fbpx
Connect with us

Science

NASA Sets Coverage for Cargo Launch to International Space Station

Published

on

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman’s 13th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver more than 7,500 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA and commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman are targeting 8:31 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Aug. 1, for the launch of the company’s 19th resupply mission to the International Space Station from the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Live launch coverage will begin at 8 p.m. and will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, with prelaunch events starting Sunday, July 30. Follow all events at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

Filled with more than 8,200 pounds of supplies, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch on the company’s Antares rocket from Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. It will arrive at the space station Friday, Aug. 4.

NASA coverage of rendezvous and capture will begin at 4:30 a.m. followed by installation coverage at 7:30 a.m. NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg will capture Cygnus using the station’s robotic arm, and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio will act as backup. After capture, the spacecraft will be installed on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.

Highlights of space station research facilitated by delivery aboard this Cygnus are:

The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until October, when it will depart the orbiting laboratory.

Northrop Grumman named the Cygnus spacecraft the S.S. Laurel Clark after late NASA astronaut Laurel Clark. Clark was a crew member of NASA’s STS-107 mission aboard space shuttle Columbia, successfully conducting 80 experiments while logging 15 days in space. She and her fellow STS-107 crew members tragically lost their lives when Columbia did not survive its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

NASA coverage of the mission is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Advertisement

Sunday, July 30:

5 p.m. – Prelaunch media teleconference (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) with the following participants:

  • Joel Montalbano, program manager for the International Space Station, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston
  • Heidi Parris, associate program scientist for the International Space Station, NASA Johnson
  • Steve Krein, vice president, Civil and Commercial Space, Northrop Grumman
  • Kurt Eberly, director, Space Launch Programs, Northrop Grumman
  • Jeff Reddish, range chief, NASA Wallops

Media who wish to participate by phone must request dial-in information by 12 p.m. on Friday, July 28, from Amy Barra at [email protected]. Media and the public also may submit questions on social media using #AskNASA.

Tuesday, Aug. 1:

  • 8 p.m. – Launch coverage begins
  • 8:31 p.m. – Launch

Friday, Aug. 4:

  • 4:30 a.m. – Rendezvous coverage begins
  • 5:55 a.m. – Capture of Cygnus with the space station’s robotic arm
  • 7:30 a.m. – Cygnus installation operations coverage

Public Participation

Members of the public can register to attend the launch virtually. Virtual guests will have access to curated resources , schedule changes, and mission-specific information straight to your inbox. Following each activity, virtual guests are sent a mission-specific collectable stamp for their virtual guest passport. Hear more about the virtual guest program from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 astronauts.

The evening launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout the mid-Atlantic region and possibly the East Coast of the United States. The launch viewing area will be open 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center.

Learn more about Northrop Grumman commercial resupply missions at:

https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman

Advertisement

Source: NASA

infrastructure

C-Crete Technologies Awarded $2 Million by the US Department of Energy to Supercharge its Cement-Free Carbon-Negative Concrete Product

Addition of CO2 as a diluted gas from industrial waste sources or the air would turn C-Crete’s concrete into a carbon-negative building material

Published

on

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — C-Crete Technologies is developing a method for using carbon dioxide captured at industrial sources or from the air as an ingredient in its cement-free concrete, in work accelerated by a $2 million funding from the US Department of Energy.

The DOE funding will help propel C-Crete’s already eco-friendly product into the exceptional category of carbon-negative building materials, possibly the first pourable, ready-mix concrete product to achieve this longtime goal of the industry.

Our pourable cement-free carbon-negative concrete not only mitigates carbon emissions but helps reversing climate change

Around 80 tons of C-Crete’s cement-free concrete was recently poured in the foundations, shear walls and floor slab of a commercial building and more projects are underway.

The CO2 incorporated into the product – whether captured from the air as the concrete cures or from industrial point sources – could be used in a diluted form, eliminating the costly step of separating it from other gases. Once mineralized in the concrete, the diluted CO2 would make the new material stronger, tougher and more durable than conventional concrete.

At the core of C-Crete’s innovation lies its patented high-performance, cement-free binder technology that uses different local materials as feedstocks. C-Crete’s binder produces almost no CO2 in its manufacturing and continues to absorb it from the air over time. Its scalability and cost-parity with conventional cement make it a viable alternative to ordinary Portland cement – a notorious contributor to global CO2 emissions.

The DOE’s support for C-Crete’s work underscores the profound impact that innovative approaches can have in the battle against carbon emissions.

“We are committed to crafting a cement-free, ready-mix, carbon-negative concrete that doesn’t just mitigate carbon emissions but actively contributes to reversing climate change,” says Rouzbeh Savary, Ph.D., founder and president of C-Crete Technologies. “Our aim is nothing short of revolutionizing this hard-to-abate, carbon-heavy sector of the construction industry.”

“Concrete is one of the most difficult materials to address within the construction industry because the way it is used often precludes other sustainable strategies such as re-use and effective recycling,” says Stuart Macalister, technical design lead at Heatherwick Studio, an international award-winning architecture firm based in London. “C-Crete are pioneering significant reductions in the embodied carbon of concrete and their continued research into alternative techniques to avoid over dependence upon a single material source, is both savvy and inspiring.

“C-Crete’s sequestration of CO2 into cast-in-place concrete is another aspect with huge potential. The consensus amongst climate scientists is that even if we do everything else right to reduce emissions, the world still needs to remove gigantic amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Direct-air capture of CO2 is very expensive currently, so other methods, such as those being developed by C-Crete, are vitally important,” says Macalister.

Advertisement

“We need to do testing to get the use of next-generation materials like C-Crete’s right, and that requires early adopter field trials,” says Donald Davies, a developer and structural engineer with 33 years in the business, whose building in Seattle was the site of C-Crete’s first commercial pour. “It’s exciting to be a part of helping C-Crete on this important next step forward.” Davies is also chair of Building Transparency, a nonprofit dedicated to enabling the building industry to address embodied carbon’s role in climate change.

About: C-Crete Technologies is a leading materials science company committed to inventing, building and scaling up the next generation of infrastructure materials with ultra-low or negative CO2 footprints. With a relentless focus on environmental stewardship and technological innovation, C-Crete aims to address the global challenges of climate change while delivering superior infrastructure materials at scale.

SOURCE C-Crete Technologies

Continue Reading

aerospace

United States Space Force: Protecting America’s Interests in Space

“Learn about the United States Space Force: its formation, purpose, and role in protecting national security and space assets.”

Published

on

The United States Space Force (USSF) is the newest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, established to protect American interests in space. It was formed on December 20, 2019, when President Donald Trump signed the United States Space Force Act, making it the first new independent military service in over 70 years.


Cloudy rocket launch. The elements of this image furnished by NASA.

While the concept of a Space Force had been discussed since the 1950s, the need for a dedicated space-focused military branch became increasingly evident with the growing importance of space in national security and defense. The USSF operates under the Department of the Air Force, similar to how the Marine Corps operates under the Department of the Navy. It is led by the Secretary of the Air Force and its military heads are the Chief of Space Operations and the Vice Chief of Space Operations.

The Space Force’s primary purpose is to ensure the freedom of operation in space and protect U.S. space assets. It is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping space forces, which are then deployed to the unified combatant commands, particularly the United States Space Command. The Space Force operates various programs and systems, including GPS, the Space Fence, military satellite communications constellations, X-37B spaceplanes, the U.S. missile warning system, the U.S. space surveillance network, and the Satellite Control Network.



The USSF’s formation marked a significant recognition of the critical role space plays in national security, communication, and technological advancement. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on space-based assets for navigation, communication, and intelligence gathering, the Space Force aims to protect these capabilities, deter aggression, and maintain superiority in space.

By establishing the Space Force, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding its interests in space and maintaining its position as a global leader in space capabilities. As technology continues to advance and more nations venture into space, the United States Space Force will play a vital role in ensuring the security and resilience of American assets in this final frontier. Kindly click on the link for further details: https://www.spaceforce.mil/

Continue Reading

Blog

Join Metro in Clearing the Air on California Clean Air Day

“Go Metro for FREE on California Clean Air Day! Clear the air by taking the bus, train, bike, or walking. Join us!”

Published

on

Metro is excited to announce its support for California Clean Air Day and invites you to join us in our efforts to combat air pollution. On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Metro is offering FREE rides on buses, trains, and bikes, encouraging everyone to take part in this important initiative. By choosing Metro as your mode of transportation, you can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality in our region. Let’s take action together and make a positive impact on the health of our communities.




Air pollution affects us all, and it’s essential that we work collectively to address this issue. California Clean Air Day serves as a call to action, inspiring us to adopt sustainable transportation alternatives. Metro offers a range of options for you to participate in this day of action.

Choose the Bus or Train:
By taking the bus or train, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and help clear the air. Metro’s extensive network covers various destinations throughout the region, making it a convenient and eco-friendly choice. Enjoy a stress-free commute while actively contributing to a cleaner environment.

Walk or Ride a Bike:
For shorter distances, consider walking or riding a bike. Metro not only supports these active modes of transportation but also offers free rides on California Clean Air Day for Metro Bike Share and Metro Micro. Redeem your free rides using the provided codes and enjoy emissions-free travel while exploring your city.

Plan Your Trip:
To make your journey seamless, Metro provides a trip planner on metro.net. This tool helps you find the best routes, schedules, and connections, ensuring a smooth travel experience. Take advantage of this resource to optimize your trip and make the most of California Clean Air Day.


On October 4, let’s take a break from traffic and pollution by choosing Metro as our preferred mode of transportation. Together, we can make a difference in our communities and pave the way for cleaner air. Visit metro.net/cleanair to learn more about this initiative and how you can contribute. Join us in taking the pledge to clear the air and embrace sustainable transportation options. Remember, every journey counts towards a greener and healthier future. Visit Metro for more info: https://www.metro.net/about/california-clean-air-day-2023/

https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/urbanism/

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending