Tag: astronauts

Crew-13 Astronauts to Advance ISS National Lab Research

Upward reports that astronauts launching on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission will support a variety of ISS National Lab-sponsored research during their six-month stay aboard the space station. The crew will work on projects “spanning biomanufacturing, regenerative medicine, physical sciences, technology development, and student-led experiments.” The research is aimed at advancing biomedical innovation, fundamental science, STEM education, and technologies with potential applications in space and on Earth.
Full Story (Upward)

Artemis II Crew Nears Moon as Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit Phase

The New York Times reports, “Early on Monday morning Eastern time, the astronauts of Artemis II will enter the lunar sphere of influence, when the pull of the moon’s gravity becomes stronger than Earth’s. That is when their spacecraft will start speeding up for the main event of the 10-day mission, swinging around the moon for a first close-up look by astronauts in more than 53 years.”
Full Story (New York Times – Subscription Publication)

NASA Astronauts Perform 5th All-Female Spacewalk Outside International Space Station

AP News reports, “An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance six years later on Thursday. NASA’s Anne McClain emerged from the International Space Station alongside Nichole Ayers. Both military officers and pilots, they launched to the orbiting lab in March to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts, who are now back home.”
Full Story (AP News)

More Space Companies Betting their Future on Reusability

Space News reports, “On the fifth integrated test flight of Starship, launched Oct. 13 from the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, site, the Super Heavy booster aimed to fly back to the launch tower, where massive mechanical arms — dubbed ‘chopsticks’ — would grapple it. So many things could go wrong that most expected failure, much like SpaceX’s early attempts to land Falcon 9 boosters a decade ago. Inside the company, though, there was confidence.”
Full Story (Space News)

SpaceX Polaris Astronauts Become First Private Citizens to Complete Spacewalk

The Washington Post reports, “Jared Isaacman performed the first spacewalk by a private citizen early Thursday, with a live broadcast that showed him popping his head and torso out of the hatch of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and performing a series of maneuvers near the capsule. He was followed by Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer who is part of the four-person, all-civilian crew and also floated outside the spacecraft while tethered and holding on to handrails. The spacewalk was originally scheduled for 2:23 a.m. Eastern time Thursday but was pushed back to just before 7, when Isaacman exited the hatch. Isaacman and Gillis spent several minutes each outside the capsule.”
Full Story (Washington Post)

Starliner Crew May Return Home with SpaceX in 2025

The New York Times reports that for weeks, NASA has downplayed problems experienced by Starliner, but on Wednesday, NASA officials admitted that the issues might be more serious than first thought and that the astronauts might not return on the Boeing vehicle. “The agency is exploring a backup option for the astronauts, Suni Wiliams and Butch Wilmore, to instead hitch a ride back to Earth on a spacecraft built by Boeing’s competitor SpaceX. The astronauts’ stay in orbit, which was to be as short as eight days, could be extended into next year.”
Full Story (New York Times)