This Week @NASA: Nuclear Power on Moon, Changing Mars Landscape, Black Space Explorers

This Week NASA Nuclear Power on Moon

Looking to power surface exploration on the Moon

New imagery from the surface of Mars ….

And our newest flight directors … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!

NASA Announces Artemis Concept Awards for Nuclear Power on Moon

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have selected three design concept proposals for a fission surface power system design that could be ready to launch on a demo mission to the Moon by the end of the decade. Fission systems are relatively small, lightweight, and could enable continuous power regardless of location, available sunlight, or other environmental conditions. This technology would benefit future exploration under our Artemis program.

Curiosity Mars Rover Sulfate Bearing Region

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover captured this view of a sulfate-bearing region using its Mastcam on May 2, 2022. Dark boulders seen near the center are thought to have formed from sand deposited in ancient streams or ponds. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Curiosity Captures Stunning Views of a Changing Mars Landscape

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has spent the past year traveling through a transition zone on the Red Planet, from a clay-rich region to one filled with a salty mineral called sulfate. Imagery captured of rock formations in this “transition zone” is visually stunning, but could also provide evidence that a major shift occurred in the planet’s climate billions of years ago which led to the dry conditions that we see today. Curiosity will celebrate its 10th year on Mars on August 5.

NASA’s 2022 Class of Flight Directors

A photo of NASA’s 2022 class of flight directors who will oversee operations of the International Space Station, commercial crew, and Artemis missions to the Moon. The inductees from left to right: Heidi Brewer, Ronak Dave, Garrett Hehn, Diana Trujillo, Elias Myrmo, Chris Dobbins, Nicole McElroy. Credit: NASA

NASA Introduces New Flight Directors in Class of 2022

NASA has seven new flight directors. After completing a comprehensive training program, Heidi Brewer, Ronak Dave, Chris Dobbins, Garrett Hehn, Nicole McElroy, Elias Myrmo, and Diana Trujillo will oversee operations of the International Space Station, commercial crew, and Artemis missions to the Moon.

Color of Space Documentary

The Color of Space captures the personal stories of seven current and former Black astronauts, each selected to become part of NASA’s astronaut corps and train for space missions. Current NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson, Victor Glover, Jeanette Epps, as well as retired astronauts Leland Melvin, Bernard Harris, Robert Curbeam, and Bobby Satcher, speak about their journeys and their motivations in a panel hosted by NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche, the first Black woman to lead a NASA center. Credit: NASA

NASA Documentary Celebrates Black Space Explorers

On June 18, Howard University in Washington, D.C. hosted a screening of the NASA documentary, “The Color of Space.” The documentary features thought-provoking conversation between current and former Black astronauts recounting the influences and inspirations that put them on the path to NASA, and what they experienced on their journeys to the agency. Some of the astronauts also gave advice and shared personal stories of hope and resilience to students who have aspirations of following in their footsteps. The 50-minute documentary is available for free to the public on NASA TV, the NASA app, NASA social media channels, and YouTube.

Vice President Kamala Harris NASA STEM

Vice President Kamala Harris hugs children that participated in hands-on STEM activities on the grounds of the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Washington. The Vice President and Second Gentleman hosted an evening of NASA STEM activities at the Naval Observatory for military families and local STEM students and their families, including a special screening of Disney Pixar’s Lightyear. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Vice President Hosts NASA for Family STEM Event

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff recently hosted an event at the Naval Observatory that included NASA STEM education activities for military families, and local students and their families. The event also featured a special screening of the Disney Pixar film, “Lightyear.” Several current NASA astronauts attended the event, including Tom Marshburn, who was the NASA technical consultant on the film, Stephanie Wilson, and Jasmin Moghbeli. Former astronaut and NASA associate administrator for Education, Leland Melvin was also there. Our Office of STEM engagement seeks to attract and engage a diverse group of students to STEM fields to contribute to NASA’s work and to build a diverse future STEM workforce.

That’s what’s up this week @NASA …

3 Comments on "This Week @NASA: Nuclear Power on Moon, Changing Mars Landscape, Black Space Explorers"

  1. Not important | June 26, 2022 at 10:12 pm | Reply

    Amazing how much NASA is lying. And the worst thing is that people believe in these lies.

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