Topic: international space station
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Senate Staffer Urges NASA to Accelerate Commercial Space Stations
A key Senate staffer stressed the urgent need to accelerate NASA's commercial space station program to prevent any gap in the U.S. human presence in orbit before the International Space Station retires in 2030. The Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program's critical next phase is delayed, with a...
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NASA Picks Axiom Space for 5th Private Astronaut Mission
NASA has awarded Axiom Space a fifth private astronaut mission (Axiom Mission 5) to the International Space Station, scheduled for launch no earlier than January 2027, marking a significant shift toward integrating commercial providers into space station operations. The mission, lasting up to two...
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Northrop Grumman Overcomes Software Glitch to Resupply ISS
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo ship successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering over five tons of supplies and experiments after a minor delay. The spacecraft was captured and berthed using the station's robotic arm, and it will remain attached for up to six months for u...
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Northrop Grumman's Massive New Spacecraft Breaks Size Records
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft delivered a record 10,827 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station, launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The upgraded Cygnus XL is 5.2 feet longer, offering 33% more capacity to transport more scientific equipment and supplies efficiently. The m...
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NASA safety panel: Starliner incident deserved more serious response
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel criticized NASA for inadequately communicating the severity of Starliner's in-flight anomalies, including thruster failures and helium leaks, leading to internal and public confusion. During its first crewed mission, Starliner experienced multiple critical fail...
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NASA delays spacewalk over astronaut medical issue
A scheduled spacewalk from the International Space Station has been postponed due to a stable but unspecified medical issue with a crew member, with NASA prioritizing their health and privacy. The delayed mission was a critical six-and-a-half-hour task to prepare the station's exterior for new so...
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Space CEO: Why Private Space Stations Are a Viable Business
NASA is accelerating the development of private space stations through its Commercial LEO Destinations program to replace the International Space Station before its retirement around 2030. Voyager Technologies gained significant validation and funding from institutional investor Janus Henderson, ...
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ISS Crew Uncertain of Return Date Amid Trump's NASA Cutbacks
A new four-person crew, led by Commander Zena Cardman, launched to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, though their return timeline is uncertain due to shifting NASA priorities. SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) was used for the final time, marking the end of an era as the company transitions to ne...
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NASA orders emergency medical evacuation from space station
NASA has ordered an early return of four astronauts from the International Space Station due to an undisclosed medical event involving one crew member, who is in stable condition. The entire Crew-11 mission is returning ahead of schedule as a precaution, using their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, wh...
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NASA's First Space Medical Evacuation Ends in Perfect Splashdown
A multinational crew's mission was shortened by over a month for a non-emergency medical situation, leading to a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after 167 days on the International Space Station. NASA did not disclose details of the medical issue but emphasized it was a controlled return, no...
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NASA Rushes Dragon Missions After Russian Launch Site Damage
NASA is accelerating two SpaceX Cargo Dragon missions to ensure ISS supply flow after damage to a key Russian launch pad halted a primary supply line. The damage occurred at Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome when a service structure fell and crippled Pad 31, which is uniquely configured for vital Soyu...
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UAE's Burjeel to Send First Diabetic Astronaut to Space
Burjeel Holdings plans to send the first astronaut with diabetes to space after research confirmed that standard diabetes management tools like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pens work effectively in microgravity. The Suite Ride initiative on Axiom Mission 4 achieved historic milestones,...
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Can Anyone Stop Elon Musk's Quest to Dominate Space?
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral is depicted as a routine event, with the company achieving 95 missions in a year, surpassing the combined launch totals of all other nations. SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation dominates the market with over 8,000 satellites, vastly outnu...
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Trump Pledges 2028 Moon Landing, Lunar Base by 2030
The directive accelerates crewed lunar exploration, aiming to land humans on the Moon by 2028 and establish a permanent base by 2030, while emphasizing commercial partnerships. It deprioritizes a near-term crewed Mars mission in favor of achievable lunar milestones to solidify U.S. leadership in ...
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Expanded Carrier Screening and Southeast Asia's Space Ambitions
Southeast Asia's space programs are pragmatically focused on using satellite technology for direct societal benefits like disaster monitoring and agriculture, rather than just prestige. Public enthusiasm and educational initiatives are growing to build a local talent pool and reduce reliance on f...
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Bezos' Firm to Bundle Satellites; Starship Launch Imminent
Despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, U.S. military space missions and NASA's Artemis II preparations continue uninterrupted, though federal employees risk missing paychecks. The majority of the most hazardous space debris consists of objects left in orbit before the year 2000, with sp...
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Russia to Turn Spacecraft into Orbital Billboards
Russia's civilian space program is facing severe financial strain and international isolation, marked by a decline in Soyuz missions and a pivot toward military projects following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. To generate revenue, Roscosmos has received legal approval to place advertisements on s...
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20-Ton Platform Mishap Before Soyuz Launch Sparks Safety Concerns
A Soyuz rocket successfully delivered three crew members to the International Space Station, but the launch was marred by a serious ground incident involving a 20-ton service platform that collapsed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Russian space authorities downplayed the incident, describing post-lau...
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Orbital Data Centers: A New Frontier for Construction
Orbital data centers could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of computing by using solar power in space to meet the high energy demands of advanced AI systems. Significant technical and financial challenges include dissipating heat in space and the high costs of transporting and assemblin...
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Starlink In-Flight Wi-Fi Expands to Satellite Operators
SpaceX's Starlink is expanding to provide internet connectivity for satellites in low-Earth orbit, enhancing space-based communications infrastructure. The Polaris Dawn mission achieved the first commercial spacewalk and successfully used Starlink's laser links for continuous in-orbit communicati...
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Honda, Astrobotic Partner to Power Moon Through Lunar Night
Honda and Astrobotic are partnering to address the challenge of generating continuous power during the lunar night by integrating Honda's regenerative fuel cell system with Astrobotic's LunaGrid solar network. Honda's technology uses solar energy to produce hydrogen during the lunar day, which is...
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