NASA ends support of cloud-studying spacecraft AIM after extra decade in orbit
NASA says battery issues with their Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere spacecraft, known as AIM, have led to the agency ending operational support for the craftโs mission. NASA said AIM was originally slated to operate for two years. It completed its primary mission in 2009 and has been in extended operations status since that time.
This is why the Artemis launch director had her tie cut with scissors after the rocketโs liftoff
Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson has made history before. She cemented her spot in space history as NASAโs first female launch director. Now sheโs added to her story by leading the first test flight of the agencyโs Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.
Celebratory social posts launched after liftoff of Artemis mission
When NASA launched the Artemis I mission early Wednesday morning, it was something people had waited weeks, months, years, and even decades to see happen. The flight is unmanned, but it marks a milestone in the work being done to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions.
NASAโs Quesst Mission: Expanding supersonic flight
The goal of NASAโs Quesst mission is to expand supersonic flight and provide regulators with data to provide regulators with data to help change existing national and international aviation rules that ban commercial supersonic flight over land. Central to the mission is NASAโs quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft, which is designed to produce a gentle thump instead of a sonic boom.
Houston Life Recap: Feel the rush of an โAmerican Ninja Warriorโ veteran, music from a 10-year-old fiddler champion, rage through paint, and love that got away found on a reality show
A recap on what happened on Houston Life, July 25, 2022. Today, we have a talented 10-year-old fiddler champion and a couple that found love on a reality series, The One that Got Away. Plus, Lauren Kelly shows a new way of creatively releasing stress and anger.
PHOTOS: โOut-of-this-worldโ astronaut statue delights visitors, residents at this Clear Lake-area McDonaldโs
If youโre headed to Space Center Houston this weekend or visiting the Clear Lake area in general, make sure to stop by this particular McDonaldโs location -- but not just for the Big Macโs or the McFlurryโs.
PHOTOS: โOut-of-this-worldโ astronaut statue delights visitors, residents at Nassau Bay McDonaldโs
If youโre headed to Space Center Houston this weekend or visiting the Clear Lake area in general, make sure to stop by this particular McDonaldโs location -- but not just for the Big Macโs or the McFlurryโs.
Moon 2 Mars Festival
Thursday at 3:00 p.m. on Houston Life, weโre celebrating the Space Center Houstonโs Moon2Mars Festival, June 9-12. The first annual Moon2Mars Festival celebrates the future of space from the Moon to Mars. The festival has something for everyone in your family. You can explore a space capsule, get up close with a spacesuit, enjoy food from Wolfgang Puck catering and live musical concerts on an outdoor stage! Joe Sam is live from the Festival Thursday at 3:00 p.m. on KPRC 2.
๐ FULL INTERVIEW: Apollo 13 astronaut recounts harrowing journey
On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew left Earth on a Saturn V rocket. Fifty-two years later at 88-years-old, Apollo 13 astronaut, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, remembers those harrowing moments, describing them vividly in his newly released book, memoir, Never Panic Early: An Apollo 13 Astronautโs Journey.
The Infinite: Get closer look at International Space Station through The Infinite VR Experience
Houston is the home to human spaceflight, and it is fitting that it would be the first place in the US to feature a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory, interactive virtual reality experience exploring inside and outside the worldโs orbiting space laboratory--the International Space Station.
Baylor College of Medicineโs TRISH Institute to facilitate science on SpaceX Inspiration4 mission
It may not be too long before many everyday people are able to make their way to space. As commercial spaceflight grows within American soil with companies like SpaceX creating milestones for space exploration, Space City is playing a major role in health research to help future missions.
Saturn will reach its closest point to Earth early Monday morning. Hereโs how to see it
The ringed planet Saturn, already one of the solar systemโs most dazzling sights, will shine bigger and brighter this month. On Monday, August 2, at around 1 a.m. the planet will reach alignment with the Earth and the sun in an event known as โopposition.โ During this event, the sixth planet will reach its closest point to Earth and wil shine at its absolute brightest.
FAA opens Houston Space Safety office to help monitor testing programs, commercial space tourism in Texas, New Mexico
The U.S. Department of Transportationโs Federal Aviation Administration has opened a safety field office in Houston to increase its oversight of commercial space operations in Texas and New Mexico.
The last supermoon of 2021 -- aka the Strawberry Moon -- is happening this week
If youโve missed any of the celestial events that have happened this year already -- the Pink Moon in April or the recent solar eclipse, to name a couple -- youโve got one more chance to witness a rare supermoon this year, and itโs happening this week.
Spidernauts and space dogs: What happens to the creatures of spaceflight
Animal spaceflights paved the way for the first human astronauts and today creatures big and small continue to space travel advancing our knowledge of how the zero-gravity environment impacts all beings and aiding research down on Earth.
Behind the scenes: The making of Space Center Houstonโs Apollo 13 bronze statue
Space Center Houston is honoring the dedication of the Apollo 13 crew and the flight controllers in Mission Control at NASA Johnson Space Center who worked around the clock to ensure the crewโs survival and safe return.
51 years later, Apollo 13 astronauts reflect on historic mission
On April 11, 1970, three astronauts and a team here on Earth dared to attempt what was expected to be the third moon landing. However, just shy of 56 hours into the mission, the crew experienced a problem that would turn into a full-fledged effort to get the crew back to Earth alive.
George Observatory reopening this weekend after 2-year renovation
First opened in the fall of 1989, the George Observatory has been closed since 2019. โWe are so excited to welcome visitors back to the newly-remodeled George Observatory. While most are in remote areas, the George Observatory is uniquely placed within Brazos Bend State Park. The George Observatory will open to the public every Saturday at 3 p.m. The Gorge Observatory is located inside Brazos Bend State Park at 21901 FM 762 Rd.
Black History Month: Sharon McDougle โsuited upโ the first black woman to travel into space
HOUSTON โ In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison became the first black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Her name is Sharon McDougle, a former suit tech for the space shuttle program who talked to Houston Life about her incredible story. Sharon McDougle and Dr. Mae Jemison (Sharon McDougle)McDougle was responsible for processing the orange launch and re-entry pressure suit assemblies worn by all NASA space shuttle astronauts, including Jemison. It was like they didnโt even see me,โโ said McDougle, who worked with the Space Shuttle Program for 22 years. Sharon McDougle (Sharon McDougle)โEverybody is trainable, thatโs one thing I preach.
Primary Paint Party Opens in Houston giving the community a creative outlet
HOUSTON โ Primary Paint Party is a Paint Party Studio and Creative Workspace. This is a space where community members can enjoy themed paint parties with their friends and family, teambuilding with co-workers, or special creative workshops with other artists. This creative space is also home to the unique Prime Art Gallery. Clients are drawn to the unlimited possibilities of art in its Prime state. Unframed Canvas Art is available throughout the Gallery that represents local artists in and around the Houston area.
KPRC 2 reporter Rose-Ann Aragon reflects on memorable stories, her background and the future of space travel
HOUSTON โ A passion for storytelling led Rose-Ann Aragon into the world of journalism. KPRC 2's Rose-Ann Aragon on location for the launch of SpaceX Starship Prototype. This was a very memorable experience for Aragon and she enjoyed having a front-row seat to space history. AdKPRC 2's Rose-Ann Aragon talks about her involvement with the Lumikha Arts Showcase. To learn more or to connect with Rose-Ann Aragon, click here.
Houston Spaceport to be home to worldโs first commercially built space station
HOUSTON โ The Houston Spaceport will be home to the worldโs first space station to built by a commercial space company. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Tuesday that Axiom Space will build a 14-acre headquarters at the cityโs spaceport next year and provide 1,000 high-paying jobs. Suffredini said the first module of the Axiom space station is set to be launched in late 2024 and will be the first commercial module to be attached to the International Space Station. Once the ISS is retired, the Axiom modules will detach and remain in low-earth orbit. Axiom will also provide commercial missions to the space station, the first of which is expected to launch late next year, Suffredini said.
WATCH LIVE: SpaceX to launch SXM-7 mission from Florida
A Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 40 with the SiriusXM-7 satellite ready for launch. (Image: SpaceX)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ SpaceX is preparing for the launch of the SXM-7 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this launch previously supported Crew Dragonโs first flight to the International Space Station (Demo-1), launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission and four Starlink launches in 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9โฒs first stage on the โJust Read the Instructionsโ droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX said half of Falcon 9โฒs fairing previously supported the ANASIS-II mission in July 2020.
Delta IV Heavy rocket launches from Cape Canaveral
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ A nighttime rocket launch lit up the skies over Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday. The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy carrying the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office was originally set to launch about 5:15 p.m., from the Space Launch Complex-37. The launch was rescheduled for 7:09 p.m.You can watch again in the video below:
SpaceXโs Starship SN8 blows up during landing phase of high-altitude test flight
SpaceXโs high-altitude test flight for its prototype Starship SN8 ended in an explosion Wednesday as the spacecraft attempted to land in Boca Chica. It was the first test of its kind for the Starship, running all three raptor engines in an attempt to reach a height of more than 41,000 feet. The prototype came in for a landing at an angle before exploded at what appeared to be touchdown. โFuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!
โMost stunning show in 2020โฒ: Social media reacts to SpaceXโs Starship SN8 explosion
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, marked Wednesdayโs test flight of the Starship SN8 a success, despite it blowing up during the landing phase. Can't wait for SN9. @elonmusk @SpaceX #starshipsn8 โ nikkcolas (@Nikkcolas) December 9, 2020Congratulations @SpaceX and @elonmusk for the #starshipsn8 launch. It was a spectacular event, the landing was almost a success. SN9 will be the one I guarantee you :D โ VAJDAD4M (@vajdad4m) December 9, 2020
First woman, next man on moon will come from these NASA 18
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ NASA has named the 18 astronauts โ half of them women โ who will train for its Artemis moon-landing program. The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group. Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover. The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.
SpaceX aborts first attempt of Starship SN8โฒs high-altitude test flight
BOCA CHICA, Texas โ Space fans will just have to wait another day after SpaceX aborted its first attempt at a high-altitude test flight for its SN8 Starship Prototype in Boca Chica on Tuesday. Starship SN8 is expected to fly more than 41,000 feet into the air, do a now-iconic bellyflop or skydiving-like maneuver and then correct itself just before landing on the launchpad. The spacecraft is a two-stage vehicle that founder Elon Musk hopes will one day take as many as 100 people to Mars. Itโs the first Starship to be fully outfitted with a nosecone and flaps. You can watch a replay of the first attempt below.
Gen. Chuck Yeager, first person to break sound barrier, dies at 97
HOUSTON โ Gen. Chuck Yeager, a fighter pilot best known as becoming the first person to break the sound barrier, died Monday. Born in West Virginia, Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and flew during World War II and shot down more than a dozen German planes. On Oct. 14, 1947, Yeager flew a rocket plan called โGlamorous Glennisโ over the Mojave Desert to break the sound barrier. Yeager went on to become a trainer of some of the first American astronauts. He made an appearance in the movie โThe Right Stuff,โ which is about the early days of the American space program.
First attempt of Starship SN8โฒs high-altitude flight test to take place in South Texas
The two Dragon parking spots are just 15 feet (4.5 meters) or so apart. SpaceX redesigned its cargo ships to be as big as its spacious crew capsules in order to pack more in. The cargo Dragon will remain at the space station for a month, before parachuting into the Atlantic with science samples and discarded gear. The crew Dragon will stay up until spring. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Instituteโs Department of Science Education.
WATCH: NASA, SpaceX launch CRS-21 Dragon cargo spacecraft to International Space Station
The Dragon โ packed with Christmas treats and presents โ should reach the space station on Monday, joining the Dragon that delivered four astronauts last month. โDragons everywhere you look,โ said Kenny Todd, NASAโs deputy space station program manager. With NASAโs commercial crew program officially under way, SpaceX expects to always have at least one Dragon capsule at the space station. I fear it might mess up my own Christmas,โ Todd said late last week. This is SpaceXโs 21st station supply run for NASA since 2012.
South Padre Island expected to be crowded for SpaceX Starship SN8 test launch
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas โ The shores at Isla Blanca Park are expected to be the place where hundreds of space enthusiasts and islanders go to watch a test launch across the water at SpaceXโs Starship facility in Boca Chica, Texas. With the Starship SN8 launch teasingly imminent, South Padre Island has found a lot more tourists walking the streets. The view of the SpaceX launch facility just a few miles across the water. โEverybody wants to see it happening,โ said James Baxter, a Houston native and South Padre Island transplant. I was so excited!โThey donโt think they will leave South Padre Island.
Houstonian creates ultimate space Airbnb in Boca Chica
One Houstonian experienced this first-hand and turned his own vision into reality -- creating the ultimate space pad Airbnb for many space enthusiasts to rent. However, 400 miles away in the rugged terrain of Boca Chica, just 8 miles from the SpaceX Launch Facility, heโs managed to create the ultimate space loverโs experience, Rocket Ranch. The multi-room ranch has a full-kitchen, coffeeroom area, living room and outside amenities, filled with decor space enthusiasts would appreciate. Photos of different planets, milestone space exploration achievements and touches of trivial space gadgets fill the space. This all started when he went to see a SpaceX launch at the Cape.
Whatโs that thing orbiting the Earth in 90 minutes? A guide to what the International Space Station is, does
This year, the International Space Station celebrated 20 years of having a continuous human presence on it. But what exactly is the International Space Station and what does it do? Over a 13-year period from 1998-2011, different modules were launched into space and attached to each other in orbit by astronauts. That mission was successful to create an initial base, and in subsequent years, other modules were launched into orbit and connected. The ISS is aging -- and if itโs not eventually destroyed or taken down by humans, space obstacles might arise, according to space.com.
SpaceX capsule with 4 astronauts aboard arrives at International Space Station
In this frame grab from NASA TV, the SpaceX Dragon is seen after docking at the International Space Station, late Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. (NASA TV via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ SpaceXโs newly launched capsule with four astronauts arrived Monday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. The Dragon capsule pulled up and docked late Monday night, following a 27-hour, completely automated flight from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. โOh, what a good voice to hear,โ space station astronaut Kate Rubins called out when the Dragon's commander, Mike Hopkins, first made radio contact. As they prepared for the space station linkup, the Dragon crew beamed down live window views of New Zealand and a brilliant blue, cloud-streaked Pacific 250 miles below.
WATCH: SpaceX launches 4 astronauts to space station, kicking off regular crew flights from the US
It is due to reach the space station late Monday and remain there until spring. NASA policy at Kennedy Space Center requires anyone testing positive for coronavirus to quarantine and remain isolated. Even the two astronauts on the first SpaceX crew flight stayed behind at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The four astronauts will be joining two Russians and one American who flew to the space station last month from Kazakhstan. NASA turned to private companies to haul cargo and crew to the space station, after the shuttle fleet retired in 2011.
One giant leap of faith: Meet the first African American to walk in space
It marked the first rendezvous of the American space shuttle with Russiaโs space station Mir. Also on board, Eileen Collins, an American, became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle, and C. Michael Foale became the first British-born American astronaut to walk in space. โI saw that as an avenue for me to go to space,โ Harris said. In August 1990, Harris began a year of training and evaluation with 22 classmates at Johnson Space Center. We have liftoffSpace Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASAโs Johnson Space Center, reopened in July after a temporary closure due to COVID-19.
Your best bet for catching a breathtaking glimpse of the Leonid meteor shower this month
Have you heard of the Leonid meteor shower? It comes around every November, but the chances of seeing it this year are much higher than last year. The shower happens at the same time every year, when Earthโs orbit crosses the orbit of Comet Tempel-Tuttle, according to Space.com. A trail of dust is left behind the comet, and when Earthโs orbit crosses that trail, pieces of the comet fall toward our planetโs surface. Luckily for us, meteors are visible to the naked eye, and the shower will peak overnight Monday into Tuesday (Nov. 16-17) around 3 a.m.
Telescope confirms existence of water molecules on moonโs sunlit surface
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ The moonโs shadowed, frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected. And for the first time, the presence of water on the moonโs sunlit surface has been confirmed, scientists reported Monday. While previous observations have indicated millions of tons of ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the moonโs poles, a pair of studies in the journal Nature Astronomy take the availability of lunar surface water to a new level. The presence of water in sunlit surfaces had been previously suggested, but not confirmed. For now, Sofia can analyze only the moon's outermost surface, but these water molecules could be buried yards (meters) deep, Honniball noted.
US spacecraft touches asteroid surface for rare rubble grab
This undated image made available by NASA shows the asteroid Bennu from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. After almost two years circling the ancient asteroid, OSIRIS-REx will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. โSampling is in progress.โConfirmation came from the Osiris-Rex spacecraft as it made contact with the surface of the asteroid Bennu more than 200 million miles away. Bennuโs gravity was too low for the spacecraft to land โ the asteroid is just 1,670 feet (510 meters) across. Japan expects samples from its second asteroid mission โ in the milligrams at most โ to land in the Australian desert in December.
Mars Opposition! Similar to โMars Attacksโ Without the Aliens
If the planet Mars looks a little bigger and brighter tonight in the sky, itโs not just you. The Earth will be between the Sun and Mars making it appear very bright tonightThat places us in a perfect situation for viewing a much brighter and bolder looking Mars tonight. There are many fun facts about Mars, including the fact that the effect of gravity on Mars is roughly a third of what it is on the Earth. Meaning if you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would only weigh 38 pounds on Mars! There youโll find fun facts and discover new things for you and your kids!
Meteors, blue moon and Mars, oh my! Beautiful triple threat on tap for skywatchers
Mars will appear brighter than at any other point during the year on Oct. 13, when it will be closest to Earth. โSo, a little over every two years, Mars and Earth are closest together in their orbits and, thus, Mars is at its brightest in our nighttime sky. (ยฉ 2012 Michael Orso)Blue moon on HalloweenFor the first time since 2001, trick-or-treaters will get the chance to experience a Halloween full moon. A blue moon, by the most popular definition, according to Gross, is when two full moons appear in a single month. โWe will have full moons on Oct. 1 and 31, so that means that weโll have a blue moon on Halloween,โ Gross said.
Rocket launch scheduled for minutes before midnight in Florida. Watch the launch here
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch the NROL-33 mission just before midnight Wednesday from the Space Launch Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This launch will send a national security payload to space for the National Reconnaissance Office, which is the government agency tasked with building and maintaining Americaโs intelligence satellites. This will be the one hundred and forty-first mission for the United Launch Alliance. You can read more about the mission in the agencyโs brochure. Watch the launch below:
Space station air leak forces middle-of-night crew wakeup
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ A small air leak at the International Space Station finally has been traced to the Russian side, following a middle-of-the-night search by astronauts. Space station deputy program manager Kenny Todd said the good news is that โinstead of a bunch of haystacks, we're down to maybe one haystack." But he added: โIt's still a needle we're looking for.โNASA is sending up extra air supply tanks on its next space station delivery, scheduled for a Thursday departure from Virginia. As long as the leak does not worsen, Todd said, the space station should be fine through next spring. In two weeks, two Russians and an American are scheduled to arrive at the space station, followed by crew of three Americans and a Japanese on SpaceX's second launch of astronauts, now targeted for Oct. 31.
Astronomers see possible hints of life in Venus's clouds
Astronomers have found a potential sign of life high in the atmosphere of neighboring Venus: hints there may be bizarre microbes living in the sulfuric acid-laden clouds of the hothouse planet. They said it doesn't satisfy the โextraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" standard established by the late Carl Sagan, who speculated about the possibility of life in the clouds of Venus in 1967. โItโs not a smoking gun," said study co-author David Clements, an Imperial College of London astrophysicist. After three astronomers met in a bar in Hawaii, they decided to look that way at the closest planet to Earth: Venus. ... Not a single process we looked at could produce phosphine in high enough quantities to explain our teamโs findings.โThat leaves life.
NASA places ad for moon rocks
HOUSTON โ NASA wants to buy moon rocks, but itโs mainly aimed at encouraging commercial companies to develop space exploration technology. According to the request for bids, the space agency will pay for between 50 and 500 grams of lunar regolith material from a contractor. The contractor must also provide imagery that identifies the material and information about where it was collected on the lunar surface. Once purchased, the material becomes the sole property of NASA, according to the bid. The goal is for the material to be retrieved and transferred to NASA before 2024, which is when the agency aims to land the next humans on the moon.
7 things to know about NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps, the first Black woman to fly to the International Space Station on a mission into orbit
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps is making a second attempt at history by becoming the first Black woman to be assigned on a mission in orbit. She was selected to become a NASA astronaut in 2009. Epps was one of nine members selected in the 20th NASA Astronaut class, her biography said. Her training includes Russian Language training, robotics, T-38 Training, and spacewalk training. Epps received several distinguished awards.
An asteroid is on possible collision course with Earth this November: Should we be worried?
As if there werenโt enough to think about these days, now there is talk of an asteroid supposedly heading directly for Earth. The truth of the matter is, there is an asteroid, and it is headed in our general direction, but maybe not right at us. A flying space object known as 2018 VP1 is hurtling through our solar system right now, and itโs due to be in our vicinity in early November. An internet video and a few stories have created a bit of buzz for those who look for this type of information. His insights into space, asteroids and 2018 VP1 were beyond helpful.
SpaceX looks to build 21st-century resort in tiny Texas town
HOUSTON Boca Chica Village may become a new popular Texas getaway destination as American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, looks to build its first resort. According to an online job listing, spotted by CNBCs Michael Sheetz, SpaceX is looking to employ a Resort Development Manager to oversee the development of the companys first resort in Boca Chica Village, near Brownsville, Texas. SpaceX is hiring a Resort Development Manager to develop the Boca Chica Village in Texas into a 21st century Spaceport and the companys first resort. https://t.co/AEfUaCIVGr pic.twitter.com/rhJqq2rnIV Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) August 10, 2020Boca Chica Village, once a secluded beach town, is the latest launch site of SpaceXs Starship, and the companys next-generation launch vehicle. RELATED: How a remote Texas village transformed when SpaceX became its neighborAccording to the job listing, the new resort is a part of SpaceXs plan to transform the tiny town into a 21st-century Spaceport.
How a remote Texas village transformed when SpaceX became its neighbor
BOCA CHICA, Texas โ Boca Chica is a village that was once known for its nature and quiet. When SpaceX came to town, the village transformed into a rapidly developing spaceport poised to launch humans further than they have ever gone. Neighbors say this little village will never be the same.