Strata-1 Payload Activation: Earlier this morning Peake moved the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) sensor enclosure from the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) to the Strata-1 payload for activation and checkout activities. When Peak switched the main power switch on, an overcurrent trip occurred on the Solid State Power Control Module (SSPCM) channel for Express Rack …
Crew Ready for Pair of Space Shipments from Russia and U.S.
The Expedition 47 crew will receive a space delivery from Russia this weekend. SpaceX is counting down to the launch of another space shipment on its Dragon space freighter scheduled for April 8 from Florida. Onboard the International Space Station, the crew checked out U.S. spacesuits and advanced science hardware. The station residents also explored …
Mapping Pluto
Today's blog post is from Ross Beyer, a planetary scientist with the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. He studies surface geomorphology, surface processes, remote sensing and photogrammetry of the solid bodies in our solar system. I've always loved maps, and I've always loved planets …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 03/31/16
63 Progress (63P) Launch: 63P launched at 11:23AM CDT today. Orbital insertion was nominal, and the vehicle is performing well. Docking is scheduled to occur this Saturday at 1:00PM CDT. Thermolab De-instrumentation for Circadian Rhythms: Peake removed the double sensors and the Thermolab Unit before cleaning and stowing the equipment after completing the measurement …
Food, Fuel and Supplies Shipped on Two-Day Space Delivery
Carrying more than three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the International Space Station crew, the unpiloted ISS Progress 63 cargo craft launched at 12:23 p.m. EDT (10:23 p.m. local time in Baikonur) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. At the time of launch, the International Space Station was flying about 251 miles up …
Successful Compatibility Test Paves Way for Wanaka Balloon Launch
Technicians with NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) reached a major milestone Wednesday, March 30, after successfully completing an instrument compatibility test in preparation for launching a super pressure balloon from Wanaka, New Zealand. The daylong test, also referred to as a hang test because it involves suspending the payload from the launch crane and …
NASA Super Pressure Balloon Launch: Quick Facts
NASA's Balloon Program Team runs through a few fun facts about its super pressure balloon, scheduled to launch from Wanaka, New Zealand, in the following video:
ISS Daily Summary Report – 03/30/16
61 Progress (61P) Undock: 61P undocked from the Service Module (SM) aft port today at 9:14 AM CDT. The deorbit burn is scheduled for Friday, April 8 at 8:30AM CDT following a non-ISS related, free-flight experiment planned for April 3-7. Fine Motor Skills: Kopra, Peake, and Williams each completed a session of the Fine Motor …
Russia Swaps Cargo Ships This Week
A Russian resupply ship left the International Space Station this morning and will be quickly replaced Saturday afternoon. In the meantime, the Expedition 47 crew went about its full schedule of advanced space science and orbital lab maintenance. The Progress 61 (61P) cargo craft undocked this morning from the Zvezda service module loaded with trash. …