ISS Archives

Virtual astronauts in a Moon base Lunar base

Scientists Locked ‘Virtual’ Astronauts in a Moon Base with Equipment Failures, Moonquakes and Extreme Radiation. Here’s What Happened.

Christopher Plain·May 29, 2026

Scientists locked virtual astronauts in a simulated Lunar Base with system failures and natural disasters and watched how they'd respond.

“Icarus is Building the Robotic Labor Force for Space”: Voyager Technologies is Sending a Next-Generation Zero Gravity Robot on a ‘Joyride’ to Space

Christopher Plain·April 22, 2026

Space launch company Voyager Technologies has agreed to test the Icarus Robotics zero-gravity robot 'Joy' on the International Space Station.

Massive ‘Tycho’ Space Station 10X Larger Than the ISS Wins Inaugural Aurelia Prize

Christopher Plain·April 10, 2026

Massive Tycho space station habitat that is 10x larger than the ISS wins the inaugural Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism.

Scientists Build a Zero-Gravity Microscope and Successfully Test it on the ‘Vomit Comet’

Christopher Plain·February 23, 2026

Scientists have invented a low cost, zero-gravity microscope called FlightScope that successfully conducted experiments on the vomit comet.

A Mysterious “Medical Concern” in Space Caused NASA to Cancel a Spacewalk—Here’s Everything We Know

Micah Hanks·January 8, 2026

NASA has postponed the first planned spacewalk of 2026 after a medical concern involving a crew member aboard the International Space Station.

ISS extremophiles consciousness UAP killer viruses

Universal Consciousness Before the Big Bang, the Launch of “UAlbany Project X”, and Extremophile Survival in Space

Micah Hanks·December 2, 2025

In news this week from The Debrief, scientists are looking at the idea of pre-Big Bang "universal consciousness," extreme organism survival in space, and the launch of a cutting-edge new UAP research initiative.

Astronauts Placed an Extreme Earth Organism in Outer Space. Nine Months Later, it Was Still Alive

Christopher Plain·December 1, 2025

After placing an ancient extreme Earth organism outside of the ISS for nine months, scientists were shocked to find it was still alive.

US Navy Scientists Teach Zero-Gravity Robot to Fly in Space Without Human Interference

Christopher Plain·September 15, 2025

US Naval Research Laboratory scientists have successfully trained an Astrobee zero-gravity robot to fly in space without human interference.

Scientists Are Tracking Mysterious ‘Transient Luminous Events’ from Space Using This Innovative Tech

Micah Hanks·June 18, 2025

Scientists are using instruments on the International Space Station to shed light on the mysterious appearances of transient luminous events.

Strange Desert Markings Resembling “Mysterious Writing” Spotted by Cameras on the International Space Station

Micah Hanks·April 20, 2025

Strange markings that resemble writing were recently spotted in the Tunisian desert by cameras aboard the International Space Station.

International Space Station extraterrestrial life

International Space Station to Receive “Rock Star” Tool That Could Aid in Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Christopher Plain·April 18, 2025

The International Space Station is preparing for the launch of ELVIS, a tool that could aid the search for extraterrestrial life

Miso in Microgravity: Fermented Flavor Takes Off Aboard the International Space Station

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·April 2, 2025

Astronauts made miso paste aboard the ISS to see if it would ferment similar to its Earth-based counterparts.

Astronauts on the International Space Station Continue a Long Tradition of Celebrating Thanksgiving in Space

Micah Hanks·November 28, 2024

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are carrying on a long-held tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving from orbit.

Houston, We Have a Problem: NASA and Roscosmos Debating Cause of Air Leak Aboard the International Space Station

Chrissy Newton·November 15, 2024

The International Space Station (ISS) has reportedly been leaking air for the past five years from a portion of the station operated by Russia.

NASA AWE Instrument on the International Space Station Spots Something in the Atmosphere 55 Miles Above Earth

Christopher Plain·November 11, 2024

NASA says its Atmospheric Waves Instrument (AWE) recorded a series of intense gravity waves at high altitudes during Hurricane Helene.

New Research Reveals Space Flight is Altering the Gut Microbiome in Mice Aboard the ISS

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·August 26, 2024

Researchers have discovered significant changes occurred in the gut microbiome of mice aboard the International Space Station.

Emergency in Orbit

Micah Hanks·June 19, 2024

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at several of the most alarming incidents that have occurred in the history of spaceflight, as well as occasional encounters with unidentified objects reported by astronauts during orbital operations.

Emergency on the ISS? Disturbing Audio Led to Concerns About a Medical Situation in Space

Micah Hanks·June 13, 2024

This week, we examine an incident that unfolded this week that led to concerns about a possible medical emergency on board the International Space Station.

Boeing’s Starliner Makes History With Successful First Crewed Launch

Micah Hanks·June 6, 2024

Welcome to this week’s Intelligence Brief… this week, Boeing made history with the launch of its first crewed...

Dream Chaser Spaceplane is Gearing Up to Help NASA Deliver Cargo to the International Space Station

Micah Hanks·December 18, 2023

An innovative new spaceplane cargo system is advancing toward its first delivery to the International Space Station (ISS), as one of NASA’s commercial partners providing resupply services.

Rare Transient Luminous Event Captured in Imagery During International Space Station Experiment

Micah Hanks·December 5, 2023

A rare transient luminous event was captured in imagery obtained during a recent experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Thanksgiving in Space

Micah Hanks·November 23, 2023

In this holliday edition of The Intelligence Brief, we’ll be taking a look at the history of astronauts celebrating Thanksgiving in space.

NASA Space Lasers Could Become Earth’s First Line of Defense Against Collisions and Spaceborne Threats

Christopher Plain·October 5, 2023

NASA is developing a network of space lasers to protect the country's space-based assets from a wide range of orbital threats.

In a Surprise Move, Russia Says it Will Support International Space Station Operations Through 2028

Micah Hanks·April 28, 2023

Russia says it has agreed to continue to support the International Space Station (ISS) until 2028 despite mounting tensions between Moscow and Western nations, according to a recent statement from NASA.

Russian Space Agency Seeks to Continue Operations Aboard the ISS Beyond 2024

Micah Hanks·October 6, 2022

This week, we look at how the Russian space agency is now looking at the possibility of continuing its space operations aboard the International Space Station beyond 2024.

A new surgical robot named MIRA could be implemented on the ISS in the near future, making remote surgery a possibility.

Could the ISS Host the First Remote Surgical Robot in Space?

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·August 18, 2022

A new surgical robot called MIRA could be implemented on the ISS in the near future, making remote surgery a possibility.

NASA’s Updated Transition Plan for the International Space Station Includes Crashing it Into the Pacific

Micah Hanks·February 4, 2022

NASA has updated its transition plan for the international space station, as it nears the end of its operational lifespan.

Russian Space Junk Nearly Downs Chinese Satellite

Christopher Plain·January 21, 2022

A Chinese science satellite narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic collision with debris from an exploded Russian satellite earlier...

World’s First Space Studio to Launch by 2024

Christopher Plain·January 21, 2022

Space Entertainment Enterprise (S.E.E.) has announced plans for the world’s first entertainment production studio in space. With the...

How NATO is Preparing for War in Outer Space

Christopher Plain·January 20, 2022

The North Atlantic Treaties Organization (NATO) has issued a formal policy statement, which says that any attack on...

The Expedition 66 Team Kicks Off 2022 on the ISS With Science and Spacewalks

Micah Hanks·January 6, 2022

The Expedition 66 crew aboard the International Space Station is conducting experiments and preparing for a spacewalk in early 2022.

NASA’s Retirement Plans for the International Space Station

Micah Hanks·December 1, 2021

This week, we look at the retirement plans NASA has outlined for the International Space Station, and future space stations it will build with commercial partners.

Earth ‘On Course’ for Saturn-Like Ring of Space Junk

Christopher Plain·November 30, 2021

Space Junk is filling Earth’s orbit so rapidly that one researcher recently said he believes we are on...

International Space Station Moves to Avoid Collision with Exploded Satellite

Christopher Plain·November 15, 2021

The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) fired maneuvering rockets last week to avoid being struck by...

Russian Thruster Malfunction Caused ISS To Lose Control, And It’s Happened Before

The ISS is falling apart due to age and tech glitches. The Debrief explores the last 5 major incidents aboard the space station.

Raquel Santos·October 18, 2021

The ISS lost control recently when a Russian thruster accidentally fired. The Debrief examines the last 5 incidents on the station that put it at risk.

Smoke on the International Space Station: It’s Time for an Upgrade

Micah Hanks·September 10, 2021

Another concerning incident earlier this week on the International Space Station points to deeper problems for future operations in orbit.

The Drinking Water Aboard the International Space Station Is A Cesspool, New Study Confirms

New Study Examines How Microbial Life Affects Drinking Water for Long Haul Space Missions

MJ Banias·September 8, 2021

A new study explores how multi-species microbial populations affect potable water safety during space missions proving space water is gross.