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Chinese astronauts are due to carry out the nation's first manual space docking, a highly complex manoeuvre that will bring the Asian powerhouse a step closer to building a space station.
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Washington, June 23 (IANS) Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams is all set to return to to the International Space Station, where she spent a record six months in 2006.
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New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams will be returning to the International Space Station, where she spent a record six months in 2006, in July.
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After years of delays, the long-awaited dream of commercial flights to space may soon become reality
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22 June 2012 Last updated at 12:50 ET
A major decision needs to be taken at the end of this year concerning the future of Europe's space truck - the Automated Transfer Vehicle.
The programme is nearing its end and European Space Agency (Esa) member states will gather in Caserta, Italy, in November to decide on a successor project.
For those who don't know their shuttle from their Soyuz too well, the ATV is a huge robotic spacecraft that delivers supplies to the International Space Station.
With a lift-off weight of 20 tonnes, it is Europe's biggest space vessel, and its sophisticated navigation and docking technologies make it one of the most impressive pieces of hardware Esa has ever put in orbit.
But only five ATVs were ever ordered. Two of them completed cargo runs to the ISS in 2008 and 2011. A third is currently in orbit docked to the station; two further craft are in the late stages of fabrication.
Vehicle four (dubbed "Albert Einstein") will be despatched to the launch site in August for a lift-off in Spring next year. Vehicle five ("Georges Lemaitre") will go up in 2014.
The engineers who've been working on the programme will soon need something new to do. The question is "what?"
Esa has just kicked off two studies, valued in total at 13m euros (10m; $16m), which will consider ATV derivatives.
"We have built up knowledge with the ATV on some technologies that are on the leading edge, and it would be quite a pity if we just stopped after all the time and money we have invested these technologies," Nico Dettmann, who runs Esa's ATV programme, told me.
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The astronaut, who will take over as the commander of the International Space Station [ Images ], says she is not nervous but 'psyched'. Suman Guha Mozumder reports
Astronaut Sunita Williams [ Images ], who holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman after 195 days spent in space in the year 2006, is set to revisit the International Space Station.
And this time Williams is going to be the commander of the ISS after the existing crew comes back two months after she and her fellow astronauts reach.
July 14, Williams will launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where she went last month for pre-flight training. Her mother Bony Pandya -- who always believed her daughter Suni (as Williams is to friends and family) "would become somebody someday" but could never imagine her becoming an astronaut -- also left last week for Kazakhstan for 10 days to meet with her daughter.
"Like my sister, we are all very excited about Suni's space journey," Williams's sister Dina Pandya told rediff.com.
Williams will launch for the ISS as flight engineer at 9.40 pm Central Daylight Time July 14 as part of Expedition 32. After the existing three crew members at the ISS leave in September, she will become commander of Expedition 33, which will return a week after the presidential election in November.
Williams will launch into space with flight engineers Yuri Malenchenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan [ Images ] Aerospace Exploration Agency.
"This time Williams is actually going to spend quite some time again on the space station, and she'll be doing a mixed bag of scientific research," Jay Bolden of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Johnson Space Center told rediff.com. "There are about 200 different experiments she is slated to do. Besides, she'll also be doing some repair work on the space station, and possibly do a couple of space walks as well. She'll be using this opportunity to connect with a bunch of students. She'll be doing a lot of experiments, and talk to the students about these. She'll also be doing medical research and some biology experiments as well."
From space, Williams will be talking students, mainly from elementary, middle, and high schools, when schools start in the fall.
"She'll be talking to them pretty much all throughout the country," Bolden said.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - You may have seen a bright light passing through the sky over the last couple of nights. It's the International Space Station and you might be able to see it Friday night.
The International Space Station was launched and put into orbit in 1998. The first crew arrived in 2000. The space station is about 200 miles above Earth and orbits the planet 16 times a day. It travels at a speed of 17,000 mile per hour.
The space station's orbit recently has been taking it across the United States so it's possible to see it, but because it's moving so fast it'll be hard to see with a telescope.
Richard Sanderson, from the Springfield Science Museum, tells 22News, The best way to see it is with your naked eye. It's a very bright object, one of the brightest objects in the sky at night when it's visible, so it's very easy to see and once you spot it you want to try and track it with binoculars if you can.
If you want to track the International Space Station , and for the times and dates that you'll be able to see it, click here .
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Ever wonder what the crew on board the International Space Station is doing right now? Or what is the temperature of each of the orbiting outpost's modules? Or how much power is being generated at this very instant by the space station's solar array wings?
If so, NASA has an app for that.
The agency's Space Station Live! website and companion ISSLive! mobile application offers the public a new inside look at what is happening aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and in the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Space Station Live! enables its users to see what the six expedition astronauts and cosmonauts on the complex are doing minute by minute. Streaming data from the station through Houston Mission Control lets the public view the latest details on temperatures, communications and power generation.
In addition to accessing the same telemetry used by flight controllers, Internet and smart phone users can use Space Station Live! to tour the space station and mission control operator consoles through virtual 3-D view models.
Space Station Live! is at spacestationlive.nasa.gov on the web and via the free ISSLive! app for smart phones and tablet computers linked from NASA's site. The app also is available through the Google Play and Apple iTunes app stores. [Top 7 Space Apps]
Virtual Mission Control
On the website and through the mobile apps, users can navigate through a realistic 3-D recreation of the space station's flight control room in Houston. They can navigate through the rows of consoles, selecting workstations such as the Flight Director's or Capcom's (spacecraft communicator) to see the type of live data they work with.
For example, at the ETHOS console, which monitors the space station's life support systems, Space Station Live! users can view the current pressure, temperature and fan status in the U.S. Destiny laboratory and Tranquility node. For the Quest airlock, which astronauts exit through when performing spacewalks, live telemetry offers updates on the pressure and valve positions for the port's oxygen and nitrogen tanks.
Similarly, at the SPARTAN or Station Power, Articulation and Thermal Control console, users can see the flow rate for the two ammonia-filled loops that cool the station. A different screen at the same virtual workstation displays the position in degrees and how many volts and amps are being generated by the power-providing solar arrays.
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Space Station Live! NASA App Puts Orbiting Lab at Your Fingertips
As the International Space Station zooms overhead next week, Destination Imagination students and Philadelphia youths from area schools and Boys and Girls clubs will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the astronauts in space.
Students will ask questions and solve brain teasers during their session with NASA astronauts Joe Acaba and Don Pettit, and European astronaut Andre Kuipers, who are on board the International Space Station.
The event will take place 10:35 to 10:55 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, in the Gallagher Athletic, Recreation and Convocation Center at Philadelphia University, which is located at 4201 Henry Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144 in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.
"We are pleased to partner with Destination Imagination to educate the innovators of tomorrow," said D.R. Widder, executive director of innovation at Philadelphia University, which is a national sponsor of DI. "Philadelphia University's educational mission is grounded in our Nexus Learning approach: collaborative, active, project-based and connected to the real world. The NASA project employs these values to teach students in an innovative and collaborative environment."
Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Destination Imagination, the largest program of its kind in the world that teaches critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem solving, was selected by NASA to have DI problem-solving challenge teams take part in the downlink.
"Destination Imagination is honored to be chosen as the recipient of the NASA downlink allowing students the unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask questions of astronauts on board the International Space Station," said Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination, based in Cherry Hill, NJ.
The astronauts are always having to solve Challenges-the Downlink participants will be asked to solve Challenges using only materials available on the Space Station. If time allows, the astronauts will compete against the students in one of two Instant Challenges to solve hands-on brain teaser problems. The first challenge requires astronauts to build the highest tower possible using only Post-It Notes. The second Challenge requires building a space creature from supplies on board the space station and giving it a job to perform.
The exact time of the downlink could change. Live streaming of the event can be seen at Ditv.idodi.org.
CONTACT: Michelle Griffith, APR, +813-597-8189, michelle@clearviewcom.comLocal, state and national news media are welcome to cover the event. Please contact Michelle Griffith (michelle@clearviewcom.com/813-597-8189) in advance for media credentials. Web Site: http://www.destinationimagination.org
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Washington D.C. - Michael Lopez-Alegria, President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, testified Wednesday morning before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science and Space at a hearing entitled "Risks, Opportunities, and Oversight of Commercial Space." Among the topics discussed at the hearing were risk-sharing, regulation, NASA's Commercial Crew and the International Space Station.
Lopez-Alegria stated in his opening statement "Having commanded the International Space Station, I share with this committee an understanding of its great value to America and to the world. It represents an unparalleled capability for space-based research and technology demonstration, but its full utilization potential is dependent on robust cargo and crew transportation."
One of the other witnesses, William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator of Human Exploration and Operations at NASA, testified to NASA's plans for the forthcoming commercial crew seats. Gerstenmaier stated, "We would definitely increase the crew size on ISS to seven crew. We currently have six crew members . . . . The space station was designed to operate at a full complement of crew of seven. We think that will increase the research capability on board station and allow us to do more National Lab research and be more effective in utilizing the space station."
Commercial Spaceflight Federation Executive Director, Alex Saltman stated after the hearing, "We are thrilled to hear the comments of Mr. Gerstenmaier today confirming NASA's intent to fully utilize the International Space Station. The addition of a seventh crew member to ISS will significantly increase the science, research and education capabilities of the station. Several witnesses at the hearing, as well as Senator Nelson, extolled the research potential of the Station to create new markets and innovative capabilities in many business sectors. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation looks forward to working closely with NASA and Congress to ensure the full utilization and extended life of ISS through future commercial crew services, and supports the highest possible funding for NASA's Commercial Crew Program so that NASA can obtain these services in a timely manner."
View Michael Lopez-Alegria's full written testimony to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science and Space here.
About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation
The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation's member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit http://www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Executive Director Alex Saltman at saltman@commercialspaceflight.org or at 202.349.1121.
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Shooting star? Not quite.
Keep your eyes peeled to the sky this weekend Londoners and you could see the International Space Station pass by, not once, twice, but four times.
While the space station orbits the earth about once every 90 minutes, having it pass over London in the right part of the sky four nights in a row, when the sun's down and the weather is clear, is lucky.
"It looks like a star, but it'll be relatively bright and you'll see it moving appreciably across the sky at a decent speed," said Sarah Gallagher, a physics and astronomy professor at Western University.
The space station, which is about the size of a football field, orbits in a lower ring than other satellites, meaning it'll be the biggest and brightest light in the sky -- an easy target for novice stargazers.
It'll be zooming by London, Friday night at 11:50 p.m., Saturday night at 9:58 p.m. and 11:34 p.m., and Sunday night at 10:39 p.m and takes two to three minutes to cross the sky, according to Gallagher.
Stargazers looking for the best seat in the universe can visit Western University's Cronyn Observatory, open to the public on Saturday nights from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
How to make sure you see it?
E-mail alex.weber@sunmedia.ca, or follow AlexatLFPress on Twitter.
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NASA is using the Internet and smartphones to provide the public with a new inside look at what happens aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and in the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Log onto the agency's Space Station Live! web page or download the companion ISSLive! mobile application to get up-to-the-minute information.
Groundbreaking research and technology development work is going on every day in the microgravity environment of space, and Space Station Live! allows users to see what the expedition astronauts do minute by minute. Streaming data from the space station lets the public see the latest information on temperatures, communications and power generation. Students and teachers can use the data to solve classroom problems in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or to tour the space station and mission control operator consoles through virtual 3-D view models.
Space Station Live! includes a web experience and free mobile ISSLive! app for smart phones and tablet computers accessible on NASA's website. The app also is available through the Google Play and iTunes app stores.
Special features of the Space Station Live! web and mobile app experience include:
-- live streaming data from various space station systems -- live streaming data from actual crew and science timelines with social media links -- descriptions and educational material that describe how the space station works -- educational lessons using the live content -- 3-D virtual mission control -- 3-D virtual space station using live streaming data to correctly position the sun, Earth, moon and the station's solar arrays -- 3-D model of the space station with labels and colored by the international partner contributions to its assembly -- links to NASA's five international partner space agencies' mission information.
To use Space Station Live!, visit: http://spacestationlive.nasa.gov
To download ISSLive! and other NASA mobile apps, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html
For information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station
Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
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NASA Offers Web, Mobile Links to Follow Space Station and Mission Control
>>> take a quick second here tonight to talk about space. specifically something really extraordinary that's taking place this week in the skies above our country. the international space station orbits the earth 16 times a day. but it just so happens that this week's orbit patterns bring it right over top of big u.s. population centers. happens from time to time, including later tonight. there are some great websites that allow you to track it, even get alerts when it's going to pass over where you live. we'll link to those on our website tonight, especially if you have kids or you, yourself, grew up, as i did, in the space erachlt it's an awesome sight. this week you'll see a bright light moving faster than any plane across the sky. you just need to get to a dark space, if you can, channel your clark w. gris wald and as you watch it's a home to 17 people traveling 17,000 miles an hour, high above the earth. we happen to know they watch this broadcast on a nasa upload. it's only fair to them we watch them back this week.
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Launching NASA astronauts to the International Space Station aboard commercial spaceships may have its risks, but the payoffs from lower-cost flights to the orbiting outpost, and expanded scientific use of the microgravity environment, are expected to be considerable, industry officials told lawmakers Wednesday.
William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration Operations Directorate, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science and Space Wednesday morning to discuss the risks and opportunities associated with the burgeoning commercial spaceflight industry.
By supporting the development of new private spaceships, NASA will be able to buy flights to and from the space station with reduced cost and oversight.
More space news from msnbc.com
Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: The nonprofit B612 Foundation says it's planning the first privately funded deep-space mission, with the goal of launching an instrument known as the Sentinel Space Telescope to look for potentially hazardous asteroids.
"These two things are allowing NASA to focus its talents on the bigger goals: the utilization of the International Space Station and developing the next generation of hardware and skills that will allow us to extend human presence in the solar system beyond low-Earth orbit," Gerstenmaier said.
NASA is currently relying on Russian rockets and capsules to ferry American astronauts to and from the orbiting complex, but the agency is hoping to begin flights on homegrown commercial vehicles by 2017. [ Now Boarding: The Top 10 Private Spaceships ]
Gerstenmaier stressed that as these spacecraft undergo rigorous testing, there may be setbacks, and it is important for the government to understand the setbacks and not clamp down on the industry in ways that will stifle progress and innovation.
"We need to anticipate and not overreact to these problems," Gerstenmaier said. "These problems will occur and should not be viewed as a major failure."
The hearing included comments from Pamela Melroy, senior technical adviser in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Gerald Dillingham, director of civil aviation issues at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Michael Gold, director of D.C. operations and business growth at Bigelow Aerospace, and Michael Lopez-Alegria, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.
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Launching NASA astronauts to the International Space Station aboard commercial spaceships may have its risks, but the payoffs from lower-cost flights to the orbiting outpost, and expanded scientific use of the microgravity environment, are expected to be considerable, industry officials told lawmakers today (June 20).
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Commercial Space Travel May Bring Science Benefits, Advocates Say
18-06-2012 05:38 A Shenzhou-9 spacecraft with three people on board has successfully carried out an automatic space docking mission on Monday. The Chinese are now a step closer to creating a national manned space station. READ MORE Subscribe to RT! Watch RT LIVE on our website Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google+ RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.
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Video of China's first manned space docking - Shenzhou-9 spacecraft - Video
Three Chinese astronauts on Monday entered an orbiting module for the first time, in a move broadcast live on China's state television network and a key step towards the nation's first space station.
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Chinese astronauts docked two spaceships in orbit for the first time Monday (June 18), marking a vital milestone in the country's quest to build a manned space station in Earth orbit.
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China Successfully Docks Manned Space Capsule at Orbiting Module
A trio of Chinese astronauts, including the country's first woman in space, successfully docked with an orbiting test module.
Chinese astronauts docked two spaceships in orbit for the first time Monday (June 18), marking a vital milestone in the country's quest to build a manned space station in Earth orbit.
The three-person crew of theShenzhou 9 spacecraft, which includes the China's first female astronaut, arrived at the country's Tiangong 1("Heavenly Palace") test module in orbit and joined the two craft to complete the successful docking. The maneuver is the first manned docking for China, making it the third nation, after the United States and Russia, to achieve such a feat.
"We are one step closer to our destination of constructing a future space station," an official with China's space program said during a broadcast on the state-run CNTV news network. "This is the first successful crew transportation mission for China."
Shenzhou 9 and theTiangong 1 space moduledocked in an automatic mode during Monday's successful link-up, with the Chinese astronauts (called taikonauts) to stay in orbit for about 13 days. Later this week, the Shenzhou 9 crew will undock their spacecraft from Tiangong 1 and then re-dock in a manual mode in another test, Chinese space officials have said.
Shenzhou 9 lifted offon a Chinese Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's northern Gansu province Saturday (June 16). [Launch Photos: China's Shenzhou 9 Mission]
The mission is notable not just for the docking, but for the fact that this crew includes China's first female taikonaut. People's Liberation Army pilot Liu Yang is flying with repeat astronaut Jing Haipeng and rookie Liu Wang.
After Monday's successful docking, Jing entered the Tiangong 1 module first and waved to a TV camera to flight controllers on Earth. Liu Wang followed Jing inside the module while Liu Yang remained inside the Shenzhou 9 capsule performing final checks.
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China 'one step closer' to constructing space station (+video)