THIS WEEK @NASA: Marking 20 years of Humans Aboard ISS, First Scientific Instrument Installed on Lucy Spacecraft
By Space Coast Daily // November 8, 2020
Latest Happenings around NASA
ABOVE VIDEO: Marking 20 years of humans aboard the space station, getting out the vote from space, and preparations continue for NASA and SpaceX’s next crew launch … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!
20 Years of Humans Aboard the International Space Station
Nov. 2 marked 20 years of humans continuously living and working aboard the International Space Station. As the only laboratory available for long-duration microgravity research, the space station has supported numerous discoveries, scientific publications, unique opportunities, and historic breakthroughs that help us explore farther into space, and also benefit us here on Earth.
Find out more at nasa.gov/station20.
How NASA Transmits Votes From Space
NASA’s Kate Rubins became the latest U.S. astronaut to cast a ballot from space. NASA has used the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) network to ensure Americans in space can vote securely since astronaut Dave Wolf became the first American to vote from space while onboard the Mir Space Station in 1997.
First Crew Rotation Flight on US Commercial Spacecraft
Preparations continue toward the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station, currently targeted for Nov. 14 at 7:49 p.m. EST, from our Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will increase the size of the station’s crew and also the productivity aboard the orbital outpost.
Shannon Walker, NASA Astronaut:
“The amount of research that we can get done, and the science that we can get done with just one or two more people is more than just one or two more people’s worth of science. And so, the ability for us to accomplish whatever needs to be accomplished goes way high with more people on the station.”
Crew-1 is the first crew rotation mission to the space station of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
First Scientific Instrument Installed on NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft
Our Lucy mission, which will be the first to visit the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter, was recently outfitted with its first scientific instrument. The Lucy LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) will provide highly detailed views of the surfaces of these never before seen bodies that scientists believe once were situated in the outer solar system. Lucy is targeted for launch in October 2021.
All-Electric X-57 Propeller Designs Undergo Wind Tunnel Tests
Two of the advance design propeller assemblies for NASA’s first all-electric X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell, underwent wind tunnel testing recently at our Langley Research Center. X-57 will use the motors and propellers during takeoff, deactivate them during cruise mode to prevent additional drag, and then use them again to help the aircraft land. NASA’s primary goal for X-57 is to share the electric-propulsion design, lessons learned, and other data with regulators, as new electric aircraft markets begin to emerge.
That’s what’s up this week @NASA
