Space Exploration

March 31, 2010. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program. A rollout of the Soyuz spacecraft from the assembly-test facility to the launch site was provided. The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-18 transport spacecraft was erected on the launch pad. Operations under the launch minus two days program began. The launch of the Soyuz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the ISS Orbital Complex is planned for April 2, 2010 at 08:04:34 Moscow time.

"STS-130 video highlights as compiled by the SE&I imagery team here at JSC from all of the ground, air, ET and SRB assets."

ESA: A crew of six, including two Europeans, will soon begin a simulated mission to Mars in a mockup that includes an interplanetary spaceship, Mars lander and martian landscape. The Mars500 experiment, as long as a real journey to Mars, is the ultimate test of human endurance.

The Houston metropolitan area at night is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 22 crew member on the International Space Station. Houston, Texas has been called the "energy capital of the world" due to its role as a major hub of the petroleum and other energy resource industries. The Houston metropolitan area covers almost 2,331,000 hectares (approximately 9,000 square miles) along the southeast Texas coastline, with an average elevation of 13 meters (approximately 43 feet) above sea level and a population of over 5 million (2006 US Census estimate).

The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, Expedition 22 commander, and Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, Expedition 22 flight engineer, onboard. The Soyuz landed near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan March 18, 2010. The two are returning from six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 21 and 22 crews. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls high res (0.6 M) low res (123 K)

Astronaut and Everest climber Scott Parazynski recently posted some new images of the Everest summit rock and Apollo Moon rocks that were installed inside the cupola attached to the ISS node Tranquility last month. You can see more of them here.