NASA astronaut and biochemist Peggy Whitson will return to Earth as the planet’s new record holder for longest time cumulatively spent on space by an American or a woman this weekend, touching down in a Russian Soyuz capsule in Kazakhstan at 7:22am local time (9:22pm Eastern).
Sometime between your marine biologist and professional ninja phases, you probably dreamed of being an astronaut as a kid. But have you seen all the work that goes into actually becoming one? Save yourself years of G-force training and wearing onesies and just shortcut your way onto the International Space Station,…
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have a new crew member—an adorable robotic ball capable of recording video while moving in zero gravity. Dubbed “Int-Ball,” the device will free astronauts to do more important work, while providing ground controllers with their own set of eyes.
On March 24th, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was joined by NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough on a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. The outing was fairly routine, but this amazing footage captured by Pesquet gives all of us stuck here on Earth an amazing first-person look of what it’s like to be an…
Lightning is a beautiful but dangerous beast: While we’re pretty good at observing it from the ground—and occasionally, being struck by it—there’s still some mystery about how the electrical discharges in the upper layers of our atmosphere actually work. The names given to these discharges (e.g. red sprites, pixies,…
Astronaut Peggy Whitson is no stranger to breaking barriers: In addition to becoming the first woman commander of the International Space Station (ISS), the Iowa native has logged 377 days in space between two missions—the most of any American spacewoman to date. Now, on her third mission aboard the ISS, Whitson is…
Daniel Espinosa’s highly anticipated sci-fi thriller, Life, isn’t just 2017's answer to Alien—it’s much scarier. Unlike most movies in the genre, Life is terrifying because it taps into legitimate concerns about contaminating Earth that even NASA, ESA, and other space agencies haven’t entirely figured out—the fear…
In an experiment conducted on the International Space Station, two different types of naturally-occurring algae were exposed to the extreme conditions of space. Incredibly, both strains survived. It’s a finding that could further our understanding of how life originated on Earth, and how colonists might be able to…
Spaceflight is not for the faint of heart—literally. The first results of NASA’s twin study, released just this week, revealed that space physically impacts astronauts on multiple levels, right down to shifts in gene expression. Now, a group of scientists at the University of Michigan have released research that…
As a life-long, avid Sims player, I was pretty excited to hear about NASA Science Investigations: Plant Growth. Released last month, the educational app lets you zoom around the International Space Station (ISS), complete various astronaut tasks, and even interact with a fellow astronaut. Most importantly, it teaches…
Early this morning, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet flexed his spacewalking muscles for the first time—and we got to live vicariously through him, thanks to a livestream straight from space.
Earlier this year, NASA astronaut Jeff Williams captured ultra high definition video of our pale blue dot from the vantage point of the International Space Station. It’s easily the most uplifting thing you’re going to see all day.
Earlier today, an unmanned Russian Progress MS-04 cargo spacecraft broke up in the atmosphere and crashed over Siberia while making its way to the International Space Station.
Shane Kimbrough is an American hero. Not only is he risking his life breathing recycled air and eating tasteless, shrink-wrapped meals in a radiation-blasted tin can 250 miles above Earth, the man just took time out of his busy schedule to participate in the grotesque bloodsport that is the 2016 presidential election.
Space is undeniably cool, but you know what else is cool? Space gear. And taking a long, leisurely tour through the international space station in beautiful 4k with pristine focus is the best way to see all those wires, meters, monitors and control stations.
New research shows that astronauts who return from extended missions in space experience a significant weakening of their spinal muscles. Disturbingly, their back muscles don’t return to normal even after several weeks back on Earth.
Home improvement projects are rarely interesting, unless you’re an astronaut. Right now NASA’s Kate Rubins and Jeff Williams are installing the first of two new docking adapters into the side of the International Space Station which will accommodate Boeing and SpaceX crafts.
Late next year, if all goes to plan, SpaceX and Boeing will begin sending American astronauts up to the International Space Station, ending Russia’s monopoly on the ticket to orbit. In anticipation of the new space taxis, NASA is now building its commercial partners a parking spot.
The ISS is getting an incredible new tool: a handheld DNA sequencer. The questions scientists hope it will answer include whether life exists beyond our planet and just what is that weird fungus growing on the wall of the space station?
Astronauts on the International Space Station need to relax, just like the rest of us. So it’s no surprise that there are movies and TV shows on board for them to watch. I’ve obtained the complete list through a Freedom of Information request, which is published below.
