NASA X-ray Telescopes Reveal the “Bones” of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand

November 1, 2023Posted inNASA

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Stanford Univ./R. Romani et al. (Chandra); NASA/MSFC (IXPE); Infared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/DECaPS; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt)

Just in time for Halloween, NASA released a ghostly photo taken by it’s newest X-Ray telescope, the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer. The telescope has been observing the wind nebula MSH 15-52 for the last 17 days, and captured a image that looks like a “ghostly hand”. The Nebula is about 16,000 light years from earth.

Exploring NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications on the Psyche Mission

October 19, 2023Posted inFalcon Heavy, KSC, NASA, Space News

By: TJ Waller

NASA Psyche Liftoff
NASA Psyche Liftoff

In the vast expanse of space exploration, the need for efficient data transmission between spacecraft and Earth has always been a challenge. Traditional radio communications have served us well, but as our ambitions grow, so does the demand for higher data rates. NASA’s Psyche mission aims to push the boundaries of data transmission with the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project. In this article, I will explore the fascinating world of DSOC, its significance for future missions, and how it could revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos.

Psyche launches to explore a Metal World

October 14, 2023Posted inKSC, NASA, Space News, SpaceX

Psyche launches on October 13th aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

In a significant milestone for space exploration, NASA’s Psyche mission has successfully launched, marking a crucial step in our quest to explore a mysterious asteroid. The mission, which was originally scheduled to take place on October 5th, finally lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A on October 13th at 10:16 AM.

Crew-6 Astronauts Return Safely to Earth After 186 Days in Space

Crew-6 Astronauts Return Safely to Earth After 186 Days in Space

September 5, 2023Posted inKSC, Space News
NASA Crew-6 Walk Out

Crew-6 Crew Dragon Splashdown

The Crew-6 astronauts, consisting of NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, have successfully completed their mission on the International Space Station (ISS) and safely returned to Earth. After spending a remarkable 186 days in space, the crew members splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 12:17 a.m. EDT. This moment marked the conclusion of their six-month scientific endeavor.

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-12

September 4, 2023Posted inKSC, Space News, SpaceX

(Kennedy Space Center, Florida September 3) SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:47 p.m. EDT on September 3, 2023. This mission carried another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit, and it was a record-breaking 62nd orbital launch of the year for SpaceX, breaking last year’s record of 61 launches. As of this date, there have been 46 launches from Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Center this year, with all but two coming from SpaceX.

Crew 7 Mission Launches on Historic Mission to the ISS

August 26, 2023Posted inCrewed, KSC, Space News, SpaceX

The Crew of Commercial Crew 7 makes up most internationally diverse crew ever launched on a single mission.

The Crew 7 Mission lifts off with an international crew of four on Saturday, August 26th. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

SpaceX, the pioneering space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, has successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft for the historic Crew-7 mission. This mission, commissioned by NASA, marks an important milestone in human spaceflight as it brings together four astronauts from different nations to embark on a six-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS). With innovation, collaboration, and scientific exploration at its core, the Crew-7 mission sets the stage for future advancements in space travel and our understanding of the universe.

The Final Countdown: Crew-7 Preps for Launch to the International Space Station

August 21, 2023Posted inCrewed, KSC, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
NASA Crew-6 on Pad 39A
NASA Crew-6 on Pad 39A Feb 2023 Photo Credit: TJ Waller for FMN

The latest team of astronauts preparing for liftoff onboard the NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission have landed at the Kennedy Space Center, as they commence the final stage of quarantine before their voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). The countdown has officially commenced, with an array of activities and events unfolding throughout the launch week.

Artemis I: An Anniversary of a Rollout

August 17, 2023Posted inArtemis, KSC, NASA, Space News
Aug. 16, 2022: NASA’s SLS Artemis 1 rolling towards Pad 39B. Photo by TJ Waller

By: TJ Waller

Introduction:

Yesterday, August 16, 2023, marked the anniversary of when humanity and I witnessed one more “small step” towards a momentous event that marked a significant leap forward in space exploration: The rollout of Artemis I – NASA’s next historic mission aimed at returning humans to the Moon. This mission, a critical step towards the agency’s broader Artemis program, promised to not only expand our understanding of the Moon but also lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars and beyond.

Artemis 1 preparing to leave the VAB. Photo by TJ Waller

Artemis I: A Bold Vision Realized:

Artemis I, named after the ancient Greek goddess of the Moon, was the first uncrewed flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft. This groundbreaking mission tested the compatibility and performance of these systems, which will eventually carry astronauts on lunar missions.

NASA SpaceX Crew-7 Mission: Now August 25

August 13, 2023Posted inCrewed, ISS, KSC, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
NASA Crew-6
Crew-6 Dragon Capsule

By: TJ Waller

The eagerly anticipated NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission has been pushed once again and is now scheduled to take flight on a new launch date of August 25, 2023; with an instantaneous launch window of 3:49 AM EDT. This mission will mark a significant milestone in the partnership between NASA and SpaceX as they continue their collaboration in transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Crew-7 is a true testament to international cooperation, with astronauts representing four different space agencies. The mission will be commanded by NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, while European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen will serve as the pilot. Joining them as mission specialists are Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Konstantin Borisov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

NASA Crew-6 on Pad 39A
NASA Crew-6 on Pad 39A

NASA Sets New Launch Date For Crew-7 Mission

August 2, 2023Posted inCrewed, Falcon 9, ISS, KSC, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Crew-5 Lifts Off Carrying Astronauts to the International Space Station on October 5, 2022. Photo by: Charles Boyer

(Kennedy Space Center) NASA and SpaceX announced today that they are targeting Monday, August 21 at 5:23 am EDT to launch the Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station. The launch was initially scheduled for late July but was shifted to no earlier than August 17 in order to allow for additional launch pad processing at SpaceX’s LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.