NASA’s newest astrophysics observatory, SPHEREx, is on its way to study the origins of our universe and the history of galaxies, and to search for the ingredients of life in our galaxy. Short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, SPHEREx lifted off at 8:10 p.m. PDT on […]
March 12, 2025
Despite rumors to the contrary, Boeing is not preparing to exit the space business. The post Boeing remains committed to space business appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 12, 2025
Rocket Lab announced plans March 11 to buy its optical communications terminal supplier Mynaric, which entered restructuring last month following production delays and supply chain issues. The post Rocket Lab to expand into laser communications with Mynaric acquisition appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 12, 2025
A bipartisan group of Senators introduced a NASA authorization bill today that is very similar to one introduced in the closing days of the last Congress. The bill supports American […]
March 12, 2025
Written by Deborah Padgett, OPGS Task Lead at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Earth planning date: Friday, March 7, 2025 In Curiosity’s last plan, the team decided to drive toward a very interesting nodular rock. The rover team hoped to do a detailed study of its surface texture over the weekend. However, Curiosity did not receive […]
March 12, 2025
The House passed legislation this evening to keep the government funded through September 30, 2025 when FY2025 ends. The almost party-line vote, 217-213, underscored the differences between Republicans who insist […]
March 12, 2025
The U.S. Space Force will evaluate commercial alternatives to its bespoke military surveillance satellites in geostationary orbit. The post Space Force eyes commercial satellites to boost surveillance in geostationary orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 11, 2025
NASA’s BioNutrients series of experiments is testing ways to use microorganisms to make nutrients that will be needed for human health during future long-duration deep space exploration missions. Some vital nutrients lack the shelf-life needed to span multi-year human missions, such as a mission to Mars, and may need to be produced in space to […]
March 11, 2025
Risk is inherent in human spaceflight. However, specific risks can and should be understood, managed, and mitigated to reduce threats posed to astronauts. Risk management in the context of human spaceflight can be viewed as a trade-based system. The relevant evidence in life sciences, medicine, and engineering is tracked and evaluated to identify ways to […]
March 11, 2025
New spacecraft that will transport crews to the Lunar and Martian surfaces and return them to Earth may have diverse landing modalities which will function in different landing environments. Additionally, the crew may be deconditioned on landing, impacting their ability to independently egress the vehicles, perform post-landing tasks in a timely manner, and perform surface […]
March 11, 2025
It is important to protect humans from unintended electrical current flow during spaceflight. The thresholds for contact electrical shock are well established, and standards and requirements exist that minimize the probability of contact electrical shock. Current thresholds were chosen (vs. voltage thresholds) because body impedance varies depending on conditions such as wet/dry, AC/DC, voltage level, […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to the altered gravity in the spaceflight environment may cause physiological changes. One of these changes is the inability to completely empty the bladder or urinary retention. Causes of urinary retention in the early phases of flight include altered baseline physiology seen with exposure to microgravity, the anticholinergic side effects of medications that are […]
March 11, 2025
Safe, breathable air is essential for crew health. Human spaceflight has involved toxicological events ranging in severity from trivial to life-threatening. Toxic exposure to chemical contaminants can originate from environmental system leaks, payload leaks, pyrolysis of polymeric materials, off-gassing of polymeric materials, use of utility compounds, propellant entry, microbial products, and human metabolism. To ensure […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to altered gravity can cause ocular and brain structural changes to develop during spaceflight; these changes could lead to vision alterations, cognitive effects, or other deleterious health effects. SANS is a syndrome unique to humans that fly in space, and there is no terrestrial disease equivalent. Brain structural changes appear small but seem to […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to microgravity induces bone atrophy/bone loss which increases circulating calcium, impacting the renal stone risk. Risk mitigation strategies including exercise and hydration are well-defined although the ability to treat a renal stone during exploration missions is not yet available. Directed Acyclic Graph Files + DAG File Information (HSRB Home Page) + Risk of Renal Stone Formation […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to the microgravity environment causes muscle size, strength, and endurance to decline. Based on ISS data, if crew adhere to the exercise schedule and have access to adequate exercise countermeasure systems then on average, they return with minimal losses of muscle size, strength, and endurance. New exploration countermeasures systems will be different from ISS […]
March 11, 2025
Spaceflight causes measures of maximum aerobic capacity to decline, which can result in impaired mission task performance. Based on ISS data, if crew adhere to existing exercise schedules and have access to adequate exercise countermeasure systems, then on average, they return with minimal losses of aerobic fitness. New exploration countermeasures systems will be different from […]
March 11, 2025
Human exploration missions will require robust, flexible Extravehicular Activity (EVA) architecture protocols that include the use of a reduced-pressure cabin atmosphere enabling staged denitrogenation. Use of this atmosphere could result in compromised health and performance to the crewmember due to exposure to mild hypobaric hypoxia; of most concern are the potential effects on the increased […]
March 11, 2025
In spaceflight, pharmaceuticals and medications are used for various purposes, namely medical treatment and countermeasures. The hazards of spaceflight lead to a host of factors that must be considered when choosing treatment options. Spaceflight factors and time to resupply can lead to toxic or ineffective products. In addition, due to physiological changes due to spaceflight, […]
March 11, 2025
Standards and vehicle design requirements are based on automotive and military environments and operational protocols; they are also partially tailored to the spaceflight environment. However, these do not adequately mitigate the risk of injury due to the unique spaceflight environment. Current analytical tools are used outside of their validation conditions and have been shown to […]
March 11, 2025
CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, second from left, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, second from right, and Reid Wiseman, right, spoke to a crowd at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 7, 2025. The crewmembers discussed their mission around the Moon next year aboard Artemis II, the first crewed test flight under NASA’s […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to the spaceflight environment has been shown to alter human immune function, but it is unclear at present if such alterations lead to increased susceptibility to disease. The reactivation of latent viruses has been documented in crewmembers and appears to be correlated with immune changes. These immune changes persist for the duration of a […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to altered gravity leads to changes in sensorimotor/vestibular function that manifest in motion sickness, spatial disorientation, decrements in postural control and locomotion, and manual and fine motor control deficits. It takes hours to days for the body to readapt to gravity upon landing, with associated balance issues and visual inconsistencies. The risk of impairment […]
March 11, 2025
Noise exposure in spaceflight can negatively impact hearing, but it can also cause other physiological effects (e.g., irritation, headaches, and degradation in sleep and relaxation). Noise can also affect performance of specific activities (e.g., working and speech communications) and impact crew performance. Even noise that the crew does not perceive as harmful may cause temporary […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to the spaceflight environment can contribute to cardiovascular deconditioning, dysfunction, and remodeling. There is a possibility that crews will experience impaired performance and negative cardiovascular health outcomes during and after spaceflight and planetary operations. Manifestation of the cardiovascular risk outcomes varies depending upon the phase of the mission. The effect of interactions between altered […]
March 11, 2025
Exposure to altered gravity causes skeletal changes, which can result in compromised bone strength during and after spaceflight, increasing the risk of fracture. Bone fracture in-mission depends on expected loads and degree of skeletal fragility. Countermeasures such as exercise, adequate nutrition, and medications are needed in order to prevent demineralization, especially during long-duration missions such […]
March 11, 2025
The EIHSO risk can impact all phases of mission operation where the crew-members are expected to interact with the vehicle in both nominal and off-nominal operation. Most importantly, as the distance from Earth increases, crew will need to be more independent and be able to handle greater operational complexity. Without the current level of ground […]
March 11, 2025
Lunar dust exposure has not been a hazard since the 1972 Apollo missions. Data collected at that time has provided insight and many years of research. Due to the unique properties of lunar dust (and other celestial bodies), there is a possibility that exposure could lead to serious health effects (e.g., respiratory, cardiopulmonary, ocular, or […]
March 11, 2025
HELSINKI — A new group of 18 satellites entered orbit Tuesday for the Thousand Sails constellation with the first launch from a new commercial launch pad. A Long March 8 […] The post Long March 8 launches Thousand Sails satellites from commercial spaceport appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 11, 2025
Introduction Since 1987, a highly modified McDonnell Douglas DC-8 aircraft has been a workhorse in NASA’s Airborne Science Program (ASP)—see Photo 1. The aircraft, located at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) in California, flew countless missions as a science laboratory, producing science data that supports projects serving the world’s scientific community, particularly the NASA […]
March 11, 2025
Introduction On October 16, 2024, a special session of the NASA Goddard Engage series took place in the Goett Auditorium (Building 3) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The Engage series is intended to explain work at GSFC in an immersive and nontechnical setting. GSFC’s Office of Communications, Earth Sciences Division, and Scientific Colloquium […]
March 11, 2025
The successful second flight of Europe’s Ariane 6 has become an opportunity for European officials to highlight the need for “strategic autonomy” in space. The post Arianespace sees stronger institutional demand for Ariane 6 amid shifting geopolitics appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 11, 2025
NASA will provide interview opportunities with astronaut Jonny Kim beginning at 9 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, March 18, to highlight his upcoming mission to the International Space Station in April. The virtual interviews from Star City, Russia, will stream live on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. […]
March 11, 2025
Mobile satellite service operators Viasat and Space42 are exploring shared multi-orbit infrastructure to enhance and expand their direct-to-device connectivity services worldwide. The post Viasat and Space42 co-invest in shared direct-to-device satellite prototype appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 11, 2025
The Discovery A possible “super-Earth” orbits a relatively close, Sun-like star, and could be a habitable world – but one of extreme temperature swings, from scorching heat to deep freeze. Key Facts The newly confirmed planet is the outermost of three detected so far around a star called HD 20794, just 20 light-years from Earth. […]
March 11, 2025
This was a magical revelation for the Greeks and the Egyptians, who were able to see from the motions of the stars and the way the Sun moved. They saw the way the Sun’s shadow worked in different places. And they figured, well, that’s only possible if the Earth is round. And they took that […]
March 11, 2025
Shortly after dawn on March 27, 2001, NASA pilot Bill Rieke took off from an airfield just outside of Phoenix in NASA’s blue-and-white Learjet 25 and flew low over a series of microphones for the first flight test of a groundbreaking NASA technology. On one of the plane’s engines was an experimental jagged-edged nozzle that […]
March 11, 2025
The universe is ballooning outward at an ever-faster clip under the power of an unknown force dubbed dark energy. One of the major goals for NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is to help astronomers gather clues to the mystery. One team is setting the stage now to help astronomers prepare for this exciting […]
March 11, 2025
Relativity Space has announced significant progress with their Terran R reusable launch vehicle. In a… The post Relativity Space makes significant progress on Terran R; flight hardware in production appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
March 11, 2025
Difficulty acquiring propulsion systems and laser communications systems continue to vex satellite manufacturers. The post Working around ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks appeared first on SpaceNews.
March 11, 2025
