Humanity’s Eye into the Universe on This Week @NASA – November 4, 2016

TL;DR

NASA provides updates on the James Webb Space Telescope, Soyuz crew return, ISS Expedition 50-51, AIM Day, solar eclipse, and the MMS mission.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” During a Nov. 2 media event at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Administrator Charlie Bolden was joined by Goddard Center Director Chris Scolese and Senior Project Scientist, Dr. John Mather for an update on the James Webb Space Telescope, including a rare glimpse at the telescope’s primar... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤪 Engineers and technicians performed an important optical measurement on the James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror before it goes into testing chambers.
• 👾 The completion of the sunshield layers of the James Webb Space Telescope ensures protection for its sensitive instruments during its space mission.
• 👾 The Expedition 49 crew returning from the International Space Station contributed to various scientific experiments, including the first DNA sequencing in space.
• 🚀 Preparations are underway for the launch of Expedition 50-51, featuring traditional ceremonies and final preparations in Star City, Russia.
• 🛄 NASA's AIM Day highlights innovation across the agency and is part of the FIRST leadership program aimed at developing future agency leaders.
• 😎 The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of a partial solar eclipse in space, aiding in the study of the sun and providing unique visual data.
• ✋ The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission achieved the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude fix of a GPS signal, helping scientists understand magnetic reconnection.

Questions & Answers

Q: What updates were provided about the James Webb Space Telescope?

The recent update on the James Webb Space Telescope includes the successful completion of a "Center of Curvature" test on its primary mirror, measuring its shape. The telescope's sunshield layers have also been finished to protect its sensitive instruments from the sun in space.

Q: Who returned to Earth from the International Space Station?

The Soyuz spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, and Takuya Onishi of JAXA safely returned to Earth after spending 115 days in space. Rubins became the first person to sequence DNA in space.

Q: What is the next crew mission to the International Space Station?

Expedition 50-51, consisting of NASA's Peggy Whitson, Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, is scheduled to launch on November 17 for a five-month mission on the space station.

Q: What is AIM Day?

AIM Day is an Agency Innovation Mission held by NASA to showcase innovation by employees across the agency. It includes keynote speeches, online collaboration activities, and special events to foster the pitching of innovative ideas by NASA employees.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA provides an update on the James Webb Space Telescope, including recent tests on its primary mirror and the completion of the sunshield layers.

• The Soyuz spacecraft carrying three crew members from the International Space Station safely returned to Earth after 115 days in space.

• The next crew, Expedition 50-51, underwent prelaunch training and is set to launch on November 17 for a five-month mission on the ISS.

• NASA hosted an Agency Innovation Mission (AIM) Day to showcase innovation by NASA employees, featuring a keynote speech by Deputy Administrator Dava Newman.

• The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of a partial solar eclipse in space when the moon passed in front of the sun.

• The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission set the Guinness World Record for highest altitude fix of a GPS signal, providing scientists with insights into magnetic reconnection.