Tag: Astronaut
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Thomas Pesquet: Post-flight press conference (in French)
Replay of the press conference (in French) with ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet held at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, on 6 June 2017. Thomas returned to Earth on 2 June 2017 after completion of his six-month Proxima mission to the International Space Station.
Thomas took part in more than 60 experiments during his mission. His experiments are helping to understand the human brain, ocean currents and radiation in space, how atoms behave and tested new spacecraft materials. Other highlights included his two spacewalks to improve and maintain the Space Station.
This press conference was originally broadcast on the ESA Livesteam channel: https://livestream.com/ESA/events/7463026
More about Proxima: http://www.esa.int/proxima
Connect with Thomas: http://thomaspesquet.esa.int -
New eyes
Thomas Pesquet reflects on living on the International Space Station after his six-month Proxima mission. Beyond science and technology the voyage often reveals more than the destination. A message for all humans.
As Marcel Proust wrote in his book The Prisoner: “The only true voyage of discovery, … would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes of another, of a hundred others, to behold the hundred universes that each of them beholds, that each of them is.”
The footage was shot with the Space Station’s highest resolution camera at resolutions between 4K and 6K and available here in Ultra High Definition (3840×2160 pixels). Download the full high-resolution file from ESA’s video archive: http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2017/05/New_eyes
During Proxima, Thomas performed around 50 scientific experiments for ESA and France’s space agency CNES as well as take part in many research activities for the other Station partners.
The mission is part of ESA’s vision to use Earth-orbiting spacecraft as a place to live and work for the benefit of European society while using the experience to prepare for future voyages of exploration further into the Solar System.
More about the Proxima mission: http://www.esa.int/proxima
Connect with Thomas Pesquet: http://thomaspesquet.esa.intMusic: ‘On home leave’ by Luke Richards
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Thomas Pesquet mission highlights
Thomas Pesquet will shortly be returning to Earth after a six-month stay onboard the International Space Station. Named Proxima, this mission is the ninth long-duration flight for an ESA astronaut.
Thomas’s in-orbit schedule includes around 50 experiments for ESA and the French Space Agency CNES, and he’s so far carried out two maintenance spacewalks alongside station commander Shane Kimbrough.
Connect with Thomas via http://thomaspesquet.esa.int
More about the Proxima mission http://blogs.esa.int/thomas-pesquet/ -
Concours d’écriture : les coups de cœur de Thomas Pesquet
Trois mois après le coup d’envoi depuis la Station spatiale internationale du concours d’écriture “Faites voyager vos histoires dans l’Espace”, 8400 participants issus des quatre coins du monde ont imaginé une suite aux voyages du Petit Prince de Saint-Exupéry. Thomas Pesquet a choisi ses deux coups de cœur parmi les textes lauréats.
Plus d’informations sur le concours : http://www.missionproxima.com/concours-ecriture
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Introducing ESA’s new astronaut Matthias Maurer
Matthias Maurer, from Germany, has started his astronaut training as part of ESA’s astronaut corps.
Matthias was among the 10 finalists in 2009 selection, and is now undergoing basic training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.
A new recruit for ESA’s astronaut corps:
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A_new_recruit_for_ESA_s_astronaut_corps -
NASA Reflects on Legacy of Gene Cernan, Last Man to Walk on Moon
Former NASA astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, died Monday, Jan. 16, following ongoing health issues, according to a statement from his family.
“It is with very deep sadness that we share the loss of our beloved husband and father,” said Cernan’s family. “Our family is heartbroken, of course, and we truly appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers. Gene, as he was known by so many, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.”
“Even at the age of 82, Gene was passionate about sharing his desire to see the continued human exploration of space and encouraged our nation’s leaders and young people to not let him remain the last man to walk on the Moon,” the family continued.Cernan, a Captain in the U.S. Navy, left his mark on the history of exploration by flying three times in space, twice to the moon. He also holds the distinction of being the second American to walk in space and the last human to leave his footprints on the lunar surface.
The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the passing of the Gemini and Apollo astronaut:
“Gene Cernan, Apollo astronaut and the last man to walk on the moon, has passed from our sphere, and we mourn his loss. Leaving the moon in 1972, Cernan said, ‘As I take these last steps from the surface for some time into the future to come, I’d just like to record that America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow.’ Truly, America has lost a patriot and pioneer who helped shape our country’s bold ambitions to do things that humankind had never before achieved.”
According to the family, details regarding services will be announced in the coming days.
Note: package may include some silent video.
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Thomas Pesquet soutient les enfants aux côtés de l’UNICEF
En tant qu’ambassadeur UNICEF, l’astronaute de l’ESA Thomas Pesquet, actuellement à bord de la Station spatiale internationale dans le cadre de l’Expédition 50, souhaite attirer l’attention sur le besoin de protéger et soutenir les jeunes générations, à l’heure où le changement climatique met toujours plus en péril leur avenir.
In his role as an ambassador for UNICEF France, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who is currently on the International Space Station as part of the Expedition 50 crew, spreads the message about the need to protect and support children in a time when climate change increasingly endangers their lives.
Connect with Thomas Pesquet at:
http://thomaspesquet.esa.int -
NASA Modern Figure: Jeanette Epps
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps gives a little advice on moving forward in a STEM career.
Find out more about NASA’s Modern Figures at:
https://www.nasa.gov/modernfigures -
Expedition 50/51 Launches to Space Station on This Week @NASA – November 18, 2016
The Expedition 50/51 crew, including NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 17 eastern time, to begin a two-day flight to the International Space Station. Whitson, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) are scheduled to join Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko, who all have been aboard the orbiting laboratory since October. Whitson will assume command of the station in February – making her the first woman to command the space station twice. Whitson and her Expedition 50 crewmates are scheduled to return to Earth next spring. Also, Supermoon Shines Bright, Newman Participates in Operation IceBridge, and Advanced Weather Satellite Mission Previewed!
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Thomas Pesquet bio
With a background as an aerospace engineer and commercial pilot, Thomas Pesquet is the youngest member of ESA’s astronaut corps. Having completed several years of international training since his selection in 2009, he’ll shortly become the tenth French national to travel into orbit. His stay onboard the International Space Station – known as the Proxima mission – will last around six months.
Find out more about the Proxima mission:
http://www.esa.int/proximaConnect with Thomas Pesquet on social media:
http://thomaspesquet.esa.int -
NASA Astronaut Talks with Cancer Patients about Cancer Research on the International Space Station
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 49 Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA discussed research aboard the orbital laboratory with patients from the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and center officials visiting mission control during an in-flight event Sept. 16. Rubins wore a suit flown to the station that she helped to fabricate pre-flight, illustrating the need for a heightened awareness of cancer research.
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NASA Astronaut Talks to Students about Life Aboard the Space Station
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 49 Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA discussed life and research aboard the orbital laboratory with students at the Vintage High School in Napa, California during an in-flight educational event Sept. 14. Rubins, who is in the third month of a four-month mission on the station, is a 1996 graduate of Vintage High School. She recently conducted two spacewalks outside the outpost to install the first International Docking Adapter that U.S. commercial crew spacecraft will link up to in the future, as well as new high definition cameras on the station’s truss.
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NASA VR/360 Astronaut Training: Space Walk
A 360-degree immersive virtual reality (VR) viewing experience, featuring exclusive astronaut training footage from NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) in Houston, Texas. The stunning NASA VR/360 video, produced by Harmonic, offers a variety of perspectives – in the pool and out – as astronauts complete space-walk training for future missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
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Extreme Underwater Mission on This Week @NASA – July 29, 2016
The 21st NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations got underway July 21 in the Florida Keys. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Megan McArthur are part of the international crew of NEEMO-21 aquanauts performing research during the 16-day mission, which takes place about 60 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Aquarius habitat – the world’s only undersea science station. Simulated spacewalks are designed to evaluate tools and mission operation techniques that could be used on future space missions. NEEMO-21’s objectives include testing a mini DNA sequencer similar to the one NASA astronaut Kate Rubins also will test aboard the International Space Station, and a telemedicine device that will be used for future space applications. The mission also will simulate communications delays like those that would be encountered on a mission to Mars. Also, Space Launch System Work Platforms, All-Electric X-Plane Arrives, Asteroid Mission Technology, and NASA @Comic-Con International.
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NASA’s Kate Rubins Prepares for Mission to the Space Station
Footage of NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins training with her Expedition 48/49 crewmates in preparation for their upcoming mission to the International Space Station. Rubins, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launch June 24 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month tour aboard the ISS.
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Retired Astronaut Scott Kelly Reflects on Year-Long ISS Mission
An agency wide All-Hands event on May 25 at NASA Headquarters featured Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, reflecting on Kelly’s one-year mission aboard the International Space Station. The event, shown on NASA TV and the agency’s website, also featured video highlights of the mission and questions from employees watching at NASA centers around the country. During the unprecedented ISS mission, Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos collected critical data on how the human body responds to long duration space flight.
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ESA astronaut Tim Peake controls rover from space
On 29 April 2016, ESA astronaut Tim Peake on the International Space Station took control of a rover, nicknamed ‘Bridget’, in the UK and over two hours drove it into a simulated cave and found and identified targets despite the dark and limited feedback information.
Before and after Tim came online from the orbiting Station, control of the rover was passed several times between engineers at the Airbus D&S ‘Mars Yard’ in Stevenage, UK, Belgium’s ISS User Support Centre in Brussels and ESA’s ESOC operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany. This complex real-time choreography was possible thanks to the ‘Internet in space’ – a network that tolerates disruptions – put in place by teams at ESOC. This network enables remote control of rovers or other devices in the difficult environment of space, with its long distances and frequent connection blackouts inevitable with orbital motion.
During the experiment, a representative mission scenario was set up in which the rover was commanded to go from a lit environment into a challenging dark location (simulating a cave or a shaded crater) and identified a number of science targets. The Mars yard (30 x 13 m) was split into two areas, one lit and one in the dark. From one end of the yard, Bridget was commanded from ESOC until it reached the edge of the shaded area. Then at the edge of the ‘cave’, control was passed to astronaut Tim Peake, on board the Station, who controlled Bridget to drive across the yard, avoiding obstacles and identifying potential science targets, which were marked with a distinctive ultraviolet fluorescent marker. Once the targets were identified and mapped, Tim drove the rover out of the shaded area and handed control back to ESOC, who drove the rover back to its starting point.
This video is a compressed extract that includes highlights of the experiment and includes scenes of the network control centre at ESOC, the Mars Yard at Stevenage and Tim Peake on the ISS. On audio, the voices of astronaut Time Peake, Lionel Ferra, the Eurocom ‘capcom’ controller at ESA’s Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, and Kim Nergaard, the ground segment manager at ESOC, can be heard periodically.
More information
https://www.flickr.com/photos/esa_events/albums/72157667946502135
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NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly Reflects on His Year in Space
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA reflected on his year aboard the orbital laboratory and the accomplishments he and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos have chalked up during their year-long mission in an in-flight interview recorded Jan. 28 with NASA Public Affairs Officer Rob Navias of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kelly and Kornienko are scheduled to land March 1, U.S. time (March 2, Kazakhstan time) in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to complete a 340-day mission in which they collected valuable biomedical data on the long duration effects of weightlessness that will be used to formulate a human mission to Mars.
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ISS reboost
Ever wondered what happens inside the International Space Station during a reboost? ESA astronaut Tim Peake filmed inside during last week’s firing of the Progress thrusters.
Even at 400 km, there are still enough molecules of the atmosphere to create some ‘atmospheric drag’, which causes the Station to drop by about 2 km a month. Because of this we need to raise the Station’s orbit every so often. On 17 February the engines of the Progress M-29M spacecraft that is docked to the aft port of the Zvezda module were fired for 11 minutes.
The burn primarily focused on raising the Station’s perigee, making the orbit more circular.
Pre-reboost: 398.2 x 407.4 km – inclination 51.64° – Period: 92.62min
Post-reboost: 402.1 x 406.9 km – inclination 51.64° – Period: 92.66minMore about the Principia mission: http://www.esa.int/principia
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Tim Peake’s space shower
ESA astronaut Tim Peake washes on the International Space Station during his six-month Principia mission.
There is no shower on the Space Station so astronauts use wet towels to keep clean. The towels are packed as waste in returning cargo vessels.
More about Principia: http://www.esa.int/Principia
Follow Tim on social media via: http://timpeake.esa.int -
Saturday cleaning day on Space Station
ESA astronaut Tim Peake shows the cleaning duties on the International Space Station. Every Saturday all astronauts living in the weightless research laboratory spend the morning cleaning.
Tim’s six-month mission in space is called Principia: www.esa.int/Principia
Follow Tim via: http://timpeake.esa.int
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Astronaut Recruitment
NASA is on a Journey to Mars and we are on the lookout for a new generation of space pioneers. Do you think you have what it takes to join NASA’s next astronaut class? Visit: http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts
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iriss mission liftoff
ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, commander Sergei Volkov and Aidyn Aimbetov were launched into space this morning 2 September at 04:37:43 GMT (06:37:43 CEST) from Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
The launch marks the start of ESA’s 10-day ‘iriss’ mission that will focus on testing new technologies and ways of running complex space missions.
The astronaut’s Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft was pushed into Earth orbit as planned accelerating 50 km/h on every second for the first nine minutes of their launch.
The spacecraft separated from the Soyuz launcher at 04:46 GMT (06:46 CEST)
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ESA astronaut Tim Peake winter survival training
ESA astronaut Tim Peake during winter survival training in Russia.
All astronauts go through winter survival training. There is always the possibility that a Soyuz spacecraft could land in a remote, cold area. Tim has to learn to survive in harsh climates while waiting for rescue.Tim is training for his mission to the International Space Station set to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in December 2015.
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ESA astronaut Tim Peake training in Japan
ESA astronauts train with all International Space Station partners including onsite training in USA, Europe, Canada and Japan.
ESA astronaut Tim trained in Tsukuba at the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Centre on Japanes experiments and the Japanese space laboratory Kibo.
Tim is preparing for his mission to the International Space Station set to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in December 2015.
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ESA astronaut Tim Peake spacewalk training
ESA astronaut Tim Peake during spacewalk training in Houston, USA.
Training underwater on life-size mockups of the Space Station is one way astronauts prepare for their missions as working in water resembles working in space.Tim is training for his mission to the International Space Station set to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in December 2015.
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Fire in the Soyuz!
(L-115 days) ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov take us inside the Soyuz simulator at Star City where they are training for off-nominal situations they could face during their spaceflight. In practice, this includes anything their Soyuz instructor decides to throw at them – including scenarios such as fire or depressurisation.
Andreas is currently training for his 10-day Iriss mission to the International Space Station, set for launch in September 2015.
Connect with Andreas at http://andreasmogensen.esa.int
More videos from Andreas:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbyvawxScNbsCtYE7cHbqq9O6JvA-HPOL -
Centrifuge 8G
In his latest video diary, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen is back at Star City where he takes a spin in the centrifuge as part of the training for his mission to the International Space Station. In the centrifuge Andreas gets to experience 4G and 8G – a ballistic reentry profile.
Andreas is currently training for his 10-day Iriss mission to the International Space Station, set for launch in September 2015.
Connect with Andreas at http://andreasmogensen.esa.int
More videos from Andreas:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbyvawxScNbsCtYE7cHbqq9O6JvA-HPOL -
International Space Station bathroom tour
Join ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti as she shows how astronauts on the International Space Station keep clean.
From soap to water and cutting your nails, everything is different in space. Samantha demonstrates her ways to ‘shower’ depending on how much time she has.
The astronauts on the Space Station spend as much time as possible on science. During her 40-hour working week Samantha runs many experiments from Italy’s ASI space agency and ESA, and takes part in even more from scientists all over the world.
Samantha is living and working on board the International Space Station as part of the six-strong Expedition 42 and 43 crew. Follow her Futura mission at http://samanthacristoforetti.esa.int.
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Space food and the good side of lipid fat
We could call them the good, the bad and the ugly! No, we are not talking of spaghetti westerns… Instead, we are talking about a type of fat called lipids. Often we speak badly about them, but some are essential to our health as they reduce chronic inflammation, help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol – LDL – and are a valuable aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
We asked Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA astronaut on board of the International Space Station for the Futura mission, to tell us about which king of healthy fats she and the other astronauts can enjoy while on orbit.
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Il buono dei lipidi nel menu della Stazione Spaziale Internazionale
Potremmo chiamarli il buono, il brutto e il cattivo! No, non stiamo parlando di spaghetti-western ma di lipidi. Spesso se ne parla male ma alcuni tipi di grassi sono essenziali per la nostra salute, sulla Terra come anche a bordo della Stazione Spaziale Internazionale. Abbiamo chiesto a Samantha Cristoforetti, astronauta ESA in missione per l’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, di mostrarci come questi “lipidi buoni” siano presenti nel cibo spaziale che lei e gli altri astroanuti hanno a disposizione mentre sono in orbita.
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Sokol spacesuit
In this latest video from ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen reports from Star City near Moscow where he is training with the Soyuz simulator. We join him during his review class for the Russian Sokol spacesuit.
Andreas is currently training for his 10-day Iriss mission to the International Space Station, set for launch in September 2015.
Connect with Andreas at http://andreasmogensen.esa.int
More videos from Andreas:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbyvawxScNbsCtYE7cHbqq9O6JvA-HPOL -
Happy New Year from the ISS (English)
New Year greeting from ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and her crewmates, NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Terry Virts, who are currently living and working on board the International Space Station as part of the Expedition 42 crew.
Greeting in Italian: http://youtu.be/ILZu55e8QVM
Connect with Samantha: http://samanthacristoforetti.esa.int/
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ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst sends greeting to Euro-Space-Day
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst sends his greetings to the Euro-Space-Day in Saarbrücken, Germany. The tri-national (FR-LU-DE) event will bring together students, scientific institutions and space industry.
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Inflight call with Alexander Gerst for #callAlex
Replay of an inflight call with ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst on the International Space Station. Forty of his social media followers were invited to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, for a SocialSpace event to watch the call to the ISS live. A handful of the participants also got to ask a question to Alexander.
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Alexander Gerst talks about Rosetta
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst talks with US media about the Rosetta mission, amongst other topics. Alexander is onboard the International Space Station at a member of the Expedition 40 crew and is living and working on the ISS for five and a months for the Bluedot mission. On 6 August, ESA’s comet chaser Rosetta arrived at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after a 10-year journey.
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NASA Astronaut ISS Crew Member Reid Wiseman Discusses Life in Space with ABC’s “Nightline”
Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 40 Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA discussed the status of his five and a half month mission on the orbital laboratory with the ABC News “Nightline” program during an in-flight interview July 31. Wiseman, who has garnered international attention for his enthusiastic involvement in social media, arrived on the station in late May and will remain in orbit until November, when he returns to Earth in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
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Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA astronaut training in Houston
Samantha Cristoforetti from Italy joined ESA’s Astronaut Corps in 2009. An experienced fighter pilot and Captain in the Italian Air Force, she’s been proposed by the Italian Space Agency ASI to fly to the International Space Station later this year. After extensive international training she’ll be launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, becoming the eighth ESA astronaut to participate in a long-duration mission onboard the ISS.
Connect with Samantha on social media at http://samanthacristoforetti.esa.int
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ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst greets German planetariums
On 25 July, several German planetariums connected with ESA’s Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, for a Google Hangout session.
Usually, visitors to a planetarium are explore the starry night sky. But on the evening of 25 July eight German planetariums organised an event to talk about Alexander Gerst’s Blue Dot mission on the International Space Station, the European Astronaut Centre and about human spaceflight in general. A highlight of the evening was this message from Alexander Gerst in space.
