Observations made overnight on Feb. 19 – 20 of asteroid 2024 YR4 have further decreased its chance of Earth impact on Dec. 22, 2032, to 0.28%. NASA’s planetary defense teams will continue to monitor the asteroid to improve our predictions of the asteroid’s trajectory. With this new data, the chance of an impact with the …
Dark Skies Bring New Observations of Asteroid 2024 YR4, Lower Impact Probability
Now that skies are darker after a week of limited visibility around full moon, astronomers have resumed observations of asteroid 2024 YR4. Ground-based telescopes require dark skies to observe asteroids, which are often very faint. Around the time of a full moon, the sky becomes too bright to detect these faint points of light. NASA’s …
Stacking Complete on Artemis II Rocket Boosters
Engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida completed stacking the twin SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters inside the Vehicle Assembly Building for the agency’s Artemis II crewed test flight around the Moon. At launch and during liftoff, the boosters, which each stand 177 feet tall, will provide the majority of the 8.8 […]
Spacesuits, Exercise Gear, and Spacecraft Operations Fill Wednesday Schedule
On Wednesday, the Expedition 72 crew aboard the International Space Station focused its efforts mostly on spacesuits and advanced exercise gear. The orbital residents also worked on crew and cargo spacecraft operations at the orbital outpost.
Waiting for Better Weather
What does AVUELO have in common with a Joni Mitchell song? The answer lies in the clouds.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Leaves
Samples collected from Panama’s forest canopy are providing information that will ultimately be linked to remote sensing data.
Crew Works Robotics Competition and 3D Bioprinter to Manufacture Cells, Tissues
The Expedition 72 crew spent Tuesday setting up a free-flying robotics competition for students and a cleaning a 3D biological printer. The International Space Station residents also conducted blood and saliva tests, cleaned crew quarters, and packed a cargo ship for departure.
Muscle Research, Blood Tests To Promote Healthy Crews End Week
Muscle stimulation and blood tests topped the International Space Station research schedule on Friday helping doctors learn how to keep astronauts healthy on long-term missions. The Expedition 72 residents also winded down the work week cleaning spacesuits and life support gear aboard the orbital outpost.
Blue Ghost Remains on Track, Lunar Orbit Insertion Burn Complete
After about a month in transit to the Moon, Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully completed a four-minute lunar orbit insertion burn Thursday – the longest and most challenging burn conducted to date by the lander’s main engine and reaction control system thrusters. Now that the lander is in lunar trajectory, over the next 16 …