Category Archives: Space Station

Scott Kelly on the International Space Station. Photo: NASA

Since our podcast and radio show Are We There Yet? is celebrating its 4th birthday and many of us are quarantined at home with lots of free time our host Brendan Byrne is sharing his favorite conversations with astronauts.

Listen back to his picks on this binge-able list and be sure to subscribe to the podcast, or listen in every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET on WMFE and WMFV.

Scott Kelly spent almost a year in space as part of an experiment to understand how our bodies function for an extending time in microgravity. He spoke to Byrne about the physiological challenges of life off Earth and the emotion toll isolation took on his mind. Kelly recently wrote an op-ed in the New York Times about his time in isolation and his tips for folks during the coronavirus pandemic.

LISTEN: WMFE | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield most famously spent his time isolated on the International Space Station filming a music video set to David Bowies Space Oddity. But Hadfields trip wasnt all fun and games there was real danger. He spoke with Byrne about how he deals with fear and the unknown.

LISTEN: WMFE

Nicole Stott is a frequent flier on the podcast. On her first appearance on the show, she talks about the hobby she brought up with her for her long stay on the ISS a set of watercolor paints. She tells Byrne about how her time in space gave her a fresh perspective on life down on Earth.

LISTEN: WMFE | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Space stinks. Well, it doesnt stink until you come back. NASA astronaut Bruce Melnick talks about the wall of smell that hits you when you return to Earth on the Space Shuttle. Melnick also tells Byrne about the challenges of using the space toilet. Really high-brow stuff, we promise.

LISTEN: WMFE | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Before making history as part of the first all-female spacewalk, Jessica Meir joined the podcast to talk about her expertise the physiology of animals in extreme environments and how the lessons learned will help get humans back to the moon and on to Mars.

LISTEN: WMFE | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Do you have a favorite episode? Share it with Brendan Byrne and the rest of the space fans out there shoot us an email at AreWeThereYet@wmfe.org

Originally posted here:
Want To Get Away? These Astronauts Talk About Life Off Earth, Dealing With Isolation and Facing Fears - WMFE

If you are a science nerd who is ever bored, NASA has a YouTube channel filled with videos that might tickle your fancy, and among them is a live feed from the International Space Station. Recently, the astronauts on the ISS were doing some routine maintenance on the station but as the camera rolled, a pinecone shaped metallic object moved past the space station before turning upward and shooting off into space.

Scott C. Waring, the founder of UFO Sightings Daily, was the one who first spotted the unidentified flying object, and he posted a video showing exactly where it was and what it looks like. He explained, "I was watching the NASA live space station cam when I noticed the camera zooming in on a strange object coming from below the space station. At first I thought it was a capsule or satellite, but its speed increased, and after 22 minutes it shot up and into deep space. I believed if it was a capsule it would have gone into low earth orbit then lower to land, but when this object shot upward into deep space, it literally blew my mind. This could be USAF top-secret alien tech fused craft, but I dont think so, the person on the camera seemed dismayed and unprepared for its sudden appearance."

As Scott points out, whoever at NASA was controlling the camera noticed the object as well because they zoomed in on it. No one from the space agency has commented yet on what it could be, but it isn't the first time something like this has happened. In 2016, a strange light was spotted near Earth on the NASA live feed. Soon after it appeared, the feed was cut. NASA later stated the object was either space junk, a reflection, or light from Earth.

If you want to keep an eye out for UFOs on the NASA ISS live feed, you can here.

Photo: YouTube

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NASA Captures Footage Of UFO On Space Station Live Feed - KFI AM 640

A Central Florida high school student is part of military history after she was given her oath by an astronaut on the International Space Station.Linsey Alexander is a teenager with a big future ahead of her and ready to make history. She was one of a thousand or so military recruits who were sworn in from 150 places all around the country.The oath was given by Col. Andrew Morgan, an astronaut on the International Space Station.Alexander submitted a question that was read to Col. Morgan from the space center in Houston."In what ways did you overcome obstacles, so we as future soldiers can take those lessons with us into our careers?" she asked.The answer she got from Morgan was: Don't quit."I can't stress that enough. Things that are worth doing are difficult," Morgan said. "That's always a good motto to follow, no matter what you're doing.You should never give up, if it's something you really want to do," Alexander said.Even though she was sworn in from space, Alexander told WESH 2's Dave McDaniel her desired assignment is closer to the ground. She will become an Army paratrooper, jumping out of planes. She'll make her first jump as soon as she's 18.

A Central Florida high school student is part of military history after she was given her oath by an astronaut on the International Space Station.

Linsey Alexander is a teenager with a big future ahead of her and ready to make history. She was one of a thousand or so military recruits who were sworn in from 150 places all around the country.

The oath was given by Col. Andrew Morgan, an astronaut on the International Space Station.

Alexander submitted a question that was read to Col. Morgan from the space center in Houston.

"In what ways did you overcome obstacles, so we as future soldiers can take those lessons with us into our careers?" she asked.

The answer she got from Morgan was: Don't quit.

"I can't stress that enough. Things that are worth doing are difficult," Morgan said.

"That's always a good motto to follow, no matter what you're doing.You should never give up, if it's something you really want to do," Alexander said.

Even though she was sworn in from space, Alexander told WESH 2's Dave McDaniel her desired assignment is closer to the ground. She will become an Army paratrooper, jumping out of planes. She'll make her first jump as soon as she's 18.

Originally posted here:
Central Florida teen sworn into Army by astronaut on International Space Station - WESH 2 Orlando

Today, a ceremony will take place from the International Space Station for the first ever Future Solider Swear-In from space.

Officials say the ceremony will be held in over 300 locations in the United States.

About 110 Future Soldiers from across Oklahoma, out of 850 from across the U.S., will raise their hands in oath of enlistment ceremony with NASA astronaut and U.S. Army Col. Andrew Morgan, who is on-board the International Space Station.

Below are the Oklahoma locations who will be hosting the ceremony:

Lawton, Okla. - Eisenhower High SchoolShawnee, Okla - Gordon Cooper Technology CenterPryor, Okla. - Pryor High SchoolSouthmoore High School - Moore, Okla.

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First Ever Future Soldier Swear-In From International Space Station - kjrh.com

The International Space Station will be visible in Louisville skies throughout the week.The space station will look like an airplane or very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesnt have flashing lights or change direction, according to NASA's website. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane.All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. NASA officials said this is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.The station will be visible in Louisville in short spurts through March 1. The station will make its appearance Sunday at 6:06 a.m. for 5 minutes, Monday at 5:21 a.m. for 1 minute, Monday at 6:55 a.m. for 5 minutes, and Tuesday at 6:09 a.m. for 4 minutes. For more information on when you can spot the station and its exact coordinates, visit spotthestation.nasa.gov.Two new exhibits are open at the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium. The ISS-Above gives visitors a real time live stream look at earth from the International Space Station. The second exhibit teaches visitors about the Sloan Digital Sky survey, a 20-year project to map 300 million stars and galaxies.

The International Space Station will be visible in Louisville skies throughout the week.

The space station will look like an airplane or very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesnt have flashing lights or change direction, according to NASA's website. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane.

All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. NASA officials said this is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

The station will be visible in Louisville in short spurts through March 1. The station will make its appearance Sunday at 6:06 a.m. for 5 minutes, Monday at 5:21 a.m. for 1 minute, Monday at 6:55 a.m. for 5 minutes, and Tuesday at 6:09 a.m. for 4 minutes.

For more information on when you can spot the station and its exact coordinates, visit spotthestation.nasa.gov.

Two new exhibits are open at the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium. The ISS-Above gives visitors a real time live stream look at earth from the International Space Station. The second exhibit teaches visitors about the Sloan Digital Sky survey, a 20-year project to map 300 million stars and galaxies.

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Here's when the International Space Station will be visible in Louisville skies - WLKY Louisville

China's space program is planning a launch in April to prepare for building the country's next space station.

A Long March 5B rocket will carry a "trial version" of China's new spaceship, which is designed to carry crews of up to six people, state media source Xinhua said. Previous Chinese spaceships carried up to three taikonauts, the term used to describe Chinese astronauts.

While the April mission will carry neither people nor pieces of the future space station, it is expected to prepare Chinese officials for space station construction, the report added.

Related: China readies its new deep-space crew capsule for 1st test flight

The Long March 5B is a modified version of China's heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket, which began flying in 2016. The China Manned Space Agency designed the 5B for the space station and large crewed spacecraft, Xinhua said.

China plans to finish the space station by 2022, after more than 10 missions for construction and in-orbit assembly. The station will be shaped like a T, with a core module, called Tianhe, at the center and one lab capsule on either side of that.

All told, the station will offer up to 5,650 cubic feet (160 cubic meters) of living space across the three modules. That's a little more than one-third of the space on the International Space Station, which has 13,696 cubic feet (388 cubic meters) of room, not including temporary expansions from visiting spaceships.

Unlike previous Chinese space stations, which required water launched from Earth, water on the new space station will be recovered from water vapor the astronauts exhale and from urine that is recycled and purified, Xinhua said. This space station will also carry machinery that can produce supplemental oxygen, Xinhua added.

The Chinese space complex will also have room for science experiments in fields ranging from astronomy to basic physics to life science, using more than a dozen experiment racks. China also plans to launch an optical telescope on a capsule flying "in the same orbit," Xinhua said.

China's first space station, the one-room Tiangong-1, launched in 2011 and burned up in Earth's atmosphere seven years later. The vehicle helped China master the technologies and procedures needed to build bigger stations.

A successor, Tiangong-2, launched in 2016 to support longer-duration missions. China's most recent crewed launch, in October 2016, sent two taikonauts to Tiangong-2 for 33 days, a record for consecutive time spent in space for China.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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China wants to build a new space station. A planned launch in April will set the stage. - Space.com

Those of us back here on Earth will have several chances over the next seven days, including a couple particularly good chances, to spot the International Space Station as it orbits our planet.

Even with the best sky conditions, NASA projects that only iffy chances to see the ISS will present themselves this week.

None of the upcoming opportunities will see the ISS as high over the horizon as 40 degrees, the minimum point for which NASA issues one of its Spot the Station alerts.

NASA explains, The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is 90 degrees. If you hold your fist at arms length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees. Each additional fist-depth above the horizon is roughly another 10 degrees of elevation.

Here are this weeks opportunities:

The sighting opportunities occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset, which are the periods when the Sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

According to NASA, "the space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesnt have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

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Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.

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When can I see the Space Station this week? - pennlive.com

The strange cone-shaped UFO following the ISS (YouTube/ET Data Base)

Cameras on board the International Space Station (ISS) have picked up a strange, cone-shaped object in orbit around Earth.

The unexplained object seemingly keeps pace with the space station as the cameras remain locked on it for over 20 minutes.

Naturally, the footage has been picked up and circulated around parts of the internet dedicated to discussing alien technology. Fanning the conspiracy flames even further, the camera zooms in on the object at one point suggesting that Nasa is aware of its presence.

For the bus-sized object to keep pace with the ISS, it would need to be travelling at around 78 kilometers-per-second.

The footage was picked up and shared on a YouTube channel called ET Data Base hosted by noted UFO-watcher Scott C. Waring

That is NASA zooming in on the UFO, not me, Waring notes of the footage. They are as baffled by it as I am. They dont know what it is or why it is there.

During the feed, they mention coordinates, and that could be secret code as to the location of the object. They dont want to be too obvious.

Describing the footage, Waring added: It looks like its in a cone-shaped. Ive never seen a module in this shape.

It doesnt like any kind of object I have seen before. If it is military, then it is a top-secret US air force technology.

While its highly unlikely to be evidence of any kind of alien encounter, the idea of it being military technology isnt that far fetched.

The US Air Force has a small, autonomous plane called X-37B that conducts intelligence operations from orbit. Built by Boeing and flown remotely, the craft also known as Orbital Test Vehicle is on a mission the U.S. will only describe as classified.

It is able to stay aloft for months at a time and comes down infrequently for servicing.

In Britain, the RAF took the decision to wind up its UFO unit in 2009, after concluding that in more than 50 years, no received report had ever disclosed any evidence of a potential threat.

Previously, records from the unit were given to the National Archives, often initially classified before being released after a specific number of years. The most recent reports received by the RAF will be placed online following a Freedom of Information Act request.

But members of the public reporting alleged UFO sightings are now directed to their local police force.

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Nasa films mystery UFO following the ISS for 20 minutes - Metro.co.uk

What could possibly quiet dozens of second graders, to the point that you could hear a pin drop? Perhaps talking to a real, live astronaut who's currently in space. "A lot of people have not had that opportunity and probably never will," said Maple Dale Elementary second-grader Luke Brown.Brown, an aspiring astronaut, took full advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity. He asked Dr. Drew Morgan firsthand one of his burning questions about being on the International Space Station. "The sole purpose is to develop interest on the part of the youth in becoming astronauts and becoming familiar with science, technology and mathematics," said Dale R. Williams director of Great Lakes Division American Radio Relay League.The out of this world experience came together with the help of amateur radio operators."We set up radio equipment here on stage and put antennas on the roof of the building with motorized action on those," said Williams.From there, the radio operators track the space station across the sky. Williams said knowing when they'll get access is very predictable.Second-graders from Montgomery, Symmes and Blue Ash elementary schools all traveled to Maple Dale to participate. The event was livestreamed so that other grade levels could watch and hear.

What could possibly quiet dozens of second graders, to the point that you could hear a pin drop? Perhaps talking to a real, live astronaut who's currently in space.

"A lot of people have not had that opportunity and probably never will," said Maple Dale Elementary second-grader Luke Brown.

Brown, an aspiring astronaut, took full advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity. He asked Dr. Drew Morgan firsthand one of his burning questions about being on the International Space Station.

"The sole purpose is to develop interest on the part of the youth in becoming astronauts and becoming familiar with science, technology and mathematics," said Dale R. Williams director of Great Lakes Division American Radio Relay League.

The out of this world experience came together with the help of amateur radio operators.

"We set up radio equipment here on stage and put antennas on the roof of the building with motorized action on those," said Williams.

From there, the radio operators track the space station across the sky.

Williams said knowing when they'll get access is very predictable.

Second-graders from Montgomery, Symmes and Blue Ash elementary schools all traveled to Maple Dale to participate. The event was livestreamed so that other grade levels could watch and hear.

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Local second-graders talk to astronaut aboard the International Space Station - WLWT Cincinnati

Grand Blanc East Middle School eighth-grader Alayna Broome asks a question of astronaut Jessica Meir, who is aboard the International Space Station. Broome won a national contest, which gave her and her classmates the opportunity to talk with Meir, who is aboard the ISS for a 9-month term. Photo by Jalene Jameson

GRAND BLANC Eighth-graders at Grand Blanc East Middle School had an out-ofthis world experience last week, thanks to their classmate Alayna Broome.

Out of 3,000 submissions from across the United States in the Opening Doors in Space program and contest, Broomes submission of plans for a space garden won the grand prize a chance to speak with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir who is currently living and working aboard the International Space Station.

As the first hospitality brand to participate in research aboard the ISS, DoubleTree by Hilton in partnership with Scholastic invited 5,000 middle school classrooms around the U.S. to participate in its Opening Doors in Space educational program and contest, which encouraged students to think creatively about how to innovate long-duration space travel to make it more comfortable and hospitable. DoubleTree by Hilton developed the educational program and contest to complement its famous DoubleTree chocolate chip cookies becoming the first food baked in space.

Grand Blanc East Middle School eighth-grader Alayna Broome talks with Grand Blanc City Councilman John Creasey, left, and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee after a Skype session with astronaut Jessica Meir, who is aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Jalene Jameson

Broomes submission detailed a space garden that functions as a sustainable food source, as well as serves as a symbol of comfort to make travelers feel at home, no matter where they are.

As the students waited to connect with Meir, Mission Control in Houston could be heard asking for a voice check. Several students, including Broome, were able to ask Meir questions and see and hear her via Skype. Life in microgravity could be seen as Meirs curly hair floated above her head, bracelets she was wearing lifted off her wrist, and her microphone and a packaged cookie hung suspended in the air.

Meir explained to the students how the DoubleTree cookie became the first food baked in space using a special oven. She said being able to cook, smell and taste freshly made food is important for long-term space travel and for the crews psychological well-being.

Who doesnt like freshly baked cookies? Meir said. The oven is right here above my head in this lab. All the crew members pass through here, and the lab was full of this wonderful smell of baking cookies. I love to bake and bring things to people to share

This is Broomes design for a space garden. Her design won the grand prize in the national DoubleTree by Hilton and Scholastic Opening Doors in Space program contest. Drawing provided

6 at work, and it reminded me of that. That wonderful aroma really did make me feel at home.

Meir has been aboard the ISS since September and is completing a 9-month mission. She said people often ask her what she misses in space. She said she misses her family and friends, but the astronauts are able to Skype weekly with loved ones and can even call them on the phone. Surprisingly, she said she really doesnt miss anything else.

I thought Id miss the outdoors because I love to hike and be out in nature, she said. I think its because were in a unique and exceptional environment, nothing like anything youve experienced before. Everything is so unique and special and beautiful looking down at the Earth, doing the space walk and all the experiments. Theres so much exciting stuff going on.

One of those exciting moments for Meir was being part of the first all-female space walk in history. Another experiment has been growing a crop of lettuce on the ISS. Meir and her crew have had two harvests of Mizuna mustard lettuce, which she said has had a positive psychological effect for them from being able to grow and care for the plants, harvest them and be able to eat what theyve grown in a salad.

The other important factor in food sources and ways we can grow and prepare food in space is important to long-duration and deep-space missions, Meir said. Food has to be more sustainable because were not going to bring everything with us.

Meir said she has wanted to be an astronaut since she was about 5 years old, but her career before space was as a comparative physiologist studying animals that live in extreme environments. She said she studied emperor penguins and elephant seals in the Arctic, in particular why they both can live in the same environment and are deep sea divers, but the penguins can only stay underwater for 2 minutes, while the seals can stay under for 2 hours.

Meir said she believes space exploration is an inherent part of human beings having the desire to go farther, and that desire is very important for humans to progress as a society and civilization.

Sometimes the unintended results are often the most fruitful, she said. You may uncover a whole different realm of answers that you werent even looking for. It changes you as a person up here. Ive had people describe to me how they felt when they looked back on Earth for the first time with their own eyes. It gives you a profoundly different feeling for your place in the world. Its easy to get caught up in the small minutiae of things that dont really matter. Were all a part of something much bigger, and were all in this together.

After the presentation, Broome discussed her winning project and what it was like talking to an astronaut. She said she knew astronauts are able to grow plants in space, so she came up with the idea of a space garden that would make the ISS seem a little more like home. She said she was happy she won, but she would have liked to see what other students came up with.

Broome said being able to talk with Meir was a life-changing moment.

It was really cool because we got to have a conversation with her through just Skype, Broome said. Its just so amazing we got to talk to someone so far away from us in space when were on Earth. Its just so awesome to hear from her experience and what she learned and that she didnt actually miss anything from Earth because its so unique.

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East Middle School students talk to astronaut on the International Space Station - Grandblancview