Astronauts Excited For First Yearlong Trip to International Space Station

The two men preparing for the first-ever yearlong mission to the International Space Station are looking forward to the challenge, they said today (Dec. 5).

Friends and family are supportive of the mission, said astronaut Scott Kelly, though perhaps none more so than his 9-year-old daughter.

"When I told her on the phone that I was going to spend a year on the space station, she screamed out, 'Awesome!'" Kelly said today during a press conference at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Kelly and Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko are due to launch on the yearlong mission in 2015.

The flight is designed to help scientists understand how the human body adapts to spaceflight longer than six months, the usual length of stints aboard the space station. [Most Extreme Human Spaceflight Records]

No one has ever spent a continuous year on the International Space Station (ISS), though four Russian cosmonauts have experienced nearly year-long or longer missions in low-Earth orbit. One, Valery Polyakov, stayed aboard the Russian space station Mir for 428 consecutive days in 1994 and 1995.

All of these cosmonauts flew in the early era of spaceflight, said ISS program scientist Julie Robinson. The last long-duration mission ended in 1999. Kelly Kornienko will become the first people since then to spend a year in orbit.

Testing the human body

NASA and other space agencies know a lot about how the body responds to six months in space, Robinson told reporters, but little about what happens next though that sort of knowledge is crucial as agencies contemplate sending humans back to the moon, to an asteroid, or to Mars.

NASA has several major concerns about the health effects of long-duration spaceflight. One of the most pressing is a recently discovered side effect: vision problems created by increased pressure in the skull in microgravity. Researchers aren't yet sure if some of those vision changes might be permanent, Robinson said.

Read the original post:

Astronauts Excited For First Yearlong Trip to International Space Station

Astronaut Joe Acaba Sits Down with Followers in DC at NASA Social – Video


Astronaut Joe Acaba Sits Down with Followers in DC at NASA Social
Astronaut Joe Acaba visited the Washington, DC Metro area where, during a NASA Social at Headquarters, the flight engineer for Expeditions 31 and 32 shared his experiences from his time onboard the International Space Station with about 150 of the agency #39;s social media followers -- complete with a video presentation and first-hand stories about life onboard the orbiting outpost. Acaba launched to the International Space Station on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in May 2012. He returned to Earth in September after 123 days on the station. Acaba previously spent 13 days in space as mission specialist during space shuttle Discovery #39;s STS-119 mission to the station in 2009.From:NASAtelevisionViews:931 41ratingsTime:01:28:05More inScience Technology

Link:

Astronaut Joe Acaba Sits Down with Followers in DC at NASA Social - Video

Life in AFRICA – TODAY IN HISTORY – Video


Life in AFRICA - TODAY IN HISTORY
What Happened on December 4th This Day in History http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/december4th.htmlSpace 1998 Space International Space Station December 4th, 1998 : The first 6 astronauts are taken by Space Shuttle Endeavour to Attach the Unity Module to ... 1872 - 1909 - 1920 - 1934 Today in History for December 4th - YouTube #9658; 1:06 #9658; 1:06 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMm6O9OufBM 12 hours ago - Uploaded by AssociatedPress Associated Press Correspondent Terry Anderson is released from captivity; American troops head to Somalia ... More videos for Today in History for December 4th December 4 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_4December 4 is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the ... Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange). Events - Births - Deaths - Holidays and observances Today in History for December 4th - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMm6O9OufBM feature...11 hours ago -- Associated Press Correspondent Terry Anderson is released from captivity; American troops head to Somalia; General George Washington ... On This Day In History - On-This-Day.com http://www.on-this-day.com/todayinhistory/misc-history.htmToday #39;s: Famous Birthdays - Music history. 1783 - Gen. George Washington said farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York. 1791 - Britain #39;s ... History for December 4 - On-This-Day.com http://www.on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/dec04.htmDecember 4. Today #39;s: 1783 - Gen. George ...From:medwell1Views:2 0ratingsTime:01:06More inEntertainment

Original post:

Life in AFRICA - TODAY IN HISTORY - Video

Space Travel Jet Lag – How ISS Astronauts Cope | Video – Video


Space Travel Jet Lag - How ISS Astronauts Cope | Video
Adjusting the circadian rhythm or biological clock of space faring humans on Space Station, where 16 sunrises and sunsets a day are commonplace, is planned for. Soon-to-launch NASA astronaut Tom Mashburn explains and answer more audience questions.From:VideoFromSpaceViews:108 10ratingsTime:04:20More inScience Technology

Read the original post:

Space Travel Jet Lag - How ISS Astronauts Cope | Video - Video

0.18 First Missions | Episode 3 – Dahud Power Station – Video


0.18 First Missions | Episode 3 - Dahud Power Station
Much trouble is had in an attempt to add a solar panel array onto our growing space station. Get 0.18 for yourself! http://www.kerbalspaceprogram.com Check out Guard13007 #39;s Channel for more KSP videos: http://www.youtube.com Produced, Edited, and Narrated by Julian Vargas Recorded in Kerbal Space Program by Squad kerbalspaceprogram.com Music: Introduction: Easy Lemon by Kevin Macleod incompetech.com Outro The Lion #39;s Den by PM Radio: soundcloud.comFrom:Wernher Von KermanViews:30 5ratingsTime:21:59More inGaming

See the rest here:

0.18 First Missions | Episode 3 - Dahud Power Station - Video

Up To Four Players Play: Space Station Silicon Valley – Video


Up To Four Players Play: Space Station Silicon Valley
"Do you gain power from their pain?" This week the Players delve into the weird side of games with Space Station Silicon Valley for the Nintendo 64 and learn that Ben would make a terrible sheepdog or cheetah. The Players This Episode: Player One - Ben Spectator - Brian Spectator - Lauren Spectator - Dan Spectator - Brenden What weird game from your childhood do you have a soft spot for? Is it still good by today #39;s standards? And as always, if you aren #39;t subscribed to Two Best Friends or Game Grumps, Evo will take over your body and make you do so. Or not, since it #39;s just an iPhone with legs. http://www.youtube.com/thesw1tcher http://www.youtube.com/gamegrumpsFrom:UpToFourPlayersViews:1 1ratingsTime:05:53More inGaming

Go here to read the rest:

Up To Four Players Play: Space Station Silicon Valley - Video

Spider adapted to life on space station

WASHINGTON -- After a space voyage of almost 42 million miles, Nefertiti the "Jumping Johnson" spider landed at the Smithsonian's Insect Zoo at the National Museum of Natural History last week. Unfortunately, whether it was her long flight or the short natural life span of a spider, "Neffi" was found lifeless Monday morning, Dec. 3, after only four days on public view.

Go here to read the rest:

Spider adapted to life on space station

The First Jumping Spider To Travel To Space Has Died

Nefertiri, the world's first jumping spider to live in space, died yesterday. The spider lived for 100 days on board the International Space Station as part of the YouTube Space Lab challenge, where NASA took suggestions for experiments aboard the International Space Station from 14-18 year olds. Nefertiri was brought on board thanks to a suggestion from Amr Mohamed, who was curious to see if a ...

Continued here:

The First Jumping Spider To Travel To Space Has Died

NASA's Planned Deep Space Station Does Not Have Obama Approval

A story published in Space.com suggests that NASA's plans to build a deep space station at the Earth/moon Lagrange 2 point may be more hope than reality. The Obama administration seems actually cold to the idea.

Deep space station not approved by Obama administration

Space.com, quoting an unnamed administration official, contradicted recent media reports that a deep space station, designed to be a gateway for expeditions to the asteroids, Mars, and perhaps the lunar surface, had not been approved by the Obama administration. The unnamed official hinted that the stories in the media were part of a gambit by NASA to garner support for the project from the Congress. In any case, no funding for the deep space station has been requested for the current or the upcoming fiscal year.

Media speculation rampant on NASA deep space station

The Orlando Sentinel reported that NASA had proposed the deep space station as part of its exploration strategy in a September story. The idea was that the station would serve as a practice run for deep space missions to the asteroids and Mars as well as a base for the robotic exploration of the moon. The station would be located at the Earth/moon Lagrange Point 2, where the gravities of the Earth and moon tend to cancel one another out about 38,000 miles beyond the lunar far side. The facility would be deployed by the heavy lift Space Launch Vehicle and would be visited by crews of astronauts riding the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. Eventually, the facility might become a refueling stop, perhaps with rocket fuel refined by lunar water, for spacecraft headed deeper into the Solar System.

Space policy confusion at the White House?

President Obama famously cancelled President George W. Bush's Constellation program and instead, in an April 2010 speech, pointed NASA's exploration efforts toward an Earth-approaching asteroid and, eventually, Mars. Congress, in the 2010 NASA Authorization Bill, not only added the moon back on the list of destinations, but mandated the development of the heavy lift Space Launch System and the Orion has two elements of that space exploration program. The idea of a deep space station at the Earth/moon L2 would seem to help address the conflicting priorities of the White House and the Congress, providing some flexibility and experience in the relative short term for NASA's space exploration program. If the White House is resisting the funding of the deep space station, the question arises whether it is actually serious about its own space exploration program.

Fiscal cliff may derail NASA space exploration.

If budget talks fail and the federal government goes over the fiscal cliff with the preprogrammed tax increases and budget cuts, NASA's dreams for space exploration would almost certainly suffer. Bill Nye, the CEO of the Planetary Society, warned about possible cuts to research and development, including NASA. Planetary Society member John Livingston, writing for the Patriot Ledger, agrees, suggesting that NASA space exploration is especially vulnerable to fiscal cliff brinksmanship. The confusion and uncertainty on the part of the White House concerning space policy may therefore be part of a wider problem.

Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker. He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times, and The Weekly Standard.

Originally posted here:

NASA's Planned Deep Space Station Does Not Have Obama Approval

NASA's Deep-Space Station Idea Lacks White House Approval

Despite speculation to the contrary, NASA's ambitious plans for a manned space station beyond the moon have not yet been cleared by the White House, a senior administration official told SPACE.com.

Over the past year or so, NASA has been drawing up plans for a manned outpost beyond the moon's far side, at a gravitationally stable location known as the Earth-moon Lagrange point 2 (EM-L2). The station would establish a human presence in deep space, serve as a staging ground for lunar operations and help build momentum for exploring more far-flung destinations, such as asteroids and Mars.

Word about the potential outpost has begun leaking out in press reports and from space exploration officials over the last several months,leading some experts to suspect that the White House may already be on board and that an official announcement could be coming soon, especially since President Barack Obama won re-election on Nov. 6.

But such speculation is inaccurate, said the official, who was not authorized to speak on the record.

NASA has not cleared the EM-L2 outpost with the White House, and the space agency has not requested funding for it in the current fiscal year or the subsequent one, the official told SPACE.com.

"So it's kind of just one of those one-off projects that [NASA hopes if it goes] to the press, or to [Capitol] Hill, that it'll get funded," the official added. "But I don't think that's going to be the case."

NASA would rely on its Orion crew capsule and huge Space Launch System rocket both of which are under development to build and staff the outpost at EM-L2. The agency wants the capsule-rocket combo to be ready to carry astronauts by 2021.

An EM-L2 space station could serve as a stepping stone to near-Earth asteroids and Mars, two destinations that are officially on NASA's docket. In 2010, Obama directed the space agency to get astronauts to a space rock by 2025, then on to the vicinity of the Red Planet by the mid-2030s.

The new directive marked a change of course for NASA's human spaceflight efforts, which had been geared toward going back to the moon under the Constellation program.

Constellation began in 2004 under President George W. Bush. Obama cancelled Constellation in 2010 after a review panel known as the Augustine Committee deemed it significantly behind schedule and over budget.

Link:

NASA's Deep-Space Station Idea Lacks White House Approval

Kerbal Space Missions Corp Ep2 – Apollo Mission Part II (KSP 0.18) – Video


Kerbal Space Missions Corp Ep2 - Apollo Mission Part II (KSP 0.18)
Yes, Kerbal Space Program 0.18 is OUT! This is my third space mission, the first 2 were launching the space station into space. I docked this ship to the Space Station, but forgot recording it 🙁 I refueled my ship there, and it is heading towards the Mun now! Part I: youtu.be Kerbal Space Program: http://www.kerbalspaceprogram.comFrom:Rens HoskensViews:24 1ratingsTime:31:00More inGaming

Read this article:

Kerbal Space Missions Corp Ep2 - Apollo Mission Part II (KSP 0.18) - Video

YTO 2 366-0 – Warping Out Of Orbit – Video


YTO 2 366-0 - Warping Out Of Orbit
(YTO2 366-0) It #39;s taken longer than it should have I know but here it is, the end of a YouTube Orbit. Donate to Child #39;s play charity at tinfoilchef.com E-01- New Version - New Story - Kerbal Space Program 018 http://www.youtube.com E-02- Space Station 1 - Kerbal Space Program 018 http://www.youtube.com E-03- Adding A Section - Kerbal Space Program 018 http://www.youtube.com E-06- First Steps To More power - TFC Modcraft Season 2 http://www.youtube.com E-05- Technology Time - TFC Modcraft season 2 http://www.youtube.com E-263- Head Hunting - TFC #39;s Minecraft Adventure http://www.youtube.com Thanks for watching! Music: "Hero Theme", "Epic Unease", "Nerves", "Chase", "Achilles" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Phat Trek theme by Lennardt youtube.com finished, completed, late, vlog, yto2, yto, orbit, tinfoil chef, tinfoilchefdotcom .From:TinFoilChefDotComViews:0 9ratingsTime:05:24More inPeople Blogs

More:

YTO 2 366-0 - Warping Out Of Orbit - Video