December 23, 2024

This Week @NASA: Next Crew of Astronauts Heading to Space Station, Mega Moon Rocket

And celebrating our home world … a few of the stories to tell you about– This Week at NASA!

NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts participate in a training session at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. From left to right: NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 mission professional Jessica Watkins; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 pilot Robert “Bob” Hines; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 leader Kjell Lindgren; and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Crew-4 mission professional Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy.– Kjell Lindgren, NASA Astronaut
NASA is examining schedules and choices to carry out the next wet dress rehearsal test of our Space Launch System or SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft at our Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orbiting more than 250 miles (402 kilometers) above Earth aboard the ISS, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, have actually delighted in a distinct view of our world.

The next team of astronauts heading to the area station …
An upgrade on our Artemis I mega Moon rocket and spacecraft …

NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 Mission to the Space Station
On April 18, the astronauts of our SpaceX Crew-4 mission reached our Kennedy Space Center to prepare for their launch to the International Space Station. NASAs Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, and Jessica Watkins, along with Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA) are excited about their scientific expedition to the station.
NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts take part in a training session at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. From delegated right: NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 objective expert Jessica Watkins; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 pilot Robert “Bob” Hines; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 leader Kjell Lindgren; and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Crew-4 objective professional Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy. Credit: SpaceX
” Weve been training for numerous, lots of months and were beginning to– were seeing all of those boxes getting checked off. And its really interesting now to have this box examined off. Were here at Kennedy Space Center, looking forward to our launch here in the really future.”– Kjell Lindgren, NASA Astronaut
The objective is the 4th team rotation flight to the station on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program.
NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B, Monday, April 4, 2022, as the Artemis I introduce team carries out the damp dress rehearsal test at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Options Under Review for Next Artemis I Wet Dress Rehearsal
NASA is examining alternatives and schedules to perform the next damp gown practice session test of our Space Launch System or SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft at our Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The firm has actually decided to roll the Artemis I mega Moon rocket and spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to change a valve and fix a leakage, while an off-site supplier of gaseous nitrogen, utilized for the test, makes upgrades to their systems. You can follow NASAs Artemis blog for status updates on the test at: blogs.nasa.gov/ artemis.
NASA Celebrates Earth Day with Live and Online Events
In celebration of Earth Day, we hosted a totally free, public event at Union Station in Washington, D.C. The 3-day occasion, which kicked off on April 22, included details about NASA science, live demonstrations, and other household friendly activities. In conjunction with this in-person event, we likewise hosted Earth Day events online that began with live occasions on April 22. The online activities will continue to be readily available on-demand through May 2. This includes some material that is also readily available in Spanish. Discover more at nasa.gov/ earthday.
Orbiting more than 250 miles (402 kilometers) above Earth aboard the ISS, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, have enjoyed a special view of our planet. Credit: NASA
NASAs X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft, or QueSST, is developed to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing a loud, disruptive sonic boom, which is generally heard on the ground listed below aircraft flying at such speeds. Instead, with the X-59, people on the ground will hear absolutely nothing more than a peaceful sonic thump– if they hear anything. Credit: NASA/ Joey Ponthieux
X-59 Back in California Following Critical Ground Tests
Our X-59 quiet supersonic speculative aircraft is back at Lockheed Martins Skunk Works facility in Southern California after months of critical ground tests in Texas. The screening was carried out to ensure the aircraft could stand up to the loads and tensions of supersonic flight. The X-59 will now undergo additional screening and advancement as engineers continue making development towards its very first presentation flights over neighborhoods around the U.S. beginning in 2024.
2 spacewalkers from Roscosmos are imagined working outside the Nauka multipurpose lab module as the Intermtional Space Station orbited 261 miles above the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the coast of Îsles de la Madeleine. Cosmonauts (from left) Denis Matveev and Oleg Artemyev worked outside the stations Russian segment for 6 hours and 37 minutes equipping Nauka and configuring the European robotic arm. Credit: NASA
Cosmonauts Complete Spacewalk to Set Up Robotic Arm
On April 18, cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveev of Roscosmos finished a 6-hour and 37-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station. The set installed and connected a control panel for the 37-foot-long European robotic arm mounted to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module. This was the 249th spacewalk for spaceport station assembly, upkeep, and upgrades.