Category Archives: Space Station

Everything to do with space seems fast, big or grand. The International Space Station is 400 km high, travels at 27,600 kmph, but for some reason its Internet connection is... worse than dialup?!

NASAs fixing that soon, with a revolutionary new Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) that enables astronauts in space to access earthly Internet at a speed of 1Gbps.

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1) YouTube Faces Heat For Hiding LGBTQ Videos In 'Restricted Mode'; Issues Apology

YouTube, worlds largest video-sharing platform, was under fire recently for hiding LGBTQ-related videos within Restricted Mode setting, which is designed to screen out objectionable content. It was reported that YouTube was filtering out a hell of a lot of LGBTQ content. Read more

2) 12 Facts About Bhagat Singh That You Still Didn't Know

86 years ago today, one of India's greatest revolutionary freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh, was given the death penalty by the British colonisers. And though he died young, only 23 years of age, his actions inspired the youth of the nation to fight for the nation's freedom. Read more

3) Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad Slaps Air India Crew Member Because He Didn't Get A Business Class Seat

Air India has constituted an inquiry team to probe an incident that happened onboard one of its flights involving one of its crew member and Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad. Read more

4) Yogi Adityanath Effect? UP Minister Cleans Dirty Office Floor Himself

Influenced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths drive to keep the government building clear of pan masala and plastic, an Uttar Pradesh minister created a viral moment today in Lucknow. Read more

5) 40,000 Delhi Doctors Join Protests Even As Bombay HC Orders Those In Mumbai To Resume Work Immediately

Around 40,000 doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have joined the resident doctors in Maharashtra who are on a strike since Monday demanding better security at workplace. Read more

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Astronauts Will Enjoy 1Gbps Internet On The Intenational Space Station + 5 Must Read Stories - Indiatimes.com

The sight of the Thames snaking its way through London will be a familiar sight for EastEnders fans.

Now an astronaut aboard the International Space Station has shared a spectacular photograph of the UK's capital city lit up at night.

In the photo, several London landmarks are clearly visible - including Tower Bridge, Wembley Stadium and the O2 arena in Greenwich.

Hyde Park, Regents Park and Battersea Park all appear as dark patches in amongst the brightly lit centre.

NASA's Robert Shane Kimbrough snapped the photo on Sunday night, while orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 250 miles.

He shared the photo on Twitter with the caption "Good evening London from @Space_Station!" It has since been retweeted 1,750 times.

The former US Army Colonel is currently part of the Expedition 49/50 mission along with Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko.

On Friday, he shared a similar photo of Dublin, which was captured by European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, to mark St Patrick's Day

Excerpt from:
NASA astronaut shares spectacular photo of London from International Space Station 250 miles above Earth - Mirror.co.uk

Challenger invites you to navigate thru the thrill of launching to space in the first Space Station 5K Race! Run with your family & friends to celebrate the Spring Equinox in Bangor on Saturday, March 25th. Find out if you qualify to meet an astronauts running time requirement for space! This fun event will raise funds to help the Challenger Learning Center of Maine fulfill its mission to inspire STEM learning and career aspirations for Maine students.

Race Schedule:

Saturday Morning, March 25, 2017

8:00-9:30: Race bib/packet pick-up & race-day registration accepted

10:00: 5k Race begins

11:00ish: Awards

Race Course:

The race will be held at the Challenger Learning Center of Maine.

Address: 30 Venture Way, Bangor, ME 04401

The Race will start and end at the Challenger Learning Center of Maines parking lot. Runners will proceed up a small hill on Venture way, turn onto Texas Ave and loop back after reaching the MPBN parking lot. This loop will be completed twice.

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Challenger Learning Presents The First 5k Space Station Race - WABI

03/21/2017

The deadline is April 15 for schools and formal or informal educational institutions and organizations individually or working in concert to submit proposals to host Amateur Radio contacts next year with ISS crew members. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) anticipates that contacts will take place between January 1 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. Proposal information and documents are on the ARRL website.

To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS seeks proposals from schools and organizations that can draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Each FM-voice contact lasts about 10 minutes the length of a typical overhead ISS pass from horizon to horizon.

Scheduled ham radio contacts with ISS crew members allow students to interact with an astronaut or cosmonaut through a question-and-answer format. Participants and the audiences alike can learn firsthand from the astronaut or cosmonaut what its like to live and work in space and to learn about space research on the ISS. Students will be able to observe and learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science.

Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times.

To help organizations prepare proposals, ARISS offers 1-hour online information sessions, designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the proposal process, as well as provide an avenue for interested organizations to ask questions. Attending an online Information Session is not required but is strongly encouraged.

In the US, ARISS is a collaborative effort between ARRL and AMSAT, in partnership with NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS).

Contact ARISS for more information.

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ARISS Deadline Looms to Accept Proposals to Host Contacts with Space Station Crew - ARRL

March 20, 2017 by Jenny Howard The Cygnus spacecraft reenters the Earth's atmosphere, as observed by Expedition 40 crewmembers aboard the space station. RED-Data2, a soccer-ball sized companion to a spacecraft reentering the Earth's atmosphere, will be a test-bed for the testing and demonstration of high-heat materials. Credit: NASA

Orbital ATK is targeted to launch its Cygnus spacecraft into orbit for a resupply mission to the International Space Station March 24, 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Cygnus will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying crew supplies, equipment and scientific research to crew members aboard the station. The flight will deliver investigations that study magnetic cell culturing, crystal growth and atmospheric reentry.

Here are some highlights of research scheduled to be delivered to the station:

ADCs in Microgravity could provide better drug designs for cancer patients

In microgravity, cancer cells grow in 3-D, spheroid structures that closely resemble their form in the human body, allowing to better test the efficacy of a drug. The Efficacy and Metabolism of Azonafide Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Microgravity (ADCs in Microgravity) investigation tests new antibody drug conjugates, developed by Oncolinx.

These conjugates combine an immune-activating drug with antibodies and target only cancer cells, which could potentially increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and potentially reduce the associated side-effects. Results from this investigation could help inform drug design for cancer patients, as well as more insight into how microgravity effects a drug's performance.

3-D cell culturing in space may lead to improved drug development costs

Cells cultured in space spontaneously grow in 3-D, as opposed to cells cultured on Earth which grow in 2-D, resulting in characteristics more representative of how cells grow and function in living organisms. The Magnetic 3-D Cell Culture for Biological Research in Microgravity (Magnetic 3-D Cell Culturing) investigation will test magnetized cells and tools that may make it easier to handle cells and cell cultures. As a result, this could help investigators improving the ability to reproduce similar investigations on Earth.

This investigation will test ways to manipulate and culture cells in 2-D and 3-D in space and on the ground, which may help isolate the effects of gravity in experiments. If investigators can identify these effects on the cell's growth, data will be used to help design environments on Earth which mimic microgravity, which could reduce the cost of drug development.

SUBSA Furnace and Inserts provide for improved crystal growth in microgravity

The Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA) investigation was originally operated successfully aboard the space station in 2002. Although it has been updated with modernized software, data acquisition, high definition video and communication interfaces, its objective remains the same: advance our understanding of the processes involved in semiconductor crystal growth.

Many crystal growth investigations, such as CLYC Crystal Growth and Detached Melt and Vapor Growth of InI, will occur within SUBSA Furnace and Inserts. Samples can be observed with high-definition video in real-time, along with remote commanding of thermal control parameters by investigation teams.

Understanding how space debris reenters the atmosphere can lead to improved spacecraft materials

Out-of-function satellites, spent rocket stages and other debris frequently reenter Earth's atmosphere, where most of it breaks up and disintegrates before hitting the ground. However, some larger objects can survive atmospheric reentry. The ability to predict how an object will break apart is valuable in the protection of people and property. The Thermal Protection Material Flight Test and Reentry Data Collection (RED-Data2) investigation studies a new type of recording device that rides alongside of a spacecraft reentering the Earth's atmosphere, recording data about the extreme conditions it encounters during reentry, something scientists have been unable to test on a large scale thus far.

Understanding what happens to a spacecraft as it reenters the atmosphere could lead to increased accuracy of spacecraft breakup predictions, an improved design of future spacecraft and the development of materials that can resist the extreme heat and pressure of returning to Earth.

IceCube CubeSat seeks to improve understanding of weather and climate models

IceCube, a small satellite known as a CubeSat, will measure cloud ice using an 883-Gigahertz radiometer. Used to predict weather and climate models, IceCube will collect the first global map of cloud-induced radiances. The key objective for this investigation is to raise the technology readiness level, a NASA assessment that measures a technology's maturity level.

Advanced Plant Habitat supports plant research

Joining the space station's growing list of facilities is the Advanced Plant Habitat, a fully enclosed, environmentally controlled plant habitat used to conduct plant bioscience research. The habitat integrates proven microgravity plant growth processes with newly-developed technologies to increase overall efficiency and reliability. The ability to cultivate plants for food and oxygen generation aboard the space station is a key step in the planning of longer-duration, deep space missions where frequent resupply missions may not be a possibility.

Explore further: Stem cells seem speedier in space

Growing significant numbers of human stem cells in a short time could lead to new treatments for stroke and other diseases. Scientists are sending stem cells to the International Space Station to test whether these cells ...

The tenth SpaceX cargo resupply launch to the International Space Station, targeted for launch Feb. 18, will deliver investigations that study human health, Earth science and weather patterns. Here are some highlights of ...

Orbital ATK's unmanned Cygnus space capsule departed from the International Space Station on schedule Tuesday, three months after delivering 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilos) of supplies, material for scientific experiments and ...

Newly 3-D printed wrenches, data to improve cooling systems, protein crystals and seedling samples returned Feb. 10 aboard SpaceX's fifth contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station. Researchers will use ...

The crew of the International Space Station soon will be equipped to perform dozens of new scientific investigations with cargo launched Monday aboard NASA's latest commercial resupply services mission from the agency's Wallops ...

There will be more Dragons in space! The SpaceX Dragon's next launch to the International Space Station has been scheduled for Sunday, October 7, 2012, NASA and SpaceX announced today. This will be the first of 12 contracted ...

A new computer simulation helps explain the existence of puzzling supermassive black holes observed in the early universe. The simulation is based on a computer code used to understand the coupling of radiation and certain ...

What sounds like a stomach-turning ride at an amusement park might hold the key to unravelling the mysterious mechanism that causes beams of radio waves to shoot out from pulsarssuper-magnetic rotating stars in our Galaxy.

(Phys.org)A large international team of researchers has found that a hot Jupiter called KELT-16b is likely to offer a unique opportunity for research for many years to come. In their paper published in The Astronomical ...

The next rovers to explore another planet might bring along a scout.

As children, we learned about our solar system's planets by certain characteristicsJupiter is the largest, Saturn has rings, Mercury is closest to the sun. Mars is red, but it's possible that one of our closest neighbors ...

(Phys.org)Astronomers have inspected a mysterious isolated star cluster complex designated SH2 in the galaxy NGC 1316 (also known as Fornax A). The results of their study, which were published Mar. 1 in a paper on arXiv.org, ...

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Orbital ATK Cygnus set to deliver research to space station - Phys.org - Phys.Org

Stunning snap reveals what London looks like from 250 miles above ground

AN astronaut shared an incredible photo of London seen from hundreds of miles above in Space.

Nasas Shane Kimbrough took the snap from the International Space Station which orbits at a height of 250 miles on Sunday evening.

It shows the capital city lit up and the winding course of the Thames river from hundreds of miles above.

You can make out large attractions including the O2 arena in Greenwich,Westhams London Stadium and Hyde Park.

Its been retweeted thousands of times prompting Londoners to zoom in and try and find their homes.

Cover Images

Getty Images

One Brit joked whether EastEnders might consider it for a new logo.

The former US Army Colonel had been busy sending a load of science samples back to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

They used a robotic arm to send the cargo on its five-hour journey to the coast of Baja California, Mexico.

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Astronaut tweets dazzling picture of London's lights from the ... - The Sun

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III, or SAGE III, reached another in a series of major recent milestones Friday, March 17, by collecting first light data from its new home on the International Space Station.

In an email sent to SAGE III team members early Friday afternoon, acting SAGE III Project Manager Joe Gasbarre said, "After the mission operations and science teams had a chance early this morning to review the data received overnight, it was clear several successful solar occultations occurred, thus proving First Light had been achieved on the instrument."

Solar occultation is a type of measurement that involves looking at the light from the sun as it passes through Earth's atmosphere at the edge, or limb, of the planet. SAGE III uses both solar and lunar occultation to measure ozone and aerosols in Earth's atmosphere.

Autonomous operations of the instrument will continue over the weekend. Next week, the mission operations team will settle into what Gasbarre referred to as a "cadence of adjustments and data analysis" as instrument commissioning moves into full swing. Complete commissioning and calibration of SAGE III will take approximately 90 days.

The SAGE III mission operations team is based at the Flight Mission Support Center at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

"I cannot say enough about the efforts of this entire team stretching back many years," said Gasbarre in his email. "This success is only possible due to the hard work, sacrifice and support of the entire team as well as our stakeholders."

Once fully commissioned, SAGE III will take occultation measurements about 15 or 16 times a day. The space station's unique orbital path will allow SAGE III to make observations during all seasons and over a large portion of the globe.

SAGE III launched to the station Feb. 19 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon spacecraft. Following docking of the Dragon capsule, the station's robotic Canadarm2 removed the SAGE III instrument payload and its Nadir Viewing Platform and installed them on the station. Installation was completed March 7.

Read more here:
SAGE III Achieves First Light from Space Station Perch - Space Daily

By NASA // March 20, 2017

Growing significant numbers of human stem cells in a short time could lead to new treatments for stroke and other health issues. (NASA Image)

(NASA) Growing significant numbers of human stem cells in a short time could lead to new treatments for stroke and other health issues.

Scientists are sending stem cells to the International Space Station to test whether these cells proliferate faster in microgravity without suffering any side effects.

Therapeutic uses require hundreds of millions of stem cells and currently no efficient way exists to produce such quantities. Previous research suggests that microgravity could help, and the space station is home to the nations only national lab in microgravity.

Some types of stem cells grow faster in simulated microgravity, according to Abba Zubair, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Zubair is principal investigator for the Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells investigation, which is cultivating human stem cells aboard the space station for use in clinical trials back on Earth.

Cultured stem cells. (BioServe Inc. Image)

He holds a doctor of medicine degree in transfusion medicine and cell therapy and a doctorate of philosophy in tumor immunology.

Human stem cells are cells that have not yet specialized in function and can divide into a spectrum of cell types, rejuvenating and repairing tissue throughout a persons lifetime. Stem cells in every organ of the body, including skin and bones, maintain those organs and repair tissue by dividing and differentiating into specialized cells.

Harvesting a persons stem cells and growing enough of them for use in therapies has proven difficult, though. Researchers have successfully grown mesenchymal stem cells, found in bone marrow, but growing sufficient quantities takes weeks. That could be too late for treatment of some conditions.

Stem cells are inherently designed to remain at a constant number, Zubair explains.

We need to grow them faster, but without changing their characteristics.

The Plate Habitat (PHAB) containing BioCell cassettes for the Expanded Stem Cell investigation aboard the space station. (BioServe Inc. Image)

The first phase of the investigation, he adds, is answering the question: Do stem cells grow faster in space and can we grow them in such a manner that they are safe to use in patients?

Investigators will examine the space-grown cells in an effort to understand the mechanism behind microgravitys effects on them. The long-term goal is to learn how to mimic those effects and develop a safe and reliable way to produce stem cells in the quantities needed.

The second phase will involve testing clinical application of the cells in patients. Zubair has been studying treatment of stroke patients with lab-grown stem cells and plans to compare those results with use of the space-grown stem cells.

What is unique about this investigation is that we are not only looking at the biology of the cells and how they grow, but focusing on application, how we can use them to treat patients, he says.

The investigation expands existing knowledge of how microgravity affects stem cell growth and differentiation as well as advances future studies on how to produce large numbers of stem cells for treating stroke and other conditions.

Abba Zubair in his lab at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. (BioServe Inc. Image)

The faster that happens, the better for those who could benefit from stem cell therapies.

Click here to contribute your news or announcements Free

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Human Stem Cells Sent To International Space Station Seem Speedier In Space - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Here on Earth, most people celebrate St. Patricks Day by heading down to their local watering hole for a pint of Guinness or maybe a couple glasses of green beer. Up on the International Space Station, however, such a thing just isnt possible, but that doesnt stop them from recognizing Earthen traditions all the same. NASA Commander Shane Kimbrough and ESA pilot Thomas Pesquet took the opportunity to peer down from theirperch some 200-odd miles above the surface to catch a glimpse ofthe city that is probably partying harder than anyone tonight: Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin at night, Pesquet tweeted, along with a photograph of the sight. Always a great city to visit with a fantastic atmosphere. Kimbrough later tweeted his own greeting, saying Enjoy the #StPatricksFest Parade down there!

The photo is absolutely fantastic, and it was snapped at a high enough resolution to make out individual city streets. The center, downtown area is the brightest of all, and is undoubtedly filled with many revelers as the shot was taken. You can view the image in its full resolution on the NASA site here.

The International Space Station, which makes about 15 orbits per day around our planet, is potentially nearing the end of its lifespan. It was originally launched in the late 1990s and has seen many repairs and upgrades since then. The stations final days were originally estimated to fall somewhere in 2020, but Boeing, the crafts principal contractor, has discussed with NASA the possibility of keeping it alive through 2028. The Trump administrations various cuts to NASA funding could potentially impact that, as could many other factors.

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Space Station astronauts celebrate St. Patrick's Day with gorgeous night shot of Dublin - BGR

USNewswire/ NASA commercial cargo provider Orbital ATK is targeting its seventh commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for 9 p.m., EDT Friday, March 24, the start of a 30-minute launch window. Coverage of the launch begins at 8 p.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website. An option exists to move the launch earlier to March 23, if the Eastern Range becomes available.

Two prelaunch briefings will air the day prior to launch. At 1 p.m., scientists and researchers will discuss some of the investigations to be delivered to the station, and at 4 p.m., mission managers will provide an overview and status of launch operations.

Dubbed S.S. John Glenn, the Cygnus spacecraft name is a tribute to the former astronaut and U.S. Senator from Ohio. It will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Coverage of the spacecraft's solar array deployment will begin at 10:40 p.m., March 24, and will include post-launch interviews on console with mission managers.

Under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract, Cygnus will carry more than 7,600 pounds ofscience research, crew supplies and hardware to the orbiting laboratory in support of the Expedition 50 and 51 crew members.

The new experiments will include magnetized tools to make it easier to reproduce experiments on Earth, an antibody investigation that could increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment, and an advanced plant habitat for studying plant physiology and growth of fresh food in space. Cygnus also is carrying 38 CubeSats, including many built by university students from around the world as part of the QB50 program. The CubeSats are scheduled to deploy from either the spacecraft or space station in the coming months.

When Cygnus arrives to the space station, Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA and Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) will use the space station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, to take hold of the spacecraft. After Canadarm2 captures Cygnus, ground commands will be sent for the station's arm to rotate and install it on the bottom of the station's Unity module.

Cygnus will remain on the station until June, when it will depart with several tons of trash for a fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Prior to re-entry, a third experiment to test will be conducted to study how fire burns in space.

This is Orbital ATK's third launch from Cape Canaveral. Missions from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia are scheduled to resume for the eighth and subsequent contracted flights.

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

https://www.nasa.gov/content/orbital-atk-crs-7-briefings-and-events

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

NASA TV Live

Follow countdown coverage on our launch blog at:

http://blogs.nasa.gov/orbital

SOURCE NASA

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NASA TV to Air Seventh Orbital ATK Resupply Mission to International Space Station - Broadway World