Category Archives: Space Station

I fear that at this point, a lot of people will look at Unitystation and think, "Oh, it's an Among Us rip-off", but no! It is in fact another attempt at making Space Station 13 happen again. Specifically, it's an open source effort to recreate cult classic Space Station 13 in Unity, and its latest development video suggests they're making good progress.

The video shows lots of recently added features, including new playable antagonists such as space wizards and a sentient blob that can spread and take over the ship. There's also a blue banana peel that you can stand on which will teleport you to a random location - with the possibility that the location will be outside, in the vacuum of space.

As always, it's the UI updates I'm most interested in, and it looks as if they've made several changes that would make the game easier to play.

That's important. Space Station 13, if you're unaware, was a topdown, science fiction, multiplayer roleplaying game. Every player selects a role to perform onboard a space station, from captain to engineer, bartender to janitor, and a lot more. Almost every object in the world can then be picked up, manipulated or used in some way.

Around ten years ago, this was a recipe for a lot of fun roleplaying stories and cult success. Quinns (RPS in peace) had a go at being a galactic bartender, with fun results. But the game was also fiddly to play, never found the enormous audience it maybe deserved, and there have been multiple failed attempts to revive it since.

Unitystation seems to be going well so far. There's a rough alpha build available, a Patreon for those who want to help fund its creation, and it's aiming to launch in an early access form on Steam before the end of 2021.

If it still looks a bit too rough for you, the next best thing is probably Barotrauma, a thoroughly modern submarine jape sim that Nate enjoyed a lot.

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Unitystation is the latest attempt to make Space Station 13 - Rock Paper Shotgun

The Bishop Airlock is officially open for business.

It was a design on paper five years ago. An empty shell in need of electronics in 2019. Then tucked inside the trunk of a SpaceX Dragon capsule and launched toward the International Space Station on Dec. 6.

Another two months of waiting, testing and checking for leaks. Then, finally, the team completed all its tasks and celebrated the airlocks commissioning Thursday morning.

The launch: Airlock aloft as NASA uses Nanoracks technology for the Space Station

We did it, finally, said Brock Howe, the airlocks project manager at Nanoracks. Now we get into full-fledged operations.

The Bishop Airlock designed, owned and operated by Webster-based Nanoracks is the International Space Stations first commercial airlock. In fact, it is the stations first permanent, complex element to be owned and operated by a commercial company.

The dome-shaped Bishop Airlock has a circular opening that is attached to the space station. When attached, the airlock is pressurized and astronauts can fill it with satellites (ranging from the size of a loaf of bread to a refrigerator) to be deployed. They can also secure projects and experiments to the airlock to give them exposure to the vacuum and radiation of space.

Once astronauts leave the Nanoracks device, air is sucked out and the space stations robotic arm disconnects the airlock from the station. The arm positions the airlock away from the station to deploy satellites, or the airlock can be attached to a different part of the stations exterior to expose those strapped-in experiments to space for prolonged periods.

On Monday, Kate Rubins became the first astronaut to float inside. She helped with final installation, and Howe said she spoke fondly of the airlock. She mentioned that it was clean and well-made.

All the folks who put their hands on building the airlock, that really meant a lot to all of them, Howe said, to get recognition from somebody who was actually working with it.

Hardware to be placed inside the airlock is still being built and launched into space. Howe expects it will be opened for the first time this summer, likely to dump space station trash that will burn up in Earths atmosphere.

Howe, who has been working on the project since its beginning, said he will continue monitoring the airlock for another year.

Ill watch her for a good full year, Howe said. Shes kind of born now, if you will. Ill let her get through her first year.

The journey to Florida for liftoff: How do you ship a brand-new airlock destined for the Space Station? Very carefully.

Then he expects to transition to the next big item on Nanoracks checklist: commercial space stations.

Today, the company is attaching an airlock to the government-run International Space Station. Tomorrow, it wants to repurpose the upper stages of rockets discarded in space to create free-flying, privately owned stations.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder

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Nanoracks airlock is open for business on the International Space Station - Houston Chronicle

A Russian "space truck" has met its fiery doom on its way home to Earth.

The cargo ship Progress MS-15 from Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency, broke apart as it burned up in Earth's atmosphere after undocking from the International Space Station yesterday (Feb. 8). The astronauts living on the space station watched the craft's fiery demise from above and shared the experience on social media.

"Farewell, Progress 76P MS-15! #Russian cargo spacecraft undocked from #ISS, and successfully burned up," JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi tweeted along with a photo taken from the space station, showing the cargo craft burning up in Earth's atmosphere below.

Related: Russia's Progress cargo ship explained

Roscosmos launched Progress MS-15 (also known as Progress 76) to the space station July 23, 2020 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Docking with the station just 3 hours 18 minutes and 31 seconds after launch, the craft arrived in record time, according to Roscosmos. This was a routine cargo delivery, carrying over 2.5 tons of cargo to the station. Cargo missions like this deliver food and other astronaut supplies in addition to scientific equipment and experiments to the space station.

In saying farewell to the craft, Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, who returned to Earth last year on Oct. 22, shared some photos on Twitter of the craft arriving to the space station this past summer. "The #ProgressMS15 cargo spacecraft undocked from the International @Space_Station at 08:21 Moscow time. Most recently, on July 23, 2020, we received it on board the #ISS. Today I want to share with you the photos taken during the docking," he wrote.

The cargo ship spent about seven months in space attached to the space station. Yesterday, MS-15 detached from the station, traveled away from the station, got close enough to be pulled out of near-Earth orbit and burned up in our planet's atmosphere, a maneuver that was intentional and went as planned.

"After preparations for undocking were completed, a command was issued to open the Progress MS-15 spacecraft hooks; it was undocked from the station and sent away. After the spacecraft was withdrawn to a safe distance from the station, the specialists of the TsNIIMash Mission Control Center (MCC, part of Roscosmos) began the controlled deorbit of the spacecraft," Roscosmos said in a statement.

The non-combustible components of the craft landing and sinking into a "non-navigable region of the South Pacific," Roscosmos said in another statement.

"Non-combustible structure elements will drop in the calculated area of the non-navigable region of the Pacific Ocean. The estimated fragments drop area is approximately 1,680 km east of Wellington (New Zealand). Roscosmos has completed all the necessary procedures to flag this area as temporarily dangerous for sea navigation and aircraft flights," the agency wrote.

The next "space truck" to deliver supplies from Russia to the space station will be Progress MS-16, a cargo spacecraft that will deliver 2.5 tons of cargo on Feb. 17. Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov are preparing for the anticipated arrival.

Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook

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A Russian 'space truck' just burst into flames on purpose and the photo is amazing - Space.com

People have been dreaming of going into space for a long time. From the many space movies to iconic television shows and books, civilian space travel has been an ongoing topic for a while. The first civilians may finally be able to enter space in 2021.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 24, ... [+] 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Transporter-1 mission is the first in a planned series of small satellite rideshare missions that will take 143 U.S. and international spacecraft, including 10 Starlink satellites, to low earth orbit, a record number of satellites on a single flight. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Inspiration4

Several companies and initiatives are competing to launch the first civilians into space.

It appears the Inspiration4 may be the first civilian space travel mission in partnership with SpaceX. If all goes according to plan, the world's first four civilian astronauts will launch in 2021. The crew will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions launched from. It will be between 2 and 4 days with a low earth orbit that covers 90% of the world's population.

This mission will use the same Dragon vehicle that was successfully docked at the International Space Station with four professional astronauts in late 2020.

Sports fans watching Super Bowl LV on February 7, 2021, may recall seeing a 30-second commercial from Inspiration4 and its leader, Jared Isaacman. Jared Isaacman is the commander and benefactor. He is an accomplished pilot with experience flying commercial and military aircraft. Isaacman also flies in the charitable Black Diamond Jet Team.

This tv spot helps the average person learn about the Inspiration4 mission and encourages people to apply for the two remaining seats. In addition to being the first civilian space travel mission, Inspiration4 helps raise awareness and funds for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

The second seat is titled, Hope. A St. Jude's ambassador with direct ties to the Inspiration4 mission will fill this seat.

The two open seats are awarded to applicants that achieve a specific social mission:

Crew selection for the remaining seats starts in March 2021. The selected crew will undergo astronaut training and fly into space on the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft.

SpaceX

It appears at this time that SpaceX will be the first company to win the civilian space race if Inspiration4 materializes. SpaceX is led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is perhaps better known as the public face of the Tesla vehicle brand.

Currently, SpaceX is launching satellites with its Starlink program. The company has also been announcing several "space tourism" partnerships that hope to launch in the next few years.

Civilians will use the Dragon capsule that holds up to 7 astronauts. But the initial flights will only take four people to space at a time.

Axiom Space

Axiom Space is building the first private space station where space tourists can potentially live in space for several days in the future. For now, Axiom is launching its first private-crew mission to the International Space Station in 2021.

Once civilian space travel starts, they will be guided by professional astronauts. These initial missions provide training opportunities for the space crew and companies. The first initial civilian space flight is planned for early 2022. Four people will fly to stay at the International Space Station for ten days.

Space Adventures

Space Adventures is one of the older space tourism companies and launched in 1998. The company reports successfully sending private citizens to the International Space Station using the Russian Soyuz rocket. Space Adventures also hopes to use the SpaceX Falcon rockets to launch civilians into space from Florida.

If approved, Space Adventures will launch from Florida. There will be a five-day low-Earth orbit that won't dock to the International Space Station. The target date is from late 2021 to early 2022.

Yusaka Maezawa

Japanese billionaire Yusaka Maezawa is striving to be the first civilian to orbit the moon. He signed a partnership with SpaceX for this "moonshot project" to fly on the Big Falcon Rocket and complete the mission by 2023.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin is another leading space tourism company led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. In early February 2021, Bezos announced he was stepping down as Amazon CEO to spend more time focusing on his other projects. One of them is Blue Origin.

11-Minute Space Flights

Blue Origin will be offering low-earth orbit flights from its western Texas launch site. The New Shephard rocket system will take up to 6 civilians to the fringe of space above the Karman Line for 11 minutes.

Passengers will arrive two days before the flight to undergo training. While in space, passengers can experience the zero-G weightless experience and look out the large windows to see space and Earth. Civilians will re-enter the Earth and land in the desert near El Paso, Texas, in the capsule via parachute.

Prices for this space expedition are not publicly available on the Blue Origin website. However, some rumors indicate the ticket is at least $200,000 to $250,000 per person.

Blue Moon

The last NASA lunar landing took place in 1972. Today, countries are interested in returning to the moon. For instance, the United States wants to send the first female to the Moon by 2024. The U.S. government has a competition to choose a new lunar lander as part of its Artemis program. If successful, people will live on the Moon full-time.

Blue Origin's offering is the Blue Moon vehicle. There are a cargo version and a NASA Human Landing System that's a joint effort with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper.

Virgin Galactic

As part of the "Virgin" family led by Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic operates from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Like the other space tourism companies, Virgin Galactic is currently in the test flight phase of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle but hopes to onboard civilians soon.

SpaceShipTwo

The first Virgin Galactic space flights will use SpaceShipTwo. This craft holds up to six passengers, and each ticket costs at least $250,000.

Similar to the Blue Origin New Shephard flights, only several minutes will be in space. But the total flight time from takeoff to landing will be approximately 2.5 hours.

International Space Station

In the future, Virgin Galactic will offer missions to the International Space Station. Few specifics are available in regards to cost and the number of days in space. But civilians can join the inquiry list to start the space travel process.

Summary

Civilian space travel may finally become a reality starting later in 2021. However, there are safety and government requirements to conquer first. After that, people can start traveling to the edge of space for the experience of a lifetime.

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When Will We Have Civilian Space Travel? - Forbes

Mankind evolved to live, survive, and thrive on Earth, under the specific natural conditions of this planet. Finding a new home, whether because we need to or want to explore the cosmos, wont be easy. Even minor changes in our surroundings could be catastrophic. For example, more or less gravity can wreak havoc on our bodies. But a recent scientific paper has provided a new idea for how we might be able move beyond our terrestrial limits. It doesnt involve terraforming a planet or even finding one that provides the exact right conditions. It might be possible for us to settle in a giant space station orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres.And that would mean making some sci-fi dreams a reality.

Dr. Pekka Janhunen, a theoretical physicist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, has published a paper (which we first learned about atUniverse Today) that lays out the potential for building a massive space settlement in high orbit around Ceres. It would serve as both a galactic home and outpost for mankind. And it could happen sooner than we think. Dr. Janhunen told Live Sciencethat he believes humans could start settling on the megasatellite in as few as 15 years. Some of these concepts might not seem accessible to those of us who are not scientists. Fortunately, science fiction has already laid the ground work to help explain some of Dr. Janhunens ideas. From the paper:

The Martian provided a fictional example of the idea proposed here. Those astronauts flew to Mars in a spinning spaceship. The ships centrifuge created artificial gravity that replicated the conditions of Earth. In Dr. Janhunens theorized settlement, instead of traveling in a ship, people would live in disks attached to the main structure orbiting Ceres. This general idea has appeared frequently in other sci-fi works. Recent examples include Interstellar and Elysium. Its also part of a planned space hotel. And with good reason. The spinning concept has been theorized for more than a century, because theres real science behind it. And human bodies would continue to grow normally thanks to the simulated gravity.

The station would use Ceres nitrogen to create an atmosphere around the space settlement. Mirrors attached to the station would provide sunlight for the habitants. And at the proposed size, which is five to six times larger than even some of the densest urban centers on the planet, settlers would have plenty of room to grow and garden. That would be possible by accessing Ceres abundant natural resources via a far more cost effective method than rockets. The settlement would use a space elevator. Yes, a space elevator.

It wont be easy for mankind to find a new home. It might have to build one itself at enormous cost and risk. But it will be worth it. Not only because will we explore the cosmos, but because well get a space elevator out of it. Thats one sci-fi dream we want to see become a reality.

Featured Image: Sony Pictures

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Humans Could Soon Live in a Giant Space Station Orbiting Ceres - Nerdist

LAS CRUCES, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE), a vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, today announced the establishment of its Space Advisory Board.

The Virgin Galactic Space Advisory Board will provide advice to senior management as the company moves forward to open space for the benefit of all. The Space Advisory Board, composed of leading experts from the aerospace sector, will be a resource as the company starts commercial spaceflight service and develops next generation vehicles. The Space Advisory Board will also serve as a forum to discuss technical and operational best practices, and provide awareness of opportunities in commercial, civil and government-related markets.

The Space Advisory Board members announced today are:

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said: We are excited to welcome these talented space professionals, as initial members of the Space Advisory Board. They each bring incredible depth, experience, and insight, and together they will help us drive our mission forward.

Chris Hadfield said, As an astronaut, I know the profound personal impact of spaceflight, and the opportunity it gives for exploration and self-awareness here on Earth. Virgin Galactic is opening that door of opportunity to many, and I am honored to serve on the Space Advisory Board to help make that happen.

Dr. Magnus stated, The movement to open access to space for a broader group of people is a part of the natural evolution in the development of human spaceflight. I am excited to be a part of the next steps in that effort! Dr. David Whelan added, To be part of the team that brings people to space and the frontiers that lie ahead is an incredibly exciting opportunity.

George Whitesides shared, I am excited to chair the Space Advisory Board alongside leading experts in the aerospace industry as we explore and pursue opportunities in commercial, civil and government-related markets. This Space Advisory Board will assist senior management with the mission of opening space for all, and I am honored to be a part of this journey.

About Virgin Galactic Holdings

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers, as well as a manufacturer of advanced air and space vehicles. It is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a unique and transformative experience. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/

Source: Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.

You can download all press materials including images and b-roll from the Virgin Galactic Press FTP.

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Virgin Galactic Launches Space Advisory Board - Business Wire

I think there was probably a big sigh of relief there, Mr. Nagle said. And we were very pleased to be able to confirm that the spacecraft was still talking to us.

The work got high marks from NASA officials in the United States.

The DSN folks in Canberra did a remarkable job under the pandemic conditions just to upgrade DSS 43, said Suzanne Dodd, the Voyager mission project manager and director of the Interplanetary Network Directorate at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Ive got 100 percent confidence in that antenna, that it will operate just fine for a few more decades. Long past when the Voyagers are done.

Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 hold the records for the farthest a spacecraft has ever traveled and for the longest operating mission. Voyager 2 has had a few hiccups over the years, but it is still feeling its way around in the dark, making discoveries about the boundaries that separate our solar system from the rest of the Milky Way galaxy.

Ive seen scientists whose backgrounds are in astrophysics now looking at Voyager data and trying to match that up with data they have from ground-based telescopes or other space-based telescopes, Ms. Dodd said. Thats kind of exciting to go from a planetary mission to the heliophysics mission and now, practically into an astrophysics mission.

While Voyager 2 keeps chugging along, Ms. Dodd and her colleagues are preparing to switch off one of its scientific sensors, the Low Energy Charged Particle instrument. Doing so will ensure that the spacecrafts limited power supply can keep its other systems, particularly its communications antenna, warm enough to function.

While that will reduce the spacecrafts scientific output, the main goal now is longevity.

The challenge is not in the new technology, or the great discoveries, Ms. Dodd said. The challenge is in keeping it operating as long as possible, and returning the science data as long as possible.

The team estimates that both spacecraft can operate for another four to eight years, and NASA last year granted the team three more years of flying time.

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Earth to Voyager 2: After a Year in the Darkness, We Can Talk to You Again - The New York Times

Pennsylvania residents will have an opportunity to see the International Space Station as it glides above the state this week, but those who wish to catch it will have to combine timing and location with a little luck from the weather.

The ISS circles the Earth in low orbit approximately every 93 minutes, but certain times of the year offer better opportunities to see it depending on the location.

Each week, Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston determines sighting opportunities for over 6,700 locations worldwide. They provide precise viewing information online at their Spot the Station site.

Pennsylvania residents will have a number of chances in the coming days, with certain dates and conditions best-suited for some locations over others. The overcast weather brought on by this week's nor'easter doesn't help matters, but clear skies are expected in Philadelphia on Thursday, for example, and will offer a good window to seek out the ISS in the sky.

The chart below includes suggestsopportunities to see the space stationfrom Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site in Queen Village, one of several recommended spots in the city included on the Spot the Station site.

In the chart above, Max Height refers to the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky.

"The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees," NASA says. "If you hold your fist at arm's length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees."

To reach the Max Height, you can stack your fists to add by 10 and reach a general height for the peak point of the ISS's path, as explained in the video below.

The ISS has been in orbit for just over 22 years and has been continuously occupied for the last 20 years and three months. The station is collaboration between the five participating space agencies of the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada.

To find ideal viewing times, head over to the Spot the Station site and customize your location.

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International Space Station will be visible in the sky above Pennsylvania this week - PhillyVoice.com

On Monday (Feb. 1) two NASA astronauts will set out for their second spacewalk together to tackle battery and camera upgrades at the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover, who arrived at the space station on SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft in November and completed their first spacewalk together on Wednesday (Jan. 27), are scheduled to exit the station through the Quest airlock at 7:05 a.m. EST (1205 GMT) and will spend about 6.5 hours working in the vacuum of space.

NASA TV will provide live coverage of the spacewalk preparations beginning at 5:30 a.m. EST (1030 GMT). You can watch it live here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV, or directly via the agency's website.

Related: Spacewalk photos: International Space Station gets a power upgrade

Hopkins and Glover will tackle a variety of tasks during this spacewalk, including the installation of a new high-definition camera on the Destiny laboratory and the replacement of another camera on the station's starboard truss. The spacewalkers will also install one last lithium-ion battery to wrap up a big space station power upgrade that began in 2017.

After Hopkins and Glover emerge from the Quest airlock, the spacewalkers' first task will be to head over the the space station's Port-4 (P4) truss structure, where they will install an adapter plate for the new lithium-ion battery. The battery was installed at the P4 truss in advance by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, NASA officials wrote in an ISS blog.

With the battery work complete, the astronauts will head over to the other side of the orbiting laboratory to replace high-definition cameras on the starboard truss. The spacewalkers will also route some ethernet cables at the starboard truss before heading over to the Japanese Kibo laboratory to install a "wrist vision" camera on Kibo's 33-foot (10 meters) robotic arm.

Related:The International Space Station: inside and out (infographic)

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Monday's spacewalk will be the fourth spacewalk of Hopkins' career and the second for Glover. Hopkins will be designated as extravehicular crew member 1 (EV-1), which means he will wear the spacesuit with red stripes and will be the first to exit the airlock. As EV-2, Glover will wear the plain white suit with no stripes.

NASA is planning two more spacewalks "in the near future," the agency said in a statement. After Monday's spacewalk, the next spacewalk will see Glover and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins prepare the space station for new solar arrays that will be installed at the station later this year. Then for the fourth spacewalk of 2021, Rubins will head out with Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi to "continue upgrading station components," NASA said in the statement.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her on Twitter @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter@Spacedotcomand onFacebook.

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Spacewalking astronauts will install new cameras and wrap up space station power upgrades today. Watch it live! - Space.com

Imagine if the International Space Station landed on a Malibu, Calif., hilltop overlooking the ocean, and you might get somewhere close to envisioning the onetime home of the late Milton Sidley and his wife Saralyn Sidley.

The property is an eye-popping blend of curved steel and glass that appears at one end to hover over the landscape. From above, it looks more like a factoryor the secret lair of a Bond villainthan a family home.

It is not warmat least by conventional standards.

Everybodys definition of the word warm is very interesting, says Ed Niles, the Los Angeles architect who designed the home. Personally, I think its a state of mind. Yes, theres not a big roaring fireplace and there arent walls wrapped with a million paintings and drawings of your mother. But you can feel warm in that you feel secure. Its like being in a diving bell under the ocean. Youre encapsulated.

Mr. Niles designed and constructed the property for the Sidleys, then a couple of empty-nesters, in the late 1980s. Mr. Sidley died in 2019, so the station is landing on the market for $20 million.

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To Malibu and Beyond: A Home That Looks Like the International Space Station Asks $20 Million - The Wall Street Journal