NASA is creating a fifth state of matter on the ISS after upgrading its mini-fridge-sized quantum lab - Live Science

The International Space Station may be an iconic feature in Earth's orbit, but it's also getting old. For years, plans have been underway to retire and deorbit the aging space station, which has increasingly been marred by air leaks and other issues. That means by the end of 2030, the ISS – where the world's astronauts have lived, worked and gazed upon the cosmos for more than two decades – could be no more. But that hardly means NASA is abandoning its legacy of ensuring humans have a home to live and work long-term in space. Even now, the U. S. space agency is laying the groundwork to ensure that government astronauts will have access to any number of private commercial space stations that could park themselves in low-Earth orbit in the years ahead. And recently, NASA announced it is seeking proposals from aerospace companies interested in partnering with the agency to host government astronauts on its future stations. "NASA is committed to maintaining a sustained American presence in low-Earth orbit long after the International Space Station retires," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement.

Canadian Joshua Kutryk is in space, on his way to the International Space Station (ISS) after a flawless launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off at 11:10 a.m., right on time. NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2026, atop a Falcon 9 rocket booster. (NASA/Joel Kowsky)He and his crewmates — NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov — are slated to dock with the ISS after roughly eight hours in space. The launch is Kutryk's first, and he felt it. "I'm in space. I don't really believe it yet. It does feel weird, though," he said. "It's good to be here. "Joshua Kutryk, dressed in his white SpaceX spacesuit and helmet, holds up his hands displaying support for the Crew 13 mission. (SpaceX via Canadian Space Agency)DON'T MISS: Halley's Comet meteors flash across the sky in OctoberThis is a historic moment for Canada. It's the first time two Canadians have launched into space in such a short time. Jeremy Hansen launched as part of NASA's Artemis II mission for a trip around the moon only six months ago.

Open this photo in gallery:Canadian Astronaut Joshua Kutryk waves as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Thursday. John Raoux/The Associated PressThose who followed the news of Joshua Kutryk’s successful flight to the International Space Station this week can be forgiven for wondering if the Canadian astronaut stepped into a time machine rather than a space capsule. Col. Kutryk, who hails from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., was one of four astronauts who lifted off on Thursday morning from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and docked with the station later that night. Their arrival marks the start of a busy handoff period during which the population of the station will temporarily be at 11 – four of which will depart some time next week. With astronauts from the United States, Russia, France and Canada currently on board, the image of comity and diversity on the station is certainly what proponents had in mind when construction of the orbiting laboratory began in 1998.

Following last month’s Electronic Flight Folder (EFF) explainer, we take a closer look at some of the applications within the platform. Developed by our subsidiary, Cathay Technologies, the EFF combines decades of operational expertise with live data feeds, delivering real-time information directly to pilots’ iPads and helping crews make faster and better-informed decisions. One example is EDG (En-route Diversion Guide). If a flight needs to divert because of a medical emergency, technical issue or cabin depressurisation, pilots must quickly identify a suitable alternate airport. In the past, that involved what General Manager Operations Captain James Toye describes as a “convoluted procedure”. Crews relied on static diversion maps showing alternate airports and surrounding terrain, based on assumptions about seasonal winds, aircraft weight and fuel load.