December 23, 2024

This Week @NASA: SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft, Artemis I Update, VIPER Moon Rover

A SpaceX Dragon freight spacecraft docked to the International Space Station on July 16, 2 days after launching from our Kennedy Space. A few of the research projects include a research study on the mineral composition of dust in the atmosphere and its results on our climate, an examination into the effects of area travel on the human immune system, and an appearance at how microgravity impacts the procedure of producing a concrete alternative made with an organic compound and silica, which is discovered in lunar and Martian dust. NASA leaders provided an update on July 20 on strategies to launch the uncrewed Artemis I flight test around the Moon with our Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. VIPERs mission will supply insight into the origin and circulation of water on the Moon and assist figure out how lunar resources could be harvested for future human space expedition.
Its six-month objective will help introduce a brand-new period of deep area expedition.

Commercial Cargo Spacecraft Docks to the Space Station
A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft docked to the International Space Station on July 16, 2 days after launching from our Kennedy Space. A few of the research study tasks consist of a research study on the mineral composition of dust in the environment and its impacts on our environment, an investigation into the impacts of space travel on the human immune system, and a look at how microgravity affects the procedure of creating a concrete option made with an organic compound and silica, which is discovered in lunar and Martian dust.
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti works outside the space stations Russian sector to set up the new European robotic arm. Credit: NASA TV
Spacewalk Conducted Outside the Space Station
On July 21, Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency carried out a spacewalk outside the spaceport station to continue outfitting hardware on the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module, including the setup of platforms around the European robotic arm. Nauka and the European robotic arm were introduced to the station last July from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Seen here is a close-up view of the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket as it rolls to Launch Complex 39B at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
NASA Updates Launch Status of Artemis I Moon Mission
NASA leaders supplied an update on July 20 on plans to launch the uncrewed Artemis I flight test around the Moon with our Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. While the company has not yet devoted to a formal target launch date, August 29, September 2, and September 5 are the dates currently on hold as potential launch opportunities. These dates help engineers handle the schedule and construct mission timelines while work to prepare the ground, spacecraft, and rocket systems for the flight continues.
Illustration of NASAs Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) on the surface of the Moon. Credit: NASA Ames/Daniel Rutter
NASA Replans Delivery of VIPER Moon Rover
NASA has actually asked groups working to deliver our water-hunting VIPER rover to the Moon to retarget delivery from November 2023 to November 2024. VIPERs mission will provide insight into the origin and distribution of water on the Moon and help identify how lunar resources might be harvested for future human space exploration.
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, is a CubeSat that will fly a special orbit around the Moon intended for NASAs future Artemis lunar station Gateway. Its six-month objective will help introduce a new period of deep area expedition. Credit: NASA Ames Research
Follow CAPSTONEs Journey to the Moon in Real Time
It will make a number of more modifications on its four-month-long journey to the Moon. NASAs Eyes on the Solar System can take you on a virtual ride-along with CAPSTONE. The positions of the planets, moons, and different spacecraft– consisting of CAPSTONE– are all revealed where they are right now.
Authorities team image of the Apollo 11 Prime Crew. From left to right are astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Commander; Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module Pilot. Credit: NASA
Apollo 11 Moon Landing Anniversary
While Collins orbited the Moon in the missions command module, Armstrong and Aldrin safely landed the “Eagle” lunar module in the area of the Moon understood as the Sea of Tranquility. They later left the lunar lander to become the very first people to set foot on the surface of the Moon.
Thats whats up today @NASA!

An industrial cargo spacecraft securely comes to the spaceport station …
Area station crewmembers perform a spacewalk … And an update on plans to launch our Artemis I mission … a few of the stories to tell you about– Today at NASA!