International Space Station

Fly Through the International Space Station in Ultra HD

Fly Through the International Space Station in Ultra HD

NASA has released this gloriously shot Ultra HD fly-through of the International Space Station, seen through the view of a fisheye lens. Reminiscent of scenes from science fiction, but very much a part of the here and now, the latest ISS video is haunting in a certain way, which is seasonally appropriate at least. It […]

Russia Plans to Test Nuclear Power Generation at ISS

Russia Plans to Test Nuclear Power Generation at ISS

The Russian newspaper TASS has an intriguing, but agonizingly scant on details article about plans to use the International Space Station to a test elements of a “megawatt class” nuclear propulsion system. “Specifically, Roscosmos expects to receive “proposals on the rational structure of key elements, systems and items of a perspective nuclear propulsion unit intended […]

A Potential Russian Reduction in ISS Could Imperil U.S. Commercial Progress

A Potential Russian Reduction in ISS Could Imperil U.S. Commercial Progress

Today, two NASA astronauts on the International Space Station installed the International Docking Adapter which was carried to orbit in the trunk of the SpaceX CRS-9 Dragon capsule. With the first of two IDA’s now in place, the Station will be ready to receive U.S. Commercial Crew missions, which could begin with a test flight […]

ISS and the Future of Commercial Operations in Low Earth Orbit

ISS and the Future of Commercial Operations in Low Earth Orbit

NASA recently released a new video timed to coincide with the premier of Star Trek: Beyond. For dedicated fans of TOS, the title, “On the Edge of Forever” is a bit perplexing given the fact that it is about the Space Station, not a “City on the Edge of Forever,” and Joan Collins is nowhere […]

SpaceX Carrying A Doorway to the Future in Dragon’s Trunk

SpaceX Carrying A Doorway to the Future in Dragon’s Trunk

After completing a successful static test fire on Saturday morning, SpaceX is ready to begin the countdown in earnest to Sunday evening’s planned launch of its Dragon spacecraft on the CRS-9 mission. And while the robust little spaceship will be loaded with nearly 5,000 lbs of research and support equipment for the orbiting outpost, none […]

Bigelow’s BEAM Successfully Expands, Pressurizes at ISS

Bigelow’s BEAM Successfully Expands, Pressurizes at ISS

After a slow start brought about by a combination of extreme caution on NASA’s part, Bigelow Aerospace’s BEAM was successfully expanded to its full dimensions on Saturday. From NASA.gov: “Pressurization of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) began at 4:34 p.m. EDT, and the eight tanks filled with air completed full pressurization of the module […]

CRS-8 Dragon Makes Safe Return

CRS-8 Dragon Makes Safe Return

    NASA Press Release: May 11, 2016 RELEASE 16-052 Critical NASA Science Returns to Earth aboard SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 11, about 261 miles southwest of Long Beach, California, with more than 3,700 pounds of NASA cargo, science […]

Bigelow’s BEAM Installed on ISS

Bigelow’s BEAM Installed on ISS

From NASA.gov: Following extraction from Dragon, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) was installed to the International Space Station at 5:36 a.m. EDT. At the time of installation, the space station was flying over the Southern Pacific Ocean. It will remain attached to station for two-year test period. NASA is investigating concepts for habitats that […]

Bigelow Aerospace & ULA Propose a Major Expansion of the International Space Station

Bigelow Aerospace & ULA Propose a Major Expansion of the International Space Station

On Sunday, the SpaceX CRS-8 Dragon spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station, carrying in its “trunk” the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module or BEAM. Based on a press conference held today at the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs however, BEAM may be only the beginning of Bigelow’s presence at ISS, and the future may […]

A BEAMing Opportunity: Next SpaceX Flight Offers Promise of an “Expanding” Future in Space

A BEAMing Opportunity: Next SpaceX Flight Offers Promise of an “Expanding” Future in Space

  Next Friday, April 8th, SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. As the company’s first commercial cargo flight to ISS since disaster struck the CRS-7 mission on June 28th, 2015, it was already due to attract a great deal of attention. But given what will be riding to […]

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