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ISS Crew Manages 16 Sunrises and Sunsets Daily with Engineered Lighting

ISS Crew Manages 16 Sunrises and Sunsets Daily with Engineered Lighting

The International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth every 92 minutes, resulting in 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. To manage this, the ISS operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and uses engineered lighting to simulate a 24-hour day. NASA has implemented Solid State Lighting Assemblies that provide different light spectrums to mimic morning, workday, and evening conditions. This system helps regulate astronauts' circadian rhythms, ensuring they maintain a stable sleep schedule despite the rapid orbital cycle. The lighting system is part of a broader strategy to support astronaut health and performance during long-duration missions.

Why Perseverance Is NASA's Most Advanced Mars Rover Yet

Why Perseverance Is NASA's Most Advanced Mars Rover Yet

The Perseverance rover, a key component of NASA's Mars 2020 mission, is a testament to human ingenuity and technological advancement. Designed to e...

SpaceX's Starship Achieves Successful Ocean Landing in Latest Test Flight

SpaceX's Starship Achieves Successful Ocean Landing in Latest Test Flight

SpaceX has successfully completed the 13th test flight of its Starship upper stage, achieving a soft ocean landing. The launch took place from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas, with the upper stage deploying 20 next-gen Starlink satellites before making a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean. The landing was captured using drones and a 'buoy cam,' showcasing the upper stage's dramatic midair maneuvers to achieve a near-vertical orientation before splashdown. Despite engine issues with the lower stage, the upper stage's performance marks a significant milestone in SpaceX's efforts to develop a rapidly reusable space transportation system.

Why Mars 2020 Is One of NASA's Most Ambitious Missions

Why Mars 2020 Is One of NASA's Most Ambitious Missions

The Mars 2020 mission represents a significant leap in our exploration of the Red Planet. Launched by NASA, this mission aims to uncover the myster...

NASA's Mars Missions Highlight Challenges of Living on Mars Time

NASA's Mars Missions Highlight Challenges of Living on Mars Time

NASA's rover teams at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) live on Mars time during missions, adjusting their schedules to align with the Martian solar day, which is 39 minutes longer than an Earth day. This adjustment, described as 'jet lag with no destination,' requires personnel to shift their work and sleep schedules by 40 minutes each day. The Phoenix Mars Lander mission in 2008 provided a field study on whether human circadian rhythms could adapt to this schedule. The study found that with proper light exposure and education, many team members could synchronize their body clocks to the Martian day, although it required careful management of light and sleep.

SpaceX and Amazon's Satellite Plans Raise Concerns Over Light Pollution Impact on Astronomy

SpaceX and Amazon's Satellite Plans Raise Concerns Over Light Pollution Impact on Astronomy

SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Leo are planning to deploy tens of thousands of communication satellites in Low-Earth Orbit to achieve global broadband and direct-to-smartphone connectivity. This initiative has sparked concerns among astronomers about the potential increase in light pollution, which could hinder the observation of the cosmos. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a license to Reflect Orbital, a California-based startup, to launch its first demonstration satellite, Eärendil-1, which aims to provide 'sunlight on demand' by beaming sunlight down to Earth after dark. Reflect Orbital plans to deploy a constellation of 50,000 mirror-craft by 2035. These developments have raised questions about the impact on astronomical research and the search for extraterrestrial life, as light pollution could obscure technological signatures from other civilizations.

How Ranger 7 Changed Space Exploration Forever

How Ranger 7 Changed Space Exploration Forever

Ranger 7 marked a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration. Launched on July 28, 1964, it was the first NASA probe to successfully transm...

NASA Plans Series of Spacewalks for Solar Array and Electronics Maintenance on ISS

NASA Plans Series of Spacewalks for Solar Array and Electronics Maintenance on ISS

NASA is preparing for a series of spacewalks at the International Space Station (ISS) in August, focusing on solar array work and communications and electronics maintenance. NASA flight engineers Jessica Meir and Anil Menon will conduct the first spacewalk on August 6, with additional spacewalks scheduled for August 13 and 25. These activities are part of Expedition 75's busy schedule, which also includes bioprinting research and exercise studies. The bioprinting involves manufacturing living cells and tissues using bioinks, a process enhanced by the microgravity environment of the ISS. This research aims to develop advanced treatments for cartilage injuries. Additionally, astronauts are testing new exercise equipment and suits designed to improve fitness in space.

NASA Assigns Astronaut Deniz Burnham to First Space Station Mission

NASA Assigns Astronaut Deniz Burnham to First Space Station Mission

NASA has announced that astronaut Deniz Burnham will embark on her first mission to the International Space Station as an Expedition 76 flight engineer. Scheduled to launch in March 2027 aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-30 spacecraft, Burnham will join cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Konstantin Borisov for a seven-month mission. During her time on the ISS, Burnham will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to support future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Elon Musk Reiterates Ambitious Timeline for Human Mars Mission

Elon Musk Reiterates Ambitious Timeline for Human Mars Mission

Elon Musk Reiterates Ambitious Timeline for Human Mars Mission

HarperCollins to Publish Book on Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen's Historic Space Mission

HarperCollins to Publish Book on Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen's Historic Space Mission

HarperCollinsCanada is set to publish 'Earthrise: A Canadian Astronaut's Journey into Deep Space,' a book detailing Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen's historic journey on the Artemis II mission. The book, authored by John Larsen, will be released on October 27, 2026. Hansen, who recently retired from the Canadian Space Agency after 17 years, was part of the Artemis II crew that set a record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth. The mission, which included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, was the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. Although the crew did not land on the moon, they conducted various tests and observed parts of the moon never seen before by human eyes. The book aims to provide an inside look at Hansen's training and the mission itself.

NASA Assigns Deniz Burnham to First Space Station Mission, Expanding Human Spaceflight Efforts

NASA Assigns Deniz Burnham to First Space Station Mission, Expanding Human Spaceflight Efforts

NASA has assigned astronaut Deniz Burnham to her first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as an Expedition 76 flight engineer. Burnham will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-30 spacecraft alongside cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Konstantin Borisov. The mission is scheduled for March 2027, with the crew expected to spend approximately seven months aboard the ISS. During her time on the station, Burnham will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aimed at preparing for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. Burnham, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, has a background in chemical and mechanical engineering and has extensive experience in the energy industry and the U.S. Navy Reserves.