May 8, 2024

This Week @NASA: Artemis I Mega Rocket, Europa Clipper Spacecraft, VIPER Moon Rover

Artemis I Moon Rocket Rolled to Launch Pad Ahead of Tanking Test
On June 6, teams at our Kennedy Space Center rolled our Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and mobile launcher from the Vehicle Assembly Building to release pad 39B to prepare for the next damp gown wedding rehearsal test attempt ahead of the uncrewed Artemis I flight test. The damp gown practice session test is presently targeted for no earlier than June 19.
The team for the 2nd long-duration SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station, NASAs SpaceX Crew-2, are visualized throughout a training session at the SpaceX training center in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Mission Specialist Thomas Pesquet of the (ESA (European Space Agency); Pilot Megan McArthur of NASA; Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA; and Mission Specialist Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Credit: SpaceX
Crew-2 Astronauts Make Post-Flight Visit to D.C. Area
Our SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts– NASAs Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the European Space Agencys Thomas Pesquet– checked out the Washington, D.C. location throughout the week of June 6 to share experiences from their current flight to the International Space Station. Throughout a stop at our Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters structure, they met with NASA leadership and discussed their objective with employees.
EMIT will observe Earth from outside the International Space Station. EMIT data will be provided to the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for use by other scientists and the public once it begins operation. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Space Station Climate Study on Next SpaceX Cargo Mission
The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation or EMIT is one of the main payloads set up for shipment to the International Space Station on the SpaceX CRS-25 freight objective. The examination will utilize NASA-invented imaging innovation to determine the composition of mineral dust from Earths deserts and evaluate dust executed the atmosphere from deserts to see what impacts it has on the Earth system and to human populations. The CRS-25 cargo mission is currently targeted to release no earlier than June 28.
NASAs Europa Clipper spacecraft shows up in a primary tidy room at JPL, as engineers and professionals inspect it just after shipment in early June 2022. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman
Europa Clipper Mission Completes Main Body of the Spacecraft
The main body of our Europa Clipper spacecraft was provided just recently to our Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Technicians and engineers there will end up assembling the spacecraft by hand, then check it to make certain it can stand up to the journey to Jupiters icy moon Europa. Targeted for launch in October 2024, the objective will make almost 50 flybys of the Jovian moon, which is thought to have an underground ocean which contains twice as much water as all oceans on Earth combined. The ocean on Europa may likewise currently have conditions ideal for supporting life.
Life-size screen model of NASAs VIPER Moon rover for visitors at the Chabot Space and Science. Credit: NASA
Ames Debuts Life-Size VIPER Moon Rover Model for Visitors
Our Ames Research Center recently revealed a life-size screen model of the companys VIPER Moon rover for visitors at the Chabot Space and Science Center. VIPER, which is handled by Ames and is part of our Artemis program, will be provided to the Moons South Pole in late 2023 to map and check out the area for water and other resources ahead of future human missions to the lunar surface area.
Thats whats up this week @NASA …

Today at NASA consists of news on Artemis I mega Moon rocket, SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts, Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Examination or EMIT, Europa Clipper spacecraft, and VIPER Moon rover.
Our Artemis I mega Moon rocket is rolled to the launch pad …
The astronauts of our Crew-2 objective concerned Washington … And examining the effect of dust on our climate … a few of the stories to inform you about– Today at NASA!

The crew for the second long-duration SpaceX Crew Dragon objective to the International Space Station, NASAs SpaceX Crew-2, are pictured throughout a training session at the SpaceX training facility in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Mission Specialist Thomas Pesquet of the (ESA (European Space Agency); Pilot Megan McArthur of NASA; Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA; and Mission Specialist Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Our SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts– NASAs Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the European Space Agencys Thomas Pesquet– visited the Washington, D.C. location throughout the week of June 6 to share experiences from their current flight to the International Space Station. Throughout a stop at our Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters structure, they satisfied with NASA leadership and discussed their mission with staff members. Once it begins operation, EMIT data will be provided to the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for usage by other scientists and the public.