The Progress MS-28 (or Progress 89 per NASA) spacecraft successfully attached itself to the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday so that three tons of supplies could be unloaded.
As with previous resupply spacecraft, it will remain attached to the station for the next six months before being ejected back towards Earth where it will burn up in the atmosphere.
This week’s image is from earlier today when the Russian’s successfully launched its Progress MS-28 cargo spacecraft via a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). The resupply mission was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome located in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft will rendezvous with the ISS on Saturday.
Note: NASA identifies the mission as Progress 89.
PLoS ONE abstract of the study findings:
Between January and March 2022, crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) performed the first archaeological fieldwork in space, the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE). The experiment aimed to: (1) develop a new understanding of how humans adapt to life in an environmental context for which we are not evolutionarily adapted, using evidence from the observation of material culture; (2) identify disjunctions between planned and actual usage of facilities on a space station; (3) develop and test techniques that enable archaeological research at a distance; and (4) demonstrate the relevance of social science methods and perspectives for improving life in space. In this article, we describe our methodology, which involves a creative re-imagining of a long-standing sampling practice for the characterization of a site, the shovel test pit. The ISS crew marked out six sample locations (“squares”) around the ISS and documented them through daily photography over a 60-day period. Here we present the results from two of the six squares: an equipment maintenance area, and an area near exercise equipment and the latrine. Using the photographs and an innovative webtool, we identified 5,438 instances of items, labeling them by type and function. We then performed chronological analyses to determine how the documented areas were actually used. Our results show differences between intended and actual use, with storage the most common function of the maintenance area, and personal hygiene activities most common in an undesignated area near locations for exercise and waste.
Citation: Walsh JSP, Graham S, Gorman AC, Brousseau C, Abdullah S, Archaeology in space: The Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE) on the International Space Station. Report 1: Squares 03 and 05. PLoS ONE 19(8): e0304229 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304229
Study-related stories:
This week’s image is from the International Space Station (ISS). It shows Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply capsule on August 6, 2024 as the International Space Station’s (ISS) Canadarm2 robotic arm attempts to capture it. NASA noted that this Canadarm2 maneuver marked the 50th free-flying capture for the robotic arm.
I did not think it could get worse, but it has. NASA has announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule attached to the International Space Station (ISS) might not return until next year, making it an unwanted appendage on a busy space station.
At a press conference today, NASA discussed leaving the two Boeing astronauts on the ISS until February 2025 and cutting in half the planned crew for the September 24 SpaceX Dragon mission. This would keep the number of astronauts on the space station to its normal number. There was also discussion about bringing the Boeing astronauts back on another capsule if the Starliner was not ready.
This looks bad for Boeing and NASA’s commercial space efforts. Boeing does not agree with NASA’s assessment, stating in an August 2 mission update:
Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew. We continue to support NASA’s requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to affirm the spacecraft’s safe undocking and landing capabilities. Our confidence is based on this abundance of valuable testing from Boeing and NASA. The testing has confirmed 27 of 28 RCS thrusters are healthy and back to full operational capability. Starliner’s propulsion system also maintains redundancy and the helium levels remain stable. The data also supports root cause assessments for the helium and thruster issues and flight rationale for Starliner and its crew’s return to Earth.
All of this is happening while the ISS crew are unloading supplies from a recently arrived Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo capsule launched over the weekend. It does make you wonder whether Grumman should be the next best hope for a crewed capsule rather than Boeing. Grumman has a proven track record of more than 20 resupply runs. Clearly, crewed capsule are different, but it is something to consider.
Sierra Space is also testing its Dream Chaser next month, which is also expected to make cargo runs to the ISS. It this another potential crew option down the road?
The purpose of commercial involvement was greater options. Let’s work on expanding those options as quickly as possible. Placing all of our eggs in the Elon Musk SpaceX basket makes me nervous as he calls for civil war in the United Kingdom.
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