A Twenty-Year (And Counting) Mission
November 4, 2020 7:27 PM Subscribe
Amid all the terrestrial chaos, an anniversary slipped past almost unnoticed: humans have occupied space for a solid twenty years, courtesy of the International Space Station, a joint project of NASA, Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (ASC or CSA, depending). Since 2000, over two hundred astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists from various nations have taken turns flying above our heads.
The station is divided into two main sections: the Russian Orbital Segment, which handles guidance, navigation, and control for the entire station, and the US Orbital Segment, which includes laboratories and other functions, including the much-photographed Cupola.Among many, many other things, the ISS has seen the end of the US Space Shuttle program and the beginning of private space companies sending craft to it. The future of the ISS, including its eventual deorbiting and replacement, remains, shall we say, up in the air.
Let's go out with a real astronaut paying musical tribute to a fictional one on the station.
(many, many previouslies)
The station is divided into two main sections: the Russian Orbital Segment, which handles guidance, navigation, and control for the entire station, and the US Orbital Segment, which includes laboratories and other functions, including the much-photographed Cupola.Among many, many other things, the ISS has seen the end of the US Space Shuttle program and the beginning of private space companies sending craft to it. The future of the ISS, including its eventual deorbiting and replacement, remains, shall we say, up in the air.
Let's go out with a real astronaut paying musical tribute to a fictional one on the station.
(many, many previouslies)
Our various space missions have always inspired me. Way back as a kid I had a Skylab pop-up book, even. I'm so glad this mission has continued for 2 decades, and I hope it continues in existence and inspiration while we try to move into next steps with our journey outward from our planet.
posted by hippybear at 10:19 PM on November 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 10:19 PM on November 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
Crew-1, the first crewed operational flight of a SpaceX Dragon to the ISS (four crew members staying for a six-month rotation), is currently scheduled to launch in about 10 days, at 7:49 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 14! Victor Glover, the pilot, will become the first Black person to be an expedition crew member on the International Space Station.
posted by sigmagalator at 11:41 PM on November 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sigmagalator at 11:41 PM on November 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
But no Brian Blessed?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:13 AM on November 5, 2020
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:13 AM on November 5, 2020
The ISS crew apparently were yelling loudly in celebration, but alas, we here on Earth missed it, because in space, no one can hear you scream...
posted by caution live frogs at 11:50 AM on November 5, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by caution live frogs at 11:50 AM on November 5, 2020 [1 favorite]
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Pretty good look at ISS's legacy and the future of low earth orbit.
posted by Fukiyama at 7:32 PM on November 4, 2020 [3 favorites]