scholarly journals Eternity in Low Earth Orbit: Icons on the International Space Station

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 611
Author(s):  
Wendy Salmond ◽  
Justin Walsh ◽  
Alice Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Russian Orthodox ◽  
Russian Orthodox Church ◽  
International Space ◽  
Sacred Spaces ◽  
Religious Imagery

This paper investigates the material culture of icons on the International Space Station as part of a complex web of interactions between cosmonauts and the Russian Orthodox Church, reflecting contemporary terrestrial political and social affairs. An analysis of photographs from the International Space Station (ISS) demonstrated that a particular area of the Zvezda module is used for the display of icons, both Orthodox and secular, including the Mother of God of Kazan and Yuri Gagarin. The Orthodox icons are frequently sent to space and returned to Earth at the request of church clerics. In this process, the icons become part of an economy of belief that spans Earth and space. This practice stands in contrast to the prohibition against displaying political/religious imagery in the U.S.-controlled modules of ISS. The icons mark certain areas of ISS as bounded sacred spaces or hierotopies, separated from the limitless outer space beyond the space station walls.

scholarly journals A methodology for research in space archaeology: The International Space Station Archaeological Project

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Walsh ◽  
Alice C. Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Mission Design ◽  
International Space ◽  
Terrestrial Environments ◽  
Archaeological Project

Space archaeology is a sub-field of contemporary archaeology that studies the material culture associated with human activity in outer space. Until recently, archaeologists faced significant obstacles to performing research on sites in space, due to both costs and inaccessibility. The International Space Station Archaeological Project (ISSAP) has developed new methods based on creative re-imaginings of traditional archaeological practices. As well as contributing to future mission design, research on human habitations in space can open new perspectives on human action in terrestrial environments, such as the effect of gravity.

The International Space Station

2019 ◽  
pp. 79-95
Author(s):  
Chris Nie
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Space Station ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Moon ◽  
New Era ◽  
International Space ◽  
Space Race ◽  
Future Space ◽  
Technical Details

A new era of spaceflight dawned following the conclusion of the United States and Russian space race. This new era has been marked by the design, assembly, and operation of one of the greatest engineering feats mankind has accomplished, the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is comprised of hundreds of thousands of kilograms of material built on the ground and transported to space for assembly. It houses an artificial atmosphere to sustain life in outer space and has been continually inhabited for over 15 years. This chapter describes the technical complexity of the ISS, the background of how it was assembled, its major systems, details of crew life onboard, commercial usage of the resource, and examples of mishaps that have occurred during the ISS's operation. The technical details of the ISS provide a glimpse into what future space stations that might orbit the Moon and Mars will resemble.

Making Space for Islam: Religion, Science, and Politics in Contemporary Malaysia

2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1143-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren C. Zook
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
International Politics ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
International Space ◽  
Science And Politics ◽  
Cooperative Venture

In October 2007, Malaysia celebrated sending its first astronaut into space, as part of a cooperative venture on board a Russian space mission. As Malaysia's first astronaut was a Muslim, the Malaysian government commissioned, through its Department of Islamic Development, a project to create a definitive set of guidelines for the practice of Islam in outer space, specifically on board the International Space Station. What may on the surface appear to be a practical exercise in clarifying religious practice reveals upon closer examination to be a complex restructuring of Malaysia's domestic and international politics, with the role of Islam as the catalytic and somewhat controversial centerpiece.

NASA sets sights on private space stations

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Private Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Space ◽  
Foreign Governments ◽  
Corporate Clients

Subject Space stations. Significance As Washington returns its sights to the moon, it is reforming its policies regarding the International Space Station (ISS) with a view to jump-starting a 'low-earth orbit economy' in which private firms offer services to corporate clients, foreign governments and wealthy individuals. Impacts China's space station, due for completion in 2022, could draw third-country projects away from commercial US space stations. Governments are more promising clients for commercial crewed spaceflight than 'space tourists' are. Commercial stations and passenger spacecraft could make human spaceflight accessible to allied states. Spaceflight will remain politicised.

Art in the Space Age: Exploring the Relationship between Outer Space and Earth Space

Leonardo ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-276
Author(s):  
Takuro Osaka
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Parabolic Flight ◽  
Space Station ◽  
International Space ◽  
Earth Space ◽  
Space Art ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Micro Gravity

The author's interest in Space Art has taken several forms, including project proposals for the effective use of the International Space Station, research on the theme of the possibility of art in outer space, and conducting interviews with astronauts. He has also performed experiments in a micro-gravity environment generated by parabolic flight. This article provides an account of his plans and the results of these experiments.

scholarly journals Asgardia’s project for a new module to expand Space Station

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Igor R. Ashurbeyli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Space Science ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
International Space ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Industrial Partnership ◽  
Private Sector Involvement

Private sector involvement in the International Space Station (ISS) is becoming increasingly important as commercial organisations provide services and hardware to enhance the orbital operations of the Space Station which, in November 2020, marked two decades of continuous occupation. During the first Asgardia Space Science & Investment Conference, held in Germany in October 2019, a project to add a new commercially procured docking module to the ISS was announced as a key step to expanding the permanent human presence in low Earth orbit. Dr Igor Ashurbeyli, General Designer, provides a technical overview of the project and the industrial partnership arranged to deliver it.

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