Tag

Space Station

All articles tagged with #space station

space-exploration14 days ago•96 min saved

China plans six-module Tiangong expansion with Xuntian space telescope

China aims to expand its Tiangong space station from three to six modules, adding a 20-ton multifunctional module and two new experiment modules to form a double-T shape, with the bus-sized Xuntian space observatory slated for 2027 to dock with Tiangong. The expansion addresses growing research needs and more frequent crew/cargo missions, while NASA plans to deorbit the ISS around 2030–2031, potentially leaving Tiangong as the largest permanent orbital outpost.

via Space|

#china #iss-deorbit #space-exploration

space1 month ago•14 min saved

ISS standoff: NASA-Roscosmos clash over a saw amid ongoing leak

Five astronauts shelter in the SpaceX Crew Dragon after a leak in the PrK transfer tunnel prompts an evacuation-safe haven order. NASA argued that a planned bracket-cutting to inspect a suspected leak was too aggressive for an active pressure boundary, and Roscosmos paused the work, allowing the crew to return to the ISS while the crack remains unsealed. The leak, ongoing since 2019, has fluctuated and approached about two pounds of air lost per day. The episode highlights ongoing differences in engineering culture and risk tolerance between NASA and Roscosmos as the aging ISS continues operation toward 2030–2031 with shared-module contingencies.

via Space Daily|

#iss #leak #nasa

space1 month ago•2 min saved

ISS Crew Goes on Evacuation Standby as Air Leaks Persist

NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station were ordered to shelter in their SpaceX Crew Dragon and be ready to evacuate after air leaks in the Russian segment doubled to about two pounds per day; Russian cosmonauts worked to diagnose and repair a leak in a service tunnel between the Zvezda module and a docking module, with airtight doors allowing the tunnel to be isolated. Although repairs enabled a return to normal operation, the crew remains at risk of losing breathable air while orbiting Earth.

via Jalopnik|

#air-leaks #evacuation #iss

space1 month ago•6 min saved

ISS Leak Forces Lifeboat Shelter as Russian Repairs Unfold

Five Crew-12 members took shelter in SpaceX's Crew Dragon while Russian cosmonauts worked on persistent air leaks in the PrK transfer tunnel of the International Space Station; Roscosmos sealed two potential leak sites and prepared further fixes, with NASA and Roscosmos pausing the repair to take measurements. After about 90 minutes, mission control allowed the crew to reopen hatches and return to the station, as officials stressed a collaborative effort to address the leaks and indicated no threat to crew safety.

via Ars Technica|

#air-leak #nasa #roscosmos

science1 month ago•35 min saved

China’s trio of astronauts return from record-long space mission

Three Chinese astronauts landed back on Earth after a nearly seven-month stay aboard the Tiangong space station, marking the longest crewed mission for China and a milestone in its ongoing space program.

via Yahoo|

#astronauts #china #science

sciencespace1 month ago•2 min saved

China Tests Stem-Cell Embryos in Orbit to Assess Space Reproduction Feasibility

China conducted an on-orbit study aboard the Tiangong station using artificial embryos made from human stem cells to examine early development in microgravity. The two embryo models (one simulating uterine attachment and another using a microfluidic chip to mimic tissue formation) were cultured for about five days on the Tianzhou-10 supply ship, then frozen and returned to Earth for analysis, with Earth-based controls for comparison. The goal is to understand potential risks to human reproduction during long-term space habitation, not to create real babies in space.

via Gizmodo|

#biology #china #reproduction

science1 month ago•5 min saved

ISS 2025 Highlights: Robotic Surgery, Bioprinted Bones, and Space-Ready Batteries

NASA's 2025 ISS Highlights show 750+ investigations advancing life in space, Earth benefits, and future Moon/Mars exploration, including a microgravity robotic surgery demo, magnetic-levitation bioprinted bone grafts, melanin-enhanced shielding materials, long-duration space battery tests with minimal degradation, and studies of post-flight piloting performance, reflecting global collaboration and thousands of publications.

via NASA (.gov)|

#batteries #bioprinting #materials-science

space1 month ago•5 min saved

ISS Faces Fresh Leak From Russian Module, Reigniting Talks on Its Future

NASA confirmed renewed atmospheric leakage from the Russian PrK transfer tunnel of the International Space Station, at about one pound per day, after a period of stability. There are no crew impacts, but the reoccurrence complicates plans for maintaining ISS operations into the 2030s (or beyond) and intensifies debate over extending the station’s life versus transitioning to private commercial platforms, with NASA and Roscosmos coordinating on next steps.

via Ars Technica|

#iss #leak #nasa

space2 months ago•4 min saved

Catch a Glimpse of the ISS: When and Where to Look Up

The International Space Station orbits Earth about every 90 minutes and is often visible at dawn or dusk when it reflects sunlight. It can be seen with the naked eye (binoculars help) as a bright, fast-moving point across the sky. For precise times and locations of passes, use NASA's Spot the Station app or the European Space Agency's online tracker. The ISS is a bright marker in the night sky and continues to host astronauts and international research.

via USA Today|

#astronomy #iss #skywatch

science3 months ago•3 min saved

In-Flight Illness on ISS Stumps NASA; Cause Still Unknown

NASA says astronaut Mike Fincke suddenly fell ill aboard the International Space Station during dinner on Jan. 7, could not speak, and although doctors ruled out a heart attack or choking, the cause remains unknown after extensive testing. The 20-minute episode prompted NASA’s first medical evacuation and the early return of two crewmates, with ultrasound aiding the response. NASA is reviewing medical records from other astronauts for possible patterns while considering whether long exposure to weightlessness could be a factor.

via PBS|

#medical-episode #mike-fincke #nasa

science4 months ago•3 min saved

Fincke Reveals Medical Event Behind ISS’s First-Ever Evacuation

NASA’s January emergency on the International Space Station led to its first-ever medical evacuation; astronaut Mike Fincke later disclosed he experienced a medical event that required immediate care, while the other Crew-11 members were evacuated to a California hospital. NASA says Fincke chose to self-identify for privacy and to curb speculation, but the exact cause remains private, leaving details of the incident and its implications largely unclear.

via Futurism|

#crew-11 #medical-evacuation #mike-fincke

science4 months ago•12 min saved

Veteran astronaut Fincke says he fought an illness in orbit

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke disclosed that he was ill during his time aboard the International Space Station, a detail tied to his SpaceX Crew-11 mission and the crew’s Jan. 15, 2026 splashdown near San Diego.

via AP News|

#crew-11 #fincke #illness

science5 months ago•39 min saved

ISS-evolved phages gain edge against Earth bacteria

Researchers comparing E. coli infected with the T7 phage aboard the International Space Station to Earth controls found microgravity altered infection dynamics and drove space-exposed bacteria and phages to accumulate distinct mutations. The ISS-evolved phages developed changes in receptor-binding proteins that improved their ability to infect bacteria, and when tested back on Earth they showed increased activity against common urinary tract infection–causing E. coli strains, suggesting space conditions could inform future phage therapies despite practical costs.

via Yahoo|

#bacteria #microgravity #phage-therapy

space5 months ago•1 min saved

Shenzhou-21 Crew Deepens On-Orbit Science with Xiaohang Robot

China’s Shenzhou-21 crew—Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang—nearly 80 days in orbit as they advance diverse experiments aboard the Chinese space station, including interactive tests with the intelligent robot Xiaohang (touch, autonomous flight) and data collection to optimize its motion. In space medicine, they use a Raman spectrometer to analyze urine metabolites and collect saliva to study space-associated microbial changes; they also gather samples for a project on the origin of the genetic code and chirality in space. In microgravity physics, they continue electrochemical optical tests on lithium‑ion batteries for space use. Maintenance tasks included replacing a sampling cover in the combustion science cabinet, disassembling/reassembling modules, and swapping samples in the fluid physics cabinet. A system-wide pressure emergency drill strengthened crew-ground coordination, and regular medical checks and exercise were conducted.

via news.cgtn.com|

#microgravity #robotics #shenzhou-21

science6 months ago•4 min saved

NASA Reveals Spectacular Photos of Rare Space Station Event

NASA and international researchers are using the International Space Station to capture unprecedented images and data on upper-atmospheric electrical discharges like red sprites, blue jets, and ELVES, which occur above thunderstorms and can impact communication and climate. Instruments like ESA's ASIM, the Light-1 CubeSat, and ultra-high-speed cameras are advancing understanding of these phenomena, their effects on the ionosphere, and their potential risks to aviation and space operations.

via Indian Defence Review|

#atmospheric-phenomena #lightning #nasa