May 17, 2024

This Week @NASA: A Journey to a Metal World, Simulated Mars Mission, Anniversary Celebration

NASAs Mind mission to a distant metal asteroid will bring an advanced Deep Area Optical Communications (DSOC) plan. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
Preparing to journey to a metal world …
A milestone for a simulated Mars mission …
And celebrating an anniversary for NASA …

A few of the stories to inform you about– This Week at NASA!

Preparing to Journey to a Metal World
NASA targeting no earlier than October 12 for the launch of the Psyche spacecraft on a 2.2-billion-mile journey to study a metal-rich asteroid of the same name. The Psyche asteroid depends on the external part of the main asteroid belt in between Mars and Jupiter, and may have the ability to inform us more about the development of rocky worlds like Earth.
This is NASAs very first mission to study an asteroid that has more metal than rock or ice.
NASAs simulated Mars environment includes a 1,200-square-foot sandbox with red sand to mimic the Martian landscape. The location will be utilized to perform simulated spacewalks or “Marswalks” throughout the analog objectives. Credit: NASA
Yearlong Simulated Mars Mission Reaches 100 Days
The four-person volunteer team of NASAs very first yearlong CHAPEA Mars analog objective just recently spent its 100th day inside the objectives 1,700-square-foot environment at NASAs Johnson Space. The team is mimicing activities astronauts will do during future human objectives on Mars.
Lessons found out through Artemis missions on and around the Moon in addition to simulated missions, like CHAPEA, will help us prepare to send astronauts to Mars.
On October 1, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officially began operations. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act the previous July, creating NASA to lead Americas civilian space program in response to Soviet advances in space exploration. Credit; NASA
October 1, 1958: NASA Begins Operations
October 1 marked the 65th anniversary of NASA formally opening for service. The company was developed to lead Americas civilian area program in action to Soviet advances in space exploration.
It also included aspects of its predecessor– the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which had actually been founded to advance aeronautics research.
Within days of opening, NASA started work on Americas first human spaceflight program.
A group of college student and mentors flew aboard NASA Armstrong Flight Research Centers DC-8 aircraft to study air quality as part of NASAs Student Airborne Research Program (SARP). Based at NASAs Armstrong Building 703 in Palmdale, California, the DC-8 flew over the Central Valley to measure contamination and screen air quality on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Credit: NASA
NASA Student Airborne Research Program Celebrates 15 Years
This summer, NASAs Student Airborne Research Program, or SARP, celebrated its 15th anniversary.
The summer internship program uses upper-level undergraduate students hands-on research experience as part of real science campaigns onboard NASA Airborne Science Program flying science laboratories– aircraft outfitted particularly for research jobs.
Thats whats up today @NASA.

NASAs simulated Mars habitat includes a 1,200-square-foot sandbox with red sand to simulate the Martian landscape. Credit: NASA
On October 1, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) formally started operations. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act the previous July, developing NASA to lead Americas civilian space program in response to Soviet advances in area expedition. A group of university students and mentors flew aboard NASA Armstrong Flight Research Centers DC-8 aircraft to study air quality as part of NASAs Student Airborne Research Program (SARP).