Page 14 - Aerotech News and Review 11-4-16

Astronaut, crewmates safely return from ISS
NASA astronaut and Expedition 49 crew member Kate Rubins, who be- came the first person to sequence DNA in space, returned to Earth Oct. 29 after a successful mission aboard the Inter- national Space Station.
Rubins and her crewmates Anatoly Ivanishin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, touched down in their Soyuz MS-01 at 11:58 p.m., EDT, southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan in Ka- zakhstan.
Rubins, who has a degree in mo- lecular biology, contributed to several new studies taking place for the first time aboard the space station, includ- ing the Biomolecule Sequencer experi- ment. The ability to sequence the DNA of living organisms in space could en- able astronauts to diagnose an illness, or identify microbes growing in the space station and determine whether they represent a health threat.
During her time on the orbiting
complex, Rubins ventured outside the
confines of the station for two space-
walks. During the first one on Aug. 19,
she and NASA astronaut Jeff Williams
installed the first international docking
adapter. Outfitted with a host of sen-
sors and systems, the adapter’s main
purpose is to provide a port for space-
craft bringing astronauts to the station
in the future. Its first users are expected
to be the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX
Crew Dragon spacecraft now in development in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. During her second spacewalk Sept. 1, Ru- bins and Williams retracted a spare thermal control radiator and installed two new high-definition cameras.
Together, the Expedition 49 crew members contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science aboard the world-class orbiting laboratory during their 115 days in space.
The trio also welcomed three cargo spacecraft delivering several tons of supplies and research experiments. Rubins was involved in the grapple of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft to the station in October, the com- pany’s sixth contracted commercial resupply mission, and SpaceX’s Dragon ninth contracted mission in July. One Russian ISS Progress cargo spacecraft also docked to the station in July.
Rubins and Onishi have each spent a total of 115 days in space during their first mission. Ivanishin now has 280 days in space from two flights. Expedition 50, with Shane Kimbrough of NASA in command and his crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos, will operate the station for three weeks until the arrival of three new
crew members.
Peggy Whitson of NASA, Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space
Agency) and Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch Nov. 17 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
Hometown Heroes
U.S. Air Force Airman Michael R. Salas graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Com- munity College of the Air Force.
Salas is the son of Robert Salas of Palmdale, Calif., and Anita Mackey of Lancaster, Calif., and grandson of Beckie Tejada of Palmdale, Calif.
He graduated in 2015 from Highland High School, Palmdale,
Calif.
U.S. Air Force Airman Jalen L. Henry graduated from ba-
sic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four cred- its toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Henry is the son of Elnora Henry of Palmdale, Calif.
He is a 2013 graduate of Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, Burbank, Calif.
U.S. Air Force Airman Luke M. Vermillion graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Com- munity College of the Air Force.
Vermillion is a 2016 graduate of Gorman Learning Center, Lancaster, Calif.
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