Latest news with #Expedition73
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Astronauts track huge dust clouds over Canada and US
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Preparations for the arrival of a visiting crew, the continued study of how humans adapt to the microgravity environment of space, the service of systems on board a docked cargo ship and the documentation of European landmarks from Earth orbit kept the seven astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) busy this week (June 2 through June 6), the sixth week of Expedition 73. "I noticed smoke over the Northern U.S. and Canada a few days ago, and it took me a little while to understand what it was. From our perspective, it almost looks like a differently colored cloud formation," flight engineer Nichole Ayers, a NASA astronaut, wrote on X on June 3 after spotting the smoke from wildfires in Canada that has caused evacuations in thee provinces and affected the air quality across several U.S. states. "The brown hue to the clouds and the fact that they overlapped the white clouds caught my eye. I've been trying to capture it daily to aid in understanding the smoke movement. I hope everyone stays safe!" Ayers wrote. Among the research that was conducted aboard the space station this week was: Bio-Monitor — For two days this week, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim wore this Canadian instrument to assess if it can collect his health data while being comfortable to wear and not interfere with his other activities. Virtual — Russian cosmonaut Alexey Zubritskiy, assisted by Sergey Ryzhikov, donned a pair of VR goggles as part of a study into the vestibular system's ability in microgravity to visually track movement while also keeping a sense of balance. Drain Brain 2.0 — Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) measured the blood flow from his brain to his heart using electrodes from this rapid screening tool, which could help prevent and diagnose blood clots while in space. Elvis — Ayers worked with the Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System, a 3D microscope kept in JAXA's Kino laboratory, which she used to observe deep-sea bacteria samples. The demo could lead to using a similar device to identify possible infectious organisms in water supplies both in space and on Earth. Zubritskiy also spent a couple of days this week documenting Eastern European landmarks while fellow cosmonaut Kirill Peskov took photos of the Volga River and Aral Sea to visually assess the aftermaths of both natural and human-caused disasters. The crew also devoted time to maintaining the space station's systems, including: BEAM — Ayers and fellow NASA astronaut Anne McClain moved hardware into stowage aboard the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, which serves as a "float-in" closet for the station since being installed and inflated in 2016. Spaceborne Computer-2 — Kim replaced a processor cartridge for this commercial off-the-shelf computer, which is being assessed for its ability to facilitate research analysis without the need for Earth-based support. PCBA — McClain updated the firmware for the Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer, a handheld unit that is used to quickly test blood samples for numerous research studies conducted on the ISS. AstroPi — Kim also relocated this computer-controlled camera from a window inside the Unity module to a different window inside the European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus module. Students remotely use a pair of these cameras for engineering and science projects. Ryzhikov also cleaned out a heater fan and filled an oxygen generator tank in the Progress MS-29 (90P) cargo spacecraft as well as assisted Zubritskiy in the work to service a neutron radiation detector in the Russian segment of the space station. In addition to the work detailed above, McClain worked on SoFIE-MIST. "SoFIE-MIST stands for Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction–Material Ignition and Suppression Test," she wrote in a June 6 X post. "MIST consists of a small-scale combustion wind tunnel, cylindrical fuel sample, an igniter, radiant heaters, and instrumentation. By varying parameters like air flow speed, oxygen concentration, pressure, and level of external radiation, then viewing the resultant flame produced on the sample, we can better characterize early behavior of fire. This helps us choose better materials for use in space, and it helps determine the best methods of extinguishing fires in space." "This week, I changed out the fuel samples and igniter for the next science run." The Expedition 73 crew's activities this week also included preparing for the arrival of short-term visitors: Axiom Space's fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to arrive aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Wednesday (June 11), assuming an on-time launch the day prior. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will lead the Ax-4 crew, which includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland (and ESA) and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The station crew reviewed the Ax-4 plan with mission managers on the ground while McClain and Ayers, who are assigned to oversee the Dragon's approach from inside the station, went over the docking procedures. The two used a computer to review the situations they could encounter when the Dragon nears the orbiting complex. Onishi readied the tablet computers that will be used by Whitson, Shukla, Uznański-Wiśniewski and Kapu during their two-week science research mission. As of Friday (June 6), there are 7 people aboard the International Space Station: commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA, Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim of NASA and Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos, all flight engineers. There are two docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX's Dragon "Endurance" attached to the forward port of the Harmony module, and Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-27 attached to the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node. There are also two docked cargo spacecraft: Rosocmos' Progess MS-29 (90P) attached to the space-facing port of the Poisk module and Progress MS-30 (91P) attached to the aft port of the Zvezda service module. As of Friday, the space station has been continuously crewed for 24 years, 7 months and 5 days.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX vehicle to depart ISS for California water landing: How to watch NASA coverage
Update: NASA and SpaceX are now planning for the Dragon to undock at 12:05 p.m. ET Friday, May 23. The vehicle would then land at 1:45 a.m. ET Sunday, May 25 off the coast of California. A SpaceX vehicle that has spent about a month docked at the International Space Station on a resupply mission is due to depart within a matter of hours. NASA will provide live coverage as the uncrewed spacecraft begins its return voyage Thursday, May 22. The Dragon capsule, developed by Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company to deliver cargo and crews to the orbital outpost, will then embark on a long voyage ending with a splashdown landing Friday, May 23, off the coast of California. The vehicle arrived in April with plenty of food, equipment and other supplies for the seven astronauts currently living aboard the station. And it's not leaving emptyhanded: When it undocks, it will be loaded up with scientific research samples and hardware bound for Earth. Here's what to know about the resupply mission and how to watch the U.S. space agency's coverage of the Dragon's departure: For 25 years, the International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit, typically about 250 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). More than 280 spacefarers from 23 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 169 from the United States alone, according to NASA. Bigger than a six-bedroom house, the outpost has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window. As of now, seven members of Expedition 73, including three Americans, are living aboard the ISS – conducting scientific research and working to maintain the station. The crew members aboard the station spent time Wednesday, May 21, loading and securing a variety of cargo inside the Dragon spacecraft ahead of its scheduled departure. The Dragon has spent 30 days docked to the Harmony module, a port and passageway onto the station facing away from Earth, after arriving April 22 with nearly 6,700 pounds of supplies. The spacecraft launched April 21 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida, for SpaceX's 32nd commercial resupply services mission. Standing nearly 27 feet tall and about 13 feet wide, the Dragon is one of four cargo spacecraft that deliver science experiments and other cargo to the space station on a regular basis. Dragon capsules can also carry up to seven astronauts into orbit, though most of SpaceX's Crew missions, which are contracted with NASA, feature a contingent of four. The Dragon is due to undock at about 12:05 p.m. ET Thursday, May 22, from the Harmony module before firing its thrusters to move away from the station. The departure will be under command by SpaceX's Mission Control in Hawthorne, California. NASA will provide live coverage of the undocking beginning at 11:45 a.m. ET Thursday on its streaming service, NASA+. After re-entering Earth's atmosphere, the spacecraft will splash down on Friday, May 23, off the coast of California. While NASA will post updates on the agency's space station blog, it will not provide a livestream of the water landing. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SpaceX Dragon to depart space station for California landing: Watch
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
What does lightning look like from space? See stunning photos from NASA astronauts on ISS
It's safe to say that most of us have seen lightning here on Earth plenty of times – some of us have even been struck by it. But the natural phenomenon is one all but a few select individuals will ever have the chance to see from the vantage of 250 miles in orbit. Fortunately, a few astronauts over the years have been more than willing to generously share a glimpse of crashing lightning as seen from outer space. And you better believe it looks nothing like what we're used to seeing from the ground. The latest images of sky-splitting lightning came courtesy of two NASA astronauts who reached the International Space Station together in March after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. In May, Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain posted photos on social media site X of lightning roiling far, far beneath them. "This is what lightning looks like from the top down," McClain said in a post shared May 21. Here's a closer look at just what they managed to capture from above Earth's atmosphere. The images McClain and Ayers shared show electrostatic discharges – in other words, lightning – from above the clouds as they orbited in the International Space Station. In Ayers' post on X, she said she first observed lightning May 1 while suited up for a spacewalk outside the orbital outpost. She then managed to capture a few photos the next day, which she shared May 5. "I am so amazed by the view we have up here of our Earth's weather systems," Ayers posted. While it was unclear what part of Earth the lightning was striking in Ayers' photos, McClain said her images were captured over Alabama and Georgia. "Fast and furious, but also an incredible sight!" McClain said. The photos not only reveal the chaotic beauty of lightning, but could provide valuable orbital data to scientists studying the phenomenon back on Earth. The photos were captured at speeds of 120 frames per second, with the depicted flashes only taking up one frame. The technique was pioneered by veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who is renowned for his astral photography. Pettit, who had arrived in September 2024 for his third and most recent space station stint, departed April 19, 2025, with two cosmonauts before safely landing in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday. Ayers and McClain, who also recently made headlines for completing a rare all-female spacewalk, are among seven people living at the International Space Station. The crew of Expedition 73 includes three Americans, three Russian cosmonauts and one Japanese spacefarer from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa.) McClain and Ayers are both part of a SpaceX mission known as Crew-10 that reached the space station in March 2025. Their arrival with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov paved the way for the NASA astronauts who crewed the doomed Boeing Starliner to depart with the Crew-9 mission. Also at the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the outpost in April 2025 with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Images: Lightning in space from NASA astronauts on ISS
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What does lightning look like from space? Astronauts on space station share stunning photos
It's safe to say that most of us have seen lightning here on Earth plenty of times – some of us have even been struck by it. But the natural phenomenon is one all but a few select individuals will ever have the chance to see from the vantage of 250 miles in orbit. Fortunately, a few astronauts over the years have been more than willing to generously share a glimpse of crashing lightning as seen from outer space. And you better believe it looks nothing like what we're used to seeing from the ground. The latest images of sky-splitting lightning came courtesy of two NASA astronauts residing aboard the International Space Station. In May, Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain posted photos on social media site X of lightning roiling far, far beneath them. "This is what lightning looks like from the top down," McClain said in a post shared May 21. Here's a closer look at just what they managed to capture from above Earth's atmosphere. The images McClain and Ayers shared show electrostatic discharges – in other words, lightning – from above the clouds as they orbited in the International Space Station. In Ayers' post on X, she said she first observed lightning May 1 while suited up for a spacewalk outside the orbital outpost. She then managed to capture a few photos the next day, which she shared May 5. "I am so amazed by the view we have up here of our Earth's weather systems," Ayers posted. While it was unclear what part of Earth the lightning was striking in Ayers' photos, McClain said her images were captured over Alabama and Georgia. "Fast and furious, but also an incredible sight!" McClain said. The photos not only reveal the chaotic beauty of lightning, but could provide valuable orbital data to scientists studying the phenomenon back on Earth. Here's a look at some of the astronauts' photos: The photos were captured at speeds of 120 frames per second, with the depicted flashes only taking up one frame. The technique was pioneered by veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who is renowned for his astral photography. Pettit, who had arrived in September 2024 for his third and most recent space station stint, departed April 19, 2025, with two cosmonauts before safely landing in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday. Ayers and McClain, who also recently made headlines for completing a rare all-female spacewalk, are among seven people living at the International Space Station. The crew of Expedition 73 includes three Americans, three Russian cosmonauts and one Japanese spacefarer from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa.) McClain and Ayers are both part of a SpaceX mission known as Crew-10 that reached the space station in March 2025. Their arrival with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov paved the way for the NASA astronauts who crewed the doomed Boeing Starliner to depart with the Crew-9 mission. Also at the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the outpost in April 2025 with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astronauts on space station glimpse lightning from space: See photos
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
What does lightning look like from space? See stunning photos from astronauts on ISS
It's safe to say that most of us have seen lightning here on Earth plenty of times – some of us have even been struck by it. But the natural phenomenon is one all but a few select individuals will ever have the chance to see from the vantage of 250 miles in orbit. Fortunately, a few astronauts over the years have been more than willing to generously share a glimpse of crashing lightning as seen from outer space. And you better believe it looks nothing like what we're used to seeing from the ground. The latest images of sky-splitting lightning came courtesy of two NASA astronauts who reached the International Space Station together in March after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. In May, Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain posted photos on social media site X of lightning roiling far, far beneath them. "This is what lightning looks like from the top down," McClain said in a post shared May 21. Here's a closer look at just what they managed to capture from above Earth's atmosphere. The images McClain and Ayers shared show electrostatic discharges – in other words, lightning – from above the clouds as they orbited in the International Space Station. In Ayers' post on X, she said she first observed lightning May 1 while suited up for a spacewalk outside the orbital outpost. She then managed to capture a few photos the next day, which she shared May 5. "I am so amazed by the view we have up here of our Earth's weather systems," Ayers posted. While it was unclear what part of Earth the lightning was striking in Ayers' photos, McClain said her images were captured over Alabama and Georgia. "Fast and furious, but also an incredible sight!" McClain said. The photos not only reveal the chaotic beauty of lightning, but could provide valuable orbital data to scientists studying the phenomenon back on Earth. Here's a look at some of the astronauts' photos: The photos were captured at speeds of 120 frames per second, with the depicted flashes only taking up one frame. The technique was pioneered by veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who is renowned for his astral photography. Pettit, who had arrived in September 2024 for his third and most recent space station stint, departed April 19, 2025, with two cosmonauts before safely landing in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday. Ayers and McClain, who also recently made headlines for completing a rare all-female spacewalk, are among seven people living at the International Space Station. The crew of Expedition 73 includes three Americans, three Russian cosmonauts and one Japanese spacefarer from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa.) McClain and Ayers are both part of a SpaceX mission known as Crew-10 that reached the space station in March 2025. Their arrival with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov paved the way for the NASA astronauts who crewed the doomed Boeing Starliner to depart with the Crew-9 mission. Also at the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the outpost in April 2025 with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Lightning from space: Astronauts post stunning weather images on X
