Space Station Expedition 35 Astronauts Land Safely In Kazakhstan, Expedition 36 Begins

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three members of the International Space Station Expedition 35 crew undocked from the orbiting laboratory and returned safely to Earth Monday, May 13, wrapping up a mission lasting almost five months. The departure marks the beginning of Expedition 36.

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Space station Commander Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency, Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and NASA Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn undocked their Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft from the space station at 7:08 p.m. EDT. They landed southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, about 10:31 p.m. (8:31 a.m. May 14, Kazakh time).

Hadfield, Romanenko and Marshburn traveled almost 62 million miles while completing 2,336 orbits of Earth. The trio arrived at the station Dec. 21 and spent 146 days in space, 144 of which were aboard the station.

Pavel Vinogradov of Roscosmos is in command of Expedition 36. He is joined by NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. That trio will work aboard the station until three additional crew members, including NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, arrive May 28.

To follow Twitter updates from NASA's space station astronauts, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/@NASA_Astronauts

For more information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

SOURCE NASA

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NASA: Space station power system radiator leaking

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Space Station has a radiator leak in its power system. The outpost's commander calls the situation serious, but not life-threatening.

The six-member crew on Thursday noticed white flakes of ammonia leaking out of the station. Ammonia runs through multiple radiator loops to cool the station's power system. NASA said the leak is increasing from one previously leaking loop that can be bypassed if needed. NASA spokesman Bob Jacobs said engineers are working on rerouting electronics just in case the loop shuts down. The Earth-orbiting station has backup systems.

Space station Commander Chris Hadfield of Canada tweeted that the problem, while serious, was stabilized. Officials will know more Friday.

The space station always has enough emergency escape ships for the crew, but there are no plans to use them.

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Governor Brown Appoints Chabot Space & Science Center CEO Zwissler to Bay Conservation and Development Commission

OAKLAND, Calif., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 7, the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the appointment of Chabot Space & Science Center CEO and Executive Director, Alexander Zwissler, 56, to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). The appointment requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation.

BCDC is a state agency dedicated to the protection and development of the San Francisco Bay and the encouragement of its responsible use. BCDC's 27-member Commission works with regional partners and other municipalities to ensure healthy, sustainable use of open water, marshes, salt ponds, mudflats and other wetlands. The Commission oversees permitting development near the Bay and addresses regulatory and adaptation strategies regarding rising sea levels. When BCDC was established, only four miles of the Bay shoreline were open to public access. By drawing attention to the Bay, the Commission has played a major role in making the Bay and its shoreline a national recreational treasure.

Chabot Space & Science Center is a major regional center for STEM education and public programming. In addition to astronomy and space sciences, Chabot in recent years has been an educational resource for K-12 Earth and climate science education, including originating the national award winning Bill Nye's Climate Lab and a regional leader in teacher professional development with the Energy & Climate Science Teacher Institute. 

Zwissler, a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, has held his position at Chabot since 2007, leading expansion and development of new programs and initiatives. Previously he was executive director of the Fort Mason Foundation in San Francisco, and prior to working in nonprofit organizations, spent over 15 years in in the cable television and telecommunications industry in both the US and the UK.

Zwissler currently serves as the co-Chair of the Gateways East Bay STEM Network, and on the board of directors of the Association of Science and Technology Centers, Techbridge, and the San Francisco Market Street Railway. In 2012, he was appointed to the statewide Education and Technology Task Force by California Superintendent of Education, Tom Torlakson.

Chabot Space & Science Center, a Smithsonian affiliate, and Bay Area Certified Green Business, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive science center whose mission is to inspire and educate students of all ages about Planet Earth and the Universe. Founded in 1883, the Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. just off Highway 13 in the Oakland hills. For more information, visit www.chabotspace.org.

SOURCE Chabot Space & Science Center

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NASA: Space station power system radiator leaking

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Space Station has a radiator leak in its power system. The outpost's commander calls the situation serious, but not life-threatening.

The six-member crew on Thursday noticed white flakes of ammonia leaking out of the station. Ammonia runs through multiple radiator loops to cool the station's power system. NASA said the leak is increasing from one previously leaking loop that can be bypassed if needed. NASA spokesman Bob Jacobs said engineers are working on rerouting electronics just in case the loop shuts down. The Earth-orbiting station has backup systems.

Space station Commander Chris Hadfield of Canada tweeted that the problem, while serious, was stabilized. Officials will know more Friday.

The space station always has enough emergency escape ships for the crew, but there are no plans to use them.

View the original article here