Houston: We're Bored
Shutdown Quiets NASA, So Space Station Astronauts Enjoy View, NPR
“Of all the government agencies, NASA is among the hardest hit by the government shutdown. As of Oct. 1, nearly all of its employees have been told to pack up and head home. But there are two NASA workers who can’t leave the office, at least not without great expense to the taxpayer. Astronauts Karen Nyberg and Mike Hopkins are orbiting some 250 miles above Earth aboard the International Space Station. They’re in touch with mission control, but it’s not clear they have all that much to do.”
So our so-called International Partners in ISS have nothing whatsoever for them to do?
There are always a few items that can be run or observed without telescience support from the ground–every astronaut I have ever talked to has said that they are usually so busy during their flights that they embrace and actually look forward to a little downtime every once in a while.
they’ve turned on the infrared sensors on ISS and pointed it at DC
only to discover a very large quantity of hot air. Also the surphur sensors have detected piles of steaming insitu resources
Unfortunately, they have been unable to detect any intelligent transmissions, with receivers picking nothing more than a monotonous drone with zero information content.
As my father would have said, “You’re bored? Clean up the garage!”
Actually I’m sure there is plenty of maintenance, unloading of the Cygnus and stowage of trash, and of course watching the Earth.
I don’t see anything newsworthy about this. Astronauts post pictures of the earth frequently, and they didn’t respond to questions about whether or not they themselves are furloughed. Nothing to see here.
Well, there’s always ham radio, I’m sure there are a lot of Earthlings who would love a contact with the ISS.