MIT astronauts aboard the International Space Station--and the MIT researchers who have sent up experiments--have advanced our understanding of science, space, and the universe. This image of the International Space Station and space shuttle Endeavour, flying at an altitude of approximately 350 kilometers, was taken by Expedition 27 crew member Paolo Nespoli from the Soyuz TMA-20 on May 24, 2011. On November 2, 2000, NASA astronaut Bill Shepherd, OCE '78, SM '78, and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko made history as their Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station. The event marked the start of 25 years of continuous human presence in space aboard the ISS--a prolific period for space research. MIT-trained astronauts, scientists, and engineers have played integral roles in all aspects of the station's design, assembly, operations, and scientific research. One of MIT's most experienced NASA astronauts, Mike Fincke '89, is celebrating that milestone from space.

A growing leak on the International Space Station has sparked fears that astronauts on board may need to evacuate, including the two stranded by Boeing's Starliner. All seven astronauts have been forced into the US side of the orbiting laboratory due to 50 'areas of concern' and four cracks in a Russian-made module. If the leaks become severe, the space station could rapidly lose oxygen and pressure. The moment Houston sounds the alarm of a threat, astronauts would have to race to shut the hatch of the leaking section and head to'lifeboats' docked on the ship. A spaceflight expert told DailyMail.com

Crippled by war and sanctions, Russia now faces evidence that its already-struggling space program is falling apart. In the past three months alone, Roscosmos has scrambled to resolve two alarming incidents. First, one of its formerly dependable Soyuz spacecraft sprang a coolant leak. Then the same thing happened on one of its Progress cargo ships. The civil space program's Soviet predecessor launched the first person into orbit, but with the International Space Station (ISS) nearing the end of its life, Russia's space agency is staring into the abyss.

NASA has issued a fierce condemnation of the Russian space agency after three cosmonauts displayed anti-Ukraine propaganda aboard the International Space Station. The trio were seen holding flags of the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic -- two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that are only recognised as independent states by Moscow and Syria. They also said the capture of the region was'a liberation day to celebrate both on Earth and in space.' In response to the pictures, posted by Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos, NASA said it'strongly rebukes Russia using the International Space Station for political purposes to support its war against Ukraine.' Press secretary Jackie McGuinness added that it was'fundamentally inconsistent with the station's primary function among the 15 international participating countries to advance science and develop technology for peaceful purposes.' Rebuked: NASA has condemned the Russian space agency after three cosmonauts displayed anti-Ukraine propaganda on the International Space Station.

IF ALL goes well, the first major space mission of 2022 will be the launch of the Space Launch System rocket in February. After many budget and schedule overruns, NASA's colossal rocket is finally set for its first uncrewed flight, which will carry several small satellites into orbits either near or around the moon. They won't be the only lunar visitors. NASA has contracted private firms to send nine rovers to the moon, along with landers and other experiments. "Many of these are tests of this new idea that NASA is pushing, on whether commercial companies can deliver payloads to the moon, accepting higher risk for lower cost," says Jim Bell at Arizona State University.

Liu Boming took in the dizzy view. Around him lay the inky vastness of space. Over the next seven hours Liu and his colleague Tang Hongbo carried out China's second spacewalk, helped along by a giant robotic arm. Mission accomplished, the two taikonauts – China's astronauts – clambered back into their home for the next three months: Beijing's new space station. The core module of the station, named Tiangong, meaning "heavenly palace", was launched in April.

Russia is building its own $6 billion space station that it plans to launch in 2030, the head of the country's Roscosmos space agency has said. "If in 2030, in accordance with our plans, we can put it into orbit, it will be a colossal breakthrough," Interfax news agency quoted Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin as saying, as reported by Reuters. "The will is there to take a new step in world manned space exploration." The Russian station is likely to be manned by robots with artificial intelligence, while human cosmonauts would periodically visit the craft. This is because the Russian station's orbit path would expose it to higher radiation. Deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov reportedly saying that Russia will give notice to its international partners in 2025.

A Russian rocket used to launch a scientific satellite into space has broken apart after nine years in orbit - leaving a dozens of pieces of debris around the Earth. The Fregat-SB is a type of space tug and its upper stage was left floating after it helped deliver the Spektr-R satellite in 2011, according to Roscosmos. Spektr-R was a radio telescope launched by the Russian space agency but it stopped responding to ground control last year and was declared dead in May 2019. Roscosmos confirmed the breakdown of the rocket happened on May 8 between 06:00 and 07:00 BST somewhere above the Indian ocean. About two-thirds of the satellites orbiting the Earth are dead - about 3,000 of about 4,500 objects - and pose a'very big danger' to the planet - this also includes parts of the Russian rocket that disintegrated (artist's impression) The Russian space agency is studying data to find out how many parts it broke up into and where they are currently orbiting the planet.

The Russian space agency Roscosmos is planning to install a nuclear-powered observatory on its future moon base to held spot deadly Earth-threatening asteroids. Establishing a permanent presence near the lunar south pole has been a priority for Roscosmos ever since NASA announced plans to return to the moon earlier this year. The base's telescopes will work in tandem with spacecraft placed in orbit around the Earth to help provide humanity with a space-rock early warning system. In addition, the lunar facility's permanent crew will be made up of robots -- with cosmonauts only visiting to handle more complicated tasks. The plans to establish an observatory on the future moon base were announced by Alexander Bloshenko, Roscosmos' Executive Director for Science and Long-Term Programs, Russian news outlets RT and TASS reported.

Russia's space agency Roscosmos has a new plan to dock an unpiloted Soyuz capsule at the International Space Station after the first attempt failed on Saturday (Aug. Roscosmos now aims to dock the Soyuz spacecraft, called MS-14, at the space station Monday (Aug. Docking is scheduled for Monday night at 11:12 p.m. EDT (0312 Aug. 25 GMT). But there's just one hitch: Another spacecraft is already parked at the Zvezda port. That other spacecraft is Soyuz MS-13, which arrived at the space station July 20with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, NASA astronaut Drew Morgan and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.