3D-printed bone for emergency medicine in space
Monday, 11 April 2022 15:23
This artificial bone sample is an early step towards making 3D bioprinting a practical tool for emergency medicine in space. An ESA R&D effort aims to develop bioprinting techniques capable of giving astronauts on an extended mission ready access to the "spare parts" needed for bone or skin grafts, and even complete internal organs.
3D bioprinting may soon be practical on Earth, and could help meet the challenging conditions of spaceflight. Astronauts in zero or low gravity lose bone density, for example, so fractures may be more likely in orbit or on Mars.
Or, treating a burn often involves a graft of skin taken from a patient's body—manageable on Earth with full hospital care but more risky in space, as the secondary damage may not heal easily.
Skin or bone can be bioprinted using a nutrient-rich "bio-ink" of human blood plasma, available from the astronauts themselves. By working upside down—in "minus 1g" gravity—the team has shown they can probably do it in space.
This bone sample is part of the first selection of items on the 99 Objects of ESA ESTEC website, a set of intriguing, often surprising artifacts helping tell the story of more than half a century of activity at ESA's technical heart.
How scientists analyzed the aerodynamic characteristics of the Tianwen-1 Mars parachute
Monday, 11 April 2022 15:20
Space National Guard put on indefinite hold
Monday, 11 April 2022 15:05
Instead of having a dedicated reserve force, the U.S. Space Force would have a regular active-duty force with full-time and part-time members, according to a proposal the Department of the Air Force submitted to Congress April 1.
Connecting the Dots | Diverging NGSO distribution strategies
Monday, 11 April 2022 15:00
After revolutionizing the launch industry through vertical integration, SpaceX hopes to do the same for satellite broadband with its Starlink megaconstellation.
The post Connecting the Dots | Diverging NGSO distribution strategies appeared first on SpaceNews.
Q&A with ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti
Monday, 11 April 2022 15:00
Video:
01:26:47
Watch the replay of our live Q&A media session (In English and Italian) with ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
Samantha is scheduled to be launched to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA, no earlier than 21 April 2022. She will fly to the Station as a Mission Specialist aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins.
Upon arrival at the orbital outpost her ESA mission ‘Minerva’ will officially begin. This is the second space mission for Samantha and will see her support over 35 European and
Axiom launch: Why commercial space travel could be another giant leap for air pollution
Monday, 11 April 2022 14:02
The Axiom-1 mission to send four private astronauts to the International Space Station is the first of many missions planned by NASA to expand the ISS for commercial use as part of what's being called the low-Earth orbit economy.
The commander of the Axiom-1 mission has emphatically stated that this is not an example of space tourism, as the crew have undergone training and the mission includes plans to conduct biomedical research.
Crew members—all men aged 52 to 71—reportedly paid a whopping US$55 million (£42.3 million) per ticket, an amount that would no doubt fund a formidable biomedical research program here on Earth. But beyond the ludicrous ticket price, I'm concerned about the potential environmental impacts of such space jaunts.
South Korea hires SpaceX to launch five spy satellites by 2025
Monday, 11 April 2022 12:55
South Korea has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch five spy satellites by 2025, with the first launch on a Falcon 9 rocket by the end of 2023.
The post South Korea hires SpaceX to launch five spy satellites by 2025 appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA scientific balloon will take student payloads to stratosphere
Monday, 11 April 2022 12:54
NASA has selected nine student teams to launch scientific payloads on a NASA heavy-lift balloon for the 16th High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP) mission flying during the fall 2022 campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
HASP, which is led by the Louisiana State University's Department for Physics, is a joint project between NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Balloon Program Office in Virginia, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium in Baton Rouge, and NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas.
"HASP provides higher education students with an authentic NASA experience to build a science payload, launch it, and analyze the data," said Joyce L. Winterton, Wallops senior advisor for education and leadership development. "It encourages students to pursue STEM careers and become part of the future NASA workforce.
SatixFy architect Yoel Gat dies amid SPAC merger plans
Monday, 11 April 2022 12:50
Satellite communications equipment maker SatixFy said April 10 that cofounder and outgoing CEO Yoel Gat has died, days after announcing a leadership transition that would seat a new CEO in June amid plans to become a public company.
ULA orders 116 Aerojet Rocketdyne engines for Vulcan’s upper stage
Monday, 11 April 2022 12:31
Aerojet Rocketdyne announced April 11 it has received an order from United Launch Alliance for 116 engines for the upper stage of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
The post ULA orders 116 Aerojet Rocketdyne engines for Vulcan’s upper stage appeared first on SpaceNews.
Companies build up teams to compete for Artemis lunar rover
Monday, 11 April 2022 09:27
Companies are adding to or creating new teams in anticipation of a NASA competition for a lunar rover to support later Artemis missions to the moon.
The post Companies build up teams to compete for Artemis lunar rover appeared first on SpaceNews.
Dwindling water levels of Lake Powell seen from space
Monday, 11 April 2022 06:10
After decades of drought, water levels in Lake Powell, the second-largest humanmade reservoir in the United States, have shrunk to its lowest level since it was created more than 50 years ago, threatening millions of people who rely on its water supply. Satellite images allow us to take a closer look at the dwindling water levels of the lake amidst the climate crisis.
Webb’s instruments: meet MIRI
Monday, 11 April 2022 06:00
Video:
00:01:00
The James Webb Space Telescope will explore the infrared Universe.
It will use four cutting-edge instruments, including the Mid-InfraRed Instrument. MIRI is one of Europe's contributions to the James Webb Space Telescope.
MIRI supports all of Webb’s science goals. It will image the Universe, study planets around our own and other stars and investigate stars and galaxies across cosmic history.
The instsrument will be kept extra cold by its very own ‘cryocooler’. This stops heat from Webb disrupting MIRI’s detectors, so the sensitive instrument can see mid-infrared light.
Webb is an international partnership between NASA, ESA and CSA
Learn more
House committee leaders ask White House to withdraw proposed NTSB regulations on commercial launch investigations
Sunday, 10 April 2022 19:12
The leaders of the House Science Committee have asked the Biden administration to withdraw a controversial proposed rule regarding commercial spaceflight investigations, calling it “plainly unlawful.”
The post House committee leaders ask White House to withdraw proposed NTSB regulations on commercial launch investigations appeared first on SpaceNews.
Kendall highlights space's importance, need to 'transform' operations and thinking for the domain
Sunday, 10 April 2022 10:39
Presenting a robust case for operating in - and defending - space, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said April 5 that "transforming" without delay priorities, practices and spending for the domain is necessary to adequately adapt to a theater that is more volatile yet also increasingly essential to the nation's security and everyday life.
"Space is a warfighting domain now," Kendall blunt