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    Webb Confirms Accuracy of Universe’s Expansion Rate Measured by Hubble, Deepens Mystery of Hubble Constant Tension

    A large galaxy takes up the entirety of the image. The galaxy has a bright white core, and several large spiral arms extending out from that core, rotating clockwise. The arms are light blue with many pink speckles and clumps littering the arms. The background is also filled with a smattering of white and pink dots.

    The rate at which the universe is expanding, known as the Hubble constant, is one of the fundamental parameters for understanding the evolution and ultimate fate of the cosmos. However, a persistent difference called the "Hubble Tension" is seen between the value of the constant measured with a wide range of independent distance indicators and …

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    Irresistible Gravity: Meet IXPE General Observer Program Lead Kavitha Arur

    Kavitha Arur sits at her desk and works on the computer in her office.

    By Rick Smith A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so relentless that nothing nearby – not stars, not even light – can resist its pull. Astrophysicist Kavitha Arur can't resist it either. She's been fascinated with black holes since childhood. "I always enjoyed mysteries and solving puzzles, and astronomy is …

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    OSIRIS-REx Adjusts Course to Target Sample Capsule’s Landing Zone

    On a black background – a star-studded sky – three bright yellow lines cut across the image, all pointing at and past an image of a blue and green planet.

    On Sept. 10, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly fired its ACS (attitude control system) thrusters to point itself toward Earth, putting it on course to release its sample capsule, carrying rocks and dust from asteroid Bennu, from 63,000 miles (or 102,000 kilometers) above Earth's surface on Sunday, Sept. 24. Yesterday's trajectory-correction maneuver changed the spacecraft's velocity …

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    Crew Relaxes, Rubio Breaks NASA Record as New Trio Preps for Launch

    The seven Expedition 69 crew members enjoyed an off-duty day on Monday aboard the International Space Station. They will be welcoming three new crewmates at the end of the week when they launch and dock to the orbital outpost. Three future station crew members are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan counting down to their …

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    ISS Daily Summary Report – 9/08/2023

    ISS Reboost: This afternoon, the ISS performed a reboost using the Aft Progress 85P rendezvous and docking (R&D) thrusters. This reboost will set up proper phasing conditions for the Soyuz 70S 2-orbit rendezvous in August. The burn was nominal with a 2.05 Payloads: Immunity Assay: Samples were retrieved and reaction tubes were prepared for centrifuge operations …

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    Week Ends with Microbiology, Spacesuits, and Lab Maintenance

    Human research and spacesuit work topped the schedule for the Expedition 69 crew aboard the International Space Station at the end of the week. The orbital residents also analyzed microbes, maintained life support systems, and worked on cargo transfers. Researchers on the ground continuously investigate how living in space affects astronauts to keep crews healthy. …

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    Here’s How Sept. 24 Asteroid Sample Delivery Will Work

    Early morning on Sunday, Sept. 24, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's sample capsule will come face-to-face with Earth's atmosphere for the first time since the mission's 2016 launch. On board are an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams, of rocky material collected from the surface of Bennu in 2020 – NASA's first asteroid sample and the largest …

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    Crew Works Biology, Physics Research and Checks Out Spacesuits

    Life science and space physics continued aboard the International Space Station on Thursday helping researchers improve human health and advance fundamental knowledge. The Expedition 69 crew members also worked on spacesuit maintenance and ongoing cargo activities. Flight Engineers Andreas Mogensen and Satoshi Furukawa concentrated their research activities on space biology to learn how weightlessness affects …

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    ISS Daily Summary Report – 9/07/2023

    Payloads: Astrobee: The JEM was prepared for Astrobee flyer remote operations. Astrobee is made up of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots. These robots are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the space station. …

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