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NASA is sending Crew 12 astronauts to ISS on February 11

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The Crew 12 astronauts will soon make their method to ISS joining three remaining Spacefarers on board after previous mission was cut short due to medical worries.

NASA was planning a February 15 launch date for mission but it has moved it up to February 11.

It is now targeting to liftoff no earlier than 6,01 AM Eastern that day from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

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The crew members are in quarantine and if everything goes well on launch day the Dragon capsule they are on will dock with lab at almost 10: 30 am on February 12.

 

Spacex had to ground its Falcon 9 rocket after problem with its upper stage for few days leaving the Crew 12 flight shcedule in queries.

But on February 6 the Federal Aviation Administration cleared it for next flight.

NASA will livestream the mission prelaunch, launch and docking activities on NASA + Amazon Prime and YouTube Channel with launch coverage starting at 4 AM Eastern Time on February 11.

NASA decided to bring Crew 11 members back home on January 15 a month earlier than planned citing medical worries with one of members.

The affected astronaut was stable.

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The ISS did not have necessary instrument be able to diagnose them properly.

All four members of Crew 11 flew home leaving whole space station in hands of three people namely NASA astronaut Chris William and two cosmonauts for Russian Side.

They will joined by Crew 12 NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway europe space agency Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaey.

Why does Mars look yellow, purple and orange in ESA’s surprising latest satellite photos?

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Stunning colors and features are captured in latest image of Mars’ surface.

Mars shows off its swirling yellows oranges browns in latest satellite images from European Space Agency ESA.

The Earth toned surface reveals an impace crater and four sneaky dust devils making their method across the region.

The Rothko like photo was taken by high resolution camera on ESA Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia an area of Mars critical to research about planet past and its potential to house humans in future.

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Arcadia Planitia

Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in solar system Arcadia Planitia is region of intrigue.

Its fill with solidified lava flows that are 3 billion years old.

The region is thought to host water ice close to planet surface making it region of interest when planning futrure mission to Mars according to statement from ESA.

Arcadia Planitia is home to dust devils short lived columns of wind akin to little tornadoes.

Dust devils from when the Martian surface warms air just above it leading air to climb and pulling dust with it.

The new photo shows four dust devil as snake their method across the plains of area.

Easy to overlook you can spit them whitish puffs of dust near center of photos straddling the boundary between darket brown and lighter red parts of plain.

A mega impact crater sits in right corner of images and measure 9 miles across according to ESA.

The formation of layered material around crater is evidence that ground encompassed amounts of water ice during impace and lack of erosion of crater dates it relatively latest on geological timeline.

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Is the image out of focus?

Guts of air pick up and carry small particles of debris from planet surface which creates a minor visual haze.

Below the red section is purplish brown terrain which has high concentration of silicates and low concentration of iron notes.

The difference in colors stems from properties of sand like size and density which affect how grains accumulate and travel across Mars.

The wind cause haze is responsible for reddish region at top of images.

The red area is covered in ridges called vardangs which formed when wind erodes vulnerable rock and leaves resistant rock still standing.

Trump Signs Budget Bill Billions for Shuttle Relocation to Texas and NASA

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The US House passed President Trump mega spending bill officially named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on 3rd july.
Trump signed the bill on 4th July.
The bill consist of $10.08 billion for NASA programmes that Trump Administration had proposed cutting from Fy 2026 budget.
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Budget Proces Ongoing

This reconcillation bill provide funding to regular appropriations.

Progress on FY 2026 budget bills has been slower than usual.

The House was set to mark up the NASA consisting Commerve Justice Science CJS bill on 7th and 10th July

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How the Shuttle Sites were Chosen

Discovery is only shuttle orbiter still owned by government.

NASA used a formal method to decide ultimate display locations for four surviving orbiters.

A sum of 29 companies submitted proposals.

The main priority was to maximise public reach not programme history.

In 2011 then Administrator Charlie Bolden revealed the selections

Enterprise Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum NY

Endeavour California Science Center CA

Atlantis Kennedy Space Center FL

Discovery Smithsonia Udvar Hazy Center VA

An internal review confirmed that NAS followed its guidelines and was not required to priorities historical ties to programme.

Lawmakers Worjed Through the Recess

To meet 4th July deadline both chambers of Congress worked long hours giving up most of planned recess.

The Senate vote was tied 50-50 with Vice President Vance casting tie breaker.

Three senat republicans joined democrats and independents in opposing the bill.

In House it passed by narrow 218-214 margin with two Republicans voting no and all Democrats against.

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Mega Wins for NASA Projects

The final version of bill consist of following major allocations for NASA

$1.25 billion to ensure uninterrupted accest to ISS International Space Station until 2030.

This funding aims to avoid a gap before commerical replacements are ready.

At least $250 million per annum is set aside from FY 2025 through FY2029.

$700 million for MTO Mars Telecommunications Orbiter.

The Orbiter will developed by US commercial provide and is due by 31st December 2028.

It will help the Mars Sample Return mission and future Mars exploration efforts.

$6.72 billion is allocated to Artemis related projects consisting $2.6 billion for Gateway lunar space station.

$4.1 billion for SLS rockets help Artemis IV and V and $20 million for 4th Orion Spacecraft.

$1 billion for facility upgrades at five NASA centres

Michould Assembly Facility LA $30 million

Marshall Space Flight Center AL-$100 million

Stennis Space Center, MS $120 million

Kennedy Spece Center FL $250 million

Johnson Space Center TX $300 million.

$85 million for transffering a space Vehicl to NASA center involved in Commercial Crew Program.

This included $5 million for transportation and expected to used to relocate Shuttle discovery to Houston.

$325 million for US Deorbit Vehicle USDV which will finally deorbit the ISS into Pacific Ocean. NASA awarded $843 million to SpaceX for USDV. That did not consist of lauch costs.

This new funding is to finish the project though its not visible how it will be allocated.

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Shuttle Discovery to Leave Smithsonian?

The bill consist of $85 million for transfer of space vehicle to NASA centre involved in Commercial Crew Program.

The vehicle will go on public display at non profit venue with in 5 miles of that center.

Senators Ted Cruz and John  Corny of Texas are backing separate legislation to move Space Shuttle Discovery to Johnson Space Center in Houston.

$85 million is designated for vehicle transportation.

The two shuttle carrier aircraft use for transfer are museum exhibit themselves making logistics of move unclear.