The International Space Station is a spacecraft that orbits the Earth; it is part laboratory and part home for astronauts. And soon it will have a new resident.
Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques will make the journey to the ISS on December 3. The launch is set for 6:30 a.m. He will remain on the spacecraft for about six months.
It is his first mission as an astronaut. It is the 17th space flight for the Canadian Astronaut Corps, according to the Canadian Space Agency.
While he is on board the ISS, Saint-Jacques will conduct experiments and demonstrate technology.
Tag: ISS
Astronauts Will Turn Trash Into Tools
Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) may soon be able to turn their used forks and knives into tools and satellite parts.
Tethers Unlimited Inc., an aerospace technology company, has developed a system that combines a waste recycling machine with a 3D printer.
Astronauts will put waste items made of plastic into the recycling machine, called the Positrusion Recycler. When they press a button, the Recycler will sterilize and melt down the plastic and turn it into 3D filament.
First Russian Woman On ISS
Cosmonaut Elena Serova arrived on the International Space Station (ISS) on September 26, becoming the first Russian woman to join the crew of the space station.
Serova and two other astronauts made the six-hour flight in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. They docked with the ISS while orbiting 364 kilometres above the Earth.
Olympic Torch Arrives Back From Outer Space
The Olympic torch has been to outer space and back.
The torch has even been on a spacewalk.
It’s the first time that has ever happened.
The torch will be used to light the flame that will launch the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, hosted by Russia.
On Nov. 7, a spacecraft called the Soyuz TMA-11M left Russia carrying three crew members and the Olympic torch.
It was bound for the International Space Station (ISS), which is in orbit around the Earth.
Two Russian cosmonauts on the ISS received the torch. Later, they brought it outside and symbolically handed it off to each other in open space. The hand-off took about an hour.
Want To Be An Astronaut? A New Post Has Just Opened Up
Canadian astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield will soon be simply, “Mr. Hadfield.”
That’s because he has announced that he is resigning.
In this case, “resigning” means stopping his job as an astronaut.
Hadfield has been an astronaut for 35 years.
Recently, he gained wide popularity after sending photos and videos to Earth from the International Space Station.
Many people around the world enjoyed his tweets and Facebook posts from space.
Dragon Brings Fresh Supplies To International Space Station
Did you ever wonder how the astronauts who are living on board the International Space Station get fresh supplies, like food, medicine and materials for their research?
A cargo capsule called SpaceX Dragon was recently sent up to the ISS to bring the astronauts fresh supplies.
Dragon was loaded with more than a thousand kilograms of science equipment, food and other materials.
It left Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday.
Canadian Astronaut To Take Charge Of Space Station
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will soon become the first Canadian to command the International Space Station.
Hadfield and two other astronauts – Tom Mashburn from the United States and Roman Romanenko from Russia – docked at the ISS on Dec. 21, 2012.
Their Soyuz spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 19.
It took them two days to reach the space station.
The space station is a satellite which orbits the Earth. The size of the crew varies from three to six astronauts at a time.
The crews stay on the space station for up to six months and then are replaced by other astronauts.
Hadfield and his crew will stay for five months.
This mission is Hadfield’s third trip into space and his second visit to the space station.
When he takes over command of the ISS in March, he will become the first Canadian ever to command a spacecraft.
Hadfield can already claim several “firsts” in space.
In 1995, Hadfield was the first Canadian to serve as “mission specialist” on a space shuttle.
He was also the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm while in orbit, and the first Canadian to board the Russian space station, Mir.
