Archive for the ‘Space News’ Category
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November 3rd, 2023
Image credit: Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic has successfully completed “Galactic 05” – a suborbital flight on November 2 that saw the VSS Unity space plane converted into a suborbital lab for space-based scientific research for the second time.
Astronaut 020 – Dr. Alan Stern, U.S. Planetary Scientist and Associate Vice President in Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) Space Sector
Astronaut 021 – Kellie Gerardi, U.S. Payload Specialist and Bioastronautics Researcher for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS)
Astronaut 022 – Ketty Pucci-Sisti Maisonrouge, Private Astronaut
“The team will now proceed with post-flight analysis, along with planned vehicle inspections, before re-commencing standard pre-flight readiness procedures ahead of our next commercial space mission, “Galactic 06″, scheduled for January next year,” Virgin Galactic stated in a post-flight update.
Image credit: Virgin Galactic
Flight facts
VSS Unity was piloted by Commander Mike Masucci and Pilot Kelly Latimer, with Astronaut Instructor Colin Bennett on board.
Mothership VMS Eve was piloted by Commander Jameel Janjua and Pilot Andy Edgell.
‘Galactic 05’ in-flight facts:
Take-off Time: 11:00 am Eastern Time
Altitude at Release: 44,701 ft
Apogee 54.2 miles: (87.2 kilometers)
Top Speed: Mach 2.96
Landing Time: 11:59 am Eastern Time
Image credit: Virgin Galactic
Experiments
As for experiments flown, Stern flew with two human-tended investigations, including a biomedical harness to collect physiological data related to human spaceflight. He also conducted practice routines and procedures in preparation for a future NASA-funded suborbital research flight.
Gerardi flew with three payloads, two of which evaluated novel healthcare technologies in microgravity conditions through the collection of biometric data. The third payload examined how confined fluid behaves to inform future healthcare technologies in space.
Galactic 05 was Virgin Galactic’s sixth spaceflight carrying microgravity and space-based research and its second in 2023, following ‘Galactic 01,’ a research mission with the Italian Air Force and National Research Council.
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Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter made its flight #64 on October 27, 2023.
According to NASA/JPL’s posting, the craft flew a Horizontal distance: 411 meters (roughly 1,348 feet; gained a Maximum altitude of 12 meters (roughly 39 feet); and carried out its flight in 139.1 seconds.
This technology demonstration craft has now accumulated an overall flight time of roughly 117.6 minutes; Distance flown of 9 miles ( roughly 14,903 kilometers); and has soared to roughly 79 feet (24 meters) in altitude since its first flight back on April 19, 2021.
Imagery posted from the October 27 flight taken by the chopper’s high-resolution color camera, mounted in the helicopter’s fuselage and pointed approximately 22 degrees below the horizon:
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Shenzhou-16 crew landing.
Image credit: CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-16 crew returned safely back to Earth on Tuesday after completing their five-month stay aboard the country’s Tiangong space station.
The Shenzhou-16 return capsule, carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 08:11 (Beijing Time) on Tuesday morning, with the crew all being helped out of the return capsule by 09:10, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Shenzhou-16 crew.
Image credit: CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Later on Tuesday, the three astronauts arrived in Beijing by plane after their safe return to Earth. They will now enter a period of quarantine and will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health evaluations, according to the CMSA.
Space experiments
The Shenzhou-16 crew was launched on May 30 and was the first crewed mission since construction of China’s space station entered its application and development stage following its construction.
The Shenzhou-16 crew, who remained in orbit for 154 days, carried out a total of 70 space experiments, performed a space walk, delivered a live lecture from the space station, and on several occasions assisted with the movement of cargo.
CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
According to Jiang Yue, a senior official from the Chinese Academy of Sciences associated with the space experiments, the experimental samples are mainly body cells, living nematodes and seedlings, and two kinds of alloys, which will provide theoretical guidance and scientific methods for the development and application of cutting-edge fields.
Life science
“This time, the space application system brought back life science experimental samples and materials science experimental samples through the Shenzhou-16 mission,” Jiang told China Central Television (CCTV).
“The life science experimental samples mainly include human liver cells, bone cells and endothelial cells. The animal part includes samples of biological macromolecules and living nematodes. The plant part includes samples of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. There are 22 kinds of samples, with a total weight of about 25 kilograms. We will collect 18.1 kilograms of samples at the landing site, and retrieve the rest after the capsule is transported back to Beijing,” said Jiang.
CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Special transfer device
The sample recovery team also developed a low-temperature insulation equipment, ensuring the samples’ maximum activity during the transportation of around 2,000 kilometers, according to Jiang.
“All biological samples must be transported to the laboratory in Beijing as quickly as possible for processing and solidification. For this process, we have also developed a special transfer device, which can maintain a temperature of minus 20 Celcius degrees for more than 24 hours, ensuring the activity of the samples to the greatest extent,” said Jiang.
Image credit: CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
National space laboratory
Jiang noted that China’s space station cause has entered the application and development stage. At present, the space station has the ability to carry out large-scale scientific experiments.
“Therefore, I believe that in the near future, with the continuous development of new technologies, we will continue to carry out more, better and more valuable scientific experimental projects through manned space missions and cargo spacecraft deliveries. We will make good use of the space station as the national space laboratory to produce more and better scientific experimental results,” Jiang said told CCTV.
New Shenzhou-16 crew onboard with Shenzhou-15 astronauts during handover ceremonies.
Image credit: CCTV/CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The Shenzhou-17 crew is now resident on the space station, assigned a number of tasks to enhance the functionality of the orbital outpost.
The newly-arrived Shenzhou-17 crew members — mission commander Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo, Lieutenant Colonel Tang Shengjie and Lieutenant Colonel Jiang Xinlin – are taking over management of China’s Tiangong space station.
A number of videos are available of the Shenzhou-16 return and recovery operations at:
https://youtu.be/AE3fw6thUhs?si=1Y5LBl4H3G-xKdvN
https://youtu.be/AKhMoIgmywg?si=lDbEh4SwgT4s9sRw
https://youtu.be/Fn9RhKFEqcc?si=1hOVWLB_CByxCaVc
https://youtu.be/LtgqphD_UNE?si=2jje6vETu1Y7Hb8t
Image credit: JAXA
Mars itself is a world of puzzlement, particularly whether or not it’s home for past or even present-day life. But put that aside for the moment. The Red Planet is circled by a couple of oddballs.
The two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, are brainteasers as to how they got there and what they are made of. Nobody knows for sure.
Image credit: DLR
But now an audacious, adventurous undertaking is being readied for launch. Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft mission involves drilling and sampling Phobos, then rocket the collectibles to Earth.
For more information on this creative mission go to – “New Japanese spacecraft aims to explore the mysterious moons of Mars: Those two moons of Mars are celestially eccentric oddities” – at:
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space
The Shenzhou-16 astronauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou-17 crew on Sunday.
Tang Hongbo, the commander of Shenzhou-17 mission, took over the key to the hatch door of the Tiangong space station at the handover ceremony.
Due to return to Earth on October 31 is the Shenzhou-16 crew members Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao (October 30, 8:11 pm Eastern Daylight Time EDT).
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space
The crew-carrying spaceship will parachute into the Dongfeng Landing Site, located in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Search and rescue practice
This will be the fifth mission the landing site has conducted to recover a crewed spacecraft and the crew.
Ground personnel have undergone various search and rescue exercises for the upcoming mission.
Remaining in Earth orbit, the Shenzhou-17 crew, consisting of mission commander Tang and astronauts Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, will stay in orbit for about six months.
A video of the handover ceremony is available at:
Shenzhou-17 liftoff. Image credit: CCTV/CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-16 crew is preparing for touchdown at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia’s Gobi desert in north China.
The trio of taikonauts — Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao – are slated to land there on Tuesday after a five-month stay in space, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 crews now onboard the Tiangong space station. Image credit: CMS/Inside Outer Space screengrab
At the landing site, recovery teams are practicing for the crew return to Earth.
Final drills
According to China Central Television (CCTV) more than 10 search and rescue groups, five helicopters and nearly 100 vehicles with different functions are in final drills.
Equipment used at the ground site has been improved to ensure efficient search for and safe arrival of the Shenzhou-16 crew in a landing zone with complex topography.
The landing site near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was put into practical use in September 2021, when it received the return of three astronauts of the Shenzhou-12 crewed space mission.
Earth orbit is a junkyard of human-made space clutter.
Credit: Space Junk 3D, LLC. Melrae Pictures (used with permission)
Space debris repairs
Meanwhile, newly-arrived Shenzhou-17 crew members — mission commander Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo, Lieutenant Colonel Tang Shengjie and Lieutenant Colonel Jiang Xinlin – are taking over management of China’s Tiangong space station.
Among their duties during a projected six-month orbital journey, Tang’s crew will perform experimental repair operations during spacewalks to help sustain space debris impacts on the orbital complex.
CCTV reports that the solar arrays on the Tiangong have already been slightly damaged by debris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited the Energia rocket and space corporation.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited the Energia rocket and space corporation, receiving a briefing on the Russian Orbital Station, among other work-in-progress space projects.
The October 26th visit by Putin included a meeting with young employees of various space industry enterprises.
The head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov briefed Putin, a visit also involving Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, along with General Designer of RSC Energia Vladimir Solovyov.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Also on the agenda for Putin was inspection of samples of small spacecraft engines, mock-ups of reusable launch vehicles, including the Transport Energy Module, a new inter-orbital tug based on a nuclear power propulsion system.
Russia Orbital Station artwork.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
November design decision
Putin said that the first module of the Russian Orbital Station can be launched into orbit in 2027 as the resources of the International Space Station are exhausted, adding that the decision on Russia’s station must be made quickly.
RSC Energia plans to complete work on adjusting the preliminary design of the Russian Orbital Station by November.
Next-generation Russian spacecraft approaches Russia Orbital station.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Russia’s next-generation spacecraft to replace the Soyuz spacecraft.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Recently, Roscosmos’s Borisov said on Russian state television that the International Space Station “is approaching the finish line of its existence.”
Borisov noted that “we extended the operation of the Russian segment by government decision until 2028, but, unfortunately, it has already exceeded all permissible periods of existence,” he said. “Eighty percent of the Russian equipment is beyond the warranty period.”
Image credit: NASA
It is clear that planet Venus is a cloudy, scientifically cool place, albeit a hellish world.
Work is underway on developing a literal “new entry” in deciphering the origin, evolution, and present state of Venus.
NASA’s Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging mission is mercifully abbreviated to DAVINCI. But that longhand name underscores the constant swirl of on-going questions about Earth’s sister planet.
Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
To learn more about this deep-diving mission into the Venusian clouds, go to my new Multiverse Media SpaceRef story – “DAVINCI’s Big Reveal – NASA’s Deep Dive into Mystifying Venus” – go to:
Artwork depicts Ingenuity Mars helicopter in flight.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter is on tap to make flight #64, with an expected flight date of today, October 27.
According to a NASA/JPL-Caltech posting the expected horizontal flight distance will be 1,339 feet (408.435 meters). The mini-chopper is anticipated to fly 124.5 seconds, rising to a flight altitude of 39 feet (12 meters) above the Martian landscape at Jezero Crater.
The goal of the flight that will be on a heading North is to reposition the aerial device for future survey work.
Meanwhile, color imagery has been posted showing Ingenuity’s last flight, #63 that was carried out on October 19:
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: CCTV/CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-17 crew has successfully linked up with the country’s space station, joining the already resident Shenzhou-16 crewmembers.
The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, rumbled off the launch pad at 11:14 (Beijing time) October 26 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
After entering orbit, the spaceship made an automated rendezvous and docking with China’s space station combination. The whole process took about 6.5 hours, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) reported.
Image credit: CCTV/CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Space get-together
The Shenzhou-17 astronauts — Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin – were greeted aboard the Tiangong space station by the Shenzhou-16 crew who arrived at the orbiting outpost back on May 30.
“The space get-together of the two crews kicked off the third in-orbit crew rotation in China’s space station,” noted China Central Television (CCTV).
China’s Shenzhou-16 crew — Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao – are slated to return to the Dongfeng landing site in the Gobi Desert, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on October 31, according to the CMSA.
Image credit: CMS/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Research in orbit
According to the China Global Television Network (CGTN), a total of 70 experiments in space medicine, life ecology, biotechnology, material science, fluid physics, fluid mechanics and space technology, as well as eight research projects on human factors engineering were carried out. Some testing samples will be brought to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-16 spacecraft.
CGTN also noted that the Shenzhou-16 crew will hold HD cameras and take pictures of the Chinese space station before returning to Earth. They are expected to obtain the first full picture of the space station with Earth as the background for the first time in orbit.
Image credit: China Manned Space Agency
Moon plans
“In the near future, we will continue to enhance our space station. Our plans include sending taikonauts to the Moon and further exploration of the universe, including a closer examination of our solar system,” said Qi Faren, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and first chief designer of the Shenzhou spaceship.
China plans to land its astronauts on the Moon before 2030 to carry out scientific exploration, according to a preliminary plan released CMSA.
The plan is to launch two carrier rockets to send a lunar lander and a piloted spacecraft to a lunar orbit, respectively. The craft and lunar lander will rendezvous and dock with each other, and then astronauts will enter the lander.
Image credit: China Manned Space Agency
The lunar astronauts are to be selected from individuals with prior space flight experience. China is exploring the construction of a lunar scientific research station for systematic and long-term lunar exploration and related technical tests and verification, according to the CMSA.
For video views of the Shenzhou-17 liftoff to link-up, go to:
https://youtu.be/h_w6wLZy1x4?si=PkDd5m_IAU2edEck
