View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Veteran amateur astronomer Filipp Romanov in Russia caught this image on July 21, 2021. It shows the trail of the Nauka module, launched by Russia on July 21 and now headed for the International Space Station. Russia’s Nauka module is due to arrive at the space station and dock with it on July 29. Filipp said he estimated Nauka’s brightness at +2 magnitude. Also pictured is bright Nova Cas 2021 (V1405 Cas). According to Space News, there are reports that Nauka suffered some problems after reaching orbit. Space controllers were apparently unable to confirm that an antenna and docking target deployed as expected. And there were issues with infrared sensors and thrusters. Jeff Foust at Space News wrote: “It wasn’t immediately clear how serious the problems were and if they would affect plans for docking.” Nauka, Russian for science, is the first module (other than airlocks and docking adapters) to be added to ISS since 2016.
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
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