Showing posts with label ISS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ISS. Show all posts

India’s Historic Leap: Shubhanshu Shukla To Become 1st Indian on ISS in Multinational Space Mission

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India’s Historic Leap: Shubhanshu Shukla To Become 1st Indian on ISS in Multinational Space Mission

History was made today as astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary embarked on their first-ever mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The mission, dubbed Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is expected to dock with the ISS after a 28-hour journey.



The four-member crew includes:
  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – an Indian Air Force pilot and the first Indian to visit the ISS.
  • SÅ‚awosz UznaÅ„ski-WiÅ›niewski (Poland) – a physicist and ESA project astronaut.
  • Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – a mechanical engineer representing Hungary’s HUNOR program.
  • Peggy Whitson (USA) – a veteran astronaut and mission commander, holding the U.S. record for most days in space.
This privately funded mission, organized by Axiom Space, marks a return to human spaceflight for all three nations after more than four decades. Over the next 14 days, the crew will conduct around 60 scientific experiments spanning microgravity research, space agriculture, and biomedical studies.

And in a charming cultural touch, they’ve brought along national delicacies—Indian curry, Hungarian paprika paste, and Polish pierogies—to share aboard the ISS.

Launch Details:

  • Launch Time & Vehicle: 12:01 PM IST on June 25 from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft.
  • Docking Schedule: Expected at 4:30 PM IST on June 26.

Crew Highlights:

  • Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot, first Indian to visit the ISS.
  • Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander, record-holder for most days in space by an American.
  • SÅ‚awosz UznaÅ„ski-WiÅ›niewski (Poland) – ESA astronaut and physicist.
  • Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Engineer from Hungary’s HUNOR program.

Scientific Goals:

  • 60 experiments across 31 countries.
  • Research in space agriculture, gut microbiota, microgravity physics.
  • India-specific studies on screen use, muscle atrophy, and neurofeedback.

Symbolism & Facts:

  • First government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades for India, Poland, and Hungary.
  • Fulfills diplomatic commitments for enhanced Indo.
  • Mission overcame six delays due to weather and a liquid oxygen leak.

India Joins Global Space Research: ISRO to Study Long-Term Space Missions on Ax-4

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India Joins Global Space Research: ISRO to Study Long-Term Space Missions on Ax-4

ISRO is conducting research on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to support long-duration space missions.

With duration up to 14 days docked at the International Space Station (ISS), the Ax-4 astronauts crew will led by Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), with Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznański-Wisniewski (Poland), and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).

The studies aim to enhance India's capabilities in space exploration and contribute to global scientific progress.

India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will pilot the Ax-4 mission, which includes around 60 scientific studies, with 7 led by Indian space agency ISRO. Shukla will serve as the mission pilot, making him the second Indian citizen to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma.

Shukla and his backup astronaut, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, have undergone rigorous training with NASA and Axiom Space.

India Joins Global Space Research: ISRO to Study Long-Term Space Missions on Ax-4
The Ax-4 crew 

 
Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla
Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla

India is working alongside NASA, ESA, and Axiom Space, strengthening its presence in international space exploration. This mission is a stepping stone for India's future human spaceflight programs, including Gaganyaan.

In an announcement, Axiom Space said, "ISRO has a strong portfolio of life science experiments. In collaboration with NASA and Redwire, the "Space Microalgae" project investigates the impact of microgravity on the growth, metabolism, and genetic activity of three strains of edible microalgae. These tiny organisms could become a sustainable food source for long-duration space missions, thanks to their rich protein, lipid, and bioactive components." 

Some key research areas include:
  • Human Research: Studying how astronauts interact with electronic displays in microgravity to improve spacecraft computer design.
  • Life Sciences: Investigating microalgae and cyanobacteria growth in space, which could lead to sustainable food sources and environmental control systems.
  • Muscle Regeneration: Exploring metabolic supplements to prevent muscle atrophy in astronauts.
  • Crop Growth: Examining the germination and growth of crop seeds in microgravity to support future space farming.
  • ISRO is also exploring the potential of growing crops in space. The "Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space" experiment, in collaboration with NASA and BioServe Space Technologies, investigates the germination and growth of crop seeds in microgravity. 
  • Tardigrade: In partnership with NASA and Voyager, ISRO is studying the resilience of tardigrades, tiny creatures known for their ability to survive extreme conditions. This experiment will examine the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades on the International Space Station, comparing gene expression patterns between space-flown and ground control populations. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of their resilience could inform future space exploration and lead to innovative biotechnology applications on Earth.
The mission is expected to launch no earlier than May 2025 and will be docked at the International Space Station (ISS) for up to 14 days.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, ISRO, and the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2025 and will be docked at the ISS for up to 14 days.

Key Details:
  • Crew: Led by Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), with Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Mission Specialist Slawosz UznaÅ„ski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
  • Research Focus: Ax-4 will conduct around 60 scientific studies, including seven led by ISRO, covering human research, life sciences, muscle regeneration, and crop growth in microgravity.
  • Significance: This mission marks India’s second human spaceflight and strengthens its presence in global space exploration.
Ax-4 is shaping up to be one of the most research-intensive missions yet!

Sunita Williams to Return Safely on March 19: Sr Scientist at NASA-JPL

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  • “Sunita Williams to return home safely on March 19”: Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay at ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025
  • “There is no conspiracy theory here; Sunita Williams’ return was delayed due to a technical glitch,” said Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay
  • “We have not found life outside Earth; not even a single cell,” said Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay
“There is no conspiracy theory here. NASA is not keeping Sunita Williams in space. Sunita Williams’ return was delayed due to a technical glitch, but on March 19, they will be safely back home. In fact, we are using this opportunity to explore space further,” Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, Senior Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Visiting Professor at Caltech said on NASA’s Sunita Williams stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) at ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025 in Mumbai, today.

Against the backdrop of India's growing leadership in space exploration, Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, exploring humanity's latest discoveries in the quest to understand the universe, said, “Can life exist outside of Earth? The answer is yes. But we have not found life outside of Earth; not even a single cell. But with 400 billion stars and the majority having planets revolving around them, the probability of life existing beyond Earth is there. Our goal is to find a planet where life is sustainable.”

Speaking at the session ‘Adventures in Space – Our Place in the Universe,’ Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, added, “We search for the unknown with the knowledge of the known. But we don’t even know what kind of life could start or where it may exist. That is what we are trying to figure out. The best place to live a happy life in this universe is our Earth. Why should we go live on Mars? We can send you there if you want, but it’s a one-way ticket.”

Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay also spoke on India’s unmatched potential in the global landscape, stating, “ISRO and NASA are collaborating on a project right now. ISRO is doing great and executing successful missions.”

Talking about how astronomy is different from astrology, Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay said, “Astronomy truly opens up your vision to the universe and it is a big mystery that we are trying to solve."

ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025, centred on the theme ‘Humanity’s Next Frontier’, will bring together thought leaders and innovators to explore the challenges and opportunities in India’s ascendance in a rapidly changing world. In the face of climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements such as AI, the summit delved into India’s role as both an ancient civilisation and a demographic powerhouse in shaping the future. The two-day summit brought together a confluence of ideas from global thought leaders, intellectuals, and change-makers, covering transformative possibilities in science, medicine, social contracts, and global leadership, with experts from diverse fields offering bold visions of a better, more sustainable world for all.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Returning to Earth Next Month

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Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Returning to Earth Next Month

Sunita Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore are set to return to Earth earlier than expected. NASA has announced that they will be coming back aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in mid-March 2025. Their return was delayed due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule, which extended their stay on the ISS to over eight months

Williams and Wilmore have been conducting important research and even took part in spacewalks during their extended missio. Despite the challenges, they've remained in good spirits and assured everyone that they are safe and well-supplied.

During her extended stay on the ISS, Sunita Williams conducted several important research projects. One notable study focused on preventing cartilage damage and boosting bone strength in astronauts during long space missions. This research involved jumping exercises, which showed promising results in maintaining joint health and preventing cartilage degradation in mice. The findings suggest that similar exercises could be beneficial for astronauts on future long-duration missions, such as those to Mars.

Williams has faced several challenges, including muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and appetite-related weight loss due to prolonged exposure to microgravity. Despite these difficulties, she has continued to perform crucial tasks outside the ISS and conduct scientific research.

Spacewalk Record by Sunita

During this time, Sunita has broken the record for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut. On January 30, 2025, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams made history while floating 423 kilometers above the Pacific Ocean. During her 9th spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), she captured a breathtaking selfie, marking a memorable moment in her space journey.


Williams also participated in various other experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS, contributing to our understanding of how the human body adapts to prolonged space travel.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Returning to Earth Next Month

In their latest statement, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore reassured everyone that they are safe and well-supplied despite the extended stay on the ISS. Williams mentioned, "I don’t think I’m abandoned. I don’t think we’re stuck up here". She also addressed concerns about her appearance in recent images, explaining that the changes were due to the common effects of microgravity on bodily fluids.

They both expressed gratitude for the support and efforts to bring them back home and are looking forward to their return in mid-March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

Effects of Long-Term Duration Stay in Space

Long-duration space missions have revealed several health effects on astronauts due to the unique environment of space. The lack of gravity in space leads to muscle atrophy and bone density loss. Astronauts can lose up to 1-2% of bone mass per month and experience muscle weakening.

Prolonged exposure to microgravity can cause changes in the cardiovascular system, including reduced heart muscle mass and fluid shifts that lead to a puffy face and bird legs syndrome (swelling of the legs and feet).

Space radiation, including galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events, poses significant risks. It can increase the risk of cancer and cause damage to the central nervous system.

Some astronauts experience visual impairment intracranial pressure (VIIP), which includes swelling of the optic nerve, changes in eye shape, and degraded vision.

Besides, the isolation, confinement, and distance from Earth can lead to psychological stress, including sleep disturbances, mood changes, and cognitive decline.

Spaceflight can alter the immune system, making astronauts more susceptible to infections and reducing their ability to fight off pathogens.

Long-term exposure to space radiation can lead to cancer and genetic damage.

These health effects highlight the importance of developing countermeasures and technologies to ensure the safety and well-being of astronauts on future long-duration missions.

These health effects highlight the importance of developing countermeasures and technologies to ensure the safety and well-being of astronauts on future long-duration missions.

NASA Astronaut Captures Photos of Maha Kumbh at Night from The ISS

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NASA Astronaut Captures Photo of Maha Kumbh at Night from The ISS

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), recently shared stunning photos of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela from space. Captured at night, the images show the vast crowd illuminated under the night sky, highlighting the grandeur of the world's largest human gathering.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, held once every 144 years in Prayagraj, attracts millions of devotees who come to take a holy dip in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Pettit's photos beautifully capture the enormity and vibrancy of this spiritual event from an unparalleled perspective.



NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his passion for photography, has used a Telephoto lenses attached to an electronic still camera to capture the stunning images of the Maha Kumbh Mela from the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit has shared many breathtaking views of Earth from space during his missions.

NASA Astronaut Captures Photo of Maha Kumbh at Night from The ISS
Enlarged and enhances copy of photo taken by Astronaut Pettit (Click or tap to view) 

Pettit used high-resolution digital cameras, including models from Nikon and Canon, to capture his images.

He employed a range of lenses, including fisheye, wide-angle, and telephoto lenses, to get different perspectives and details.

The fisheye lens allowed him to capture wide panoramic views, which are especially useful for photographing large events. Telephoto lenses were used to zoom in on specific areas, providing detailed close-up shots of geographical features or events on Earth.

An innovative photographer, Pettit has used time exposure, multiple cameras, infrared, and other techniques to contribute breathtaking images of Earth and star trails from the space station’s unique viewpoint. These photos contribute to a database researchers use to understand Earth’s changing landscapes, and this imagery can inspire the public’s interest in human spaceflight. 


Indian Conglomerate Scouts for NASA's Next Space Station

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Indian Conglomerate Scouts for NASA's Next Space Station

An Indian multinational conglomerate, which has been a key partner for the Indian space agency ISRO for over five decades, is exploring opportunities to contribute to NASA's successor to the International Space Station (ISS).

Mumbai, Maharashtra-headquartered Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been a key player in powering ISRO's space missions for over five decades and is now looking to expand its reach to the international market. L&T is hopeful that Indian firms will play a role in the supply chain for America's next space station.

Vikas Khita, Vice President of L&T Precision Engineering and Systems, mentioned that while earlier talks with Blue Origin for supplying orbital launch capabilities and space habitat solutions faced challenges, remnants of those discussions are still ongoing, now involving NASA.

Khita told news agency PTI that L&T has been in discussions with Blue Origin, a Jeff Bezos's aerospace manufacturer, for supplying orbital launch capabilities and space habitat solutions.

While these talks encountered some challenges, remnants of the discussions are still ongoing, now involving NASA.

NASA is collaborating on developing a space station owned, built, and operated by a private company — either Axiom Space, Voyager Space, or Blue Origin. NASA is giving each company hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and sharing their expertise with them.

Progress photo showing the Axiom Space station being built
Progress photo showing the Axiom Space station being built.
(Image - ENRICO SACCHETTI/Axiom Space

NASA's next space station is called Gateway. It's a lunar space station designed to support deep space exploration and serve as a multi-purpose outpost for lunar surface missions, science in lunar orbit, and human exploration further into the cosmos. Gateway is central to NASA's Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and eventually pave the way for human missions to Mars and beyond.

Known as India's largest engineering firm, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been involved in the fabrication of various satellites for ISRO, including the GSAT series and IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) satellites.

Moreover, L&T has even contributed to the development of ISRO's launch vehicles, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). L&T is also involved in ISRO's Gaganyaan program, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space.

L&T is also interested in building space ports, space parks, and manufacturing clusters, aligning with the Indian government's decision to open up the space sector for private participation.

Sunita Williams to Fly in Space for the 3rd Time

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Sunita Williams to Fly in Space for the 3rd Time

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams" is set to be part of the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission will mark Williams's third visit to the ISS, where she will join a team of astronauts to conduct various scientific experiments and missions during her stay.

Sunita, along with fellow astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore, will play a crucial role in this historic mission.

The mission — Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) — will have Sunita and Wilmore to fly aboard the Starliner spacecraft as part of the CFT mission.

The launch is scheduled for May 6, 2024

The Boeing CFT aims to demonstrate the spacecraft's capabilities and readiness for future crewed missions to the ISS. Completing the CFT will broaden NASA's capability for crew transportation to and from the ISS. If successful, this mission will pave the way for operational crew rotation flights using the Starliner spacecraft starting in 2025.

 
Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams
(L-R) —  Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams during T-38 pre-flight activities at Ellington Field. (Image Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz) 

Sunita Williams to Fly in Space for the 3rd Time

The Starliner will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Sunita is a seasoned astronaut with an impressive spaceflight history, including previous visits to the ISS. Barry Wilmore who is an another experienced astronaut, Wilmore will serve as the spacecraft commander.

After docking with the ISS, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will conduct their mission aboard the station before returning to Earth.
 
Sunita Williams to Fly in Space for the 3rd Time
Suni Williams, pilot for Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT), checks her spacesuit and helmet during a crew validation test inside the Astronaut Crew Quarters at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 18, 2022. (Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett) 

Sunita's journey represents a significant milestone in space exploration, and her contributions continue to inspire us all.

Sunita's paternal family is from Jhulasan in the Mehsana district in Gujarat, India, whereas her maternal family is of Slovene descent. Sunita has taken the Slovenian flag, a samosa and Carniolan sausage to space in celebration of her Indian and Slovenian heritage

NASA is partnering with Boeing and SpaceX to build a new generation of human-rated spacecraft capable of taking astronauts to the International Space Station and expanding research opportunities in orbit. Boeing's upcoming Orbital Flight Test is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract with the goal of returning human spaceflight launch capabilities to the United States.

International Space Station (ISS) Wishes India on 76th Independence Day

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International Space Station (ISS) Wishes India on 76th Independence Day

Today, on 76th Independence Day of India ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, living & working aboard the International Space Station (ISS) expressed happiness while congratulating India on the completion of 75 years of independence. This message from space came on 13th August, which is the day of birth anniversary of of Vikram Sarabhai, the father & pioneer of Indian space program.

In the video message, representing on all the partners of the ISS, Cristoforetti said that she is pleased to congratulate India on the completion of 75 years of independence. Over the decades, international agencies have collaborated with ISRO on several space and science missions.

Cristoforetti said that expanding ISS partnership with ISRO and exploring the future in the universe and space is the goal of all of us. Indian astronauts will be sent to space on the basis of some tests.

If India successfully accomplish the ‘Gaganyaan mission’ then it will make India the fourth country in the world to send humans to space after the US, Russia and China. Indian government has said that the preparation for the Gaganyaan mission is complete.

This video was shared on Twitter by ISRO and by India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.


NASA To Deploy Space Stations Where People Can Visit, Live and Work

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Image credits - facebook.com/SierraSpaceCo

Recently, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had to take emergency shelter in a spacecraft docked to the ISS because of a new, potentially dangerous debris field generated by a Russian anti-satellite test.

Hence, it seems U.S. space agency NASA is seeking to maintain an uninterrupted presence in low-Earth orbit by transitioning from the ISS. And for same NASA  is partnering with U.S. companies to develop the space destinations/stations in Loe-Earth Orbit (LEO) where people can visit, live, and work.

NASA has recently signed agreements with 3 companies to develop designs of space stations and other commercial destinations in space. These include --- Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, renowned space-entrepreneur Jeffrey Manber's Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said -
With commercial companies now providing transportation to low-Earth orbit in place, we are partnering with U.S. companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space.
Below are commercial stations designed and being developed by the NASA's selected companies -

Orbital Reef


Bezos' Blue Origin and Sierra Space have partnered to develop Orbital Reef, a commercially owned and operated space station to be built in low-Earth orbit, which will start operating in the second half of this decade.

Orbital Reef’s human-centered space architecture is designed to be a “mixed-use space business park” that provides essential infrastructure needed to support all types of human spaceflight activity in low-Earth orbit and can be scaled to serve new markets.

Starlab

Startlab
[Image Credits: nasa.gov - Nanoracks/Lockheed Martin/Voyager Space]

Nanoracks’ commercial low-Earth orbit destination, in collaboration with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, is called "Starlab" that is targeted for launch in 2027 on a single flight as a continuously crewed, commercial space station dedicated to conducting advanced research, fostering commercial industrial activity, and ensuring continued U.S. presence and leadership in low-Earth orbit. 

Starlab is designed for four astronauts and will have power, volume, and a payload capability equivalent to the International Space Station. The George Washington Carver (GWC) Science Park, the first science park in space, forms the core of Starlab.

Northrop Grumman's Free Flying Space Station 

Northrop Grumman’s low Earth orbit commercial free-flying space station design leverages flight proven elements to provide the base module for extended capabilities including science, tourism, industrial experimentation, and building of infrastructure beyond initial design.


Northrop Grumman’s design for a modular, commercial destination in low-Earth orbit is built on decades of experience supporting NASA, defense, and commercial programs. The station will have the ability to support 4 permanent crewmembers initially, with plans to expand to an 8-person crew and further capability beyond that. The station is designed for a permanent presence of 15 years.

The Northrop Grumman's space station's design leverages flight-proven elements, such as the Cygnus spacecraft that provides cargo delivery to the ISS, to provide a base module for extended capabilities including science, tourism, industrial experimentation, and the building of infrastructure beyond initial design. Multiple docking ports will allow future expansion to support crew analog habitats, laboratories, crew airlocks, and facilities capable of artificial gravity, in support of multiple customers.

Developing commercial destinations in Low-Earth orbit is part of NASA’s broader efforts to build a robust low-Earth orbit economy, including supporting commercial activity and enabling the first private astronaut mission to the space station. 

DNA Can Repair Itself in Microgravity, Proves a 1st CRISPR Experiment in Space

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NASA astronaut Christina Koch works on the "Genes in Space-6" investigation [Credits - NASA]


In Space explorations, humans can be exposed to risk of DNA damage caused by radiation in outer space. For this astronauts in International Space Station (ISS) is studying DNA repair in micro-gravity i.e. in space.

In the first use of CRISPR genome editing technique in space, a recent investigation aboard the International Space Station successfully generated breaks in the DNA of a common yeast and and then analyzed how it repaired itself.

In a part of Genes in Space-6 experiment, which is about studying DNA breaks to protect future space travelers, the researchers reported this first completion of the entire process in space in a published paper. The researchers directed the method of repair, and sequenced the patched-up DNA to determine whether its original order was restored.

In the published paper researchers explained how the DNA was restored to its original order. 

These results significantly expand the space station’s molecular biology toolkit, enabling studies of DNA repair and a variety of other biological investigations in microgravity.

From left to right: Michelle Sung, Rebecca Li, Aarthi Vijayakumar and David Li
[Credits: GENES IN SPACE]

Interestingly, "Genes in Space-6" experiment was the brainchild of 4 students -- Aarthi Vijayakumar, Michelle Sung, Rebecca Li, and David Li, who are also the co-authors on the results paper. They earned the opportunity to participate in this research as a part of the Genes in Space program, a national contest that challenges students in grades 7 through 12 to design DNA analysis experiments using the ISS U.S. National Lab and tools aboard the station. 

The investigation represents a number of firsts, including the first use of CRISPR-Cas9 genetic editing on the space station and the first time scientists evaluate the entire damage and repair process in space.

Astronauts may be at risk for harmful DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Double-strand breaks are a type of DNA damage that can be repaired by two major cellular pathways: non-homologous end joining, during which insertions or deletions may be added at the break site, and homologous recombination, in which the DNA sequence often remains unchanged. Previous work suggests that space conditions may impact the choice of DNA repair pathway, potentially compounding the risks of increased radiation exposure during space travel. 

However, understanding of this problem has been limited by technical and safety concerns, which have prevented integral study of the DNA repair process in space. 

The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system offers a model for the safe and targeted generation of double-strand breaks in eukaryotes. In the research paper, its describes that a CRISPR-based assay for DNA break induction and assessment of double-strand break repair pathway choice entirely in space.

Genes in Space and other DNA-related research on the space station also has produced advances in the hardware needed. Tools on Earth do not necessarily lend themselves to spaceflight, says Sarah Rommel, the paper’s primary author and a researcher in the Microbiology Laboratory at Johnson. 

“We cannot take exactly what we have on Earth and simply put it in space, because we have to keep the crew and all the environmental life systems on board safe. For example, we made our own custom kits for the whole process, looking at how to use the least amount of the safest materials and still get the best science." says Sarah.

Russia's Quantum Leap in Space, Nauka Science Module Launched After 14 Years of Wait

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Russia has successfully launched the Nauka Lab module to the International Space Station (ISS) with a delay of 14 years. With Nauka module's help, Russian astronauts will be able to conduct more scientific research. Nauka is being described as Russia's largest space laboratory. The name of NAUKA is also known as Russian Multipurpose Research Module (MLM).

Nauka, the Russian word for 'science', was launched into space on a Proton-M rocket from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Russia's state news agency has reported that at this time the Nuka module has successfully separated from the Proton-M rocket outside the orbital outpost. It is expected to connect with the International Space Station on 29 July.


The Nauka module, which weighs 22 tons, was planned to be launched in 2007 but its launch got delayed over time. The module is carried with it the European Robotic Orm ERA. This robotic arm has been designed to work in the Russian part of the ISS. The module successfully separated from the launcher 580 seconds after lift-off.

Equipped with a host of amenities, the Russian laboratory is 42 feet long and with a maximum diameter of 14 feet, this module will have many modern facilities. Russian space scientists will also be able to do more experiments in this module than before. It will have a separate bed for each of the astronauts. Along with this toilet, oxygen generator and urine filtering system are also installed.



Russia's space agency Roscosmos has confirmed the successful separation of the module from the rocket in a tweet. Roscosmos wrote that at T+9:40 minutes after liftoff, the yacht Multipurpose Laboratory Module separated from the Proton-M carrier rocket in its third stage. The module then begins its 8-day autonomous flight to the ISS.

After 30 minutes of launch, Roscosmos reported that Nauka has successfully deployed its solar panels and antennas. The module will now use its own engines to move forward in its orbit, Russian news agency Tass reported. The connection of this module to the ISS is believed to be fixed on July 29.

SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft Drops 2 Astronauts into ISS after 19-Hour Journey

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Two NASA astronauts on Sunday entered the International Space Station from SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft after a historic launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the dawn of a new age in commercial space travel.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which is an independent agency for space research, aeronautics and related programmes in the US, confirmed the arrival of astronauts Bob Behnken (49) and Doug Hurley (53) at the ISS.

"This is the first time in human history @NASA_Astronauts have entered the @Space_Station from a commercially-made spacecraft. @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug have finally arrived to the orbiting laboratory in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft," NASA said in a tweet.




They were welcomed aboard the ISS where they became members of the Expedition 63 crew, which currently includes NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy.

The docking had taken place 19 hours after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center.

Elon Musk's SpaceX company earlier confirmed the successful docking of the NASA astronauts with the ISS, the orbiting laboratory.

"Docking confirmed - Crew Dragon has arrived at the @space_station!" the California-headquartered company announced on Twitter.

Saturday's liftoff also assumes significance as it marks the launch of humans into orbit from US soil for the first time in nearly a decade.



The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Behnken and Hurley, lifted off at 3:22 pm EDT Saturday atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

With the liftoff, SpaceX became the first private company to launch people into the orbit, a feat achieved previously by only three governments: the US, Russia and China.

The successful launch, which was postponed early this week due to inclement weather, gave Americans something to cheer about as in the last three months they have lost over 100,000 of their countrymen due to the coronavirus that has brought the economy to its knees. More than 40 million people have lost their jobs.

Top US leadership including President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and thousands of curious Americans had gathered to watch the launch live on a bright Sunday afternoon. Congratulating Musk, NASA and the astronauts, Trump described the launch day as a great day for the country.

The President said he spoke with Musk, whom he called one of the "great brains."

He also spoke with the two NASA astronauts prior to the takeoff. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that "Launch America is the first big step on our roadmap to the Moon for Artemis".

NASA's Artemis programme, the US initiative to explore more of the lunar surface, aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024.

"This is a dream come true for me and everyone at SpaceX,” said Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla.

"It is the culmination of an incredible amount of work by the SpaceX team, by NASA and by a number of other partners in the process of making this happen," he said.

"Today a new era in human spaceflight begins as we once again launched American astronauts on American rockets from American soil on their way to the ISS, our national lab orbiting Earth," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

The launch of this commercial space system designed for humans is a phenomenal demonstration of American excellence and is an important step on our path to expand human exploration to the Moon and Mars, he said.

"Today, in lifting our ambitions and our imaginations to the heavens, the United States has once more reshaped the future of space travel," said Joe Biden, former US Vice President and Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee.

Their voyage not only marks the return of American astronauts travelling to space from US soil, but a pioneering new phase of public-private cooperation for the peaceful exploration of space, Biden said as he asserted that the seed of today's launch was planted by the Obama-Biden administration.

"We planted the seeds of today's success during the 2009 Recovery Act, which according to NASA, has saved taxpayers up to USD 30 billion and invigorated an aerospace industry in Florida that accounts for more than 130,000 jobs in the state," he said.

Known as NASA's SpaceX Demo-2, the mission is an end-to-end test flight to validate the SpaceX crew transportation system, including launch, in-orbit, docking and landing operations.

This is SpaceX's second spaceflight test of its Crew Dragon and its first test with astronauts aboard, which will pave the way for its certification for regular crew flights to the station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Programme. PTI LKJ CK AKJ

Elon Musk, Tom Cruise and NASA working Together for a Movie Scene in Outer Space

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On Tuesday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted that that american space agency is working with Hollywood actor Tom Cruise to create a movie shot aboard International Space Station (ISS).

In response to Bridenstine's tweet, Musk wrote that the initiative "should be a lot of fun!".





On Monday, Hollywood news website Deadline also reported that Tom Cruise and Elon Musk’s Space X are working on a project with NASA that would be the first narrative feature film – an action adventure – to be shot in outer space.

No studio was officially on board the project as of yet, and the project was still in the "early stages of liftoff", added the website, Deadline.

Interestingly, commercial use of NASA's facilities is allowed provided the resources used onto the space station need to be purchased as per NASA's price policy, and shall require a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (RSAA) or another arrangement with NASA to recover costs to NASA. For example, use of life support equipment and the toilet were listed at USD 11,250 or ₹ 8.55 lakh per day approximately, while crew supplies were listed at USD 22,500 or ₹17.11 Lakh per day.

Singapore-based SpaceChain Sends Blockchain Tech to Space Station ISS

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Singapore-based SpaceChain today announced that its blockchain hardware wallet technology is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of today’s CRS-19 commercial resupply service mission. This is the first technology demonstration of blockchain hardware on the ISS, and it will be installed in Nanoracks’ commercial platform on Station. Today marks the third blockchain payload launched into space by SpaceChain in the past two years, advancing SpaceChain’s vision of a decentralized orbital constellation for fintech and business applications. This ISS demonstration mission was made possible via Nanoracks and their Space Act agreement with NASA.

Once activated, the payload will demonstrate the receipt, authorization, and retransmission of blockchain transactions, creating “multisig” transactions which require multiple signatures (approvals) to complete, increasing the security of the operation. All data will be both uplinked and downlinked directly through Nanoracks’ commercial platform. SpaceChain’s implementation adds the remoteness and security of space infrastructure to blockchain technology to lay the foundation for a new generation of products built on its technology.

This milestone underscores SpaceChain’s commitment to addressing land-based centralized infrastructure concerns, while accelerating technology advancement, international collaboration, and adoption of space-as-a-service for modern businesses.



Earlier this year, SpaceChain was awarded funding by the European Space Agency (ESA) under its Kick-start Activity program, to further develop and identify commercial use-cases for its satellite blockchain technology. By adding space-based payloads to established networks, businesses will be able to enhance the security of the transmission of digital assets that can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and hacking when hosted exclusively in centralized terrestrial servers.

“The third payload launch is a significant milestone not just for SpaceChain but also toward the development of the New Space Economy,” said Zee Zheng, SpaceChain co-founder and CEO. “The integration of space and blockchain technologies has uncovered new possibilities and opportunities and we are very excited about the prospect of working closely with financial service providers, fintech and Bitcoin developers, IoT service providers, research institutions and space agencies in the coming months to further accelerate advancements within the ecosystem."

“Blockchain is the next major disruptor in space,” said Jeff Garzik, SpaceChain co-founder and CTO. “SpaceChain addresses security vulnerabilities for financial systems and digital assets in the growing digital economy. Through integrating technologies, new paradigms that were once beyond reach can now be created and add exciting elements in the New Space Economy.

SpaceChain expects the testing of this payload to be completed by early 2020.

About SpaceChain:

Founded in 2017, SpaceChain is a community-based space platform that combines space and blockchain technologies to build the world’s first open-source blockchain-based satellite network, allowing users to develop and run applications in space. SpaceChain’s decentralized technology is a catalyst for the creation of the New Space Economy, by making the development of space applications easier and making space more accessible. It enables innovation for a number of industries, and its first application will be space-based multisig technology for financial services.

NASA to Allow Private Firms to Buy Time & Space on the Space Station ISS

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The U.S. space agency NASA has announced that it will soon open up parts of the International Space Station (ISS) to more commercial opportunities, allowing companies unprecedented use of the space station’s facilities, including filming commercials or movies against the backdrop of space, reported The Verge.

Once implemented, this will allow private firms across the globe to use ISS for for-profit activities including marketing, advertising, off-Earth manufacturing, and even "Space Tourism".

"We're enabling up to two commercial flights with private astronauts per year," said NASA's ISS Deputy Director, Robyn Gatens. "So, depending on how many seats they want to carry, that would be a dozen or so private astronauts potentially per year on the International Space Station."

Gatens then added, "Private astronauts from other countries can fly through a US entity". That means ISS passenger-guests do not need to hold a US passport or hail from a space-faring nation. They do need to book their training, their ride and their up-to-30-day stay through an American space carrier."

It is to be noted that the space station 'ISS' does not solely belongs to NASA or the U.S. but by four other countries -- Russia, the European Partner, Japan and Canada - who are owners of their respective parts of ISS. As ISS is an assembled entity made up of a number of parts that belong to different countries and NASA would open up the part that is owned by it and not others'.

This move from NASA comes within a month after US billionaire Jeff Bezos unveiled a spacecraft named "Blue Moon", which will land on lunar surface by 2024. The Bezos-founded firm Blue Origin was said to be working on Blue Moon spacecraft for the last three years.

Earlier this year, the chief of Indian space agency ISRO, A S Kiran Kumar, had said that he believes that India has capability, technology and infrastructure to develop its own space station but it needs approval from the government to work on the long-term plan.

Meet DTN - An Internet For Entire Solar System or An "Interplanetary Internet"

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The nearly-20 year old International Space Station (ISS) is finally gearing up to get an upgrade, all thanks to the large volume of investments and great innovations that space exploration is drawing in nowadays.

The upgrade is a new technology DTN, or Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking, which has now been installed in the station. The DTN has been specially designed to form the foundation of an internet-style network that will span through the whole (or a majority of the whole) of our cosmic neighborhood.

The technology is basically aimed at providing Internet to the whole of Solar System in the near future. Yes, Internet for the whole Solar System! You read that right.

Traditionally, Internet protocols dictate that all the nodes present in the path of transmission are available during the same time period. But that is not the case when it comes to DTN technology. The DTN functions by making available automatic and highly reliable “store and forward” data network that has the task of storing partial bundles of data in nodes along a communication path. This needs to be done until the parts can either be re-transmitted or forwarded, and then finally be re-bundled at the last stop/destination.

These final destinations where the part are re-bundled could include anything from manned colonies, robotic spacecraft in deep space to ground stations on planet Earth.

This ends up making the resultant network very strong and resilient; to the extent that the message would still be received, even if the communications path was being blocked by planets.

According to NASA, DTN's addition to International Space Station's Resource Kit makes the satellite the first piece of the puzzle that might eventually end up making Solar System-scale internet, a reality.

In fact, the DTN can also be used in disaster-prone areas on the Earth, as the technology is capable of withstanding the unreliable conditions of the space, which is almost similar to the conditions in the disaster-prone places.

A number of DTN implementations are made publicly available as open-source code, in an effort to make the protocols more acceptable and used.

According to a statement by Dr. Vinton G. Cerf, a visiting scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory behind DTN, “Our experience with DTN on the space station leads to additional terrestrial applications especially for mobile communications in which connections may be erratic and discontinuous."

With the first step already taken, we're sure the coming days would get to see Solar System-wide Internet becoming a reality.
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