March 29, 2024

Webb Space Telescope Reaches Alignment Milestone, Space Station Solar Array Upgrades [Video]

On March 15, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari carried out a 6-hour and 54-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station to prepare the station for upcoming solar variety upgrades. Far, 2 of 6 iROSAs have been released on station, with the other four arrays to be provided on future missions. On March 17, teams at our Kennedy Space Center started the rollout of the Space Launch System or SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for our upcoming Artemis I Moon objective. Our James Webb Space Telescope group has reached another turning point in the vital process of lining up the telescopes mirrors. Deep Space Station 53, or DSS-53, is the latest member of our Deep Space Network.

Preparing the spaceport station for solar selection upgrades …
Rolling out the spacecraft for our Artemis I mission …

Preparing the Space Station for Solar Array Upgrades
On March 15, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari performed a 6-hour and 54-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station to prepare the station for upcoming solar variety upgrades. Far, two of six iROSAs have actually been deployed on station, with the other 4 arrays to be delivered on future objectives.
Rollout of Our Artemis I Moon Rocket
On March 17, teams at our Kennedy Space Center started the rollout of the Space Launch System or SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for our upcoming Artemis I Moon mission. The primary goals for Artemis I are to show Orions systems in a spaceflight environment and guarantee a safe re-entry, recovery, descent, and splashdown ahead of the very first flight with astronauts on Artemis II.
Webb Space Telescope Reaches Alignment Milestone
Our James Webb Space Telescope group has reached another turning point in the crucial procedure of aligning the telescopes mirrors. After finishing “fine phasing,” a key alignment phase in the commissioning of Webbs Optical Telescope Element, they found that every optical criterion that has been checked and evaluated is carrying out at, or above, expectations. Although there are months to go prior to Webb eventually delivers its brand-new view of the cosmos, reaching this milestone implies the group is positive that Webbs first-of-its-kind optical system is working along with possible. Learn more about the Webb objective at webb.nasa.gov.
NASA Extends Ingenuity Helicopters Mission
Flight operations for our Ingenuity Mars Helicopter have actually been extended through September. In the months ahead, Ingenuity, the very first airplane to operate from the surface of another world, will support our Perseverance rovers expedition of Jezero Crater. Ingenuitys mission extension comes on the heels of the innovation demonstrations 21st effective flight on the Red Planet, considering that April 2021. It was initially expected to try just as much as 5 flights in 30 Martian days.
New Dish for Communications with Deep Space Missions
Deep Space Station 53, or DSS-53, is the latest member of our Deep Space Network. The 111-foot DSS-53 antenna is now operational at the networks facility outside Madrid, Spain, one of three such ground stations around the globe.
Thats whats up this week @NASA.

And the Webb Space Telescope group reaches another milestone … a few of the stories to tell you about– This Week at NASA!