Space Fizz

Could China be the next partner nation to join the International Space Station?  Current discussions in Quebec City at the ISS HOA (Heads Of Agencies) may suggest just that.  All five participating agencies: Canada, the United States, Russia, Japan, and the ESA, have all committed to supporting the ISS until 2020.  Yet these five agencies acknowledge there is somewhat of an open invitation for other countries to join.

Yesterday  Vladimir Popovkin, the head of the Russian Space agency, acknowledged "we are not a closed club, our doors are wide open."  Popovkin went on to suggest that one day countries lik China and India would join the ISS team.  

Jean-Jacques Dordain, head of the European body, said he hopes the International Space Station partnership would be open, adding it would benefit from co-operation with China.

"I am in favour of seeing how we can work together with China," he told reporters after the meeting in Quebec City. "It will take some steps, but it will come, I am sure."

NASA chief administrator Charles Bolden confirmed that the five partner agencies are "reaching out" to other non-traditional nations.

While the talks in Quebec are focussing on plans for the ISS up to the 2020 comittment date, Bolden did acknowledge that the sation itself should be viable until at least 2028.

These details were reported in an article published by the Canadian Press.  The full Canadian Press story has been attached below.

Photo Credit: CSA.

Today the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) reaffirmed it's commitment to the International Space Station beyond 2015.  The details include another 5 years of confirmed support from Canada until 2020.  The announcement was made while the heads of the worlds five largest space agencies meet this week in Quebec City to discuss the future of the ISS.  This is great news for the ISS and for Canada.  With Canadian industry heavily involved with ISS robotics and research, the private sector is equally excited about today's announcement.

There was lots of specualtion as to why Canada's space agency seemed to be dragging their feet prior to recomitting to the ISS.  In particular, most International Space Station partner countries had recommited much earlier.  Some have suggested that the Canadian Space Agency was negotiating to have more Canadian astronaut participation on Space Station missions.  Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will travel to the ISS for a six-month stay as Mission Commander at the end of 2012. Beyond Hadfield, there are currently no further missions schedule for Canadian astronaut before the end of this decade.  Further speculation for Canada's delayed response was based on looming spending cuts anticipated from the federal government.

Aside from committing to the International Space Station until 2020, the Canadian Space Agency also unveiled two unique space projects.  One is Microflow, and the other is Lab on a CD.  Both are designed to rapidly accelerate the diagnosis of patients both on Earth and in space.

The official press release from the Canadian Space Agency is attached below.

Photo Credit: CSA

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Photos of Dragon and Falcon 9 assembled at the Cape earlier this week fueld specualtion of an impending launch in the very near future.  Since SpaceX pushed back the Feburary 7th launch date, they have yet to specify a new launch timeline.  The blogosphere is ripe with speculation.  Many have cited April 30th, yet there is no official substantiation to confirm this date.

Earlier today this photo was posted on hobbyspace.com of Dragon and Falcon 9 vertical on pad 40.  The photo is from a webcam image at the Cape.  A few hours later Elon Musk tweeted the same photo from his personal twitter account.  With Falcon 9 and Dragon, assembled and conducting dress-rehearsal testing on the pad, a launch my be much sooner than the end of April.  Amid claims from "anonymous" sources, and wild anticipation of the first civilian rocket launch to the ISS, many are eagerly watching this one unfold.

Photo Credit: HobbySpace.com

As the private sector ambitiously pursues earth orbit and beyond.  Here's a look at the last 50 years of human spaceflight.  Thanks to Space.com for the great infographic.

Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Astronaut Don Pettit demonstrates the new zero-g cup developed on the International Space Station.  Using capillary technology, Pettit has developed an open-topped cup that holds liquid in zero gravity.  This design allows for astronauts to drink out of the cup without a straw and without gravity to hold the liquid in the container.  

This same technology is used in rocket engines to ensure continual fuel flow in zero-g.  So I guess Bistro-ISS is officially open for business.  There have been no official reports of testing with carbonated alcohol in orbit as of yet.  I guess they are still waiting for the pint-sized prototype. 

Video courtesy of Physics Central APS.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic orbit of Earth.  In 1962 Glenn, onboard the Friendship 7 craft, became the first American to enter orbit.  He circled the planet three times in less than five hours.  This achievement, through the Mercury Program, paved the way for America's successful space program; eventually reaching the moon and building the International Space Station.

To celebrate the occasion, Senator John Glenn spoke with astronauts aboard the International Space Station via video link.  This event was hosted by NASA's Future Forum at The Ohio State University located at Columbus Ohio.

Video courtesy of NASA.

Stephen Colbert has always had a passion for space exploration.  His most recent PSA posted on the NASA website, urges his followers in the Colbert Nation to support NASA's work on the International Space Station to develop alterate vaccines to diseases which have been developing resistance to traditional antibiotics.

Colbert is no stranger to space technology.  In 2009 he entered a competion to name a new node of the ISS.  Colbert won after encouraging his fans to vote for the node to be named "Colbert."  Although he technically won the competition, NASA untimatley decided not to name it after the pundit, and christened the new node "Tranquility" instead.  As a conslation prize, NASA named a new piece of excerise equipoment on the ISS as the C.O.L.B.E.R.T. treadmill.  The acronym stands for Combined Operational Load-bearing External Resistance Treadmill.

Beyond the ISS node naming incident, back in 2008 Colbert ventured to save humanity by having his DNA sent into orbit.  A digitized version of Colbert's genetic code was sent to the ISS with space-tourist and video game designer Richard Garriott.  Colbert referred to this as an "Immortality Drive."  Garriott acknowledged that the preservation of Colbert's DNA would allow aliens to one day clone him and save humanity, "is there a better person for us to turn to for this high-level responsibility?" 

Video courtesy of NASA.