Sierra Nevada Unveils ‘Shooting Star’ Cargo Module for Dream Chaser Missions to ISS for NASA

Former Space Shuttle astronaut Steve Lindsey, VP Sierra Nevada Corp, unveils the ‘Shooting Star’ mockup cargo module at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, FL, on Nov. 19, 2019. The cargo module attachment for the Dream Chaser^® mini-shuttle spacecraft will launch on resupply missions for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS) starting in 2021.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com 

30 Nov 2019

Ken Kremer – For  SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced ‘Shooing Star’ as the name for the new commercial Cargo Module unveiled last week at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for the firms reusable Dream Chaser^® mini-shuttle spacecraft that will eventually launch on resupply missions for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS) starting in 2021. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/sierra-nevada-unveils-shooting-star-cargo-module-for-dream-chaser-missions-to-iss-for-nasa/

Thanksgiving Night 2019 Skywatching Feast - Moon, Venus and Jupiter Dinnertime Conjunction

Thanksgiving Night conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon, Venus about 1.5 degrees below and Jupiter about 5 degrees to the west (right) at 6:20 p.m. EST, Nov. 28, 2019 from Turkey Lake rest stop in Orlando, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com 

Nov 28

Ken Kremer - - For Spaceupclose.com and RocketSTEM

ORLANDO, FL - Whether you’re on Earth or in Space the Thanksgiving holiday is a joyeous time to give thanks for our blessings, cherish our family and friends and gaze up at the stars in wonder we are alive in exciting times – following up on my Thanksgiving Day story about the ISS and Astronaut Snoopy.

Just by chance I observed a spectacular conjunction of the cresent Moon, Venus and Jupiter low in the southwest sky on Thanksgiving Night, Thursday, Nov. 28 – truly a dinnertime skywatching feast soon after enjoying a dinnertime turkey Thanksgiving Day 2019 feast.

Enjoy my lead photo.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/thanksgiving-night-2019-skywatching-feast-moon-venus-and-jupiter-dinnertime-conjunction/

Happy Thanksgiving 2019 from the Space Station Crew in Earth Orbit and Astronaut Snoopy in NYC

Right now, half of the crew members on board the International Space Station are American astronauts who are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, and they have a message for us. View the video to see what the holiday means to NASA’s Christina Koch, Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan and get a look at what Thanksgiving in space will be like in 2019

For Spaceupclose.com and RocketSTEM

Cape Canaveral, FL –  The crew of Expedition 61 sends their heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving greetings today on Thanksgiving Day 2019, from the International Space Station (ISS) as Astronaut Snoopy parades through New York City for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Nov. 28.

Watch the video greeting above from NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan currently living and working aboard the ISS.

Full story: 

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/happy-thanksgiving-2019-from-the-space-station-crew-in-earth-orbit-and-astronaut-snoopy-in-nyc/

Sunset Static Fire Test Sets up SpaceX Cargo Launch to Space Station for NASA Post Thanksgiving: Photos

SpaceX conducts successful sunset static fire test of Falcon 9 first stage engines at 5:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 26, 2019 with exhaust wafting overhead at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for CRS-19 resupply mission to the ISS targeted for launch Dec. 4.  The scene includes iconic VAB at left and a reflecting sailboat and sitting pelican at right as seen from the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com 

26 November 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

Titusville, FL- A successful static fire test at sunset this evening Nov. 26 by SpaceX just before the Thanksgiving holiday sets up a post-Thanksgiving commercial cargo resupply launch of science and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA next week on Dec. 4 from the Florida Space Coast. 

Right at the edge of darkness at sunset at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) tonight Tuesday, Nov. 26, SpaceX engineers briefly ignited all 9 engines on their Falcon 9 first stage booster for a hold down static fire test at Space Launch Complex-40 to affirm its readiness for launch next week Wednesday, Dec 4.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/sunset-static-fire-test-sets-up-spacex-cargo-launch-to-space-station-for-nasa-post-thanksgiving/

Apollo 12 - 50th Anniversary Retrospective NASA’s 2nd Human Moon Landing: Gallery

This photo shows Apollo 12 Commander astronaut Pete Conrad grasping the Surveyor 3 camera with his right hand during the second extravehicular activity (EVA-2) on Nov. 20, 1969. This picture was taken by astronaut Alan L. Bean, Lunar Module pilot. The "Intrepid" landed on the Moon's Ocean of Storms only 530 feet from Surveyor III. The television camera and several other components were taken from Surveyor III and brought back to earth for scientific analysis. Surveyor III soft-landed on the Moon on April 20, 1967. Credit: NASA

24 November 2019

Ken Kremer –  For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

Titusville, FL- This month marks the 50^th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 12 on Nov. 14, 1969 – which goes down in history as NASA’s second Apollo mission to land humans on the Moon on Nov. 19, 1969 with namely Commander Charles “Pete” Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) Alan L. Bean at the ‘Oceans of Storms’ (Oceanus Procellarum) thus becoming the third and fourth humans respectively to set foot on the lunar surface.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/apollo-12-50th-anniversary-retrospective-nasas-2nd-human-moon-landing-gallery/

Legless Quadruply Launched SpaceX Falcon 9 Lowered Horizontal, Landing Legs Detached after Retraction Unsuccessful: Photos

1^st Quadruply launched/recovered SpaceX Falcon 9 1st stage is tilted and lowered horizontally by two cranes and crews working together around 245 PM EST Nov. 19, 2019, four days after arriving vertical atop OCISLY droneship into Port Canaveral, FL on Nov. 15. From Nov. 11 SpaceX Starlink launch.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

23 November 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM  

PORT CANAVERAL/CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – The first ever quadruply launched & landed SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster from the Starlink liftoff was leglessly lowered horizontal on Tuesday, Nov. 19 and transported back to Cape Canaveral after all four landing legs were completely detached when technicians attempts to retract them were unsuccessful in Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/legless-quadruply-launched-spacex-falcon-9-lowered-horizontal-landing-legs-detached-after-retraction-unsuccessful-photos/

Atlas V Arrives at Port Canaveral on ULA RocketShip Vessel for ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter Launch: Photos

The R/S RocketShip transport vessel arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida on Nov 20, 2019 and sails past Jetty Park Pier to deliver a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V first stage and Centaur upper stage from ULA's factory in Decatur, Alabama. The rocket will launch Solar Orbiter on its journey to study the Sun for ESA and NASA in Feb. 2020.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

23 November 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

PORT CANAVERAL, FL – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket destined to launch the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter probe on an unprecedented mission to study the Sun up-close arrived into Port Canaveral, Florida this week aboard the R/S RocketShip transport vessel on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 20. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/atlas-v-arrives-at-port-canaveral-on-ula-rocketship-vessel-for-esa-nasa-solar-orbiter-launch-photos/