#Sushi and #diplomacy in #space thanks to #RussianSoyuz. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/23/russian-soyuz-brings-three-more-men-to-iss-sushi-ensues-234/

Thanks to Russian Soyuz once again, another Russian cosmonaut, American astronaut, and Japanese space traveler rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS) this Thursday. This came following a smooth lift off from the Russian launch facility in Kazakhstan 5 hours and 45 minutes earlier, on the previous Wednesday, 2102 GMT.

After takeoff, the rocket achieved orbit roughly fifteen minutes post-launch, orbiting the planet four times before it approached the space station.

THIS TIME WE’VE SENT HUMANS

Contained in the Russian Soyuz capsule were the Russian Oleg Kononenko, Kimiya Yui from Japan, and NASA’s Kjell Lindgren. For Lindgren and Yui, this was their first time. During a press conference preceding the flight upon the Russian Soyuz, Yui informed interested parties that he’s bringing sushi with him to share with the other space travelers upon his arrival.

SUSHI RENDEZVOUS TO ENSUE ON RUSSIAN SOYUZ

These new additions to the ISS join the already present crew: Gennady Padalka, Mikhail Kornienko and Scott Kelly. Mikhail and Scott are four months in to what will have been an almost year-long mission in the ISS.

This successful Russian Soyuz launch and rendezvous with the ISS is actually the tail end of a two-month delay following a failed launch of an unmanned Russian cargo ship in April. Some system failures are always to be expected, but the Russians became concerned enough to forestall future launches pending a reassessment of their rocket design. This had left the already present crew mentioned shortly above (Padalka, Kornienko and Kelly) stuck in space with dwindling supplies until a second Russian cargo ship launched successfully earlier this July.

SPACE RIVALS

This year, it seems the Russian Space program is in better standing when it comes to orbital flights. The last Russian cargo ship successfully launched also followed the failed launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket , which exploded roughly 3 minutes after launch. SpaceX has since come to believe the explosion was caused by a steel strut holding down a bottle of high-pressure helium.

SPACE FRIENDS

Of course it’s unfortunate that three major space programs, one private and two national, happened to experience such catastrophic failures in the same few months, but with three new astronauts safely aboard the ISS, we can rest assured human space ventures will continue unheeded.

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Though without sushi, this space adventure can’t be missed:

Russian Soyuz Brings Three More Men to ISS, Sushi Ensues

ISS Dodges Russian Space Debris - http://clapway.com/2015/07/16/iss-dodges-russian-space-debris436/

Imagine you’re doing routine repairs of the newest, most sensitive telescope, orbiting in low-earth orbit near the International Space Station (ISS). You’ve just reached this new level of Buddha-esque calm and detachment from the world below, which spins below you in pristine, eternal perfection. Surviving the onslaught of hundreds of particles of space debris is the last thing on your mind.

ISS IN CHAOS

Suddenly you feel a strong, low vibration coming out of the telescope, and your visor lights up. Above you half the telescope has been sheared away by something flying by very, very quickly. You detach from the spinning junk lense and push off, turning around to return to the ISS. You dodge a few extra globules of metallic blur on your way to the airlock, and just as you close it behind you, you catch white, blue and red rectangles zapping by the window. You recognize that pattern. You turn around to your fellow cosmonaut, and he’s floating there with arms raised, palms flat, and says in a deep, accented English: “it’s Russian, eh?”

THIS ISN’T HOW SANDRA BULLOCK OUTLIVED GEORGE CLOONEY

No really, the crew of the ISS recently received permission to re-enter the space station proper after having to take shelter from the throes of passing space debris. This started less than two hours after a live interview with WDRB news Thursday morning, NASA made an announcement explaining that the crew had just taken shelter in a capsule called the Soyuz, presently docked with the station. This was done as a precautionary measure in the unlikely event that the passing space debris from Russian satellites did enough damage to necessitate that the crew make an emergency return to Earth.

The debris was predicted to come closest to striking and chewing the station into pieces at about eight a.m. this morning, NYC time.

AFTER THE BULLET-quick DEBRIS PASSED

Very little time passed before NASA announced an “all clear,” for the crew to the media. More specifically, they said that the crew of the ISS had returned to normal operations following permission to do so at just after seven a.m., central standard time.NASA continued, “All station systems are operating normally and the crew will move out of the Soyuz spacecraft in which they stayed during the space debris pass. They will reconfigure the station for normal operations and then continue their research work during the day.”

In fact, this is the fourth time since ISS was completed that the crew had to take such extreme shelter. Let’s assume they are breathing a long sigh of relief up there.

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Take your notes in the field on the moleskine voyageur traveller’s notebook

ISS Dodges Russian Space Debris

"Being alone in space takes peace and quiet to a whole different level, I would suspect." - http://clapway.com/2015/07/01/3-things-you-could-accomplish-if-you-were-in-space-for-803-days/

A new record was set for the most time spent in space by a human being. Russian cosmonaut, Gennady Padalka, has spent a total of 803 days in space. Padalka is currently on his fifth trip into space and once he returns, on September 11, he will have spent 877 days in space.

During his time in outer space, he conducted experiments and went on numerous space walks. His days spent in space were not consecutive but envision what you could do in solitude for two years and four months, uninterrupted. Here are three things you could accomplish if you were in space for 803 days:

1. Practice Eccentric Skills

You will have so much free time to practice cool things you wouldn’t be able to do with the force of gravity surrounding you. You can become a Mortal Kombat character and work on your bicycle kicks. You can move on from your kiddie cartwheels and progress to full on back flips. And if you are one of those disgusting people that want to try to catching their spit in their mouth, you can do that too. But I don’t recommend it.

2. Catch Up On Your Reading

I don’t know about you, but I love reading. I’ve spent entire weekends doing nothing but drowning myself in a good book. Recently, I’ve been too busy to sit and read, or do anything fun, so I would jump at the chance to catch up on my favorite romance novel. You could teach yourself a new language and come back to earth more intelligent than you left. If I were in space for 803 days, reading would definitely be at the top of my list.

3. Self-Reflection

Being alone in space takes peace and quiet to a whole different level, I would suspect. The time you have secluded, without distractions can be used for self-reflection. You can learn new things about yourself and appreciate the characteristics you considered flaws. A lot of people don’t get the chance to reflect but with your time in space, you have a ton of chances.

In reality, you may never get the chance for complete isolation but you should definitely take a step back from the world. Continue to develop your skills and learn something new everyday. And when you think you’ve run out of things to learn, just think, what could I accomplish if I were in space for 803 days?

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Definitely bring a notebook with you on this long, isolated journey. Moleskine has one for this very occasion:

3 Things You Could Accomplish If You Were in Space For 803 Days

After Delays, Three Astronauts Finally Return From ISS - http://clapway.com/2015/06/11/after-delays-three-astronauts-finally-return-from-issafter-a-prolonged-stay-of-over-6-months-at-the-international-space-station-three-astronauts-american-terry-virts-esas-samantha-crisoto-987/

After a prolonged stay of over 6 months at the International Space Station, three astronauts- American Terry Virts, ESA’s Samantha Crisotoforetti, and Roscosmos’ Anton Shkaplerov landed in a Soyuz TMA-15M capsule in Kazakhstan at 13:44 UTC. The three crew members first reached ISS on the 24^th of November, 2014, which means that they spent a whole 199 days in space. Once they touched down, teams were on hand in minutes to help them out.

 

Delays of over a month plagued the three crew members.

The three astronauts were meant to stay on ISS for less time, but their departure was delayed for roughly a month. The delay was blamed on the Russian investigation of a Progress M-27M cargo ship that had been struck. Roscosmos finished its investigation and went back to spaceflight on June 5^th, with a military payload.

 

Completion of mission marked a few space milestones.

The return from the mission marked the longest space mission for a female astronaut and longest uninterrupted spaceflight for an ESA member. The previous longest ESA astronaut space mission was 193 days. Both of the honors went to astronaut Samantha Crisotoforetti, who also holds records for most spacewalks and longest cumulative spacewalk time (50 hours and 40 minutes). The mission also marked the second time in space for both Terry Virts and Anton Shkapelrov, who are now a third of the way into their yearlong stay in space. During their stay, a ot of research was conducted on genetics and biology. Several generations of ants, fruit flies, plants, and worms needed for several studies from around the world were kept and grew on board.

 

Two astronauts are still on ISS, with three more soon to join.

Don’t worry, ISS has not been left unmanned. Commander Gennady Padalka and cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos, as well as astronaut Scott Kelly of NASA, will remain on board, with veteran Padalka taking control. The three will serve as the welcoming party for three more astronauts slated to board the space station: Kimya Yui of JAXA, the Japanese Exploration Agency, Kjell Lindgren of NASA, and Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos.

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If you want to get your kids interested in space, try the Space Scouts Summer Adventure

After Delays, Three Astronauts Finally Return From ISS