The LEGO Ideas ISS (International Space Station) was revealed as a build-ready, in-store, consumer-ready set this week. This build was made on the micro-level, which means it's got a pair of 2 astronaut microfigures that'll live in the base of the set near its user-built stand. This system is both incredibly detailed and surprisingly simple - an instant classic, for sure.
NASA took the time to brag on one of its astronauts not long ago for setting a record for space flight duration. NASA Astronaut Christina Koch has set a record for the longest space flight by a woman after spending 288 days in orbit. That eclipses the record set by former station commander Peggy Whitson.
The European Space Agency has announced that astronaut Luca Parmitano successfully navigated a rover through an obstacle course to collect a rock sample all the way from the International Space Station. The obstacle course was located in the Netherlands where the test took place on Monday. The ESA developed the technology used to remotely operate rovers from space.
NASA says the Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched over the weekend has successfully docked with the International Space Station. Amid the cargo contained on this vessel is a special oven and cookie dough that brings a special new capability to the ISS: the ability to bake chocolate chip cookies. The experiment comes from DoubleTree by Hilton and Zero G Kitchen.
An Antares rocket from Northrop Grumman has successfully launched the Cygnus cargo spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station. The launch happened at 9:59AM from the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport as anticipated. Assuming nothing unusual happens, NASA says the cargo vessel will arrive at the ISS on Monday, November 4, carrying a huge load of supplies and scientific materials.
Bosch has announced that it has a new sensor that is set to lift off to the ISS called SoundSee. The SoundSee modules is about the size of a lunchbox and has microphones intended to analyze sounds aboard the ISS to gauge system health. The microphones work in conjunction with a machine learning algorithm to analyze the audio data that it hears.
NASA has announced that members of Expedition 61 aboard the ISS have completed the first of five scheduled spacewalks to upgrade the power abord the space station. Flight Engineers Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan of NASA conducted their spacewalk at 2:40 p.m. EDT on September 6. The spacewalk lasted 7 hours and one minute.
The International Space Station has received a 600 Mbps data rate upgrade, according to NASA, enabling astronauts and control centers on Earth to communicate at faster rates. The upgrade doubles the ISS's data rate, making it possible to conduct new types of tech demonstrations and scientific experiments that come with more demanding data requirements. This upgrade will also play an important role in communication capabilities for the future Gateway station.
The image here was snapped by astronauts on the ISS recently and shows a very rare eruption of the Raikoke Volcano on the Kuril Islands on the Kamchatka Peninsula. This volcano rarely erupts, and it's very long dormant period ended on June 22. The last recorded eruptions of the volcano were in 1924 and in 1778.
Astronauts in the International Space Station have some flying robot company, with the first of three Astrobee 'bots taking flight. NASA dispatched two of the cuboid trio to the ISS earlier in the year, where the robots will eventually help out with housekeeping tasks, take part in scientific experiments, and generally make the whole place seem more futuristic.
NASA plans to open the International Space Station to private astronaut missions, though this most unusual of AirBnbs will likely leave a multi-million dent in your pocket. The US space agency announced its plans to enable such missions on Friday, as part of a larger push to better utilize the ISS and accelerate the low-Earth orbit commercial economy.
Last month, a spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station carrying, among other cargo, small cube-shaped robots called Astrobees. The devices are designed to operate in the space lab's unique microgravity environment, offering assistance to the astronauts located on the ISS. In its most recent update on the matter, NASA shared an image of the Astrobee robot 'Bumble' on the ISS alongside some details about how it and its 'Honey' companion are operating.