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    Teams Prepare for ICON Launch Tonight

    The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will launch tonight on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from the company's Stargazer L-1011 aircraft. The Stargazer will take off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8:33 p.m. EDT. The first launch attempt for ICON is 9:30 p.m. EDT. Follow live coverage here on the blog as well …

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    Space Biology, Human Research Day Before Spacewalk

    Two astronauts will suit up Friday morning for the second spacewalk in a series of five this month to upgrade International Space Station power systems. In the meantime, the duo and the rest of the Expedition 61 crew are staying on top of ongoing microgravity research today aboard the orbiting lab.  NASA Flight Engineers Andrew …

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    “Another Planet:” Exploring Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai

    Collecting a side-scan sonar transect of the crater lake. The Lowrance is in the foreground, with Cam and Grace towing it in another inflatable raft. The crater wall is also in the background. Credit: SEA

    By Grace Callahan /HUNGA TONGA-HUNGA HA'APAI, KINGDOM OF TONGA/ Hello from the newest land mass on earth! I'm Grace, and today was my first day on Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai. (I spent yesterday on the ship, helping to ensure that our anchor wouldn't slip and allow us to be blown out to sea.) After breakfast …

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    ICON Launch Moved Back 24 Hours

    Due to weather in the area, NASA and Northrop Grumman have decided to move the Pegasus XL and ICON launch 24-hours to October 10 at 9:30 p.m., with takeoff of the Stargazer L-1011 at 8:32 p.m. NASA's live broadcast will begin tomorrow at 9:15 p.m. on www.nasa.gov/live. The teams are not working any issues. The …

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    Crew Relaxes Day Before Spacewalk Preps and Cancer, DNA Research

    Four of the six Expedition 61 crewmembers are relaxing today before ramping up final preparations for Friday’s spacewalk. The two cosmonauts maintained their normal schedule of Russian science and maintenance activities. NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Christina Koch have cleared their schedule for a well-deserved rest day and are taking it easy aboard the International …

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    Early Reports from HTHH, Tonga

    Students with the Sea Education Association's SSV Robert C. Seamans after landing on beach of HTHH. Credit: SEA

    by Frank Wenninger and Michael Tirone /HUNGA TONGA-HUNGA HA'APAI, KINGDOM OF TONGA/ As we labored down into the zodiac with our gear and rations, the ocean splashed violently around us. Those with hats cowered under the power of the southeasterly winds, and those in the front surrendered to the incessant spraying of the ocean. The …

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    Pegasus, ICON Satellite Set to Launch Tomorrow

    NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite is set to launch from a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket – carried by the company's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft – on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from the Skid Strip runway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Once Stargazer is airborne and has reached the right altitude and location, …

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    ISS Daily Summary Report – 10/08/2019

    P6 Battery Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #2 (USOS EVA#57) Preparations: Today, the ISS crew was involved with several different preparation activities for the upcoming EVA on Friday, October 11.  The crew completed the EVA tool configuration activity.  In addition, the crew completed recharging the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) feedwater tanks with iodinated water from a Contingency …

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    Crew Fills Tuesday With Spacewalk Preps, Science and Cargo Ops

    Tuesday was packed with more spacewalk preparations along with ongoing microgravity research aboard the International Space Station. The six-member Expedition 61 crew also conducted emergency response training and cargo transfers from a Japanese cargo craft. NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Christina Koch are going out on their second spacewalk together Friday at 7:50 a.m. EDT. …

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    Sailing to Mars via Earth’s Newest Landmass

    Intrepid students and SEA assistant scientists deploy the pack rafts and side-scan sonar in the crater lake at HTHH.

    by Kerry Whittaker, Chief Scientist aboard the SSV Robert C. Seamans / KINGDOM OF TONGA / On September 27th the SSV Robert C. Seamans departed Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa, bound for Earth's newest landmass, located in the Kingdom of Tonga. The ship is a Sea Education Association student sailing and oceanographic vessel with 40 …

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