Payloads: Circadian Light: A day assessment of Circadian Light was performed using the EveryWear app on an iPad. The Circadian Light investigation tests a new lighting system, to help astronauts maintain an acceptable circadian rhythm. This can help enhance cognitive performance during a long-duration mission and help combat monotony through automated, varied, and gradually changing …
October Begins with Human Research and Space Physics
The Expedition 70 crew is beginning its first full week together following last week’s departure of the station’s longest-serving crew at 371 days. The seven International Space Station residents kicked off Monday with human research and space physics, as well as spacesuit work and life support maintenance. NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli started her day …
Initial Curation of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Sample
The initial curation process for NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample of asteroid Bennu is moving slower than anticipated, but for the best reason: the sample runneth over. The abundance of material found when the science canister lid was removed earlier this week has meant that the process of disassembling the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head – …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 9/29/2023
Payloads: Cold Atom Lab (CAL): Closeout of the week-long activities to replace science module 3 with science module 3B was initiated and will be completed next week. CAL produces clouds of atoms that are chilled to about one ten billionth of a degree above absolute zero — much colder than the average temperature of deep …
Station Reboost, Spacesuit Work, Maintenance Close Outs for Crew Friday
The Expedition 70 crew members kept busy Friday as they look ahead to an off-duty weekend. The International Space Station is back to seven residents after one NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts departed early Wednesday morning. The seven members spent time today preparing spacesuits for upcoming spacewalks and closing out maintenance procedures they began …
NASA’s Psyche Mission Targeting Oct. 12 for Launch
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting Oct. 12 at 10:16 a.m. EDT for a Falcon Heavy launch of the Psyche mission from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The change allows the NASA team to complete verifications of the parameters used to control the Psyche spacecraft's nitrogen cold gas thrusters. These thrusters are …
ISS Daily Summary Report – 9/28/2023
Payloads: Astrobee: The crew performed steps to replace an Astrobee docking station memory card. Astrobee is made up of 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 …
IMAP Mission Begins Integration and Testing at APL – Watch as the Spacecraft Is Built!
NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) is embarking on its yearlong integration and testing campaign, during which all of the instruments and components will be added to the spacecraft structure, tested to ensure they will survive the harsh environments of launch and space, and made ready to execute its mission.
For the Record: Parker Solar Probe Sets Distance, Speed Marks on 17th Swing by the Sun
NASA's Parker Solar Probe completed its 17th close approach to the Sun on Sept. 27, 2023.