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Tag: Astronauts

  • NASA is ending Crew-11 astronauts’ mission a month early

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    NASA has decided to bring the Crew-11 astronauts home a month earlier than originally planned due to a “medical concern” with one of them. This is the first time in its history that the space agency is cutting a mission short due to a medical issue, but it didn’t identify the crew member or divulge the exact situation and its severity. The agency is targeting a return date no earlier than January 14, with the exact schedule depending on the weather. If NASA’s original plan pushes through, the crew will splash down off the coast of California at approximately 3:40 AM on January 15.

    The agency previously postponed an International Space Station (ISS) spacewalk scheduled for January 8, citing a medical concern with a crew member that appeared the day before. NASA’s chief health and medical officer, James “JD” Polk, said the affected astronaut is “absolutely stable” and that this isn’t a case of an emergency evacuation. The ISS has a “robust suite of medical hardware” onboard, he said, but not enough for a complete workup to determine a diagnosis. Without a proper diagnosis, NASA doesn’t know if the astronaut’s health could be negatively affected by the environment aboard the ISS. That is why the agency is erring on the side of caution.

    Crew-11 left for the space station on August 1 and was supposed to come back to Earth on or around February 20. After they leave the station, only three people will remain: Two cosmonauts and one astronauts who’ll be in charge of all the experiments currently being conducted on the orbiting lab. The team’s replacement, Crew-12, was supposed to head to the ISS mid-February, but NASA is considering sending the astronauts to the station earlier than that.

    Update, January 10, 2025, 5:15AM ET: This story has been updated to include Crew-11’s tentative return date.

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    Mariella Moon

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  • NASA astronaut to lift off in Kazakhstan rocket launch today—live updates

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    A rocket is set to lift off from the the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan this morning. NASA astronaut Chris Williams will lift off aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 rocket to the International Space Station on Thursday November 27 at at 4:27 a.m. EST. Williams will be accompanied by astronauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. They will spend approximately eight months aboard the space station as Expedition 73/74 crew members to help advance scientific research, before returning to Earth in summer 2026.

    What To Know

    • Rocket Soyuz to lift off at 4:27 a.m. EST from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station 
    • Live launch and docking coverage will be available on various online channels and platforms
    • Spacecraft will dock to the station’s Rassvet module at approximately 7:38 a.m. 
    • Shortly after docking, hatches will open between Soyuz and the space station
    • Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev will spend approximately eight months aboard the space station as Expedition 73/74 crew members
    • The team will return to Earth in summer 2026

    Stay with Newsweek for the latest on the NASA rocket launch.

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  • NASA, Boeing Welcome Starliner Spacecraft to Earth, Close Mission

    NASA, Boeing Welcome Starliner Spacecraft to Earth, Close Mission

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    NASA and Boeing safely returned the uncrewed Starliner spacecraft to Earth, landing at 12:01am ET on September 6th at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, and concluding a three-month flight test to the International Space Station.

    Starliner now will ship to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida for inspection and processing.

    “I am extremely proud of the work our collective team put into this entire flight test, and we are pleased to see Starliner’s safe return,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft uncrewed, NASA and Boeing learned an incredible amount about Starliner in the most extreme environment possible. NASA looks forward to our continued work with the Boeing team to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station.”

    The flight on June 5th was the first time astronauts launched aboard the Starliner. It was the third orbital flight of the spacecraft, and its second return from the orbiting laboratory.

    NASA’s Commercial Crew Program requires a spacecraft to fly a crewed test flight to prove the system is ready for regular flights to and from the orbiting laboratory. Following Starliner’s return, the agency will review all mission-related data.

    NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched on June 5th aboard Starliner for the agency’s Boeing Crewed Flight Test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Central Florida. On June 6th, as Starliner approached the space station, NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters.

    Following weeks of in-space and ground testing, technical interchange meetings, and agency reviews, NASA made the decision to prioritize safety and return Starliner without its crew.

    Wilmore and Williams will continue their work aboard station as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew, returning in February 2025 with the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

    “We are excited to have Starliner home safely. This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future missions on the Starliner system,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “There was a lot of valuable learning that will enable our long-term success. I want to commend the entire team for their hard work and dedication over the past three months.”

    The crew flight test is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station and low Earth orbit. This already is providing additional research time and has increased the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s microgravity testbed, including helping NASA prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

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  • WTF Fun Fact 13676 – We Can’t Burp in Space

    WTF Fun Fact 13676 – We Can’t Burp in Space

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    People can’t burp in space.

    Now, you might wonder, why on Earth (or rather, off Earth) can’t astronauts do something as simple as burping? It boils down to gravity, or the lack thereof.

    Why We Can’t Burp in Space

    Here on Earth, gravity does a lot of work for us without us even noticing. When you eat or drink, gravity helps separate the liquid and gas in your stomach. The solids and liquids stay at the bottom, while the gas, being lighter, floats to the top. When there’s enough gas, your body naturally expels it as a burp. Simple, right?

    But, take gravity out of the equation, and things get a bit more complicated. In space, there’s no up or down like here on Earth. This means that in an astronaut’s stomach, gas doesn’t rise above the liquid and solid. Instead, everything floats around in a mixed-up blob.

    If an astronaut tries to burp, they’re not just going to expel the gas. No, they might bring up some of the liquid and solid matter too. Not exactly pleasant, and definitely something you’d want to avoid.

    NASA Burp Training

    NASA, being aware of this, actually trains astronauts on how to eat and drink in a way that minimizes the chances of needing to burp. They choose foods that are less likely to produce gas. Also, space food is designed to reduce crumbs and loose particles, which can be a nuisance in microgravity. Even with these precautions, though, the human body can still produce gas, thanks to the digestion process.

    So, what happens to all that gas if it can’t come out as a burp? Well, it has to go somewhere. The body adapts in interesting ways. The gas might get absorbed into the bloodstream and expelled through the lungs. Or it might travel through the digestive tract and leave the body as flatulence. Yes, astronauts can still fart in space, which, without gravity to direct the flow, might be a bit more… interesting.

    This isn’t just a quirky fact about space travel; it has real implications for astronaut health and comfort. Gas build-up can cause discomfort, bloating, and even pain. In the confined, zero-gravity environment of a spacecraft, managing these bodily functions becomes crucial for maintaining the well-being and harmony of the crew.

    Bodies in Space

    It’s funny to think about, but this no-burp scenario highlights a broader point about space travel. Living in space requires us to relearn and adapt basic bodily functions. Everything from sleeping to eating to going to the bathroom is different up there. Astronauts undergo extensive training to prepare for these challenges, learning how to live in a world without gravity’s guiding hand.

    In the grand scheme of things, the inability to burp is just one small part of the vast array of adjustments humans must make to thrive in space. It serves as a reminder of how finely tuned our bodies are to life on Earth, and how much we take for granted the invisible forces that shape our everyday experiences.

    — WTF fun facts

    Source: “Ask an Explainer” — Smithsonian Institution

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    WTF

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  • WTF Fun Fact 13629 – NASA’s Lost Tool Bag

    WTF Fun Fact 13629 – NASA’s Lost Tool Bag

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    In the vast emptiness of space, a lost tool bag from a NASA spacewalk has become an unlikely stargazer’s delight. On November 9, 2023, the bag became untethered from astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara during repairs on the International Space Station (ISS). Now orbiting Earth, the tool bag presents a unique sighting opportunity, shining bright as a star in the night sky.

    Astronomical Mishap to Stargazing Marvel

    What began as a minor mishap has evolved into a spectacle for amateur astronomers and curious onlookers alike.

    The tool bag, initially following close behind the ISS, has started to lose altitude and drift ahead. Observations on November 11 showed the bag five minutes ahead of the ISS. Predictions suggest it will soon be nearly ten minutes in the lead.

    Catching a Glimpse of the Celestial Tool Bag

    This orbital oddity offers a new kind of sighting challenge. It can still be spotted with the aid of binoculars, appearing around magnitude +6. Those hoping to witness this sight should plan to observe the trajectory of the ISS, and then shift their gaze ahead of its path. With careful timing, the tool bag will make its journey across the stargazing canvas.

    Despite its current visibility, the tool bag’s time in orbit is finite. As it continues to descend, it is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere between March and July of 2024, ultimately disintegrating. This event will mark the end of its accidental journey and remind us of the delicate nature of space operations.

    The incident has sparked a renewed conversation about space debris and its implications. While the bag of tools poses no immediate threat, it underscores the broader issue of objects lost in space, highlighting the need for meticulous practices during extravehicular activities.

    The Skyward Saga of a Tool Bag

    From a practical instrument for space repairs to an object of curiosity circling our planet, the tool bag’s story captivates the imagination.

    It serves as a reminder of our reach into space and the traces we leave behind. For now, as it glides silently above, the tool bag offers a fleeting connection to the vastness of space, a tiny beacon reminding us of humanity’s continuous quest beyond Earth’s bounds.

    — WTF fun facts

    Source: “Lost tool bag from spacewalk caught on video” — EarthSky

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    WTF

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  • Orbital Station Developer Launches Kickstarter Campaign

    Orbital Station Developer Launches Kickstarter Campaign

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 1, 2018


    LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Gateway Foundation is working to build a permanent orbiting space station and wants to enlist an army of drones to repair and maintain space stations and other equipment in the harsh environment of space. And they want the public to help.

    “To best develop human habitats in space, on the Moon and Mars we need fleets of advanced drones that can build structures and repair and maintain equipment,” said Dr. Thomas Spilker, Chief Architect of the Gateway Foundation. “There are few technical advances that could do more to accelerate the development of space than autonomous and remote piloted construction, maintenance, repair and survey drones,” he said.

    The Gateway Foundation aims to build a permanent orbiting station (with artificial ‘gravity’) as a gateway to our solar system and has launched the Orbital Assembly company with the goal of becoming Earth’s first turn-key space construction company. To advance the concept of drones working in space and attract needed investors the Foundation is launching a Kickstarter campaign to produce a high-quality video that describes why drones are necessary to our future in space. See:  www.kickstarter.com/projects/522593384

    Work is already underway at Orbital Assembly to develop such drones. “What is most needed now is widespread understanding that purpose-designed robotic helpers are the pivotal element needed to re-purpose space junk, create large structures and maintain and repair both vehicles and structures in space. Drones are the technological accelerant that, together with lower cost launch vehicles, can finally make the development of space not only possible but practical,” said John Blincow, President of the Gateway Foundation.

    Contact: John Blincow
    ​Phone: 1-800-987-0238  X101
    ​Email: johnblincow@gatewayspaceport.com

    Other Resources:

    Orbital Assembly website:
    ​www.orbitalassembly.com
    ​www.gatewayspaceport.com

    Source: Gateway Foundation

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