Latest news with #JAXA
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Behind the camera: Astronauts talk with students from space station
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Nichole Ayers with NASA and Takuya Onishi with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), both Expedition 53 crewmates, are seen on board the International Space Station broadcasting their answers to students questions about life on orbit. How do astronauts record their frequent video conversations with children and others on the ground? This photo, taken by an unidentified crew member aboard the International Space Station reveals the May 20, 2025, Ayers and Onishi replied to questions submitted by students from schools in New York and Ohio. In this photo, they are shown during the first session, fielding the pre-recorded queries from Long Beach Middle School in Lido Beach. As is often used for such video sessions, Ayers and Onishi are set up in the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, JAXA's primary contribution to the orbiting complex and its largest science International Space Station orbits Earth at about 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the planet. Besides being a rare behind-the-scenes view of a regular activity aboard the space station, this photo also answers a question that one of the students may have asked that day. If astronauts are in microgravity aboard the space station, how do they stand still and upright during a long Q&A session on camera? Look carefully at Ayers' and Onishi's feet and you can see they are hooked under a blue metal bar positioned there for just such a reason. If you look along the lower wall closer to the camera, you can also see foot restraints for when astronauts are working with the science racks. While astronauts have demonstrated being able to "stand" without such tools, every motion they make can start them slowly tumbling or spinning in place. You can read more about the activities aboard the International Space Station and you can watch astronauts demonstrate the effects of motion in microgravity.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Pioneering Aerospace Medicine Program to Study Long-Term Effects of Space Travel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Astronauts undergo years of rigorous training to spend time on the International Space Station. Still, their bodies suffer many changes while they are in microgravity. Texas A&M University's Aerospace Medicine Program is putting long-duration spaceflight at the center of its research and education, a first-of-its-kind initiative. Astronauts are known to face multiple health challenges while in space. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) defines these risks by the acronym RIDGE, which represents conditions that spring from space radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth, gravity fields and hostile/closed environments. Radiation exposure results from galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events. It is assumed that exposure to these for long periods of time can lead to an increased cancer risk, nervous system damage, degenerative tissue effects, acute radiation syndrome and other diseases. These predicted outcomes are parallel to what was experienced in the days, weeks and years after the Chernobyl disaster. Isolation and confinement can lead to mental health difficulties. Sleep, mission fatigue and communication trouble are some of the obstacles astronauts face during extended missions. Once back home, astronauts may have trouble adapting back into their families' daily routines. The distance from spacecraft to Earth does not allow astronauts to pop out to the grocery store or pharmacy if they need something. Instead, the payload they carry with them must have all the necessary medical supplies when it leaves Earth. Anticipating every possible situation, which also involves balancing cargo weight and risk, is part of the equation. Crew-10 mission astronauts NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers (C) waves to family members alongside NASA mission commander Anne McClain (R) and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (L) before heading to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space... Crew-10 mission astronauts NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers (C) waves to family members alongside NASA mission commander Anne McClain (R) and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (L) before heading to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Gregg Newton / AFP) (Photo by GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images) More Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images During space travel, astronauts encounter Earth's gravity and the weightlessness of space. With travel to Mars comes a third force factor: Mars has its own gravitational pull, one-third that of Earth's. Adaption and re-adaption to those circumstances is an obstacle that affects balance and bone density. Texas A&M's program is led by a doctor with keen knowledge of space travel. Dr. Jeffery Chancellor is a physicist and space radiation expert who has worked on over 10 NASA-funded flight studies. His wife, Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor, a physician with 15 years of experience as an astronaut, is an associate professor in the College of Medicine at the university. "We currently have three students in the inaugural aerospace medicine distinction track class, and we anticipate future cohorts to consist of five to 10 students annually. Considering the specialized nature of the curriculum and the hands-on learning opportunities, we strive to maintain a selective program to ensure each student receives a high-impact, personalized experience," Chancellor told Newsweek. That personalized experience includes course study specifically honed to fit the program and the future of space travel. "In addition to core content on human physiology in space and the operational principles of aerospace medicine, the track also covers topics such as environmental control and life support system (ECLSS), radiation biology, aviation safety, countermeasure development and space policy and ethics. Students engage in simulation-based training, research project design and collaborations with partners like NASA, commercial spaceflight firms and military aerospace units. The objective is to bridge the gap between clinical medicine and the operational, technical and scientific challenges of spaceflight," he said. Texas A&M isn't the only university in the U.S. with an aerospace medicine program. The University of Central Florida and University of California, Los Angeles, offer their own programs. The U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy also have aerospace medicine curricula. The Mayo Clinic offers the Mayo Aerospace Medicine Fellowship, a two-year accredited program that focuses on clinical work. "Our program aligns closely with other aerospace medicine curricula in foundational areas like flight physiology, emergency preparedness and the management of aerospace-related illnesses," Chancellor said. "Where we differentiate is our emphasis on emerging spaceflight environments—particularly long-duration missions in microgravity, lunar surface operations and commercial spaceflight. We intentionally incorporate lessons from analog missions, spaceflight simulations and current research on the biological impact of space exposure." "Additionally, distinction students will participate in immersive analog training scenarios, mirroring components of residency-level aerospace medicine programs. These include experiences such as attending specialized training at the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), shadowing flight surgeons at commercial spaceflight companies, participating in preflight medical briefings and observing launch and landing recovery operations. These activities are designed to provide early operational exposure and prepare students for the realities of clinical aerospace medicine in both governmental and commercial environments," he said. FILE - NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo enroute to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their... FILE - NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo enroute to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on a Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) More AP/chris Texas A&M researchers are studying the effects of RIDGE as well as the practicality of certain aspects of aerospace medicine, such as the difficulties of filling a syringe in space to either inject a patient or draw blood. Aerospace medicine has been greatly impacted by assumed outcomes based on experiences on Earth. Texas A&M's program is designed to discover if those assumed outcomes are truths. "Since the beginning of the spaceflight program, there have been no documented health outcomes in crew members that have been attributed to space radiation exposure. The risk assumptions are based on outcomes on Earth, such as those observed in people who survived atomic bombs or occupational incidents like the Chernobyl disaster," the university said in a statement.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Japan tests its Mars moon sample-return probe ahead of 2026 launch (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Japan is putting its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft through a series of tests ahead of its launch to Mars next year. MMX is a complex mission to collect samples from the moon Phobos and deliver them to Earth to solve the riddle of the origin of the tiny Martian satellite. The spacecraft has been put into a vacuum chamber to test its readiness for deep space, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on May 15 via its official mission channel on the social media platform X. "MMX is undergoing a thermal vacuum test, in which the spacecraft is placed in a vacuum chamber where the environment simulates outer space and the operation for each of the onboard instruments is checked," JAXA stated. The image shows the spacecraft's return and exploration modules, while MMX's little IDEFIX rover can be seen in the center, attached to the exploration module. The 55-pound (25 kilograms) IDEFIX rover was developed by the German Aerospace Center (known by the German acronym DLR) and the French space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Related stories: — New Japanese spacecraft aims to explore the mysterious moons of Mars — Mars: Everything you need to know about the Red Planet — Mars moons: Facts about Phobos and Deimos A main objective of MMX is to determine whether Phobos and the smaller companion moon Deimos are captured asteroids, or formed from fragments blown into orbit after a giant impact struck Mars. The mission also aims to provide new insights into the history of the Red Planet and planetary formation in general across the wider solar system. MMX is due to be launched on Japan's flagship H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center during the next Mars launch window, in November-December 2026. It was earlier scheduled to launch in the previous launch window in 2024, but this was delayed due to issues with the H3 rocket. If all goes well, MMX will arrive in orbit around Mars in 2027 to begin mapping and analyzing Phobos and Deimos and search for a landing site. MMX will then land on Phobos in 2029 to collect around 0.35 oz (10 grams) of samples. These are expected to be delivered to Earth in 2031.
NDTV
17-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Japan Committed To Moon Missions As Trump Cuts NASA Budget: JAXA Chief
Tokyo: Japan is ready to support the United States' lower-cost lunar missions, its space agency chief said on Friday, after the U.S. administration proposed a $6 billion cut to NASA's budget that could upend the Artemis programme to return people to the moon. U.S.-led Artemis, established during President Donald Trump's first term and joined by partners including Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canada, has grown into a multibillion-dollar project aiming to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. "If the U.S. were considering a better alternative in terms of budget or economics, we must respond to it," Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), told a monthly briefing. Trump unveiled his 2026 budget proposal for NASA earlier this month. It would almost halve the agency's space science budget and reshape its exploration programmes to focus on Mars with "cost-effective" rockets and spaceships. Japan signed an agreement with NASA last year to include two Japanese astronauts and a Toyota-made rover in future missions to the lunar surface. While Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed a partnership on Artemis missions in February, the budget proposal suggested NASA could cancel the Gateway, an internationally planned space station that was due for initial deployment near the moon in the fourth Artemis mission. NASA said Gateway components already built could be repurposed for other missions and "international partners will be invited to join these renewed efforts". JAXA has jointly built a Gateway human habitation module with ESA and intended to use its cargo spacecraft HTV-X to resupply the station. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said in a statement last week that "some questions still remain about the full repercussions" of Trump's budget proposal and ESA was holding follow-up meetings with the U.S. space agency. JAXA's Yamakawa declined to evaluate the NASA budget proposal and said it and the Japanese government would seek dialogues with the U.S. counterparts to keep strengthening mutually-beneficial space cooperation. "Even under a name different from 'Gateway', similar infrastructure is needed for lunar activities, and we continue to provide it," Yamakawa said. Japan could offer resupply capabilities, high-precision landing technology, rover or the lunar water data obtained from an upcoming joint mission with India, to the U.S. and other international partners, he added. The United States and China have become intensifying rivals in space and are courting partner countries and leaning on private companies for their moon exploration, space station and satellite programmes. "It's hard to imagine the U.S. would deliberately discard its advantage of having partners with space capabilities above a certain level ... which is one of America's biggest assets in the wake of its rivalry against China," said Kota Umeda, Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics in Tokyo. "Even if the U.S. were to scale back the Artemis programme, they would likely work together with Japan and Europe to find a solution that allows all parties to save face." (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan remains committed to moon missions as Trump cuts NASA budget, JAXA chief says
Japan is ready to support the United States' lower-cost lunar missions, its space agency chief said on Friday, after the U.S. administration proposed a $6 billion cut to NASA's budget that could upend the Artemis program to return people to the moon. U.S.-led Artemis, established during President Donald Trump's first term and joined by partners including Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canada, has grown into a multibillion-dollar project aiming to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. "If the U.S. were considering a better alternative in terms of budget or economics, we must respond to it," Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), told a monthly briefing. Trump unveiled his 2026 budget proposal for NASA earlier this month. It would almost halve the agency's space science budget and reshape its exploration programs to focus on Mars with "cost-effective" rockets and spaceships. Japan signed an agreement with NASA last year to include two Japanese astronauts and a Toyota-made rover in future missions to the lunar surface. While Trump ands Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed a partnership on Artemis missions in February, the budget proposal suggested NASA could cancel the Gateway, an internationally planned space station that was due for initial deployment near the moon in the fourth Artemis mission. NASA said Gateway components already built could be repurposed for other missions and "international partners will be invited to join these renewed efforts." JAXA has jointly built a Gateway human habitation module with ESA and intended to use its cargo spacecraft HTV-X to resupply the station. ESA Director-General Josef Aschbacher said in a statement last week that "some questions still remain about the full repercussions" of Trump's budget proposal and ESA was holding follow-up meetings with the U.S. space agency. JAXA's Yamakawa declined to evaluate the NASA budget proposal and said it and the Japanese government would seek dialogues with the U.S. counterparts to keep strengthening mutually beneficial space cooperation. "Even under a name different from 'Gateway,' similar infrastructure is needed for lunar activities, and we continue to provide it," Yamakawa said. Japan could offer resupply capabilities, high-precision landing technology, rover or the lunar water data obtained from an upcoming joint mission with India, to the U.S. and other international partners, he added. The United States and China have become intensifying rivals in space and are courting partner countries and leaning on private companies for their moon exploration, space station and satellite programs. "It's hard to imagine the U.S. would deliberately discard its advantage of having partners with space capabilities above a certain level ... which is one of America's biggest assets in the wake of its rivalry against China," said Kota Umeda, Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics in Tokyo. "Even if the U.S. were to scale back the Artemis program, they would likely work together with Japan and Europe to find a solution that allows all parties to save face."
