ISS stories

ISS crew duck and cover in close call with space junk

Eileen Marable
Monday, March 26, 2012 - 8:22am
 
ISS astronauts were ordered into the space version of an emergency lifeboat last Friday when Mission Control identified an old piece of a Russian communications satellite was projected to come close to the space station. Normal procedure calls for the ISS itself to take evasive maneuvers, but the threat was spotted too late in this case to plot a move.

NASA may use Space Station to simulate 500-day Mars mission

Kevin Hall
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 12:34pm
 
Mars500, a 520-day simulation conducted by the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos, wrapped up late last year. Mars500 took place here on Earth; NASA, looking to conduct a similar test, is thinking of taking the project onto the International Space Station for more accurate conditions.

SpaceX Dragon to deliver groceries to ISS next month

Evan Ackerman
Monday, March 19, 2012 - 12:01pm
 
Private spaceflight has been inching along for the last several years, but next month may be a major stepping stone for the industry: SpaceX's Dragon capsule is scheduled to launch on April 30 on an unmanned cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station, offering NASA (and anyone else) a significantly cheaper way to get to orbit.

Texas blasts the ISS with a ground-based laser

Evan Ackerman
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 12:47pm
 
On Sunday, a group of amateur astronomers in San Antonio fired a one-watt blue laser up at the ISS and scored a direct hit, a first in ISS history. And instead of getting hunted down and arrested (which is what usually happens when you shoot lasers at flying things owned by the Feds), they got a congratulatory email from an astronaut.

Lego model of ISS created while onboard the real thing

Eileen Marable
Monday, February 27, 2012 - 7:48am
 
Lego bricks are beloved all the world over — now they have made it into orbit as part of a joint NASA-Lego educational project. The model of the International Space Station (ISS) was created while in orbit as a way of engaging children as to what it is like living and working in zero gravity.

NASA commissions washing machine for zero gravity

Eileen Marable
Thursday, December 1, 2011 - 9:01am
 
Before the jokes start, a zero gravity washing machine is not just another government boondoggle. Spare a thought for the poor astronauts who often spend months at a time on the International Space Station (ISS). Given that space is at a premium and regular resupply is not an option, that's a lot of stinky socks and underwear.

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