMars #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #Starship #Starship5 #HeavyBooster #Spacecraft #SuperHeavyRocket #ElonMusk #SpaceTechnology #Engineering #HumanSpaceflight #CommercialSpace #SpaceExploration #Starbase #BocaChica #Texas #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Outer Stars of The Andromeda Galaxy | Hubble Space Telescope

Outer Stars of The Andromeda Galaxy | Hubble Space Telescope

The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. Distance: 2 million light-years

It is thought that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will collide several billion years from now.

Images 1&2: Stars in the Andromeda Galaxy’s giant stellar stream

These NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope images are of a small part of the giant stellar stream of the Andromeda Galaxy. The stream is a long structure thought to be the remains of a companion galaxy torn apart by the Andromeda Galaxy’s gravity and engulfed in it.

Images 3&4: Stars in the Andromeda Galaxy’s halo with background galaxies 

These NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope images are of a small part of the halo of the Andromeda Galaxy. The halo is the huge and sparse sphere of stars that surrounds a galaxy. While there are relatively few stars in a galaxy’s halo, studies of the rotation rate of galaxies suggest that there is a great deal of invisible dark matter here.

Hubble’s position above the distorting effect of the atmosphere, combined with this galaxy’s relative proximity, means that these images can be resolved into individual stars, rather than the cloudy white wisps usually seen in observations of galaxies. In the background, many faraway galaxies are visible, billions of light-years further away than the Andromeda Galaxy.

Andromeda’s proximity to the Milky Way means it looks larger than other galaxies from Earth: Seen with the naked eye, Andromeda would be about six times the width of the Moon (about 3 degrees)

These observations were made in order to observe a wide variety of stars in Andromeda, ranging from faint main sequence stars like our own Sun, to the much brighter RR Lyrae stars—a type of variable star. With these measurements, astronomers can determine the chemistry and ages of the stars in each part of the Andromeda Galaxy.

Image Credits: NASA, ESA and T.M. Brown/Space Telescope Science Institute

Release Date: July 21, 2011

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #Galaxies #Galaxy #AndromedaGalaxy #Messier31 #M31 #Andromeda #Constellation #AndromedaGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #HubbleSpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Members | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Members | International Space Station

SpaceX Crew-10 members (from left) Pilot Nichole Ayers of NASA, Mission Specialists Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos of Russia, Takuya Onishi of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Commander Anne McClain of NASA pose for a selfie portrait in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center during a pre-flight training session.

SpaceX Crew-10 members (from left) Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Pilot Nichole Ayers of NASA, Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos of Russia, and Commander Anne McClain of NASA pose for a portrait in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

SpaceX Crew-10 members (from left) Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Commander Anne McClain of NASA, and Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos of Russia have a discussion during pre-flight mission training in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

Roscosmos cosmonaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Russia listens to a presentation during pre-flight mission training in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

Roscosmos cosmonaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Russia participates in pre-flight mission training in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi participates in pre-flight mission training in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi prepares for spacewalk training in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

SpaceX Crew-10 members (from left) Pilot Nichole Ayers of NASA, Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Commander Anne McClain of NASA, and Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos (Russia) participate in water survival training in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Four crew members are preparing to launch for a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Commander Anne McClain and Pilot Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Russia will join astronauts at the orbiting laboratory no earlier than February 2025.

Veteran Astronaut Anne McClain NASA Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/anne-c-mcclain/

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/anne-c-mcclain/

Astronaut Nichole Ayers NASA Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-nichole-ayers

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/nasa-astronaut-nichole-ayers/

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi Biography

https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/onishi-takuya/

The flight is the 10th crew rotation with SpaceX to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. While aboard, the international crew will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future missions and benefit people on Earth.

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: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Dates: May 14-Sept. 19, 2024

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #SpaceXCrew10 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Falcon9Rocket #Astronauts #AnneMcClain #Commander #NicholeAyers #TakuyaOnishi #Japan #日本 #Cosmonauts #KirillPeskov #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #CCP #Expedition72 #Expedition73 #JSC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Pilot Nichole Ayers | International Space Station

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Pilot Nichole Ayers | International Space Station

Astronaut Candidate Individual Portrait, Nichole Ayers - ASCAN Class of 2021

NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Pilot Nichole Ayers prepares for spacewalk training in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Pilot Nichole Ayers is seated in a T-38 aircraft trainer during pre-flight mission training at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas.

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers walks on the tarmac toward a T-38 aircraft trainer.

NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-10 Pilot Nichole Ayers listens to a presentation during pre-flight mission training in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers poses for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

NASA astronaut candidate Nichole Ayers pictured here in an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Nichole Ayers is currently training for her first spaceflight where she will serve as pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. Four crew members are preparing to launch for a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Commander Anne McClain and Pilot Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Russia will join astronauts at the orbiting laboratory no earlier than February 2025.

Astronaut Nichole Ayers NASA Biography:

https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-nichole-ayers

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/nasa-astronaut-nichole-ayers/

The flight is the 10th crew rotation with SpaceX to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. While aboard, the international crew will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future missions and benefit people on Earth.

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: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)/Josh Valcarcel/Robert Markowitz

Release Dates: Dec. 3, 2021-Aug. 12, 2024

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #SpaceXCrew10 #SpaceX #CrewDragonSpacecraft #Falcon9Rocket #Astronauts #NicholeAyers #Pilot #AnneMcClain #TakuyaOnishi #Japan #日本 #Cosmonauts #KirillPeskov #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #CCP #Expedition72 #Expedition73 #Houston #Texas #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA's Space to Ground: Sunita in Charge | Week of Sept. 20, 2024

NASA's Space to Ground: Sunita in Charge | Week of Sept. 20, 2024

NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov of Russia are scheduled to launch no earlier than 2:05 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station.

Crew-9 will be the first human spaceflight mission to launch from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral. This is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the orbiting laboratory under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The crew will spend approximately five months at the station, conducting more than 200 science and research demonstrations before returning in February 2025.

Expedition 71 Updates:

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

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner 

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit

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.

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

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: Sept. 20, 2024

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #SpaceXCrew9 #Astronauts #NickHague #SunitaWilliams #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #AleksandrGorbunov #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #SpaceLaboratory #Expedition71 #Expedition72 #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education #HD #Video