Space station spacewalks on This Week @NASA

TL;DR

NASA previews upcoming spacewalks to prepare the ISS for new docking ports, ATV undocks and disintegrates, Russian Progress ship delivers supplies, NASA focuses on upcoming MMS mission, wind tunnel testing conducted for Orion parachutes, retrofitting of Pegasus barge for SLS rocket, NASA hosts small business industry day.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” A Feb. 18 briefing at Johnson Space Center previewed a series of U.S. spacewalks to prepare the International Space Station for new docking ports that will allow future crews launched from Florida, on U.S. commercial spacecraft to dock to the station. On the first EVA, scheduled for no earlie... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎾 Spacewalks are necessary to prepare the ISS for new docking ports, enabling future crew launches from Florida.
• 😘 The European Space Agency's fleet of Automated Transfer Vehicles has provided significant supplies to the ISS since 2008.
• 🖐️ Russian Progress supply ships continue to play a crucial role in delivering essential items to the orbital laboratory.
• 🚀 NASA is preparing for the launch of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to study magnetic fields around Earth.
• 👨‍🚀 Improving the safety and reliability of the Orion crew module's parachutes is a priority for NASA to ensure the successful return of astronauts from deep space missions.
• 💯 Retrofitting the Pegasus barge will enable the transportation of the massive core stage of the Space Launch System rocket.
• 🙃 NASA actively supports Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses through industry day events.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the upcoming spacewalks conducted by NASA astronauts?

The spacewalks will prepare the International Space Station for new docking ports, allowing future crews launched from Florida to dock to the station. Astronauts will prepare cables and communications gear for the two new International Docking Adapters.

Q: What happened to the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)?

The ATV undocked from the space station and disintegrated in Earth's atmosphere while deorbiting. This marked the end of the ESA's fleet of five ATVs, which had been servicing the space station since 2008.

Q: What was delivered by the Russian Progress supply ship?

The Progress delivered three tons of food, fuel, supplies, and experiment hardware to the six crew members aboard the International Space Station.

Q: What is the focus of NASA's upcoming Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission?

The MMS mission will study how magnetic fields around Earth connect and disconnect, specifically focusing on the process of magnetic reconnection, which converts magnetic energy into particle energy. It aims to improve understanding of this fundamental process in the universe.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA astronauts will conduct spacewalks to prepare the ISS for new docking ports.

• The European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) undocks and disintegrates in Earth's atmosphere.

• A Russian Progress supply ship delivers supplies to the ISS.

• NASA focuses on the upcoming Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission.

• Wind tunnel testing is conducted to improve the parachutes of the Orion crew module.

• The Pegasus barge is being retrofitted to transport the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket.

• NASA hosts a small business industry day for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.