NASA Budget Hearings Continue on This Week @NASA – March 18, 2016

TL;DR

NASA Administrator testifies on budget, Soyuz spacecraft launches, Saffire experiment to study spacecraft fires, Women in STEM event, ExoMars mission and Jason-3 satellite updates.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden was back on Capitol Hill during the week of March 13 for more Congressional hearings on the agency’s $19 billion dollar Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal. On Tuesday, Bolden testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science a... Read More

Key Insights

• 💅 NASA is actively engaging with Congress to secure funding for its ambitious goals, including a manned mission to Mars.
• 👾 International partnerships, like the one with Russia for the Soyuz launch and the European Space Agency for the ExoMars mission, are essential for advancing space exploration.
• 👨‍🔬 Research experiments like the Saffire-1 experiment help NASA scientists understand the behavior of fire in space and improve safety measures.
• 🧔‍♀️ Celebrating women in STEM careers is a priority for NASA, highlighting their contributions and achievements.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden testifying before Congressional hearings on the budget proposal?

Charlie Bolden testifies to provide information and answer questions about NASA's $19 billion dollar budget proposal, which includes funding for initiatives like sending astronauts to Mars, expanding knowledge about the universe, and improving life on Earth.

Q: Who is on board the Soyuz spacecraft that launched towards the International Space Station?

The Soyuz spacecraft carries NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams and his Russian crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka from the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

Q: What is the goal of the Saffire-1 experiment aboard the Cygnus cargo spacecraft?

The Saffire-1 experiment aims to better understand how fire behaves in space by studying it outside of Earth's atmosphere. The Cygnus spacecraft will also deliver the second generation of the 3-D printer currently being used on the International Space Station.

Q: What was the focus of the Women in STEM event at Goddard Space Flight Center?

The Women in STEM event celebrated Women's History Month and highlighted the achievements and impact of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. Prominent NASA officials and guest speakers shared their experiences and insights.

Q: What role does NASA play in the European Space Agency's ExoMars 2016 mission?

NASA provided radios for the ExoMars mission that will serve as communication relays for rovers and landers on Mars. This partnership strengthens and extends infrastructure in preparation for future human missions to Mars.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA Administrator, Charlie Bolden, testifies before Congressional hearings on the agency's budget proposal.

• Soyuz spacecraft launches with NASA astronaut and Russian crewmates towards the International Space Station.

• Saffire-1 experiment to study spacecraft fires and the delivery of a second-generation 3-D printer on the upcoming Cygnus cargo spacecraft resupply mission.

• NASA celebrates Women's History Month with an event focusing on women in STEM careers.

• European Space Agency's ExoMars 2016 mission launches with NASA radios on board for communication relay service.

• Jason-3 satellite produces its first complete science map of global sea surface height, aiding in weather and climate forecasts.