What Happened This Year @NASA – December 15, 2016

TL;DR

NASA achieved significant milestones in 2016, including the completion of a year-long mission in space, successful cargo deliveries to the International Space Station, advancements in Mars exploration, and the discovery of new planets.

Transcript

Here’s a look at some of the top NASA stories of 2016 … In March, NASA astronaut and Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko completed their historic one-year mission aboard the International Space Station. And NASA’s commercial cargo partners, Orbital ATK and SpaceX, delivered tons of cargo to the station in 201... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🚀 NASA astronauts completed a year-long mission in space, expanding our understanding of the effects of long-duration space travel on the human body.
• 🖐️ Cargo deliveries to the International Space Station played a crucial role in supporting scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.
• 📪 Advances in Mars exploration, including the launch of the Juno spacecraft and the InSight mission, brought us closer to understanding the red planet.
• 🤗 NASA's discovery of potentially habitable Earth-size planets through the Kepler mission opened up new possibilities for the existence of life beyond Earth.
• 🛩️ The agency's efforts on Earth included studying climate change, launching small satellite missions, and developing technology for safer and cleaner air travel.
• ❓ NASA's commitment to technology transfer and innovation was evident through the sharing of its technologies with various industries and organizations.
• 👻 The Centennial Challenges program fostered innovation by hosting competitions focused on important technological advancements.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the highlights of NASA's achievements in 2016?

Some of the top achievements include the completion of a year-long mission in space, successful cargo deliveries to the International Space Station, advancements in Mars exploration, and the discovery of new planets.

Q: What was the significance of the BEAM technology demonstration?

The BEAM technology demonstration delivered to the space station in April aimed to test expandable modules that could be used in future space habitats, providing valuable insights for long-duration space missions.

Q: What were the major milestones in Mars exploration in 2016?

NASA's Juno spacecraft arrived at Jupiter, allowing for crucial study of the giant planet. The agency also updated the milestones for the InSight mission to Mars, setting a new launch window beginning in May 2018.

Q: How did NASA contribute to improving life on Earth in 2016?

NASA conducted Earth science field campaigns to study the changing planet and launched small satellite missions to observe Earth more effectively. The agency also worked on developing new technologies for cleaner, safer, and quieter air travel.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronauts Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko completed a historic one-year mission aboard the International Space Station.

• NASA's commercial cargo partners, Orbital ATK and SpaceX, successfully delivered tons of supplies to the space station to support important science experiments.

• Advancements in Mars exploration were made with the launch of the Juno spacecraft to Jupiter and the announcement of the InSight mission to Mars.