Category Archives: Space Travel

This article was originally published atThe Conversation.The publication contributed the article to Space.com'sExpert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University

TheBepiColombo spacecraft a joint project by the European and Japanese space agencies swung by its destination planet Mercury in the early hours of Saturday, Oct. 2. Passing within just 124 miles (200 kilometers) of the surface of Mercury, it sent back somespectacular pictures.

For those of us who have worked for a decade or more on this mission, there could hardly be a way better to celebrate what would have been the 101st birthday of the mission's namesake, Italian mathematician and engineer Giuseppe Colombo. His groundbreaking work in this area earned him the title of thegrandfatherof the planetary fly-by technique, now more often termed a "swing-by."

BepiColombos cruise from Earth began inOctober 2018, and its journey is far from over. It will travel twice around the sun in the time it takes Mercury to orbit the star three times (around 264 days). This will allow it to rendezvous with the planet for another swing-by on June 23 2022.

After a total of six Mercury swing-bys, the cumulative effect of the planet's gravity will reduce the spacecraft's velocity to the point where it can fall into orbit with Mercury around the end of 2025.

BepiColombo is actually composed of twoconnectedspacecraft and a propulsion unit. During its cruise through interplanetary space, the European orbiter (called the Mercury Planetary Orbiter or MPO) is attached on one side to the interplanetary propulsion unit (or Mercury Transfer Module). On the other, it carries a Japanese orbiter named Mio (or Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter), plus a sunshield to prevent Mio from overheating.

This stacked configuration obstructs the openings through which sophisticated visible, infrared and X-ray cameras inside MPO capable of imaging and analysing Mercurys surface in great detail will operate once MPO finally becomes free-flying. In fact, most of BepiColombos science instruments will be wholly or partly inoperative until each orbiter is set free, around December 2025.

Until a relatively late stage in mission planning, it was accepted that BepiColombo would be "flying blind" during its whole cruise from Earth, including during swing-bys meaning no images would be available until orbit around Mercury had been achieved.

But the level of public interest aroused in 2015 by images ofcomet 67Pfrom the Rosetta mission led BepiColombo engineers Kelly Geelen and James Windsor to propose that low-cost lightweight cameras should be added to the spacecraft.

By the end of 2016, it was agreed that three small monitoring cameras each only 2.6 inches (6.5 centimeters) in length would be mounted onto the craft. These would snap planetary pictures during swing-bys.

It was decided to place these cameras on the Mercury Transfer Module, where they would also be able to monitor the deployment of the solar panels that provide the spacecraft with power, the magnetometer boom used for measuring magnetic fields, and the communication antennas.

During BepiColombo's first Mercury swing-by, the fields of view of monitoring cameras two and three tracked across the planet. Camera three showed us part of the southern hemisphere, beginning with a view of sunrise overAstrolabe Rupes a striking feature named after a French Antarctic exploration ship.

Astrolabe Rupes is a 155-mile (250 km) long "lobate scarp" a long, curved structure marking where one part of the planets crust has been pushed over nearby terrain, due to the whole planet contracting as it slowly cooled.

There are some much smallerequivalent featureson the moon, but Mercury is the only nearby celestial body where lobate scarps are known to occur on such a large scale.

Four minutes later, the perspective had changed enough to reveal a wider area: including the lava-flooded, 156-mile-wide (251 km)Haydn craterandPampu Facula, one of many bright spots likely formed by explosive volcanic eruptions. Both of these features attest to Mercury's long volcanic history, at its most active more than three billion years ago but probably persisting until around one billion years ago.

Meanwhile, camera two focused on Mercury's northern hemisphere, including the region surroundingCalvino Crater: an important location for deciphering what lies in the layers of Mercurys crust.

It also showed Lermontov crater: a region which appears bright because it is host to bothvolcanic depositsand "hollows", where a currently unknownvolatile ingredientof the crust is being lost to space via a mysterious process.

NASA'sMESSENGERmission orbited Mercury between 2011 and 2015, revealing aperplexing planet. We are still struggling to understand its composition, origin and history.

Why Mercury has features such as explosivevolcanoesand strange, uniquehollowson its surface is just one of the problems we hope further study will solve. Once in orbit, BepiColombo's advanced payload of scientific instruments will help us understand more about how Mercury formed and what its made of.

Read more:The more we learn about Mercury, the weirder it seems

In the meantime, these extraordinary swing-by pictures at least remind us that we have a healthy spacecraft heading to an exciting destination.

This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.

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First close-up pictures of Mercury from BepiColombo hint at answers to the planet's secrets - Space.com

M Live is pleased to announce that tickets for the award-winning, immersive space exhibition NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH are on sale this Monday 11 October. Developed by NEC Partners, in conjunction with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and NASAs George C. Marshall, NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH transports audiences through the galaxy in a multi-sensory cinematic environment.

Emma Triggs, Founder and CEO of M Live Said:

We are so thrilled to have NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH on sale on Monday, Sydneys Freedom Day as Sydneysiders are finally able to leave lockdown behind and explore the galaxy. We so are incredibly proud to be one of Sydneys first major events with our made-for-COVID safety experience after 108 days of lockdown. Exactly like we did last year.

With Sydney having now hit the 70% vaccination target and Freedom Day almost upon us, the event launch could not have been timed more perfectly and is a welcome addition to the decimated Sydney event calendar. An explosive pre-sale this week to the M Live, Ticketek and ICC networks has eclipsed all expectations and has more than proven that Sydneysiders are ready and excited to get back out to live events after what has been an incredibly challenging few months. As Sydneysiders celebrate their newfound freedoms and plan for even more freedoms to come, NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH provides a chance to escape the confines of lockdown and explore the wonders of the galaxy, to be taken from the couch to the cosmos with this immersive, multi-sensory and COVID-safe experience.

Head of M Live Vanessa Richards:

Space is an inspirational concept that allows you to dream. When you look up to the stars and the galaxy at night, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but something bigger, something grander than what you know and what you are. As we approach the end of lockdown in NSW after an incredibly challenging time, NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH is just the experience we all need. I am thrilled to be able to bring NEC Partners experience to the ICC, so we can give everyone a chance to open their minds, their hearts, dream big and go well and truly beyond their front doors. Freedom awaits.

Combining cutting edge technology with the latest in science, NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH tells the story of space exploration like never told before! Guests will travel across the solar system and come face-to-face with Mars sunsets, Venus lightning storms and the surface of Jupiter. Museum quality models, spacecrafts, tools, and astronaut suits will showcase the facts, stories and achievements behind space exploration and its future. Guests can also get hands on with fun and engaging interactive learning activities, holographic, touch sensing projections and building games.

Declan McMongle, Managing Director of NEC Partners Said:

After sell out shows in both the US and China, we knew that NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH would be perfect for Sydney are are so excited to be bringing the show home for its Australian Premier with M Live.

NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH is an exhibition that not only encourages you to leave the house, but the planet, in an experience that can only beexperienced. Taking advantage of the rising interest in space exploration, due to both news around civilian space travel and exciting new NASA missions to the Moon and to Mars, NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH taps into audience desire to travel to a whole new world.

The event has also been welcomed by the Entertainment, Arts and Tourism communities. Vanessa Richards, Head of M Live Said:

We are thrilled to be in a position to create jobs for our industry and put smiles back on our audiences faces. The arts, entertainment and tourism sectors have been some of the hardest hit industries throughout the pandemic with thousands of events, tours, festivals, flights, accommodation, and restaurant bookings being cancelled or postponed due to COVID. Neighbourhood Earth will see over 150 jobs created and the much-needed increase in city visitation and tourism dollars.

The health and safety of all staff and visitors remains the ultimate priority. The NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH blockbuster experience is built to be completely Covid-safe and to exceed government public health guidelines. Controlled visitor capacities through hourly timed sessions and 5000 square meters of floor space allow for considerably more than the recommended square meters per person, and managed visitor flow means that visitors can easily respect social-distancing advice.

The exhibition also meets the highest hygiene standards with hand sanitisers and daily deep cleaning. Further safety measures include contactless entry through advance ticket sales; unidirectional people flow managed throughout the event and adherence to all government regulations.

NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH will appeal to all ages, making it the perfect event to fill the void left by another year of cancelled events.

Exhibition Details

Venue: 14 Darling Drive,| SydneyDate: From 22-Nov-2021

For more information click HERE

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Neighbourhoods Earth Space exhibition on sale | News - Aussie Theatre

LOS ANGELES If you plan to be anywhere near Los Angeles between now and February next year, a trip to the "Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds" exhibition should absolutely, positively feature in your plans.

Opening this week at the Skirball Cultural Center located just north of the Getty Museum, in-between Bel Air and Sherman Oaks the exhibition features a rare gathering in one place of equally rarely seen items from throughout the 55 years of "Star Trek" history. It includes the rescued and tastefully restored captain's chair and helm control console from "The Original Series," Khan's (Ricardo Montalbn) actual, screen-used costume from "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," screen-used costumes from "Discovery" and even Data's (Brent Spiner) screen-used head from "The Next Generation" two-part season cliffhanger "Time's Arrow" (Season 5, Episode 26 and Season 6, Episode 1).

The items have kindly been loaned by various collectors from around the world, but most of them come from Paul Allen's personal collection; the late co-founder of Microsoft was a big fan of science fiction.

Related: Star Trek movies, ranked worst to best

There are also several interactive experiences including a "beaming down" simulation where you stand in an "Original Series"-era transporter room and watch yourself energize down to a hostile planet where you must fight with phasers to survive. There's also a seemingly simple-sounding Jefferies tube photo opportunity, which if you were to visit the exhibition in cosplay, would make a truly enviable post on social media and you too could look like you're desperately trying to reach the warp drive plasma induction coils.

There's even a detailed map of all the "Star Trek" timelines, particularly relevant now that the second season of "Picard" will be falling back on time travel as a story arc. If all else fails, this will almost certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons and stimulate some (hopefully healthy) discussion as to which timeline we're actually on.

Related: Star Trek streaming guide: Where to watch the Star Trek movies and TV shows online

Truly a thing of beauty: a studio-scale, screen-used model of the USS Excelsior.

Khan-do, Ricardo Montalbn's actual, screen-used costume and no-Khan-do, Benedict Cumberbatch's costume.

Mister Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) screen-used thruster/EVA suit from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."

A studio-scale, screen-used USS Enterprise-D from "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Seven of Nine's (Jeri Ryan) and Capt Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) screen-used costumes from "Voyager."

There are also panels and displays that explain the history of this epic television sci-fi show, from its premiere in 1966 and the incredible effort made by fans for a third season after NBC tried to cancel it after just two. Then came efforts to reboot the show and that resulted in "The Animated Series" and when every movie studio jumped on the sci-fi bandwagon following the success of "Star Wars" in 1977, we got "The Motion Picture." But it was really the epic "Wrath of Khan" that saved the franchise and the rest is history.

Not only is this exhibition a treat for Trekkies who, along with admiring these iconic items from the show's history, will wholeheartedly relish in the opportunity to meet other, like-minded devotees and discuss which series is best and why but this is a fantastic way to introduce people who might not be aware of the impact of "Star Trek" has had on contemporary pop culture. Not everyone knows that a sci-fi show that aired 55 years ago starring a melodramatic actor from Montreal and a guy with pointy ears was such an astutely observed, well-written metaphoric reflection of important issues facing society at that time. And this has continued, right up to the present day.

Related: Watch the first full trailer for 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 2

"With this exhibition, we're looking towards the future; it's a hopeful, optimistic future where humankind unites with other interstellar societies on a peaceful mission of exploration and diplomacy," Managing Curator Laura Mart said.

"That spirit feels appropriate for the time we're in now, with the great challenges we face, from the pandemic to climate change. 'Star Trek' has inspired generations of fans for over 55 years not just because of its futuristic vision, but also by showing that anyone can be a leader. Every Starfleet crewmember, including humans of a wide range of backgrounds and abilities as well as members of societies from other solar systems, are valued for their contributions and talents."

"Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds" opens at the Skirball Cultural Center on Thursday, Oct. 7 and runs to Sunday,Feb 20, 2022. In order to keep a handle on crowds during these perilous times, 90-minute time slots are available from Tuesday to Sunday, every hour on weekdays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT and every hour at weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

Plus, there are events planned for throughout October, including a discussion titled "Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology" on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. PT and on Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. PT there's a screening of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" preceded by an in-person talk and audience Q&A with the director of that epic movie, Nicholas Meyer.

Health and safety policies, pricing details and ticket information can be found on the Skirball Center website. (Look out for all the strategically placed Tribbles, too.)

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'Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds' exhibition is a must for every fan - Space.com

If you ever somehow find yourself with an extra $50,000 to burn, you could definitely use it to put a down payment on a house, or invest it in a 401(k) in order to actually be able to retire one day. But if those both feel a bit too dull for you, then you could use that nice chunk of change to finally live out your dream of exploring the final frontier.

Space tourism startup World View is offering ordinary people like you (unless Buzz Aldrin is reading this, in which case, big fan!) the opportunity to head to space on the World View Explorer, a fully autonomous spacecraft with pre-determined trajectories, for only $50,000.

Of course, only is a relative term here because that number is much cheaper than the projected prices that we have seen from other participants in the privatized space race. Virgin Galactic, which had its inaugural flight this summer, is expected to charge people around $250,000 per seat.

Theres a lot about World Views space travel plans that are quite distinct from the other major players in the expanding industry of space tourism beyond just the price.

It says that it will have its debut launch in 2023 from Spaceport Grand Canyon, though that space station has not actually been built yet. The voyage is expected to last around 6-12 hours (more than double the length of Virgins journey) and the capsule is being designed to lift passengers at around 10-12 miles per hour, which would allow them to not experience G-force or turbulence.

Eventually, World View hopes to have locations all around the globe, allowing aspiring astronauts to live out their dreams for a relatively affordable price. So if you have always wanted to leave this spinning rock we call home behind and take to the skies, you may want to start saving up now because this may be your most realistic chance to make that dream a reality, for the low low price of about $5,000 to $10,000 an hour.

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Would You Spend $50,000 to Go to Space for 12 Hours? - Fatherly

NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy conducts a spacewalk to set up the ... [+] Tranquility module for the future installation of a NanoRacks airlock that will enable public and commercial research on the outside of the International Space Station. Cassidy has completed 10 spacewalks throughout his career for a total of 54 hours and 51 minutes spacewalking time.

What is it like to be in outer space? With recent advances in the privatization and commercialization of space travel, more and more people may eventually get a chance to find out. For right now, though, the subset of human beings who have traveled beyond Earths atmosphere is both literally and figuratively rarified air. A new series from Disney+, Among the Stars takes a closer look at the challenges and triumphs of space travel.

Among the Stars is a 6-part docuseries with unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to world of NASA. The series follows astronaut Chris Cassidy as he embarks on what will be his last mission as an astronaut. With cameras on both Earth and the International Space Station, the series combines intimate footage, personal video diaries and livestream footage to embed viewers with an up close and personal view of Cassidy and the team of engineers, flight controllers and specialists who take on missions risking life, limb and reputation for the greater good of humankind.

I had a chance to speak with Chris Cassidy about the series and about his life as an astronaut. For background, Cassidy has had an exciting life and an impressive career. He was a US Navy SEALdeployed twice to the Mediterranean and twice to Afghanistanand he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat V and Presidential Unit Citation for leading a 9-day operation at the Zhawar Kili cave complex on the Afghanistan / Pakistan border.

Expedition 63 crewmember Chris Cassidy of NASA waves farewell as he, Anatoly Ivanishin, and Ivan ... [+] Vagner of Roscosmos depart building 254 via bus for the launch pad, Thursday, April 9, 2020 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A few hours later, they lifted off on a Soyuz rocket for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station.

Cassidy was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He is a veteran of three space flights: STS-127, Expedition 35, and the focus of this seriesExpedition 63, where Cassidy served as Commander of the ISS. Between the three missions, Cassidy has been in space for more than 377 days, and he is tied for the most spacewalks by an American astronaut.

I asked Cassidy to give me some background on both the series and the missionand share why he was the right person for this role and why he wanted to do it.

Cassidy explained that astronauts generally fly on a rotation of about 5 or 6 years. His previous mission was in 2013, so it was his turn to fly again. As it happens, this mission also included a crucial repair that required a spacewalk. Spacewalking is an area where I have some skill, and so it seemed to match up pretty closely, Cassidy shared.

The crucial repair is on a cosmic particle detector gathering data on dark matter in the universe. Professor Ting, the lead scientist behind the dark matter experiment, wanted to have the device repaired as soon as possibleand that required quick decisions about when to launch the equipment and which crews to train.

One of the most interesting parts of my conversation with Cassidy was when I asked him to try and convey what it feels like to spacewalk.

Imagine you are on the very top of a skyscraper, and you're on the top flooryou're inside, youre leaned up against the glass wall and you can tell it's really far down there. You get a sense that that's far, like I don't want to fall, but you feel secure. Your feet are on the floor, youve got a handrail and the glass in front of you. That's what it likes, feels like when you're inside the space station looking down. The view is a little bit differenta lot more grandbut you still feel safe, explained Cassidy.

Then, on that same skyscraper you go up one more floor to the topand you have no glass in front of you and your toes are over the edge and you're looking down and there's no handrail, continued Cassidy. It's really freaking scary, and your brain is telling you, Don't be here. Back away. Go back inside. This is not where human beings need to be hanging out. And that's what it's like when you open the hatch and go out on a spacewalk. You justvisually, you feel like you are hanging it out, and the comfort level is back inside. So, it's a pretty intimidating feeling to be there.

I cant fully relate to the part about standing on the edge with nothing to keep you from falling. But I have been to the observation deck of the Sears Tower in Chicago (officially the Willis Tower now, but still the Sears Tower to me), so I can relate to the first part. I have stood out on the glass floor, pressed against the glass wall and stared out at the vast expanse of Chicago from 1,353 feet up on the 103rd floor.

Astronaut Christopher Cassidy, STS-127 mission specialist, participates in the mission's fifth and ... [+] final session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the four-hour, 54-minute spacewalk, Cassidy and astronaut Tom Marshburn (out of frame), mission specialist, secured multi-layer insulation around the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator known as Dextre, split out power channels for two space station Control Moment Gyroscopes, installed video cameras on the front and back of the new Japanese Exposed Facility and performed a number of "get ahead" tasks, including tying down some cables and installing handrails and a portable foot restraint to aid future spacewalkers.

Another thing I can relate to is trying to work with gloves on. I havent been in a space suit or on a spacewalk, but I have tried to handle tools or turn a knob or handle while bundled up during a cold Michigan winter. When doing repairs on a spacewalk, the astronauts are wearing those giant, puffy, pressurized space suitslooking a bit like the iconic Michelin Man from Michelin Tires. While managing the fear of just floating in space miles above the planet, you also have to work with tools and perform intricate operations on equipment that costs billions of dollars.

Of course, NASA has taken that into consideration as well. Cassidy told me that astronauts have to overcome 5 pounds of pressure just to squeeze their hand because that is how inflated the space suit is, and the gloves mean they have virtually no manual dexterity. But, he also explained that the tools have been engineered with this in mind, and that they actually have pretty effective tools given the limitations of the gloves.

All episodes of Among the Stars are available to stream on Disney+ starting today.

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Among The Stars Reveals The Innovation And Courage It Takes For A Successful Mission To Space - Forbes

Space fans are in for a special fall treat this month with an emotional, all-access peek at the adventurous world of NASA astronauts when Disney Plus rolls out "Among the Stars" on Wednesday (Oct. 6). This riveting new six-part docuseries invites viewers to an intimate glimpse behind the scenes of the U.S. space agency and its many international partners.

Directed by Ben Turner and produced by Fulwell 73, "Among the Stars" follows retired NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy on his third and last space mission using rare footage, personal video logs, and livestream tapes, all while the planet enters lockdown during the onset of the global pandemic. The series launches on Disney Plus just in time for World Space Week, which began Monday.

Cassidy, one of only three Navy SEALs ever to become astronauts, is the focus of this intense two-year look at a critical mission to the International Space Station to conduct repairs on a sophisticated piece of equipment called an Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS).

Related: Soar into space with this trailer for 'Among the Stars' on Disney Plus

He served for a decade as a member of the Navy SEALs demonstrating military tactical skills including long-range special reconnaissance, direct action building assaults, non-compliant ship-boardings, desert reconnaissance patrols, combat diving and underwater explosives.

"The show does a great job of demonstrating the hard work of engineers and planners and making the equipment for the repairs," Cassidy told Space.com. "Then it ultimately comes to some human being, the astronaut, who can make mistakes, to put in this new repair and conduct the mission at hand."

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Samuel Ting also looms over the complex NASA proceedings in Disney's new space documentary while preparations are made to fix the $2 billion device under the most hazardous conditions in a series of long spacewalks.

Ting is a Chinese-American scientist who, with Burton Richter, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1976 for discovering the subatomic J/ particle. He's been the principal investigator in groundbreaking research conducted with the AMS, which was installed on the International Space Station back in 2011.

Infographic: How the Antimatter-Hunting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Works

This pioneering AMS experiment collects elusive charged cosmic rays that might provide essential clues as to the origins of the universe. As the series progresses we'll see Cassidy's fellow astronauts and cosmonauts in the midst of training and planning for their upcoming rocket trip as they navigate a number of unforeseen obstacles along the way.

"Among the Stars" was filmed in collaboration with numerous space agencies, including NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the European Space Agency in Cologne, Germany, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency near Tokyo, and the Russian space agency Roscosmos in Star City.

Space.com spoke with Cassidy prior to the series' launch to learn more about his memories of filming the show, depicting the real dangers of traveling and working in space, how the project all came together, and what he'll miss most as he enters retirement from NASA.

Space.com: What was your experience like working on "Among the Stars" for two years and having cameras constantly around?

Chris Cassidy: That was one of the things that were eye-opening to me. How much back-planning it takes to get a documentary out. And stuff is happening early in the process that was not repeatable. It was fun for me when the crew didn't know what they didn't know, helping them understand where they should be in order to not miss out on some of the critical training and some of the things we were testing. And then you have to get used to having the cameras around and having a microphone on all the time and sometimes you forget it's on.

I'm just so happy that the behind-the-scenes aspect of spaceflight, not just for the crew part, but for all of the team it takes to pull it off, could all be captured in the way it was.

Space.com: What elements of the documentary best exemplify what it means to be an astronaut?

Cassidy: Well, it's a real honor and a privilege and all of us feel that way. But you also have this feeling that there's a lot riding on your actions. The show does a great job of demonstrating the hard work of engineers and planners and making the equipment for the repairs. Then it ultimately comes to some human being, the astronaut, who can make mistakes, to put in this new repair and conduct the mission at hand. And that's one of the things that I hope comes across. You feel the nerves of all that when you go to execute. It's probably just like stepping onto the field of the World Series' seventh game or something along those lines.

Space.com: How was it working with director Ben Turner and what were the challenges during the shooting schedule?

Cassidy: It was great to work with Ben and his whole team at Fulwell. They're a true group of professionals and really skilled at their craft. Some of the challenges are [related to] the international nature of the space station international training and travel to Moscow and getting approvals on their side to enter facilities that may or may not be used to having cameras present, and getting access to those locations. It was a real challenge for all the countries ... Japan and Germany and Russia and of course NASA as well. Just navigating all that was difficult.

Space.com: Watching this series, we're reminded how hazardous outer space is. As private space tourism ramps up, is there a danger of depicting space travel as a fun playground that's totally safe and routine?

Cassidy: Yeah, you're onto something there. There will be an accident. I hate to say that and I don't mean to be a doomsday person. And it may or may not kill people, but it will definitely be something that makes people realize that it really is hard and really is dangerous.

All systems have redundancies built into them where you can eject off the launch pad during the powered flight, or the rocket can separate the capsule from any catastrophic stuff behind you. But it's not over until you get picked up on a recovery ship, and there are many things that can catch you. I think that people should use a little caution when they're thinking about going on a tourist mission to space. But ultimately I encourage everybody to do it. Just do it knowing full well with yourself and your family that there are some risks involved.

Space.com: How did your participation in this new Disney Plus docuseries help give your NASA career a certain perspective?

Cassidy: I was just happy that our crew could help tell the story in a way that it did. And it just so happened there was a lot of stuff that made for an interesting TV series. Looking front to back, COVID was right before we launched and a week or two prior to that one of our crewmembers had an injury to his eye and two cosmonauts changed out at the last minute on my Soyuz mission. And further back, they had to make a decision about which crewmembers were going to be in space at the time when repairs needed to be done. All of those things made for great storylines throughout the documentary series.

Space.com: What do you hope viewers gain from "Among the Stars"?

Cassidy: I hope they take away that astronauts aren't special people. We're just doing a cool job and we all think of it that way. When I watch sports documentaries I really like ones that show what it's like outside of the court or outside of the field, kind of like "The Last Dance" was for the Chicago Bulls. I love that kind of backstory. So I hope that viewers get the same experience with this docuseries to see what all goes on besides just riding a rocket and putting on a spacesuit.

Space.com: What will you miss most about being an astronaut and what's next for you during retirement?

Cassidy: Well, I've already started a new job. I'm talking now from my new office at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas near the Dallas Cowboys stadium. So retirement was short-lived.

But what I'll miss most are the wonderful and dear friends I've made in the space community, at NASA and around the world. I'll miss traveling to Moscow and seeing my friends there and having meals with those families. I already miss not having the up-to-date information about what's going on with space stuff. I need to email my friends and ask why this is delayed or what's the current launch date. It used to be I'd have those answers and I don't have those answers anymore.

"Among the Stars" airs all six episodes on Disney Plus beginning Oct. 6.

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Filming 'Among the Stars' with Disney Plus meant a 2-year journey for astronaut Chris Cassidy. Here's what he learned. - Space.com

Astronaut Chris Cassidy discusses Disney documentary 'Among the Stars'

The new original series 'Among the Stars' gives viewers a look at the dangerous and awe-inspiring missions Chris Cassidy and the team at NASA embark on.

LOS ANGELES - Eyes have increasingly been fixated on the sky thanks to SpaceX's recent Inspiration 4 mission, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin suborbital excursion and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic blast off.

And now all eyes are on NASA astronaut Captain Chris Cassidy in a new Disney+ documentary.

The new original series "Among the Stars" showcases intimate footage, personal video diaries and livestream footage stationed both on Earth and in space giving viewers a look at the dangerous and awe-inspiring missions Cassidy and the team at NASA embark on.

Chris Cassidy talks to mission managers prior to departing for the launch pad, Thursday, April 9, 2020. (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Sheli)

"Space travel is not easy," Cassidy told FOX Television Stations in an interview. "It takes a lot of people to pull it off and to do it safely, and thats an important message given all the success that we have enjoyed watching with the recent commercial companies in space."

WATCH: Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA

The original six-part series, set to premiere Oct. 6 on the streaming service Disney+, follows the teams successes and failures over the course of two year. In doing so, it provides behind-the-scenes access to a critically important NASA mission: the repair of a $2 billion science experiment, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), which aims to reveal the origins of the universe.

To repair the AMS, Cassidy and his team must undertake a series of complex spacewalks, but the story quickly becomes a tale about the broader team at NASA and the collective quest to succeed.

"Its hard. Its not without risk, and thats what this documentary also shows," Cassidy continued.

Filmed with different space agencies across the globe from NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston to the European Space Agency in Cologne viewers are transported around the world as they follow Cassidy in his training to depart for the International Space Station.

History was made on Wednesday as the world's first all-civilian crew launched into orbit. SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission launched on Wednesday, September 15 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"Now I have this footage forever, and the mission is captured for me to enjoy with family and friends as I age in life, so thats a really nice benefit," Cassidy, 51, shared.

RELATED: Terror on Tubi countdown: Dive into the depths of 'The Descent'

The recently retired astronaut and former Navy Seal Captain said hes "excited" about the industries and businesses working to make commercial human spaceflight commonplace.

"Anything that gets the public interested, excited, motivated for space travel it ultimately benefits our space program," Cassidy revealed. "I love watching all those launches."

While its unclear who will be next to walk on the moon, Cassidy said hes thrilled it will likely be one of his friends.

"The next moonwalker doesnt know who she or he is, but Ive walked in the hallways with that person," Cassidy continued.

NASA: A Journey Through Space(2016): "This exciting documentary series takes you on the incredible journey of the past, present and future of NASA that shaped the 20th Century and will boldly go further in the 21st Century and beyond!"

Alien Contact: Nasa Exposed (2014): "Whistleblowers claim NASA not only knows about alien visitations but that they are in contact with extraterrestrials."

Alien Contact: Nasa Exposed 2 (2017): "The recent discovery of 1300 exoplanets that could sustain life has rocked the scientific world. Now everyone from world leaders to former astronauts are testifying that UFOs not only exist, but that Aliens are here and have been monitoring the human race for centuries."

About Tubi: Tubi is available on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub, and on OTT devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Hisense TVs, Comcast X1, Cox Contour, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S. Consumers can also watch Tubi content on the web at http://www.tubi.tv/.

With total view time surpassing 200 million hours of content streamed each month since April, Tubi has over 30,000 movies and television shows from over 250 content partners, including every major studio. The service gives fans of films and television programs an easy way to discover new content that is available completely free.

Tubi is owned by the FOX Corporation.

Premieres Oct. 6 on Disney+. Produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for Disney+. Ben Turner directs and executive produces for Fulwell 73. Executive producers on this series include Gabe Turner, Leo Pearlman, Will Gluck and Richard Schwartz.

About the writer: Stephanie Weaver is a Los Angeles-based journalist. She is a host of the national streaming show, LiveNOW from FOX, and is a digital reporter for FOX TV. Find her on Facebook and Instagram at @StephWeaverTV.

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Among the Stars astronaut Chris Cassidy on space flight: Its not without risk - FOX 7 Austin

(Photo Courtesy Allison Clemons) Tom Clemons, suited up at Space Camp. The program has had nearly 1 million trainees graduate from its programs since its inception in 1982.

Tom Clemons spent a week at Space Camp, located at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Have you ever wanted to train like an astronaut and learn more about space exploration? For Vashon High School student Tom Clemons, this was made possible as he headed to Space Camp, located in Huntsville, Alabama at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Clemons spent a week at Space Camp, where he and his team flew simulated space missions, participated in experiments and successfully completed a spacewalk. Students who attend Space Camp are also trained in simulators like those used by NASA and sleep in quarters designed to resemble those at the International Space Station.

Clemons team also had the honor of being awarded the Commanders Cup, which is given to the team at Space Camp that completes engineering challenges most successfully.

According to Allison Clemons, Toms mother, he has always been interested in space travel and would like to eventually become an astronaut. After high school, he plans to get his engineering degree.

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VHS student goes to space camp | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Chris Cassidy is a former Navy SEAL who was selected to become a NASA astronaut in 2004. Over his career, Cassidy spent 378 days in space, did 10 space walks and worked on three missions to the International Space Station. On his final journey to space last year, he served as Commander of the ISS during Expedition 63. Below, the lone American serving on that mission shares his story; it appears as told to Charles Thorp, and has been edited and condensed for clarity.

I was not the kid with photos of rocket ships handing on my wall and glow-in-the-dark stars on my wall. I grew up playing sports before I went to the Naval Academy, and then entered the SEAL Teams. I didnt think about going career at NASA until I met Bill Shepherd, who was the first SEAL who went into space.

I was drawn to the true adventure of it. I remember looking up what space walks were and thinking, That looks really cool. I didnt know much else about the job. I had seen a few rocket launches live before, but never picture myself being in there. But I am also a very curious person, and like to know how things work. So I started going through the application process.

During my NASA selection I learned that launches are just a small fraction of an astronauts career. There is a lot of time you are working as an engineer, doing a very technical job. It can even be boring at times, when you are supporting other missions that are ongoing. I was lucky that I learned how to love those operational elements of the gig during my time in the SEALs. Little did I know I would actually get to spend a lot of time in space.

Chris Cassidy on one of his trips to space.

NASA

My first time to the International Space Station, or ISS, was on my first shuttle mission. That was my first launch as well, and it was scrapped five times before we finally took off. Each astronaut gets 250 tickets to give friends and family to watch the launch. By the final attempt there was probably only a handful of my guests who were actually still there.

There are a lot of things the simulator can prepare you for, but there are a few that it cant come close to. Like the roar you feel when the engines are going off or the incredible shake you feel when one rocket stops and another goes off. There are these little kneeboards ahead of us, where I would write little notes to myself on what to prepare for, like exactly what time I should brace for a huge explosion.

I remember stepping onto the ISS that first time, and all of the nations that make up the partnership were present. Our shuttle had six Americans and one Canadian. On the space station already there were European, Russian and Japanese astronauts. So during those first few dinners on the station it was this incredible feeling of community.

Being a visitor on the ISS and being stationed there for six months, like I was on my last mission, is a completely different experience. On my first trip it was like I was visiting a rental home where I didnt know how to turn on the air conditioner or television remote. Once you have lived there for awhile, you begin to know where all of the controls are.

My last mission I was on the ISS for six months, and due to the pandemic, it was a profoundly different experience because of how little crew we had. There were only three people. The forward part of the station is all of the U.S., European and Japanese modules. The aft part is the Russian part. Everyone lives together on Greenwich Mean Time. There is maintenance and science that needs to be done in both sides, and the respective crews take care of them.

I was the lone American up there, joined by two Russian cosmonauts, which meant there were large chunks of the day where I was completely alone. Being that there were only three of us, we would try to float to each others sections for coffee to say good morning, but beyond that I was in our half of the craft on my own.

I have to admit, waking up on a space station when you are by yourself can be a little eerie. Earlier in the mission or in your career, you can forget that you are even waking up in space. I remember floating out of my sleep quarters while the craft was completely pitch dark. Seeing outside, it was hard not to remember that I was floating 250 miles above the surface of the Earth, traveling five miles a second.

Fortunately we always have an unseen crew member around and that is the mission control in Houston. They are constantly keeping an eye on everything for us, and they will wake us up if any action needs to be taken right away. There is a laptop that is stationed right by where I sleep, so the first thing that I would do when I woke up is pull it over to check any messages or emails from NASA.

Before grabbing a cup of coffee Id usually go pee, which would actually be used to make the coffee for the next day. I know it can sound a little weird, but the recycling machines that we have onboard are incredible. There is no sense that the water that we are drinking actually comes from that waste or the sweat wrung out from our tee shirts. It is actually critical to the future of space travel that we not have to store every drop of water required for a mission.

I will then have a little something to eat while I drink my coffee, while checking out the schedule for the day. The first thing that I like to do is get my exercise in. On the ISS there is one weight machine that is used by the whole crew. Each person has an hour-and-a-half workout routine that they have to do each day. Being that there were only three of us, there was a little more flexibility, but typically it is scheduled very strictly.

Once the workout was done, it is time to get into the tasks laid out by mission control. There is a computer program run by people back at headquarters where all of my tasks are laid out. There are laptops and tablets situated all over the station, which are all connected to an intranet. Some of the tasks can be completed at any time, and others are very strictly scheduled, like if they require a satellite in a certain position or are coordinated with a scientist on the ground.

On Fridays we would have dinner together as a crew, switching off at which part of the station would host. When it was my turn to host on the American side, I would prepare all of the food and all the cosmonauts had to do was show up with a spoon. The next week the tables would be turned. But most evenings I ate by myself. My favorite meals that we have on the ISS would be chicken strips and salsa or seafood gumbo, along with lots of great vegetables. I would grab a tea after dinner and float to the Russian side just for a little face time and to see how their day went.

Chris Cassidy in a spacesuit outside of the Station.

NASA

The days are typically pretty busy, but there is a little free time to decompress at the end. Saturdays are usually partial working days, where we clean up the ship, and Sundays are set aside for recovery. That time is absolutely necessary having every moment of your day accounted for can be mentally exhausting. There is a computer that has access to the regular Internet, but I will admit its not at all as fast as what we are used to on Earth. I dont find myself spending a lot of time on it. There is television where we can watch recorded programming, and I watched the series Yellowstone.

For the most part though, when I am up in space I try to do things that I cant do on Earth, like looking out the window down at Earth. I would look at the stars sometimes, they are beautiful up there, but I always found my eyes going back to Earth. I would call my family or friends when I could, usually after dinner on the space station because it would be around noon back home.

It takes a little bit of getting used to going to bed in space. I never use a sleep mask on Earth, but on the space station I have to. You forget how many little LED lights are on all of the electronics that we have in the station. They can make the sleeping quarters kind of bright. But honestly you are so tired by the end of the day, you are ready to close your eyes. I try to remember how lucky I am to fall asleep in space, and to get to put on that suit.

Among the Stars, a new docuseries featuring Cassidy, premieres October 6th on Disney+.

This series is done in partnership with the Great Adventures podcast hosted byCharlesThorp.Check out new and past episodes on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. Past guests include Bear Grylls, Andrew Zimmern, Chris Burkard, NASA astronauts, Navy SEALs and many others.

For more travel news, tips and inspo, sign up for InsideHook's weekly travel newsletter, The Journey.

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What It's Like to Be Alone on the International Space Station - InsideHook

ONE DOES NOTneed to look hard to find a new myth forming about the great beyond. The narrative is that space travel will solve our woesspecifically the woes of racial capitalism. And this myth is appearing everywhere, in reality and fiction.

Take, for example, billionaire Richard Bransons comments before Virgin Galactics suborbital mission in early July.

Imagine a world where people of all ages, all backgrounds from anywhere, of any gender, or any ethnicity have equal access to space, Branson told the press. And they will in turn, I think, inspire us back here on Earth.

Branson and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos are in a 21st century space race, trying to justify their extreme spending to commercialize the cosmos with the idea that space travel can dissolve a litany of struggles.

The new space race is not so different from the firstthe winner advances their power and reach. Between the 1950s and 1970s, the United States and the Soviet Union raced to space, then to the moon, largely for the same reason. The U.S., it might be said, won the space race by being the first to the moon (and we are still the only nation to have ever put people on the moon).

But what if things were different? This is the question explored by For All Mankind (Apple TV+), which released its second season in April. It is an exploration of a world in which the Soviets win the race to the moon, thereby extending the space race in perpetuity. The first season takes place in the 70s, the second jumps to 1983, and the decade-jump trend will continue for all seven seasons, according to the creators.

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'For All Mankind' Believes Travel To The Moon Will Solve Racism. It's Not That Simple - Sojourners