On Thursday, January 18, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft for Axiom Space's Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) to the International Space Station lifted off at 4:49 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. , 2024. Ax-3 is the third private space mission to the space station, sending crew members Commander Michael López-Alegria, Pilot Walter Villadei, and Mission Specialists Markus Wandt and Alber Kezeravsi into orbit. They will spend about two weeks on the space station carrying out microgravity research, educational activities and commercial activities. Credit: NASA/Chris Swanson
The latest private space flight International Space Station…
The space station is getting ready to launch more research…
How climate change is affecting our oceans and atmosphere…
Some stories to tell you – this week NASA!
Third private space mission to the space station
On January 18, Axiom Mission 3, the third private space mission to the International Space Station, was launched aboard a spacecraft. SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The mission was led by former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria.
NASA will provide integrated operational support, which begins when Dragon approaches the station, continues while the crew is in the orbiting laboratory, and ends when Dragon leaves the space station area.
Northrop Grumman's 20th commercial resupply mission will include scientific studies launched on the ISS in 3D metal printing, semiconductor manufacturing, thermal protection systems for re-entry, remote robotic surgery and cartilage tissue research. Credit: NASA
Science launch to space station
Research headed to the International Space Station for Northrop Grumman's 20th commercial resale services mission to the space station for NASA includes the station's first surgical robot, an inexpensive orbital re-entry platform to collect data on thermal protection systems, and a new metal 3D. Printer.
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft will launch aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 29.
NASA's PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft is in Earth orbit. Credit: NASA GSFC
Studying the oceans and atmosphere in changing climate
NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem, or PACE, mission is aiming to launch before February 6. Earth-observing scientific work will help us understand how our oceans and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, measuring key atmospheric variables associated with air quality. and monitor Earth's warming climate, and ocean health.
NASA completed a full-time, 500-second warm-up fire of the RS-25 certification engine on January 17, continuing a critical test series for NASA's exploration of future SLS (Space Launch System) missions to the Moon and beyond. Universe for the good of all. Credit: NASA/Danny Nowlin
NASA resumes RS-25 rocket engine testing
On January 17, NASA resumed a critical test series with their RS-25 rocket engine at NASA's Stennis Space Center. Data from the test will be used to certify the production of new RS-25 engines to help power our space launch system, or SLS Rocket on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, starting with Artemis V.
That's @NASA this week.