The National Aeronautics and Space Administration released a statement stating that early Wednesday, an ammonia leak alarm rang at the International Space Station. The alarm caused all six astronauts to look for shelter. The crew aboard ISS put on emergency masks and rushed to the orbiting lab in the Russian side of the station around 4 a.m. (9:00 GMT), closing the door to the US side. News … [Read more...]
ISS 3D Printer Produces First Part in Space
A 3D printer produced its first piece on the International Space Station, a milestone for space exploration. The printer reached the ISS in September on board of a Dragon cargo capsule operated by SpaceX. The 3D printer produced by Made In Space, a California-based start-up, was installed by Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore on Nov. 17 and was soon calibrated. ISS researchers had to test the … [Read more...]
ISS Crew Lands Safely in Kazakhstan
After spending five months on board the ISS, Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, German volcanologist Alexander Gerst and U.S. astronaut Reid Wiseman returned on Earth. The Soyuz capsule landed in Kazakhstan, bringing the crew of three, as well as some fruit flies born in space, safely on ground. The operation involved heavy logistical efforts. Around 300 military personnel located the capsule, … [Read more...]
New Space Crew Reaches the ISS
A mixed American-Russian space crew reached the International Space Station. NASA’s astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova will spend their next six months on the largest research facility orbiting the planet. The trio will return to Earth in March 2015. While for Serova this will be a first, her two other colleagues are at their second space … [Read more...]
3D Printer Arrives at International Space Station
After the 3D printing era has begun on Earth, astronauts are now preparing to bring one of these printers to the International Space Station, so that in the future, they won’t have to crank out spare parts in order to fix their spacecraft. Instead, they will simply print the part they need. Produced by a Northern California company called Made in Space, the 3D printer will be sent to the … [Read more...]
Nasa Chooses Companies to Bring Astronauts Into Space
Boeing and SpaceX will be receiving $6.2 billion from NASA in an ambitious project that aims to finish developing new crew capsules that will bring NASA astronauts back into space. In 2011, space shuttles were retired and since then, Americans have been relying on Russia’s Soyuz vehicles to transport their astronauts to the International Space Station. However, Boeing and SpaceX now claim to … [Read more...]
Care Parcel from Earth to International Space Station Residents
Residents of the International Space Station are set to receive a care parcel from Earth as a commercial cargo ship rocketed towards them yesterday. The rocket lifted off right on time at 12:52 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The 3,000 pound package reportedly contains some science samples, mini-satellites, new odor-resistant gym clothes and of course … [Read more...]
US-Russia space ties remain unaffected amid Ukraine crisis
The deteriorating US-Russian bilateral relationship has failed to affect the improving rapport between the space agencies of both the countries. US space agency NASA and Russia’s Federal Space Agency, or Roscosmos, are pooling their resources and launching new joint projects aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The decision is taken by the both agencies in a bid to make the most of the … [Read more...]
Three International Space Station Crew Returned Safely To Earth in Kazakhstan
A Russian Soyuz TMA-11M space capsule carrying a Japanese astronaut, a veteran Russian cosmonaut and a NASA flight engineer landed on the Earth’s surface, putting an end to their six-month orbital mission. They returned near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on May 14, 2014 after a 188-day stay in space. The capsule carried Expedition 39 NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio , Japanese spaceflyer … [Read more...]
Spacewalking astronauts successfully replace dead computer at ISS
Spacewalking astronauts have successfully replaced a dead computer outside the International Space Station. The American astronauts have also successfully got their orbiting home back up to full strength. The new one tested fine. Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson were rushed for the urgent repair job on the space station. "Excellent work, gentlemen," Mission Control radioed soon after the … [Read more...]