The President’s Funding Request for NASA on This Week @NASA – April 9, 2021

TL;DR

NASA's funding request for Fiscal Year 2022 includes addressing climate change, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, support for the Artemis program, and the first flight attempt of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

Transcript

The President’s funding request for NASA … Preparing for first flight on another world … And a new crew heads to the space station … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! Acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk discussed the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 discretionary funding request for NASA. The $24.7 billion funding request ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💱 NASA's funding request emphasizes addressing climate change and developing environmentally-friendly aviation systems.
• 😫 The James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch, will provide a significant advancement in observing the early universe.
• 💪 The Artemis program receives strong support for establishing sustainable exploration and research on the Moon, as a preparation for future missions to Mars.
• ✈️ The Ingenuity Mars helicopter represents a groundbreaking attempt to achieve powered flight on another planet.
• 👶 The International Space Station's crew continues to rotate, with new members arriving from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
• 👶 The Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft autonomously relocated to enable the extraction of new solar arrays.
• 🚒 Successful engine tests on the RS-25 engines contribute to the development of the Space Launch System rocket for future Moon and Mars missions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is included in NASA's funding request for FY2022?

NASA's funding request includes funding for addressing climate change, developing environmentally-friendly aviation systems, launching the James Webb Space Telescope, and advancing the Artemis program for Moon to Mars exploration.

Q: What is the purpose of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter?

The Ingenuity Mars helicopter is a technology demonstration to test powered flight on another planet for the first time. It aims to gather valuable data and pave the way for future missions.

Q: When is the first flight attempt of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter scheduled?

The first flight attempt of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter is currently targeted for no earlier than Sunday, April 11. A livestream confirming the flight is planned for April 12.

Q: Who are the latest crew members to arrive at the International Space Station?

The International Space Station's newest crew includes Mark Vande Hei, Oleg Novitskiy, and Pyotr Dubrov, who were welcomed aboard by the existing crew members, including Kate Rubins and NASA astronauts from the SpaceX Crew-1 mission.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA's funding request for FY2022 includes funding to address climate change and develop environmentally-friendly aviation systems.

• Milestones expected under the new funding request include the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope and advancements in the Artemis program for Moon to Mars exploration.

• The Ingenuity Mars helicopter is set to attempt its first powered, controlled flight on another planet, and NASA's latest crew has arrived at the International Space Station.