#chandrayaan 4

[spaceexp]

India approves 4 major space programmes, including an Indian Space Station, a Lunar Sample Return mission, Venus Orbiter Mission along with a reusable 30 ton to LEO Next Gen Launch Vehicle rocket. Doubles budget for Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme.

[quicktion1o1-blog]

Youtube.com/@yoursurfacegamer setup..Solo struggle

[bhaskarlive]

Chandrayaan 3 created milestone, Chandrayaan 4 & 5 will follow: Jitendra Singh

Chandrayaan 3, which scripted history in 2023 by becoming the first to land on the South Pole of the Moon, created “a milestone” that will soon be followed by Chandrayaan 4 and 5, said Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday, on the eve of first National Space Day.

On August 23, India is set to celebrate its maiden National Space Day, to celebrate the achievements of Chandrayaan at the Bharat Mandapam, Plenary Hall in New Delhi.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[martin-james2121]

Chandrayaan 4 is to be launched in 2 phases, both LVM-3 and PSLV to be used

Following its extraordinary achievement with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now preparing for its upcoming lunar mission, named Chandrayaan-4.

Unlike Chandrayaan 3, the mission will not be launched in a single phase; rather, it will involve two separate launches to deploy vehicles that will not only land on the Moon but also collect and return rocks and soil (lunar regolith) from the lunar surface to India.

While Chandrayaan-3 is comprised of three primary components – a lander, rover, and propulsion module, the Chandrayaan-4 mission will incorporate two additional components dedicated to retrieving samples from the Moon and delivering them back to Earth.

What are the components of Chandrayaan 4?

As per a presentation by Isro chief S Somnath at the National Space Science Symposium, the Chandrayaan-4 will comprise five spacecraft modules. 

To Read More Click here...

[pradeep]

Source

[rightnewshindi]

इसरो चीफ एस सोमनाथ ने देश को दी बड़ी खुशखबरी, जानें चंद्रयान-4 के बारे क्या कहा

ISRO Cheif on Gaganyaan: चंद्रयान-3 को चांद के दक्षिण ध्रुव पर उतारकर भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (ISRO) ने इतिहास रचा था। भारत ऐसा करने वाला दुनिया का पहला देश है। साथ ही चांद पर मानवरहित यान उतारने वाला दुनिया का चौथा देश। चंद्रयान-3 के बाद इसरो आगामी वर्षों में अंतरिक्ष क्षेत्र में कई मिशन लॉन्च करने वाला है। इसमें चंद्रयान-4 और अंतरिक्ष स्पेस स्टेशन के साथ गगनयान मिशन भी है। इसरो प्रमुख एस…

[sarhadkasakshi]

All Preparatory Steps For Manned Mission To Moon Approved: Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw As Cabinet Approves Chandrayaan-4 Mission

Cabinet Approves Chandrayaan-4: In a leap towards greater space exploration, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said that India is heading towards its first manned mission to the Moon. Vaishnaw also announced that the Union Cabinet today approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission to the Moon. “Chandrayaan-4 mission has been expanded to add more elements. The next step is to get the manned mission to…

[rahulrainbow]

रूस का पहला चंद्रमा मिशन लूना-25 और भारत का चंद्रयान-3

रूस का पहला चंद्रमा मिशन लूना-25 और भारत का चंद्रयान-3 20 अगस्त 2023 को, रोस्कोस्मोस (रूसी संघ के राज्य अंतरिक्ष निगम) ने घोषणा की , कि लूना -25 प्री-लैंडिंग के दौरान चंद्रमा की सतह पर दुर्घटनाग्रस्त हो गया था। . अब पूरी दुनिया चंद्रयान-3 (इसरो द्वारा लॉन्च) पर नजर रख रही है, जो 23.08.2023 को शाम 6:05 बजे चंद्रमा की सतह पर उतरने के लिए तैयार है।  . रूस का पहला चंद्रमा मिशन लूना-25 और भारत का…

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Sources of Water and Hydroxyl are Widespread on the Moon

A new analysis of maps of the near and far sides of the Moon shows that there are multiple sources of water and hydroxyl in the sunlit rocks and soils, including water-rich rocks excavated by meteor impacts at all latitudes.

“Future astronauts may be able to find water even near the equator by exploiting these water-rich areas. Previously, it was thought that only the polar region, and in particular, the deeply shadowed craters at the poles were where water could be found in abundance,” said Roger Clark, Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute and lead author of “The Global Distribution of Water and Hydroxyl on the Moon as Seen by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)” that appears in the Planetary Science Journal. “Knowing where water is located not only helps to understand lunar geologic history, but also where astronauts may find water in the future.”

Clark and his research team, which includes PSI scientists Neil C. Pearson, Thomas B. McCord, Deborah L. Domingue, Amanda R. Hendrix and Georgiana Kramer, studied data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) imaging spectrometer on the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, which orbited the Moon from 2008 to 2009, mapping water and hydroxyl on the near and far sides of the Moon in greater detail than ever before.

Locating water in the sunlit parts of the Moon uses infrared spectroscopy to search for the fingerprints of water and hydroxyl (a functional chemical group with one hydrogen and one oxygen atom) in the spectrum of reflected sunlight in the infrared. While a digital camera records three colors in the visible part of the spectrum, the M3 instrument recorded 85 colors from the visible spectrum and into the infrared. Just like we see different colors from different materials, the infrared spectrometer can see many (infrared) colors to better determine the composition, including the water (H2O) and hydroxyl (OH). The water may be directly harvested by heating rocks and soils.  Water might also be formed by chemical reactions liberating hydroxyl and combining four hydroxyls to create oxygen and water (4(OH) -> 2H2O + O2).

By studying the location and geologic context, Clark and his team were able to show that water in the lunar surface is metastable, meaning H2O is slowly destroyed over millions of years, but with hydroxyl, OH, remaining. A cratering event that exposes sub-surface water-rich rocks to the solar wind will degrade with time, destroying H2O and creating a diffuse aura of hydroxyl, OH, but the destruction is slow, taking thousands to millions of years. Elsewhere on the lunar surface, there appears a patina of hydroxyl, probably created from solar wind protons impacting the lunar surface, destroying silicate minerals where the protons combine with oxygen in the silicates to create hydroxyl, in a process called space weathering.

“Putting all the evidence together, we see a lunar surface with complex geology with significant water in the sub-surface and a surface layer of hydroxyl.  Both cratering and volcanic activity can bring water-rich materials to the surface, and both are observed in the lunar data,” Clark said.   The Moon is made up of primarily two kinds of rocks: the dark mare which are basaltic (lava like that seen in Hawaii), and andesitic rocks, which are lighter (the lunar highlands). The andesites contain a lot of water, the basalts very little.  The two rock types also contain hydroxyl bonded to different minerals, shown in the figure below.

This study sheds new light on previously known mysteries.  When the Sun is shining on the lunar surface at different times of day, the strength of water and hydroxyl absorptions change.  That led to the calculation that a lot of water and hydroxyl had to be moving around the Moon on a daily cycle. However, this new study showed that very stable mineral absorptions of water and hydroxyl show the same daily effect, but on minerals, like pyroxene, a common igneous silicate mineral in the lunar soils, they do not evaporate at lunar temperatures. The reason for this effect is instead due to a thin layer of enriched composition and/or soil particle size that is different from deeper into the soil. When the Sun is low in the lunar sky, light transmits through more of the top layer, strengthening the infrared absorptions, compared to when the Sun is high in the sky.  There may still be water moving around, but to quantify how much, new studies will need to quantify the layering effects too. Lunar rover tracks are darker in images from the Apollo era rovers, another indicator the surface layer is thin and different.

Related to the thin surface layer are the expressions of enigmatic features on the Moon called lunar swirls, diffuse patterns in visible light in several areas on the Moon. Magnetic fields are thought to play a role in swirl formation by diverting solar wind, which would also reduce hydroxyl production. A previous study led by PSI Senior Scientist Georgiana Kramer and co-authored by R. Clark showed lunar swirls are deficient in hydroxyl. The new study confirms that but also shows more complexity in that swirls are also low in water content but are sometimes higher in pyroxene content. This new study with global hydroxyl maps also shows never before seen areas that are similar to known swirls, but have no diffuse patterns seen in visible light, thus can only be seen in hydroxyl absorption. These new features may be old eroded swirls and include new types, including arcs and linear features. By mapping the Moon in new  ways like this, the lunar surface is showing it is more complex than we imagined.

TOP TWO IMAGES: Top: Black and white image of the Moon from Moon Mineralogy Mapper data. Bottom: Map of water on the Moon. The different colors represent different shapes to the water absorption and correlate with rock type. The dark Mare tend to have check-marked shape absorptions that are shallow. The blue are broader and deeper absorptions characteristics of feldspars with water absorption strength increasing toward the poles. The center portion of the image is the Earth facing part of the Moon. The left and right quarters are the far side of the Moon (-180 to +180 degrees longitude). The bottom of the image is the south polar region and the top is the north polar region. The vertical striping is due to different orbits of the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft viewing the surface in different geometries. Credit: NASA/PSI/R. Clark.

LOWER IMAGE: Map of hydroxyl on the Moon. The color correlates with absorption band position with blue at shorter wavelengths and red at longer wavelengths (from 2.72 to 2.83 microns in the infrared). For comparison the visible spectrum ranges from 0.4 micron (blue) to about 0.7 micron (red). The shorter wavelength OH positions correlate with clay minerals and the longer ones with sulfate minerals, although these positions are not unique. Higher spectral resolution data than the M3 instrument delivered are needed to make definitive identification of the hydroxyl-bearing minerals. Credit: NASA/PSI/R. Clark.

[thinkingofyours]

Latest Space Missions: NASA and ISRO Updates!

Exciting times in space exploration! Both NASA and ISRO are making significant strides with their latest missions.

NASA’s NISAR Mission: The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is set to launch in early 2024. This joint Earth-observing satellite will monitor changes in Earth’s land and ice surfaces, providing critical data on natural hazards, climate change, and environmental management. Recently, NISAR successfully passed rigorous thermal vacuum tests, proving its resilience in space-like conditions.

ISRO’s Venus Orbiter Mission: ISRO is gearing up for its ambitious Venus Orbiter Mission, aimed at exploring Venus’s atmosphere and understanding its transformation from a potentially habitable planet to a hostile environment. This mission will provide valuable insights into planetary evolution and climate dynamics.

🌕 Chandrayaan-4: Following the success of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian government has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission. This innovative lunar exploration initiative will further India’s capabilities in space exploration and contribute to our understanding of the Moon.

👨‍🚀 Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission: ISRO is also preparing for the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission, which will see the first Indian astronaut in 40 years. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is undergoing intensive training in the US to handle emergencies during the mission.

Stay tuned for more updates as these missions progress and bring us closer to unraveling the mysteries of our universe! #SpaceExploration #NASA #ISRO #NISAR #VenusMission #Chandrayaan4 #AxiomSpace

[dreamsoftheabyss]

star wars this, ahsoka that, There are 4 Million People watching the Chandrayaan-3 Landing go join them already

[newseee]

Within walking distance

Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 has completed another milestone as it flew into Rhodesia with the aim of landing on Zabili. The lander module Vikram successfully separated from the propulsion module of this spacecraft on Thursday. It is preparing for the historic moment of landing on the surface of the moon.

After successful separation from the propulsion module, the message sent by the land module was received by the ISTRAC center in Bangalore. ISRO announced on Twitter that the lander sent a message saying "Thanks for the ride, mate". After this process is completed, the lander module will now orbit Zabili on its own. ISRO said that the de-orbit-1 process will take place at 4 pm on Friday. After that on 20th again de-orbit-2 procedure will be done...

[hindiindia]

Chandrayaan-3: ISRO ने दी जानकारी, आज इस समय लैंड की Chandrayaan-3:

Q.Chandrayaan-3 के बारे में जानने से पहले जाने चांद के बारे में 

• चाँद धरती का एक चंद्रमा है जो हमारे ग्रह, सूर्य के चारों ओर घूमता है। यह पृथ्वी से करीब 384,400 किलोमीटर की दूरी पर है और इसका आकार धरती के आकार का करीब 1/4 है। चाँद की सतह पर गाड़े गए खदान और गाड़ी गई खुदाई विज्ञानियों को इसकी गहराई, संरचना और भौतिकी के बारे में बहुत सी जानकारी प्राप्त करने में मदद करती है। Reed More

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[bhaskarlive]

Cabinet approves Chandrayaan-4, first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028

Expanding the Chandrayaan series, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the fourth mission to the Moon and also gave a green signal for the building of the first unit of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2028.

The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Chandrayaan-4 to develop and demonstrate technologies to help astronauts return to Earth after successfully landing on the Moon.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[sciencespies]

2023 Space and Astronomy News: What to Expect

https://sciencespies.com/space/2023-space-and-astronomy-news-what-to-expect/

2023 Space and Astronomy News: What to Expect

As years in space and astronomy go, 2022 is going to be a tough act to follow.

NASA wowed us with cosmic scenes captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The DART mission slammed an asteroid into a new orbit. Artemis I set humanity on a course back to the moon. China finished building a new space station in orbit. SpaceX launched 61 rockets in 12 months. And the invasion of Ukraine imperiled Russia’s status as a space power.

It’s a lot to measure up to, but 2023 is bound to have some excitement on the launchpad, the lunar surface and in the sky. Once again, you can get updates on your personal digital calendar by signing up for The New York Times’s Space and Astronomy Calendar. Here are some of the major events you can expect. Not all of them have certain dates yet, but Times journalists will provide additional information as it emerges. Learn more at nytimes.com/spacecalendar

New Rockets

NASA got its giant Space Launch System off the ground for the first time in 2022, lighting up the night in Florida with an incredible stream of flame as it carried the Artemis I mission toward the moon. That shifted attention to SpaceX, which is building a next generation rocket, Starship, that is also central to NASA’s crewed Artemis III moon landing attempt.

SpaceX cleared a key environmental review that would allow it to launch an uncrewed orbital test flight from South Texas if it met certain conditions. But the rocket wasn’t ready for flight in 2022. The company has not announced a date for a test this year, but regular ground tests of Starship equipment indicate it is working toward one.

The pathfinder first stage of the Vulcan Centaur, a new rocket by United Launch Alliance that will eventually replace that company’s Atlas V.United Launch Alliance

Numerous other rockets may take flight for the first time in 2023. The most important, Vulcan Centaur by United Launch Alliance, will eventually replace that company’s Atlas V, a vehicle that has been central to American spaceflight for two decades. The Vulcan relies on the BE-4 engine built by Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos. The same engine will in turn be used in Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which may have a test flight late this year.

A number of American private companies are expected to test new rockets in 2023, including Relativity and ABL. They could be joined by foreign rocket makers, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries which could test Japan’s H3 rocket in February, and Arianespace, which is working toward a test flight of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket.

New Lunar Landings

We’re guaranteed at least one lunar landing attempt in 2023. A Japanese company, Ispace, launched its M1 mission on a SpaceX rocket in December. It’s taking a slow, fuel-efficient route to the moon and is set to arrive in April, when it will try to deploy a rover built by the United Arab Emirates, a robot built by Japan’s space agency, JAXA, as well as other payloads.

There could be as many as five more lunar landing attempts this year.

NASA has hired a pair of private companies to carry payloads to the lunar surface. Both of them, Intuitive Machines of Houston and Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh, faced delays in 2022, but may make the trip in the coming months.

They could be joined by three government space programs’ lunar missions. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission was delayed last year but could be ready in 2023. A Japanese mission, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, aims to test the country’s lunar landing technologies. Finally, Russia’s Luna-25 mission was postponed from last September, but Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, may try this year.

New Space Telescopes

Scientists in 2019 at work with the European Space Agency’s Euclid spacecraft, which will study energy and dark matter. Its 2022 launch was postponed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.S. Corvaja/European Space Agency

The Webb telescope wowed space enthusiasts and scientists with its views of the cosmos, but we may get new vantages from a variety of orbital observatories.

The most significant may be Xuntian, a Chinese mission setting off later in the year that will be like a more sophisticated version of the Hubble Space Telescope. The spacecraft will survey the universe at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths in an orbit around Earth close to the country’s Tiangong space station.

A Japanese-led mission, XRISM, pronounced chrism, could launch earlier in the year as well. The mission will use X-ray spectroscopy to study clouds of plasma, which could help to explain the universe’s composition. A European space telescope, Euclid, may also launch on a SpaceX rocket after the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in the spacecraft losing its seat on a Russian Soyuz rocket. It will study the universe’s dark energy and dark matter.

New Planetary Missions

A new spacecraft will head toward Jupiter this year, aiming to become the first to ever orbit another planet’s moon. The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer, or JUICE, will launch from an Ariane 5 rocket as early as April 5 to set off to the Jovian system, arriving in 2031. Once it reaches the gas giant, it will move to conduct 35 flybys of three of the giant world’s moons: Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, all of which are believed to have subsurface oceans. In 2034, JUICE will begin orbiting Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system.

Heading closer to the sun will be Rocket Lab, a small launch company that was founded in New Zealand. It aims to use its Electron rocket to send a mission to Venus. The company’s Photon satellite will try to deploy a small probe, built with Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers, that will briefly study the planet’s toxic atmosphere. The mission was planned for May, but it is expected to face delays while the company prioritizes missions for its other customers.

A Total Eclipse and a Not-So-Total One

There will be two solar eclipses in 2023.

A total eclipse on April 20 will be more of a Southern Hemisphere event, and the moon will only blot out the sun in remote parts of Australia and Indonesia. (Perhaps not a bad time to be on a boat in parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, too.)

But Americans may get a good show on Oct. 14, when North America will be visited by an annular eclipse. Eclipses of this type are sometimes called “ring of fire” eclipses because the moon is too far from Earth to fully block the sun but creates a ring-like effect when it reaches totality. The eclipse’s path runs through parts of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before dipping into Central and South America. Where the weather cooperates, it should be a great solar show and a nice lead up for the April 8, 2024 total eclipse that will cross the United States from southwest to northeast.

#Space

[hobbyspacer]

Space habitat reports – Jan.20.2025

Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement. === International Space Station & NASA ** Space to Ground: Spacewalk 273: Jan. 17, 2025 - NASA Johnson https://youtu.be/tUl0XjMt1Xg ** Space to Ground: In the Year 2025: Jan. 10, 2025 - NASA Johnson NASA has big plans for science, research, and exploration aboard the International Space Station in 2025. From spacewalks, to hydroponic and aeroponic plant growth techniques, there's a lot to look forward to in low Earth orbit. This November, we will celebrate 25 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station. https://youtu.be/WGIpI4Eh8VI ** NASA astronaut Suni Williams sees orbital sunrise during spacewalk - Time-lapse - VideoFromSpace NASA astronaut Suni Williams works outside the International Space Station on Jan. 16, 2025. https://youtu.be/pV7W5BphgjQ ** NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Talks with AstroKobi – January 8, 2025 - NASA Video Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Don Pettit of NASA discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview Jan. 8 with the AstroKobi YouTube channel. Pettit is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program. https://youtu.be/4paE-im5L_Y ** How Do Astronauts Exercise in Space? -  NASA Johnson Astronauts aboard the International Space Station typically exercise for two hours each day. From running to cycling to weightlifting, learn how crew members complete fitness regimens in space and commit to staying healthy – even in microgravity. https://youtu.be/n-0A0zMvm4s === India ** India's SPADEX docking mission The India space agency ISRO recently launched the SpaDeX Mission, which consisted of two satellites that carried out a rendezvous and docking operation to demonstrate technology for future ISRO space stations. SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc. In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology. On January 16th, the docking took place successfully: ISRO successfully completed docking of two SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 & SDX-02) in the early hours of 16 January, 2025.| ISRO - Jan.16.2025 https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/video/spadex_docking.mp4 More at: - Isro docks SpaDeX satellites in space, sets stage for Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan | India Today - Jan.16.2025 - India completes on-orbit docking test in step towards major space plans | SpaceNews - Jan.16.2025 - Isro's SpaDeX: India successfully conducts historic space-docking test | BBC - Jan.16.2025 - SpaDex Image Gallery - SpaDex Video Gallery : Following the docking, ISRO has successfully managed both satellites as a combined unit. In the upcoming days, ISRO will proceed with undocking and power transfer evaluations.#SPADEX #ISRO pic.twitter.com/tMmCcF5opG — ISRO InSight (@ISROSight) January 16, 2025 ** ISRO Successfully Conducts Space-Docking Test Under SpaDex Mission | WION ISRO has completed the docking of satellites under its Space Docking Experiment - SpaDex mission. ISRO has released a video of successful docking on social media. https://youtu.be/SEoEIXPFIXg === China ** Shenzhou-19 Crew Carry out In-Orbit Verification of Smart Assistant - CCTV Video News Agency Last week, the crew aboard the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft conducted a series of in-orbit verifications for China's first space station intelligent flight robot, "Xiao Hang." https://youtu.be/VPuvsdARm2Q === Commercial space habitats ** Axiom Space --- Kam Ghaffarian, CEO and founder of  Axiom Space,  posts an op-ed "on why commercial space stations are essential for driving a thriving space economy and ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in space exploration" -  The Trump administration should leverage private space stations to counter China | SpaceNews - Jan.13.2025 The combination of NASA’s ambitious commercialization proclamations with the reality of its slow follow-through underscores the urgency for a strategic intervention. By forcing sharper focus on commercial space development, particularly on identifying the next U.S.-led space station, the administration can lay a solid foundation for sustained U.S. presence and leadership in space. The U.S. has long been a leader in space exploration, a position that is not only a matter of national pride but one of strategic importance. That leadership is contingent upon the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to the evolving landscape, and today, to quickly adjust from government-led to commercial-led space activities. With the new administration taking the helm, an exciting opportunity arises to enact meaningful change and drive remarkable progress. With bold and swift action, the U.S. can preserve its pioneering spirit, transcend terrestrial limits and sustain humanity’s journey beyond our planet. --- Plans for 2025: .@Axiom_Space closed 2024 with the completion of Axiom Station’s Phase 2 Critical Design Review (CDR), and 2025 will see even more progress and promise. We’re looking forward to CDR Phase 3 and the delivery of our first module to Houston! https://t.co/tUhlh1nZqf pic.twitter.com/nZRKwF3YkI — Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) January 13, 2025 “This collaboration aligns with Axiom Space’s work to develop secure orbital data centers and commercial space station infrastructure.” -Jason Aspiotis, Global Director In-Space Data & Security, Axiom Space https://t.co/7Ua1khovoj — Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) January 17, 2025 ** Gravitics The future we have been building for is here! Last night, Blue Origin's New Glenn successfully completed its maiden flight to orbit, a crucial step toward establishing reliable access to space. Today, SpaceX achieved a second booster catch during Starship flight 7, further�� pic.twitter.com/crftF0dOJt — Gravitics (@GraviticsInc) January 17, 2025 ** Starlab - Voyager Space --- Starlab expands in Europe: Starlab Space launches European subsidiary to boost international collaboration on its commercial space station | Starlab-Space - Jan.14.2025 Starlab Space LLC today announced the opening of its first overseas subsidiary, Starlab Space GmbH. Located in Bremen, Germany, it will extend the company’s capabilities and demonstrates its commitment to its international partners, maintaining global cooperation and permanent human presence, and expanding microgravity research opportunities in a commercial LEO economy. “Successful and sustainable operation of a commercial space station requires international partners, and therefore, a presence beyond America’s borders,” said Tim Kopra, Starlab CEO. “We’re thrilled to launch Starlab Space Europe, a regional hub that will facilitate industrial efficiencies and expanded partnerships with allied space agencies, including the European Space Agency and its member countries. More importantly, joining American and European presence sets the stage for life beyond the ISS, one that has a global, permanent crew thriving in low-Earth orbit and leading research that can transform all of humanity.” --- Starlab's CCO, Brad Henderson, discusses the future of space exploration, the role of commercial space stations, the decommissioning of the ISS, and how new technologies allow for affordable access and operation of commercial stations: Entering the Commercial Space Station Era | Kratos Constellations - Jan.16.2025 But while more cost-effective and frequent commercial space launch options will make it easier to get to the space station, they can’t solve a larger economic problem – the incredible cost of operating a space station. Thankfully, that’s one area where advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies could play a role. “How do we optimize our operations? That is really important to the transition – increasing the efficiency to drive down costs. How do we optimize our operations, crew schedules, and logistics streams?” Henderson asked. “Use the technology of today. The AI. The edge computing. Use the different tools that are available to find efficiencies.” ... Ultimately, these advancements in affordable commercial space launch, advanced AI solutions, and cutting-edge data relay services combine with many other advancements in life-support systems and other innovative technologies to open the door to a new era in space – the commercial space station era. This new era will be one of increased access to orbit – democratizing scientific research and advancement in microgravity, enabling space tourism, and making space a possible location for data centers and other critical infrastructure. ** VAST --- Haven set to begin structural testing of habitat module qualification article: Our Haven-1 primary structure qualification article was shipped to our Mojave, CA testing facility this morning. The shipment includes the domed window, hatch, and tank mass simulators, which will be used in the upcoming integrated load and pressure test. The Vast team here is… pic.twitter.com/xZ1Cc4W45x — Vast (@vast) January 14, 2025 The Hatch has been installed on our primary qualification unit, thoroughly inspected, and is now ready for testing. Principal Engineer Brian Landis conducts a final review before the unit heads to Mojave for pressure and load testing. pic.twitter.com/uEIH6ON5Dm — Vast (@vast) January 9, 2025 The Haven-1 primary structure qualification article has arrived at our Mojave, CA test site. The team is now conducting lift operations to install the article on the test stand. pic.twitter.com/IDNSVi39d1 — Vast (@vast) January 15, 2025 --- Explore Vast's in-house space station manufacturing capability - VAST Youtube A space station primary structure hasn’t been manufactured in the United States in decades. Haven-1 will be the world’s first commercial space station—a major step toward succeeding the ISS and advancing U.S. innovation and leadership in space. At the core of this effort is the Haven-1 qualification article, a full-scale model designed to rigorously test the structure’s strength, safety, and performance. https://youtu.be/u0sjx0hDATs === Space settlement ** Living in Space - Space Renaissance Join Joseph Pelton, Adriano Autino, Tommaso Sgobba, Robert Zubrin, Simonetta di Pippo, Madhu Thangavelu, Henk Rogers, Gary Barnhard, Pascalle Efrenfreund, Susan Jewell, discussing about Living in Space. https://www.youtube.com/live/NEozO4nfdxs === Other space habitat and settlement news and articles: - Calendar: - ARISS Informational Webinar, Jan 22, 2025 08:00 pm ET. " The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS.  ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025." - Exploring the Potential of Lunar Helium-3 Mining | Beyond Earth Institute - Zoom event - Thu Feb 6, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST -  ISS: - Peak Performance in Microgravity | NASA - Jan.17.2025 - Los Angeles Fires Seen from International Space Station | NASA - Jan.10.2025 - Amateur Radio on ISS (ARISS) - Status ISS Stations - Livestream - NASA Gateway Lunar Space Station - Airbus Delivers Key System for NASA's Gateway Space Station | European Spaceflight - Jan.7.2025 -  China: - China Space Station Experiments: Pipe Inspection Robot, Music and Brainwave Intervention, Emergency Drill | Leonard David - Jan.12.2025 - Habitat & settlement technologies: - Be Part of It! MTI's Mars Against Hunger Competition! | The Mars Society - Jan.13.2025 - Planning for space rescue | The Space Review - Jan.6.2025 - How the Aurelia Institute is designing a self-assembling space station | Fast Company - Dec.30.2024 - How to test artificial gravity | The Space Review - Dec.9.2024 - General settlement topics: - The civilization survival scale: A biological argument for space settlement | The Space Review - Jan.13.2025 - What do we need astronauts for? | The Space Review - Dec.9.2024 - Resources: - Space Settlement National Space Society – NSS - Space Studies Institute | Technology for Human Space Settlement - Space Settlement Progress – Cutting-edge technology enabling settlement of the solar system and beyond - Factories in Space - Making products for Earth and space === Earth views from ISS ** Image captured by Astronaut Don Pettit on ISS: Astronaut Don Pettit has captured an image that is a contender for the best photo ever taken onboard the ISS. https://t.co/C0s3Ehk2is — PetaPixel (@petapixel) January 14, 2025 See also A NASA astronaut may have just taken the best photo from space—ever | Ars Technica - Jan.14.2025. ** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) - NASA Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed. The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It's a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. Read the full article