Archivo de la etiqueta: iss

NASA, SpaceX Set Target Date for Crew-11’s Return to Earth

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 14, for the undocking of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International Space Station, pending weather conditions. 

On Jan. 8, NASA announced its decision to return the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission to Earth from the space station earlier than originally planned as teams monitor a medical concern with a crew member currently living and working aboard the orbital laboratory, who is stable. Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member. 

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov will splash down off the coast of California at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Mission managers continue monitoring conditions in the recovery area, as undocking of the SpaceX Dragon depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather, sea states, and other factors. NASA and SpaceX will select a specific splashdown time and location closer to the Crew-11 spacecraft undocking. 

NASA’s coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to changed based on real-time operations): 

Wednesday, Jan. 14 

3 p.m. – Hatch closure coverage begins

3:30 p.m. – Hatch closing 

4:45 p.m. – Undocking coverage begins

5 p.m. – Undocking 

Thursday, Jan. 15 

2:15 a.m. – Return coverage begins

2:50 a.m. – Deorbit burn 

3:40 a.m. – Splashdown 

5:45 a.m. – Return to Earth media news conference

NASA will set share more details about its coverage plans in the coming days.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

Expedition 74 Preps for Crew Departure, Keeps Up Advanced Research

Four Expedition 74 crew members are preparing for their return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Amid departure preparations, the International Space Station residents also conducted spacesuit maintenance, space biology research, and an artificial intelligence study.

Mission managers have decided to move up the return date for the four SpaceX Crew-11 members living and working aboard the orbital outpost. No departure date has been announced, though the crew has begun checking the fit and operability of their Dragon pressure suits. Fit verification is necessary because the spine lengthens and body fluids shift toward the head in microgravity, affecting torso and limb dimensions. The quartet also tested the suits’ audio and video communication systems.

Dragon Commander Zena Cardman will lead Pilot Mike Fincke, both NASA astronauts, and Mission Specialists Kimiya Yui of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos back to Earth inside Dragon. The foursome began collecting their personal items and packing them for stowage aboard the spacecraft.

Cardman also worked on a pair of spacesuits inside the Quest airlock on Friday. She cleaned and flushed the suits’ internal water-cooling loops that regulate a spacewalker’s body temperature. Afterward, she powered down and inspected the suits, then uninstalled suit hardware, components, and batteries.

Yui wrapped up his shift by swapping sample cassettes holding protein crystal samples inside the Advanced Sample Experiment Processor-4 in support of the Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory experiments. NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams photographed Yui during the scientific operations. This research promotes the development and manufacturing of medicines in space, as the lack of gravity enables more pristine results.

Platonov explored vascular health while wearing chest electrodes and blood pressure cuffs on his arms, wrists, and fingers for the Endothelium human research experiment. He studied how the inner lining of blood vessels works to keep blood flowing smoothly, regulate pressure, and prevent clots in crew members. Doctors are monitoring how weightlessness and space radiation affect a cosmonaut’s arteries, blood pressure, and heart during spaceflight.

Roscosmos Flight Engineers Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev continued testing artificial intelligence as a way to transcribe audio files, document daily crew activities, and improve operations aboard spacecraft. Earlier, the duo videotaped Platonov’s blood study activities, inventoried hardware in the Rassvet and Nauka modules, and packed trash and obsolete gear inside the Progress 93 cargo craft.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

NASA Shares Latest Update on International Space Station Operations

NASA announced on Thursday its decision to return the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission to Earth from the International Space Station earlier than originally planned as teams monitor a medical concern with a crew member currently living and working aboard the orbital laboratory. As NASA reviews Crew-11 return dates, the agency also is working with SpaceX, and its international partners, to review the options available to advance launch opportunities for the Crew-12 mission. The agency anticipates a decision on a target Crew-11 return date in the coming days.

For the full details discussed, watch a replay of the news conference from the agency’s headquarters in Washington. The participants in the news conference included:

• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
• Amit Kshatriya, associate administrator
• Dr. James Polk, chief health and medical officer, NASA Headquarters

NASA will provide additional details later.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia

NASA to Provide Space Station Update at 5 p.m. EST

NASA will host a live news conference at 5 p.m. EST on Thursday from the agency’s headquarters in Washington to discuss the International Space Station and its crew.

On Jan. 7, the agency announced it was postponing a planned spacewalk originally scheduled for Jan. 8 while teams monitored a medical concern with a crew member currently living and working aboard the orbital laboratory.

The matter involved a single crew member, who is stable. Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member.

Participants in the news conference include:

• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
• Amit Kshatriya, associate administrator
• Dr. James Polk, chief health and medical officer, NASA Headquarters

NASA will provide live coverage of the news conference on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.

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Jason Costa

International Space Station Update

As an update to our earlier communication regarding a medical situation aboard the International Space Station, the matter involved a single crew member who is stable. Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission. These are the situations NASA and our partners train for and prepare to execute safely. We will provide further updates within the next 24 hours.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark A. Garcia