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Fri, Oct 23 items
0 of 3 readNASA's SpaceX Crew-13 launched four astronauts to the International Space Station this week as Crew-12 prepared to return home, while NASA's DAVINCI Venus probe passed a key thermal test.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Launches to International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Oct. 1 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 40, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov to the ISS.
Why it mattersIt begins a new ISS science expedition and shows the continued operation of U.S. commercial crew partnerships.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Concludes Station Science Mission
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev are scheduled to return from the ISS in early October.
Why it mattersThe crew rotation keeps the station continuously crewed, and its research supports life on Earth and future deep-space missions.
NASA's DAVINCI Probe Withstands High-Heat Test
The engineering development unit of NASA's DAVINCI Venus probe was heated to 465 C (869 F) in a ceramic-lined chamber to verify it can withstand Venus's extreme heat.
Why it mattersVenus's extreme surface heat is the mission's biggest challenge, so passing the test moves the probe design closer to launch.