Space habitat reports – Mar.28.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement.

** Expedition 70 NASA’s SpaceX 30th Commercial Resupply Services Docking Part 2 – March 23, 2024NASA Video

Loaded with scientific experiments and supplies, an unpiloted SpaceX Dragon cargo ship automatically docked to the International Space Station’s space-facing port of the Harmony module March 23. The SpaceX resupply craft launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida March 21 as part of the company’s 30th commercial resupply mission for the agency and will remain at the station for one month.

** Expedition 70/71Soyuz MS-25 Launch, Docking Highlights – March 25, 2024NASA Video

NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and Belarus spaceflight participant Marina Vasileyskaya launched on the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft atop a Soyuz 2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 23. Following a thirty-four orbit rendezvous, the trio docked to the Prichal module of the International Space Station, opened up the hatch of the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft and floated aboard the International Space Station March 25.

** First Belarusian in space and crewmates enter space station after Soyuz dockingVideoFromSpace

Belarusian astronaut Marina Vasilevskaya, NASA’s Tracy C. Dyson and Roscomos’ Oleg Novitskiy completed ingress on the International Space Station shortly after docking on March 25, 2024.

** Expedition 70 Astronaut Mike Barratt Talks with KGW TV Portland OregonNASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Mike Barratt of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview March 26 with KGW-TV, Portland. Barratt is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** Expedition 70 Station Crew Talks with Women in Aerospace Engineering Conference – March 28, 2024NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 70 Flight Engineers Jeanette Epps and Tracy Dyson of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview March 28 with attendees of the Women in Aerospace Engineering Conference at Georgia Tech University. Epps and Dyson are in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** NLRA 2024-6: In-space Production Applications: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing  – ISS National Lab

On March 21, 2024, the ISS National Lab held a webinar to discuss ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) 2024-6 soliciting proposals focused on flight investigations that seek to demonstrate space-based manufacturing and advanced materials activities on the ISS.

** Gateway – Lunar Space Station Trailer NASA Johnson

The Gateway space station will be humanity’s first space station to orbit the Moon in support of the Artemis missions to return humans to the lunar surface for scientific discovery and chart a path for the first human missions to Mars and beyond.

** Blue OriginOrbital Reef project: NASA Sees Progress on Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef Life Support System | NASA – Mar.20.2024

** Introducing our Haven-1 aluminum primary structure, made in .VAST –  VAST

Our Haven-1 aluminum primary structure manufacturing is underway. Designed, manufactured, and tested in house in the .

** The Space Café Podcast #103: Building for New Frontiers: How Space Architecture Shapes Our Future in the Cosmos with space architect Georgi Petrov – SpaceWatch.Global

Space Architecture is not just about creating structures; it’s about envisioning a sustainable future for humanity in space. In the latest #SpaceCafePodcast, Markus dives into a thought-provoking conversation with Georgi Petrov, a visionary at the forefront of designing habitats beyond Earth.

** Every Space Station Size Comparison | The Evolution of Space Station 3DREAL SPACE(Hat tip Bob Zimmerman)

** TIMELAPSE: Retrieval of ETCS PM : External Thermal Control System Pump Module from SpX-30 trunkISS Above

20x TIMELAPSE: Retrieval of ETCS PM : External Thermal Control System Pump Module from SpX-30 trunk

** Other news and articles:

** Highlight: Quebec – Newfoundland Sea Ice – Mar 25, 2024 17:05 EDTISS Above

** Highlight: LA – AL – TN – Mar 24, 2024 – 18:58 CDTISS Above

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

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====

Outpost in Orbit:
A Pictorial & Verbal History of the Space Station

Roundup: Reusable Rocket Vehicles – March.2024

I’ve gathered here recent news and updates on reusable rocket powered vehicles in operation and in development. Check out previous roundups:

Rocket reusability will lead to space transports with aircraft-like operation. That is, orbital flight and return followed by rapid reflight with minimal preparation. Vehicles should fly thousands of times with only occasional refurbishment and, most importantly, spacefare should fall to levels similar to long distance airfare.

Reusable rocket powered vehicle designs fall roughly into the following five categories:

  1. Partially reusable orbital transport:
  2. Fully reusable orbital transport:
  3. Reusable spacecraft: (incl. space tugs, fuel depots, etc.):

  4. Fully reusable suborbital:
  5. Fully reusable hypersonic suborbital for long distance point-to-point transport:

Below are reports on several projects and programs that fall into at least one of these categories.

** SpaceX Starship –  Third test flight shows major progress

—- The third orbital test flight (OFT-3) successfully demonstrated several key Starship capabilities

On March 14th, SpaceX flew a Starship for the third time. The flight test fulfilled a number of goals beyond those accomplished in the previous two flights. See this SpaceX overview: Starship’s Third Flight Test | SpaceX – Mar.14.2024

OFT-3 highlights:

  • For second time, all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster fired from liftoff through hot-stage separation.
  • The separation again went well, with the Starship upper stage successfully lighting its six Raptors and continuing towards orbit.
  • After the hot-stage separation:
    • The booster did a flip maneuver and completed a boostback burn to propel itself towards the splashdown target in the Gulf. In the second test flight, while the booster was orienting itself for the boostback burn, its engines began to turn off and one blew up, destroying the entire vehicle.
    • As the the booster neared the surface of the Gulf, it began to light up engines for a soft landing onto the Gulf waters and then sink to the bottom. At a few hundred meters above the surface, something happened and “the vehicle experienced a RUD (that’s SpaceX-speak for “rapid unscheduled disassembly”)“. As of the time of this posting, SpaceX has not revealed what caused the RUD.
  • Following the separation, the Starship upper stage continued firing its engines for the full duration and reached a near orbital velocity when the engines were shut down.
  • Video imagery via Starlink showed the vehicle rotating slowly around its long axis.
  • SpaceX planned to fire a Raptor to demonstrate a powered de-orbit  but they canceled the firing due to the rotation.
  • The orbit had a low perigee that brought it into the atmosphere and caused Starship to reenter over the Indian Ocean even without the de-orbit engine thrust.
  • As the vehicle entered the atmosphere, the video displayed the bright glow of the hot gasses around the vehicle.
  • The vehicle struggled to maintain its orientation and began tumbling. Eventually the video and data connection died and presumably the breakup of the vehicle began soon after.

During the coast phase in orbit, two important tests were carried out:

  • Opening and closing the Starship’s payload door, which will be needed for Starlink Gen 2 satellite deployments.
  • A propellant transfer demonstration.

—- FAA suspends Starship license until an investigation into the problems of this flight is completed. This happens automatically if there is any variation from the approved flight plan significant enough to be classified as a mishap:

The mishap investigation should not significantly increase the time to the launch of the fourth Starship since both stages achieved their primary goals and the problems were not as serious as for the first two test flights. SpaceX will actually do the investigating and the FAA will then evaluate the results. If they are deemed satisfactory, the FAA issues a statement about the completion of the investigation and sometime after that they issue a modification to the current launch license that approves another flight.

It should be pointed out that the Starship is basically operational now as an expendable launch vehicle. The boosters functioned properly through stage separation and the second stage on OFT-3 would have reached a full orbit with just a brief extension of the firing of the Raptors. Reusability, however, is key to SpaceX’s plans for the vehicle and it won’t be declared operational until the booster does a soft landing and the Starship stage survives reentry and makes a soft landing as well.

—- SpaceX expects to be ready for 4th test flight by early May: SpaceX planning rapid turnaround for next Starship flight | SpaceNews – Mar.19.2024

Speaking at the Satellite 2024 conference March 19, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, said the company was still reviewing the data from the vehicle’s third integrated launch March 14 but expected to be ready to fly again soon.

“We’re still going through the data” from the flight, she said when asked about the analysis of data from the mission. “It was an incredibly successful flight. We hit exactly where we wanted to go.”

“We’ll figure out what happened on both stages,” she said, not discussing what may have gone wrong with either, “and get back to flight hopefully in about six weeks,” or early May.

Shotwell doubted they would launch any Starlink satellites during the mission.

Speaking at the Space Capitol III event by Payload March 18, Kelvin Coleman, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation, said he did not anticipate that investigation to turn up any major issues that could significantly delay the next launch.

The FAA also hopes to move soon to a license that covers multiples flights

… Coleman said the agency wants to move to a process where the license is valid for “portfolio of launches” rather than individual ones. That is particularly important, he added, because SpaceX is planning six to nine more Starship launches this year.

That is part of a broader effort to streamline the launch licensing process to address criticism from industry and Congress that the FAA is moving too slowly on approving launch licenses under a new set of regulations known as Part 450. …

Preparations for the fourth test are underway: Following IFT-3 milestones, SpaceX prepares for fourth Starship flight | NASASpaceFlight.com – Mar.22.2024

SpaceX is preparing to follow up its third flight of Starship – one that achieved another leap forward with the world’s largest rocket in history – with the IFT-4 mission. Potentially as early as May, the fourth flight is expected to pair Booster 11 with Ship 29, with the latter already back at the launch site for its Static Fire test campaign.

A static firing test of the 6 Raptor engines on Ship 29 took place on March 25th :

—- Another test firing, this time of only one engine, took place on March 27th. This presumably tests for a de-orbit firing.

—- OFT-3 Videos:

  • Launch through booster landing attempt and shutdown of Starship upper stage engines: Blastoff! SpaceX Starship launches to space on 3rd integrated test flightVideoFromSpace

  • Starship entry into the atmosphere: Wow! Watch SpaceX Starship re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in these incredible viewsVideoFromSpace

Enjoy this incredible audio and video from the launch pad and various locations of the most powerful rocket to ever fly, SpaceX’s Starship on its third integrated flight test, IFT3! 4K slow motion captured on various ZCam’s, BlackMagic 12K Ursa, RED Komodo X and G2 4.6K with SIGMA lenses and Meade Telescopes.

SpaceX’s third launch of Starship took place on March 14th, 2024, from Starbase, TX. Both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage completed their full duration burn placing them on nominal trajectories. However, neither survived their full reentry or landing tests.

A fresh view of flight three along with some imagery of the aftermath. Plus, a new barrel section for Booster 14 outside the Mega Bay and work on the segments of the second tower continues at the Sanchez lot.

More about the test:

—- Starship activity at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center

There has been little activity visible in the past few months at the Starship launch tower built at launch complex 39A. However, in the past week or so there has been some work around the pillars of the orbital launch mount and one was taken down. No word yet on what is the plan for the mount.

—- More Starship related articles, reports, and other web resources.

For background on Starship see the SpaceX Starship report, which is published by NewSpace Global and for which I was the primary author. The initial version came out in March 2023 and then we updated it in May to include coverage of the first flight test.

==================

Check out the
The Lurio Report
for news and analysis of key developments in NewSpace

The latest issue:
Starlink’s Progress, Vulcan, Moon Landing Attempts
Vol. 19, No. 1, February 2, 2024

Space Frontier Foundation Award for NewSpace Journalism

==================

** SpaceX Falcon Rockets & Dragon Spacecraft

SpaceX Falcon 9 boosters have achieved 258 reflights and 288 landings as the morning of Mar.24.2024.

—- Overview of booster recovery at sea: Revolutionizing Rocket Reusability – SpaceX’s Mini NavyNASASpaceflight

The vital role of Autonomous Spaceport Droneships (ASDS) in revolutionizing rocket reusability. In this detailed video, we unravel the necessity of droneships for high-performance missions, the evolution of these marine marvels, and the unique technology that sets them apart from ordinary barges. Discover how SpaceX’s marine assets contribute to their mission success, defy conventional recovery methods, and what the future holds for these floating launch pads. Whether you’re a space enthusiast or curious about marine engineering, this video is packed with insights into the intersection of aerospace and maritime technology. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more space exploration content!

—- Bahamas to host a SpaceX droneship used for F9 booster landings:   Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation Secures Historic Agreement with SpaceX to Propel Bahamas into the Space Technology & Tourism Frontier | The Official Website of The Bahamas – Feb.16.2024

The LOA [Letter of Intent] establishes a strategic collaboration that positions The Bahamas as a global destination for witnessing booster landings.

SpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous droneships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas. This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas’ position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry.

The exclusive visibility of rocket landings on an autonomous droneship from various Bahamian islands distinguishes this destination as the only one of its kind worldwide.

—- Polaris DawnDevelopment progress “heating up”

** Blue Origin New GlennFirst stage tank tests completed

—- Cryo tests of first stage tanks completed on SL-36 pad: New Glenn completes initial cryogenic testing at Launch Complex 36 | NASASpaceFlight.com – Mar.6.2024

In late February and early March, Blue successfully carried out three cryogenic propellant filling tests of the New Glenn first stage on the pad at Launch Complex 36. This was the first time a full stack of first and second stages with functional hardware had been rolled to the pad.

After the tanking tests, the stack was rolled back to the integration facility to prepare for returning to the pad for static firing tests of the seven BE-4 engines on the first stage. Several upper stages are in development for the flight tests expected to start late this year.

Blue is planning for an initial fleet of four boosters, as each New Glenn first stage is intended to be reused at least 25 times. With experience gained from 22 successful propulsive landings of New Shepard’s propulsion module, it is not unreasonable that Blue will be able to achieve its goal of successfully landing New Glenn’s first stage on the maiden launch. However, a landing platform is yet to be seen after the company scrapped its Jacklyn ship in 2022 in favor of a more simplified barge-like system.

A reusable second stage appears to remain a goal:

Blue Origin recently filed updated site plans for LC-36 as part of a permit to upgrade the facility. Included in the plans was a new site at the northeast corner of the complex, referred to as an MKX Test Stand. With propellant lines running to this site from the pad’s main tank farm, this could be a new test stand to support the development of the company’s Clipper program, which aims to be a reusable second stage for New Glenn. It is also possible that the area may be related to Blue’s lunar lander program, as there are two variants of the Blue Moon lander — MK1 and MK2.

—- Reusablity a top priority:

—-  BE-4 engines tested in Huntsville on a famous test stand: Test Stand 4670: Building on a Legacy

Once a pivotal platform for the testing of Saturn V and Space Shuttle engines, Test Stand 4670 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, has witnessed the power of innovation and the spirit of exploration. Experience the transformation of Test Stand 4670 as this historic site has come back to life, blending the rich heritage of NASA’s golden era with the cutting-edge technology of today testing our BE-4 and BE-3U engines. The rumble is back in the Rocket City.

—- Crew vehicle Blue developing reusable crew transport vehicle

With the New Glenn moving towards its first launch this year, development of a crew vehicle to go to space on it is becoming a priority: Blue Origin is getting serious about developing a human spacecraft | Ars Technica

For a time, the crew project was on the back burner, but it has now become a major initiative within Blue Origin, with the company hiring staff to develop the vehicle.

The first public hint of this renewed interest came last June, when NASA announced that Blue Origin was one of seven companies to sign an unfunded Space Act Agreement to design advanced commercial space projects. Later, in a document explaining this selection process, NASA revealed that Blue Origin was working on a “commercial space transportation system.” This included a reusable spacecraft that would launch on the New Glenn rocket.

No debut date for the crew vehicle released yet but more information is likely to be released by Blue later this year.

** Sierra Space Dream Chaser in final tests before launch

—- Thermal vacuum testing in Ohio:

—- Vibration test report: Dream Chaser Spaceplane Environmental Test Campaign at NASA Armstrong Test Facility – Feb.27.2024

The Dream Chaser spaceplane is running through it’s environmental test campaign at NASA Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. These critical tests will ensure Dream Chaser is ready for the launch pad later this year for the NASA CRS-2 Mission to the International Space Station.

** Rocket LabUpdate

Here are some recent items about Rocket Lab. The company still says the first Neutron launch will happen this year:

** Stoke SpaceFull scale second stage prototype propulsion system

—- Prototype second stage with 30 thrusters undergoing static firing tests: Stoke Space continues to test reusable second stage, looks ahead to full rocket | NASASpaceFlight.com – Mar.7.2024

The upper stage of the Stoke fully reusable rocket, now named Nova, uses an innovative design combining a capsule-like heat shield with a ring of thrusters along the outer edge. Previously, a prototype with 15 thrusters underwent static firings and then powered a short flight of the Hopper 2 demonstrator.

The hydrogen fuel for the thrusters first travels through passages in the heat shield to cool it before going into the combustion chambers of the thrusters.  The company is now testing a ring of 30 thrusters as will be used on the operational stage.

Stoke Space also clarified, “Our heat shield is engineered for active cooling at multiple critical mission stages, ensuring optimal protection, performance, and mobility to, through, and from space.”

When asked whether there were any specific engineering issues with pumping the hydrogen through the longer-than-usual channels, the company responded, “We’ve encountered no significant challenges in this regard. Engine test and Hopper flight data validated analytical predictions made by our in-house tools, confirming the ability to manage these requirements.”

Differential throttling of the thrusters provides control of the orientation and direction of the vehicle:

“All of those thrusters have individual throttle control ability,” [Stoke CEO Andy] Lapsa said. “They actually have throttle control in two different places. One is with the pumps, so the bulk engine thrust can be throttled. Then the relative thrust from one side to the other can be managed by the individual thrusters.”

The goal is 24 hour turnaround between orbital flights of Nova. The company sees delivery of satellites and other payloads to space as a viable market and also the capture and return to earth of spacecraft at end of their working life or that have become derelicts.

** Relativity Space– Progress in Terran R development

—- Recent tests of thrust chamber for Aeon R engines that will power the Terran R rocket: Aeon R Thrust Chamber Assembly Testing | NASA StennisRelativity Space/YouTube – Mar.19.2024

2 weeks. 18 hot fires. 335 seconds of blue fire. The team closed out another round of Aeon R thrust chamber assembly (TCA) testing, screening 4 different injector designs and ramping up full-power high mixture-ratio (MR) testing.

Hats off to the crew for executing 2+ hotfires each day with precision, speed, and nimbleness.

—- Reusable engine turbopumps: A video about the development of the liquid oxygen and methane turbopumps for the Aeon engines to power the reusable Terran R rocket:  Relatively Speaking: Aeon R Turbopumps ExplainedRelativity Space/YouTube – Feb 27, 2024.

We’re taking a deep dive into Aeon R’s turbopumps, the heart of Aeon R. With additive manufacturing, we’re refining our turbopump design, reducing parts and enhancing efficiency. Hear directly from the team on our approach to design, testing, and iteration.

0:00 – 0:27 Turbopumps explained
0:28: -1:14 Dual Shaft system explained
1:15 – 1:29 What makes our turbopump unique
1:30 – 2:16 Long Beach Component Test Yard
2:17 – 2:42 Testing turbopumps
2:43 –3:01 Benefits of testing in our backyard
3:02 – 3:50 Collaborative teams

 Learn more about Aeon R: https://bit.ly/aeonr

** Introducing: Ascender H1 Variant Orbital AirshipJohn Powell

John Powell of JP Aerospace gives an update on the company’s long running Airship To Orbit (ATO) program:

This is the newest version of the Ascender orbit airship designed to carry cargo to space. It’s the final stage of ATO, the airship to orbit program. The H1 is the latest update in development of this class of vehicle and the directly result of decades of development and test flights. ATO is changing the very nature of space travel.

=== Hypersonic rocket vehicles – Long distance point-to-point

** Stratolaunch Talon A-1 hypersonic rocket vehicle flies successfully

Stratolaunch’s hypersonic test vehicle Talon A-1 (TA-1) was carried on March 9th by the company’s gigantic Roc aircraft over the Pacific to a point where it was dropped. The vehicle’s Hadley engine, built by Ursa Major Technologies, fired and accelerated the vehicle and made a sustained climb in altitude, before eventually exhausting its fuel and then made a controlled water landing.  The engine uses liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants and can produce 5,000 pounds-force of thrust. The exact top speed attained has not been released publicly but “reached high supersonic speeds approaching Mach 5” according to the company.

While the TA-1 was expendable and lost at sea, the next test flight later this year will be carried out by the reusable TA-2. A third vehicle, TA-3, is under construction and will also be reusable. The Talon vehicles are precursors to future operational hypersonic and space vehicles.

[ Update: Additional info and video released by Stratolaunch:

TA-1 First flight:

First steps are hard. They require careful planning, calculated risk, and most of all, courage. We took a daring first step earlier this month with the completion of TA-1’s first powered flight, reaching high supersonic speeds approaching Mach 5. The flight was a landmark moment on our path to providing our customers and nation a reusable and routine hypersonic test capability. Congratulations to the Stratolaunch team and our partners on this achievement! Stay tuned on our progress as we prepare to fly our first fully reusable Talon-A vehicle, TA-2, later this year.

]

** Venus Aerospace – Successful flight test of rocket powered drone

Venus Aerospace announced that their drone made a successful flight powered by a monopropellant rocket engine. This prepares them for the next stage of tests with a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE): Venus Aerospace Achieves Successful Inaugural Supersonic Drone Flight | Venus Aerospace – Mar.26.2024

Venus Aerospace’s supersonic flight test drone successfully completed its inaugural flight on Feb 24, 2024. The eight foot, 300lb drone was dropped at an altitude of 12,000 ft and accelerated to a top speed of Mach 0.9, flying for 10 miles. It was powered by a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant engine at 80% thrust in order to not exceed Mach 1. The test successfully demonstrated flight controls, stability, one leg of the ultimate Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) propulsion system, telemetry, ground operations, and air launch. “Using an air-launched platform and a rocket-with-wing configuration allows us to cheaply and quickly get to the minimum viable test of our RDRE as a hypersonic engine. The team executed with professionalism and has a wealth of data to anchor and tweak for the next flight,” says CTO & Co-Founder Andrew Duggleby.

“This is how you do hard things: one bite at a time. Up next is RDRE flight, and ultimately hypersonic flight, proving that the RDRE is the engine that unlocks the hypersonic economy,” says CEO & Co-Founder Sarah “Sassie” Duggleby.

These prototypes are to prepare for the development of the Stargazer hypersonic point-to-point transport vehicle.

Update: An article from Brian Berger: The company building a rotating detonation engine is pushing the tech forward | Ars Technica – Mar.27.2024

Based on the company’s latest tests, Duggleby said Venus is now increasingly confident that it will be able to combine its rocket engine with air-breathing technology—using the forward motion of the engine to ingest air for combustion—to create what is known as a rocket-based combined cycle engine. Such an engine, if it can be realized, will allow Venus to see excellent performance at a wide variety of altitudes and velocities. The idea has been largely theoretical until now, developed mostly in universities rather than pursued for commercial purposes.

“We’re now 100 percent compelled by this path,” Duggleby said. “I’m convinced that this is going to be the engine that unlocks the hypersonic economy.”

=== Europe

** MaiaSpace Funding from French government if orbit reached

MaiaSpace, which is developing a launcher with a reusable first stage, is one of four startup launcher companies receiving  contracts with the French government for funding if they achieve orbit by 2028: France Expected to Commit €400M to Support Four Launch Startups | European Spaceflight

The HyPrSpace OB-1 and Latitude Zephyr rockets will be the smallest of the lot and will be capable of delivering between 100 and 200 kilograms to low Earth orbit. The Sirius 1, Sirius 13, and Sirius 15 rockets will be capable of delivering between 175 and 1,100 kilograms to orbit. The Prometheus-powered Maia rocket is expected to be the most powerful, with a payload capacity of up to three tonnes when launched in its expendable configuration.

The agreement with the French state will see each company receive a small upfront payment to secure the flights. The bulk of the €400 million, which will be supplied through the France 2030 initiative, will, however, only be awarded if the companies manage to launch a maiden flight of their respective vehicles between 2026 and 2028. As a result, the actual development process will need to be funded through other public programmes or through private investment.

=== China

** China Accelerates Development of Two Large Reusable RocketsCCTV Video News Agency

China is accelerating the development of both 4-meter-diameter and 5-meter-diameter reusable rockets, with their inaugural flights scheduled for 2025 and 2026, respectively.  CCTV article.

** LandSpace update: A Reusable Chinese Stainless Steel Rocket in 2025?Dongfang Hour

As one of the leading Chinese commercial launch companies, Landspace is currently operating the medium-lift methalox-fueled Zhuque-2, and plans to roll out the heavy-lift Zhuque-3 rocket. The latter is a partially reusable rocket with similar specifications to SpaceX’s Falcon-9, and could represent one of the first “Chinese Falcon 9s” to be available.

While there are strong resemblances between the two rockets, the Zhuque-3 has some differences, including the choice of propellant (methane), materials used (stainless steel), and its rocket booster recovery approach.

In this episode, we deep dive into these topics, while also going over the history of Landspace. Enjoy!

If you like what you see and would like to support me, please consider joining our small Patreon community at https://patreon.com/dongfanghour !
We also have some very cool space merch available at https://shop.dongfanghour.com .

00:00 Introduction
00:17 Landspace’s Beginnings
02:06 The First (Failed) rocket: the Zhuque-1
03:32 All-in on Liquid-fueled Rockets
4:03 the Medium-lift Zhuque-2 & How it’s Different
5:33 Landspace’s own Launch Site
7:21 the Reusable Stainless Steel Zhuque-3
10:12 Recovering Rockets on Land!
11:18 Perspectives for 2024 and 2025

—- More Land Space reports:

—- China’s govt space organization accelerates reusable rocket development: China to debut large reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026 | SpaceNews – Mar.5.2024

China’s main state-owned contractor plans test flights for two new large diameter reusable rockets in the next couple of years, despite existing commercial reusability efforts.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) plans to launch four-meter and five-meter-diameter reusable rockets for the first time in 2025 and 2026 respectively, Wang Wei, a deputy to the National People’s Congress, told China News Service March 4.

** Chinese reusable rocket developers:

See also the table at SpaceNews.

=== India

** RLV LEX-02 prototype winged space vehicleSuccessful mid-altitude drop flight and landing test

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been developing reusable rocket technology starting with the RLV-TD (Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator) program. The program aimed to launch a reusable winged uncrewed vehicle, similar to the X-37, atop an expendable booster.

The configuration of RLV-TD is similar to that of an aircraft and combines the complexity of both launch vehicles and aircraft. The winged RLV-TD has been configured to act as a flying test bed to evaluate various technologies, namely, hypersonic flight, autonomous landing and powered cruise flight.

A RLV-TD prototype was successfully flight tested on May 23, 2016 after a drop from a helicopter. Another winged vehicle was tested in 2023 in a similar drop test called RLV-LEX-01. Then on March 22, 2024, the LEX-02 experiment involved a second drop test with an improved  prototype vehicle named Pushpak: ISRO achieves yet another success in the RLV Landing Experiment | ISRO – Mar.22.2024

ISRO has achieved a major milestone in the area of Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology, through the RLV LEX-02 landing experiment, the second of the series, conducted at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga in Karnataka today morning at 7:10 hrs IST.

After the RLV-LEX-01 mission was accomplished last year, RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV from off-nominal initial conditions at release from Helicopter. The RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres with dispersions, correct both cross-range and downrange and land on the runway in a fully autonomous mode. The winged vehicle, called Pushpak, was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter and was released from 4.5 km altitude. After release at a distance of 4 km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway along with cross-range corrections. It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering system.

This mission successfully simulated the approach and high-speed landing conditions of RLV returning from space. With this second mission, ISRO has re-validated the indigenously developed technologies in the areas of navigation, control systems, landing gear and deceleration systems essential for performing a high-speed autonomous landing of a space-returning vehicle. The winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01 were reused in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after due certification/clearances. Hence reuse capability of flight hardware and flight systems is also demonstrated in this mission. Based on the observations from RLV-LEX-01, the airframe structure and landing gear were strengthened to tolerate higher landing loads.

More about the project:

=== Reusable suborbital rocket vehicles for tourism, science & technology

** Astrobotic reusable rocketsNight flights of Xodiac

The reusable Xodiac low-altitude reusable rocket executes a night time tethered-flight tests: Watch a Night Flight – Xodiac Preps for Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge | Astrobotic – Mar.20.2024

Astrobotic’s Propulsion & Test department flew Xodiac, a vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL) reusable terrestrial rocket, for its first-ever night flight. The tethered night test prepared Xodiac for upcoming flight testing with the NASA TechLeap Prize’s Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge, managed by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. TechLeap is designed to rapidly identify and develop technologies of interest to the agency using a series of challenges, and the Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge will test the ability of three winning payloads to map a lunar surface for navigation in near-total darkness.

Flights for TechLeap are slated to begin in April, continuing Xodiac’s flight heritage of over 160 successful flights. The Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge flights will also mark the debut of Astrobotic’s Lunar Surface Proving Ground (LSPG), a high-fidelity 3D test field that will mimic the topography and optical properties of the Moon’s surface. The size of two football fields, the LSPG will provide a unique simulated lunar topography to enhance the realism of payload flight tests aboard Xodiac.

More flight campaigns later this year:

These TechLeap payload flights will be Xodiac’s first major flight campaign of 2024. Xodiac is also scheduled to fly campaigns this year for NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge, Draper, San Diego State University, and Astrobotic’s Robotics & Surface Systems department. The latter campaign will test Astrobotic’s novel hazard detection and avoidance system that will help guide its Griffin lander to a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole.

** Blue Origin New ShepardMore flights promised

New Shepard plans mentioned during the conference presentation by Blue Origin VP Lars Hoffman: Blue Origin touts capabilities of Blue Ring transfer vehicle | SpaceNews – Feb.2.2024

… the company will increase the flight rate of New Shepard. That vehicle performed a payload-only flight in December, the first since a launch mishap more than 15 months earlier. A crewed flight, the first since August 2022, will take place “very soon,” he said, but was not more specific.

Blue Origin has not disclosed how many New Shepard flights it plans for this year. “We are definitely getting back on track this year with New Shepard,” he said. “We want to get on a nice pace or rhythm here where we’re launching regularly, mostly astronaut flights but there will be payload flights mixed in there as well.”

** Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwoDispute with Boeing

—- Boeing is suing Virgin Galactic over a canceled contract for development of a new carrier aircraft: Boeing sues Virgin Galactic over mothership project | SpaceNews – Mar.26.2024

—- Other VG items:

==== Reusable in-space vehicles:

—- Blue orbital space tug

An update on the Blue Ring, a “Multi-Mission, Multi-Orbit Space Mobility Platform“, from a recent conference presentation by Lars Hoffman, a Blue Origin VP: Blue Origin touts capabilities of Blue Ring transfer vehicle | SpaceNews – Feb.2.2024

The Blue Ring will offer:

  • 12 docking ports, each able to accommodate payloads weighing up to 500 kilograms
  • The “top deck on the spacecraft can carry payloads weighing up to two and a half tons
  • 3,000 meters per second of delta V
  • Can deploy payloads to desired orbits or serve as a host for payload(s) that remain attached to it
  • Is refuelable and can also refuel spacecraft. No info on type of propellants.
A rendering of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring space tug.

** Defense Innovation Unit funding development of in-space transport transports:

DIU wants two types of utility multi-orbit logistics vehicles (m-OLV). A light version should host or transport one or more payloads in the 50 kg payload range. A heavy version will tackle payloads in the 500 kg range.

And DIU also wants a

fuel depot capable of storing and transferring sufficient chemical and/or electrical propellant to a m-OLV or self-propelled satellite to achieve a LEO-to-GEO transfer

Three companies obtained contracts. Blue Origin obtained funding

to demonstrate a heavy utilitym-OLV system utilizing their ‘Blue Ring’ platform [see above]. Blue Origin is in the final stages of developing the Dark-Sky-1 mission system, which will demonstrate core mission operation and flight system capabilities.

Northrop Grumman’s Space Logistics in-space servicing subsidiary received support for its

suite of in-space refueling technologies, including the Active Refueling Moule (ARM) and Passive Refueling Module (PRM), in concert with complementary efforts sponsored by Space Systems Command (SSC). The refueling system includes elements to successfully dock and transfer fuel, as well as a refueling payload that handles fuel transfer. SSC contracted with Northrop Grumman to fly the PRM on an operational mission. 

Spacebilt, formerly Skycorp, is the third company to receive a DIU contract, which will be used to further validate

their approach In Space Assembly and Manufacturing for enabling their m-OLV product for DoD use cases. Since award, Spacebilt has progressed toward a mass manufacturable product, conducted risk reduction missions to the International Space Station for their flight hardware, and maturity of their commercially available avionics hardware. Spacebilt is working toward a Q4 2026 launch for the first mOLV STARcraft.

The company makes reusability a key feature of their spacecraft:

Until now, space systems have been mission focused and disposable. Tomorrow, spacecraft will be updated to suit changing customer needs. Reusability reduces lifecycle cost by 80%.

=== Other reusable rocket and space vehicle related news:

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SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, NASA,
and the Privatization of the Final Frontier

Space habitat reports – Mar.20.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement. Starts with NASA’s latest Space to Ground report for the International Space Station:

** Expedition 71 Space Station Crew’s Soyuz Rolls to the Pad – NASA Video

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz 2.1a rocket that will launch the Soyuz MS-25 crew to the International Space Station rolled out from its integration building to the launch pad for final preparations. While that took place, NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Soyuz commander Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus completed their training for their launch aboard the Soyuz to the orbital outpost

**  NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 Mission: National Stem Cell FoundationISS National Lab

The National Stem Cell Foundation will launch its 6th investigation to the space station evaluating the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Learn more about this project launching on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 mission to the orbiting outpost.

** Axiom Space news: Axiom Space Partners with Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine on National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines | Axiom Space – Mar.6.2024

Axiom Space has partnered with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, recipient of an inaugural U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines grant. The NSF Engines grant allows user-inspired technical challenges to be addressed in collaboration with partnered institutions, including Axiom Space, through Innovation, Translation, and Education Cores (ITECs), each focused on a broad area of unmet need.

The ITECs will focus on Development and Manufacturing, Biomaterials, Cell Biology, In-Space Manufacturing, and Workforce Development and will be located with Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), the RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO), and Forsyth Technical Community College (FTCC), respectively. In partnership with Axiom Space the In-Space ITEC will explore a new frontier for tissue and organ regeneration in microgravity, adding significant forward-thinking engagement and workforce development through the In-Space ITEC….

**  Gravitics adapts modules to various launch providers:

** Blue Origin completes life support system milestones: NASA Sees Progress on Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef Life Support System | NASA – Mar.20.2024.

The Blue Origin Orbital Reef project completes four milestones that are part of the NASA Space Act Agreement awarded to Blue in 2021:

“These milestones are critical to ensuring that a commercial destination can support human life so NASA astronauts can continue to have access to low Earth orbit to conduct important scientific research in the unique microgravity environment,” said Angela Hart, manager of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program. “Additionally, each milestone that is completed allows NASA to gain insight into our partner’s progress on station design and development.”

Humans living and working in space do so in a closed environment that must be monitored and controlled. On the International Space Station, components for the environmental control and life support system maintain clean air and water for astronauts. The regenerative system recycles and reclaims most of the water and oxygen produced by normal human activities. This significantly reduces the amount of mass that would have to be launched to the orbiting laboratory for these functions.

Orbital Reef will have a similar system in place. All four milestones tested different parts of the system, including a trace contaminant control test, water contaminant oxidation test, urine water recovery test, and water tank test.

** World’s First Commercial Space Station Design and Testing Questions Answered | LIFE Habitat TechSierra Space

Our full scale burst test film prompted a number of questions on the design and function of our LIFE habitat technology. We asked Shawn Buckley – Senior Director, Engineering and Beth Licavoli – Softgoods Certification Lead, to answer your most popular questions along with a few favorites.

Learn more about this technology as we continue to develop the world’s first commercial space station: https://sierraspace.com/space-destina…

** Chinese Space Station Retrieves over 400 Material Samples After Space ExposureCCTV Video News Agency

A robotic arm on China’s Tiangong space station successfully transferred an extravehicular experiment facility alongside with 407 material samples from outside the station’s Wentian lab module to the station interior on Thursday night.

** Private space stations overview – Interview with Lauren Andrade on The Space Show

[Lauren Andrade] from Beyond Earth Institute was with us to discuss her report on commercial space stations. We discussed all aspects of private space stations including liability, centralized regs with the Dept. of Commerce and more. Please read the full summary of this program at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, March 17, 2024.

See also Andrade’s report: 2023 Commercial Habitats Working Group Report | BEI (pdf)

** Other news and articles:

** Two orbital views of earth via NASA’s EHDC6 live views imaging system on the ISS – ISS Above

—- Highlight: FL – KSC – Mar 17, 2023 – 18:31 EDT 

—- Highlight: Melbourne Australia – Mar 17, 2024 14:34 AEDT

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

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Space habitat reports – Mar.13.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement. Starts with NASA’s latest Space to Ground report for the International Space Station:

** Expedition 70 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 Farewell Remarks, Station Change of Command March 10, 2024NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Crew-7 which includes NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andy Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov provided farewell remarks on March 10 ahead of their upcoming departure from the space station. Joining Crew-7 for the farewell remarks were NASA astronauts Matthew Dominik, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps, and Loral O’Hara as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. Following the farewell remarks, a change of command ceremony took place in which Mogensen handed over command of the space station to Kononenko as Mogensen prepares to head home with his Crew-7 crewmates. Crew-7 is slated to undock on March TBD and splashdown off the coast of Florida March TBD after completing a six-month mission

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 Space Station Hatch Closure March 11, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andy Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov prepared to depart the space station following the closing of the hatch to the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance on March 11 ahead of their undocking from the space station. Crew-7 completed a 6-month science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 Flight Day 4 Highlights – NASA Video

NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov returned to Earth for a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Florida at 5:47 a.m. EDT Tuesday, March 12, completing their six-month mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 Prelaunch Science WebinarISS National Lab

On Friday, March 8, 2024, members of the media attended a science-focused prelaunch webinar for NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 mission to hear from NASA and ISS National Lab officials as well as researchers who discussed a few of the projects flying on this cargo resupply mission.

** Gravitics

** Gambit sensor platform relocated on ISS – StarlabVoyager Space

—- Making Moves: Gambit Payload Relocates on the Bishop Airlock | Voyager Space – Mar.11.2024

** Other news and articles:

** 40 years since the founding of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)  program:

—- ARISS Celebration at KSC. Interview with Randy BergerHAM Radio Fun With KO4PDI

Join us as we celebrate the ARISS 40-year event at Kennedy Space Center, featuring an interview with Randy Berger, the ISS HAM radio developer. Learn about the technology behind ISS HAM radio and the impact it has on communication in space. Don’t miss this exclusive interview at the ARISS 40-year Celebration!
Get a look at the actual radio used on the ISS to make contacts and work as a cross-band repeater. The radio, Antennas, and power supply. Randy Berger talks about what it takes to make the contacts we do on the ISS as HAM operators.

—- A school contact with ISS astronauts: #AlcarazISS – ARISS Contact | Contacto con la Estación Espacial Internacional
Studio21 Alcaraz

** Highlight: Aotearoa NZ S to N – Mar 11, 2024 – 16:34 NZDTISS Above

NASA EHDC6 Live views of the Earth from the International Space Station

—- Highlight: Buenos Aires Argentina – Mar 6, 2024 – 18:30 ARTISS Above

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

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Space habitat reports – Mar.6.2024

Here is this week’s selection of videos and news items about space habitats, living in space, and space settlement. Starts with NASA’s latest Space to Ground report for the International Space Station:

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Flight Day 2 Highlights – NASA Video

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin arrived at the International Space Station when their Dragon spacecraft autonomously docked to the forward-facing port of the Harmony module at 2:28 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 5 following a launch on March 3 on the Endeavour spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following docking, the quartet opened the hatch and floated onboard the orbital outpost before providing welcoming remarks as its mission aboard the space station began. The four crew members will conduct a long-duration science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

See also NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Launches to International Space Station | Commercial Crew Program/NASA – Mar.4.2024

** Space Station Crew Talks with WUSA-TV, Washington D.C., University of Maryland – March 6, 2024NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 70 Flight Engineers Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview March 6 with WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. and the University of Maryland. Barratt and Epps are the midst of long-duration missions living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

** Uncovering the Secrets of the International Space Station (Full Episode) | Superstructures – National Geographic

The International Space Station is taken apart to uncover its engineering secrets.

** Expedition 70 Space Station Crew Talks with NPR’s Short Wave Podcast – March 4, 2024 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview March with NPR’s “Short Wave” podcast. O’Hara is in the midst of long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

** Virtual Reality for body and mindEuropean Space Agency, ESA

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen explains how two experiments involving virtual reality makes on International Space Station. The first is Virtual Assistance Mental Balance (VAMB) where Andreas gets to enjoy a calm setting in nature that helps him relax. The second one is VR for Exercise, where he cycles on the Space Station’s exercise bike and through different bike routes in Denmark on the VR headset, which has quickly become a favourite for Andreas.

Timestaps of the video:
00:00 – 00:09 Intro
00:10 – 02:13 First experiment
02:14 – 04:48 Second experiment
04:49 – 05:09 Outro

** Sierra Space:

** Shenzhou-17 Crew Complete 2nd Extravehicular MissionCCTV Video News Agency

The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China’s space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission at 13:32 Beijing time on Saturday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

** Other news and articles:

** Space settlement

—- Why This Startup is Mining AsteroidsSpiral

Embark on an adventure about the future of space colonization with Joel Sercel, the founder of TransAstra, a startup working on mining asteroids to potentially build cities in space. This film explores the history of homo sapiens, our sustainability troubles here on earth, why we must move to space, and how now is the perfect time to start.

Learn more about TransAstra: https://transastra.com/

** Views from space stations

—-  Highlight: Crew8 on approach – Mar 5 2024 – 06:40 utc –   ISS Above

NASA EHDC6 Live views of the Earth from the International Space Station

—- Highlight: Night – Phoenix AZ – Mar 3, 2024 – 23:26 MST ISS Above

—- Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) – NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Ads ===

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21321 Toy Blocks, Present, Space, Boys, Girls, Ages 16 and Up

====

Outpost in Orbit:
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Everyone can participate in space