The Silent Spheres

Rough Sphere of Tethys

The Mystery of the Sparkling Spheres

A 107,000-gallon liquid hydrogen sphere no longer needed at Stennis Space Center is barged through the facility locks June 21. The rocket engine test facility has teamed with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resource to place the sphere in offshore waters as an artificial reef.

The vacuum spheres outside of building 1247 are reflected in a pool of rain water after an unusual break in weather on Friday, which gave a brief moment of sunshine, blue skies and standing water as Tropical Storm Andrea approaches from the south.

Students from Xavier University Preparatory School in New Orleans view the newest exhibit at StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center - Science on a Sphere, a 68-inch global presentation of planetary data. StenniSphere is only the third NASA visitor center to offer the computer system, which uses four projectors to display data on a globe and present a dynamic, revolving, animated view of Earth and other planets.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former astronaut Greg Johnson, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, talks to Florida middle school students and their teachers before the start of the Zero Robotics finals competition at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Florida middle school students and their teachers greet students from other locations via webex before the start of the Zero Robotics finals competition. The Florida teams are at the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former astronaut Greg Johnson, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, talks to Florida middle school students and their teachers before the start of the Zero Robotics finals competition at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, talks to Florida middle school students and their teachers during the Zero Robotics finals competition at the center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, talks to Florida middle school students and their teachers during the Zero Robotics finals competition at the center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, talks to Florida middle school students and their teachers during the Zero Robotics finals competition at the center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former astronaut Greg Johnson, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, talks to Florida middle school students and their teachers before the start of the Zero Robotics finals competition at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Florida middle school students and their teachers watch the Zero Robotics finals competition broadcast live via webex from the International Space Station. The Florida teams are at the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

Headquarters building and spheres at Gas Dynamics. DAO Section. Scanned on 4/23/2018.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former astronaut Greg Johnson, at left, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, and NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, visit with Florida middle school students and their teachers before the start of the Zero Robotics finals competition at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. Students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Spaceperson poses for a photo with Carver Middle School students and their teacher from Orlando, Florida, during the Zero Robotics finals competition at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Space Station Processing Facility in Florida. The team, members of the After School All-Stars, were regional winners and advanced to the final competition. For the competition, students designed software to control Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, and competed with other teams locally. The Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES. The competition starts online, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the space station. Students compete to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into the SPHERES satellites. The programs are autonomous and the students cannot control the satellites during the test. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

iss052e006482 (6/23/2017) --- Astronaut Peggy Whitson is photographed during a test session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Halo investigation in the Kibo module. The SPHERES Halo investigation studies the possibility of launching several separate components and then attaching them once they are in space. The investigation upgrades the International Space Station’s fleet of SPHERES to enable each SPHERE to communicate with six external objects at the same time, testing new control and remote assembly methods.

ISS040-E-139549 (9 Sept. 2014) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Expedition 40 crew member, works with the bowling ball-sized satellites known as SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites) to study how liquids behave inside containers in microgravity. The experiment, named SPHERES-Slosh, maneuvers the tiny satellites similar to an actual spacecraft with an externally mounted tank and observes the interaction between the sloshing fluid and the tank/vehicle dynamics.

ISS040-E-014536 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson (left), Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman, flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-015415 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson, Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman (partially obscured), flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-013952 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Expedition 40 flight engineer, enters data in a computer during test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES (out of frame). The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-013914 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson (left), Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman, flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-014615 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson (top), Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman, flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-014444 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson (left), Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman, flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-014147 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson (foreground), Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman, flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity.

ISS040-E-014468 (18 June 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronauts Steve Swanson (left), Expedition 40 commander; and Reid Wiseman, flight engineer, conduct test runs of the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation uses small robotic satellites on the space station to examine how liquids move around inside containers in microgravity. Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev (bottom right), flight engineer, looks on.

ISS020-E-014883 (26 June 2009) --- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, is pictured near two Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Harmony node of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-019059 (11 July 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, Expedition 20 flight engineer, writes notes while performing a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-014664 (26 June 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, Expedition 20 flight engineer, does a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS029-E-036497 (1 Nov. 2011) --- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 29 commander, conducts a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-014670 (26 June 2009) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, Expedition 20 flight engineer, is pictured near two Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Harmony node of the International Space Station.

ISS025-E-013445 (9 Nov. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, Expedition 25 flight engineer, is pictured near three Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

Astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with the bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellite known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES in the International Space Stations Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibo laboratory. Also sent as Twitter message.

ISS020-E-018315 (11 July 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, Expedition 20 flight engineer, reads a checklist while performing a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-019069 (11 July 2009) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, Expedition 20 flight engineer, is pictured near three Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Harmony node of the International Space Station.

ISS025-E-013444 (9 Nov. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, Expedition 25 flight engineer, is pictured near three Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS038-E-033890 (22 Jan. 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, Expedition 38 flight engineer, works with a new experiment using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, which are already on the station. For the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, two SPHERES robots are attached to opposite ends of a metal frame holding the plastic tank with the green-colored water. The new hardware for the SPHERES-Slosh study was delivered to the station aboard Orbital Sciences' Cygnus cargo craft on Jan. 12.

ISS038-E-033888 (22 Jan. 2014) --- A new experiment using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, already on the station, is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member in the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory. For the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, two SPHERES robots are attached to opposite ends of a metal frame holding a plastic tank with green-colored water. The new hardware for the SPHERES-Slosh study was delivered to the station aboard Orbital Sciences' Cygnus cargo craft on Jan. 12.

ISS036-E-029545 (7 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Nyberg and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy (not pictured) put the miniature satellites through their paces for a dry run of the SPHERES Zero Robotics tournament scheduled for Aug. 13. Teams of middle school students from Florida, Georgia, Idaho and Massachusetts will gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge to see which teams’ algorithms do the best job of commanding the free-flying robots through a series of maneuvers and objectives.

ISS036-E-029522 (7 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Nyberg and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy (not pictured) put the miniature satellites through their paces for a dry run of the SPHERES Zero Robotics tournament scheduled for Aug. 13. Teams of middle school students from Florida, Georgia, Idaho and Massachusetts will gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge to see which teams’ algorithms do the best job of commanding the free-flying robots through a series of maneuvers and objectives.

ISS036-E-037288 (27 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites with ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS, Nyberg performed a demonstration of how power can be transferred between two satellites without physical contact. Station crews beginning with Expedition 8 have operated these robots to test techniques that could lead to advancements in automated dockings, satellite servicing, spacecraft assembly and emergency repairs.

ISS036-E-029539 (7 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Nyberg and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy (not pictured) put the miniature satellites through their paces for a dry run of the SPHERES Zero Robotics tournament scheduled for Aug. 13. Teams of middle school students from Florida, Georgia, Idaho and Massachusetts will gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge to see which teams’ algorithms do the best job of commanding the free-flying robots through a series of maneuvers and objectives.

ISS036-E-029521 (7 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Nyberg and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy (not pictured) put the miniature satellites through their paces for a dry run of the SPHERES Zero Robotics tournament scheduled for Aug. 13. Teams of middle school students from Florida, Georgia, Idaho and Massachusetts will gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge to see which teams’ algorithms do the best job of commanding the free-flying robots through a series of maneuvers and objectives.

iss055e010694 (4/4/2018) --- A view taken aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the set up of the SPHERES Tether Slosh experiment hardware. The image is of the green SPHERES robots tethered to a fluid-filled container covered in sensors to test strategies for safely steering spacecraft such as dead satellites that might still have fuel in the tank. SPHERES Tether Slosh combines fluid dynamics equipment with robotic capabilities aboard the International Space Station to investigate automated strategies for steering passive cargo that contain fluids.

ISS040-E-079083 (25 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson, Expedition 40 commander, enters data in a computer in preparation for a session with a trio of soccer-ball-sized robots known as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The free-flying robots were equipped with stereoscopic goggles called the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO, to enable the SPHERES to perform relative navigation based on a 3D model of a target object.

ISS038-E-033884 (22 Jan. 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, Expedition 38 flight engineer, holds a plastic container partially filled with green-colored water which will be used in a new experiment using the soccer-ball-sized, free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, which are already on the station. For the SPHERES-Slosh experiment, two SPHERES robots are attached to opposite ends of a metal frame holding the plastic tank with the green-colored water. The new hardware for the SPHERES-Slosh study was delivered to the station aboard Orbital Sciences' Cygnus cargo craft on Jan. 12.

ISS037-E-025866 (4 Nov. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 37 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS037-E-025868 (4 Nov. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 37 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS037-E-025872 (4 Nov. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 37 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS040-E-059478 (10 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS040-E-059467 (10 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman (mostly obscured), both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS040-E-059344 (10 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman (left) and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS037-E-025870 (4 Nov. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 37 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS037-E-025879 (4 Nov. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 37 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

ISS020-E-018319 (11 July 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt (left) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, both Expedition 20 flight engineers, perform a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-018324 (11 July 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt (left) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, both Expedition 20 flight engineers, perform a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-018325 (11 July 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt (left) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, both Expedition 20 flight engineers, perform a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS020-E-019064 (11 July 2009) --- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt (left) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, both Expedition 20 flight engineers, perform a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon / Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS040-E-079910 (25 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson (left), Expedition 40 commander; and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, flight engineer, conduct a session with a trio of soccer-ball-sized robots known as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The free-flying robots were equipped with stereoscopic goggles called the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO, to enable the SPHERES to perform relative navigation based on a 3D model of a target object.

ISS040-E-079129 (25 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson (left), Expedition 40 commander; and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, flight engineer, conduct a session with a trio of soccer-ball-sized robots known as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The free-flying robots were equipped with stereoscopic goggles called the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO, to enable the SPHERES to perform relative navigation based on a 3D model of a target object.

ISS040-E-079355 (25 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson (foreground), Expedition 40 commander; and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, flight engineer, conduct a session with a trio of soccer-ball-sized robots known as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The free-flying robots were equipped with stereoscopic goggles called the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO, to enable the SPHERES to perform relative navigation based on a 3D model of a target object.

ISS040-E-079332 (25 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson (foreground), Expedition 40 commander; and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, flight engineer, conduct a session with a trio of soccer-ball-sized robots known as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The free-flying robots were equipped with stereoscopic goggles called the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO, to enable the SPHERES to perform relative navigation based on a 3D model of a target object.

ISS040-E-080130 (25 July 2014) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, Expedition 40 flight engineer, conducts a session with a trio of soccer-ball-sized robots known as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. The free-flying robots were equipped with stereoscopic goggles called the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO, to enable the SPHERES to perform relative navigation based on a 3D model of a target object.

iss057e055052 (10/18/2018) --- European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst is photographed during a Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Tether Slosh experiment test session run. Photo was taken in the Kibo Japanese Experiment Pressurized Module (JPM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SPHERES Tether Slosh combines fluid dynamics equipment with robotic capabilities aboard the ISS to investigate automated strategies for steering passive cargo that contain fluids.

ISS014-E-17880 (24 March 2007) --- This medium close-up view shows three bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites called Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station. SPHERES were designed to test control algorithms for spacecraft by performing autonomous rendezvous and docking maneuvers inside the station. The results are important for multi-body control and in designing constellation and array spacecraft configurations.

iss054e026583 (Jan. 31, 2018) --- NASA astronaut Joe Acaba during a Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Smoothing-Based Relative Navigation (SmoothNav) experiment test run. SPHERES is a self-contained, free-flying satellite to test autonomous capabilities and docking maneuvers within the International Space Station (ISS). SmoothNav software uses a unique computational method to estimate position and velocity in multi-satellite formations.

iss054e026580 (Jan. 31, 2018) --- Vertigo hardware used on Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) during a test run of Smoothing-Based Relative Navigation (SmoothNav). SPHERES is a self-contained, free-flying satellite to test autonomous capabilities and docking maneuvers within the International Space Station (ISS). SmoothNav software uses a unique computational method to estimate position and velocity in multi-satellite formations.

iss054e026578 (Jan. 31, 2018) --- Vertigo hardware used on Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) during a test run of Smoothing-Based Relative Navigation (SmoothNav). SPHERES is a self-contained, free-flying satellite to test autonomous capabilities and docking maneuvers within the International Space Station (ISS). SmoothNav software uses a unique computational method to estimate position and velocity in multi-satellite formations.

ARTIST: Rick Guidice Space Colonization; inside the sphere gravity is strongest along the equator. as on moves toward the center gravity lessens and one could fly easily. Sunlight enters as shown by the large fuzzy ring. The central tube connects to other sections of the colony.

ISS038-E-035434 (23 Jan. 2014) --- NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, Expedition 38 flight engineer, works with a pair of basketball-sized, free-flying satellites known Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station. For this experiment session, the crew members equipped one of the two SPHERES with a pair of stereoscopic goggles dubbed the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO. As the second SPHERES tumbled and spun, the VERTIGO-equipped robot attempted to map it and perform relative navigation around it.

ISS038-E-035432 (23 Jan. 2014) --- NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, Expedition 38 flight engineer, works with a pair of basketball-sized, free-flying satellites known Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station. For this experiment session, the crew members equipped one of the two SPHERES with a pair of stereoscopic goggles dubbed the Visual Estimation and Relative Tracking for Inspection of Generic Objects, or VERTIGO. As the second SPHERES tumbled and spun, the VERTIGO-equipped robot attempted to map it and perform relative navigation around it.

ISS037-E-025915 (4 Nov. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 37 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. Surrounding the two SPHERES mini-satellites is ring-shaped hardware known as the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System, or RINGS. SPHERES-RINGS seeks to demonstrate wireless power transfer between satellites at a distance for enhanced operations.

STS035-15-035 (2-10 Dec 1990) --- STS-35 crewmembers perform a microgravity experiment using their drinking water while on the middeck of Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102. Mission Specialist (MS) Jeffrey A. Hoffman (left) has released some water from a drinking container which he holds in his hand. MS John M. Lounge (wearing glasses, center) and Payload Specialist Samuel T. Durrance along with Hoffman study the changing shape and movement of the sphere of water.

iss042e046207 (12/16/2018) --- Photographic documentation taken during the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) test run in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).

iss049e033811 (10/7/2016) --- NASA sstronaut Kate Rubins is photographed configuring the SPHERES-Slosh experiment setup using two SPHEREs satellites and the slosh assembly. The SPHERES-Slosh investigation examines the way liquids move inside containers in a microgravity environment.

iss054e022175 (1/17/2018) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is photographed during a Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Tether Slosh experiment test session run. Photo was taken in the Kibo Japanese Experiment Pressurized Module (JPM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SPHERES Tether Slosh combines fluid dynamics equipment with robotic capabilities aboard the ISS to investigate automated strategies for steering passive cargo that contain fluids. In space, the fluid fuels used by spacecraft can slosh around in unpredictable ways making space maneuvers difficult. SPHERES Tether Slosh uses two Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) robots tethered to a fluid-filled container covered in sensors to test strategies for safely steering spacecraft such as dead satellites that might still have fuel in the tank.

ISS036-E-015549 (5 July 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Expedition 36 flight engineer, watches as he devotes some time with the long-running SPHERES experiment, also known as Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites. The experiment is run in conjunction with students who program bowling ball-sized satellites using algorithms. The free-floating satellites are programmed to perform maneuvers potentially influencing the design of future missions.

ISS036-E-039685 (4 Sept. 2013) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

iss042e046171 (12/16/2018) --- Photographic documentation taken during the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) test run in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is visible conducting the test.

iss048e017435 (6/30/2016) --- Commander Jeff Williams monitors bowling ball-sized internal satellites known as SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) during a maintenance run in the Japanese Kibo Laboratory Module.

ISS040-E-018417 (24 June 2014) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites Zero Robotics (SPHERES ZR) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS036-E-031684 (13 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

ISS040-E-018486 (24 June 2014) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites Zero Robotics (SPHERES ZR) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS029-E-011297 (28 Sept. 2011) --- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 29 commander, performs a check on Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS036-E-032138 (13 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

ISS040-E-018390 (24 June 2014) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites Zero Robotics (SPHERES ZR) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS040-E-018572 (24 June 2014) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites Zero Robotics (SPHERES ZR) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS036-E-031668 (13 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

ISS029-E-011310 (28 Sept. 2011) --- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 29 commander, performs a check on Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) floating freely in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS036-E-031698 (13 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Expedition 36 flight engineer, poses for a photo while conducting a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

ISS040-E-018466 (24 June 2014) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites Zero Robotics (SPHERES ZR) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS036-E-039697 (4 Sept. 2013) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

ISS036-E-032180 (13 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

iss050e031138 (1/16/2017) --- A view of Cosmonaut Andrei Borisenko, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet during set up and execution of Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) hardware dry run for the Zero Robotics, in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Pressurized Module.

ISS040-E-018383 (24 June 2014) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev (left) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, both Expedition 40 flight engineers, conduct a session of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites Zero Robotics (SPHERES ZR) program in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

ISS036-E-032134 (13 Aug. 2013) --- In the International Space Station?s Kibo laboratory, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with a pair of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES.

ISS017-E-015130 (30 Aug. 2008) --- Astronaut Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17 flight engineer, uses a computer while doing a check of the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Beacon/Beacon Tester in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

iss056e050302 (6/28/2018) --- Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev and NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold during the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) maintenance session two, in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Pressurized Module (JPM).

iss056e050304 (6/28/2018) --- Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev and NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold during the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) maintenance session two, in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Pressurized Module (JPM).