NASA is set to offer live coverage of the much-anticipated return of its SpaceX Crew-9 mission from the International Space Station (ISS). The event will commence with preparations for the Dragon spacecraft’s hatch closure at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17.

In a proactive move, NASA and SpaceX convened on Sunday to evaluate the weather and splashdown conditions off Florida’s coast in preparation for the Crew-9 mission return. Thanks to favorable weather forecasts for Tuesday evening, March 18, mission managers are targeting an earlier return opportunity. This adjustment serves to allow the onboard crew ample time to complete their handover duties while also providing operational flexibility in anticipation of less favorable weather later in the week.

The Crew-9 mission features NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. These skilled astronauts have been conducting a long-duration science expedition aboard the ISS and will bring back critical time-sensitive research to Earth.

As the launch nears, mission managers will continue to monitor weather conditions, which will play a pivotal role in the undocking process. Factors such as spacecraft readiness, recovery team preparedness, and sea states will all influence the timing and location of the splashdown. NASA and SpaceX will finalize and communicate the specific splashdown site as the Crew-9 return approaches.

For those interested in following along, you can watch the Crew-9 return activities live on NASA+. Additional viewing options, including various social media platforms, are also available. Schedule information can be found at NASA Live.

Here’s a timeline of the upcoming live coverage (all times EDT and subject to change):

Monday, March 17

• 10:45 p.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+

Tuesday, March 18

• 12:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+
• 1:05 a.m. – Undocking

Following the undocking coverage, there will be an audio-only feed. Assuming favorable weather conditions at the splashdown sites, continuous coverage will resume on NASA+ before the deorbit burn.

• 4:45 p.m. – Return coverage begins on NASA+
• 5:11 p.m. – Deorbit burn (approximate time)
• 5:57 p.m. – Splashdown (approximate time)

Following the splashdown, there will be a Return-to-Earth media conference at 7:30 p.m. on NASA+, featuring key participants, including:

• Joel Montalbano, Deputy Associate Administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
• Steve Stich, Manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
• Jeff Arend, Manager for Systems Engineering and Integration, NASA’s International Space Station Office
• Sarah Walker, Director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

Mark your calendars and prepare to witness this exciting milestone in space exploration as NASA’s Crew-9 mission returns home!

Find full mission coverage, NASA’s commercial crew blog, and more information about the Crew-9 mission at:

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https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

Moon Landing

In a significant milestone for space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 made a successful landing on the Moon at 3:34 a.m. EST on Sunday. Positioned near the volcanic feature of Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, a vast basin exceeding 300 miles in diameter, this event marks a pivotal moment in NASA’s initiatives concerning lunar exploration.

This successful moon landing represents the first delivery under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative for Firefly Aerospace, and it adds another achievement to the Artemis campaign aimed at returning humans to the Moon. The Blue Ghost lander now rests upright and stable on the lunar surface, ready to begin its suite of scientific operations.

The Blue Ghost craft is carrying ten cutting-edge NASA science and technology instruments designed to perform a variety of functions over approximately one lunar day, which translates to about 14 Earth days. Acting Administrator Janet Petro highlighted the importance of this mission, stating, “This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all.” The lessons learned from this mission will enhance future safety protocols for scientific exploration on the Moon and beyond.

Following its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15, the Blue Ghost traveled over 2.8 million miles. During this journey, it downlinked more than 27 gigabytes of data while conducting several critical science operations. One notable achievement included signal tracking from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) at a record distance of 246,000 miles, validating the potential for similar positioning systems to be used effectively on the Moon.

Nicky Fox, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the significance of this mission in laying the groundwork for future human presence on the Moon: “The science and technology we send to the Moon now helps prepare the way for future NASA exploration and long-term human presence to inspire the world for generations to come.”

The instruments aboard the Blue Ghost will perform a variety of tasks during their lunar surface operations, including testing advanced drilling technology, collecting regolith samples, and developing lunar dust mitigation strategies. The insights gained from these experiments will contribute to our understanding of how space weather and cosmic forces interact with Earth.

As operations continue, the team intends to capture stunning imagery of the lunar sunset and investigate the behaviors of lunar dust during dusk conditions—an occurrence previously documented by Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan. Following the lunar sunset, the lander will remain functional for several hours into the lunar night.

Firefly Aerospace’s CEO, Jason Kim, expressed gratitude to NASA for the partnership and outlined the significance of this mission. “Blue Ghost’s successful Moon landing has laid the groundwork for the future of commercial exploration across cislunar space,” he stated, adding, “We’re now looking forward to more than 14 days of surface operations to unlock even more science data that will have a substantial impact on future missions to the Moon and Mars.”

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In total, five companies have been awarded 11 lunar deliveries under the CLPS initiative, propelling the lunar economy forward with over 50 instruments being sent to various lunar locations, including the lunar South Pole. With a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028, the CLPS initiative is set to revolutionize how we explore and utilize the Moon’s resources.

As we celebrate this monumental achievement, it is clear that the collaboration between NASA and companies like Firefly Aerospace is paving the way for a new era of exploration, promising exciting discoveries that will benefit our understanding of the cosmos and our own planet for generations to come.

Learn more about NASA’s CLPS initiative at:

https://www.nasa.gov/clps

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

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Blue Origin has exciting news as it announces the six remarkable individuals selected to fly on the NS-31 mission, the 11th human flight of its New Shepard program. This mission, set to launch this spring, features an inspiring all-female crew comprised of Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez. These extraordinary women aim not only to explore the wonders of space but also to empower and inspire future generations.

Meet the NS-31 Crew

Aisha Bowe
Aisha is a former NASA rocket scientist and a dedicated advocate for STEM education. As the CEO of STEMBoard, she leads an engineering firm that has made waves in the industry, being recognized twice on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Additionally, she founded LINGO, an edtech company focused on providing tech skills to students worldwide. Inspired by her own journey from community college to space, Aisha hopes her experience will motivate young people, particularly in the Bahamas, to chase their dreams.

Amanda Nguyen
Amanda is a bioastronautics research scientist with an impressive academic background, having graduated from Harvard and conducted research at prominent institutions like MIT and NASA. She played a role in the last NASA shuttle mission and is renowned for her advocacy work for sexual violence survivors, earning her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. As the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman astronaut, Amanda’s flight symbolizes a powerful reconciliation between the United States and Vietnam, using science as a pathway to peace.

Gayle King
An award-winning journalist and co-host of CBS Mornings, Gayle King has a reputation for her heartfelt interviews and thought-provoking discussions. With a career built on compassion and insight, she embraces new challenges, including being part of Blue Origin’s first all-female flight team. Gayle looks forward to stepping outside her comfort zone and experiencing the thrill of space travel.

Katy Perry
As one of the best-selling female artists of all time, Katy Perry brings her star power to the NS-31 mission. Beyond her music career, she is a passionate advocate for various philanthropic causes, serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Through her Firework Foundation, Katy inspires underserved children to express themselves through the arts. Being part of this historic all-female crew fills her with pride, and she hopes her journey serves as a beacon of inspiration for her daughter and all aspiring dreamers.

Kerianne Flynn
After successful careers in fashion and human resources, Kerianne Flynn dedicated the last decade to community-building and storytelling through nonprofit work and film production. Her recent projects explore crucial social themes, including women in Hollywood and fair pay advocacy. With a lifelong passion for exploration and adventure, Kerianne aims to inspire her son, Dex, and a new generation of dreamers with her flight aboard New Shepard.

Lauren Sánchez
Lauren is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and licensed helicopter pilot. As Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, she is committed to addressing pressing climate issues. In 2016, she founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial film and production company. Her children’s book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, became a New York Times bestseller. Lauren’s goal is to motivate the next generation of explorers to reach for the stars.

A Historic Mission

The NS-31 mission is a remarkable milestone for Blue Origin, being the first all-female flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight in 1963. This mission marks the 31st flight in New Shepard’s history, with the program having successfully flown 52 individuals above the Kármán line, the globally recognized boundary of space.

Read the press release: https://www.blueorigin.com/fr-FR/news/new-shepard-ns-31-mission

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As anticipation builds for the upcoming launch, we celebrate these extraordinary women and their commitment to breaking barriers and inspiring future generations to follow their dreams. For those interested in flying on a future New Shepard mission, additional details can be found at BlueOrigin.com/New-Shepard/Fly.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach this exciting launch!

Source: Blue Origin

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/