Watch Live: NASA’s Crew-13 could make the fastest U.S. trip to the ISS ever - Science Daily

HOUSTON—As the International Space Station (ISS) prepares to mark 26 years of continuous occupancy by astronauts and cosmonauts on Nov. 2, its latest returnees offered perspective about life onboard the orbital lab. The facility is counting down to a planned safe deorbit by the end of 2030 after... Mark CarreauMark is based in Houston, where he has written on aerospace for more than 25 years. While at the Houston Chronicle, he was recognized by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation in 2006 for his professional contributions to the public understanding of America's space program through news reporting.

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on October 15 and delivered more than 6,300 pounds of food, essential supplies and scientific equipment to the crew of Expedition 75. The cargo included equipment for manufacturing artificial retinas in microgravity, brain organoids, three-dimensional models of heart tissue and materials for studying a new type of glass. As ScienceDaily reports, Dragon docked with the space-facing port of the Harmony module at 10:27 a.m. Eastern Time. This is SpaceX's 35th commercial ISS resupply mission under a NASA contract. Research for medicineThe equipment for manufacturing artificial retinas is intended to help study the possibility of creating such structures in microgravity. Scientists hope these technologies may be useful for restoring vision on Earth in the future.3D models of heart tissue that reproduce important properties of the human heart were also sent to the station. They are planned to be used to improve methods for testing large numbers of potential medicines during future space missions. More current news is available on the UA. News Telegram channel Telegram.

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.