Who wants to be an astronaut? More than 12,000 people do, resulting in NASA’s second-largest group of astronaut hopefuls. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-04-nasa-astronauts-spaceflight.html…
Tag: Spaceflight
Falcon 9 Rocket Overcomes Engine Failure To Deploy 60 Starlink Satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket overcame a rare in-flight engine failure soon after launch from Florida’s Space Coast Wednesday to place 60 satellites in orbit for the company’s Starlink Internet network. Spaceflight Now reports: One of the rocket’s nine first stage engines shut down prematurely around 2 minutes, 22 seconds, after liftoff from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in…
Want to be an astronaut? Apply now!
For the first time in more than 4 years, NASA is now accepting applications for future astronauts. Aspiring moon to Mars explorers have until March 31 to apply. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/nasa-astronaut-apply-march2020…
John Glenn was the 1st American to orbit Earth
On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the 1st American to orbit Earth and the first American space hero. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/this-date-in-science-john-glenn-is-first-american-to-orbit-earth…
SpaceX Wants To Launch 4 Tourists Into Super High Orbit
SpaceX is working with Space Adventures to launch up to four tourists into a super high orbit, possible by the end of next year. “Ticket prices are not being divulged but expected to be in the millions,” reports NBC Los Angeles. From the report: For this trip, paying customers will skip the space station and instead orbit two to three times…
New adventures in beds and baths for spaceflight
ESA is expanding its bedrest program that allows researchers to study how human bodies react to living in space—without leaving their bed. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-02-adventures-beds-spaceflight.html…
NASA is Looking for New Astronauts
“With a renewed interest in sending humans back to the Moon and then eventually to Mars, NASA needs all the able-bodied space explorers it can get…” writes BGR. “The requirements are, well, pretty strict, but what else would you expect from a group that sends humans into space?” Quoting NASA.gov:
Since the 1960s, NASA has selected 350 people to train as astronaut…
Former NASA Official William Gerstenmaier Joins SpaceX
schwit1 shared this report from Ars Technica:
This is a consequential hire for SpaceX — it is difficult to overstate the influence Gerstenmaier has over human spaceflight both in the United States and abroad. He led NASA’s space shuttle, International Space Station, commercial crew, and exploration programs for more than a decade. He immediately brings credibility to the company’s safety culture. Former…
Valentine Venus
Talk about an awesome Valentine’s Day activity! Go outside and show your sweetie Venus, the planet of love. Astronomer Guy Ottewell provides a chart and more. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/valentines-day-activity-2020-how-to-see-venus…
Congratulations, Christina Koch!
Astronaut Christina Koch has returned to Earth after a record-breaking stay of 328 days aboard the International Space Station. She now holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/astronaut-christina-koch-record-longest-spaceflight-woman…