Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut, announced his bid for the U.S. Senate in Texas as a Democrat, criticizing the Democratic establishment and highlighting his military and space background. He is the first Democrat to enter the race for the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, amid a potentially crowded primary field, with other Democrats considering runs. Virts also criticized Republican candidates and the current political landscape in Texas.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft brought a crew of three, including a NASA astronaut, back to Earth after undocking from the International Space Station and landing in Kazakhstan. The crew consisted of a Russian cosmonaut, a Belarusian guest flier, and the NASA astronaut, who had spent 204 days in space and participated in a spacewalk. The returning crew members were in good spirits and healthy, with the Belarusian flier expressing gratitude and the NASA astronaut heading back to Houston, while the remaining crew members continue their mission on the space station.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft successfully launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying a Russian, a Belarusian, and an American en route to the International Space Station (ISS) after a glitch caused a delay in the original launch. The crew, consisting of NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus, is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Monday. This mission highlights continued collaboration in space exploration between the United States and Russia despite strained relations due to the war in Ukraine.
A Russian Soyuz rocket is set to launch three people, including a NASA astronaut, to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 21. The launch will be live-streamed, and the trio is expected to arrive at the ISS a few hours after liftoff. This mission marks the third spaceflight for the NASA astronaut and the fourth for the Russian cosmonaut, while the third spaceflyer will be in orbit for 12 days. Additionally, SpaceX is scheduled to launch a robotic cargo mission to the ISS on the same day.
Syracuse native and NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, set to fly into space next month, will carry a special photo of her late mother on board. Epps, who overcame personal tragedy after her mother's passing shortly after her selection as an astronaut, has persevered through a career in physics, aerospace engineering, and roles at Ford Motor Company and the CIA before joining NASA in 2009. Originally scheduled for a 2018 mission to the International Space Station, Epps was later reassigned to the upcoming SpaceX flight to the ISS, demonstrating her resilience and dedication to her goal of space exploration.
Mary Cleave, a NASA astronaut who served on two space shuttle missions in the 1980s and later led climate change research, has passed away at the age of 76. Dr. Cleave joined NASA after seeing a recruitment flier and went on to participate in missions aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. She witnessed the Challenger disaster in 1986 and was part of the post-disaster assessment teams. Dr. Cleave's passion for environmental research led her to study ocean ecology and the effects of climate change using satellite data. She emphasized the urgency of addressing human-driven environmental crises and saw space-based data collection as crucial in understanding these issues.
Northrop Grumman has announced that an upcoming Cygnus spacecraft mission will be named after Dr. Patricia Hilliard Robertson, a NASA astronaut and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) graduate who died before she could go to space. The S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson will be the 20th mission of the Cygnus spacecraft, which supplies equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. Dr. Hilliard Robertson was recognized for her accomplishments in space medicine, flight instruction, and piloting, and her service as an astronaut. She is remembered as an inspiration in medicine, aviation, and space exploration.
Frank Borman, the NASA astronaut who commanded Apollo 8, the first crewed mission to orbit the moon, and later served as the chief executive of Eastern Air Lines, has died at the age of 95. Borman played a significant role in space exploration, including setting an endurance record in space during the Gemini 7 mission. As the CEO of Eastern Air Lines, he successfully piloted the carrier through a challenging business climate but ultimately faced its takeover and demise. Borman's legacy includes his contributions to space exploration and his leadership in the aviation industry.
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin are set to return to Earth after completing a yearlong mission aboard the International Space Station, the longest flight in U.S. space history. Originally planned for a six-month stay, the crew had to extend their mission due to a coolant leak on their Soyuz spacecraft. They will undock from the space station and land in Kazakhstan, marking a total of 370 days in space.
The film "A Million Miles Away" tells the inspiring story of José Hernández, a former migrant worker who became a NASA astronaut. The movie, which debuted as the most popular streaming film on Amazon Prime, portrays Hernández's journey from working in the fields of California to his historic space mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2009. Despite facing numerous rejections, Hernández's perseverance and the support of his family helped him achieve his dream. The film highlights the importance of determination, education, and the need for a more welcoming environment for migrants. Hernández hopes the movie will motivate viewers to realize their own potential and dreams.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft, named MS-24, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) carrying two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut. The spacecraft arrived at the ISS just three hours after lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The three spaceflyers joined seven others on board the orbiting lab, with two cosmonauts embarking on a year-long mission. The arrival of MS-24 also sets the stage for the departure of another Soyuz spacecraft carrying cosmonauts and an American astronaut on September 27.
The Amazon Prime Video biopic "A Million Miles Away" tells the inspiring true story of José Hernández, a former NASA astronaut who started as a migrant farmworker. The film follows Hernández's journey from a rural village in Mexico to the fields of California and eventually to space. Starring Michael Peña as Hernández, the movie highlights the sacrifices made by his family and community to help him achieve his dream. Hernández hopes viewers will be inspired and take away the message that dreams can be realized with hard work and effort.
Karol "Bo" Bobko, a former NASA astronaut, has passed away at the age of 85. Bobko flew on three space shuttle missions, including the first launch of two different orbiters. He joined NASA in 1969 as part of the seventh group of astronauts, which included members from the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory program. Bobko's missions included notable achievements such as the first spacewalk from the space shuttle and the first flight of the space shuttle Atlantis. He logged a total of 16 days, 2 hours, and 3 minutes in space. Bobko was honored with several awards for his contributions to the U.S. space program and was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2011.
A SpaceX rocket carrying a former NASA astronaut and three paying customers has taken off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on a weeklong stay aboard the International Space Station.
