Russian space chief: Sanctions could imperil space station
The head of Russia’s space program says the future of the International Space Station hangs in the balance after the United States, the European Union and Canadian space agencies missed a deadline to meet Russian demands for lifting sanctions on Russian enterprises and hardware.
NASA head: We have cooperation with our Russian colleagues
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Friday played down recent comments by the head of Russia’s space agency that the United States would have to use broomsticks to fly to space after Russia said it would stop supplying rocket engines to U.S. companies.
Spacewalkers take extra safety precautions for toxic ammonia
The astronauts are rearranging space station plumbing and tackling other odd jobs. (NASA via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Spacewalking astronauts had to take extra safety precautions Saturday after possibly getting toxic ammonia on their suits from the International Space Station's external cooling system. But so much ammonia spewed out of the first hose that Mission Control worried some of the frozen white flakes might have gotten on their suits. As a result, Mission Control said it was going to “be conservative" and require inspections. NASA did not want any ammonia getting inside the space station and contaminating the cabin atmosphere.
Spacewalkers finish solar panel prep for station power boost
More mounting brackets and struts need to be installed for new and improved solar panels due to arrive in June. (NASA via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Spacewalking astronauts completed the first round of prep work Friday for new solar panels, part of a major power upgrade at the International Space Station. NASA’s Kate Rubins and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi installed mounting brackets and struts for the improved solar wings due to arrive in June. The eight solar panels have degraded over time; the oldest were launched 20 years ago. Noguchi, Glover and two other NASA astronauts will fly SpaceX back in late April or May.
Spacewalking astronauts prep station for new solar wings
In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronauts Kate Rubins, top, and Victor Glover work outside the International Space Station Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. The spacewalking astronauts ventured out Sunday to install support frames for new, high-efficiency solar panels arriving at the International Space Station later this year. (NASA via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Spacewalking astronauts ventured out Sunday to install support frames for new, high-efficiency solar panels arriving at the International Space Station later this year. With more people and experiments flying on the space station, more power will be needed to keep everything running, according to NASA. The eight solar panels up there now are 12 to 20 years old — most of them past their design lifetime and deteriorating.