NASA’s Uhran Retiring, New Crew on the ISS
Media Credit: NASA
Best Wishes to Mark Uhran
As Assistant Associate Administrator for the International Space Station Division, Mark Uhran oversaw the transition within NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration from a focus on Space Station assembly towards science & technology research. This was the culmination of a distinguished career focused on mission integration & planning for the ISSInternational Space Station and promoting the practical benefits of microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. research.
Mr. Uhran was particularly devoted to the concept of creating a National Laboratory on-orbit that would bring new ideas and research concepts onto Station and lead to clear, tangible improvements for life here on Earth. His recent paper on the history of microgravity-related patents shows a clear relationship between patent growth and access to microgravity research platforms, with over 818 patents granted since the 1980s.
This clarity of purpose led to the creation of the ISS National Lab last year to fulfill the Congressional mandate and exercise available capacity on the ISS for other government agencies, academia, and private industry. While Mr. Uhran’s leadership at NASA will be missed, his exit comes at a time in which the ISS is thriving with new opportunities promoting microgravity in space and the ISS National Lab is honored to carry on his vision and legacy.
New Crew on the ISS
Astronauts Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft on Saturday evening to make their way to the International Space Station. Early on Tuesday morning, they will join Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineers Joe Acaba and Sergei Revin.
Williams holds the current world record for the single longest spaceflight by a woman (195 days) from her last trip to the ISS, where she also “ran” the Boston Marathon on one of the Station’s treadmills. In September, Williams will take over as Commander of Expedition 33 when Padalka, Acaba, and Revin return to Earth. She is only the second woman to do so, after current NASA Chief Astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Students around the world are eagerly awaiting the on-orbit phase of the YouTube Space Lab competition that will take place during Suni’s flight. The components are scheduled for launch aboard the Japanese HTV-3 cargo vehicle later this week.