Blogs

Payloads Biological Experiment Laboratory (BioLab): The crew performed health checks of the BioLab Glovebox seals and gloves including sensors for the fan status, delta pressure, temperature and relative humidity. The BioLab is a multiuser research facility located in the Columbus laboratory. It is used to perform space biology experiments on microorganisms, cells, tissue cultures, small …

Advanced space physics and biotechnology research kicked off the week for the Expedition 63 trio aboard the International Space Station. Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA started Monday operating a variety of science experiments that observe different microgravity phenomena. He continued researching water droplets in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module to promote water conservation and improve …

Payloads Droplet Formation Study (DFS):  The crew performed the setup and initiation of recording for additional runs of the DFS investigation.  Data will be archived by an alternate method which will actually result in a quicker delivery time to the experiment team.  Droplet Formation Studies in Microgravity (Droplet Formation Study, or more simply DFS) evaluates …

The dark spot across the north pole of the Sun – as captured in this image on July 31, 2020, from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO – is an area of relatively cooler material in the solar atmosphere, known as a coronal hole. Coronal holes are regions on the Sun where the magnetic field …

By Emily Clay The Perseid meteor shower is here! With Comet NEOWISE making its way out of the solar system, it is time for a celestial show caused by a different comet. Perseid meteors, caused by debris left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle, began streaking across the skies in late July and will peak in …

Every detail that goes into space exploration matters. While habitat design or making sure a rocket is powerful enough to launch supplies are obviously important, what may be less apparent are the smaller things, including the solvents used in manufacturing materials for spaceflight. On Aug. 6, a 22-second hot fire test in the East Test …

Payloads Handhold Experiment Platform (HXP2): The crew retrieved and packaged ten Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM2) samples for return to the ground.  The ExHAM samples were recently brought inside ISS through the JEM airlock and were exposed the external ISS environment to test various technologies.  Some the experiment samples include carbon composite, radiator material, …

Advanced space science, cargo transfers and orbital maintenance kept the three Expedition 63 crew members occupied Thursday aboard the International Space Station. Commander Chris Cassidy spent a good portion of his day working inside JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Kibo laboratory module. The experienced shuttle and station astronaut retrieved the Handhold Experiment Platform-2 (HXP-2), packed …

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket core stage for the Artemis I lunar mission has successfully completed its first four Green Run tests and is building on those tests for the next phase of checkout as engineers require more capability of the hardware before hot-firing the stage and its four powerful engines. On Aug. 5, engineers at NASA’s Stennis Space …

Payloads Droplet Formation Study (DFS):  The crew performed the setup and initiation of recording for additional runs of the DFS investigation.  Data will be archived by an alternate method which will actually result in a quicker delivery time to the experiment team.  Droplet Formation Studies in Microgravity (Droplet Formation Study, or more simply DFS) evaluates …