I have sailed with my share of compelling characters since I began ocean research, and perhaps it is fitting that while we study ocean color aboard the R/V Falkor, I have had the pleasure of getting to know one of the most colorful. Kirsten Carlson has joined the cruise as an artist-in-residence, bringing her zany, insightful perspectives and boundless energy […]
BEAM Opens for Tests, Crew Checks Body Shape
BEAM was opened for a short time Thursday so the crew could install sensors inside the expandable module. The Expedition 50 space residents also explored how the body changes shape and how to prevent back pain during long-term missions. BEAM, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, had its hatches opened temporarily so astronaut Peggy Whitson could …
A Shape-Shifting Volcanic Island
The eruption of Alaska's Bogoslof volcano has changed the island's size and shape.
ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/02/2017
Exposed Facility Unit (EFU) Adapter Transfer: Ground Controllers maneuvered the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) and extracted the Small Fine Arm (SFA) from the SFA Storage Equipment (SSE). Overnight tonight the ground controllers will maneuver the SFA to grasp the EFU Adapter from the EFU-5 location. Once the EFU Adapter has been …
Microbes Run the Show
Hugo Berthelot, biogeochemical oceanographer, is studying phytoplankton organisms and the biochemical processes they take part in.
ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/01/2017
Multi-Omics Collections: This morning the crew performed sampling in support of the JAXA Multi-Omics experiment. Various samples are collected and stowed in MELFI four times throughout the crew’s on-orbit duration in addition to a questionnaire and ingestion of fructooligosaccharide (FOS). The objective of Multi-Omics is to understand the gut ecosystem of astronauts in the space …
Astronauts Welcome Super Bowl Fans and Explore Gut Microbes
A pair of NASA astronauts on the International Space Station called down to Houston today as the city gets ready to host Super Bowl LI on Sunday. Johnson Space Center officials, media and visitors gathered at Space Center Houston to hear Expedition 50 Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson and Commander Shane Kimbrough welcome everyone as NASA …
In Coastal Peru, Fog Begets Life
It might seem unlikely that vegetation can survive in a sandy coastal environment that receives little rain, but plant communities along Peru’s southern coast have found a way. In December 2016, we published the top image showing a unique perspective of fog. From space, you can see the vast expanse of marine stratocumulus sweeping inland to fill some of Peru’s deep valleys. It is […]
ISS Daily Summary Report – 1/31/2017
64 Progress (64P) Undock: 64P successfully undocked from the Docking Compartment 1 (DC-1) port this morning at 8:25 AM CST. Deorbit burn was at 11:34 AM CST today followed by atmospheric entry and destruction. Crew Autonomous Scheduling Test (CAST): The third of five sessions was completed today. The objective of this session was to allow …