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Here is an article on all Russian pre-launch rituals. It's pretty interesting.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/1/8324707/astronauts-blessing-nasa-space-baikonur

Excellent article..........rituals/traditions, IMHO...mean a lot.....keeping in sync with "karma and the flight gods"  :D

 

A very long time ago, as a greenhorn on the flightline....a master technologist gave me one of his "secrets" to fault finding.........touch the equipment and get a feel for it, listen intently....feel what is wrong, and use this method along with normal fault finding procedures and it will serve you well. Many scoffed at it............Myself, 40 years later, I still use this method, and am still grateful for learning it.....Cheers...

NASA ISS On Orbit Status for 9th July 2015

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-9-july-2015.html

 

 

 

The International Space Station will get an orbital boost tonight to get ready for upcoming Soyuz crew missions. On the ground, three new crew members are preparing for their Friday departure to the launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The orbiting Expedition 44 trio, with Commander Gennady Padalka and One-Year crew members Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko, is looking forward to expanding to three new crew members. Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineers Kjell Lindgren and Kimiya Yui will take a six-hour ride July 22 in the Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft for a five month stay in space.

On the station, Kelly is getting Japan's Kibo airlock ready for next week's deployment of 16 Cubesats over four days. Kornienko continued moving supplies from the new ISS Progress 60 space freighter. Padalka worked on the Vozdukh, a Russian carbon dioxide removal system, the Zvezda service module. All the crew members then practiced emergency evacuation procedures.

 

 

On-Board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Response: This training session was performed by both the ground and crew to practice ISS Emergency response based on information provided by a simulator. During the exercise the crew practiced required actions during a depress event, ammonia event and US and Russian segment fire events. Following the training the crew and ground teams had a conference to discuss questions and comments.

 

 

ISS Reboost: A planned reboost is scheduled at 9:54 pm CDT tonight using 58P thrusters. Delta V will be 1.22 m/s and burn duration is estimated to be 10 minutes and 57 seconds. The reboost will set up phasing for 43S docking and dynamic operations for future visiting vehicles.

 

 

 

Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

JEMAL depress [Deferred]
OASIS video
Emergency OBT ops
Lab CDRA Activation
Lab TCCS Activation
N3 TCCS Deactivation
N3 CDRA Deactivation [Planned]
Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 07/10: NRCSD Prep, N3 CDRA leak check
Saturday 07/11: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 07/12: Crew off duty
QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:

Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[???] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[???] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Operate
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Warmup
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Off

Cheers...... :)

Warning...goofy post..... :)

 

A few posts ago, NASA named the four astronauts that will be involved in commercial crew for the ISS. The vessels will be Boeing's CST-100 and SpaceX's Dragon V2. Boeing and SpaceX will also have their own astronaut/pilots. On page 5 of this thread, DocM had mentioned the requirement that the suits would be pressurized.

During the NASA ISS R&D conference, that just wrapped up in Boston, a "fireside" chat with Elon Musk covered many subjects, but a quick question about space suits came up. He said..without divulging too much...that the suits, to look really cool, would not be functional and a compromise must be met, which brought a few laughs...He stated that a suit should look great to a point where someone would say "I want to wear one of those", to inspire space travel. I have a feeling that the suit they choose will be neat. DocM showed a picture of a prototype suit by Orbital Outfitters, called the IS3...

 

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Just for fun, I thought I would throw around some unique SciFi suits used on movies and TV series...I eliminated the ones that looked like beekeepers, metal water buckets, lampshades and ones that show cleavage...for a clean post.... :D  

 

Prometheus 2012

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Armageddon drilling suits

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Mission to Mars, 2000

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Red Planet, 2000

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Star Trek Enterprise, TV series

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Stargate episode....

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The Martian...new movie, from trailer..

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Cheers..... :)  

 

Edit...forgot to show the collar detail on the Prometheus suit......

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40 years ago this month......was the defining moment that began the progression to what the ISS is today.

 

On the 17th of July, 1975...the docking of the Apollo- Soyuz Test Project, ASTP.....The first time for a co-operative venture that included a storied group of astronauts and voice communication to the project from both presidents.

 

In January 1973, two years before launch, the two crews were identified. Aboard the Soviet Soyuz 19 would be Alexei Leonov

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NASA ISS On Orbit Status for 13 July, 2015

 

 

On board the International Space Station, One-Year crew member Scott Kelly set up the Japanese Kibo airlock for Cubesat deployments this week. Kelly also explored fluid physics for the Capillary Beverage study. Cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Mikhail Kornienko studied liquid crystals and observed chemical reactions in the Earth's upper atmosphere.

 

 

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA): Sunday 12-July-2015 the Remote Power Controller (RPC) that powers the Lab CDRA valves tripped due to an overcurrent event, this signature has been seen past several times. Several RPC reclosure attempts have been performed followed by additional overcurrent trips. At the time of this report the RPC has been closed for two hours. Earlier today, the Node 3 (N3) CDRA Air Selector Valve (ASV) 104 faulted out when it failed to reach position B. Ground controllers performed multiple troubleshooting steps, but were unsuccessful in getting the valve to reach position B. The next step is to leave the RPC open overnight to allow the CDRA to cool down and cycle the valve again tomorrow. If ASV 104 cannot be recovered, it will likely need to be replaced. The Vozdukh is operating as the primary means for scrubbing CO2 and is operating nominally. Onboard ppCO2 is currently at 2.2 mmHg.

 

 

 

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Tuesday, 07/14: Radi-N, NanoRacks #3 comm troubleshooting, Pilot, Sprint setup
Wednesday, 07/15: Sprint ops, VEG-01 plant thinning, JEM mesh cover-return grille cleaning, SSC loading prep for 43S crew
Thursday, 07/16: JEMRMS/CubeSat activities, SPHERES Slosh review, N3 CDRA leak check
QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:

Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[???] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[???] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Override
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

For further activities, please see link...

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-13-july-2015.html

 

40th Anniversary of Apollo Soyuz Test Program (ASTP)

A few posts prior, a bit was covered on this event.......

 

But by the mid-70s things had changed. The U.S. had "won" the race to the Moon, with six Apollo landings between 1969 and 1972. Both nations had launched space stations, the Russian Salyut and American Skylab. With the Space Shuttle still a few years off and the diplomatic chill thawing, the time was right for a joint mission.

 http://spaceref.com/missions-and-programs/nasa/history-remembered-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-flight-of-apollo-soyuz.html

Here is the video.....Please put your 70's "cheesey filter" on.......good video.....

 

Misc Fun Stuff.....

 

NASA MARS TREK...

Today, NASA released it's interactive Mars Trek...A compilation "engine" for 2D and 3D viewing of the Martian surface...multilayered information which is selective......this is neat.......

http://marstrek.jpl.nasa.gov/

 

SciFi Fans.....something new.....crowdsourced movie......Star Trek Axanar.....Normally, these trekky video's can be a bit much....BUT....this is going to be a four part movie and got my curiosity...and Space.com's as well......

http://www.space.com/29902-star-trak-axanar-fan-film-funding.html 

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"For you, the 'Star Trek' fan, Axanar is a return to the type of 'Star Trek' we all grew up on, with a hopeful future where mankind works with other races to explore the stars, via storytelling that is positive and teaches us about ourselves," the new Indiegogo page for the film stated.

The story follows the exploits of Garth of Izar, a Starfleet captain mentioned in the "Star Trek: The Original Series" episode "Whom Gods Destroy." The adventures of Garth take place about 21 years before Captain James T. Kirk's first "Star Trek" episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

 

Shooting is expected to start in November, with a tentative release date set for spring or summer 2016. Major stars in the film include Richard Hatch, Kate Vernon (both of "Battlestar: Galactica"), Gary Graham ("Star Trek: Enterprise") and Tony Todd ("Candyman", "Chuck", "24").

 

This trailer is good.....This movie could be real good...can't wait now.....

Cheers....

NASA ISS On Orbit Status for 14 July 2015

 

 

NanoRack Cubesat Deployer (NRCSD) Operations: Overnight there was an issue with a NRCSD deploy. Ground teams sent the command but only one door opened. Later during a night pass it was discovered that the CubeSat had deployed. Ground teams met and agreed to go forward with an additional deploy which was completed successfully. So far 8 of 16 Cubesats have been deployed. The complement consists of 14 Planet Lab Doves, 1 Arkyd-3 and 1 Centennial-1 satellite.

 

 

 

Node 3 (N3) CDRA: Today, ground controllers successfully commanded the N3 CDRA Air Selector Valve (ASV) 104 to position B. N3 CDRA was activated and is currently operational. Ground teams will continue to monitor ASV 104 performance and if necessary, a Removal & Replacement (R&R) will be planned later this week. Vozdukh was commanded to Mode 4 to assist with ppCO2 level management.
Lab CDRA: Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) LAD62B-A Remote Power Controller (RPC) 12, which powers the Lab CDRA valves, continues to experience overcurrent trips. Yesterday, the RPC stayed closed for over 7 hours before it tripped. Ground controllers are reviewing the data on the most recent trips prior to attempting to reclose the RPC. An R&R of the RPCM is being considered for next week to rule out the RPCM as the source of overcurrent trips.

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-14-july-2015.html

Various other activities at the link...

 

 

 

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Wednesday, 07/15: Sprint ops, VEG-01 plant thinning, JEM mesh cover-return grille cleaning, SSC 20 and 23 loading prep for 43S crew
Thursday, 07/16: JEMRMS/CubeSat activities, SPHERES Slosh review, N3 CDRA leak check
Friday, 07/17: SPHERES Slosh run
QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:

Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[???] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - Off
[???] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - On
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Off
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Full Up

 

Video of ISS Polar freezer mobile units...

 

Video congrats for New Horizons from the ISS...

 

Planet Labs buying up 2 constellations...

 

 

WASHINGTON

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ISS Monthly Research Report for June 2015

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/international-space-station-monthly-research-report-for-june-2015.html

 

NASA ISS Weekly Report 17 July, 2015

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-iss-space-to-ground-weekly-report---17-july-2015.html

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NASA ISS On Orbit Status for 16 July, 2015

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-16-july-2015.html

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On July 15, 2015 aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 44 crew members Scott Kelly of NASA (left), Expedition Commander and Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (middle), and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko (right) commemorated the 40th anniversary of the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission. Credit: NASA.

 

 

 

The Expedition 44 crew is back at work after taking precautions as a piece of orbital debris safely passed the International Space Station this morning. Meanwhile, three new crew members are conducting final preparations before next week's launch to the orbital laboratory.

Mission Control in Houston tracked a fragment of an old weather satellite and predicted a possible conjunction with the station at 8:01 a.m. EDT. Flight Director Ed Van Cise then ordered Commander Gennady Padalka and One-Year crew members Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko to take shelter in their docked Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft as a precaution. After a safe pass, the crew then went back to work resuming normal station operations.

Back on Earth, three new Expedition 44 crew members from the U.S., Russia and Japan are counting down to their July 22 launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft. The trio consisting of Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineers Kjell Lindgren and Kimiya Yui are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final prelaunch activities while engineers inspect their Soyuz vehicle before next week's roll out to the launch pad.

 

 

NanoRack Cubesat Deployer (NRCSD) Operations: The final 4 CubeSats were successfully deployed overnight. Kelly coordinated with ground teams who used the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) to return the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) containing the NRCSD #5 to the JEMAL slide table. The slide table was retracted, bringing the MPEP inside the JEMAL. Kelly will configure the JEMAL and monitor NRCSDs in preparation for A/L depress next week.

 

 

Node 3 Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA): Due to the crew shelter in place, N3 CDRA maintenance scheduled for today has been postponed to Monday 7/20/15. This includes the Air Selector Valve (ASV) 104 removal and replacement (R&R) and N3 CDRA leak check. The Lab CDRA is currently operating, and as of this writing ppCO2 is 1.6 mmHg.

 

 

 

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Friday, 07/17: SPHERES Slosh run
Saturday, 07/18: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 07/19: Crew off duty
QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:

Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[???] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[???] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Off

 

Russia Begins Major Space Division Amalgamations.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_Starts_Implementation_of_Fundamental_Space_Industry_Reform_999.html

 

 

Russia is starting to implement comprehensive reforms to its space industry, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday. The establishment of two large holdings, specialized in engine building and instrument-making has already been planned, Rogozin said.

"We are effectively commencing the implementation of a fundamental reform of the space industry. We now need to undertake several top-priority measures. Firstly, establishing authorities to manage the state corporation, namely the Supervisory Board."

The announcement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a package of draft laws on the issue on Monday.

The sweeping reforms were initiated in 2013. As part of the industry's modernization program, the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos will be merged with the United Rocket and Space Corporation formed by the Russian government in 2013 - to create the Roscosmos State Corporation, thus consolidating all the enterprises active in the industry.

 

Cheers.......

Planetary Resources Launches It's First Orbital Test Satellite From ISS

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A3R and Centennial-1 (the shorter cubesat) deploy from the NanoRacks dispenser aboard ISS. Credit: NASA

 

 

SpaceX

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This will be an off beat space related post.....

 

In the last few posts, the Apollo Soyuz Test Program (ASTP) has been covered a bit for the 40th anniversary of that great achievement. I was wandering through some space related articles and came across this.....an article by a former Nasa astronaut, Ron Garan, on what the ASTP meant to him. I really enjoyed the article and will quote a few snippets, but, imho,  it is worth a read....

The author...

 

 

SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE: Ron Garan completed his first spaceflight in 2008 on STS 124 as Mission Specialist 2 (Flight Engineer) for ascent and entry. STS-124 Discovery (May 31 to June 14, 2008) was the 123rd space shuttle flight and the 26th shuttle flight to the International Space Station . STS-124 launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and docked with the space station on June 2, 2008, to deliver the Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module (JEM-PM) and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System (JEM-RMS). STS-124 shuttle astronauts delivered the 37-foot (11-meter) Kibo lab and added its rooftop storage room, and Garan accumulated 20 hours and 32 minutes of EVA in three spacewalks required to maintain the station and prime the new Japanese module

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20th of July, 1969......needs no introduction......46 years ago......

For this post, I thought I would throw up some items that are a little different....

 

This is the Apollo 11 launch, with a twist. Slowed down footage to show the raw power of a Saturn V...awesome...

 

Apollo 11 launch with data stream...

 

The footage that captivated many....

 

Now for some "different" photo's...,

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A technician works atop the white room, through which the astronauts will enter the spacecraft, on July 11, 1969. (NASA)

 

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Aerial view of the Saturn V rocket rollout for the Apollo 11 mission on May 20, 1969. (NASA)

 

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Launch of Apollo 11, on July 16, 1969. Fully fueled for liftoff, the Saturn V weighed 2.8 million kilograms (6.2 million pounds)

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continued.....

 

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LM from CM window after undocking

 

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Armstrong's first photo after setting foot on the moon

 

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Armstrong's shadow selfie...

 

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Aldrin's boot during soil mechanics test a.k.a. how the most iconic photo of the Moon landing was made

 

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Plaque on the lander

 

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Pickup

 

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First and last: Armstrong, left, the first man on the moon, is seen with Eugene Cernan, the last man to stand on the lunar surface

 

Credits for last 2 posts are NASA and

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2194513/Neil-Armstrong-Rarely-seen-photos-capture-late-astronauts-epic-moon-mission.html

http://www.rsvlts.com/2014/07/15/apollo-11-photos/

http://www.rsvlts.com/2014/07/15/apollo-11-photos/

 

There are not a lot of Armstrong photographs since he had the camera most of the time recording the mission.

 

Hope you liked the shots...Cheers...... :)  

  • Like 1

NASA ISS On Orbit Status for 17 July, 2015

 

 

 

Today: Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Slosh: Kelly configured two SPHERES satellites and coordinated with ground controllers to observe the dominance of fluid forces during higher accelerations.

The investigation uses small robotic satellites to examine how liquids move inside containers in microgravity. A water bottle's contents slosh around differently in space than on Earth, but the physics of liquid motion in microgravity are not well understood which affects computer simulations of liquid rocket fuel behavior. University undergraduate and graduate students control the SPHERES to study how liquids behave inside containers in space, which increases the safety and efficiency of future rockets.

 

 

 

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Saturday, 07/18: Crew off duty, housekeeping
Sunday, 07/19: Crew off duty
Monday, 07/20: N3 CDRA ASV R&R/leack check, EVA battery maintenance, CSA CP battery build
QUICK ISS Status - Environmental Control Group:

Component - Status
Elektron - On
Vozdukh - Manual
[???] 1 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV1") - On
[???] 2 - SM Air Conditioner System ("SKV2") - Off
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab - Standby
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 - Operate
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab - Shutdown
Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 - Operate
Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) - Standby
Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) - Standby
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab - Full Up
Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 - Off

For more info.....

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-17-july-2015.html

 

 

TMA-17M crew set for Wednesday (5:02 pm EDT) / Thursday (3:02 am local)

 

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Expedition 44 backup crew members Timothy Kopra of NASA, left; Yuri Malenchenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), center; and Timothy Peake of the European Space Agency (ESA), right, take photos as the Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft is rolled to the launch pad by train on Monday, July 20, 2015 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for July 23 and will carry Expedition 44 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren of NASA, and Flight Engineer Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) into orbit to begin their five month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani).

http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-international-space-station-on-orbit-status-17-july-2015.html

 

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Soyuz TMA-17M Commander Oleg Kononenko (center) will be embarking on his third long-duration voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). By contrast, Flight Engineer-1 Kimiya Yui (right) and Flight Engineer-2 Kjell Lindgren are making their first flights. Photo Credit: NASA

 

With liftoff targeted for 3:02 a.m. local time on Thursday, 23 July (5:02 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, 22 July), Launch Day promises to be a long one for the prime and backup crews. They will be awakened about 8.5 hours before T-0. They will shower and be disinfected, after which microbial samples will be taken in support of the scientific and biomedical investigations to be undertaken in orbit. Breakfast will be followed by departure from Baikonur

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Awesome, DD. :)

 

I'm late to the party, but ... this is the one I personally like the best:

 

 

Really gives ya an inside look at what goes on when you get past the "public face" of NASA during a launch and can get right down to the nitty-gritty business of getting hardware uphill. :D

 

Cheers, all.

  • Like 1

Excellent perspective...I saw the length at 22 minutes..........got a bag of cheezies, killed the lights and cranked up the headphone volume.....and watched the whole thing.......... I turned on the lights when done.........I ate half a (family size) bag of cheezies while listening to the comms.........that was fun!..... :D

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I get lost in time listening to it. I swear, I was one of those people working there at JSC/Mission Control in a past life. I can almost remember the smell of the cigarette smoke, the ambition and the raw intellect of the place. It's just that familiar to me, and I can't explain why. That whole time period, the 50's, 60's and on to the late 70's I feel like I actually was there, working for NASA and then for one of the various Contractor Companies later on.

 

It's crazy .. I wasn't born until 1973, but I remember being in the 50's and 60's. I can tell you things that were going on, feelings, attitudes, everything. Strange, isn't it? And I don't believe in the whole "past lives" thing.

 

Bleh. That's a topic for the "It's A Conspiracy!" thread.  :laugh:

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As a youngster, watching this event on a black and white TV, listening to everything....the world stood still.......and the lunar landing, well, next stop was Saturn and Jupiter and........ooops, shook my head and I'm back. It is astounding what the US and Russia had done in this era......but a new era is now unfolding...and it is exciting again....Cheers.... :)

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    • Likely nothing will be done in corporate America, there have been countless Tesla self-driving incidents. Then again, there have also been countless human operated incidents. It's literally daily news here in Canada, to the extent that it's now odd if we get a day where a collision doesn't get announced on the radio throughout the day...
    • SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk, mousing around. Apologies for the knife cut across the top of the box; that was my doing, being a bit too heavy-handed with opening up the outer packaging. First up, what's in the box: SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 1x Type-C charging cable User Manual 1-Year Warranty (card) In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official Amazon listing, here are the key features: Full-Hand Air Compression: OS500 wraps your fingers, palm, and wrist with multi-chamber air compression for a complete hand relaxation experience. The extended massage chamber helps cover more of the hand and wrist area than standard palm-only hand massagers Palm Kneading with 6 Modes & 6 Intensities: Built-in palm kneading rollers add a hands-on massage feel, while 6 preset modes and 6 pressure levels let you choose the comfort level that fits your day—from gentle relaxation to a firmer full-hand massage 3 Heat Levels with Cooling Fan: Choose from 104°F, 113°F or 122°F warmth to suit different seasons and comfort preferences. The built-in cooling fan helps reduce stuffiness during heated sessions, keeping your hand feeling fresh and comfortable Easy Visual Display & Smart Timer: The digital image display clearly shows massage area, mode, intensity, heat level, and remaining time at a glance. Select 10, 15, or 20-minute sessions for quick office breaks, evening relaxation, or everyday hand care Rechargeable, Cordless & Comfortable: A 3000mAh battery supports over 90 minutes of full-function use on a full charge, with convenient USB-C charging. The soft inner lining, smooth ABS/PU finish, and premium black-gold design make OS500 ideal for home, office, or gifting With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. I gave it a try on both left and right hands, and as you can maybe see from the above YouTube Short, (sorry for the shaky video), my whole hand fits in, but my wrist barely enters the Hand Massager. I was able to push through a bit more with my fingertips extending out the other end to get a bit of massaging on the start of my wrist. Usage For some reason, there is a strap that is very difficult to fasten to my wrist with one hand. I am not sure what function it has, and it isn't mentioned in the user manual. The only thing I could find was in the product images that claimed "wrist precision". Unlike the Bob and Brad Hand Massager, this device does not massage the wrist anyway, even though a "wrist mode" is mentioned, which must be for smaller hands than I have, as it is mainly intended for the hand and fingers. In addition, for its steeper price, there are no disposable gloves provided in the box, which is a bit of an issue considering the internal cover (which appears to be elasticated nylon) cannot be removed for washing; so you are left with only one choice: always thoroughly wash your hands before using it. I can imagine this thing getting a bit grimy after a period of use, and that is a bit of a shame. With that said, the buttons on the device, from left to right, do the following: Heat button: 3-level heat control at 104°F, 113°F, or 122°F Mode button: Auto mode Circular mode Soothing mode Relax mode Palm and fingers mode Palm and wrist mode Intensity button: from (First-time users) 15Ka, 25Ka, 35Ka, 45Ka, 55Ka, 60Ka (Intensive relief) Knead button: on or off (6 pressure levels) Power button: Long-press to turn on or off Cooling button: turn on or off the cooling fan Also, in the product imagery, it states there are 36 "custom modes," but nowhere is it listed what these modes are. I can only imagine that they mean a combination of all of the above settings in different intensity levels. The device itself seems to rely on a single "kneading" mechanism located at the palm area of the hand, which spins when in use, and the other massage features are mainly utilized through the air sacs, increasing and decreasing at various levels on the hand and fingers. I am not sure it offered too much relief for someone who is typing and operating a mouse for hours at a time; further testing may be required. It does feel nice, though. Finally, you may be wondering how this fits into the scope of a tech website? Well, let me tell you something: sometimes I sit for up to 15 hours working on Neowin, and although I take breaks in between, it takes a toll on my body. I think in the immediate absence of a partner to apply relief, a good massager like this Hand Massager can shed the strains of the day in just a couple of 15-minute bursts. On the official website, this has an MSRP of $99.99, but luckily for our readers, it is selling at $10 off for just $89.99 right now on Amazon. SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 for $89.99 (with $10 off coupon), $99.99 MSRP For me, this gets a thumbs hands(?) down. However, it could be improved by making it so that the protective covering could be removed and thrown into the washing machine, or get yourself some disposable gloves to use with it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Thanks for the info, but I'm still not sure if I need this....
    • We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk; I figured it could offer some neck pain relief. What's in the box: SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager Rechargeable Battery (inside massager) Type-C USB cable User Manual Quick Start guide 1-Year Warranty In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official listing, here are the key features: Biomimetic Kneading & High Torque Motor: Designed with innovative biomimetic kneading heads that perfectly simulate the touch of human hands. Powered by a high-torque motor, this massager delivers powerful and precise deep tissue relief to effectively target stiff neck muscles and release built-up tension Soothing Heat & Integrated Sound Relaxation: Experience the ultimate Relaxationation with our dual-action approach. The soothing heat function gently warms your neck, while the built-in sound Relaxation provides calming audio tracks, helping you achieve a state of mindfulness and mental tranquility during your physical massage Cordless Convenience & Travel-Ready & Father's Day Gifts: Crafted for maximum portability and ease of use. Its lightweight, cordless design allows you to enjoy a premium massage anywhere without the hassle of tangled wires-whether you're taking a quick break at your desk or winding down at home Versatile Relief for Home & Office: An essential wellness companion for office workers, gamers, frequent travelers, or anyone looking to integrate mindfulness into their daily routine. It seamlessly fits into your lifestyle, providing instant neck relief whenever and wherever you need it Safe & Premium Materials: Manufactured with high-quality, skin-friendly materials to ensure a safe and comfortable experience without irritation. SKG backs this device with dedicated customer service, making it a thoughtful tech-health gift for family and friends App & Bluetooth Music Control: Connect via Bluetooth to control your massage settings through the dedicated app and enjoy your favorite music during your massage session for a fully customizable and immersive relaxation experience Red Light Warmth Technology: Features advanced red light warmth technology that penetrates deep into neck muscles to enhance blood circulation and provide soothing comfort while relieving muscle tension and stiffness Design With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. SKG does not say what materials are used to make the neck massager. However, on the product website, it mentions "soft-touch silicone" with what looks like PU leather cushioning, with the rest being mostly made up of plastics. On the inside of the massager, there are two "biomimetic kneading heads" that are motorized for the different styles of massage, which are not actually listed at all in the paper user manual, but the standard included modes are: De-stress mode, Mediation mode, Relax mode, Shiatsu mode. The massager looks quite premium and is actually very comfortable to wear. This massager is small and light enough to go anywhere, as it doesn't get in the way of anything, so I was able to use it in the chair while writing this review. Unlike the back massager, SKG does not warn in the user guide not to use it for more than 30 minutes a day (or two 15-minute sessions). However, there is a long laundry list of important safeguards to consider before and during the use of the device, and it is warned that the neck massager is not waterproof. It also includes a 1,400mAh battery with a rated power of 14W and input of 5V, which is the standard for up to USB 3.0 power (although the Amperage is not mentioned at all). SKG does not say how long it takes to charge, but a quick calculation at 2A (if that is what it is) would mean it would take roughly 1.5 hrs to charge from empty. In any case, the light around the button changes from orange to green on a full charge. In addition, it is not possible to use the device while it is charging. On the right of the neck massager is the On/Off and modes button, which also acts as a joystick. You can operate all the modes directly from the power button, as well as the app, which I'll get into a bit later: Push up: Short press to adjust Heat levels On/Off button: long press Mode Switching: Short press (while in operation) ➕ Push left: increase Music volume ➖ push right: decrease Music volume Push down: Short-press to turn Music on or off The massager defaults to De-stress mode, and it is not stated anywhere if the neck massager has overheat protection. This time around, regarding heat, the only detail I could find is that it has "triple action soothing heat." The temperature stages are not listed anywhere in the paper manual, Amazon listing, or official website. The heat levels can be adjusted through the app or directly on the device using the joystick button. Usage There's also the SKG Health app, which makes using the massager far easier than feeling around for the button on the side of your neck. If the app is stopped, you are required to log in with a verification code over email, which I am not too pleased with, as this means it will only work that way for however long SKG decides to support it through said app. However, I was not able to get the app to connect to the OS500, which I have reported back to my contact. Bluetooth appeared to be working on the neck massager as it became available to pair with my phone, but the SKG app failed to discover it. Before I forget, there's also a switch next to the USB charging port to deactivate and activate the Voice Prompt, which, when enabled, audibly tells the user when switching intensities, modes, or connecting to the app and informs when the massages start and are completed. That said, on to my likes and dislikes, which are listed below. What I didn't like Unable to connect the Neck Massager to the app Use through the mobile app relies on continued support from SKG What I liked Can be used without the app Cordless use Light and comfortable to wear Heat is also quite comfortable Where to buy: According to the official website, this has an MSRP of $249.99, but is currently $50 (on Amazon). To sweeten the deal a bit more, there's also an in-page coupon that knocks a further $20 off the price. SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager for $179.99 on Amazon (was $199.99) Apply the in-page $20 off coupon for the final price of $179.99 Just like the back massager, this gets a confused thumbs up (due to the cost). However, I cannot rate it through app usage as it failed to connect. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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