The privilege of seeing the space station up close has previously only been extended to astronauts — few of which are allowed on the orbital laboratory at one time.

Now, you can join this select group and see the space station in a whole new way.

This 3D rendering of the International Space Station allows you to tour one of mankind’s greatest achievements from your couch. You can finally see what the world’s only space-based laboratory is actually like.

Tour the International Space Station!

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Right now, several private companies are using the International Space Station to do groundbreaking research and product development.

One of those companies is Merck. Known for their groundbreaking vaccines, cancer research and medicines – Merck’s Space Station research could lead to life-altering discoveries.

Using the Space Station, Merck is looking at space-based protein crystallization as a way to create highly concentrated monoclonal antibodies (MABs) – which would make it easier to transport, store and deliver the medicine to patients. MABs are used to treat a variety of ailments from arthritis to cancer.

Companies like Merck, who are pioneering space-based research, demonstrate why the Space Station is one of our most important scientific assets. What goes on up there, is important down here

Read more about the work Merck is doing aboard the International Space Station.

The post The International Space Station is Saving Lives from Space appeared first on Watch U.S. Fly.

Last week, a Senate subcommittee met to determine whether the United States would continue to fund the space station over the next decade.

Advocates of the International Space Station feel that the iconic space laboratory plays a vital role in America’s continued journey into space and that it creates economic opportunity and spurs innovation through the unique research opportunities available in space.

Around 1,100 Boeing employees work with NASA every day to operate and maintain the space station. Jim Chilton, Boeing’s vice president of Space and Launch Systems, took the stand to deliver an impassioned salute to the International Space Station and its mission.

Chilton highlighted that the International Space Station “is far more capable now than it was even seven years ago. And with the NASA­Boeing team focused on operations 24­7­365, we are able to operate in a mindset of continuous improvement for safety and reliability.”

Watch U.S. Fly will keep you updated on the International Space Station.

Read the details of Chilton’s testimony and the other important moments from last week’s hearing on the International Space Station.

The post U.S. Debating Role in Space Station Funding appeared first on Watch U.S. Fly.

But under a new proposal, direct funding for the International Space Station may end after 2025.

The thought is that by removing direct federal funding to the International Space Station, private industry may step in to take its place. But pulling direct funding before a viable commercial alternative is introduced could backfire. We know, because we’ve seen this movie before.

In 2011, NASA ended its space shuttle program before an alternative was put in place. This resulted in American astronauts having to rely on foreign spacecraft to get to the space station.

In bipartisan opposition to this proposal, Senators Ted Cruz (R-FL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) wrote a letter saying this could have “disastrous consequences.”

Read more about the Senators’ plea to preserve funding for the International Space Station until a viable alternative is introduced.

The post Pulling International Space Station Funding Could End in Disaster appeared first on Watch U.S. Fly.

The second Boeing-built docking adapter, designated IDA-2, was built at Boeing’s Houston Product Support Center (HPSC). It was delivered to the station aboard NASA’s Cargo Resupply Services flight (CRS-9) which launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. on July 18.IDA-2 will be installed on the Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA-2) on the Node 2 forward port of the Harmony module during a spacewalk later this year.

“The IDA opens the door for new commercial and international vehicles to dock to the space station. The adapters also promote global cooperation by implementing a new international docking standard,” said Mark Mulqueen, Boeing ISS program manager.

The navigation aids located on IDA are more sophisticated than previous docking systems and include laser reflectors and targets providing cues for both visible and infrared space vision systems allowing the incoming spacecraft to approach and dock autonomously or in a piloted mode.

It will take astronauts working inside and outside the station to install the docking adapter. Weighing more than 1,000 pounds, the first IDA will be moved out of the trunk of the cargo capsule, using the space station’s robotic arm, and onto the station. During planned spacewalks, astronauts will attach data cables and other relevant systems to make the adapter a permanent part of the station.

NASA previously awarded a $9 million contract to Boeing to build a third docking adapter, which will replace IDA-1 which was lost during a launch failure on June, 2015.

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