The ISS Will Need to Wait a Little Longer for Supplies

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: NASA

Everything was set for a cargo mission to the International Space Station earlier today until the weather decided to mess things up.

As a result, the CRS-34 mission with its 6,500 pounds of supplies will be delayed for another day.

Here is a summary of some of the cargo going up to the station tomorrow:

  • ODYSSEY: Evaluating how well Earth-based microgravity simulators recreate space conditions.
  • STORIE: Monitoring charged particles in orbit around the Earth, which respond to space weather and can affect assets like power grids and satellites. 
  • Laplace: Studying the movement and collision of dust particles in microgravity to understand particle motion in space.
  • Green Bone: Observing how bone cells grow and develop in space on a bone scaffold made from wood.
  • SPARK: Evaluating how red blood cells and the spleen change in space for future astronauts.

Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow.

Update: The CRS-34 launch has now been moved to Friday, May 15th.

Martian Rover Worksite Problems

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): The Curiosity Mars rover arm with a piece of rock attached. (NASA)

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover had some issues two weeks ago while drilling on the Martian surface. On April 25th, the drill became stuck on a piece of rock that would not drop off of the robotic arm. The 28.6 pound rock, nicknamed “Atacama,” was fully attached to the rover. NASA stated this is the first time this has happened.

NASA scientists did not panic, yet this was not an easy issue to resolve. The rock remained attached to the arm after several days of attempts to dislodge it. Remember, it takes 40 minutes for a round trip message to go from the rover to the scientists and then back to the rover. It was not until May 1 that the rock was safely removed from the arm after a lot of rotating, vibrating, and spinning.

The rover has been busy on the Martian surface since 2012, so it has already had plenty of time to become entangled with the rocks on the surface. Fortunately, patience prevailed and the search for water and life on Mars continues.

Pic of the Week: The Crescent Earth

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): A look back at Earth by the Artemis II crew. (NASA)

This week’s image is one of more than 12,000 from the Artemis II mission recently released by NASA. This particular shot of the crescent Earth is a whole new way to look at our world from afar.

These images are currently available via the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth website, but they are not easy to locate. NASA also maintains a multimedia website with many images, videos, wallpapers, and more (shown below).

Space Stories: New Artemis II Photos, JWST Studies Exoplanet Surface, and Japanese Space Sake for Sale

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): One of the new photo from the Artemis II mission recently released by NASA. (NASA)

Here are some recent space-related stories.

—ABC News: “NASA Releases More Than 12,000 Images from Historic Artemis II Moon Mission“

Over the weekend, NASA made public more than 12,000 photos from the historic Artemis II lunar mission…Over the course of the mission, NASA released dozens of images of the astronauts, Earth, the moon and even a total solar eclipse. However, the new trove reveals some never-before-seen photos as well as new angles of objects in space, primarily using Nikon cameras and iPhone 17s.

—ZME Science: “Astronomers Determine the Surface of a Rocky Planet Beyond Our Solar System for the First Time“

A rocky planet nearly 50 light-years away appears to be airless, dark, and covered in volcanic or weathered rock, according to new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. This is the first time that astronomers have obtained details about the surface of a rocky planet outside our solar system. The planet, LHS 3844 b, is not habitable. It is about 30 percent larger than Earth, orbits its star every 11 hours, and has one side permanently pointing towards the Sun, baked at about 725°C.

—The Korean Times: “Space-fermented Sake by Japanese Brewer Dassai Sells for $700,000“

Japanese brewer Dassai has sold a 100-milliliter bottle of sake fermented on the International Space Station for 110 million yen ($700,000). Dassai partnered with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to ferment sake ingredients in space, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported Monday. Using the space-fermented mash, or moromi, the brewery finished brewing the sake on Earth, yielding 116 milliliters. Dassai sold a 100-milliliter bottle of the final product to an unnamed Japanese buyer. The company plans to donate the proceeds to Japan’s space program.

Astronauts Unite!

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Uniting to support a good cause makes a lot of sense, and a number of astronauts would agree. That is why more than 100 former astronauts have joined to create a nonpartisan organization called Astronauts for America.

What do they believe? They support democracy here in America, and have links on their site to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Should astronauts really need to join together to repeat what we should already be doing? Apparently so, from what they are saying, which is quite a statement about our current state of affairs. It is not only NASA and the US government that is under attack these days (by the US government, mind you). It is democracy itself.

This letter from the groups says it all:

To Our Fellow Americans:

Looking at the Earth from space, we see what unites us more than what divides us. As former NASA astronauts, that perspective shapes everything we do.

We view our oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution as a lifelong commitment. And today, with the launch of Astronauts For America, we take on a new mission: to reinvigorate American democracy. It’s a critical mission that depends upon all of our vigilance and support.

For decades we’ve seen a steady erosion of our founding values and principles that weakens our democratic systems. The result has been political polarization and subversion of key constitutional and institutional norms, including bipartisan cooperation, executive constraint, and judicial independence.

In spaceflight, ignoring evidence costs scientific advancement, mission success, and even lives. In democracy, it costs trust, stability, international respect, and the health and well-being of the governed.

If you’re like us, you might not be used to talking about politics outside of your home. We didn’t spend time discussing who we voted for when we were working in the NASA Astronaut Corps. We know the importance of respecting one another and speaking up when things don’t look right. We’ve seen what Americans can achieve when we work as a team toward a common goal.

Our new mission is patriotic, not partisan. We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents from many different backgrounds who share a love of this country. We believe deeply in the principles that have propelled our nation for 250 years, such as the rule of law, constructive checks and balances, equal opportunity, and the peaceful transfer of power. A strong democracy makes all else possible: economic growth, national security, and our rights and freedoms.

Astronauts For America will partner with voters and support leaders, regardless of party, who govern in accordance with the Constitution and work out differences to get things done for the good of the nation. We’ll also take officials to task when they ignore the rule of law or distort and disregard the facts.

We’re calling on all our fellow patriots to join us in this mission and put country over party. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, remember the democratic values that have allowed our nation to excel. We encourage you to sign the pledge and join our crew at AstronautsForAmerica.org.

We are very grateful for the opportunities provided to us by this great country which allowed us to live our version of the American Dream. Together, let’s ensure that America remains a land of opportunity and a beacon of democracy for another 250 years.

Sincerely,
The Members of Astronauts For America

On the group’s website you can sign a pledge to support democracy and also contribute to their cause.

If we going to plant another US flag on the surface of the Moon in two years, let’s make sure that flag means something that we can be proud of more than 250 years after the founding of the country. And if this group of astronauts can help to make that happen, then I am a supporter.