On Feb. 6, NASA’s NEO Surveyor (Near-Earth Object Surveyor) passed its critical design review, or CDR, at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the project is managed. Capping three days of presentations, a NASA Standing Review Board determined that the mission meets all technical performance measures and requirements. The project will now …
Biotechnology kicked off the work week aboard the International Space Station as the Expedition 72 crew members explored ways to counter the effects of microgravity and produce vitamins and nutrients during long-term space missions.
After a successful Trans Lunar Injection burn on Saturday, Feb. 8, Firefly’s spacecraft carrying NASA science and tech to the Moon has departed Earth’s orbit and begun its four-day transit to the Moon’s orbit. Blue Ghost will then spend approximately 16 days in lunar orbit before beginning its descent operations. Since launching more than three …
While still an extremely low possibility, additional observations and analysis of asteroid 2024 YR4 indicate that its impact probability with Earth has increased to a 2.3% chance on Dec. 22, 2032. Ongoing observations from ground-based telescopes involved with the International Asteroid Warning Network will continue while the asteroid is still visible through April, after which …
The Expedition 72 crew wrapped up the work week with housekeeping duties and relaxation following several days of spacewalk cleanup activities and advanced research aboard the International Space Station. Station Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore, both NASA astronauts, were off duty on Friday after stowing spacewalk tools and deconfiguring spacesuits earlier in …
The Expedition 72 crew focused on space biology, physics research, and cargo operations throughout the International Space Station on Thursday. The orbital residents also performed maintenance and documentation activities ensuring the microgravity research laboratory remains in tip-top shape. NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit took turns during their shifts examining and videotaping the …
Space navigation and plasma crystals were the main research topics aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 72 crew also reorganized cargo and continued cleaning up after last week’s spacewalk. Accurate navigation is critical as crew spacecraft are being readied to travel farther away from Earth-orbiting satellite systems and toward the Moon. NASA …
Following a data outage in November 2024, some data from NASA’s SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) and full data from NASA’s IRIS (Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph) has been successfully restored. This marks a significant step in resuming the flow of critical solar observations informing scientists and the space weather community. Repairs are ongoing at the Joint …
Free-flying robotics and science maintenance topped the work schedule aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The Expedition 72 crew also analyzed station air and water quality and set up a student-controlled camera for Earth observations. NASA engineers are using the weightless environment of the orbital lab to study how robots might capture objects in …
The Expedition 72 crew kicked off the first week in February cleaning up after last week’s spacewalk and continuing its space agriculture and microgravity physics experiments. Other International Space Station science objectives planned on Monday included human research while the orbital residents kept up the maintenance of the orbital outpost. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and …
