Category Archives: Space Station

By Tony Rice

The International Space Station (ISS) will be a little more visible through Saturday morning.

Several times each year, the ISS enters a high-beta period. The Beta Angle, measured between the sun and Earths orbit, reached a high of 72 degrees this morning.

Astronauts usually experience a sunrise and sunset on each 90-minute orbit of the Earth. During periods of high-beta angle, the space station is in constant sunlight as it orbits above the suns terminator, the line between night and day.

Think of it this way: Picture a track with a bright light in the middle. Now picture an object tied to the end of a rope being swung by a runner circling that track. The light is the sun, the runner is Earth, the track is the orbital plane of Earth, and the object orbiting the runner is the ISS. If the runner swings the rope horizontally, with the plane of track/Earths orbit, thats a low beta angle. The object sees some periods of darkness as it swings into the runners shadow. If the runner swings the rope vertically, perpendicular to the plane of track/Earths orbit, thats a high-beta angle. The object is always exposed to light.

Beta angle is an important part of ISS flight controllers planning. While all that sunlight is great for generating power with the stations massive solar arrays, it presents challenges in keeping the stations components cool. Controllers must keep the station oriented to provide its own shade on key segments.

Orbiting at just over 250 miles in altitude, ISS is visible to anyone on the ground within a 100-mile wide circle. The closer you are to the center of that circle, the higher in the sky the ISS will reach and the longer it will be visible in the sky. Central North Carolina is at the center of that circle Thursday just after 9 p.m.

Generally, the ISS is visible here on Earth only during the hour or two before or after sunset or sunrise. During high-beta periods, that constant sunlight extends its visibility, even overnight. That provides an unusual number of opportunities to see the station pass overhead as clouds move out later tonight.

The station will be visible:

Thursday

9:10 p.m. from the SW for over 6 minutes 10:50 p.m. from the NW for 3 minutes (very low pass)

Friday

3:43 a.m. from the NNW for nearly 6 minutes 5:17 a.m. from the WNW for 5 minutes 9:55 p.m. from the W for 5 minutes

Saturday

4:28 a.m. from the WSW for 3 minutes 9:03 p.m. from the WSW for 6 minutes 9:49 p.m. from the NW for 2 minutes

Tonights ground track of the station takes it west of Pinehurst and Carthage, directly over Jordan Lake, directly over the campuses of Cisco and Biogen in RTP, Falls Creek, until it leaves North Carolina directly over the state line at Lake Gaston.

The station will travel from the South Carolina border to the Virginia border in just 41 seconds.

Tony Rice is a volunteer in the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador program and software engineer at Cisco Systems. You can follow him on Twitter @rtphokie.

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Look up: International Space Station more visible through Saturday - WRAL.com

Universe Today

2 US Astronauts Conduct Unplanned, Rapidly Executed Contingency Space Walk on Space Station Universe Today In the space of just 3 days, a pair of NASA astronauts conducted an unplanned and rapidly executed contingency space walk on the exterior of the space station on Tuesday, May 23 in order to replace a critical computer unit that failed over the weekend. NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 May 2017 - Astronauts Prepare for Contingency SpacewalkSpace Ref (press release) Cool Spacewalk, Right? Get Ready for MoreISS Will Need Fixin'WIRED Spacewalking astronauts pull off urgent station repairsIndex-Journal CDA News -The Space Reporter all 36 news articles »

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2 US Astronauts Conduct Unplanned, Rapidly Executed Contingency Space Walk on Space Station - Universe Today

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting its eleventh commercial resupply services mission to theInternational Space Stationfor 5:55 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 1. Launch coverage will begin on NASA Television and the agency's website at 5:15 p.m., followed by the post-launch news conference at 7:30 p.m.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will liftoff on the company's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carryingalmost 6,000 pounds of science research, crew supplies and hardware to the orbiting laboratory in support of Expedition 52 and 53 crew members. The unpressurized trunk of the spacecraft also will transport solar panels, tools for Earth-observation and equipment to study neutron stars.

About 10 minutes after launch, Dragon will reach its preliminary orbit. It then will deploy its solar arrays and begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station. When it arrives to the space station, Expedition 52 Flight Engineers Jack Fischer and Peggy Whitson of NASA will grapple Dragon.

Live coverage of the rendezvous and capture will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, June 4, on NASA TV, with installation coverage set to begin at 11:30 a.m. If the launch does not occur on June 1, the next launch opportunity is 5:07 p.m. Saturday, June 3, with NASA TV coverage starting at 4:30 p.m.

The Dragon spacecraft will remain at the space station until approximately July 2, when it will return to Earth with research and return cargo in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Baja California.

Media at Kennedy will have the opportunity to participate in special tours and briefings May 31 and June 1, as well as view the launch. The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed, but for more information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer Horner at 321-867-6598 orjennifer.p.horner@nasa.gov.

This will be the 100th launch, and sixth SpaceX launch, from this pad. Previous launches include 11 Apollo flights, the launch of the unmanned Skylab in 1973, 82 shuttle flights and five SpaceX launches.

For an updated schedule of prelaunch briefings, events and NASA TV coverage, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/spacex-crs-11-briefings-and-events

Learn more about the SpaceX CRS-11 mission at:

https://www.nasa.gov/spacex

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-air-launch-of-next-international-space-station-resupply-mission-300464350.html

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NASA to Air Launch of Next International Space Station Resupply Mission - PR Newswire (press release)

Thursday Night: Look up to see Space Station

Humidity makes a big comeback Saturday and Sunday.

Updated: 8:35 PM CDT May 25, 2017

Look up to see the Space Station at 8:07 to 8:13 pm. Sunny skies forecast Friday. Highs upper 80s to near 90. Humidity makes a big comeback Saturday and Sunday. Heat index climbs into upper 90s. Slight rain chance Saturday and 20% chance Sunday. Rain chances go up Monday at Tuesday to a 50% chance. Keep an eye to the sky.

http://www.wdsu.com/weather

WEBVTT LIVE AT NOPD HEADQUARTERS,TRAVERS MACKEL, WDSU NEWS.MARGARET: WE ARE TALKING ABEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY.LOOK OUT AT THE LAKEFRONT.DEAR MEMBER YESTERDAY?-- DO YOU REMEMBER YESTERDAY?NORTHWES WIND, NOW WE HAVE ASOUTHWEST WIND.LOOK AT THIS GORGEOUS PICTUREFROM DAVID MOORE AND HE SAIDGOOD MORNING AND DO YOU KNOWWHAT A GOOD MORNING IT WAS.LOOK AT THESE LOW TEMPERATURES.WE HAD A LOWS IN THE MID-50'S.THE AVERAGE LOW IS ACTUALLY 70.WE HAVE A LOW AT THE AIRPORT OF57.BELOW THAT AVERAGE OF 87, ENJOYIT, TEMPERATURES ARE GOING UPTOMORROW.83, A WEST-SOUTHWEST WIND.IT IS FEELING NICE.LOOK AT THESE TEMPERATURES ALLACROSS THE AREA, LOW-80'S,HAMMOND AND BATON ROUGE AT 84DEGREES.IT IS PRETTY MUCH ASSUME -- MUCHWEST-SOUTHWEST.WE ARE WARMER THAN WE WEREYESTERDAY AT THIS TIME.6:00 HERE, 82 THE LOW-80'S.TONIGHT, YOU CAN GO OUT AGAINAND YOU CAN SEE THE SPACESTATION.CODY SENT THIS IN LAST NIGHTOVER IN BROOKHAVEN.IT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BITEARLIER, RIGHT THERE AT 8:07.YOU LOOK TO THE SOUTHWEST BUTTHEN RIGHT WHEN IT IS EAST OFNE ORLEANS, THAT IS WHEN IT ISGOING TO BE AT THE HIGHESTELEVATION SO 8:07 TO 8:13.LOOK OUTSIDE, IT IS REALLY ATREAT.SULA SAID SHE JUST SNEEZED.GRASS POLLEN IS HIGH.WE CAN CHECK OUT WHAT ISHAPPENING, HARDLY ANY CLOUDS.LIVE RIGHT HERE, THAT ISACTUALLY A LATE BREES -- LATEBREES BECAUSE -- LAKE BREEZE.NO RAIN FORECAST TONIGHT.NO RAIN FORECAST FOR YOURFRIDAY.AS YOU GO INTO SATURDAY, THEREIS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN ANDYOU WILL NOTICE A FEW MORECLOUDS.IN THE MORNING, LOW-60'S TO THEUPPER-60'S FOR YOUR LOWS.UPPER-80'S TO NEAR-90 AND IT ISBECAUSE OF THAT SOUTH WINDS.IT IS GOING TO BE PUMPING IN THEMOISTURE AS WELL.FOR GREEK FEST, FRIDAY,UPPER-80'S TO 90'S.LOOK AT TOMORROW, GORGEOUS.I CANNOT GO TO GREET FESTTOMORROW, I'M GOING TO GUESSSATURDAY OR SUNDAY.IF YOU GO ON SUNDAY AND WHEREYOUR TOGA, YOU GET ENTRY.-- WEAR YOUR TOGA, YOU GET IN

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Thursday Night: Look up too see Space Station - WDSU New Orleans

USA Today Network James Dean, Florida Today 7:07 p.m. ET May 23, 2017

Spacewalking astronauts made urgent repairs at the International Space Station on Tuesday, three days after a critical relay box failed. The replacement job fell to commander Peggy Whitson, the world's most experienced female astronaut. (May 23) AP

Outside the International Space Station on Tuesday morning, NASA astronaut Jack Fischer waved while attached to the Destiny laboratory during a spacewalk to replace a failed data relay box and install a pair of wireless communications antennas.(Photo: NASA)

CAPE CANAVERAL Astronaut Peggy Whitson on Tuesday repaired a critical International Space Station system during a nearly three-hour spacewalk that moved her into second place on NASAs career list for most spacewalking time.

Joined by NASAs Jack Fischer, Whitsonswapped out a computer relay box that had failed on Saturday.

Known as a multiplexer-demultiplexer, or MDM, the box helped control the stations solar arrays, radiators and cooling loops, among other systems.

A backup box remained in good shape, but NASA on Sunday ordered the unplanned "contingency" spacewalk to minimize the risk of a backup failure.

Related:

Long-distance call: Trump speaks with astronaut Peggy Whitson

Woman astronaut completes record 8th spacewalk, with a tiny hiccup

Whitson, the 57-year-old commander of the stations five-person Expedition 51 crew,unbolted the failed relay box and installed a spare as the football field-length research complex orbited 250 miles above the planet.

Fischer, meanwhile, installed wireless communications antennas on the stations Destiny lab module.

The two-hour, 46-minute spacewalk added to Whitsons record-breaking resume.

Last month, she set a new NASA mark for most cumulative days in space with more than 534 days, an achievement celebrated with a call from President Trump.

Tuesdays spacewalk was her 10th, tying the most by a NASA astronaut. In the course of itshe passed two retired NASA colleagues, Jerry Ross and John Grunsfeld, for most time performing spacewalks.

Whitsons career total of 60 hours and 21 minutes of extra-vehicular activity, or EVA, trails NASAs Michael Lopez-Alegria by more than seven hours and Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev the all-time leader by about 20 hours.

No more spacewalks are scheduled before Whitson's planned returnto Earth in September with Fischer, a 43-year-old flight engineer who completed his second spacewalk Tuesday.

Follow James Dean on Twitter: @flatoday_jdean

Read more:

Age is no barrier for astronaut Peggy Whitson

3rd trip to space: Peggy Whitson set to break more NASA records

Record-breaking NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson extends time in space

US astronaut Peggy Whitson doesn't quite yet want to come back down to Earth. The only female onboard the International Space Station is extending her sojourn by an additional three more months, and will return in September. USA TODAY

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Peggy Whitson repairs critical space station system in record-tying 10th spacewalk - USA TODAY

Lead author Teruhiko Wakayama, of theUniversity of Yamanashi,said: Radiation on the International Space Station is more than 100 times stronger than at the Earths surface, and at levels that can cause DNA damage in somatic cell nuclei.

The damage to offspring caused by this irradiation in germ cells has not been examined, however.

Here we preserved mouse sperm on the ISS for 9 months. Although sperm DNA was slightly damaged during space preservation, it could be repaired by the egg and did not impair the birth rate or normality of the offspring.

Our results demonstrate that generating human or domestic animal offspring from space-preserved sperm is a possibility, which should be useful when the space age arrives.

Previous Russian studies had shown that when male and female rats were sent into space in 1979 they did not mate at all.

Another study found that when male rodents were placed in simulated zero gravity conditions they could no longer produce sperm.

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Space mice: first animals born from sperm stored on International Space Station for 9 months - Telegraph.co.uk

A pair of astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station for an emergency space walk. According to Reuters, astronauts will replace a failed computer, one of two that control major U.S. systems aboard the orbiting outpost. USA TODAY

In March 2017, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson suited up in the U.S. Quest airlock getting ready for a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Whitson will conduct a spacewalk with Jack Fischer on Tuesday, May 22, 2017. The spacewalk was ordered to replace a data relay box that failed Saturday, May 20, 2017.(Photo: Provided by NASA via Florida Today)

MELBOURNE, Fla. A pair of NASA astronauts will perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Tuesday morning to replace a data relay box that failed over the weekend.

The box is one of two in the middle of the football field-length station that controls solar arrays, radiators, cooling loops and other functions, NASA said.

A backup box, formally called multiplexer-demultiplexer, or MDM, is working and NASA said the station's five-person crew was not in danger.

Related: Woman astronaut completes record 8th spacewalk, with a tiny hiccup

"The crew has never been in any danger, and the MDM failure, believed to be internal to the box itself, has had no impact on station activities," NASA reported.

However, after the failure Saturday morning, NASA on Sunday gave the go-ahead toproceed quickly with a two-hour spacewalk by Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer, limiting the crew's vulnerability to a potential failure by the backup system. It's unknown why the box failed.

Whitson was part of a March 30 spacewalk that upgraded the same data relay box with new software.

On Sunday, she inspected and tested a spare box that she'll install Tuesday.

The spacewalk will be the 10th for Whitson NASA's all-time leader for most days in space with more than 560 and second for Fischer. The pair previously teamed up May 12. Whitson's spacewalk Tuesday will tiethe record for most spacewalks by a U.S. astronaut.

That excursion was cut short because of a leaky umbilical hose inside the space station.

Related: Spacewalk opens door for Boeing, SpaceX crews

While Whitson replaces the data relay box, Fischer will install a pair of wireless communications antennas outside the station's Destiny lab module. That job was left undone during the May 12 spacewalk.

Tuesday's "extra-vehicular activity," or EVA, as NASA refers to spacewalks, will be the 201st supporting station assembly and maintenance.

The spacewalk is expected to begin around 8 a.m. Tuesday, possibly earlier, and will be broadcast live on NASA TV.

Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow James Dean on Twitter: @flatoday_jdean

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NASA orders spacewalk for repairs at space station - USA TODAY

Stateside's conversation with Terry McCormick, a 7th grade teacher at Smith Middle School in Troy.

School kids in the 1960s thought it was super cool if they could watch a space shuttle launch on one a TV rolled into their classroom on a cart.

But today, school kids do a lot more than just watch a shuttle launch. They can play an actual role in research being done aboard the International Space Station from their own classroom.

Its all because of a Michigan-based program called Orions Quest.

Terry McCormick is one of the Michigan teachers whose students are taking part in real life science missions here on the ground.

Listen to the full interview above to hear more about how school kids are contributing to the research taking place on the International Space Station. Plus, we ask 7th grade studentMeera Manek what she thinks about the program.

(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast oniTunes,Google Play, or with thisRSS link)

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Program lets Michigan students play role in International Space Station research - Michigan Radio

Sensor specialists Zettlex will see their products hit new heights when they're blasted into orbit to help astronauts on the International Space Station.

The Newton company's IncOders have been selected by NASA scientists as the critical control elements for a new generation of high-tech fitness equipment now being used by crew members on the International Space Station.

Long periods in the microgravity of space can have severe effects on an astronauts body. To counter these effects, crew members on the International Space Station must exercise intensively for 2-3 hours per day. Whilst traditional gym equipment might work well on earth, in space things are not so straightforward. The bulk of traditional gym equipment effectively prohibits a space launch and any normal weights machine effectively becomes useless. In space, running on a normal treadmill would likely only produce comical results.

Understanding the effects of space on the human body is an important area of medical research and establishing how exercise keeps astronauts healthy is important in enabling humans to remain in space. This is a critical area for longer range manned missions, most notably to Mars. Accurate and reliable data on an astronauts exercise intensity, speed and duration is valuable scientific data.

Mark Howard, Zettlex general manager, said: "Perhaps fitness equipment is not the first piece of scientific apparatus that one might consider for the International Space Station. However, its crucial to the health and well-being of astronauts and we were delighted that Zettlex products were selected for this important project. Our products had to undergo a long and rigorous qualification process and Im pleased to say that we passed with flying colours.

Cllr Peter Topping, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, added: Its great to see Zettlex sensors picked for such a vital piece of equipment. Their technology is world-leading and making a name for South Cambridgeshire innovation on the global stage. Zettlex is an exceptional example of the kind of high-tech, high-growth business that the Council is proud to support and wants to see thriving.

Its likely that British astronaut Tim Peake will be putting NASAs new fitness equipment through its paces on his next visit to the International Space Station, scheduled for 2019.

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Cambridge company's sensors go into orbit on International Space Station - Cambridge News

The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla is sending 2,000 fruit flies to the International Space Station to study how micro-gravity affects the insects hearts research that could benefit astronauts who one day travel beyond Earths orbit.

Fruit flies are routinely used as a proxy for humans because their genetic makeup is similar, as is the pace of their heartbeat.

A spacecraft is scheduled to carry the flies to the space station on June 1 and return them to Earth on July 5 or 6.

A team led by Karen Ocorr, a neurobiologist at the institute, plans to perform a series of tests when the flies are brought back to this planet. It intends to examine everything from how well the insects hearts function to which genes are expressed in certain conditions.

Research like this can help tell us learn what would happen to astronauts who go to Mars, or who stay in colonies on the moon, Ocorr said Monday. Both missions could happen in the not-too-distant future. So could sending astronauts to mine asteroids.

The work also will help us understand what happens to people who spend extended time in bed people who are infirm or who have diseases, she added.

Fruit flies have been used to model congenital heart disease in humans, as well as cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia, among other afflictions.

Twitter: @grobbins

gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com

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La Jolla institute sending experiment to space station to benefit health of astronauts - The San Diego Union-Tribune