'How Adaptable Humans Are': 20 Years Since STS-72 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on January 17th, 2016

Grappled by Endeavour’s Remote Manipulator System (RMS) mechanical arm, the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU) satellite is readied for installation in the payload bay. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Two decades ago, last week, in January 1996, Shuttle Endeavour and a six-man crew—Commander Brian Duffy, Pilot Brent Jett, and Mission Specialists Leroy […]

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Mission for Japan: 20 Years Since STS-72 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on January 16th, 2016

Twenty years ago, this week, STS-72 showcased the space shuttle’s myriad capabilities in satellite deployment and retrieval, rendezvous, science, and spacewalking. Photo Credit: NASA

Twenty years ago, this week, six astronauts executed a mission which put virtually all of the space shuttle’s capabilities—satellite deployment and retrieval, rendezvous and proximity operations, research, and spacewalking—to […]

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How Adaptable Humans Are: Looking Back at STS-72 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on January 11th, 2015

 

Grappled by Endeavour’s Remote Manipulator System (RMS) mechanical arm, the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU) satellite is readied for installation in the payload bay. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Nineteen years ago, today, on 11 January 1996, Shuttle Endeavour and a six-man crew—Commander Brian Duffy, Pilot Brent Jett, and Mission Specialists […]

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Mission for Japan: Looking Back at STS-72 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on January 10th, 2015

Leroy Chiao (foreground) works in Endeavour’s payload bay during one of the STS-72 EVAs. Photo Credit: NASA

Almost two decades ago, six astronauts rocketed into the night on a mission which put virtually all of the shuttle’s capabilities—satellite deployment and retrieval, rendezvous and proximity operations, research, and spacewalking—to the test, as well as […]

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'Fifteen Midnights': Celebrating the New Year in Space (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on December 27th, 2014

Bill Shepherd (center) and his Expedition 1 crewmates, Yuri Gidzenko (left) and Sergei Krikalev, juggle oranges during their time aboard the International Space Station. They celebrated both Christmas and the dawn of 2001 in orbit. Photo Credit: NASA

With a naval officer in command of the International Space Station, it might have seemed […]

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Ding-Dong Merrily On-Orbit: Celebrating Yuletide in Space (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on December 24th, 2014

Since December 2000, a multi-national mix of Americans and Russians, Japanese and Italians, a Dutchman and a Canadian have celebrated Christmas aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA

As we celebrate the festive period over the coming days, spare a thought for the four men and two women from three discrete nations […]

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Expedition 34 Continues Thanksgiving Traditions in Orbit

By Ben Evans, on November 22nd, 2012

Commander Kevin Ford introduces his televised audience to the fare which will be eaten by himself and Expedition 34 crewmates, Oleg Novitsky and Yevgeni Tarelkin, on Thanksgiving Day. Ford expressed particular thanks to the ground control teams for keeping his crew safe and operational. Photo Credit: NASA

As millions of Americans tuck into […]

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Two-Hundred-Mile Ballot Box: The Importance of Voting From Space

By Ben Evans, on November 7th, 2012

Astronauts Kevin Ford (in blue shirt) and Sunita Williams (in red shirt) are pictured with Russian crewmates in the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory on 25 October. Williams and Ford cast their absentee votes in the presidential election before launch. Photo Credit: NASA

From a nation with an estimated quarter of a billion […]

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