NASA PACE Earth Science Mission Makes the Invisible Visible

NASA PACE Earth Science Mission Makes the Invisible Visible

PACE, the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud and ocean Ecosystem mission, views our entire planet every day, returning data that allows scientists to track and monitor the rapidly changing atmosphere and ocean, including cloud formation, aerosol movement, and differences in microscopic ocean life over time.

PACE is NASA’s newest earth-observing satellite that will help increase our understanding of Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and climate by delivering hyperspectral observations of microscopic marine organisms called phytoplankton as well new data on clouds and aerosols.

Learn more about NASA's PACE Earth Mission: 

https://pace.gsfc.nasa.gov

Video Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Ryan Fitzgibbons (eMITS/AMA): Producer, Writer, Editor, Narrator

Jeremy Werdell (NASA/GSFC): Scientist, Interviewee

Ivona Cetinić (Morgan State University): Scientist, Interviewee

Kirk Knobelspiesse (NASA/GSFC): Scientist, Interviewee

Meng Gao (SSAI): Scientist, Interviewee

Kel Elkins (SSAI): Lead Visualizer

Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Visualizer

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: June 7, 2024

#NASA #Space #Satellite #Science #Earth #Planet #Atmosphere #Oceans #MarineBiology #Phytoplankton #PACEMission #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #Weather #Climate #ClimateChange #GlobalHeating #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA Remembers Apollo 8 Astronaut Bill Anders

NASA Remembers Apollo 8 Astronaut Bill Anders

NASA mourns the passing of Apollo Astronaut William "Bill" Anders at the age of 90. 

He was backup pilot for the Gemini XI, Apollo 11 flights, and was lunar module pilot for Apollo 8—the first lunar orbit mission. On Christmas Eve in 1968, Anders turned his camera toward Earth and captured the legendary Earthrise photo.

For more information about Anders’ NASA career, and his biography, visit: 

https://www.nasa.gov/former-astronaut-william-a-anders/

Video Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 3 minutes, 28 seconds

Release Date: June 7, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planet #Earth #Earthrise #Moon #ApolloProgram #Apollo8 #Astronauts #NASARemembers #BillAnders #FrankBorman #JimLovell #History #OverviewEffect #OrbitalPerspective #SpaceTechnology #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Boeing's Starliner Crew Spacecraft Approaches International Space Station

Boeing's Starliner Crew Spacecraft Approaches International Space Station

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is pictured approaching the International Space Station for an autonomous docking on June 6, 2024 as the spacecraft and orbiting laboratory soared 257 miles above the South Pacific Ocean. Starliner launched on June 5, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard, as part of NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test. This first crewed flight of Starliner aims to certify the spacecraft for rotational missions to the space station.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: 

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #Space #Earth #ISS #Boeing #Starliner #CST100 #AtlasVRocket #CommercialCrewProgram #CFT #Astronauts #SuniWilliams #BarryWilmore #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceTechnology #Engineering #LaunchAmerica #CommercialSpace #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

'Super' Star Cluster Westerlund 1: X-ray & Optical Light | NASA Chandra

'Super' Star Cluster Westerlund 1: X-ray & Optical Light | NASA Chandra

Westerlund 1 is the biggest and closest “super” star cluster to Earth. New data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, in combination with other NASA telescopes, is helping astronomers delve deeper into this galactic factory where stars are vigorously being produced. These are the first data to be publicly released from a project called the Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey, or EWOCS.

Distance: About 12,700 light-years

Currently, only a handful of stars form in our galaxy each year, but in the past the situation was different. The Milky Way used to produce many more stars, likely hitting its peak of churning out dozens or hundreds of stars per year about 10 billion years ago and then gradually declining ever since. Astronomers think that most of this star formation took place in young massive clusters of stars, known as “super star clusters,” like Westerlund 1. These are young clusters of stars that contain more than 10,000 times the mass of the sun.

Only a few super star clusters still exist in our galaxy, but they offer important clues about this earlier era when most of our galaxy’s stars formed. Westerlund 1 is the biggest of these remaining super star clusters in the Milky Way and contains a mass between 50,000 and 100,000 suns. It is also the closest super star cluster to Earth at about 13,000 light-years.

These qualities make Westerlund 1 an excellent target for studying the impact of a super star cluster’s environment on the formation process of stars and planets as well as the evolution of stars over a broad range of masses.

This new deep Chandra dataset of Westerlund 1 has more than tripled the number of X-ray sources known in the cluster. Before the EWOCS project, Chandra had detected 1,721 sources in Westerlund 1. The EWOCS data found almost 6,000 X-ray sources, including fainter stars with lower masses than the Sun. This gives astronomers a new population to study and learn from.

Image Description: This is an image of the Westerlund 1 star cluster and the surrounding region, as detected in X-ray and optical light. The black canvas of space is peppered with colored dots of light of various sizes, mostly in shades of red, green, blue, and white.

At the center of the image is a semi-transparent, red and yellow cloud of gas encircling a grouping of tightly packed gold stars. The shape and distribution of stars in the cluster call to mind effervescent soda bubbles dancing above the ice cubes of a recently poured beverage.

Video Credit: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Image Credits: 

X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF/M. Guarcello et al.; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare

Duration: 2 minutes, 37 seconds

Release Date: June 7, 2024

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Stars #Westerlund1 #StarCluster #StarClusters #Ara #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescopes #STScI #GSFC #NASAChandra #MSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Boeing Starliner's First Crew Arrives at International Space Station

Boeing Starliner's First Crew Arrives at International Space Station

Boeing's Starliner docked at 1:34 p.m. ET on June 6, 2024, after a successful June 5 launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The International Space Station Expedition 71 crew welcomed NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, Starliner's first crew.

For more info on CFT and Starliner, visit: boeing.com/starliner

Follow Expedition 71 Updates: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin (Russia)

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: 

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Video Credit: Boeing Space

Duration: 1 minute, 27 seconds

Release Date: June 7, 2024

#NASA #Space #Earth #ISS #Boeing #Starliner #CST100 #AtlasVRocket #CommercialCrewProgram #CFT #Astronauts #SuniWilliams #BarryWilmore #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceTechnology #Engineering #LaunchAmerica #CommercialSpace #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up View: The Needle Galaxy in Coma Berenices | Hubble

Close-up View: The Needle Galaxy in Coma Berenices | Hubble

A galactic disc, edge-on and up close . . .

This image snapped by the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope reveals an exquisitely detailed view of part of the disc of the spiral galaxy NGC 4565. This bright galaxy is one of the most famous examples of an edge-on spiral galaxy, oriented perpendicularly to our line of sight so that we see right into its luminous disc. NGC 4565 has been nicknamed the Needle Galaxy because, when seen in full, it appears as a very narrow streak of light on the sky.

The edgewise view into the Needle Galaxy shown here looks very similar to the view we have from our Solar System into the core of the Milky Way. In both cases, ribbons of dust partially block light coming from the galactic disc. The dust stands in even starker contrast against the copious yellow light from the star-filled central regions. NGC 4565’s core is off camera to the upper right. 

Studying galaxies like NGC 4565 helps astronomers learn more about our home, the Milky Way. At a distance of only about 40 million light-years, NGC 4565 is relatively close by, and being seen edge-on makes it a particularly useful object for comparative study. As spiral galaxies go, NGC 4565 is a whopper—about a third as big again as the Milky Way.

The image was taken with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and has a field of view of approximately 3.4 by 3.4 arcminutes.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Release Date: July 9, 2012

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #Galaxies #Galaxy #NeedleGalaxy #NGC4565 #ComaBerenices #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

The Needle Galaxy in Coma Berenices | European Southern Observatory

The Needle Galaxy in Coma Berenices | European Southern Observatory

The galaxy pictured here is NGC 4565, and for obvious reasons, is also called the Needle Galaxy. First spotted in 1785 by Uranus' discoverer, Sir William Herschel (1738-1822), this is one of the most famous examples of an edge-on spiral galaxy. NGC 4565 is located some 30 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair). It displays a bright yellowish central bulge that juts out above most impressive dust lanes.

Since it is relatively close (it is only 12 times farther away than Messier 31, the Andromeda galaxy, the major galaxy closest to us) and relatively large (roughly one third larger than the Milky Way), it does not fit entirely into the field of view of the FORS instrument (about 7 x 7 arcmin2).

Many background galaxies are also visible in this FORS image, giving full meaning to their nickname of "island universes".

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Constellation: Coma Berenices

Release Date: Aug. 10, 2005

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #NeedleGalaxy #NGC4565 #ComaBerenices #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #VLT #Telescope #AtacamaDesert #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-18 Mission: Astronaut Spacewalk Views | China Space Station

Shenzhou-18 Mission: Astronaut Spacewalk Views | China Space Station

What can the robotic arm "see" when Chinese astronauts work outside the Tiangong Space Station? During the first spacewalk of the Shenzhou-18 astronauts, the camera on the small space station robotic arm recorded images of astronaut Ye Guangfu conducting an extravehicular inspection. In the "eyes" of the robotic arm, he became part of this scene with our blue planet as the backdrop. 

The Shenzhou-18 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk on May 28, 2024. 

During the 8.5-hour extravehicular activity (EVA), astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu successfully installed space debris protection devices, among other tasks.

Ye and Li Guangsu were assigned to the spacewalk and safely returned to the station's Wentian lab module after the venture.

This EVA marked the 15th spacewalk by Chinese astronauts during the space station's application and development phase. It was the first spacewalk for Li Guangsu, who operated the station's robotic arms during the walk, and the second for Ye following his initial outing on the Shenzhou-13 mission.

At 10:35, Ye and Li Guangsu opened the hatch door. Ye then mounted the robotic arm and, with Li Guangsu's assistance, received the equipment and was transported to the worksite to install items such as power protection racks.

By 12:20, Li Guangsu had exited the cabin to join Ye in inspecting the station's exterior equipment and facilities.

"Since Shenzhou 17, we have been carrying out long-term extravehicular maintenance and inspection tasks. During this spacewalk, we addressed issues with the debris protection system by installing a protective panel, which will reduce the risk of collisions with debris and meteoroids for key equipment during long-term operations," said Li Xuedong, deputy chief designer of the space station system at the China Academy of Space Technology.

"This spacewalk involved many tasks, making it the most extensive inspection and photographic documentation conducted outside the cabin. Consequently, this spacewalk was also the longest in duration. The entire procedure was executed flawlessly, with the astronauts demonstrating exceptional precision and skill," said Zhang Wanxin, director of the Spacesuit Engineering Office and deputy chief designer of the Astronaut System at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.

The Shenzhou-18 mission will continue with a series of scheduled space science experiments and technical tests. The crew will also undertake additional extravehicular activities and install payloads outside the space station, according to the CMSA. Shenzhou-18 represents the seventh crew of three astronauts to operate the China's Tiangong  space station.

Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)

Video Credit: China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)

Duration: 2 minutes, 26 seconds

Release Date: June 7, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #Shenzhou18 #神舟十八 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #EVA #Spacewalk #SpaceDebris #YeGuangfu #LiCong #LiGuangsu #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Space to Ground: Calypso Arrives: Week of June 7, 2024

NASA's Space to Ground: Calypso Arrives | Week of June 7, 2024

NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams entered the International Space Station on June 6, 2024, at 3:45pm after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully docked to the International Space Station at 1:34 p.m. The spacecraft launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 10:52 a.m. June 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Follow Expedition 71 Updates: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin (Russia)

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominik, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: June 7, 2024

#NASA #Space #Earth #ISS #BoeingStarliner #Astronauts #SuniWilliams #BarryWilmore #Science #SpaceTechnology #SpaceLaboratory #Engineering #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition71 #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Launching a Pair of Earth-Observing Small Satellites | This Week @NASA

Launching a Pair of Earth-Observing Small Satellites | This Week @NASA

Launching a pair of Earth-observing small satellites, an intriguing planet discovered outside of our solar system, and its “full cruise ahead” for our mission to a metal-rich asteroid . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!

NASA’s PREFIRE Mission consists of two shoebox-size cube satellites that will measure the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from Earth’s poles. Data from the PREFIRE Mission will help researchers better predict how Earth’s ice, seas, and weather will change in a warming world.

At the heart of the PREFIRE mission is Earth’s energy budget—the balance between incoming heat energy from the Sun and the outgoing heat given off by the planet. The difference between the two is what determines the planet’s temperature and climate. Much of the heat radiated from the Arctic and Antarctica is emitted as far-infrared radiation, but there is currently no detailed measurement of this type of energy. The water vapor content of the atmosphere, along with the presence, structure, and composition of clouds, influences the amount of far-infrared radiation that escapes into space from Earth’s poles. Data collected from PREFIRE will give researchers information on where and when far-infrared energy radiates from the Arctic and Antarctic environments into space.

For more information:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/prefire

https://prefire.ssec.wisc.edu/

Video Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Satellites #Earth #Planet #EarthScience #PolarRegions #Arctic #Antarctic #PREFIREMission #Atmosphere #Oceans #Climate #ClimateChange #GreenhouseGases #GlobalHeating #EarthObservatory #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #RocketLab #ElectronRocket #NewZealand #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Docking Day Highlights: June 6, 2024

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Docking Day Highlights: June 6, 2024

Following its docking to the International Space Station on June 6, 2024, the hatch of the Boeing Starliner vehicle was opened, allowing NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to enter the complex for their week-long test flight as part of NASA’s Boeing Crewed Flight Test. 

After hatch opening, Wilmore and Williams as well as the Expedition 71 crew, including NASA astronauts Matt Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Tracy Dyson and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexander Grebenkin, Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub of Russia, provided welcoming remarks. Starliner will remain at the International Space Station for about one week when it is scheduled to depart for a landing in the southwestern United States.  

Follow Expedition 71 Updates: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 71 Crew

Station Commander: Oleg Kononenko (Russia)

Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin (Russia)

NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominik, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Video Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Duration: 14 minutes

Release Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #Space #Earth #ISS #Boeing #Starliner #CST100 #AtlasVRocket #CommercialCrewProgram #CFT #Astronauts #SuniWilliams #BarryWilmore #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceTechnology #Engineering #LaunchAmerica #NASAKennedy #ULA #SLC41 #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Boeing's Starliner Crew Spacecraft Approaches International Space Station

Boeing's Starliner Crew Spacecraft Approaches International Space Station

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is pictured approaching the International Space Station for an autonomous docking on June 6, 2024 as the spacecraft and orbiting laboratory soared 257 miles above the South Pacific Ocean. Starliner launched on June 5, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard, as part of NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test. This first crewed flight of Starliner aims to certify the spacecraft for rotational missions to the space station.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: 

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #Space #Earth #ISS #Boeing #Starliner #CST100 #AtlasVRocket #CommercialCrewProgram #CFT #Astronauts #SuniWilliams #BarryWilmore #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceTechnology #Engineering #LaunchAmerica #NASAKennedy #ULA #SLC41 #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Video Recap: Chang'e-6 Science Mission to Return Far Side Moon Samples

Video Recap: Chang'e-6 Science Mission to Return Far Side Moon Samples

The ascender of China's Chang'e-6 probe successfully rendezvoused and docked with the orbiter-returner combination in lunar orbit at 14:48 Beijing time on Thursday, June 6, 2024, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced. Shortly after the docking procedure, the container carrying the lunar samples collected on the far side of the Moon was safely transferred from the ascender to the returner at 15:24.

This is the second time China has achieved a probe rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit following the success of the Chang'e-5 mission back in December 2020.

Launched from south China's Hainan Province on May 3, 2024, the Chang'e-6 mission set out to retrieve the first-ever lunar samples from the far side of the Moon, making it a groundbreaking accomplishment in the history of human lunar exploration.

The lander-ascender combination, separated from the orbiter-returner combination on May 30, touched down at the designated landing area in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on June 2.

The SPA basin (43°±2° south latitude, 154°±4° west longitude) is a large impact crater on the far side of the Moon. At roughly 2,500 km (1,600 mi) in diameter and between 6.2 and 8.2 km (3.9–5.1 mi) deep, it is the largest, oldest, and deepest basin recognized on the Moon.

The Chang'e-6 lander finished its intelligent and rapid sampling work, and the samples were stowed in a container inside the ascender of the probe as planned.

After that, the combination separated, with the lander staying on the lunar surface, whereas the ascender lifted off from lunar surface Tuesday morning, June 4, carrying samples collected from the Moon's far side.

A 3,000-newton engine, after working for about six minutes, pushed the ascender to the preset lunar orbit with a perigee of about 15 kilometers and an apogee of about 180 kilometers.

After one to three course corrections over the next five days, the Chang'e-6 ascender-returner combination will reach a position around 5,000 kilometers above the Earth, where the returner will separate from the orbiter and start the phase of re-entering the atmosphere and returning to Earth. It will touchdown at a planned landing area at Siziwang Banner in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This will mark the end of the Chang'e-6's 53-day journey of flying to the moon and back.

Video Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Duration: 6 minutes

Release Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #CNSA #ESA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #Moon #Change6 #嫦娥六号 #LunarSampleReturn #FarSide #SouthPole #Queqiao2Satellite #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #InternationalCooperation #France #CNES #Italy #ASI #Sweden #History #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Surprisingly STEM: Exploration Geologist Angela Garcia | NASA Artemis Program

Surprisingly STEM: Exploration Geologist Angela Garcia | NASA Artemis Program

Here at NASA, we do not take "geology for granite." Enjoy this rock-solid episode of Surprisingly STEM and learn how exploration geologist Angela Garcia is training NASA astronauts to explore for the crater good of humanity.

NASA uses field tests to simulate missions to prepare for deep space destinations. The Arizona desert has been a training ground for lunar exploration since the Apollo era because of the many similarities to the lunar terrain, including craters, faults and volcanic features. 

Learn more about NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program:

https://www.nasa.gov/extravehicular-activity-and-human-surface-mobility/

Use this gem of a STEM activity to dig in a little deeper: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/edible-rocks/

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Education

"We are launching STEM Engagement to new heights with learning resources that connect teachers, students, parents and caregivers to the inspiring work at NASA. Join us as we apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics to explore space, improve aeronautics, examine Earth and strive to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon with the Artemis program."

Video Credit: NASA STEM

Duration: 5 minutes, 42 seconds

Release Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #Space  #Science #Earth #Geology #Geologist #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #Astronauts #HumanSpaceflight #JETT #JETT5 #Moonwalks #MoonwalkSimulation #Training #MoonToMars #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #GSFC #JSC #Jacobs #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

SpaceX Starship & Super Heavy Flight Test#4 | SpaceX Starbase in Texas

SpaceX Starship & Super Heavy Flight Test#4 | SpaceX Starbase in Texas

Note: A thin heatshield tile was used and two tiles were completely removed from Starship to measure how hot things get without tiles in those locations, while also testing thermal protection options

The fourth flight test of Starship launched Thursday morning, June 6, 2024, at 8:50 a.m. Eastern time from the company’s Starbase test site at Boca Chica, Texas. The Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage made it back to the Earth's surface intact.

The ascent appeared to go as planned other than the failure of one of 33 Raptor engines in the Super Heavy booster to ignite. The vehicle continued a controlled descent and performed a landing burn before splashing down in the Indian Ocean about 65 minutes after liftoff.

"Despite loss of many tiles and a damaged flap, Starship made it all the way to a soft landing in the ocean!” said Elon Musk, chief executive of SpaceX.

 

Starship’s third flight test made strides towards a future of rapidly reliable reusable rockets. The test completed several firsts, including the first Starship reentry from space, the first ever opening and closing of Starship’s payload door in space, and a successful propellant transfer demonstration. This last test provided valuable data for eventual ship-to-ship propellant transfers that will enable missions like returning astronauts to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program.

The fourth flight test was focused on achieving orbit to demonstrate the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy. The primary objectives were to execute a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with the Super Heavy booster, and achieving a controlled entry of Starship.

To accomplish this, several software and hardware upgrades were made to increase overall reliability and address lessons learned from Flight 3. The SpaceX team also implemented operational changes, including the jettison of the Super Heavy’s hot-stage following boostback to reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight.

Flight 4 flew a similar trajectory as the previous flight test with Starship targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This flight path did not require a deorbit burn for reentry, maximizing public safety while still providing the opportunity to meet SpaceX's primary objective of a controlled Starship reentry.

The fourth flight of Starship aims to bring it closer to rapidly reusability. The goal of SpaceX is to build a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.

"Starship is essential to both SpaceX’s plans to deploy its next-generation Starship system as well as for NASA, which will use a lunar lander version of Starship for landing astronauts on the Moon during the Artemis III mission through the Human Landing System (HLS) program."

Key Starship Parameters:

Height: 121m/397ft

Diameter: 9m/29.5ft

Payload to LEO: 100 – 150t (fully reusable)

Satellites: "Starship is designed to deliver satellites further and at a lower marginal cost per launch than our current Falcon vehicles. With a payload compartment larger than any fairing currently in operation or development, Starship creates possibilities for new missions, including space telescopes even larger than the James Webb."

Super Heavy is the first stage, or booster, of the Starship launch system. Powered by 33 Raptor engines using sub-cooled liquid methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX), Super Heavy is fully reusable and will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere to land back at the launch site.

Starship's Engines: Raptors

"The Raptor engine is a reusable methalox staged-combustion engine that powers the Starship launch system. Raptor engines began flight testing on the Starship prototype rockets in July 2019, becoming the first full-flow staged combustion rocket engine ever flown."

Raptor Engine Parameters:

Diameter: 1.3m/4ft

Height: 3.1m/10.2ft

Thrust: 230tf/500 klbf

Download the Free Starship User Guide (PDF):

https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf

Image Credit: SpaceX

Capture Date: June 6, 2024

#NASA #SpaceX #Space #Earth #Mars #Moon #MoonToMars #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #Starship #FlightTest #Spacecraft #SuperHeavyRocket #ElonMusk #SpaceTechnology #Engineering #HumanSpaceflight #CommercialSpace #SpaceExploration #Starbase #BocaChica #Texas #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Planet Mars Images: June 2024 | NASA Mars Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: June 2024 | NASA Mars Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Mars 2020 - sol 1162

MSL - sol 4205

MSL - sol 4202

Mars 2020 - sol 1169

MSL - sol 4205

MSL - sol 4205

MSL - sol 4199

MSL - sol 4202

Support FriendsofNASA.org

Celebrating 11+ Years on Mars (2012-2024)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 3+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020    

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Image Release Dates: June 1-5, 2024

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