ISS

Living in space at low gravity triggers changes in our GENES, study of worms on the ISS shows

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The low gravity of space changes our genes, a study of worms on the International Space Station revealed, creating a potential set back for future crewed missions.  Researchers from the University of Exeter devised an experiment involving worms on the space station in orbit around the Earth to study the effect of gravity on DNA. … Read more

ISS: Space miners may use BACTERIA to extract useful metals

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Future space miners working on Mars or the Moon could be using bacteria to extract useful metals and minerals from rocks rather than drills and tools, study finds.  Researchers from the University of Edinburgh designed experiments to run on the International Space Station that proved using microbes to recover valuable resources could work in zero … Read more

Amazing photos capture the moment the ISS passes in front of both the moon and the sun 

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Amazing photos capture the fleeting moment the ISS passes in front of the Sun and the moon during its 17,000mph orbit Photographer Andrew McCarthy, from California, posted the photos on his Instagram account They were taken just days apart as the ISS passed in front of the moon and then the Sun  Mr McCarthy says … Read more

Space bubble: Three astronauts will return to Earth tomorrow after almost 200 days on the ISS

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Now that’s a proper COVID bubble! Three ISS astronauts will return to Earth tomorrow after being in space with each other for almost 200 days The trio are NASA’s Chris Cassidy and Russia’s Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner They arrive on the orbiting laboratory in April to crew its so-called Expedition 63 In preparation for his return, … Read more

Trio of astronauts in fast-track mission to ISS

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Three astronauts aboard a Russian capsule have successfully docked at the International Space Station just three hours after launching from the Earth.  Their journey is the first manned flight to the ISS to last just three hours, thanks to a new fast-track manoeuvre that takes half the time of a standard trip.   NASA’s Kate Rubins … Read more

Astronauts on the ISS receive payload of fancy meats and cheeses, along with a $23 million toilet

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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are in for a feast, as an 8,000-pound cargo ship is making its way bearing gourmet foods like Genoa salami, smoked Gouda and chocolate-covered cranberries. North Grumman launched its capsule carrying the goods from the Virginia coast Friday, which arrived at the orbiting laboratory around 8am ET Monday. The … Read more

ISS moves to avoid space debris caused by the breakup of a 2019 Japanese rocket

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International Space Station is forced to carry out an emergency manoeuvre to avoid being hit by a piece of debris from a 2018 Japanese rocket Flight controllers worked for two and a half minutes to adjust the station’s orbit This was to avoid a piece of space junk created by the breakup of a 2018 … Read more

£1million funding to tackle space debris which could destroy the ISS

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Space debris — detritus orbiting Earth from satellites — is a growing problem which threatens the future of human space exploration.  To tackle this issue, the Business Secretary Alok Sharma has announced £1million in funding, via the UK Space Agency (UKSA), for seven space-cleaning programmes.  Astronomers are concerned that high-value craft in low-Earth orbit, such … Read more

NASA astronauts are trying to find an air leak on the ISS 

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Crew members on the International Space Station still haven’t found the source of an air leak that was first detected a year ago.   NASA officials first detected air leaking from the space station, which floats in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 254 miles, in September 2019.  Despite getting more severe in the past … Read more

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy on the ISS receives a call from Canadian students using a ham radio

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A group of Canadian students used ham radio technology to have a once-in-a-lifetime conversation with a crew member aboard the International Space Station. Young members of the Airdrie Space Science Club in Alberta connected with NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, who was conducting experiments aboard the ISS some 240 miles above Earth’s surface. The students, who … Read more