International Space Station

New Vision Ignited Commercial Revolution at Florida’s Spaceport

By Bob Granath | November 17, 2021

Well before the final Space Shuttle touched down in 2011, the burgeoning commercial space industry was expressing interest in expanding business pursuits in space. At the same time, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center found itself in a unique position. For over 30 years most of the center’s resources were dedicated for the expressed purpose of supporting the Space Shuttle Program. Now Kennedy was left with excess facilities and capacity with no program requirements or funding.

Crew-3 Mission Continues NASA, SpaceX Rotation to Space Station

By Bob Granath | November 10, 2021

Another diverse crew of astronauts has launched from NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center for an extended stay aboard the International Space Station. A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft streaked into the night sky atop the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Florida Spaceport.

Crew-2 Astronauts Splashdown Off Florida’s Gulf Coast

By Bob Granath | November 9, 2021

After more than six months aboard the International Space Station, the Crew 2 astronauts splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida at 10:33 p.m. EST on Nov. 8, 2021. Shane Kimbrough and  Megan McArthur of NASA were aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft with Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency’s Thomas Pesquet of France.

Visionaries Sparked Economic Resurgence on Space Coast

By Bob Granath | October 3, 2021

On Sept. 16, 2021, SpaceX launched its Inspiration4 mission with four civilian crewmembers. It was the company’s first fully private flight sending humans to orbit. It was an example of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center serving as a premier multi-user spaceport, supporting an ever-expanding commercial industry, providing transportation to space for both people and cargo.

Space Shuttle Superlatives Create Bigger-Than-Life ‘Gee Whiz’ Facts

By Bob Granath | September 17, 2021

The Space Shuttle era was one of superlatives. Everything was bigger than life. The factoids associated with the program are examples of the historic size, capabilities and achievements of the shuttle and the team that made their achievements possible.

Skylab Paved Way for International Space Station

By Bob Granath | May 18, 2021

The International Space Station has been in operation with research ongoing since Nov. 2, 2000. America’s first space station was Skylab. Launched 48 years ago, it was a complex orbiting scientific laboratory that helped pave the way for permanent operations in low-Earth orbit. It was a program of unparalleled scientific scope that continues to yield highly valuable information about the universe and life within it.

Crew-1 Astronauts Return to Earth After 168-Day Mission

By Bob Granath | May 2, 2021

After 168 days in space, NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, returned to Earth landing in pre-dawn darkness at 2:56 a.m. EDT on May 2, 2021 completing the Crew-1 mission. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took place Nov. 15, 2021, from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Continues Commercial Crew Rotation with Liftoff of Crew-2

By Bob Granath | April 23, 2021

A SpaceX Falcon 9 streaked into the early morning sky from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center launching four astronauts to the International Space Station. The Crew-2 mission is the first to fly two astronauts from other nations as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket took place at 5:49 a.m. EDT April 23, 2021.

For 20 years, Astronauts Live, Work Aboard Space Station

By Bob Granath | December 17, 2020

The SpaceX Crew-1 spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station on Nov. 16, 2020 with NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Their arrival continues two decades of work by astronauts from around the world living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Operational with Liftoff of Crew-1

By Bob Granath | November 15, 2020

The skies over Florida’s Space Coast lit up as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocketed from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center sending four astronauts to the International Space Station. After they arrive, the orbiting laboratory will be staffed for the first time by seven astronauts and cosmonauts increasing the amount of time available for research and additional opportunities for discoveries.

Tag: International Space Station