Space Stations
A plan by NASA to bring astronauts back to the Moon in 2028 and to Mars in the following decade
At a press conference, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the new version of the agency’s plans to bring astronauts back to the Moon and build the Lunar Gateway over the next decade as steps to bring astronauts to Mars during the 2030s. Jim Bridenstine referred to the NASA budget for 2020, which at $21 billion sees an increase granted also to push ahead with these new plans.
Mission SpX-DM1: the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft has reached the International Space Station
A little while ago, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station’s Harmony module by completing the first leg of its SpX-DM1 (SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1) or SpaceX Demo-1 mission that started yesterday with its launch. The opening of the hatch is scheduled for 13.45 UTC and all the tasks concerning the Crew Dragon will be completed rather quickly, since its departure is scheduled for March 8.
The return of three astronauts from the International Space Station marks the end of Expedition 57
A little while ago astronauts Alexander Gerst and Serena Auñón-Chancellor and cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev returned to Earth on the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, that landed without problems in Kazakhstan. The three of them spent a bit more than 6 months on the International Space Station, where they arrived on June 8, 2018 as part of Expedition 56.
Mission CRS-16: the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has reached the International Space Station
A little while ago the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station. Alexander Gerst, assisted by his colleague Serena Auñón-Chancellor, managed the operation then started moving the Dragon to the berthing point at the Poisk module. The cargo spacecraft blasted off last Wednesday.
