Human Space Exploration Update (July 10-28, 2017) SAC Markup: Proposed budget gives KSC a boost toward Mars The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $19.5 billion in spending for NASA in 2018, a measure that includes $640 million in upgrades to launch facilities at the Kennedy Space Center involved in launches of the Space Launch System and… [Continue Reading]
Human Space Exploration Update (June 26 – July 7, 2017) Visits NASA KSC: Pence: ‘We will put American boots on the face of Mars’ Vice President Mike Pence’s pledge to put American boots on Mars as part of a new era of space exploration fired up workers during a visit to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. “Here from this bridge to space, our nation will… [Continue Reading]
Health Care Benefits: 5 health care developments that were born in space Among the dividends from U.S. human space exploration are advances in health care, including robotic surgery and countermeasures for asthma and osteoporosis. Asteroid Mission: NASA closing out Asteroid Redirect Mission NASA is closing out the once planned Asteroid Redirect Mission in compliance with… [Continue Reading]
Antares Resupply Missions: Antares to resume Cygnus launches later this summer Orbital ATK has announced it plans to resume use of the company’s Antares launch vehicle as well as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Island, Va., launch complex for future re-supply missions to the International Space Station. Citizens for Space Exploration – a… [Continue Reading]
Orion Launch Abort System Test: Orbital ATK motor test proves successful Orbital ATK led a successful ground test firing of the Launch Abort System under development for NASA’s Orion crew exploration spacecraft in the Utah desert. The abort system is designed to sit atop Orion during the launch phase and be capable of rapidly pulling… [Continue Reading]
Bread Crumbs in Space: ‘Bake in Space’: Experiment to test baking crumb-free bread on Space Station Bake in Space is an experiment scheduled to launch to the International Space Station next year to determine whether there is a crumb free bread suitable for a space menu. German researchers are attempting to solve a problem with… [Continue Reading]
New Astronauts: NASA introduces 12 new astronauts Vice President Mike Pence joined Robert Lightfoot, NASA’s acting administrator, in Houston on Wednesday to introduce a new class of U.S. astronaut recruits. “I can’t tell you how privileged and honored I feel today to be able to congratulate the newest class of American heroes, the 2017 class… [Continue Reading]
Dragon Mission to ISS: SpaceX launches its first refurbished Dragon cargo ship to the Space Station SpaceX’s 11th NASA contracted Dragon cargo capsule lifted off for the International Space Station on Saturday with nearly 6,000 pounds of crew supplies and scientific experiments. (See also: S.S. John Glenn freighter departs Space Station after successful cargo delivery Starliner… [Continue Reading]
Orion/SLS Ride for Cube Sats: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/three-diy-cubesats-score-rides-on-nasa-s-first-flight-of-orion-space-launch-system SLS Test Fire: Powerful NASA SLS rocket engine test-fired in Mississippi | video Watch the 500 second test firing of an RS-25 rocket engine. One of four assigned to the first stage of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, the engine is a crucial component of the heavy lift rocket… [Continue Reading]
Crew Adds Capabilities: Additional astronaut on the Space Station means dozens of new team members on the ground NASA’s recent announcement of an additional crew member to the International Space Station, which will effectively double the amount of science data acquired from the orbiting laboratory, means a lot of changes. Many of them are on… [Continue Reading]