5 minute read
MV Astronomy Club
living in space by carol higgins
Reading statistics can be boring, but some facts and figures about space exploration are so unusual that they are quite fun to learn. For example, did you know that humans have been living in space every minute of every day since November 2, 2000? This month we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the day the first crew (Expedition 1) arrived for a four-month mission at the world’s foremost science laboratory and research facility – the International Space Station (ISS).
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Discussions and detailed planning for an Earth-orbiting station started at NASA in the mid-1980s, and space agencies in other countries were invited to participate. A strong coalition of 15 countries evolved to solve a daunting list of complex engineering challenges and work together to make the scientific collaboration a success: the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the 11 countries in the European Space Agency. Today, the ISS continues to be an exceptional example of peaceful international cooperation.
Expedition 1 launched October 31, 2000, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying three experienced space travelers: NASA’s William Shepherd, and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev. Their Soyuz spacecraft docked November 2, and they got to work activating many of the station’s systems, unpacking supplies, and getting the station up and running in preparation for future crews and missions scheduled to expand the outpost. When they arrived, the ISS had three modules: Zarya, Unity, and Zvezda. Russia built
Zarya and launched it on November 20, 1998. Unity arrived a few weeks later inside the cargo bay of Space The International Space Station Image credit: NASA/Roscosmos Shuttle Endeavour, and the crew connected the two modules. Russia launched Zvezda on July 12, 2000, and it au- technology development, physical science, tonomously docked to Zarya. and human research to find new treatments
Today, the space station is very different for cancer, osteoporosis, glaucoma, and othcompared to its initial configuration. The en- er diseases. So far almost 3,000 experiments Hanny’s Voorwerp. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, W. Keel, Galaxy Zoo Teamtire structure is 357 feet across, the size of a football field. It took 42 missions to deliver have been performed. The current crew is NASA’s Dr. Kate new modules and components over several Rubins, and Russia’s Sergey Ryzhikov and years, thanks to 27 space shuttles and five Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. They will be joined Russian rocket launches. by NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Vic-
ISS has 16 pressurized modules and air- tor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japan’s locks, and eight docking ports for visiting Soichi Noguchi when SpaceX launches spacecraft that deliver new crew members their Crew Dragon spacecraft scheduled for and supplies. The crew modules are the mid-November. size of a six-room house and include living Sometimes the station’s orbit takes it over quarters and high-tech research labs outfitted the Mohawk Valley as it circles our planet at with advanced test equipment and test racks. 17,500 miles per hour. Visit the NASA webOver 50 computers control and monitor var- site https://spotthestation.nasa.gov and enter ious systems, including a life support system your town for upcoming sighting opportuthat provides clean air and recycles about 93 nities. The invaluable research platform that percent of station wastewater. Four pairs of you’ll see has led to many of the products huge solar arrays provide electrical power. and technologies we use today, and there are
On average, crew members stay on board people living on board right now! for six months. Their daily schedule is busy Wishing you clear skies and good health!• and filled with tasks ranging from a spacewalk, station maintenance, exercising two hours every day to minimize bone loss and other problems associated with living in a Join MVAS from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM on November 14 for stargazing at weightless environment, and performing science experiments. The station offers a unique setting for research in many categories: inBarton-Brown Observatory 206 White St., Waterville, NY. cluding biology and biotechnology, Earth See the MVAS Facebook page for details. science, STEM collaborations with students,
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john krause
Current Town: Utica Instruments: Piano, Voice Age began music: 10 Education: Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, Temple University in Philadelphia, PA Current Employment: Recently retired after teaching Chorus and Drama for 23 years at Herkimer High School and the same before that at New York Mills Jr./Sr. High School. Presently working as an accompanist in local schools and colleges. Collaborations: Recently directed “Newsies” at Herkimer High School and “The Little Mermaid, Jr.” at Herkimer Middle School. Also recently music directed “Sister Act” for Stage Two Productions in Herkimer. Was a Founding member of Stage Two Productions and have worked for them since 1992. I have worked for Players of Utica, MVCC Theater Department, Hamilton College Choir productions and for many local high schools in the area. Influences: Cal Gage and Anitra Lynch of the Crane School, Christine Anderson from Temple University, Lauralyn Kolb, Pasquale Caputo, Rob Kolb, Jo Gatza, Randy Davis, and Bonnie Hibbard as a music educator. Rod and Janet Foote, Cate Daly, and Dale Cruskie as theatrical inspirations.
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