Science Mission Directorate

New Proposals to Help NASA Advance Knowledge of Our Changing Climate

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, Mai 7, 2024
University, National academy, Earth science, Ice, Weather, Climate, Ethane, NASA, Carbon cycle, Ozone, Orbit, Medicine, Wind, NASA Headquarters, Environment, Human, Science Mission Directorate, ICESat-2, Greenhouse, Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation, Multimedia, Temperature, Communications satellite

"The proposals represent another example of NASA's holistic approach to studying our home planet," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Key Points: 
  • "The proposals represent another example of NASA's holistic approach to studying our home planet," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
  • "As we continue to confront our changing climate, and its impacts on humans and our environment, the need for data and scientific research could not be greater.
  • These proposals will help us better prepare for the challenges we face today, and tomorrow."
  • After the study period, NASA will choose two proposals to go forward to launch with readiness dates expected in 2030 and 2032.

NASA Grants Support Academic Collaborations for STEM Student Success

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, April 30, 2024
Carbon, Education, Interdisciplinarity, Carthage College, Astrobiology, City, Learning, Physics, Glenn Research Center, Community college, Queensborough Community College, SMD, Skyline College, NASA, Cleveland State University, Whittier College, San Jose State University, Machine learning, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Snow, Research, Employment, Ames Research Center, University, STEM, NASA Headquarters, Engineering, Science Mission Directorate, Science, Air pollution, Silicon, College, Faculty, California State University, GISS, Goddard Space Flight Center, Multimedia, Jackson State University, JPL, City University, Langley Research Center, Student, Johnson Space Center, American University, Nursing

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded $3.9 million to 13 teams at under-resourced academic institutions across the country, to support collaborative projects with NASA that offer students mentorship and career development in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded $3.9 million to 13 teams at under-resourced academic institutions across the country, to support collaborative projects with NASA that offer students mentorship and career development in science, technology, engineering, and math.
  • "We are thrilled to welcome 13 new teams into our community," said Padi Boyd, director, SMD Bridge Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
  • "We look forward to nurturing these collaborations between faculty and NASA researchers, while supporting the development of the next generation of researchers."
  • The projects offer hands-on training and mentorship for students that will help them transition into graduate schools, employment at NASA, or STEM careers.

NASA Sets Path to Return Mars Samples, Seeks Innovative Designs

Retrieved on: 
Montag, April 15, 2024
Fiscal, Solar System, Risk, NASA, Collection, Research, Life, History, NASA Headquarters, Perseverance (rover), Mars sample-return mission, Science Mission Directorate, Multimedia, Communications satellite

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shared on Monday the agency's path forward on the Mars Sample Return program, including seeking innovative designs to return valuable samples from Mars to Earth.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shared on Monday the agency's path forward on the Mars Sample Return program, including seeking innovative designs to return valuable samples from Mars to Earth.
  • As part of that effort, Mars Sample Return has been a long-term goal of international planetary exploration for the past two decades.
  • NASA's Perseverance rover has been collecting samples for later collection and return to Earth since it landed on Mars in 2021.
  • "Mars Sample Return will be one of the most complex missions NASA has ever undertaken.

NASA Selects First Lunar Instruments for Artemis Astronaut Deployment

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, März 26, 2024
Sun, University, JAXA, Growth, LEAF, Character, Artemis 3, History, Science, LDA, Human, LEMS, Plant, NASA, Engineering, Frost, Ice, Multimedia, Photosynthesis, Science Mission Directorate, Communications satellite

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has chosen the first science instruments designed for astronauts to deploy on the surface of the Moon during Artemis III.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, March 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has chosen the first science instruments designed for astronauts to deploy on the surface of the Moon during Artemis III.
  • Once installed near the lunar South Pole, the three instruments will collect valuable scientific data about the lunar environment, the lunar interior, and how to sustain a long-duration human presence on the Moon, which will help prepare NASA to send astronauts to Mars.
  • "These three deployed instruments were chosen to begin scientific investigations that will address key Moon to Mars science objectives."
  • The instruments will address three Artemis science objectives: understanding planetary processes, understanding the character and origin of lunar polar volatiles, and investigating and mitigating exploration risks.

NASA Tech Contributes to Soft Moon Landing, Agency Science Underway

Retrieved on: 
Samstag, Februar 24, 2024
NDL, Collection, Altitude, Astronaut, Geology, Photoelectric effect, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, CST, Intuitive Machines, Radar, Multimedia, Retroreflector, NASA, Odysseus, Radio, Astronomy, Communication, NASA Headquarters, Artemis, SpaceX, Science Mission Directorate, Spacecraft, Science, CLPS, Research, Water, Environment, Communications satellite

Carrying six NASA science research and technology demonstrations, among other customer payloads, all NASA science instruments completed transit checkouts en route to the Moon.

Key Points: 
  • Carrying six NASA science research and technology demonstrations, among other customer payloads, all NASA science instruments completed transit checkouts en route to the Moon.
  • A NASA precision landing technology demonstration also provided critical last-minute assistance to ensure a soft landing.
  • "Some of the NASA science instruments on this mission will bring us insight on lunar plume interactions and conduct radio astronomy.
  • NASA is committed to supporting its U.S. commercial vendors as they navigate the challenges of sending science and technology to the surface of the Moon.

New NASA Mission will Study Ultraviolet Sky, Stars, Stellar Explosions

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, Februar 13, 2024
Atmosphere, Galaxy, Multimedia, NASA, Astrophysics, Solar System, Explorer 1, Goddard Space Flight Center, ARD International Music Competition, NASA Headquarters, Explosion, University, Uhuru, Science Mission Directorate, Space Dynamics Laboratory, Science, Exploration, University of California, Berkeley, ESA, Ultraviolet, Research, European Space Agency, Explorers Program, Northrop Grumman, Communications satellite

The space telescope, called UVEX (UltraViolet EXplorer), is targeted to launch in 2030 as NASA's next Astrophysics Medium-Class Explorer mission.

Key Points: 
  • The space telescope, called UVEX (UltraViolet EXplorer), is targeted to launch in 2030 as NASA's next Astrophysics Medium-Class Explorer mission.
  • This will enable it to capture the explosions that follow bursts of gravitational waves caused by merging neutron stars.
  • The telescope also will carry an ultraviolet spectrograph to study stellar explosions and massive stars.
  • The UVEX mission was selected for a two-year mission and will cost approximately $300 million, not including launch costs.

NASA Launches New Climate Mission to Study Ocean, Atmosphere

Retrieved on: 
Donnerstag, Februar 8, 2024
Multimedia, Fishery, Food security, SpaceX launch vehicles, Goddard Space Flight Center, Ecosystem, Science, Research, Biodiversity, PACE, Orbit, Sunlight, Recreation, Carbon cycle, Carbon, Space research, Timeline, Atmosphere, Kennedy Space Center, Climate, Phytoplankton, SpaceX, Water, Spacecraft, Science Mission Directorate, Thought, Acquisition, NASA Launch Services Program, EST, University, Health, NASA Headquarters, NASA, Communications satellite

NASA confirmed signal acquisition from the satellite about five minutes after launch, and the spacecraft is performing as expected.

Key Points: 
  • NASA confirmed signal acquisition from the satellite about five minutes after launch, and the spacecraft is performing as expected.
  • "Missions like this are supporting the Biden-Harris Administration's climate agenda and helping us answer urgent questions about our changing climate."
  • From hundreds of miles above Earth, the PACE mission will study the impact of tiny, often invisible things: microscopic life in water and microscopic particles in the air.
  • The PACE mission is managed by NASA Goddard, which also built and tested the spacecraft and the ocean color instrument.

After Three Years on Mars, NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends

Retrieved on: 
Donnerstag, Januar 25, 2024
Silicon, Perseverance (rover), Solar System, Heart, Orientation, Multimedia, NASA Headquarters, Freezing, Rover, Communication, Langley Research Center, Notching, Ames Research Center, Red, Aircraft, NASA, Dust, JPL, EST, Science Mission Directorate, Communications satellite

"The historic journey of Ingenuity, the first aircraft on another planet, has come to end," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

Key Points: 
  • "The historic journey of Ingenuity, the first aircraft on another planet, has come to end," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
  • "That remarkable helicopter flew higher and farther than we ever imagined and helped NASA do what we do best – make the impossible, possible.
  • The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was built by NASA JPL, which also manages the project for NASA Headquarters.
  • At NASA Headquarters, Dave Lavery is the program executive for the Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

NASA Science, Astrobotic Peregrine Mission One Concludes

Retrieved on: 
Freitag, Januar 19, 2024
Multimedia, Science, LRA, Spacecraft, NASA Headquarters, Peregrine, CLPS, NASA, EST, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, Science Mission Directorate, Moon, Astrobotic Technology, Artemis, Communications satellite

After 10 days and 13 hours in space, Astrobotic's Peregrine Mission One made a controlled re-entry on Earth over open water in the South Pacific at approximately 4:04 p.m. EST on Jan. 18.

Key Points: 
  • After 10 days and 13 hours in space, Astrobotic's Peregrine Mission One made a controlled re-entry on Earth over open water in the South Pacific at approximately 4:04 p.m. EST on Jan. 18.
  • There are seven additional CLPS deliveries awarded to multiple American companies, with more awards expected this year and for years to come.
  • Following a successful launch and separation from the rocket on Jan. 8, the spacecraft experienced a propulsion issue preventing Peregrine from softly landing on the Moon.
  • "Astrobotic's Peregrine mission provided an invaluable opportunity to test our science and instruments in space, optimizing our process for collecting data and providing a benchmark for future missions," said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

NASA Invites Public to Send Names Aboard Artemis Robotic Moon Rover

Retrieved on: 
Donnerstag, Januar 4, 2024
EST, VIPER, Robotics, Science, Ames Research Center, NASA Headquarters, Multimedia, Astronaut, Honeybee Robotics, Europa Clipper, Science Mission Directorate, SpaceX launch vehicles, Exploration, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Integration, Name, Kennedy Space Center, Rover, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, Solar System, CLPS, Falcon Heavy, Social media, Silicon, Spacecraft, History, Environment, Communications satellite

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is inviting people to send their names to the surface of the Moon aboard the agency's first robotic lunar rover, VIPER – short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is inviting people to send their names to the surface of the Moon aboard the agency's first robotic lunar rover, VIPER – short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover.
  • As part of the "Send Your Name with VIPER" campaign, NASA will accept names received before 11:59 p.m. EST, March 15.
  • Once collected, the agency will take the names and attach them to the rover.
  • In addition to managing the mission, NASA Ames leads the mission's science, systems engineering, real-time rover surface operations, and flight software.