NASTAR Center’s Post

NASA is reconsidering its desire for a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit during the transition from the International Space Station to commercial platforms. - by Frederic Eger - Video by CSA: Cubics call - Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy mentioned the "elephant in the room" of a desired continuous human presence in LEO. NASA has had astronauts in orbit on the ISS continuously since 2000. NASA will use Crew Dragon for both the Crew-10 mission to the ISS, scheduled for no earlier than February 2025, and the Crew-11 mission, scheduled for no earlier than July. NASA is also evaluating if it will require Boeing to perform another test flight of its Starliner spacecraft. Canada's Mission Control plans to demonstrate AI on Spire cubesat, a technology demonstration mission focused on space-based artificial intelligence. Experts suggest that advancements in robotics and teleoperations may change how space operations typically handled by humans performing spacewalks are conducted. They discuss the potential benefits of AI for space operations as well as challenges like the need for powerful space-based computers and extensive training datasets. Estonia became the 45th country to sign the Artemis Accords, and countries that have signed the Accords say they need to redouble their efforts to encourage more nations to join. Additionally, Glasgow's Craft Prospect has been selected as the European Space Agency's Rising Star, and Aetherflux joins the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF).

India and the US are collaborating to train an ISRO astronaut for the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant step in boosting critical technology initiatives. https://lnkd.in/dDcDq9zB This collaboration is akin to the Big Room Trainings in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), where different teams come together to align, plan, and execute strategies effectively. Just as NASA and ISRO works as enabling and stream-Aligned team to achieve a common goal, in SAFe, we have Enabling Teams and Stream-Aligned Teams to ensure smooth and efficient delivery of value. The power of collaboration and structured training cannot be overstated! #ISRO #NASA #SAFe #BigRoomTraining #Agile #ScaledAgileFramework #EnablingTeam #StreamAlignedTeam #Technology #Collaboration #Innovation #SpaceExploration #AgileTransformation

On June 17, the U.S. and India announced cooperation on human spaceflight, including flying an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISS): 1️⃣ A fact sheet released by the #WhiteHouse highlighted progress in various technology sectors during the U.S.-India iCET meeting in New Delhi, chaired by the national security advisers of both countries. 2️⃣ The fact sheet noted "securing a carrier for the first-ever joint effort between NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and ISRO astronauts at the ISS," referencing a previous announcement about training Indian astronauts for a joint mission to the #ISS in 2024. 3️⃣ Details on the mission's carrier and schedule remain undisclosed. Eric Garcetti, U.S. ambassador to India, indicated the mission would occur this year, but a #NASA spokesperson said details are still being finalized. 4️⃣ The likely scenario for the mission is a private astronaut mission, such as Axiom Space's Ax-4, scheduled for late this year, though crew and training plans are not yet revealed. 5️⃣ The fact sheet mentioned a completed “Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation” without details. The framework was expected to be finished by the end of 2023, and advanced training for #ISRO astronauts at NASA Johnson Space Center is planned. 6️⃣ The U.S. and India are also exploring India's participation in the Lunar Gateway Program and collaboration in other space technologies. 7️⃣ Indian startups 114 AI, Inc and 3rdiTech Inc. are partnering with the U.S. Space Force on space situational awareness technologies. 8️⃣ NASA and ISRO have collaborated on the NISAR Earth science mission. NISAR’s launch was postponed to modify its antenna, with no new date disclosed. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #SpaceTech

Aspiring to Be an Astronaut? Here’s What It Really Takes to Become an Astronaut! ⬇ - The journey takes years: It typically takes 10-15 years of education, experience, and training to become an astronaut. 🎓 - The competition is fierce: NASA receives thousands of applications for just a handful of astronaut positions, with the odds being roughly 1 in 12,000. - Physical fitness is essential: Astronauts must pass strict health and fitness tests to ensure they can handle the demands of space travel. - Diverse experiences matter: While STEM degrees are key, experience in fields like aviation, medicine, and the military also add value. - Astronaut training is intense: The 2-year astronaut candidate program includes everything from spacewalk training to survival skills. - Teamwork is critical: Astronauts must excel in high-pressure environments and work seamlessly with international crews. Curious to know more? Learn about the full journey to becoming an astronaut in our blog! #astronomy #space #unoverse #astronaut #nasa #science https://lnkd.in/dDrwRm46

New Technology Helps Astronauts and Engineers Inspect Equipment in Space Space exploration relies on cameras to guide robots, inspect spacecraft, and navigate distant surfaces. But raw space videos and images lack context, making it harder for astronauts and mission control to find important imagery. New technology being used at NASA’s Johnson Space Center processes images and videos in real time using state-of-the-art machine learning tools, identifying important spacecraft hardware and other objects. With more informative visuals, astronauts can use the NASA Object Detection System to quickly identify problems, make smarter decisions, and work more efficiently—whether they’re exploring Mars, inspecting equipment, or landing on the Moon. Beyond making missions safer, this tech also improves the experience for engineers back on Earth, helping them understand the complexities of spaceflight environments and how objects interact and relate to each other. Learn more about this project, its key partners, and its NASA centers on our TechPort database: https://lnkd.in/e_evpbps

Raw pictures and videos in space are necessary for both the astronauts and mission control. But, they lack context, and that makes it difficult for them to be used in mission critical operations. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration is now using #MachineLearning to identify spacecraft hardware and other objects in real time. This allows them to work more efficiently and handle problems immediately instead of waiting for human analysis. It's #IoT in space! From the very beginning, NASA has been at the forefront of IoT, and those very solutions are used both in space and right here on Earth.

🌌 Exploring Innovation: NASA & #XTrack VisionAI's Common Journey 🌐 As we look to the stars for inspiration, it's fascinating to see how groundbreaking technologies emerge in different fields yet align in principles. XTrack began its #VisionAI projects around the same time NASA initiated its advanced AI systems for autonomous decision-making in space exploration. This parallel development isn't about one inspiring the other—it's about shared innovation tackling complex challenges. 🚀💡 NASA's latest AI integrations, like the On-Board Planner and autonomous resource management systems, allow spacecraft to adapt to dynamic environments, similar to how XTrack VisionAI dynamically optimizes waste logistics. Their approach to event-based replanning mirrors our adaptive algorithms for real-time routing and container prioritization. Both organizations emphasized edge computing and real-time AI as pivotal. For example, NASA uses AI to process and prioritize satellite data onboard, reducing latency for critical insights—a principle we embrace in VisionAI to minimize data bottlenecks and ensure swift logistics decisions. These similarities validate that distributed, AI-driven systems are the way forward in dynamic environments, whether on Mars or in smart cities managing waste flow. 🌍 Much like NASA tests its AI under extreme conditions, XTrack ensures its VisionAI systems thrive in real-world scenarios—poor lighting, adverse weather, and complex waste patterns. We're excited to share this journey of innovation as both teams strive to redefine efficiency and adaptability in their respective domains. #InnovationEverywhere #AI #WasteLogistics #SpaceExploration NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration #NASA

🚀BBC World Newshour space suit interview As many of you may have heard, two astronauts currently on the International Space Station are facing a unique challenge. Due to issues with Boeing Starliner it is yet to be determined when they can come back... While all parties are working very hard on this problem, something interesting in the space suit industry has also gotten media attention. Currently space suits are designed by commercial parties. Leaving a compatibility issue between the Boeing Starliner suits and the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Without standardized space suits in the industry future problems may arise even further. I had the opportunity to discuss this situation in more detail during my interview on BBC World Service's *Newshour* yesterday. Where we also discuss the importance of Analog missions and the space suit collaboration in the analog industry. You can listen to the full discussion starting at the 39-minute mark here: https://lnkd.in/e8XdRpkP The safety of astronauts is always the top priority in space and analog missions, and while this is certainly an unexpected scenario, I have no doubt that NASA and all involved are exploring all possible options to bring them home safely. ICEE.Space

Today is International Day of Human Space Flight!👨🚀 Spaceflight requires astronauts to perform predefined tasks as part of a team effort. Space-Fit, one of our startups, created an electrical muscle stimulation technical suit that aids astronauts' rehabilitation after space missions, but it can also be used for spaceflight and preparation training. For more information about the preparation, watch the European Space Agency - ESA!👇

Why is the launch of Boeing’s Starliner significant? This will be Starliner’s first crewed test flight. If the mission is successful, Boeing will become the second private firm to be able to provide NASA crew transport to and from the ISS, alongside Elon Musk's SpaceX. Starliner is a partially reusable crew capsule, officially known as CST-100 (crew space transportation). The crew module can be reused up to 10 times, with a six-month turnaround. The other is the service module — the powerhouse of the spacecraft — which supplies electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air, and water in space. After NASA retired its space shuttle fleet in 2011, it invited commercial space companies to help it transport astronauts and cargo to the ISS. Two companies got the contracts: SpaceX and Boeing. While SpaceX has been ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS since 2020, Boeing is yet to successfully launch its first crewed flight, something which may change on Tuesday. #Space #boeing #nasa https://lnkd.in/ggz8Ju37