Weekly Spacecraft Mission News (English, German) – 26.07.19

Front Page / Titelseite

Title picture / Titel Bild: via Wikipedia.de

Carla Thomas/NASA – http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html (image link)

Ursache für Kopplungsproblem bei Sojus MS-14 geklärt

Die Ursache für das Kopplungsproblem des russischen Raumschiffs Sojus MS-14 Ende August ist geklärt. Schuld sei ein loses Kabel am Annäherungs- und Kopplungssystem Kurs der Internationalen Raumstation ISS gewesen, teilte der russische Kosmonaut Alexander Skworzow mit.

Rogosin will Ursache für Loch in der Orbitalsektion von Sojus MS-09 geheim halten

Die GK Roskosmos kennt den Grund für das Loch in der Orbitalsektion des Raumschiffes Sojus MS-09. Er werde diese Information der Öffentlichkeit aber nicht mitteilen, sagte der Chef der russischen Raumfahrtagentur, Dmitri Rogosin, am Mittwoch vor Studenten der Baltischen Staatlichen Technischen Universität Wejenmech D. F. […]

SOFIA – NASA Jumbojet

Last night was out first observing flight over Europe! We studied magnetic fields around black holes and the formation of young stars. #SOFIAgermany pic.twitter.com/BKTaTAIPdd
— SOFIA Telescope (@SOFIAtelescope) September 19, 2019

Time Is Running Out for India to Save Its Silent Moon Lander

Even as its orbiter settles into work, India’s hopes of resurrecting its moon lander are quickly evaporating as the country marks two weeks from its attempt to softly touch down on the lunar surface.

‘Alien Megastructure’ Star May Not Be So Special After All

A mysterious star whose repeated bouts of darkening might be due to “alien megastructures,” according to some researchers’ conjectures, may now have more than a dozen counterparts that display similarly mystifying behavior.

Hey NASA: This Is The Droid You Should Be Looking For

Too bad NASA can’t buy robots like this. Instead they build clunky things like Valkyrie and Robonaut in-house – tethered droids that break often and don’t do much of anything. This robot can try out for the Olympics. Just sayin’

NASA Wants to Test New Moon Spacesuits on the Space Station in 2023

NASA is on track to test a full version of the new lunar spacesuits on the International Space Station in 2023, an agency official told a conference this month.

ISS-Kosmonauten und -Astronauten trainieren am europäischen Roboterarm

Russische Kosmonauten und Astronauten werden auf den Einsatz des Europäischen Roboterarms (European Robotic Arm – ERA) in der Internationalen Raumstation ISS vorbereitet. Das Training werde im Kosmonautenausbildungszentrum (ZPK) Juri Gagarin im Sternenstädtchen bei Moskau stattfinden,

NASA verlangt von Russland Auskunft über die Ursache für das Loch in Sojus MS-09

Die US-Luft- und Raumfahrtbehörde NASA verlangt von Russland Auskunft über die Ursache für das Loch in der Gerätesektion des Raumschiffes Sojus MS-09. Er werde mit dem Chef der russischen Raumfahrtagentur GK Roskosmos, Dmitri Rogosin, persönlich darüber sprechen, sagte NASA-Administrator Jim Bridenstine auf einer Energie-Konferenz in Houston

Japanese, Russian Rockets Prepare to Launch Cargo and Crew This Week

Japan is getting ready to launch its H-II Transport Vehicle-8 (HTV-8) cargo craft on Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. EDT to replenish the International Space Station crew. Russia has already rolled out its Soyuz MS-15 crew ship to its launch pad for a liftoff on Wednesday at 9:57 a.m. with three new crewmates. NASA TV will broadcast all mission activities live.

Cancer Therapy, Gravity Suit Research Before Crew and Cargo Launches

The Expedition 60 crew is getting ready to welcome a Japanese cargo craft and new space residents next week before splitting up the following week. Meanwhile, the orbiting lab residents are starting the weekend exploring potential cancer therapies and testing a suit that counteracts the effects of microgravity.

Today’s Space Science Seeks Therapies for Aging, Muscle Conditions

Three Expedition 60 crewmembers finalized four days in a row of rodent research aboard the International Space Station this week. Meanwhile, more space science is underway as the orbiting lab residents prepare to swap crews.

Crews Preparing to Trade Places During Biomedical Science on Station

Two Expedition 60 crewmembers are moving ahead with departure preparations as the rest of their crewmates focused diligently on space biology research today. Back on Earth, three upcoming International Space Station residents are making final preparations before their launch next week.

The First Emirati Astronaut Is Ready to Launch Into Space

The first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates is set to fly to the International Space Station on Wednesday (Sept. 25).

Japanischer Frachter HTV-8 auf dem Weg zur ISS

Tokio, 24. September 2019 — Nach zweimaliger Verschiebung ist ein japanischen Frachter mit 4,1 Tonnen Nachschub auf dem Weg zur Internationalen Raumstation ISS. HTV-8 stieg am Dienstagabend an der Spitze einer H-2B-Trägerrakete vom Weltraumbahnhof Tanegashima auf, teilte die Raumfahrtagentur JAXA mit. Der eigentliche Starttermin am 11. September musste wegen eines Feuers nahe […]

Japanese Space Freighter Blasts Off To Resupply Station Crew

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) H-IIB rocket launched at 12:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 24 (1:05 a.m. Sept. 25 in Japan) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. At the time of launch, the space station was flying 258 statute miles over Mali in southwest Africa.

Station Crew Ready to Liftoff to Station on NASA TV

Live launch coverage is underway on NASA Television and the agency’s website for the targeted lift off at 9:57 a.m. EDT (6:57 p.m. Kazakhstan time), of a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Oleg Skripochka of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and Hazzaa Ali Almansoori from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will embark on a four-orbit, six-hour journey to the International Space Station. This will be the third spaceflight for Skripochka and the first for Meir and Almansoori. Almansoori is flying on an eight-day mission as a spaceflight participant under a contract between the UAE and Roscosmos.

First Emirati Astronaut to Fly UAE Flag and Tree Seeds to Space Station

The red, green, white and black flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is flying for the first time at the launch site where humanity first lifted off for space.

Ein neuer Satellit wird fehlende Daten zum Klimawandel liefern

Nach strengen Auswahlkriterien hat die Europäische Weltraumagentur ESA eine neue Satellitenmission ausgewählt, um ein weiteres Stück des Klimapuzzles zu ergänzen. Durch die Vermessung der von der Erde abgestrahlten Energie wird die neue Mission Erkenntnisse über den Strahlungshaushalt unseres Planeten liefern.

China’s Lunar Rover Scopes Out Weird Substance on Far Side of the Moon (Photos)

China’s lunar exploration program has released images that give us a glimpse of the mysterious material discovered on the far side of the moon.

Putting Astronauts on the Moon in 2024 Is a Tall Order, NASA Says

If you’re skeptical that NASA can land astronauts on the moon five years from now, you’re not alone.

Venus May Have Supported Life Billions of Years Ago

Venus may have had a perfectly habitable environment for 2 to 3 billion years after the planet formed, suggesting life would have had ample time to emerge, according to a new study.

Soar Over the Likely Mars Landing Site of Europe’s ExoMars Rover in This 3D Animation

Feel like going for a spin around Mars? A new video shows a 3D view of where the European-Russian ExoMars rover will land, in a region that was likely filled with water billions of years ago.

Look Out Below! Japan’s Hayabusa2 Drops Target Markers on Asteroid Ryugu

Japan’s asteroid-exploring spacecraft has practiced its last task before heading home — and it made a nifty image as well.

Trump Hails Mars As NASA’s Next Target, Says the Moon’s ‘Not So Exciting’

President Trump said the U.S. space program is doing tremendous work with commercial companies to eventually send NASA astronauts Mars.

NASA Wants a New Space Telescope to Protect Us All from Dangerous Asteroids

Earth will soon lose a key tool in the fight to spot potentially hazardous asteroids — and NASA has decided to fund a custom-built replacement.

SpaceX’s Next Starship Prototype Nearly Finished, Elon Musk Says (Photos)

It looks like Elon Musk will have a pretty nice visual aid when he gives his highly anticipated Starship update this weekend.

Relativity Space to Launch Satellite ‘Tugs’ on 3D-Printed Rocket

Relativity Space, a company that builds and lofts 3D-printed rockets, will launch a half-dozen missions for the in-orbit shuttle service company Momentus beginning in 2021.

China Launches 5 New Earth Observation Satellites into Orbit (Video)

A Chinese Long March 11 rocket successfully launched five new remote-sensing satellites today (Sept. 19).

Bust a Move! Watch NASA’s 2020 Mars Rover Breakdance and Spin

NASA’s next Mars rover did a breakdance to prepare for Red Planet exploration.

NASA to Build New Asteroid-Hunting Space Telescope

The yet-to-be-named telescope would launch as soon as 2024, as part of NASA’s new, multi-pronged approach to planetary defense.

Bemannte Raumfahrt: Trauer um Sigmund Jähn

Sigmund Jähn ist tot: Der erste Deutsche im All starb am Sonnabend im Alter von 82 Jahren. Jähn war am 26. August 1978 mit dem Raumschiff Sojus-31 zur sowjetischen Raumstation Saljut-6 geflogen und hatte rund eine Woche im All verbracht. Nach der Wiedervereinigung arbeitete Jähn als Berater von DLR und ESA für bemannte Raumfahrt

Abschied von Sigmund Jähn

Mit großer Trauer nehmen wir Abschied von Sigmund Jähn, einer prägenden Persönlichkeit der deutschen Raumfahrt. Er starb am 21. September 2019 im Alter von 82 Jahren. Jähn war ein unermüdlicher Botschafter der Weltraumforschung und verlieh als erster Deutscher im All nicht nur der nationalen Raumfahrt Symbolcharakter.

NASA Mars Mission Connects With Bosnian and Herzegovinian Town

A letter from NASA was presented to the mayor of Jezero, Bosnia-Herzegovina, honoring the connection between the town and Jezero Crater, the Mars 2020 rover landing site.

NASA Orion Buying Spree Makes Texas Happy Again

NASA and Lockheed Martin have finalized a contract for the production and operations of six Orion spacecraft missions and the ability to order up to 12 in total. Orion is NASA’s deep space exploration spaceship that will carry astronauts from Earth to the Moon and bring them safely home. Lockheed Martin has been the prime contractor during the development phase of the Orion program.”

Russia Says It Will Keep Source of Hole (and Air Leak) on Soyuz Secret— But NASA Wants to Know: Report

Amid reports that the Russians will keep the cause of an air leak at the International Space Station secret, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has promised to speak personally with the head of Roscosmos.

Russia and China Are Teaming Up to Explore the Moon

The first country to land a spacecraft on the moon and the only country to do so since the Apollo era are teaming up for a lunar return.

Congress Votes to Issue Coin for ‘Teacher in Space’ Christa McAuliffe

The United States Mint will memorialize the first teacher who lifted off for space with a 2021 coin that will help continue her mission of science education.

Indian Moon Probe’s Failure Won’t Stop an Asian Space Race That Threatens Regional Security

These types of missions are one way to achieve international prestige. But they also peacefully demonstrate capabilities that could be used in conflict.

In ‘Ad Astra,’ Brad Pitt Is Stellar, But the Solar System is the Real Star of the Show

Brad Pitt delivers a captivating, delicate and dramatic performance in “Ad Astra,” but the real star of the movie is the solar system.