ISS Resupply

A quick succession of international space supply trucks will arrive on the International Space Station's loading docks early in 2011, dropping off more than 11 tons (10,000 kilograms) of food, computers, medical equipment and supplies, spare parts and experiment gear - not to mention the necessities of everyday human life in orbit. Space trucks from Japan, Europe and Russia will launch to the station in January and February, followed quickly by the space shuttle Discovery. More about this topic and more about equipment and cargo ships you can find HERE.

When HTV2 (Japaneese Cargo Ship) approaches the station, Expedition 26 astronauts will use the station's robotic arm, known as "Canadarm2" to grapple and berth it to the port.

First ISS Spacewalk of 2011

Two Russian cosmonauts will venture outside the International Space Station on Jan. 21. to complete installation of a new high-speed data transmission system, remove an old plasma pulse experiment, install a camera for the new Rassvet docking module and retrieve a materials exposure package. Engineers Dmitry Kondratyev and Oleg Skripochka are scheduled to float outside the Pirs airlock at 9:20 a.m. EST to begin six-hour excursion. They will wear Russian Orlan-MK spacesuits.

Cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev has described in his blog in the web-site of Roscosmos how a spacesuit used by cosmonauts during time outside the station works. - "A spacesuit is a small spaceship. Spacesuit systems provide a supply of oxygen and dispose of carbon monoxide, maintain a comfortable temperature for a cosmonaut and also provide a radio connection"


On images below you can see (from left to right) Oleg Skripochka, Dmitry Kondratyev and Orlan-MK Spacesuit.

Live Web Chat With Planetary Scientist

On Thursday, Jan. 20 from 3:00 to 4:00 EST (20:00 - 21:00 GMT), NASA planetary scientist Dr. Renee Weber will answer your questions about the inner workings of our nearest neighbor. Joining the chat is easy! Go to this PAGE a few minutes before 3:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 20. The chat module will appear at the bottom of that page. After you log in, wait for the chat module to be activated, then ask your questions! Prepare good questions! And enjoy the chat!

Dr Renee Weber. (NASA/MSFC)

Craggy Craters on Rhea

This image obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft of Saturn's moon Rhea shows craters on the icy moon. Cassini's camera was about 200 kilometers (100 miles) away from Rhea's surface. Once again, Cassini done great job.

Image credit: NASA/JPL/SSI

NASA'S Kepler Mission Discovers Its First Rocky Planet

NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered Kepler-10b, its first confirmed rocky planet discovered to date. Kepler-10b is 1.4 times the size of Earth and orbits its star in only 0.84 days. Its not habitable zone, liquid water cannot exist.

For more information about the Kepler mission - www.nasa.gov/kepler 

Here is an interesting video with some amazing mathematics in space. Enjoy!