All articles tagged with #space research
A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule autonomously docked with the International Space Station, delivering about 6,500 pounds of research and supplies including microgravity experiments, a wooden bone scaffold, and studies on red blood cells and the spleen, plus instruments to study space weather, planetary formation, and Earth–Moon radiation effects, underscoring SpaceX’s pivotal role in sustaining ISS research.
Eric Lusito’s photo essay takes readers on a journey across former Soviet science institutes—from Ukraine’s radio-astronomy labs to Armenia’s Byurakan Observatory—showing how the USSR projected a utopian scientific future, built large-scale facilities for wartime aims, and how, after the 1991 collapse, many sites faced neglect yet linger on through adaptation, diaspora support, and wartime resilience.
Australian researchers used a clinostat to simulate microgravity and found human, mouse, and pig sperm become disoriented, with about a 40% drop in those reaching a simulated egg; microgravity also affected early embryo development in animals, though healthy embryos could form, and progesterone helped guide sperm. The findings underscore the importance of understanding reproduction in space for future Moon/Mars settlements and ongoing space biology programs, while noting radiation and ethical considerations remain challenges.
Arizona’s Meteor Crater, formed about 50,000 years ago, remains the best-preserved Earth impact site and a living laboratory for studying impact processes. Ongoing fieldwork, lab analyses, and computer studies—supported by Barringer Family Fund grants—continue to produce new data, with researchers like Dan Durda saying the crater provides new insights every year and climate and geological processes can obscure other craters elsewhere.
The article celebrates 25 years of the International Space Station, highlighting its history, construction, scientific achievements, crew, and challenges, emphasizing international cooperation and technological advancements in space exploration.
New research explores the use of menstrual cups for astronauts, offering a sustainable and lightweight alternative to traditional menstrual management methods during long space missions, with successful tests conducted in space-like conditions and plans for further space testing.
The article celebrates 25 years of continuous habitation on the International Space Station, highlighting its role in scientific research, international cooperation, and the unique insights gained through space archaeology, which studies the social and cultural aspects of life in space using photographic and behavioral analysis. It emphasizes the station's significance as a human habitat and its potential to inform future space missions and societal issues on Earth.
Despite the U.S. government shutdown, the Expedition 73 crew aboard the ISS continued their scientific research and maintenance activities, including experiments on microgravity and space debris capture, while capturing Earth views and maintaining station systems.
NASA announced its new astronaut class during a ceremony at Johnson Space Center, with members of Expedition 73 aboard the ISS observing and supporting the event. The crew conducted various scientific experiments, maintained station systems, and engaged in international space collaboration, highlighting ongoing advancements and activities in space exploration.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030 after 25 years of continuous human presence, but will continue space research in low-Earth orbit through developing commercial space stations, with China’s Tiangong station taking over as the longest inhabited station in the meantime.
The Expedition 73 crew aboard the ISS received a large cargo delivery from Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL, which included science equipment and care packages with treats like Reese's and gummy bears, while also conducting various scientific experiments and station maintenance activities.
The Expedition 73 crew on the ISS conducted various experiments including bio-nutrient production with purple kefir, engaged in educational outreach via ham radio, and performed scientific studies on eyesight, bone density, and plant growth, while also managing station logistics and preparing for upcoming cargo arrivals.
Expedition 73 crew aboard the ISS conducted various scientific studies, participated in educational Q&A with students, and tested new reboost technology using a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in space station maintenance and research activities.
SpaceX launched its 33rd cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, carrying supplies, research equipment, and a new thruster kit to help maintain the station's orbit. The mission included scientific experiments, hardware, and food for the crew, and featured a successful rocket landing. The cargo will support ongoing research and station maintenance, marking 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the ISS.
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke marked his 400th day in space aboard the ISS, becoming the ninth American to surpass this milestone, while the Expedition 73 crew conducted various scientific studies and station maintenance activities, including medical research, space environment observations, and equipment servicing.