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Medical Situation on the ISS
4 months ago
- A medical situation involving a single crew member aboard the International Space Station is stable.
- NASA is evaluating all options, including an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission.
- Safety is the highest priority, and NASA is prepared for such situations.
- Further updates will be provided within the next 24 hours.
- Follow the space station blog and social media for more updates.
Supernova Remnant Video from NASA's Chandra Is Decades in Making
4 months ago
- A new video shows the evolution of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using Chandra X-ray Observatory data from 2000 to 2025.
- Kepler’s Supernova Remnant, first observed in 1604, resulted from a Type Ia supernova caused by a white dwarf exceeding critical mass.
- The remnant is located 17,000 light-years from Earth and glows in X-ray light due to heated debris.
- The video reveals expansion speeds: 13.8 million mph (2% light speed) at the bottom and 4 million mph (0.5% light speed) at the top.
- Speed differences are due to varying gas densities in the surrounding environment.
- Researchers studied the blast wave’s width and speed to understand the explosion and its surroundings.
- The findings were presented at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
- Supernova remnants provide insights into cosmic history and the formation of new stars and planets.
- Chandra’s longevity enabled the longest-spanning timelapse video of a supernova remnant to date.
NASA considers whether to bring sick crew member back to Earth
4 months ago
- Nasa is considering an early return of some crew from the ISS due to a medical issue involving one member.
- The unnamed crew member is stable, but the situation led to the cancellation of a spacewalk.
- Mission managers are evaluating whether to bring the entire Crew 11 team back a month early.
- Nasa emphasizes that safely conducting missions is their highest priority.
- The ISS has basic medical equipment and communication systems for remote consultations with doctors on Earth.
- If Crew 11 returns early, the remaining crew would focus on essential tasks, delaying some experiments.
- The Crew-11 team includes astronauts from Nasa, JAXA, and a Russian cosmonaut.
- Early return would mean all four Crew-11 members come back together to avoid leaving anyone behind.
A 'medical situation' is forcing NASA to end mission at ISS a month early
4 months ago
- NASA is ending the Crew-11 mission at the International Space Station (ISS) early due to a crew member's 'serious medical condition'.
- The affected crew member's identity and ailment remain undisclosed for privacy reasons.
- This marks the first time in NASA's 65-year history of human spaceflight that a mission is cut short due to health concerns.
- The decision to return all four crew members was made with input from NASA leadership and flight surgeons, prioritizing safety.
- The early departure will leave only three crew members on the ISS, impacting operations and postponing scientific research.
- Astronauts receive extensive medical training and have specialized equipment to handle emergencies in space, though such incidents are rare.
NASA orders "controlled medical evacuation" from the International Space Station
4 months ago
- NASA is bringing home four of the seven ISS crew members due to a medical situation involving one astronaut.
- The affected astronaut is part of the Crew-11 mission, which launched on August 1 and was originally set to return in February.
- The crew will return early aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, with a splashdown off the California coast.
- NASA has not disclosed details about the medical issue, citing privacy concerns.
- The Crew-11 mission includes commander Zena Cardman, pilot Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
- NASA emphasizes astronaut health and safety as its top priority, with over 25 years of continuous human presence on the ISS.
Final Steps Underway for NASA's First Crewed Artemis Moon Mission
4 months ago
- NASA is preparing for the Artemis II test flight, with rollout of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.
- Rollout is targeted for no earlier than January 17, taking up to 12 hours on the crawler-transporter-2.
- Engineers are troubleshooting issues, including a bent flight termination system cable and a problematic valve in Orion’s hatch pressurization system.
- After rollout, NASA will conduct extensive launch pad preparations, including connecting ground support equipment and powering up systems.
- A wet dress rehearsal is scheduled for late January to test fueling the rocket and conducting a launch countdown.
- Artemis II astronauts will conduct a final walkdown at the pad before launch.
- NASA will assess flight readiness after the wet dress rehearsal before committing to a launch date.
- Launch periods are determined by orbital mechanics, ensuring optimal conditions for the mission.
- Primary launch constraints include high Earth orbit alignment, trans-lunar injection burn timing, and solar power availability.
- Artemis II is a critical step toward NASA’s goal of returning humans to the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
NASA topples towers used to test Saturn rockets, space shuttle
4 months ago
- Two historic NASA test facilities, the Propulsion and Structural Test Facility and the Dynamic Test Facility, were demolished.
- The Propulsion and Structural Test Facility, built in 1957, played a key role in developing the Saturn V rocket and space shuttle components.
- The Dynamic Test Facility, established in 1964, also contributed to NASA's space exploration efforts.
- Both facilities were located at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama and were demolished due to disuse and high repair costs.
- The demolition is part of NASA's effort to modernize and streamline operations.
- The Propulsion and Structural Test Facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and designated a National Landmark in 1985.
NASA to Develop Lunar Reactor by 2030
4 months ago
- NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) renewed their partnership to develop a fission surface power system for the Moon and Mars.
- A memorandum of understanding was signed to advance the deployment of nuclear reactors on the Moon by 2030, supporting President Trump’s space policy.
- The collaboration aims to produce safe, efficient, and continuous power for sustained lunar missions, independent of sunlight or temperature.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of nuclear power for future space exploration and the Golden Age of discovery.
- U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright highlighted the historical significance of American innovation in achieving new frontiers in space and nuclear energy.
- The joint effort builds on over 50 years of collaboration between NASA and DOE in space exploration and national security.
Folding NASA Experience into an Origamist's Toolkit
4 months ago
- Robert Lang transitioned from a 20-year engineering career, including at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to pursue origami full-time.
- Lang applied mathematical principles from laser and optoelectronics design to develop computational origami techniques.
- He created TreeMaker, the first open-source software for designing complex origami figures, leading to a renaissance in the art form.
- Lang's work includes both representational art (e.g., insects) and abstract geometric designs, often driven by solving mathematical folding problems.
- His engineering background has led to collaborations on projects like foldable space telescopes and the Starshade concept for NASA.
- Lang's portfolio spans small paper sculptures to large-scale metal and polymer installations, often created with other artists.
First commercial space station, Haven-1, is now undergoing assembly for launch
3 months ago
- NASA's plan to replace the International Space Station (ISS) with commercial stations is facing a time crunch, with the ISS due for decommissioning in less than five years.
- Four main contenders are vying for NASA's commercial space station program: Voyager Technologies, Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Vast Space.
- Vast Space is developing Haven-1, an interim space station for short-duration stays, with plans for continuous habitation in the future.
- The launch of Haven-1 has been delayed from mid-2026 to the first quarter of 2027 to ensure safety and readiness.
- Vast Space aims to build the world's first commercial space station from scratch in under four years.
Asteroids the size of 22 penguins to pass Earth this weekend
3 months ago
- Two small asteroids, 2023 AT and 2023 AE1, will pass Earth this weekend.
- Both asteroids are 10-22 meters in diameter, comparable to 10-22 emperor penguins stacked nose to toes.
- Asteroid 2023 AT is faster at 26,028 km/h, while 2023 AE1 moves at 19,944 km/h.
- Neither asteroid poses a threat; they will pass safely by Earth without causing damage.
- Asteroid impacts of this size would burn up in the atmosphere, leaving no fragments.
- NASA confirms no catastrophic asteroid impacts are expected in the next century.
- Planetary defense efforts, like NASA's DART Mission, aim to deflect asteroids using kinetic impact techniques.
- China plans to test its own asteroid deflection mission in 2025.
NASA plane makes belly landing at Ellington Airport
3 months ago
- NASA research aircraft made a gear-up landing at Ellington Airport due to a mechanical issue.
- The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Runway 17R–35L at Ellington Airport.
- Video footage shows the aircraft sliding along the runway before stopping, with emergency crews responding.
- All crew members are confirmed safe; no details about the mechanical issue have been released.
- The aircraft involved is a NASA WB-57 high-altitude research plane, capable of flying above 63,000 feet.
- The WB-57 can fly for 6.5 hours, travel up to 2,500 nautical miles, and carry 8,800 pounds of payload.
- NASA will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and provide updates.
NASA's WB-57 crash lands at Houston
3 months ago
- NASA's WB-57 aircraft made an emergency landing at Ellington Field without landing gear.
- The crew was unharmed, and NASA will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
- The WB-57 aircraft has a history dating back to 1944, originally developed by the English Electric Company.
- The aircraft was used in military missions, including bombing in Vietnam, before being repurposed for scientific research.
- The WB-57 variant features longer wings, enabling flights up to 62,000 feet for atmospheric sampling and weather reconnaissance.
NASA delays Artemis moonshot with astronauts due to extreme cold in Florida
3 months ago
- NASA delays the first Artemis moonshot with astronauts due to near-freezing temperatures at the launch site.
- The launch is now targeted for no earlier than February 8, two days later than originally planned.
- A critical fueling test was postponed and is now set for Monday, weather permitting.
- NASA has only a few days in February to launch before slipping into March.
- Heaters are being used to keep the Orion capsule warm, and rocket-purging systems are being adapted to the cold.
- Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew remain in quarantine in Houston, with their arrival at Kennedy Space Center uncertain.
- NASA has limited launch windows each month for its first lunar crew mission in over 50 years.
- Complicating matters is the need to launch a fresh crew to the International Space Station as soon as possible.
- The moonshot will take priority if it can launch by February 11, the last possible launch date for the month.
- If the moonshot proceeds, the next station crew will have to wait until the Artemis astronauts return to Earth.
NASA Enables Construction Technology for Moon and Mars Exploration
3 months ago
- NASA is developing in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies for sustainable human presence on the Moon and Mars.
- The Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) project explores large-scale robotic 3D printing for extraterrestrial construction.
- Regolith (lunar and Martian surface material) is used as a primary building material, reducing the need to transport materials from Earth.
- Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis developed Contour Crafting, a 3D printing technique for building monolithic structures like radiation shielding and landing pads.
- Khoshnevis also created selective separation sintering, an energy-efficient 3D printing method for precise hardware production in space.
- ICON, a NASA partner, uses 3D printing for Earth-based housing and is developing the Olympus system for lunar and Martian construction.
- ICON's Laser Vitreous Multi-material Transformation technique melts regolith to form durable ceramic-like structures.
- NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge led to the creation of Mars Dune Alpha, a simulated Martian habitat prototype.
- ICON's Duneflow experiment tested lunar regolith behavior in simulated lunar gravity aboard a Blue Origin rocket.
NASA hit by fuel leaks during a practice countdown of the moon rocket
3 months ago
- NASA encountered fuel leaks during a practice countdown for its new moon rocket.
- The leaks occurred during the fueling operation at Kennedy Space Center, reminiscent of issues from three years ago.
- Launch controllers loaded the rocket with super-cold hydrogen and oxygen, but excessive hydrogen buildup caused delays.
- The four astronauts assigned to the mission monitored the rehearsal from Houston, having been in quarantine for over a week.
- The mission's launch window is tight, with the earliest possible launch date being Sunday, and a deadline of Feb. 11.
- The Artemis program aims for a sustained lunar presence, with this mission testing systems for future moon landings.
NASA delays moon rocket launch by a month after fuel leaks during test
3 months ago
- NASA postponed the Artemis II mission to March due to technical issues during a test.
- Problems included a hydrogen leak from the Space Launch System (SLS) and a valve issue with the Orion capsule.
- The crew, including the first woman and first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit, had been in quarantine.
- Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to orbit the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
- The mission is a precursor to Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole.
- Reid Wiseman will command Artemis II, and Jeremy Hansen will be the first non-US astronaut beyond low Earth orbit if successful.
- The delay means the crew will re-enter quarantine before the next launch window.
NASA's Juno Mission redefines the size and shape of Jupiter
3 months ago
- NASA’s Juno mission reveals Jupiter is slightly smaller and more 'squashed' than previously thought.
- Jupiter is about 5 miles narrower at the equator and 15 miles flatter at the poles, based on radio occultation data from 13 flybys.
- Radio occultation helps scientists analyze Jupiter’s atmosphere by measuring signal changes caused by bending in the ionosphere.
- Previous Jupiter dimensions were based on 1970s Pioneer and Voyager mission data.
- Accurate Jupiter measurements aid in modeling giant exoplanets in distant star systems.
- Findings were published in the Feb. 2, 2026, issue of Nature Astronomy.
- Juno mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
A NASA Engineer Discovered a World of Semi Truck Aerodynamics by Accident
3 months ago
- Edwin J. Saltzman, a NASA engineer, was inspired by the aerodynamic effects of semi trucks on his bicycle ride to work in 1973.
- Saltzman and his team modified a Ford van to study and reduce aerodynamic drag, starting with flat aluminum sheets and gradually rounding edges and sealing the underside.
- Modifications led to a 52% drag reduction from rounding front edges and an additional 7% from sealing the underside, improving fuel economy by 15-25% at highway speeds.
- Similar modifications on a semi truck reduced drag by over 50%, with further improvements from underbody fairings and a boat tail.
- NASA's research influenced modern truck design, leading to common features like aerodynamic fairings, rounded corners, and vortex generators.
- The project highlights NASA's broader impact beyond space exploration, applying aerospace engineering to improve ground vehicle efficiency.
Even the Mars Rover Uses Zip Ties (2021)
2 months ago
- NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars after 10 years of development and a 7-month journey.
- The rover uses high-performance Ty-Rap zip ties made of Tefzel ETFE resins to secure wires and equipment.
- Ty-Rap ties are durable, radiation-resistant, and can withstand extreme temperatures, making them ideal for space missions.
- These ties have been used in previous NASA missions, including the Curiosity, Spirit, and Opportunity rovers.
- ABB, the manufacturer, has supplied NASA with these ties since 1973.
- The aquamarine-colored ties on Perseverance can handle 2,000 times more radiation than nylon.
- Ty-Rap ties are available commercially, with a pack of 100 costing less than $30 at Home Depot.

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#nasa

Medical Situation on the ISS

Supernova Remnant Video from NASA's Chandra Is Decades in Making

NASA considers whether to bring sick crew member back to Earth

A 'medical situation' is forcing NASA to end mission at ISS a month early

NASA orders "controlled medical evacuation" from the International Space Station

Final Steps Underway for NASA's First Crewed Artemis Moon Mission

NASA topples towers used to test Saturn rockets, space shuttle

NASA to Develop Lunar Reactor by 2030

Folding NASA Experience into an Origamist's Toolkit

First commercial space station, Haven-1, is now undergoing assembly for launch

Asteroids the size of 22 penguins to pass Earth this weekend

NASA plane makes belly landing at Ellington Airport

NASA's WB-57 crash lands at Houston

NASA delays Artemis moonshot with astronauts due to extreme cold in Florida

NASA Enables Construction Technology for Moon and Mars Exploration

NASA hit by fuel leaks during a practice countdown of the moon rocket

NASA delays moon rocket launch by a month after fuel leaks during test

NASA's Juno Mission redefines the size and shape of Jupiter

A NASA Engineer Discovered a World of Semi Truck Aerodynamics by Accident

Even the Mars Rover Uses Zip Ties (2021)