Category Archives: Space Station

Gateway is how NASA calls a habitat, about one-sixth the size that of the International Space Station, that will be placed in orbit around to Moon to act as a staging point for acrewed mission that will be sent on the surface of the Moon, and later down the line to Mars.

In its early years, Gateway will comprise at least a power and propulsion element, as well as habitation, logistics, and airlock capabilities, all of which will have to be made here on Earth. And for that, NASA needs help.

The launch of the first Gateway element, the power and propulsion system, is scheduled for 2022; it will be then followed constantly by more and more hardware, made with international assistance, like the Canadian robotic arm to be deployed on the exterior of the Gateway, scheduled for a 2026 departure.

This week, NASA announced it enlisted the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) to handle environmental control and life support system, batteries, thermal control, and imagery components for the International Habitation module. I-Hab, for short, is the place where people going up there will live and work.

The capabilities provided by Japan are critical to enabling the interior environment of the Gateway allowing our crews to live and work for longer durations, said in a statement Dan Hartman, Gateway program manager at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. With the life support systems from Japan, longer duration missions for the Artemis crews can be accomplished with reduced demands on logistics resupply.

Japan will be making these systems, which then will head over to Europe to be integrated into the habitat by the local agency there.

As a more long term goal, JAXA is also assessing how best to modify its HTV-X cargo spacecraft for constant supply runs to the Gateway once its up and running.

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Japanese Space Agency to Make the Systems for the Lunar Space Station Habitat - autoevolution

In 2012, the Gateway Foundation was founded with the purpose of building the worlds first rotating space station in orbit known as The Gateway. This is no easy task and must be preceded by establishing the necessary infrastructure in orbit and the creation of a series of smaller structures to test the concept. This includes the Voyager Class station, a rotating structure designed to produce varying levels of artificial gravity.

In recent months, the Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC) founed in 2018 by the Gateway team began working on a crucial component, known as the DSTAR. These and other updates about their Voyager Class station were the subjects of a recent video featuring Foundation and OAC CEO John Blincow. According to Blincow, he and his colleagues will be performing a demonstration and making a big announcement in the coming weeks!

The design for The Gateway was inspired by the Von Braun Wheel, a proposal made by German rocket scientist and space architect Wernher von Braun. This, in turn, was inspired by earlier concepts like the pinwheel space station prosed by Russian scientist and father of astronautics Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. In 1903, he released a treatise titled, Exploration of Outer Space by Means of Rocket Devices.

Among other things (like the famous Rocket Equation), this book contained a description for a space station that would rely on solar energy, a closed-system greenhouse, and would rotate to generate artificial gravity. In 1929, Yugoslav/Slovene aeronautical engineer Herman Potocnik released The Problem of Space Travel the Rocket Motor, which contained a detailed illustration of a circular space station in Earth orbit.

The concept also inspired the space station in the 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was co-written by famed scientist and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. All of these concepts involve the use of centripetal force to simulate the sensation of gravity, which would allow for humans to spend extended periods of time in space without having to worry about the long-term effects of microgravity.

For years, economists, analysts, and space exploration enthusiasts have spoken about the commercialization of LEO where everything from space stations and hotels to asteroid mining and space tourism will become a reality. But in order to accomplish this, the costs of launching payloads to space need to reduced (and they are!) and there needs to be a self-sustaining construction industry built in orbit.

Essential to this is the Structure Truss Assembly Robot (STAR), which will be used to rapidly fabricate the frame of the Voyager and Gateway stations. But before that can happen, a smaller prototype needs to be built and tested. That is where the DSTAR comes in, a 0.4 scale ground-based prototype of the STAR robots that will build the frame of their future stations.

In February of 2021, the Foundation will use the DStar to create a football field-sized truss here on Earth in just 90 minutes. This demonstration will validate the design and show that the technology can be used to rapidly assemble structures in orbit. As Blincow explained in the Gateway Foundations latest video:

The DSTAR program will demonstrate Orbital Assembly Corporations ability to build large structures in space quickly. This project will demonstrate basic methods to mate and move structural members inside the full-scale STAR [in] orbit. Engineering of the DSTAR was finished in the Spring of 2020. The shop drawings from the fabricators have been approved and construction is well underway initial testing in the major components for function has begun.

If all goes well, the Foundation will be moving forward with the next step of their plan, which is the deployment of the flight prototype the PSTAR. This will demonstrate the robotic assembler by building a circular truss in orbit. This truss will be the basis of the Gravity Ring Program, which (like the PSTAR) is a 40% scale version of the Voyager stations ring-shaped frame.

OAC plans to use the Gravity Ring to reduce the associated risks with the design and manufacture of the Voyager station. They also hope to demonstrate to investors that they can control the operational dynamics of a rotating frame, the validity of their rapid-construction process, and how it still allows for a high degree of precision.

At the same time, the gravity ring is meant to act as a valuable research tool that will provide vital data to space agencies like NASA, the ESA, JAXA, and others. Private aerospace companies, universities, and research institutes will also be able to use this data, which will explore the benefits of rotating space stations and rotating sections on spacecraft.

As Blincow indicated, it is also hoped that it will convince NASA to pivot from microgravity space stations (like the ISS) to rotating ones:

To be very clear we, do not propose that NASA abandons research in microgravity. More zero-g stations will be built and used for research and production of many new products. But people need gravity to stay healthy, so at the end of their workday in a microgravity lab, they will go to a rotating station to eat, sleep, and get some exercise.

This idea, of rotational space stations and microgravity space stations operating side by side, is what Blincow and his colleagues hope to see in the near future. The benefits of this kind of arrangement go beyond merely ensuring astronaut health and include the kind of research that will assist in deep-space exploration efforts.

For instance, the Voyager Class and The Gateway space stations are designed to provide varying levels of artificial gravity. In the case of the former, this is provided by adjusting the rate of rotation. Meanwhile, The Gateway is composed of concentric rings that are designed to simulate Lunar gravity (inner ring) and Martian gravity (outer ring) 16.5% and 38% that of Earth, respectively.

In addition, Blincow explained how the presence of a rotating station in orbit could create opportunities for astronomers. In particular, he addressed how the recent loss of the Arecibo Observatory was a blow not only to scientific research, but also planetary defense. During its many years of service, Arecibo monitored near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) to determine if any posed a collision risk. Said Blincow:

Rebuilding the facility for modern research needs will be a long and expensive undertaking. But the facility could be built significantly better around the Sun-Earth L2 [Lagrange] point. Arecibo primarys reflector, the dish, could not be steered. So the limited range of celestial latitudes it could examine involved moving the focal platform above its reflector. In space, the shape of the large primary reflector could be far more optimal and could be pointed anywhere.

On top of that, Blincow emphasized how a space-based Arecibo would not be subject to the Earths ionosphere, which blocks low-radio frequencies (lower than 300 kHz). This leaves astronomers blind to this part of the Universe, which is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has never been observed with spatial resolution.

Last, but not least, there are extensive commercial benefits that these stations and a space-based construction industry will allow. In a previous video, Blincow explained how The Gateway will allow for commercial space in orbit (recreation and hotels). The Voyager station presents similar opportunities, as well as the possibility of astronaut training and orbital refueling.

One potential customer that the Foundation and OAC is hoping to work with is SpaceX. Right now, Elon Musk and the company he founded are working towards building a fleet of Starships that will allow for regular missions to the Moon and Mars. Blincow countered this with OAC Director Jeff Greenblatts analysis of Voyager could host a propellant depot that would make the process far more efficient:

SpaceX wants to send a thousand Starships to Mars as soon as it can. To do this will require eight fueler Starships all just to fill the tank of one Mars-bound Starship with enough propellant to make the trip to Mars SpaceX will also need crews with experience in space. Voyager station will generate hundreds of crew per year. Right now, there is no large pool of astronauts with hundreds of astronauts in space.

Another benefit would be the creation of space-based solar arrays, which would be capable of gathering sunlight 24/7 and be unaffected by weather. But perhaps the most important aspect of the Foundation and OACs plan is the way it could assure ascendence for the US in space. This term, Blincow explains, was used to characterize the extraordinary growth of American industry and influence during the 20th century, but not anymore:

The projected growth in all space-related industries is extraordinary. It is much like aviation in the 50s and the 60s. But America still has no national plan to expand into space with settlements We believe that for America to become ascendant again we must make expansion into space not just an under-funded NASA objective, but a well-funded national objective.

To encourage this, OAC even created a roadmap that lays out how the US could start building the necessary transportation infrastructure that would allow for human expansion into the Solar System. In the meantime, their engineers and designers are working to realize the PSTAR, the Gravity Ring, and prepping for the upcoming demonstration of the DSTAR.

Blincow also indicated that OAC will be making a big announcement on Friday, Jan. 29th, 2021. This will be an online event, the details of which will be sent to members of the Gateway Foundation in advance (click here to join). Blincow states that this will be a big moment for Orbital Assembly Corporation and a big moment in history that will be covered by the press and members of the space community. A little ominous, but Im intrigued!

The Gateway project is appropriately named since it will allow humans to colonize Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and expand our presence beyond Earth. As part of Project Artemis, NASA hopes to establish a lunar base camp and the Lunar Gateway, which will facilitate long-duration missions on the lunar surface. Also, the ESA hopes to build an International Moon Village around the southern polar region as a spiritual successor to the ISS.

In order for these plans to work, the long-term effects of low gravity on astronaut health need to be explored. Similarly, there are numerous plans for long-duration missions to Mars, and entrepreneurs like Elon Musk are even hoping to establish a permanent human colony. Here too, the long-term effects on human health are unclear, which is especially true where natal development (aka. having babies).

There are also abundant opportunities to see how plants and livestock fare in low gravity, which will also be needed to ensure food security in space. And of course, making space exploration more cost-effective and accessible is key to it all. By having the permanent infrastructure in place to build, refuel, dock, and transfer in orbit, the costs of going to space will drop markedly.

The cost of setting all of this up is great, but so are the potential rewards. Much like taking a moonshot and building structures to space (like a space elevator), it comes down to feasibility, funding, and the drive to make it happen. Once the first two prerequisites are met, the only thing left to it is to do it!

Further Reading: The Gateway Foundation

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Gateway Foundation Gives a Detailed Update on its Voyager Station Concept - Universe Today

JANUARY 13, 2021 - In case you missed it: it seems that Chris Doohan, son of Star Trek actor James Doohan, rang in the new year by revealing a 12 year old secret. His fathers ashes are in space, safely tucked away on the International Space Station. News of the secret was first published by The Times of London in late December, just in time for 2021.

Back in 2008, entrepreneur and multimillionaire Richard Garriott was preparing for a 12-day mission as one of the first private citizens to go into space, when he was contacted by Chris Doohan. Doohan proposed a plan that would give his father a chance to go into space, just like he had always wanted. "My dad had three passions: space, science and trains, Doohan told The Times, adding, He always wanted to go into space."

Three cards were printed with James Doohans image. Each card was sprinkled with some of the late actors ashes and laminated to seal the ash inside. Garriott admitted to smuggling the ashes aboard the space station, saying, Everything that officially goes on board is logged, inspected and bagged theres a process, but there was no time to put it through that process. According to Garriott, each card made it up to the space station, but one of them never returned to Earth. For more than a decade, that card (and Doohans ashes) have rested under a floor panel of the Columbus module on board the I.S.S. To Garriotts knowledge, nobody has discovered the card and it remains there to this day.

I never knew when or if I would be able to ever say anything, Doohan said. I visit fan conventions all around the world, for years now, and I have been holding on to this secret for 12 years. It was hard not sharing this with fans. I now have a great sense of relief that I can talk about this and share this amazing story as I continue my father's legacy.

Doohan posted on Twitter, linking a video of Garriott on the space station in 2008. In the video, Garriott is seen holding one of the cards and confirming the success of their clandestine mission. In the tweet, Doohan said, Astronaut @RichardGarriott embarked on a final mission for my dad. [Im] glad to share this after 12 years of secrecy. Look up at the sky, and know that Scotty is in space.

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Great Scotty! The ashes of Star Treks James Doohan were smuggled onto the International Space Station - Daily Star Trek News

Twelve bottles of wine that boldly went where no Bordeaux has gone before have returned from the International Space Station, with a tasting planned to see just how near-zero-gravity might have impacted them. The unusual cargo along with 320 vine canes from the French region was aboard SpaceXs Dragon when it splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean this week, having returned from the orbiting research platform.

It wasnt, unfortunately for the astronauts stationed there, a treat for when they were off-duty. Instead, the wines stay was organized by Space Cargo Unlimited, a company aiming to explore how space can coexist with, and potential improve on, sustainable agriculture.

The dozen bottles and the vines half of which were Merlot, and half Cabernet Sauvignon had made the trip up to the ISS at the end of 2019, launching in November. Space Cargo Unlimited kept counterpart samples back on Earth to act as a control. The next step in the process is transporting the space travelers back to France, where theyll be analyzed at the Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin (ISVV), the wine research lab at the University of Bordeaux.

Exactly what might be found is unclear at this stage, but the startup is expecting to find signs of how Low Earth Orbit and microgravity could impact the growth of plants and more. In Low Earth Orbit, cells exposed to near-zero gravity (microgravity) are affected by physical changes that occur in this unique environment, that is impossible to recreate on Earth, the company says. These changes include loss of gravity dependent convection, negligible hydrodynamic shear, increased membrane fluidity, and lack of sedimentation.

The hope is that such factors, properly leveraged on matter from Earth could unlock new developments for both agriculture and healthcare. Dubbed the WISE mission, it aims to explore how factors like gene expression and mutation can shape the success of different crops, among other things.

The wine which spent 438 days and 19 hours on the International Space Station will be tested both scientifically and in the more traditional manner. Space Cargo Unlimited aims to have a private tasting session in March, to see how its stay in microgravity might have impacted flavor.

While the ISS astronauts may not have had a chance to sample the experiment, they were involved in another nutrition-related trial that returned on the SpaceX CRS-21 mission Dragon capsule. Food Acceptability, Menu Fatigue, and Aversion in ISS Missions looked at how the appeal of food changed over time across long-duration missions, testing the theory that whether astronauts actually like their meals could be contributing to loss of body mass and, over time, unfavorable health consequences when faced with a restricted menu.

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Twelve bottles of wine went to space now its almost time to taste them - SlashGear

A SpaceX Falcon9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Sunday Nov. 15, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. John Raoux/AP hide caption

A SpaceX Falcon9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Sunday Nov. 15, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station.

Updated at 7:48 p.m. ET

Four astronauts lifted off Sunday night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX rocket bound for the International Space Station.

Liftoff occurred right on schedule at 7:27 p.m., despite concerns about weather earlier in the day. NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi reached orbit after a 12-minute ride to space.

The crewed flight is the second for SpaceX's Dragon capsule and the first since NASA officially certified the small spacecraft to carry people. The Dragon's first crewed flight took place in May, when Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken launched on a jaunt to the station. They stayed for roughly two months before returning to earth and splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico in early August.

That flight was the first launch of American astronauts from American soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Following the shuttle's retirement, NASA spent the better part of a decade paying the Russian space agency for seats aboard its Soyuz rockets. It hopes the Dragon can end that dependence by providing an American-made system to get astronauts into low earth orbit. This mission, known as "Crew-1," is supposed to be the first of many routine flights that will ferry astronauts to and from the station.

Unlike the Soyuz, which has room for three crew members, the Dragon can carry up to seven passengers into orbit, according to the company. While the design fundamentally resembles older spacecraft like the Apollo capsules used to reach the moon, Dragon sports some modern upgrades such as a sleek white interior and touch-screen control panels.

The arrival of four astronauts to the station will bring the total crew to seven. Normally the ISS is staffed with anywhere from three to six crew members, and space will be tight. Hopkins said he will likely have to make do with the capsule as his bedroom for the duration of the mission.

The extra crew will help NASA to conduct more scientific research aboard the station, Hopkins said. "I think they're going to keep us pretty busy."

The four astronauts will spend the next 28 hours enroute to the station aboard the capsule. Docking will occur Monday evening around 11 p.m. and will be televised by NASA TV.

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Liftoff! Astronauts Head To Space Station On SpaceX Rocket ...

Marshburn, a medical doctor, is not the first but among a select few non-military pilots in the astronaut history books. He earned the title, though, years ago. He holds private, instrument, aerobatic and commercial pilots licenses, not to mention a masters degree in engineering.

Like most astronauts, Marshburn hoped for another mission but wouldnt know until it was assigned. He served as part of the backup crew for two Soyuz flights out of Kazakhstan in 2019, ready to step in if a member of the prime crew couldnt make the flight.

He took one of those backup crew jobs knowing it was almost certain he would not fly and no way of knowing if it helped his chances at a future flight. NASAs astronaut office needed a space flight veteran, and Marshburn, with Russian language skills, could jump in easily.

His seatmates on the coming flight include Chari, an Air Force Colonel and test pilot, and Matthias Maurer, a European Space Agency astronaut from Germany, both making their first spaceflight. A fourth member will be named later.

The new Dragon ship, with its clean look inside and out and its touchscreen controls, brings a new level of excitement to the venture, Marshburn said.

But like the exceeding care in taking the first spin in a new car, it also brings, he said, an added level of, lets say, monitoring.

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Astronaut Tom Marshburn '82 to Pilot SpaceX Mission to International Space Station - Davidson News

Santa Claus will be performing a ceremonial fly-by of the International Space Station (ISS) on Dec. 24. The visit will honor the 20th anniversary of continuous life on the ISS, a milestone achieved in November.

The official NORAD Santa Tracker at NoradSanta.org will allow users to track Santas journey all day on Dec. 24. New for this year, visitors will be able to see the ISS orbiting the planet in its precise real-time location by zooming out on the 3D Santa Tracker app. Other updates include additions to Santas traditional garb, including a face mask and space helmet.

Santas sleigh flying past the International Space Station on a precise digital twin of the Earth built by Cesium. (Photo: Cesium)

The ISS is a spectacular example of what humans can accomplish when we work together, said Hannah Pinkos, lead developer of the app. 2020 has been a tough year, but I think this special trip is Santas way of reminding us to believe in ourselves.

NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a United States and Canada bi-national organization that defends North America by tracking objects flying in and around its airspace 24 hours a day using radar, satellites and fighter jets. Each year, it joins corporate partners in taking on a special mission to also track Santas sleigh. The app shows Santas position reflected on a digital twin of the Earth provided by Cesium, a Philadelphia-based geospatial software company.

Cesium is rooted in aerospace, so its especially meaningful to us that our technology will allow millions of people to enjoy this event in real-time from the safety of their homes, added Cesium CEO Patrick Cozzi.

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Santa Claus to fly by the International Space Station - GPS World magazine

The air leak in a Russian section of the International Space Station is still unresolved, and experts are considering the possibility of sealing off the affected section, Russian media said.

Russian state news agency TASS said after a call between the astronauts on the aging space station and the operational command in Moscow that pressure is growing to find the leak as oxygen reserves and air pressure are still decreasing.

The leak is apparently in an access section to the Zvezda module but it is not clear where. A spacewalk in November to find the fault was not successful.

A 4.5-centimeter (1.7 inch) rip had already been discovered in October which was located using a floating tea bag and then sealed. It is still not known what caused the damage.

It soon became clear, however, that there was another leak from elsewhere in the same section.

The cosmonauts and the command center discussed sealing off the affected section, but this would affect the overall operation of the ISS.

Russian space agency Roskosmos has said there is no danger to the ISS crew. There are currently seven people on board: four Americans, two Russians and a Japanese astronaut.

The iconic 20-year-old spacecraft, which has hosted a wide variety of experiments in zero gravity, is experiencing ever more faults. The latest such problems include electricity supply and toilet facilities.

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Russian astronauts still battling air leak on International Space Station | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

OTTAWA The federal government has signed an agreement with the United States to send a Canadian astronaut around the moon as part of a broader effort to establish a new space station above the lunar surface.

Industry Minister Navdeep Bains unveiled the new Gateway Treaty on Dec. 16, which formalizes Canadas involvement in the U.S.-led effort to build that new station known as the Lunar Gateway.

The treaty includes a commitment to having a Canadian on board when the U.S. conducts a manned flyby of the moon in 2023, as well as a second yet-to-be-scheduled flight to the future station.

Canada will join the U.S. on the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo missions, Bains said during a news conference with Canadian Space Agency astronauts Jeremy Hansen, David Saint-Jacques, Joshua Kutryk and Jenni Sidey-Gibbons.

Launching in 2023, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut will be part of Artemis 2, the first mission to carry humans to lunar orbit in over 50 years. This will make Canada only the second country after the U.S. to have an astronaut in deep space.

The new treaty also formally confirms that Canada will contribute a new robotic arm to help withconstructionof the Lunar Gateway, which will orbit the moon and allow for exploration of the lunar surface and assist future missions to Mars.

The government last week committed $22.8 million toward development of the new Canadarm3 by MDA Canada.

The Canadian Space Agency is one of several partners in the U.S.-led endeavour along with the European Space Agency and their Japanese counterpart. Russia has also expressed an interest in joining.

The Lunar Gateway is projected to be about one-sixth the size of the International Space Station in orbit around the Earth, with plans to build it over the next decade.

Bains did not say how much Canada will spend to participate in the Artemis 2 flight, which will come after an unmanned flyby of the moon that the U.S. has scheduled for next year.

Its important to note that were a spacefaring nation, and very proud of our space history, he said. And this investment with regards to the Artemis 2 program, as well as the overall space strategies, is well over $2 billion over the next 24 years.

Bains later said in an interview with the Canadian Press that the two flights as well as the Canadarm project and other robotics programs on the Lunar Gateway are included in the nearly $2 billion set aside for space.

The minister defended Ottawas planned investment in space, touting the economic and scientific benefits that come from Canadas involvement in extraterrestrial exploration a sentiment echoed by some of the astronauts in attendance.

MDA president Mike Greenley made similar comments in an interview following the announcement as he welcomed the new treaty with the U.S. as a win for Canadas robotics sector and space industry.

And then the astronauts flights are highly, highly motivational for the rest of the country, he added.

Its been clearly demonstrated that the motivation of youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math and STEM professions has been inspired by astronauts in the space program, is high. And so youre driving the next generation.

As for the purpose of the Artemis 2 flyby, Kutryk said it will help test the rockets and other systems needed to start work on the Lunar Gateway.

Its worth pointing out here that this will be, I think, the farthest and fastest that any human in the history of our species has ever gone, he said. And so its a very big deal to be able to do just that: get a vehicle that far away and then safely recover it back to Earth.

They also spoke about the excitement and interest that is generated among young Canadians who may be encouraged to pursue careers in robotics and other areas with potential links to space.

Exactly who will get to fly past the moon has yet to be determined.

At some point, we will assign a crew and thats when well find out which Canadian astronaut is going to be selected, Hansen said.

One of the things thats really important to us as an astronaut corps is the word `team, and that we take on these big challenges togetherand it doesnt turn into a competitive process, but turns into a process of us lifting each other up all the way.

One of the main drivers in the U.S. plan to get back to the moon has been Donald Trump. Bains suggested the presidents imminent departure from the White House next month after losing the November election to Joe Biden does not threaten the program.

Well continue to remain engaged with the Americans, he said. But so far, all signals have been positive and weve heard nothing to the contrary. Theres a great deal of commitment to this program. And I believe its bipartisan.

While Artemis 2 will not touch down on the moon, the U.S. has plans to land a ship on the lunar surface in 2024.

Bains would not rule out a Canadian being on that trip as well, saying: Conversations are ongoing, and I wouldnt necessarily close that door yet.

2020 The Canadian Press

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Canada inks deal with US to send astronaut around the moon for new space station - Daily Commercial News

UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway remembers Peakes Dec. 15, 2015 mission to the ISS as a turning point for British space exploration.

Five years ago today, Maj. Tim Peake stepped off a gangway into a Soyuz rocket, fastened his seat belt and took to the skies from a remote desert in Kazakhstan. As he did so, he took along a photograph of his family and friends, his iPod nano, and the anticipation of a whole country.

As Tim made the eight-minute, 45-second journeyaway from the Earths gravity, the former RAF officer and Apache helicopter pilot wrote his name into our history books, and pub quizzes up and down the land, becoming the first Briton to live on humanitys most unique science laboratory, the International Space Station.

I am delighted that we are ending this difficult year on a rare high note. These past few weeks have seen rapturous applause for the outstanding achievements of scientists from our shores and beyond in helping us find a safe vaccine for COVID-19. And it is a time in which we should also recognize the shot in the arm for science that Tim Peake gave this country.

Tim became our own star in space and used his time to inspire many school children in the UK to believe space is within their grasp and to discover the wealth of opportunities that exist in science, technology, engineering.

During his missions 186 days and 11 hours, Tim undertook no fewer than 250 pioneering science experiments, before going on to don the infamous white pressure suit and join the history books once again as he joined the few who can say they have walked in space.

But Tims job on the space station went far beyond the experiments.

While onboard Tim took time to host question and answer sessions with school students giving kids a chance to put their questions to an astronaut floating round the Earth, thousands of miles away, and have answers beamed back down to Earth.

He was able to harness the growing power of social media to capture the publics imagination, sharing images that reflected the true beauty of the world; allowing us all to vicariously enjoy a thin slice of the heavens on a daily basis.

In the weeks prior to launch, a competition to design the mission badge, led by the BBCs Blue Peter, generated over 3,000 entries and was won by 13-year-old Troy Wood, who, with talent beyond his years, visualized a design featuring Isaac Newtons apple and the Soyuz rocket.

Five years on, we know Tim did not leave his legacy in orbit. Since his return he has been a beacon for science and a champion for space, sharing his wonderful experiences as an astronaut to inspire people in myriad ways. He embarked on a nationwide tour with the Soyuz rocket in tow, visited schools across the country and used his platform to encourage us all to ponder a career in space, to take up that science qualification, or register for an amateur astronomy course.

In the first two decades that followed the halcyon days of the space race in the 1960s, one of the great ambitions of many children was not to be a football player, singer or a celebrity, but to be an astronaut or a rocket scientist.

We know that the legacy of Tims historic journey similarly captivated people in the UK and we have now launched a campaign to ask people to share their memories of Tims mission and their personal reflections.

Inspiring British spacemen and women cannot be a guise for underinvestment. We are serious about turbocharging our research community, which is why we are not just talking a good game, we are investing record amounts in research and development. In the recent Spending Review we committed to invest 14.6 billion ($19.5 billion) in research and development including to support groundbreaking technologies and businesses, for innovation loans to help cutting-edge UK businesses access capital, and to build new science capability and support the whole research and innovation ecosystem.

This is married to big ambitions to make us the first country in Europe to launch satellites in the next couple of years, earning us our stripes as a space nation and giving the UK its very own Sputnik moment.

When Tim reached the International Space Station five years ago, he boldly went where no Briton had gone before. Because of him, I know he will be the first of many.

Amanda Solloway is the United Kingdoms science minister.

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Commentary | Tim Peake's 2015 space station mission gave UK science a long-lasting shot in the arm - SpaceNews