The International Space Station has been orbiting Earth since 1998, serving as a research platform for NASA astronauts and its international partners: the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Expedition 72, the 72nd and long-duration mission to the International Space Station, launches on Sept. 11, 2024 and will last about six months. They will join the station's current Expedition 7 1 crew before shifting to 72 later in their flight. Here we'll provide live updates on what the Expedition 67 crew has been up to, from visiting vehicles to spacewalks and more.
Spaceflight
Spaceflight
Josh Dinner
Josh has been covering spaceflight since 2016, following the evolution of the International Space Station alongside NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships for Dragon and Cygnus cargo missions, and the emergence of commercial crew missions returning to Florida's Space Coast through his writing, on-site reporting and rocket photography.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy are headed back outside International Space Station(ISS) today for Spacewalk 65.
The extravehicular activity (EVA) is expected to begin around 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT) and last about six hours.
The duo "will install experiment hardware on the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module, and relocate a control panel for the European robotic arm attached to Nauka," NASA News Chief Cheryl Warner wrote in an emailed statement on Monday (Oct. 27).
Two cosmonauts, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy. of Roscosmos, are outside the International Space Station(ISS) this afternoon, beginning at about 12:50 p.m. EDT (1650 GMT), for a spacewalk that's expected to last 5.5 hours.
Cygnus XL NG-23 cargo spacecraft arrives at the ISS
(Image credit: NASA)
The first "Cygnus XL" NG-23 cargo freighter arrived at the International Space Station ISS early this morning, and was captured by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim using the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm at 7:24 a.m. EDT (1124 GMT), as the ISS flew about 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cygnus was maneuvered to the Earth-facing port of the station's Unity module, and will be berthed at the ISS for until March 2026, when it will depart and deorbit to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
Cygnus rendezvous delayed
(Image credit: NASA)
The most recent cargo launch to the ISS lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Sept. 14 from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:11 p.m. EDT (2211 GMT).
It was a new version of Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft, the Cygnus XL, a larger and more capable version of the veteran freighter. The previous iteration hauled about 8,500 (3,855 kilograms) pounds of cargo to the ISS, but Cygnus XL is taking 11,000 pounds (4,990 kg) up on this trip.
Cygnus suffered a thruster issue in orbit early Tuesday morning (Sept. 16). Now, the spacecraft will not arrive to the station on Wednesday, Sept. 17, as originally planned, with a new arrival date and time under review," NASA officials announced in an update on Tuesday afternoon.
SpaceX CRS-32 Dragon cargo capsule arrives at the ISS
The CRS-32 SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) this morning (April 22), wrapping up about 28 hours traveling on orbit to close the gap between them.
Dragon's orbital chase ended early this morning, with the capsule docking with the ISS's Harmony module zenith port at 8:40 a.m. EDT (1238 GMT) as the pair flew over the Indian ocean.
Soyuz MS-26 lands back on Earth
Soyuz MS-26, with NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner touched down in Kazakhstan April 19, at 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 GMT and 6:20 a.m. local Kazakh time on April 20). Their return wraps up 220 days in space.
MS-26 astronauts depart ISS
The Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 crew of (pictured left to right) NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. (Image credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center)
The Russian MS-26 Soyuz spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) April 19, around 6:00 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT). The spacecraft is expected to touch down in Kazakhstan around 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 GMT and 6:20 a.m. local Kazakh time on April 20).
Ovchinin passed control of the orbiting lab over to Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in a change-of-command ceremony April 18. In total, the MS-26 crew spent 220 days in space.
From left to right: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. (Image credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center)
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and his two cosmonaut colleagues have arrived at the International Space Station (ISS). Russian MS-27 Soyuz spacecraft carrying Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky docked with the orbiting lab on Tuesday (April 8) at 4:57 a.m. (0857 GMT).
ISS Change of Command Ceremony March 7, 1:55 p.m. ET (1855 GMT)
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and NASA astronaut Suni Williams shake hands during a change of command ceremony aboard the International Space Station, Sep. 22, 2024. (Image credit: NASA)
NASA will stream a change of command ceremony aboard the International Space Station today, Friday, March 7, beginning at 1:55 p.m. (1855 GMT).
In preparation for the arrival of Crew-10 and subsequent departure of Crew-9, Expedition 72 station Commander NASA astronaut Suni Williams will pass command to Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, and the two are expected to share remarks. There ceremony will be broadcast on the NASA+ streaming service, as well as on the Space.com homepage.
Roscosmos Spacewalk 63
Russian cosmonauts perform spacewalk to install new X-ray detector on ISS - YouTube
Roscosmos cosmonaut Nikolai Chub during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station’s Nauka science module. (Image credit: NASA)
Roscosmos Spacewalk 63, the 272nd spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 19, beginning at approximately 10:10 a.m. ET (1510 GMT).
The extravehicular activity (EVA) will be performed by Expedition 72 crew members, Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. This will be the second EVA for Ovchinin, and first for Vagner. During the EVA, the pair will exit Russia's Poisk module, Ovchinin wearing an Orlan spacesuit with red stripes, with Vagner's spacesuit sporting blue stripes.
Ovchinin and Vagner will position an experiment component for monitoring celestial x-ray sources, detach old experiments for disposal, install an electrical connector patch panel, and relocate a control panel for the European robotic arm. The pair will be supported by fellow cosmonaut Alexsandr Gorbunov, who will operate the arm from inside the ISS.
NASA will stream the spacewalk live on its NASA+ streaming service, beginning about 15 minutes before the start of the EVA, here and the Space.com homepage.
The Soyuz capsule undocks from the ISS at 4:37 am EDT on Monday (Sept. 23) (Image credit: NASA)
"Expedition 71 in is the history books!"
Soyuz MS-25 undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:37 am EDT (08:37 UTC) on Monday (Sept. 23). The undocking represents the beginning of a journey back to Earth for NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and Russian Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub.
When the undocking command was given, the capsule was docked to the ISS Prichal module with the space station over Eastern Mongolia. The hooks needed just 90 seconds to secure Prichal and retract.
The Soyuz module docked at the ISS on Monday Sept.23 just before undocking (Image credit: NASA)
Soyuz MS-25 commander Kononenko and Chub have broken records for stays on the ISS, spending 374 days on the station. The prior record of 371 days was held by their fellow cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin along with NASA's Frank Rubio, who occupuied the ISS from September 2022 to September 2023.
If the return of the Soyuz MS-25 goes according to plan NASA said it will touchdown will occur at around 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), southeast of the Kazakh town of Dzhezkazgan.
New ISS crew launching today
The Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 crew of (pictured left to right) NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. (Image credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center)
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a new three-person crew to the International Space Station today to kick off the Expedition 72 mission to the orbiting lab.
The Soyuz rocket will launch the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft for Roscosmos to ferry NASA astronaut Don Pettit and Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner to the space station from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Liftoff will be at 12:23 p.m. EDT (1623 GMT; 9:23 p.m. local Baikonur time).
Pettit is renowned for his ability to squeeze amazing science out of his space missions. Check out our feature on this "space MacGyver" by Space.com's Elizabeth Howell ahead of his launch.
You can watch the Expedition 72 crew's Soyuz launch live online, courtesy of NASA TV, starting at 11:15 a.m. EDT (1515 GMT). A livestream video feed is available at the top of this page.
NASA will also broadcast the Soyuz's planned docking at the ISS, which is scheduled for 3:33 p.m. EDT (1933 GMT). That docking webcast will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), with another livestream set for 5:30 p.m. EDT (2150 GMT) to cover a hatch opening ceremony at 5:50 p.m. EDT (2150 GMT).
Starliner remains at ISS port as SpaceX eyes Aug. 18 launch
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, on its first historic mission with astronauts, will remain docked at the International Space Station as NASA and the company evaluate data from ground and in-space thruster testing, the agency stated on Thursday (Aug. 1)
"Teams are taking their time to analyze the results of recent docked hot-fire testing, finalize flight rationale for the spacecraft’s integrated propulsion system, and confirm system reliability ahead of Starliner's return to Earth," NASA officials wrote in a blog post.
Starliner's location at the forward port of the ISS Harmony module is supposed to be cleared to make way for SpaceX Crew-9, which is launching no earlier than Aug. 18. Starliner originally was expected to spend about 10 days in space after launching June 5, but remained for what has now been two months.
While the two NASA astronauts with Starliner are cleared to return anytime and are not stranded in space, they are staying at ISS to allow the root causes of helium leaks and thruster misfirings to be determined. Boeing wants to send the first operational mission to the ISS, which would last six months, in 2025 and may require changes to the design or how the propulsion system is used to achieve that.
NASA spacewalks to resume in fall
NASA plans to resume its spacewalks in the fall following a leak in the service and cooling umbilical area of a spacesuit and its attachment on June 24.
Astronaut Tracy Dyson experienced the coolant leak while in the hatch of the International Space Station (ISS), during the beginning minutes of a spacewalk. The hatch was open, but she had not left the facility yet. She and her spacewalking partner, Mike Barratt, were never in any danger.
NASA postponed future spacewalks pending an investigation, moving back future extravehicular activity (EVA) dates several times to allow time for the work to complete. The agency has now identified a fix and will replace the umbilical on her suit, agency officials said in a briefing today (July 26).
"We're just working to find time in the busy [ISS] schedule to replan that series of EVAs," ISS program manager Dana Weigel said in the livestreamed briefing, referring to dockings and undockings of other spacecraft in the summer. "My expectation is that's that's out in the fall timeframe sometimes, so we're still working through that."
ISS operations unaffected by global tech outage
Operations on the International Space Station have not been affected by a global tech outage of Microsoft systems today (July 19), linked to a software bug with cybersecurity company Cloudstrike.
"NASA is assessing potential impacts to agency systems related to Microsoft partner CloudStrike," an agency representative wrote in an e-mail update today to Space.com. "So far, we have seen some impact to various Microsoft 365 apps and services. We are continuing to monitor the situation. Currently, there are no impacts to operations or communications for the International Space Station."
The Cloudstrike outage has created issues with air and train travel, as well as key services with banks and businesses around the world. The outage occurred early this morning in EDT hours, and resolution efforts by Microsoft and Cloudstrike are ongoing.
NASA plans independent review of Falcon 9 failure
NASA will perform its own re-authorization of SpaceX's Falcon 9 before the rocket launches its next astronaut crew or cargo mission, the agency confirmed Wednesday (July 17).
Falcon 9 experienced a rare failure during an engine burn of SpaceX rocket's second stage, due to an oxygen leak, during a launch on Thursday (July 11). A mandatory mishap investigation is ongoing. SpaceX, however, asked the Federal Aviation Administration Monday (July 15) to allow for future launches under a "public safety determination", meaning the launch posed no risk to public safety.
On SpaceX's near-term launch manifest is NASA's next International Space Station astronaut rotation. Called Crew-9, it is slated to send four astronauts to the ISS as early as mid-August. But NASA program manager Dana Weigel said the agency will have "its own process that's outside of what the FAA does" even if the administration rules in favor of SpaceX's request.
ISS will gently fall back to Earth before SpaceX vehicle pushes it into atmosphere
Though the International Space Station is meant to be replaced in the 2030s, it will take a long time for the orbiting lab to officially reach the end of its life, NASA says.
SpaceX's newly commissioned reentry vehicle will only push the International Space Station (ISS) into Earth's atmosphere some 12 to 18 months after the complex "drifts down" from its normal orbit. "We'll leave the crew on board as long as possible, so they're available to help maintain station and keep it healthy," NASA's Dana Weigel, ISS program manager, told reporters today (July 17) in a livestreamed briefing of the reentry plan.
"Our plan is for [the astronauts] to leave about six months before the final reentry, as ISS reaches about 220 kilometers [136 miles]," Weigel said, explaining that's as low as human vehicles are typically rated to fly. For comparison, the typical ISS orbit is 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.
NASA slates next spacewalk for July 29 after coolant leak
NASA will hold its next spacewalk no earlier than July 29 after a coolant leak halted the last excursion June 24.
Agency officials announced the date on the International Space Station blog from NASA, after saying in a teleconference on Friday (June 28) that they planned an extravehicular activity (EVA) at the end of July. A time of day is not yet available for the excursion.
"This change allows teams on the ground to continue to troubleshoot and understand the water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit that forced an early end to a spacewalk on Monday, June 24," NASA officials wrote in the update.
Tracy Dyson and Mike Barratt, who were on the last EVA attempt that lasted just 31 minutes of its planned 6.5-hours, will make "hardware replacements and installations, preparations for future upgrades on science gear and photographic inspections of station pipelines" during the rescheduled spacewalk, NASA officials noted in a blog post June 27.
No landing date for Boeing Starliner, more tests required
NASA says Boeing Starliner will extend its first astronaut mission well into the summer, after launching June 5 for what was supposed to be a 10-day flight.
Starliner experienced both helium leaks and thruster issues during a June 6 docking with the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft is stable and rated to leave the ISS in case of emergency, Boeing and NASA leadership stress. But after testing the thrusters in space, NASA and Boeing said they want to take more time to understand the root cause.
A test campaign will start as soon as July 2 at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico to replicate how the thrusters were used during the flight, NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said during a livestreamed update today (June 28) with reporters. The testing will take approximately two weeks, but that depends on what is found — and more analysis will be required afterwards. As such, NASA and Boeing do not yet have a landing date for Starliner.
"We're not going to target a specific date until we get that testing completed, and we look at the fault tree, and then we understand the path for it," Stich said.
NASA to update reporters on ISS issues at 2 p.m. EDT
NASA will provide an update on an unexpectedly busy week at ISS at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT), along with discussion of Boeing Starliner's return plans. You can listen live here at Space.com, via NASA Television.
One astronaut had a spacesuit coolant leak during a spacewalk on June 24 that required halting the planned 6.5-hour excursion after only 31 minutes. (The crew was never in any major danger, NASA said at the time.)
The Expedition 71 crew also temporarily took shelter in their return spacecraft June 26 after a satellite broke up in low Earth orbit, although the precautionary procedure lasted only an hour.
NASA spacewalk concludes after coolant leak, crew not in any danger
NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Mike Barratt were told by Mission Control at 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT) to stop a planned 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS). The pair had already switched over to the internal power in their suits at 8:46 a.m. (1246 GMT), meaning the spacewalk had technically started. Following the cancellation, astronauts opened the hatch into the ISS at 9:51 a.m. EDT (1351 GMT), officially ending the spacewalk.
While being broadcast on a NASA Television livestream, they had reported "literally water everywhere" as they were moving their suits to internal power to prepare for the extravehicular activity. The leak appeared to be coming from a servicing and cooling umbilical (SCU) on Dyson's spacesuit, she reported. While the situation was serious, the astronauts were not in any danger due to the leak.
The internal hatch of the International Space Station opened at 9:51 a.m. EDT (1351 GMT) and the two spacewalkers are coming back inside the station. Watch Space.com for more live coverage of the cancelation at 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT) due to a water coolant leak.
Spacewalk cancelled
The spacewalk was cancelled at 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT) due to a spacesuit coolant leak. The crew never left the hatch of the International Space Station and are now working on procedures to come back inside. Stay tuned for more live updates.
Watch NASA astronauts collect microbe samples during ISS spacewalk today
Two NASA astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station today (June 24) for a delayed spacewalk and you can watch it live online for free.
NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Mike Barratt will perform the spacewalk, or extravehicular activity (EVA). The livestream started at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
The spacewalk is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) and last about 6.5 hours, although at the time of this story at 8:35 a.m. EDT (1235 GMT), depressurization was ongoing. (Spacewalk timing is always approximate as operational needs come first.)
NASA reschedules spacewalk to June 24 after astronaut 'discomfort'
NASA has rescheduled an International Space Station spacewalk after a "spacesuit discomfort issue" that occurred, forcing a postponement while two astronauts donned suits for their planned excursion on Thursday (June 13).
The spacewalk will run no earlier than June 24, agency officials reported in a blog post late Friday (June 14). NASA's television schedule currently says that coverage will start on June 23 at a to be determined time, so it may be an early-morning spacewalk in EDT hours on June 24 unless the date has changed.
The spacewalk was postponed during the livestream on NASA Television June 13. "Spacewalkers Tracy Dyson and Matt Dominick were preparing for US EVA 90 — spacewalk 90 — today, but today's spacewalk will not be proceeding as planned," a NASA commentator said on the stream just after the postponement decision was made, adding, "we're standing by for more information, and we will share as we learn that."
Shortly after, a NASA update said the call was made due to a "spacesuit discomfort issue," but it did not indicate specify which astronaut or astronauts it had affected or what exactly had occurred.
The rescheduled Expedition 71 spacewalk will see astronauts "remove faulty radio hardware and swab station surfaces for microorganisms", NASA officials wrote. Then a second spacewalk is planned on July 2 for several maintenance tasks: removing and replacing a gyroscope assembly, relocating an antenna, and working on a dark matter experiment known as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.
Spacewalk postponed due to 'discomfort issue'
According to a recent NASA blog post today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station "did not proceed as scheduled due to a spacesuit discomfort issue."
"NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick completed taking off their spacesuits about an hour before the crew was anticipated to exit the Quest airlock," NASA said.
NASA has postponed today's scheduled spacewalk with NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick.
The crew were already in their spacesuits and had been preparing to venture outside of the International Space Station at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT).
But according to a recent NASA statement, "The crew has just begun taking off their suits, at approximately 6:25 am CDT, about an hour before the crew was anticipated to exit the Quest airlock. We are standing by for more information and will share as we know it."
No emergency situation on space station, NASA says
The strange audio issue occurred at 7:28 p.m. EDT (2328 GMT), when the voice of a flight surgeon speaking on a simulation audio channel aired live on NASA's official broadcasts. The eight-minute call, only one side of which was audible, was part of a simulation on Earth by NASA and its ISS partners. At no point was the space station crew in any danger.
"The International Space Station crew members were in their sleep period at the time," NASA officials said in the statement. "All remain healthy and safe, and tomorrow's spacewalk will start at 8 a.m. EDT as planned."
NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson (center) checks the spacesuits of NASA crewmates Michael Barratt (right) and Matthew Dominick during spacewalk preparations on the International Space Station on June 5, 2024. (Image credit: NASA)
NASA astronauts prep for 1st of three upcoming EVAs
NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Matthew Dominick are preparing to perform the first of three spacewalks scheduled for this summer. The clock will begin for the duo's 6.5-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), Thursday, June 13. The EVA will focus on retrieving faulty equipment known as the radio frequency group, and swabbing the space station's exterior for samples of microorganisms for later testing.
Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub begin a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on April 25, 2024. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Two Russian cosmonauts have begun a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) today (April 25).
Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub exited the space station at 10:57 a.m. ET (1457 GMT). They will now "spend about seven hours configuring hardware and installing experiments on the Roscosmos segment of the space station," NASA officials said in an update on Wednesday (April 24). (Roscosmos is Russia's space agency.)
Russian Soyuz rocket launch of 3 astronauts to ISS aborted at last-minute
The Soyuz MS-25 crew waves farewell before an attempted launch to the International Space Station on a Soyuz rocket at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. They are: Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus (top), Tracy Caldwell Dyson of NASA (center) and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy. (Image credit: NASA TV/NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The launch of Russian Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station on Thursday (March 21) was aborted with just 21 seconds before liftoff.
The Soyuz rocket was set to launch NASA astronaut Tracey Caldwell Dyson, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus to the International Space Station (ISS) from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Liftoff was scheduled for 9:21 a.m. EDT (1321 GMT).
The rare abort was called due to a battery issue, Roscosmos reported. The next available launch window is on Saturday (March 23).
Four astronauts left their orbiting home today (March 11) to return to Earth.
SpaceX Crew-7 and its four astronauts undocked from the International Space Station at 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 GMT), with their departure carried live on NASA Television. The undocking took place over Hawaii, according to NASA's broadcast.
The international crew includes NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Satoshi Furukawa and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. Their mission will last 199 days, assuming an on-time splashdown tomorrow (March 12).
SpaceX Crew-7 to undock from ISS today: watch live
SpaceX Crew-7 and its four astronauts will undock from the International Space Station no earlier than 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 GMT). Coverage is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) here at Space.com, via NASA Television. (These times may change due to operational requirements or other factors.)
A SpaceX cargo ship laden with science departed the space station Thursday (Dec. 21) and headed back toward Earth, following about a week of delays due to poor weather in the splashdown zone near Florida. SpaceX's robotic Dragon spacecraft undocked from the ISS at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT), as the two spacecraft were flying over the southwest coast of Chile. If all goes according to plan, Dragon will splash down late Friday morning (Dec. 22) off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, NASA officials said. The splashdown will not be livestreamed.
Also, Northrop Grumman's uncrewed Cygnus NG-19 spacecraft left the International Space Station (ISS) at 8:06 a.m. EST (1306 GMT) on Friday, Dec. 22. The Canadarm2 robotic arm released the spacecraft over the north Atlantic ocean just one minute past the expected schedule, NASA official Rebecca Turkington said in a livestream on NASA Television. Cygnus will do a fire experiment for a couple of weeks before being commanded for a destructive re-entry in Earth's atmosphere in January 2024; the exact date of re-entry has not been released yet.
NASA shows what 2 tomatoes look like after being lost on International Space Station
We finally have imagery of NASA's lost space tomato — and surprise, there are two.
NASA released footage of two tiny tomatoes that were lost in 2022 after astronaut Frank Rubio harvested them on the International Space Station. The chance discovery in the six-bedroom complex showed us how the 17% humidity onboard affects food in a Ziploc bag; Rubio had temporarily stowed the food inside and found it floated away in the meantime.
SpaceX Dragon to undock from the ISS on Dec. 15 after delay
A SpaceX cargo ship laden with science will undock from the space station Friday (Dec. 15), and you can watch online for free.
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT) after a one-day delay due to weather, NASA officials wrote in a blog post Tuesday (Dec. 12).
The Dragon undocking was delayed from Thursday (Dec. 14) due to "unfavorable weather conditions as a result of a cold front passing through the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida," agency officials stated. Coverage starts at 4:45 p.m. EST (2105 GMT) here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen displays the Nobel Prize medal of Niels Bohr, awarded in 2022. (Image credit: ESA)
The International Space Station (ISS) is hosting a quantum experiment based on a discovery made by new Nobel laureate Moungi Bawendi, a French-born American/Tunisian chemist. What's more, an old Nobel medal is in space right now.
European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who is from Denmark, revealed the medal of Danish physicist Niels Bohr on the ISS in a livestream Monday (Dec. 11) with Nobel laureates.
Tomato lost in space for 8 months on ISS found at last
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio (right), pictured with dwarf tomatoes on the International Space Station, lost hold of a dwarf tomato shortly after the harvest on March 29, 2023. The tomato's remains were finally retrieved by another ISS crew, who announced the feat on Dec. 6, 2023. (Image credit: NASA)
A foodie space mystery has finally been solved.
The remains of a tiny tomato lost by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio after an off-Earth harvest in March finally showed up on the International Space Station (ISS), more than eight months later.
"Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home [already], has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato. But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato," NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli said during a livestreamed event on Wednesday (Dec. 6) that celebrated the ISS' 25th anniversary.
Progress was scheduled to leave its docking port at the Poisk module of the ISS at 2:55 a.m. EST (0755 GMT), according to a Tuesday (Nov. 28) blog post from NASA officials, and to enter Earth's atmosphere roughly 3.5 hours after departure. The spaceship had been docked at the orbiting complex since May 24.
With Progress MS-23 vacated from Poisk, that makes room for the next cargo ship to arrive. The Progress MS-25 ship is scheduled to launch with 5,600 pounds (2,540 kg) of cargo from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Friday (Dec. 1) at 4:25 a.m. EST (0925 GMT or 3:25 p.m. local time), and you can watch that event live here at Space.com, via NASA Television. Docking will happen at 6:14 a.m. EST (1114 GMT) on Sunday (Dec. 3) and will also be available live.
Canadian Space Agency astronaut will join Boeing Starliner crew to ISS in 2025
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk. (Image credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Joshua Kutryk, a test pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force, will fly on the first operational Boeing Starliner mission in 2025 for a six-month mission to the ISS. Kutryk, on his first spaceflight, will join NASA veteran astronauts Scott Tingle (commander) and Mike Fincke (pilot). Another crew member will be assigned "following review and approval by the agency and its international partners."
Canada typically receives missions every six years based on its ISS contributions, and current spacecraft capacity. Kutryk wasn't the only Canadian with big news to share: fellow astronaut Jenni Gibbons was named backup to Jeremy Hansen, the CSA astronaut flying around the moon with Artemis 2 in 2024.
SpaceX cargo craft flies to International Space Station Nov. 9
SpaceX's 29th robotic cargo mission to the International Space Station successfully flew to space on Thursday (Nov. 9).
The CRS-29 Dragon launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida at 8:28 p.m. EST (0128 GMT on Nov. 10). If all goes according to plan, the Dragon will arrive at the ISS around 5:20 a.m. EST (1020 GMT) on Saturday (Nov. 11). You can watch the rendezvous and docking here at Space.com.
SpaceX, NASA delay International Space Station launch to Nov. 9
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX and NASA have delayed the next Dragon cargo launch to the International Space Station to Nov. 9, an additional two-day wait. The decision was to allow for "completion of final prelaunch closeout ahead of liftoff," NASA officials wrote in a blog post on Thursday evening (Nov. 2).
It's the second delay in recent days for mission CRS-29. It was first set for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on Sunday (Nov. 5), but pushed back to Nov. 7 days ago to provide more time for prelaunch processing.
You can watch live during the new Nov. 9 launch time of 8:28 p.m. EST (0128 GMT Nov. 10) at Space.com, via NASA Television.
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the Cargo Dragon CRS-29 mission launch to the International Space Station to Tuesday (Nov. 7) at 9:16 p.m. EST (1316 GMT), agency officials wrote in an email update Thursday (Nov. 1). Space.com will carry the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch live, courtesy of NASA Television.
Two NASA astronauts finish 4th all-female spacewalk
Two NASA astronauts completed their first spacewalk together outside of the International Space Station, the fourth all-female EVA (extravehicular activity) in history.
Expedition 70 crewmates Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara replaced a bearing to keep the solar arrays on the International Space Station (ISS) rotating properly and conducted other maintenance activities, but ran out of time to finish the other major task planned for the spacewalk, the removal of an electronics box from a communications antenna.
International Space Station all-female spacewalk begins
Two NASA astronauts have begun the fourth all-female spacewalk of all time today (Nov. 1). The spacewalk began at 8:05 a.m. EDT (1205 GMT), according to NASA Television.
New ISS study with mice suggests humans can reproduce in space
In a reproduction breakthrough, researchers have successfully grown mouse embryos aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time.
This represents "the first-ever study that shows mammals may be able to thrive in space," the University of Yamanashi and National Research Institute Riken said in a joint statement on Saturday. Though early-stage and with a different species, the study suggests humans can also reproduce in space someday.
NASA ready for delayed Nov. 1 all-female spacewalk
NASA officials have once again postponed a rare all-woman spacewalk to Wednesday (Nov. 1) and the agency is ready to bring its astronauts outside, per recent updates. You can watch live here at Space.com, via NASA Television, starting at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
The delay from Monday (Oct. 30) was "to allow the International Space Station crew and flight control team additional time to prepare for the excursion," officials wrote in an Oct. 26 update. Preparations are ongoing for the spacewalk as of Monday, NASA officials emphasized in a blog post that day.
NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara will do only the fourth extravehicular activity (EVA) with an all-woman crew, following a trio with Christina Koch and Jessica Meir of NASA in 2019 and 2020.
The spacewalk was postponed from Oct. 20 following a leak on the ISS on the Russian side that remains under investigation following an Oct. 25 spacewalk by Roscosmos cosmonauts. A second NASA spacewalk, originally set for October as well, has also been postponed until later in the year.
ISS spacewalking astronauts find toxic 'blob' of coolant
Two cosmonauts conducting a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday (Oct. 25) got an up-close view of a coolant leak that was first observed flowing from an external radiator earlier this month.
Oleg Kononenko came so close to the growing "blob" or "droplet" — as the pooling ammonia was described — that one of his tethers became contaminated, necessitating it being bagged and left outside of the space station when the spacewalk ended.
Expedition 70 Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub officially began their International Space Station spacewalk today (Oct. 25) at 1:49 p.m. EDT (1749 GMT) when they opened the external hatch on the Poisk module. You can watch it live here at Space.com, via NASA Television.
Their expected seven-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) will include installing communications hardware, releasing a nanosatellite, and looking at a suspected leaky radiator on Russia's new Nauka science module. As a precaution, they will perform extra decontamination procedures for ammonia coolant, the leaky substance that briefly left the ISS on Oct. 9.
Watch live today as cosmonauts seek source of ISS leak
Two cosmonauts will investigate a space station leak during a spacewalk today (Oct. 25), which you can watch on Space.com via NASA Television, starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT).
The cosmonauts, from Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos, have a spacewalk planned to last up to seven hours, including checking the source of a leak that briefly erupted in the ammonia system of the ISS Oct. 9. Extra decontamination procedures for ammonia will also be used as a precaution.
Expedition 70 cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub will install communications hardware, release a nanosatellite, and look at a suspected leaky radiator on Russia's new Nauka science module.
Rare all-woman spacewalk remains on schedule after ISS leak
NASA has changed the spacewalk schedule following a leak on a Russian module of the International Space Station last week.
The agency has now dropped from two spacewalks in October to one, as a precaution. The spacewalk that is still going forward this month is a rare all-woman spacewalk scheduled for Oct. 30 following its own delay due to the leak, is still expected to go forward on that date.
NASA astronauts Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli will do the fourth-ever all-woman spacewalk, following a trio by NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir in 2019 and 2020. Moghbeli and O'Hara will remove a faulty electronics box and replace a bearing needed for one of the station's solar arrays.
A second spacewalk, originally set and then rescheduled for October, will now happen later in 2023 as NASA and Russia's federal space agency, Roscosmos, continue their analysis, NASA officials stated this week. The excursion will include O'Hara and European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen on other maintenance tasks.
The leak in Russia's Nauka science module started and stopped on Oct. 9, with an unknown cause. Roscosmos plans its own spacewalk on Oct. 25 to look at a suspect radiator up close, which was transferred from the Rassvet module earlier in 2023.
1-year International Space Station crew readies for Sept. 27 arrival on Earth
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and two Russian cosmonauts are scheduled to return to Earth Wednesday (Sept. 27) after a year in space, and you can watch the landing live.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft with Rubio and two cosmonauts — Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos — is expected to leave the International Space Station (ISS) Wednesday at 3:54 a.m. EDT (0754 GMT). The trio would then touch down in Kazakhstan at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT).
You can watch all these events live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA.
SpaceX Crew-7 launch to International Space Station delayed
SpaceX's Crew-7 astronaut launch to the International Space Station has been pushed back to Saturday (Aug. 26), roughly 24 hours past its first attempt at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
"NASA and SpaceX are standing down from the Friday, Aug. 25, launch opportunity for the agency's Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station," NASA officials said in an emailed statement Thursday night (Aug. 24). "Launch now is targeted at 3:27 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, for SpaceX's seventh crew rotation mission to the microgravity laboratory for NASA. More to come."
The astronauts on NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 mission include, from left, Konstantin Borisov (Roscosmos), Andreas Mogensen (European Space Agency), Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), and Satoshi Furukawa (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency). (Image credit: SpaceX)
The Crew-7 mission will launch to the International Space Station no earlier than Friday (Aug. 25) at 3:50 a.m. EDT (0750 GMT) and you can watch live here at Space.com, via a feed from NASA Television. The broadcast will begin at Thursday (Aug. 24) at 11:45 p.m. EDT (0345 GMT Friday, Aug. 25).
The astronauts for Expeditions 69/70: NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, the second Iranian-American in space; European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa; and Konstantin Borisov of Russia's space agency, Roscosmos.
International Space Station crew celebrates Chandrayaan-3 landing
The Chandrayaan-3 lander on the moon. (Image credit: ISRO via Twitter)
An orbiting astronaut found out about Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the moon today (Aug. 23) on social media.
It was "all over the news" during the lunch break of Sultan Al Neyadi, an International Space Station astronaut conducting the first long-duration orbital mission for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"It was really big," the SpaceX Crew-6 astronaut told Space.com from orbit during a press conference today. "I saw multiple clips of mission control in India ... it was really great watching that achievement, and, hopefully, as I've mentioned, many nations will follow the same footsteps of India."
SpaceX astronauts are in Florida ahead of Aug. 25 launch
SpaceX Crew-7 astronauts arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Aug. 20, 2023. From left: Andreas Mogensen (European Space Agency), Konstantin Borisov (Roscosmos), Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA) and Satoshi Furukawa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). (Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)
The SpaceX Crew-7 astronauts arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday (Aug. 20) for their International Space Station launch. They will head to space no earlier than Aug. 25, and you can watch the whole thing live here at Space.com, via NASA TV.
On board is Jasmin Moghbeli, the second Iranian-American to reach space on Crew-7, and joining her is a fully international crew: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
Cygnus berths with ISS, bringing cargo to space station
The Cygnus NG-19 Laurel Clark space freighter captured by the space station's robotic arm. (Image credit: NASA)
The Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG-19 spacecraft berthed with the the International Space Station on Friday (Aug. 4), bringing 8,200 pounds (3,700 kg) of experiments and supplies to the orbiting lab after two days in space.
The cargo craft is the last to launch on a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket using a first stage built in Ukraine. This spacecraft is named after NASA astronaut Laurel Clark, who died during the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003.
Humanoid robot, Rollin' Justin, works with International Space Station astronauts
DLR's humanoid robot, Rollin' Justin, delivers a simulated Mars rock sample to a lander with help from NASA astronaut Frank Rubio on the International Space Station. (Image credit: DLR)
The humanoid robot Rollin' Justin is exploring landscapes like the moon or Mars, driving in Germany under control from orbiting International Space Station astronauts.
Justin most recently worked with NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in July, and is next slated to partner with European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen after the SpaceX Crew-7 launch on Aug. 17.
"It's one of the experiments that I'm really looking forward to," Mogensen said in an individual interview with Space.com on July 25.
Green auroras shine behind the Canadarm2 robotic arm in this photo taken from the International Space Station in 2012. (Image credit: NASA)
European Space Agency Andreas Mogensen captured auroras when he last stayed on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, and he's aiming to do it again soon. The sun is reaching its peak of activity, just as he prepares to fly to space next month on SpaceX's Crew-7 mission.
"Practice, practice, practice, because it is tricky to get good photos," Mogensen, the first Danish citizen in space, told Space.com during a livestreamed press conference from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
International Space Station crew safe during brief power drop
All members of Expedition 69 on the International Space Station were safe during a brief power outage at NASA Tuesday (July 25).
NASA's Mission Control in Houston briefly lost power and is investigating the cause of the 90-minute incident, which they managed using backup assets in Russia (likely through their own mission control in Moscow).
"We were able to talk to the crew through Russian assets about 20 minutes after the failure," Joel Montalbano, NASA's ISS program manager, told reporters during a press conference Tuesday.
A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station today (June 29), and you can watch it live.
The Dragon cargo flight arrived at the International Space Station on June 6, carrying a variety of crucial supplies and cutting-edge scientific experiments. The SpaceX capsule's departure is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. EDT (1605 GMT). Watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV, starting at 11:45 a.m. EDT (1545 GMT).
After a 14-hour return flight, the cargo craft will splash down in the ocean off the coast of Florida on Friday (June 30) at around 2:30 a.m. EDT (0630 GMT). The ocean landing will not be livestreamed.
A swift spacewalk wrapped up earlier today (Thursday, June 15) on the International Space Station with all major objectives finished ahead of schedule.
"Today’s spacewalk concluded at 2:17pm ET (1817 UTC) and lasted 5 hours and 35 minutes. (NASA astronauts) Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg installed a new roll-out solar array and completed numerous additional tasks outside the space station," NASA officials wrote in a tweet.
Two NASA astronauts are doing a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Thursday (June 15), and you can watch the whole thing live.
Woody Hoburg and Stephen Bowen began their spacewalk Thursday at 8:42 a.m. EDT (1242 GMT). They'll spend about six hours installing a roll-out solar array on the exterior of the International Space Station.
You can watch the extravehicular activity (EVA) live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency.
NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Warren "Woody" Hoburg are conducting a spacewalk today (June 9) to install a new upgraded IROSA (International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array) for the International Space Station (ISS).
The spacewalk, or extravehicular activity (EVA), began at 9:15 a.m. EDT (1315 UTC) when the pair exited the station's Quest airlock. The EVA will last approximately six and a half hours.
This is the ninth spacewalk for veteran astronaut Bowen, while it will be the first for Hoburg. Bowen will wear an unmarked suit and Hoburg will be in an EVA suit featuring red stripes. Watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of NASA.
Another spacewalk is scheduled to follow on June 15 to install an additional solar array.
Russian cosmonauts will perform a six-hour spacewalk outside of the International Space Station on Wednesday (May 3), scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. EDT (2005 GMT).
During the spacewalk, cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev (wearing a spacesuit with red stripes) and Dmitri Petelin (wearing blue stripes) will exit through the Poisk airlock and begin operations to move a radiator and an experiment airlock from the station's Rassvet Module to the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module.
A follow-up spacewalk to complete the procedure is scheduled for May 12.
Watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of NASA TV.
A Soyuz space capsule that suffered a major coolant leak in December departed the International Space Station without a crew early Tuesday (March 28) and touched down in Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz landed at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 GMT), about 91 miles to the southeast of the city of Dzhezkazgan. NASA did not broadcast the landing live. Roscosmos did broadcast it live on YouTube.
"Its de-orbiting and descent to Earth went smoothly," Roscosmos officials announced on Telegram after landing. Images showed the spacecraft descending under its parachute and at rest on its side after landing.
SpaceX is ready to launch its latest cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday (March 14). Officials will hold a briefing today at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) and the launch is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT (0030 GMT Wednesday, March 11). You can watch both live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
Dragon will carry up nearly 6,300 pounds (2,860 kilograms) of cargo on CRS-27, including spacewalk equipment and vehicle hardware, as well as about 60 new scientific experiments, NASA officials said.
Watch Crew-5 come home from International Space Station
SpaceX's Crew-5 astronaut mission for NASA is scheduled to depart the International Space Station on Saturday (March 11).
A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the Crew-5 roster — NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina and Japan's Koichi Wakata — is expected to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 2:05 a.m. EST (0705 GMT) on Saturday, wrapping up five months in orbit.
You can watch the Dragon's departure live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the agency.
SpaceX Crew-6 docks with International Space Station an hour late
SpaceX's Crew-6 astronaut mission arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early Friday morning (March 3), but not without a little drama.
Crew-6's Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, docked with the ISS's Harmony module at 1:40 a.m. EST (0640 GMT) on Friday, while the two spacecraft were flying off the coast of Somalia at an altitude of 261 miles (420 kilometers).
Crew-6 was positioned to dock about an hour earlier than that, but Endeavour stood down while SpaceX troubleshot a faulty sensor with one of the 12 hooks that helps the capsule connect to the ISS. Eventually, ground teams beamed up a software override that fixed the sensor problem, and Endeavour pulled off a successful rendezvous.
Docking coverage will begin at 11:30 p.m. EST tonight (0430 GMT Saturday, March 3). Coverage is available here at Space.com, via NASA Television. Assuming the docking goes on time, these are the milestones to look for:
1:11 a.m. EST (0611 GMT): Docking with the ISS occurs.
3:27 a.m. EST (0827 GMT): Hatch opening with the ISS occurs.
3:40 a.m. EST (0840 GMT): The welcome ceremony at the ISS begins.
SpaceX, NASA confirm Thursday (March 2) launch for Crew-6
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will officially reattempt launch of the Crew-6 mission Thursday (March 2) at 12:34 a.m. EST (0534 GMT) and you can watch the event here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television. Weather conditions are 95% favorable for launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in coastal Florida.
"NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission is 'Go' for launch to the International Space Station following completion of a launch readiness review, weather briefing, and mission management meeting," agency officials wrote in a blog post Wednesday (March 1).
A launch attempt Monday (Feb. 27) to the International Space Station (ISS) had been called off 2.5 minutes before T-0 due to a ground-system issue, but NASA said the issue has been addressed.
SpaceX and NASA found a problem with ignition fluid, called triethylaluminum triethylboron or TEA-TEB, that sparks the oxidizer for the engines to turn on.
"During prelaunch, the TEA-TEB fluid—which originates in a ground supply tank— flows to the rocket's interface and back to a catch tank to remove gas from the ground plumbing," NASA officials wrote. "During engine start, the fluid then flows to the engines for ignition. Flow into the catch tank is one of several parameters used to determine that the fluid has been properly bled into the system."
A clogged ground filter reducing the flow to a TEA-TEB catch tank caused the issue and that filter has been replaced. The TEA-TEB nitrogen line was also purged with nitrogen and everything has been cleared for launch.
Following launch, Crew-6 and its four astronauts are scheduled to dock with the Harmony module at the ISS at 1:17 a.m. EST (0617 GMT) on Friday (March 3). Hatch opening is expected at 3:27 a.m. EST and the welcome ceremony at 3:40 a.m. EST. Space.com will also carry these events, courtesy of NASA.
SpaceX, NASA delay Crew-6 by one day
After a lengthy flight readiness review (FRR) on Tuesday (Feb. 21), NASA and SpaceX will delay the Crew-6 liftoff by 24 hours.
Now a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch Crew-6's Dragon capsule Endeavour on Monday (Feb. 27) at 1:45 a.m. EST (0645 GMT). You can watch it live here at Space.com when the time comes.
Russia accelerates Soyuz launch as Crew-6 arrives for their own liftoff
Russia has wrapped up its investigation of two leaky spacecraft and will launch its next Soyuz spacecraft in February after all. That mission is bound for the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday (Feb. 23) from the Russia-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Thursday at 7:24 p.m. EST (0024 GMT or 3:34 a.m. local time Friday, Feb. 24). NASA will start carrying coverage live on NASA Television roughly 24 minutes beforehand, which we will run here at Space.com.
Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency, determined Monday (Feb. 21) that it could launch Soyuz MS-23 after all in February, after announcing just days before that it would make the liftoff in March. You can read our story about the schedule changes and twin Soyuz and uncrewed Progress craft leak investigations at the ISS.
Meanwhile, the SpaceX Crew-6 crew of four astronauts will arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center today (Feb. 21) ahead of their expected launch on Sunday (Feb. 26). Learn how to watch live here and to stay connected to all the activities and news conferences, which we will run live here at Space.com through the week.
International Space Station astronauts conclude spacewalk
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan's Koichi Wakata completed the second International Space Station spacewalk of 2023 on Thursday (Feb. 2) at 2:26 p.m. EST (1926 GMT), according to a NASA update.
Their televised spacewalk took six hours and 41 minutes and the spacewalkers finished their major task, "which was to complete the construction of a mounting platform," NASA officials wrote in a blog post. The duo also moved a foot restraint to get ahead on another spacewalk and put out cables to install a new set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) to boost power.
Our preview story has more details about their plans for the day and how it fits into space station operations, and our wrap talks about how the spacewalk went.
International Space Station spacewalk begins
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan's Koichi Wakata are starting the second spacewalk of 2023 today (Thursday, Feb. 2), and you can watch coverage live here.
The two International Space Station (ISS) astronauts have switched their spacesuits to battery power and the station hatch is open, according to a NASA update at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT). They'll exit the station's Quest airlock shortly thereafter, starting a roughly seven-hour spacewalk.
Watch the extravehicular activity live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the agency.
Astronauts wrap up spacewalk, port some tasks to another day
Expedition 68 crewmates Nicole Mann of NASA and Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) completed their 7 hour and 21 minute extravehicular activity (EVA) on Friday (Jan. 20).
It was the latest in a series of EVAs to augment the orbiting complex's power channels with new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), but a "sticky" foothold and a stubborn strut held up operations. A few of the tasks will be ported on to a later spacewalk, NASA determined.
Watch live: 2 astronauts do first spacewalk of 2023
NASA's Nicole Mann and Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are outside the International Space Station (ISS) for an expected 6.5-hour-long spacewalk. Watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the agency.
Mann and Wakata "will work on the far end of the station's starboard truss structure in their EMUs [extravehicular mobility units, or spacesuits] and install a modification kit enabling the future installation of a roll-out solar array," NASA officials wrote in a blog post on Thursday.
NASA's live NASA TV coverage of the Soyuz spacecraft coolant leak on the International Space Station has ended, with NASA sharing updates via its website and social channels throughout the night.
Meanwhile, Russian flight controllers at Roscosmos's Mission Control Center continue to study telemetry and data from the Soyuz MS-22 to understand the health of the spacecraft.
"Experts in Moscow are going to be taking a look at their systems and responding to the leak according to their procedures and polices," NASA space station flight director Emily Nelson said during live NASA TV commentary. "Once they have a good understanding of the final status of the Soyuz tonight, we will then jointly make a decision about where to go forward from here."
NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said NASA will provide an update Thursday morning on the latest news from Roscosmos over the leak.
Inspection underway of leaky Soyuz spacecraft
Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina inspects the leaking Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft (right) with the European Robotic Arm on the International Space Station on Dec. 14, 2022. (Image credit: Future)
Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina is using the space station's European Robotic Arm to inspect the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft as flight controllers on Earth study telemetry and other data from the spacecraft.
Flight controllers with Russia's Roscosmos and NASA are weighing options on what to do about the Soyuz spacecraft, which serves as a return ship and lifeboat for three members of the station's 7-person crew.
Breaking: Soyuz spacecraft leaking coolant at space station
A camera on the International Space Station shows an apparent coolant leak on a Soyuz MS-22 crewed spacecraft docked at the station that forced Russian Mission Control to cancel a spacewalk by two cosmonauts on Dec. 14, 2022. The coolant leak appears as frozen white mist around the spacecraft. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Russia's space agency Roscosmos has called off a spacewalk by two cosmonauts at the International Space Station today after an apparent coolant leak on a Soyuz MS-22 crew capsule spewed coolant around its docking port on the orbiting lab.
The leak was first detected at 7:45 p.m. EST (0045 Dec. 15 GMT) as cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin were preparing to exit the space station for a 7-hour spacewalk outside the station. The Soyuz spacecraft launched to the space station on Sept. 21 to deliver the two cosmonauts and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to the space station and was due to return to Earth size months later.
"The cause of this leak [is] not known at this time," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said during live commentary. "Russian specialists are continuing to look at the data and discussing what may have triggered the leak."
This is a developing story and we'll share updates as they are available.
International Space Station crew begins unloading SpaceX Dragon science delivery
The SpaceX Dragon CRS-26 cargo ship seen in space with the blue Earth below. (Image credit: NASA TV)
SpaceX-delivered science is being unloaded right now in space. The robotic Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station Sunday (Nov. 27) around 7:39 a.m. EST (1239 GMT) over the Pacific Ocean.
"We're excited to unpack and get to work," NASA astronaut Josh Cassada radioed Mission Control from the station after the successful docking.
Dragon has about 7,700 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of cargo. The manifest includes two new International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) to boost power on the solar wings. Scientific experiments were also prominent, including a study to grow dwarf cherry tomatoes and another to do microgravity research with 3D-cultured heart tissue.
International Space Station crew completes two spacewalks
Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev (at right) and Dmitry Petelin work along a Strela boom during a Nov. 17, 2022 spacewalk outside of the Russian segment of the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Astronauts and cosmonauts at the International Space Station completed two spacewalks this week amid a lot of other station activities in November.
On Thursday (Nov. 17), Expedition 68 commander Sergey Prokopyev and flight engineer Dmitry Petelin, from Russian federal space corporation Roscosmos, finished a 6 hour, 25 minute EVA (extravehicular activity) to prepare an airlock and radiator to transfer between space station modules.
On Tuesday (Nov. 15), Expedition 68 NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio worked together on Tuesday (Nov. 15) added hardware to support two more upgraded solar arrays during a 7 hour and 11 minute EVA.
It's been a busy few weeks for the space station, as the crew also received a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft on Nov. 9, which reached the ISS safely despite a solar array problem. And at least one U.S. astronaut, Josh Cassada, voted from space during the 2022 midterm election.
SpaceX will fly two Saudi astronauts to International Space Station on Axiom-2
SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour with the Axiom-1 crew docks to the International Space Station on Saturday, April 9, 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)
NASA and Houston-based company Axiom Space will send Saudi astronauts aboard Ax-2, fully filling out the four seats for the SpaceX mission, according to SpaceNews. The group will fly to the International Space Station following the first-ever private effort, Ax-1, that launched and landed in April.
Russian space debris is still haunting the International Space Station a year later
The International Space Station. (Image credit: Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock)
It's been nearly a year since a Russian anti-satellite test took place on Nov. 15, 2021, which has caused swarms of debris to threaten the International Space Station numerous times already. That happened once again earlier this week.
On Monday (Oct. 24) at 8:25 p.m. EDT (0025 GMT on Oct. 25), the ISS team fired thrusters on Progress 81, a Russian cargo ship attached to the station, to boost the station's orbit and avoid the debris fragment, NASA officials stated.
European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti cosplayed as a character from "2001: A Space Odyssey" on the International Space Station, in a video released Oct. 7, 2022. (Image credit: ESA)
Expedition 67 commander Samantha Cristoforetti had a cosplay strategy in orbit. The Italian astronaut, despite having seen "about 15 movies", is a fan of the classic 1968 space opera film "2001: A Space Odyssey."
A visit to a thrift store, and consultations with SpaceX and fellow space station residents,, helped on her long-standing quest to build up teamwork in orbit, while replicating an iconic scene from the film during which a flight attendant hangs upside down in a hatch.
"That is not something that I would buy for myself, normally," the European Space Agency astronaut told Space.com of her costume during a post-flight press conference with other SpaceX Crew-4 members on Thursday (Oct. 20). "But it seemed to fit perfectly for that need."
Crew-4 astronauts out of spacecraft as recovery concludes
The Crew-4 astronauts are all out of their SpaceX spacecraft as they start recovery back on Earth: NASA's Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins along with the European Space Agency's Samantha Cristoforetti. You can read more about the successful International Space Station mission, which lasted 5.5 months, in our wrap story on the mission.
Crew-4 splashes down
The SpaceX Crew-4 splashed down successfully near Jacksonville, Florida at 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT).
Crew-4 jettisons trunk successfully
The SpaceX Crew-4 has jettisoned the "trunk", an unpressurized cargo hold that also supports Crew Dragon during space operations. The International Space Station crew of four remains on track for splashdown near Jacksonville, Florida at 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT). You can watch live at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
Crew-4 finishes 'prop waste' burn on journey home
SpaceX's Crew-4 successfully finished a normal "prop waste" burn on the journey home to get rid of excess propellant ahead of re-entry. They finished the seven-minute engine burn at 2:44 p.m. EDT (1844 GMT) and remain on track to splash down near Jacksonville, Florida at 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT).
Crew-4 undocks from International Space Station
The SpaceX Crew-4 undocked from the International Space Station at 12:05 p.m. EDT (1605 GMT) and prepared for a set of departure burns ahead of splashdown. Nominal splashdown is expected later today around 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT) near Jacksonville, Florida. You can watch live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
Crew-4 delays undocking to 12:05 p.m. EDT
Crew-4 will delay their undocking from the International Space Station about 30 minutes to 12:05 p.m. EDT (1605 GMT) to "check the hatch alignment" on their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, according to NASA Television.
NASA has not yet disclosed if the splashdown time will change, except to say there is a one-hour window for undocking and the timing now falls in the middle of that window. Splashdown is expected at roughly 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT). Live coverage is ongoing here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
Crew-4 closes hatch to International Space Station
The astronauts of Crew-4 are scheduled to close the hatch to their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft at 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT) as they prepare to depart the International Space Station for a splashdown later today. You can watch live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
Crew-4 undocking delayed to Friday (Oct. 14)
Crew-4's undocking will be delayed to no earlier than Friday (Oct. 14) at 11:35 a.m. EDT (1535 GMT), officials announced on NASA Television today (Oct. 13) due to poor weather conditions in Florida. Splashdown is also delayed from an expected timing of today. You can watch the events live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.
SpaceX Crew-4 mission departure delayed due to weather
Tricky weather conditions at the splashdown site forced a delay in Crew-4's departure from the International Space Station. Crew-4's Dragon capsule, named Freedom, is scheduled to undock from the orbiting lab Thursday at 10:05 a.m. EDT (1405 GMT), NASA officials said in a blog post Wednesday (Oct. 13). This is a delay from Wednesday evening due to weather. You can watch coverage live at Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV and SpaceX.
During departure remarks and the change-of-command ceremony earlier today, Expedition 68 commander Samantha Cristoforetti thanked her "space ninja" crew for support during the two weeks she commanded the orbiting complex. "I just want to say what a privilege it's been to serve as a commander for this short period of time — short but intense," Cristoforetti, the first European female to command ISS, said during the broadcast.
Crew-4 gives farewell remarks before ISS departure
At 10:05 a.m. EDT (1405 GMT), the four Crew-4 astronauts will give some farewell remarks. And one of them — European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, the current ISS commander — will hand the reins of the orbiting lab over to Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev during a change-of-command ceremony around that same time.
Crew-4's Dragon capsule, named Freedom, is scheduled to undock from the orbiting lab Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT), NASA officials said in an emailed statement on Tuesday evening (Oct. 11). You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency.
The Crew-5 SpaceX Dragon Endurance approaches the International Space Station for docking on Oct. 6, 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft safely delivered Crew-5 to the International Space Station. The hatches between Endurance and the ISS opened around 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT) on Thursday (Oct. 7), and the Crew-5 astronauts — NASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata and cosmonaut Anna Kikina — came aboard roughly 10 minutes later.
Hurricane Ian spotted from International Space Station after Florida landfall
Hurricane Ian as seen from the International Space Station on Sept. 28, 2022 as it made landfall in Florida. (Image credit: NASA TV)
NASA cameras on the International Space Station showed live views of Hurricane Ian as the storm surge reached Florida's coast Wednesday (Sept. 28), near Cayo Costa, according to the National Hurricane Center.
"Hurricane Ian has made landfall as an extremely dangerous hurricane near Cayo Costa, Florida with maximum sustained winds at 150 mph," NHC officials wrote in an update on Twitter at 3:05 p.m. EDT (1905 GMT).
First European female commander helms International Space Station
The Expedition 67 change of command to European astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti on Sept. 28, 2022. (Image credit: NASA Television)
Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti took command of the International Space Station and Expedition 68 in a ceremony today (Sept. 28) livestreamed from orbit.
The expedition officially begins when previous ISS commander Oleg Artemyev and fellow cosmonauts Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov depart the orbiting lab early Thursday (Sept. 29) aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Cristoforetti is the fifth European commander of the ISS, following Frank De Winne, Alexander Gerst, Luca Parmitano and Thomas Pesquet, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
Artemyev struck notes of peace during the changeover ceremony, closing an expedition that had taken place in its entirety during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in February. "War will end everywhere," he said at one point.
"In spite of everything, in spite of all the storms on Earth, we continue our international cooperation, and thank God that there are smart people who do not stop such a thread of peace," Artemyev added in Russian. (This translation was provided by Google from an automated transcript of his speech.)
SpaceX Crew-5 astronauts are suited up and ready to participate in a crew equipment interface test (CEIT) at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX and NASA will push back the Crew-5 flight to the International Space Station to Oct. 4 at the least, a day later than planned.
The mission is scheduled to launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. But Hurricane Ian, which may be 'catastrophic' to Florida as some officials termed it, has delayed the launch; the new target date is uncertain.
"Mission teams will continue to monitor the impacts of Ian on the Space Coast and NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and could adjust the launch date again, as necessary," NASA officials wrote in an update Tuesday (Sept. 27).
The astronaut crew of SpaceX's Crew-5 mission for NASA to the International Space Station. They are (from left) Mission Specialist Anna Kikina from Roscosmos; Pilot Josh Cassada and Commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, both from NASA; and Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (Image credit: SpaceX)
The three astronauts and Russian cosmonaut of Crew-5 may launch as soon as Oct. 3 on a historic mission to the International Space Station. Not only is it the first time a Russian cosmonaut took a seat on a SpaceX spacecraft, but the mission is launching at a time when American and Russian relations are strained due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Hatch opens, new Soyuz crew welcomed to International Space Station
A NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft successfully opened the hatch to the International Space Station on Wednesday (Sept. 21) at 3:34 p.m. EDT (1934 GMT).
The Expedition 67 crew will soon do a formal welcome and safety briefing for NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin. Coverage is ongoing on NASA Television.
The crew had a swift trip to orbit, taking just two orbits and three hours to reach their destination after launching at 9:54 a.m. EDT (1354 GMT) earlier today. You can also read our full story on the launch.
Soyuz docks at International Space Station
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin docked their Soyuz crew ship to the station's Rassvet module at 1:06pm ET today. https://t.co/JoYQjM2QxOSeptember 21, 2022
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Wednesday (Sept. 21) at 1:06 p.m. EDT (1706 GMT) after just two orbits and three hours in space, which is a super-speedy trip.
The Expedition 67 crew will soon welcome the new arrivals to the orbiting complex: NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin.
International Space Station astronauts spot Soyuz launch
We had a spectacular view of the #Soyuz launch! Sergey, Dmitry and Frank will come knocking on our door in just a couple of hours… looking forward to welcoming them to their new home! #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com/b6PP8L6AElSeptember 21, 2022
The International Space Station Expedition 67 crew saw the successful Russian Soyuz spacecraft launch of three crewmates earlier this morning.
European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti captured imagery of the launch at 9:54 a.m. EDT (1354 GMT), which she shared on Twitter from orbit. "Looking forward to welcoming them to their new home," she said of the upcoming trio.
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin are about to perform docking, which you can watch live on NASA Television. You can also read our full story on the launch.
NASA astronaut, two Russian cosmonauts launch to International Space Station
A Soyuz spacecraft lifts off for the International Space Station on Sept. 21, 2022. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin launched to the International Space Station today from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:54 a.m. EDT (1354 GMT or 6:54 p.m. local time in Baikonur.)
The trio are now in their preliminary orbit. They will take just just two orbits and three hours to reach the ISS. The Soyuz will then dock and the hatches connecting the two spacecraft should open two hours later.
NASA requests two additional private International Space Station missions
The International Space Station will accept more commercial astronaut missions through NASA. (Image credit: NASA)
NASA said Wednesday (Sept. 14) that it has asked private industry for proposals for two private missions to the International Space Station (ISS) that will run between late 2023 and 2024.
It's not the first time such a mission has happened; the Houston-based company Axiom Space sent three paying customers and a retired NASA spaceflyer to the ISS earlier this year on a mission called Ax-1, and a second mission is booked with Axiom for next year.
NASA is concluding coverage of an International Space Station (ISS) spacewalk that saw a robotic arm and a big boom being manipulated in orbit.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev easily finished and exceeded their assigned spacewalk tasks during a 7 hour, x minute that began at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT).
The duo blazed through the remaining tasks left over from an Aug. 17 spacewalk cut short due to a power issue in a spacesuit; the spacesuits, incidentally, worked perfectly this time during the 7 hour, 47 minute spacewalk.
"You completed more than you set out to do! Very productive," a representative from Moscow Mission Control told the cosmonauts just after they closed the hatch. (The transmission was in Russian; interpretation was available in English on NASA Television.)
The cosmonauts concluded several configuration tasks for the European Robotic Arm and in one of several get-ahead activities, extended the Strela crane boom between the Poisk and FGB modules on the Russian side of the ISS.
Watch two cosmonauts spacewalking live before they go inside
Two Russian cosmonauts are wrapping up their tasks outside the International Space Station, but you still have time to watch them live. NASA Television is broadcasting the spacewalk, which started this morning at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT).
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev are far ahead of schedule and working on get-ahead tasks after configuring the European Robotic Arm. They are now seven hours into what was scheduled to be a 6.5-hour spacewalk.
Russian cosmonauts extend boom on International Space Station
At nearly 6.5 hours into today's spacewalk, the Russian cosmonauts continue to perform get-ahead tasks outside the International Space Station. They are currently working at extending a boom between the Poisk and core FGB modules on the Russian side of the complex.
Both cosmonauts reported they were feeling great when asked by Russian mission control in Moscow, during a short break before orbital sunrise. (The ISS circles Earth about every 90 minutes.) Their spacewalk was nominally expected to be 6.5 hours; the energetic duo is far ahead of their timeline and continuing their excursion.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev exited the Poisk airlock at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT) to work on the European Robotic Arm. Coverage is ongoing on NASA Television.
Spacewalking cosmonauts pivot to 'get-ahead' tasks
More than five hours into today's International Space Station spacewalk, two cosmonauts are so far ahead of schedule that they are working on "get-ahead tasks," NASA officials said in an update minutes ago on NASA Television. Coverage is ongoing.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev exited the Poisk airlock at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT) to configure a European Robotic Arm and have already executed what they were asked to do for the 6.5-hour spacewalk.
They installed a work platform on the Russian Nauka module, configured a control panel, adjusted the arm's "end effector" for grasping payloads, and tied down launch restraints and insulation they removed earlier in the spacewalk.
Cosmonauts more than an hour ahead of schedule
At more than four hours into today's International Space Station spacewalk, the cosmonauts are at least 1 hour and 10 minutes ahead of schedule.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev exited the Poisk airlock at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT) and made their way over to the European Robotic Arm, which they are currently configuring for in-orbit use.
So far the cosmonauts have removed and bundled some extra insulation, worked with a control panel and done other configuration activities to get the robotic arm ready for service.
The spacewalk is scheduled for 6.5 hours.
Roscosmos spacewalkers 50 minutes ahead of schedule
Two Russian cosmonauts work at removing insulation and bundling it during an International Space Station spacewalk Sept. 2, 2022 to configure the European Robotic Arm. (Image credit: NASA)
Two Russian cosmonauts working at the International Space Station are 50 minutes ahead of the timeline on their 6.5-hour scheduled spacewalk.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev, who exited the Russian Poisk module at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT), are approximately three hours into their effort to configure the European Robotic Arm.
They have removed an external control panel on the arm and are now working on removing and bundling insulation, NASA officials said in an update.
Two Russian cosmonauts commented on the powerful forest fires raging in the western United States from their vantage point during a spacewalk at the International Space Station.
"You can see those forest fires. That is impressive," one of the spacewalkers commented shortly before 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 GMT), as the extra vehicular activity approaches its second hour. (He was speaking in Russian; the English interpretation came through NASA.)
They were referring to powerful forest fires raging in California amid heat warnings that are forcing evacuations nearby Los Angeles.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev are finishing up tasks they could not complete in August after a spacewalk was cut short due to a spacesuit power issue.
The duo are configuring the European Robotic Arm ahead of operations. They have removed a protective cover and are now working on a control panel to get the arm set up after its first ground control test a few days ago.
Russian cosmonaut spacewalkers approach the International Space Station worksite
Approximately one hour into an International Space Station spacewalk, Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev are nearly at their worksite.
The pair will soon be removing protective covers on the European Robotic Arm as part of a larger set of configuration tasks. Coverage is now available on NASA Television as the conflicting briefing on the main channel has concluded.
Two Russian cosmonauts officially exited the Poisk module of the International Space Station at 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT), NASA just announced on NASA Television's media channel.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and flight engineer Denis Matveev are scheduled to spend 6.5 hours outside to configure the European Robotic Arm. This excursion comes after the duo had to cut a spacewalk short in August due to a power issue.
Two Russian spacewalkers will continue to configure a robotic arm in space and will complete unfinished tasks from another spacewalk in August that was cut short after a spacesuit power fluctuation.
Former NASA chief expresses concern about ISS transition
Russia controls six modules aboard the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA)
A former Trump-era NASA administrator says Congress needs to do more to have commercial space stations ready in time.
During a livestream on Sunday, former chief Jim Bridenstine, who led NASA between April 2018 and January 2021, said Congress is moving too slowly on approving replacements to the International Space Station (ISS), especially given Russia is now saying it will pull out after 2024 to focus on building a Russian-owned space station.
He expressed worry that NASA-funded commercial stations will not be ready in time to fill gaps in low Earth orbit research. (The agency is banking on the ISS partnership being extended to 2030, from 2024, to allow time for those replacements to get up and running.)
"Congress, quite frankly, is at fault for any gap we have on low Earth orbit, because they have been negligent in a replacement for the International Space Station," Bridenstine said. "We've known forever that it [the ISS] is not going to last forever, but we haven't been doing what's necessary to prevent the gap from happening. Now that gap seems to be accelerating, and nobody is talking about it."
While it's no hologram doctor like in "Star Trek", more surgical assistance will be coming to the International Space Station in just two years. MIRA, or "Miniaturized in vivo Robotic Assistant," will fly to there on the back of a $100,000 award to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, through the U.S. Department of Energy's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The test mission will use a microwave-sized experimental locker.
Expedition 67 crew spots auroras, gets ready for Dragon departure
NASA astronaut Bob Hines saw auroras from the International Space Station on Aug. 17, 2022. (Image credit: NASA/Bob Hines)
A solar storm generated auroras within view of the International Space Station crew. "Absolutely SPECTACULAR aurora today!!!," NASA astronaut Bob Hines tweeted, along with several pictures of the sun-generated storm that hit the atmosphere of Earth. "Thankful for the recent solar activity resulting in these wonderful sights."
The Expedition 67 crew also prepared a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for departure, which is currently scheduled for Friday (Aug. 19). Read more details about how to watch live here.
Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell, Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before that, since 2012. Elizabeth's on-site reporting includes two human spaceflight launches from Kazakhstan, three space shuttle missions in Florida, and embedded reporting from a simulated Mars mission in Utah.
Both cosmonauts inside airlock, spacewalk ends
Cosmonauts Denis Matveev and Oleg Artemyev are now both inside the Poisk airlok and have closed the outer hatch as they work to end today's spacewalk.
The hatch was closed at 1:54p.m. EDT (1754 GMT) to officially end today's spacewalk early.
Total elapsed spacewalk time: 4 hours, 1 minute of 6 planned hours.
Spacewalk aborted over spacesuit power problem
Russian flight controllers have called off today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station due to the spacesuit power problem on Oleg Artemev's Orlan spacesuit. Read our initial story.
"Today's spacewalk by Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev is being ended earlier than planned," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said.
The spacewalk, which began around 9:20 a.m. EDT today, was expected to run about six hours. But about three hours in, Artemyev experienced a spacesuit voltage drop as he and Matveev worked on the station's new European Robotic Arm. Flight controllers immediately ordered Artemyev back inside the station's Poisk airlock to plug his suit into the station's power system.
While Artemyev is inside the Poisk airlock, Matveev has been outside performing clean up tasks. He will not complete the robotic arm prep work due to it being cut short. Flight controllers cautioned Matveev not to rush.
"Take your time, do not be in a hurry," they said.
Cosmonaut feels good despite spacesuit issue
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev says he is in good spirits despite a power issue with his Orlan spacesuit. The issue occurred about an hour ago outside the International Space Station as Artemyev and crewmate Denis Matveev worked on the station's new European Robotic Arm.
Flight controllers asked Artemyev how he felt.
"I'm energized, I've had a good nap," Artemyev said. "I've had a good rest."
He added that he definitely felt better than at the start of the airlock.
Russian flight controllers are placing the space station's European Robotic Arm into a safe configuration as they discuss whether to continue with today's spacewalk by cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev.
Artemyev remains inside the Russian-built Poisk airlock with his Orlan spacesuit plugged directly into the station's power grid while Matveev waits outside. Today's spacewalk begin at about 9:20 a.m. EDT (1320 GMT) and was expected to last about 6 hours. The spacesuit issue cropped up at about the midpoint of the spacewalk around 12 p.m. EDT.
Cosmonaut suffers spacesuit issue on spacewalk
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev has been ordered back inside the Poisk airlock after his Orlan spacesuit experienced an unexpected voltage fluctuation during today's spacewalk, NASA reports.
Russia's Mission Control ordered Artemyeve to the station's airlock, where he plugged his suit into the station's power supply. His spacewalking partner Denis Matveev is waiting outside the airlock as Russian flight controllers discuss the next steps for today's spacewalk.
"Artemyev is in the airlock, never was in any danger," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said.
The issue occurred at about 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT), Navias said.
First camera installed, working on second camera installation
As we approach the two-hour mark of today's International Space Station spacewalk, the two Russian cosmonauts have set up the first elbow camera and removed thermal insulation and a launch restraint from the European Robotic Arm, according to NASA.
They are now waiting for the arm to be maneuvered into the correct configuration to allow for installation of a second elbow camera. The cameras will be useful to allow for correct depth perception of the arm, which is needed to maneuver objects safely in the harsh lighting conditions of space.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev, in red stripes, is on his seventh spacewalk and flight engineer Denis Matveev, in blue, is on his third spacewalk. The spacewalkers are expected to spend about 6.5 hours working outside in their Orlan spacesuits. Live coverage continues.
Cosmonauts prepare for camera installation
At the one-hour mark foe spacewalk, the cosmonauts are moving towards the European Robotic Arm in preparation for their first step. Their first major task will be installing one of two "elbow light" cameras to assist the arm with depth perception. Depth perception is crucial in space to allow for accurate grasping and manipulation of objects. The spacewalk is set to last 6.5 hours.
Spacewalk officially begins
The hatch to the Poisk airlock is open, marking the official start to the expected 6.5-hour long spacewalk today.
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev (in red stripes) and flight engineer Denis Matveev (n blue stripes) officially began their spacewalk at 9:53 a.m. EDT (1353 GMT), according to NASA, putting them about 33 minutes behind when they were expected to start the spacewalk.
Their goal is to continue preparing the European Robotic Arm for operations.
Two Russian cosmonauts prepare to depart ISS for spacewalk
Two Russian cosmonauts will continue working on the European Robotic Arm in a spacewalk today (Aug. 17).
Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev (in red stripes) and flight engineer Denis Matveev (n blue stripes) are scheduled to start their 6.5-hour International Space Station spacewalk around 9:20 a.m. EDT (1320 GMT), according to NASA.
You can watch live here at Space.com in the link above, on NASA's YouTube(opens in new tab) channel or directly at NASA's website.
Elizabeth Howell, Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before that, since 2012. Elizabeth's on-site reporting includes two human spaceflight launches from Kazakhstan, three space shuttle missions in Florida, and embedded reporting from a simulated Mars mission in Utah.
President Biden approves ISS extension act to 2030
President Joe Biden signs the CHIPS Act into law on Aug. 9, 2022. (Image credit: The White House)
President Joe Biden signed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act into law Thursday (Aug. 9).
That authorization bill approves NASA's participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program through September 2030, six years beyond the current 2024 target.
The act, which Congress approved late last month, pledges $53 billion for the U.S. semiconductor industry. The included NASA authorization bill is the first Congress approved in the past five years.
NASA and private companies expect commercial space station demand
Artist's rendering of concept design for Axiom Station berthed at the Harmony module of the International Space Station. (Image credit: Axiom Space)
NASA, along with companies working on new low Earth orbit space stations, are optimistic these complexes will meet the needs of the International Space Station post-retirement.
These complexes will be necessary due to the amount of research being generated by the International Space Station, panelists said at a July 26 discussion at NASA's 11th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC).
"A platform to be able to continue to do the science and other research that we're doing on ISS will absolutely be needed for exploration," said NASA's Angela Hart, program manager for the agency's Commercial LEO Development Program Office, at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston.
SpaceX rocket for Crew 5 being repaired after damage
Both SpaceX and the passengers of Crew-5 say they are confident NASA's rigorous safety requirements will be met following an incident that damaged the Falcon 9 rocket now scheduled to carry people into space in September.
The first stage of the booster sustained slight damage after colliding with a bridge during transport, delaying the launch as SpaceX addresses the underlying issues, the company said during a Crew-5 news conference Thursday (Aug. 5). (NASA disclosed the damage before, but not the cause.)
SpaceX is working through analysis "to assure that that stage would be ready to go, and absolutely safe to fly the crew as we do for every mission," said Benjamin Reed, SpaceX's senior director of the human spaceflight program.
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann, commander of Crew-5, said SpaceX has been in regular contact with her crew. "We have full confidence that NASA and SpaceX and the international partners are not going to put us on a rocket or a spacecraft that they feel is not ready to go," she added in the same briefing.
NASA requests former astronauts chaperone private missions
SpaceX's Ax-1 private astronauts join the Expedition 67 crew on the International Space Station in April 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)
NASA is asking that all private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS) have an experienced former agency astronaut commanding the group. A new solicitation notice by NASA, not finalized, includes this request among other changes for private astronaut missions.
The new rule comes from lessons learned based on Axiom Space's first mission to the ISS earlier this year. The crew required help from professional astronauts of Expedition 67 to complete some of their experiments. (The solicitation was first noticed by SpaceNews).
Russia says it will leave the International Space Station after 2024
Russia will leave the International Space Station (ISS) program after 2024, according to an update from the new chief of Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos Tuesday (July 26).
The announcement, which sounds more definitive than past statements, comes after Roscosmos leadership threatened to leave the International Space Station partnership for months. "The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made," the current head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, said, according to the Associated Press.
Speaking from space through video chat at the 11th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference, NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren briefly addressed the matter. "That is very recent news, and so we haven't heard anything officially," he said. "Of course ... we were trained to do a mission up here, and that mission is one that requires the whole crew, and so we continue to work every day to conduct the science and research that we've been trained to conduct."
The European Space Agency's Samantha Cristoforetti concluded her historic first spacewalk for a European woman alongside experienced spacewalker Oleg Artemyev.
The official end to the Russian-segment spacewalk was at 5:55 p.m. EDT (2155 GMT) and the duo spent 7 hours, 5 minutes working outside the International Space Station, according to NASA Television. The work had been forecasted to last seven hours.
Russian mission control elected to move one of the major tasks to another day, citing limited resources in the Orlan spacesuits to accomplish the work. (The spacesuited crew were delayed by roughly 50 minutes during routine equipment checkouts prior to opening the hatch at 10:50 a.m. EDT or 1450 GMT.)
The spacewalkers and the rest of the Expedition 67 crew were also advised today that there will be no need to perform an orbital debris avoidance maneuver after the spacewalk concludes. The possibility had been brought up during the spacewalk when a piece of unidentified debris strayed a little close to the orbit of ISS. No one was ever in any danger, NASA emphasized during the broadcast.
Watch Space.com for our wrap-up story covering the spacewalk.
ISS controllers tracking space debris, no action at this time
Controllers for the International Space Station are monitoring a piece of space debris that may come into conjunction, or come nearby, the orbiting complex "well after" the spacewalk is concluded, a NASA spokesperson said in a live update.
Following a live discussion between Expedition 67 astronauts and Mission Control in Houston, spokesperson Rob Navias told NASA TV viewers at 3:18 p.m. EDT (0718 GMT) that the crew is in no danger and that no immediate action is required.
"At the moment there is no concern or no action that will be required unless future tracking updates dictate otherwise. We'll keep you posted," Navias said during the spacewalk broadcast. Spacewalkers Samantha Cristoforetti (European Space Agency) and Oleg Artemyev (Roscosmos) are roughly 4.5 hours through their extravehicular activities that began at 10:50 EDT (14:50 GMT).
The space station is capable of avoiding the space debris, should that be required, Navias emphasized. No further details were provided by Navias about the time of the expected conjunction, how far away the debris is, the size of the object, or what object is being tracked.
You can watch a Russian cosmonaut and the first European female spacewalker work outside the International Space Station today. The Expedition 67 spacewalk is expected to begin around 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT). Coverage is available in the video above, via NASA Television.
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Samantha Cristoforetti will join experienced Russian cosmonaut spacewalker Oleg Artemyev for up to seven hours. Cristoforetti will make history as the first European female spacewalker, while Artemyev will embark on his third spacewalk.
Much of their time will be spent readying the European Robotic Arm for operational use, but the duo will also deploy nanosatellites and perform numerous other tasks on the Russian segment of the ISS.
Artemyev and Cristoforetti will both wear Russian-built Orlan spacesuits during their spacewalk today, with Artemyev in a suit with red stripes while Cristoforetti's suit will bear blue stripes. The spacewalk will likely be conducted in the Russian language with live interpretation.
Soyuz MS-19 crewmates Anton Shkaplerov (at left), Mark Vande Hei (center) and Pyotr Dubrov as seen after returning to Earth from the International Space Station on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)
The U.S.-Russian crew of the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft is in good health and spirits after their smooth landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan. Read our full landing story.
Roscosmos TV cameras showed NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov with wide smiles on their faces as they were helped out of their Soyuz capsule. Each of the space travelers were hoisted out of the Soyuz, which had rolled over after landing due to winds, and placed in reclined couches as they readapt to life on Earth.
They waved to cameras during a photo session and were then carried into a nearby medical tent for medical checks and to doff their Russian Sokol spacesuits and climb into more comfortable flight suits.
Once those medical checks are complete, each of the Soyuz crewmembers will head to a rally point airport in Kazakhstan. A NASA jet is awaiting Vande Hei to take him back to Houston while a Roscosmos plane will ferry Shkaplerov and Dubrov home to Russia's Star City training site near Moscow.
That's a wrap for our landing coverage of Soyuz MS-19.
The next mission to the ISS will be the private Ax-1 mission launching on a SpaceX rocket on April 6. We'll have live coverage of that here and on our Ax-1 mission updates page during the 11-day trip.
NASA and SpaceX will then launch the Crew-4 mission to the ISS on April 19.
TOUCHDOWN! Soyuz lands with crew of 3
Touchdown confirmed! The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov has landed safely on the remote steppes of Kazakhstan at 7:28 a.m. EDT (1128 GMT).
Russian recovery crews are closing in on the landing site in helicopters and ground vehicles. NASA and Roscosmos personnel will soon extract the crew and prepare the space travelers for their trip home.
First, Russian recovery teams will set up an inflatable medical tent to prepare to receive the Soyuz crew while others safeguard the vehicle so the crew can be extracted.
Once the crew is extracted from the Soyuz, they will have a short photo session outside the capsule before heading off to medical tents, and then to an airport in for their trip home. Vande Hei will be headed back to Houston while Dubrov and Shkaplerov will head home to Moscow. -- Tariq Malik
Parachute deployed! Soyuz descending to Earth
The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying a crew of three has deployed its main parachute and is safely descending back to Earth.
Everything has gone as planned for the landing. NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and his two Russian crewmates are doing well as they return to Earth.
Soyuz spacecraft module separation
The Soyuz spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov has jettisoned its orbital and propulsion modules as its crew capsule plunges through Earth's atmosphere for today's landing.
The crew capsule is a gumdrop-shaped module that forms the central core of the Soyuz spacecraft. Its orbital and propulsion modules are disposable and no longer needed during reentry.
The crew capsule will deploy a main parachute to slow its descent to the Earth's surface in Kazakhstan. It will fire retrorockets just before touchdown to further cushion its landing.
Landing remains on schedule for 7:28 am ET (1128 GMT).
Deorbit burn: Soyuz returning to Earth
This NASA graphic shows the Soyuz landing profile for Russian Soyuz spacecraft returning astronauts and cosmonauts to Earth from the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA)
The deorbit burn has begun for today's Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft landing to return astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov home from the International Space Station.
The deorbit burn is a short 4-minute, 59-second maneuver to slow the Soyuz so that it can leave orbit and descend back to Earth for a landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan. You can see a profile of the landing approach above.
Below is the target landing area and approach in Kazakhstan for today's landing.
This NASA graphic shows the target landing site for Russian Soyuz spacecraft returning astronauts and cosmonauts to Earth from the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA)
Soyuz MS-19 crew prepares for landing
With today's undocking from the International Space Station complete, the Soyuz MS-19 crew is now preparing for the return to Earth in three hours. NASA's live webcast coverage of the landing has resumed ahead of the planned deorbit burn at 6:34 a.m. EDT (1034 GMT). You can watch the Soyuz landing live on Space.com. We have feeds on our homepage and our preview for today's landing.
The deorbit burn will place the Soyuz MS-19 on a descending track for its planned 7:38 a.m. EDT (1138 GMT) landing on the steps of Kazakhstan.
While we wait for the deorbit burn. Check out some amazing views of the Soyuz's undocking earlier today.
So
A view from the Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft as it flies around the International Space Station after undocking on March 30, 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov is continuing his photo and video session of the International Space Station as fellow cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov flies the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft around the station after today's undocking.
"That's beautiful, we are flying over some continents and it all looks beautiful but the Russian segment is all in shadow," one of the cosmonauts said.
"Wow!" a cosmonaut added. "Every time you see it, it's almost like a surprise."
The Soyuz and space station were passing over western China when this view was captured from the Soyuz's onboard camera.
Undocking! Soyuz MS-19 departs space station
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The Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov undocks from the International Space Station on March 30, 2022.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov undocks from the International Space Station on March 30, 2022.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov undocks from the International Space Station on March 30, 2022.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov undocks from the International Space Station on March 30, 2022.(Image credit: NASA TV)
Undocking confirmed! With Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov at the controls, the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on time at 3:21 a.m. EDT (0721 GMT) as both craft sailed high over the South Atlantic Ocean.
Shkaplerov has backed the Soyuz away to a station-keeping point about 70 meters away from the station to allow cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov to take photos and videos of the station's Russian segment.
Dubrov is taking the photos and videos from the Soyuz capsule's orbital module, which will be discarded along with the propulsion module later today ahead of reentry.
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei is remaining in his seat during this space station photo session.
It's landing day for ISS astronauts
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei (left) and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov (center left) and Anton Shkaplerov (right) bid farewell to their Expedition 66 crewmates on the International Space Station on March 30,2022. Expedition 67 cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev is seen in the background. He will remain on the space station. (Image credit: NASA TV)
A Soyuz spacecraft carrying the trio will undock from the space station today at 3:21 a.m. EDT (0721 GMT) and land at 7:28 a.m. EDT (1128 GMT). You can watch the undocking live on Space.com's homepage, courtesy of NASA TV. Undocking coverage is live now.
At 6:15 a.m. EDT (1015 GMT), NASA's coverage of the Soyuz landing will begin to chronicle the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft's deorbit burn, which is scheduled for 6:34 a.m. EDT (1034 GMT) setting up the planned landing on the remote steppes of Kazakhstan.
Vande Hei and Dubrov are returning to Earth after a 355-day mission to the International Space Station, the longest single spaceflight for an American astronaut. Shkaplerov is returning home to end a 176-day spaceflight.
Soyuz reaches orbit with 3 cosmonauts aboard
Russia's Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft has successfully reached orbit and separated from its Soyuz rocket upper stage.
The spacecraft is now chasing the International Space Station and will dock at the orbiting laboratory later today at 3:05 p.m. EDT (1905 GMT). NASA TV will have live coverage of the docking starting at 2:15 p.m. EDT (1815 GMT).
The cosmonauts - Sergey Korsakov, Oleg Artemyev, and Denis Matveev - will enter the space station at about 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT) after a series of leak checks.
11:15 a.m. – Coverage of the launch of the Soyuz MS-21 crew to the ISS (Launch scheduled at 11:55 a.m. EDT; Artemyev, Matveev, Korsakov)
2:15 p.m. – Coverage of the rendezvous and docking of the Soyuz MS-21 crew to the ISS (Docking to the Prichal module scheduled at 3:05 p.m. EDT; Artemyev, Matveev, Korsakov)
5:15 p.m. – Coverage of the Soyuz MS-21 hatch opening at the ISS (Hatch opening for Artemyev, Matveev and Korsakov scheduled at appx. 5:30 p.m. EDT)
8:30 p.m. – Video File of the Soyuz MS-21 launch, docking and hatch opening at the ISS (streamed on NASA TV's media channel)
Liftoff! Soyuz rocket launches new crew
A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying three cosmonauts to the International Space Station lifts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on March 18, 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Liftoff! Russia's Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft and rocket have launched toward space on time at 11:55 a.m. EDT.
All systems are nominal as it heads to space.
Russia launching 3 cosmonauts to space station
Soyuz MS-21 crew members (from left) Sergey Korsakov, Oleg Artemyev, and Denis Matveev pose for a portrait at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. They will serve aboard the International Space Station as Expedition 66/67 crew members (Image credit: Andrey Shelepin via NASA)
Three Russian cosmonauts will launch toward the International Space Station on Friday (March 18), and you can watch the action live.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov is scheduled to lift off atop a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Friday at 11:55 a.m. EDT (1555 GMT).
You can watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency. Coverage will start at 11:15 a.m. EDT (1515 GMT). You can also see a Roscosmos feed here
Here's a schedule of ISS docking and crew arrival events for later today after liftoff (All times in EDT):
11:15 a.m. – Coverage of the launch of the Soyuz MS-21 crew to the ISS (Launch scheduled at 11:55 a.m. EDT; Artemyev, Matveev, Korsakov)
2:15 p.m. – Coverage of the rendezvous and docking of the Soyuz MS-21 crew to the ISS (Docking to the Prichal module scheduled at 3:05 p.m. EDT; Artemyev, Matveev, Korsakov)
5:15 p.m. – Coverage of the Soyuz MS-21 hatch opening at the ISS (Hatch opening for Artemyev, Matveev and Korsakov scheduled at appx. 5:30 p.m. EDT)
8:30 p.m. – Video File of the Soyuz MS-21 launch, docking and hatch opening at the ISS (streamed on NASA TV's media channel)
Spacewalk today! 2 NASA astronauts working outside ISS
(Image credit: SpaceX)
Two NASA astronauts will spend hours working outside the International Space Station today to upgrade the orbiting lab's systems.
Astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari are scheduled to step outside the orbiting lab Tuesday at 8:05 a.m. EDT (1205 GMT), kicking off a planned 6.5-hour spacewalk aimed at preparing for upcoming solar array upgrades.
You can watch the spacewalk live in the video at the top of this page, courtesy of NASA TV. The live webcast began at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
Spacecraft Separation for ISS cargo ship
Spacecraft separation! Northrop Grumman's Cygnus NG-17 cargo ship is officially in orbit and chasing the International Space Station on a 2-day rendezvous track.
LIFTOFF for Antares rocket carrying Cygnus NG-17 to ISS
Liftoff! Northrop Grumman has launched its Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-17 cargo ship toward the International Space Station.
All systems are working nominally after the on-time liftoff.
Go for launch
Northrop Grumman is go for launch today after a final mission poll. Weather and the Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-17 spacecraft have no issues for flight.
Northrop Grumman launching cargo ship today
(Image credit: NASA's Wallops Flight Facility via Twitter)
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the commercial cargo ship Cygnus NG-17 today at 12:40 p.m. EST (1740 GMT) and you'll be able to watch it live here and on our mission overview page, courtesy of NASA TV. The live webcast will begin at 12:15 p.m. EST (1715 GMT).
The Cygnus NG-17 cargo ship, named the S.S. Piers Sellers in honor of the late astronaut who died in December 2016, will launch from Pad 0A of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. It is carrying more than 8,300 pounds of supplies and other gear for the Expedition 66 crew on the International Space station.
"The launch range forecast remains 75% favorable, with ground winds being the primary concern," NASA officials wrote in an update today.
Russia's Progress 80 cargo resupply ship, which launched on Monday (Feb. 14), will arrive at the International Space Station early Thursday (Feb. 17).
The uncrewed cargo freighter is scheduled to dock with the orbiting laboratory at 2:06 a.m. EST (0706 GMT). You can watch the docking live in the window above, courtesy of NASA TV, or directly via NASA's website.
Undocking!
SpaceX's Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship has successfully undocked itself from the International Space Station's Harmony module and is backing away from the orbiting lab.
Undocking occurred on time at 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT) as both spacecraft sailed high over the South Pacific Ocean. At the time of undocking, NASA and SpaceX did not have live video coverage from the International Space Station, but did capture views of it backing away after its departure.
NASA's live webcast for today's SpaceX Dragon CRS-24 undocking at the International Space Station is underway.
Dragon is on track to undock from the station's zenith port on its Harmony module at 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT). The command to undock will be sent by SpaceX at 10:35 a.m. EST, NASA says.
If all goes well, Dragon will perform two short departure burns and ultimately return to Earth on Monday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. EST (2105 GMT) off the coast of Panama City, Florida.
Undocking day for SpaceX Dragon CRS-24
(Image credit: NASA)
It's undocking day (again) for SpaceX's Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship at the International Space Station.
After a 24-hour delay due to unfavorable weather at its splashdown site in the Gulf of Mexico, the Dragon cargo ship is once again expected to cast off from the space station's space-facing docking port atop NASA's Harmony module and begin its trip back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT) and you can watch it live on this page beginning at 10:15 a.m. EST (1515 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV.
The Dragon cargo ship launched to the station on Dec. 21 and has spent just over a month at the orbiting lab. For its return trip, it will be carrying nearly 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) of science experiment results and other gear back to Earth.
SpaceX's Dragon is currently the only cargo ship capable of returning cargo, equipment and other items back to Earth.
Dragon undocking delayed by bad weather
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the undocking of of the Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship by another 24 hours due to high winds at its splashdown site in the Atlantic Ocean. The spacecraft will now undock Sunday, Jan. 23, at 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT).
"Due to unfavorable weather in the splashdown locations off the coast of Florida, now targeting Sunday, January 23 at 10:40 a.m. EST for Dragon's departure from the space station," SpaceX wrote in a Twitter update this morning.
This is the second undocking delay for the Dragon CRS-24 spacecraft, which was originally scheduled to depart from the space station on Friday, Jan. 21. That undocking was also delayed by bad weather at the splashdown sites.
SpaceX now aims to undock the Dragon CRS-24 capsule from the space station's space-facing Harmony module on Sunday at 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT). NASA's live webcast will begin at 10:15 a.m. EST (1515 GMT).
SpaceX Dragon CRS-24 undocking today
The SpaceX CRS-24 Dragon cargo ship is seen approaching the International Space Station to deliver tons of supplies along with Christmas gifts and food for astronauts as part of NASA's CRS-24 cargo mission on Dec. 22, 2021. (Image credit: NASA TV)
A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship will undock from the International Space Station today and you'll be able to watch it live online. Undocking is set for 10:40 a.m. EST (1540 GMT). Read our full undocking preview here.
NASA's webcast of the Dragon CRS-24 departure will begin at 10:15 a.m. EST (1515 GMT). You can watch it live in the NASA TV video feed at the top of this page.
SpaceX launched the Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship to the space station in December to deliver 6,500 pounds (2,900 kilograms) of science gear and supplies to astronauts on the orbiting lab. For its return to Earth, the spacecraft is carrying nearly 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) of science experiments and other gear aboard.
The Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship will return to Earth on Monday, Jan. 24, at 12:44 a.m. EST (0544 GMT) with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. SpaceX and NASA will not provide a live webcast of the splashdown, but updates are expected to be shared on Twitter by SpaceX and on NASA's space station blog.
Cosmonauts to take spacewalk outside ISS today
Expedition 66 Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov from Roscosmos is pictured during a spacewalk on Sept. 3, 2021. (Image credit: NASA/Roscosmos)
Two Russian cosmonauts will take a spacewalk outside the International Space Station today to outfit the orbiting lab's new Prichal module. You can watch the spacewalk live in the video feed at the top of this page. Read our preview story on the spacewalk here.
Expedition 66 commander Anton Shkaplerov and flight engineer Pyotr Dubrov, both of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, will spend the day working to add new handrails, antennas, a television camera and docking targets to Prichal, allowing the docking module to accept its first visiting spacecraft in March.
During the spacewalk, you can spot Shkaplerov in a Russian Orlan spacesuit with red stripes, distinguishing him as the lead spacewalker. Dubrov's spacesuit will have blue stripes.
Docking! SpaceX Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship reaches ISS
SpaceX's Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship successfully docked with the International Space Station at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT), linking up with the orbiting lab nearly an hour earlier than planned as both spacecraft sailed 265 miles above the South Pacific Ocean.
A series of hooks and hatches will secure the Dragon to the station ahead of leak checks to create a secure seal between the two spacecraft. The station's crew will then open the hatches between the two craft to begin unpacking the spacecraft.
SpaceX Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship arriving at ISS
It's docking day for SpaceX's Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship.
After a day's flight in orbit, SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship is closing in on the International Space Station and is scheduled to link up with the orbiting lab at 3:41 a.m. EST (0841 GMT). You can watch its approach and docking live in the NASA TV video feed at the top of this page.
The Dragon CRS-24 resupply ship is carrying 6,500 pounds of supplies and experiment gear to the International Space Station. The spacecraft was originally scheduled to dock at 4:30 a.m. EST but is running ahead of schedule.
Dragon CRS-24 successfully in orbit
SpaceX's Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship has successfully opened its nose cone to uncover its docking port, the final step in today's launch toward the International Space Station. Read our recap of the predawn liftoff.
The spacecraft, which has visited the space station before, is scheduled to dock at the orbiting laboratory on Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT).
NASA will provide live coverage of the Dragon spacecraft's autonomous docking, beginning at 3 a.m. EST (0800 GMT). You can watch that docking live on this page via the NASA TV feed at the top of this page.
Touchdown! SpaceX rocket lands as Dragon reaches orbit
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands atop the drone landing ship Just Read The Instructions after a successful landing following the launch of the CRS-24 Dragon cargo ship for NASA from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 21, 2021. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Falcon 9 1st stage has landed successfully after launching Dragon CRS-24 cargo mission for NASA. That's landing no. 100 for SpaceX.
Meanwhile, the Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship has reached orbit and separated from its Falcon 9 upper stage. Nose cone deployment is expected soon.
Stage Separation for Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket first stage has separated from its upper stage and is beginning its return to Earth for a landing on the drone ship Just Read The Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.
The upper stage carrying the Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship is continuing its ascent to orbit.
LIFTOFF! SpaceX launches Dragon CRS-24
LIFTOFF! SpaceX launches a new Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship for NASA. Next stop, International Space Station.
T-5 minutes to launch
SpaceX's CRS-24 Dragon cargo mission is 5 minutes from launch and the weather looks like it may clear in time for today's launch, SpaceX reports.
Fueling is underway for the Falcon 9 rocket and should be completed about 2 minutes before liftoff.
SpaceX CRS-24 launch webcast begins
SpaceX's launch webcast for today's CRS-24 Dragon cargo resupply mission has begun. You can watch it live in the window above or directly from NASA here and from SpaceX. Liftoff is now targeted for 5:07 a.m. EST (1007 GMT), a minute later than earlier announced.
The weather forecast is dismal for today's launch attempt, with just a 30% of good weather at NASA's Pad 39A for today's launch.
SpaceX to launch NASA CRS-24 cargo mission
A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a previously flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a planned Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX is counting down to launch a new Falcon 9 rocket carrying the CRS-24 cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA today (Dec. 21) and you can watch it live at the top of this page. Liftoff is at 5:06 a.m. EST (1006 GMT).
NASA and SpaceX will begin webcasting today's launch at 4:45 a.m. EST (0945 GMT).
SpaceX is using a rare new Falcon 9 rocket for today's launch. Its Cargo Dragon spacecraft previously flew to the space station. The mission will deliver about 6,500 pounds of supplies and experiment gear to the International Space Station for its Expedition 66 crew.
NASA, SpaceX press briefing today on CRS-24 cargo aunch
NASA and SpaceX are counting down to launch a new cargo ship to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and will hold a prelaunch press conference today at 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT). You can watch the prelaunch briefing live on this page, courtesy of NASA, in the window above.
The weather forecast is currently dismal, with only a 30% chance of good launch conditions.
Soyuz MS-20 crew is safe on Earth
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, his videographer Yozo Hirano and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin have exited the Soyuz capsule and are headed to the Karaganda airport to begin their journeys home.
After a 12-day spaceflight, the trio touched down at about 10:13 p.m. EST (0313 GMT or 9:13 a.m. local time on Dec. 20) on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan.
NASA TV finally has live video footage from the landing site. Here is the first view of the charred Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft that landed today!
(Image credit: NASA TV)
Recovery crew is on site
The crew is reportedly safe and in good health as search and recovery teams are helping them out of the capsule.
The Soyuz landed upright and did not tip over after the impact, which could help speed up the recovery process.
Roscosmos confirms Soyuz landing
The Soyuz MS-20 has successfully touched down, Dmitry Rogozin, director general of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, announced on Twitter.
NASA TV commentator Brandi Dean said that bad weather in Kazakhstan has somewhat hindered the recovery effort, but there is "no reason to suspect that anything is wrong."
Recovery teams "had visuals of the Soyuz descending under parachutes, but because of the visibility issues with the weather there at the landing site [they] did not see the actual touchdown," Dean said. "So they're working on getting to the Soyuz at this point and we are standing by for confirmation that they are there with the crew."
Touchdown?
The Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft should have touched down on time at 10:13 p.m. EST (0313 GMT), but NASA and Roscosmos have not yet confirmed the landing, and we're still waiting on the first video footage from the landing site. There are no indications that anything went wrong with the landing, according to NASA TV commentator Brandi Dean.
Deorbit burn complete
The Soyuz MS-20 has successfully completed a deorbit burn after firing its engines for 4 minutes and 39 seconds. The spacecraft is on track for an on-time landing in Kazakhstan at 10:13 p.m. EST (0313 GMT).
The Soyuz is on its way to Earth
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A view of the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft departing the International Space Station on Dec. 19, 2021.(Image credit: NASA TV)
A view of the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft departing the International Space Station on Dec. 19, 2021.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft successfully separated from the International Space Station at 6:50 p.m. EST (2350 GMT) and is now on its way to Earth with Maezawa, Hirano and Misurkin on board. The space station was orbiting 263 miles (423) kilometers above Mongolia at the time of undocking.
NASA TV's live coverage of their return to Earth will resume at 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT), 18 minutes before the planned deorbit burn. After the deorbit burn, the Soyuz spacecraft will spend just under an hour descending to Earth. The crew is expected to touch down in Kazakhstan at 10:13 p.m. EST (0313 GMT).
NASA TV's undocking coverage has begun
Alexander Misurkin, Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano are inside the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft and preparing for an on-time departure from the International Space Station. The Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft is scheduled to undock at 6:50 p.m. EST (2350 GMT) and land in Kazakhstan at 10:13 p.m. EST (0313 Dec. 20 GMT). You can watch it live now in the window above. Read more
Landing day for Japanese space tourists
Billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa (left), cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin (center) and video producer Yozo Hirano (right) are scheduled to launch toward the International Space Station on Dec. 8, 2021. Hirano will participate in health-related research during and after the mission. (Image credit: CPK/Roscosmos)
The trio will return to Earth tonight, Dec. 19, in their Soyuz spacecraft with a landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan scheduled for 10:18 p.m. EST (0318 GMT on Dec. 20). You can watch it live on this page in the NASA TV video feed at the top.
NASA will broadcast several events today leading up to tonight's landing. Here's a schedule to plan your afternoon and evening:
3 p.m. EST / 2000 GMT — NASA TV coverage begins for hatch closing at 3:32 p.m. EST (2032 GMT)
6:30 p.m. EST / 2300 GMT — NASA TV coverage begins for undocking at 6:54 p.m. EST (2354 GMT)
9 p.m. EST / 0200 GMT Dec. 20 — NASA TV coverage begins for deorbit and landing. Landing is targeted for 10:18 p.m. EST / 0318 GMT Dec. 20.
Maezawa, Hirano and Misurkin launched to the space station on Dec. 8 on a mission brokered for Maezawa by the U.S. space tourism company Space Adventures. Maezawa is financing the entire trip for an undisclosed sum, though past tourist flights to the station have cost more up to $35 million for one person based on reports from Cirque du Soliel founder Guy Laliberte's flight in 2009. Maezawa has paid for two people, suggesting an even higher fee.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has figured out how to float. Two days into his stay aboard the International Space Station, Maezawa on Twitter shared an image of him seated cross-legged and waving at the camera with the caption, "Hi from space."
Japanese billionaire
Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa enters the International Space Station to begin a 12-day space tourist trip following a Soyuz launch and docking on Dec. 8, 2021. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Japanese space tourists Yusakuy Maezawa and Yozo Hirano have begun their 12-day stay aboard the International Space Station after entering the orbiting laboratory at 11:11 a.m. EST (1611 GMT) with veteran Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.
The two space tourists, whose flight was arranged by the Virginia-based company Space Adventures with Russia's space agency Roscosmos, are due to return to Earth on Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT Dec. 20) on the remote steppes of Kazakhstan.
Japanese space tourists, cosmonaut to enter ISS
A view of the Soyuz MS-20 capsule flying near the International Space Station before docking on Dec. 8, 2021. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, video producer Yozo Hirano and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin have climbed out of their Sokol launch pressure suits and are preparing to enter the International Space Station after their successful docking earlier today. The Soyuz MS-20 crew are conducting final leak checks between their Soyuz and the space station before opening the hatches between their two spacecraft.
NASA is broadcasting live views of today's hatch opening ceremony, which you can watch in the video feed at the top of this page.
Docking complete!
The Soyuz capsule carrying Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, his video producer Yozo Hirano and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin docked to the International Space Station at 8:40 a.m. EST (1340 GMT) after four orbits around Earth and about six hours after launch. Read the full story.
The trio are scheduled to enter the space station at about 10:35 a.m. EST (1535 GMT), with a live webcast beginning about 20 minutes prior.
Watch Japanese space tourists dock at space station
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and his video producer Yozo Hirano will dock at the International Space Station today at 8:41 a.m. EST (1341 GMT) with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin and you can watch it live here. The live webcast will begin at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT) from NASA.
Maezawa and his crewmates launched to the space station early Wednesday and will spend 12 days on the space station. Maezawa bought the flight with Space Adventures, which has arranged several space tourism flights to the International Space Station with Russia's Roscosmos space agency.
Maezawa, Hirano and Misurkin are scheduled to enter the space station at 10:35 a.m. EST (1535 GMT). A hatch opening ceremony webcast will begin at 10:15 a.m. EST (1515 GMT).
Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, two others launch toward space station
Billionaire Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa and his two crewmates are on their way to the International Space Station.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Maezawa, fellow space tourist Yozo Hirano and cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin launched atop a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Wednesday (Dec. 8) at 2:38 a.m. EST (0738 GMT). [Full story.]
The trio is expected to arrive at the space station around 8:41 a.m. EST (1341 GMT) on Wednesday. The spaceflyers will remain in orbit for nearly 12 days, returning to Earth on Dec. 19.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa launching to space station early Wednesday
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and two crewmates will launch toward the International Space Station early Wednesday morning (Dec. 8), and you can watch the action live.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Maezawa, video producer Yozo Hirano and cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin is scheduled to lift off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Wednesday at 2:38 a.m. EST (0738 GMT). Watch it live at Space.com's homepage courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency.
Maezawa paid for his seat and that of Hirano, who will document the mission. Their flight was organized by Virginia company Space Adventures, which has sent eight other people on seven trips to the orbiting lab over the years.
At 2 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) today (Nov. 29), NASA will be hosting a news conference detailing what they expect to happen during tomorrow's upcoming spacewalk.
The news conference will include three experts who will discuss the spacewalk and answer questions with a Q&A. Those experts include Dana Weigel, NASA's deputy manager of the International Space Station Program, Vincent LaCourt, NASA's spacewalk flight director and Art Thomason, NASA's spacewalk officer.
Check out the NASA TV live video above to catch the press conference.
The spacewalk being discussed will see NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron, who recently arrived at the orbiting lab aboard SpaceX's Crew-3 mission. They will exit the station's Quest airlock around 7:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT) tomorrow (Nov. 30) to replace a faulty antenna system. Live coverage for the spacewalk itself is set to begin at 5:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
DOCKING! Progress 79 at space station
The uncrewed Progress 79 cargo ship approaches the International Space Station's Zvezda service module during docking operations in orbit on Oct. 29, 2021. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Progress 79 has successfully docked at the International Space Station, linking up with the orbiting lab's Russian-built Zvezda service module at 9:31 p.m. EDT (0131 GMT) as the two ships sailed 258 miles over Argentina, just south of Buenos Aires.
"It doesn't get much smoother than that," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said of the docking during live commentary. "A flawless ride from the launch pad at Baikonur to docking at the International Space Station."
That will wrap our coverage of Roscosmos' Progress 79 cargo ship docking at the International Space Station. Stay tuned for more updates from the station as they come up!
Progress 79 on final approach to ISS
The Progress 79 cargo ship is now on final approach to its docking port at the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station.
The berth is at the aft end of the station's Russian segment.
Progress 79 flyaround underway
Progress 79 is now flying around the International Space Station to reach a point about 150 meters from the station's Russian-built Zvezda service module, its destination for today's cargo delivery.
Docking still set for 9:34 pm EDT (0134 GMT).
Progress 79 in sight of space station
The Russian cargo ship Progress 79 is visible in this video still from a camera on the International Space Station during its docking approach on Oct. 29, 2021. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Progress 79 is now less than 1 kilometers from the International Space Station as it nears the space station. Cameras on the station are showing stunning views of the approaching spacecraft.
Today's docking approach is on track with no issues.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
NASA livestream underway for Progress 79 docking
NASA's webcast for tonight's Progress 79 cargo ship docking at the International Space Station has begin.
The Russian built Progress 79 cargo ship will dock at the Zvezda service module on the space station at 9:34 p.m. EDT (0134 GMT). The spacecraft is carrying more than 5,600 pounds of supplies and gear -- 2.8 tons in all -- for the station's seven-astronaut crew.
You can watch the docking live above at the top of this page.
Progress 79 is currently about 7 kilometers away from the space station as it approaches a flyaround point to reach its docking port.
Progress 79 cargo ship to dock tonight
The uncrewed Russian cargo ship Progress 79, which launched into orbit late Wednesday (Oct. 27), is due to dock at the International Space Station tonight and you can watch it live here.
Progress 79, which is hauling nearly 3 tons of food, clothing, propellant and other supplies, will link up to the station's Russian-built Zvezda service module at 9:34 p.m. EDT (0134 GMT). NASA's live webcast of the rendezvous will begin at 8:45 p.m. EDT (0045 GMT).
You can watch the events live in the window at the top of this page. At 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT), NASA and SpaceX will also conduct a launch readiness review press conference for the Crew-3 SpaceX astronaut mission, due to launch on Oct. 31.
Progress 79 launches to space station
A Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket carrying the uncrewed Progress 79 cargo ship launches into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 28, 2021 (late Oct. 27 EDT). (Image credit: Glavkosmos/Roscosmos)
Russia's space agency Roscosmos successfully launched the Progress 79 cargo ship to the International Space Station tonight at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) from Pad 6 of Site 31 at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It was 5 a.m. local time at the launch site.
NASA spokesman Rob Navias said during live commentary that the Soyuz 2.1a rocket's liftoff was a "perfect launch."
The Progress 79 cargo ship is now making its uncrewed flight to the station, where it will dock late Friday night at the aft end of the station's Russian-built Zvezda service module.
Docking is set for 9:34 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 29 (0134 GMT Saturday, Oct. 30).
Russian Progress 79 cargo ship ready to launch
(Image credit: RSC Energia)
A Russian Soyuz rocket is poised to launch a new Progress cargo ship to the International Space Station tonight and you can watch it live here at the top of this page.
The Progress 79 cargo ship will launch about 3 tons of supplies to the space station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The ship will dock at the station on Friday, Oct. 29.
The uncrewed Progress 78 cargo resupply ship has successfully docked with the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory module, or Nauka, nearly 29 hours after undocking from Russia's Poisk module. The time of capture was 12:21 a.m. EDT (0421 GMT).
Contact and capture confirmed! The @roscosmos Progress 78 cargo craft redocked to station at 12:21am ET as Progress and the station flew 258 miles over the south Pacific. https://t.co/cBNqC5JGaz pic.twitter.com/XoQLUVRftxOctober 22, 2021
Russia's Progress 78 cargo resupply spacecraft successfully undocked from the space station's Poisk module late Wednesday (Oct. 20) and is currently scheduled to dock at the Nauka module at 12:24 a.m. EDT (0424 GMT) on Friday (Oct. 22). You can watch a live webcast of the docking in the window above.
Russian actress Yulia Peresild and producer Klim Shipenko landed with cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy Sunday (Oct. 17) at 12:35 a.m. EDT (0435 GMT or 10:35 a.m. local time) on the steppe of Kazakhstan. Read the full story
Soyuz undocking complete
(Image credit: NASA TV)
Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, actor Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko are on their way back to Earth after undocking from the International Space Station in their Soyuz spacecraft.
NASA TV's live coverage of the deorbit burn and landing will resume tonight (Oct. 16) at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT); the landing in Kazakhstan is scheduled for approximately 12:36 a.m. (0436 GMT; 10:36 a.m. Kazakhstan time) on Sunday, Oct. 17.
It's landing day!
The 10 people living and working on the International Space Station share dinner in a photograph shared by cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky on Oct. 14, 2021. (Image credit: Roscosmos/NASA)
It's landing day! Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, who is wrapping up a six-month stay in space, and a Russian actor Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko, who have spent less than two weeks in orbit, are headed back to Earth.
The trio will say their goodbyes at about 4:15 p.m. EDT (2015 GMT) before climbing into the Soyuz MS-18 capsule, which will undock from Russia's Nauka module of the International Space Station on Saturday (Oct. 16) at 9:14 p.m. EDT (0114 GMT on Oct. 17) for the trip home.
The capsule, slowed by parachutes, will land in Kazakhstan on Sunday (Oct. 17) at 12:36 a.m. EDT (0436 GMT; 10:36 a.m. local time).
NASA TV and Space.com will offer live coverage of all three milestones, so stay tuned!
Megan McArthur shares stunning Earth timelapse
Lightning storms, auroras and city lights glow across planet Earth in this gorgeous new timelapse video captured by NASA astronaut Megan McArther at the International Space Station.
"Friday Night Lightning!" McArthur tweeted. "Checkout this time lapse taken over Africa from our cupola. In addition to thunderstorms, you can see city lights, the Milky Way, satellites, and even a bit of aurora at the end."
Russian film crew boards space station
Russian actress Yulia Peresild and producer-director Klim Shipenko have entered the International Space Station with their cosmonaut guide Anton Shkaplerov to begin their 12-day movie shoot in orbit.
The trio entered the station's Rassvet module at about 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), jus about 6 hours after launching into orbit on their Soyuz rocket. They joined seven other crewmembers already aboard the station, including Expedition 65 cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, who will appear in the film Peresild and Shipenko are shooting. It's called "The Challenge," with Peresild portraying a surgeon sent into orbit to help a cosmonaut (Novitskiy) in medical distress.
"I still feel that it's all a dream and I'm still asleep," Peresild, 37, told Russia's Channel One during a welcome ceremony on the station.
Shipenko agreed.
"Yes, it's almost impossible to think that this all came to reality," the 38-year-old director said.
During the welcome ceremony, Peresild received a congratulatory call from Valentina Tereshkova, who became the first woman in space in 1963 on the Vostok 6 mission.
"It was extremely emotional for everyone, from sadness to happiness," Tereshkova said of the launch in Russian, which was translated on NASA TV. "We're very proud of you," she added, saying she had only one wish for the crew.
"Everything should go nominal, that's our best wish," Tereshkova said. "We want all your dreams to come true and we'll be waiting for you back here on Earth."
Hatch Opening Underway
Astronauts on the International Space Station are now working to open the hatches between the station and the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft, allowing the Russian film crew to enter the orbiting lab.
Space station hatch opening delayed
Russian mission control officials have told the station and Soyuz crews that hatch opening will occur in about an hour, a bit later than planned.
We're awaiting a new hatch opening target time from NASA.
Russian film crew to enter space station
The Russian film crew that launched to the International Space Station today on a Soyuz spacecraft is preparing to enter the orbiting laboratory for the first time. Hatches between the space station and their Soyuz MS-19 are due to be opened at 10:05 a.m. EDT (1405 GMT).
You can watch the hatch opening and a welcome ceremony live in the NASA TV video feed at the top of this page.
Amazing views of Soyuz docking with Russian film crew
Today's successful docking of a Russian film crew at the International Space Station had some star quality of its own. As the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying Russian actress Yulia Peresild, director Klim Shipenko and cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov neared the station, a camera on the orbiting lab captured spectacular views of the approaching spacecraft.
Check out the views in the video above!
Docking! Soyuz delivers Russian film crew to space station
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The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying Russian actress Yulia Peresild, producer-director Klim Shipenko and cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov approaches the International Space Station on Oct. 5, 2021 in this still from station cameras captured during docking operations.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying Russian actress Yulia Peresild, producer-director Klim Shipenko and cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov approaches the International Space Station on Oct. 5, 2021 in this still from station cameras captured during docking operations.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying Russian actress Yulia Peresild, producer-director Klim Shipenko and cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov approaches the International Space Station on Oct. 5, 2021 in this still from station cameras captured during docking operations.(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft carrying a Russian actress and her producer/director has successfully docked at the International Space Station. It linked up with a port on the station's Rassvet module at 8:22 a.m. EDT (1222 GMT), about 10 minutes later than planned after communications issues forced cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov to take manual control of the Soyuz for the docking.
Despite the communications issue, Shklaperov docked the Soyuz at its port to deliver Russian actress Yulia Peresild and producer-director Klim Shipenko to the station. The duo will film scenes for an upcoming space film called "The Challenge," with Peresild portraying a surgeon launched into space to help an ailing cosmonaut, to be portrayed by cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, who is already aboard the space station.
"So the Soyuz MS-19's safely at port, and a Russian actress and her producer-director are on set at the International Space Station for 12 days of movie making," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said during live commentary.
Peresild, Shipenko and Shklaperov will enter the space station at 10:05 a.m. EDT (1405 GMT) when the hatches are due to open between the Soyuz and station. NASA's live coverage will resume at 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT).
Live docking coverage has begun
NASA's webcast for today's Soyuz docking at the International Space Station has begun. The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft will dock its Russian film crew and cosmonaut commander at the station at 8:12 a.m. EDT (1212 GMT).
Soyuz reaches orbit with Russian film crew
A view of Earth from Russia's Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft after it reached orbit with a film crew on a mission to the International Space Station on Oct. 5, 2021. (Image credit: NASA TV)
Spacecraft separation! The Soyuz spacecraft carrying cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov, actress Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko has successfully reached orbit after separating from its third stage and deploying solar arrays.
'We're feeling great, everything's working nominally' Soyuz commander Shklaperov reports.
The three space travelers are on a two-orbit trip to the International Space Station and will arrive at 8:12 a.m. EDT (1212 GMT). NASA's docking coverage will begin at 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT). You can watch that in the window at the top of this page at start time.
LIFTOFF! Russian film crew launches to space station
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Liftoff! The Soyuz rocket carrying a Russian film crew to the International Space Station lifted off on time at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 GMT).
Russian film crew before launch
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The zero-g indicators for the launch.(Image credit: NASA TV)
Here are a few views of the Soyuz MS-18 crew taken in the hours before launch. NASA TV is showcasing their pre-flight activities with a series of video clips as we near the T-10 minute mark for launch.
Russia launching film crew to International Space Station
Actor Yulia Peresild (left), cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov (center) and director Klim Shipenko (right) are scheduled to launch toward the International Space Station on Oct. 5, 2021. (Image credit: Roscosmos via Twitter)
Russia is counting down to launching the world's first film crew to the International Space Station on a Soyuz spacecraft. Liftoff is set for 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 GMT) from Launch Site 31 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz is carrying Russian actress Yulia Perselid and director Klim Shipenko alongside veteran cosmonaut Anton Shklaperov. Perselid and Shipenko will spend 12 days in space filming scenes for a feature film called "The Challenge" while Shklaperov will begin a months-long stay on the space station.
The trio are currently tucked inside their Soyuz spacecraft and rocket as they await launch.
