Human Exploration Rover Challenge on This Week @NASA – April 13, 2018

TL;DR

NASA's latest update includes the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, a virtual tour of the Moon, the USA Science & Engineering Festival, an Instagram Live session from the International Space Station, and being nominated for six Webby Awards.

Transcript

A challenge for the next generation of explorers … An eye-popping virtual tour of the Moon … And introducing the public to a universe of discovery – a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! The 24th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge kicked off on April 13 in Huntsville, Alabama. The two-day competition hosted by our Marsha... Read More

Key Insights

• ✊ The Human Exploration Rover Challenge encourages students to apply their skills and creativity in designing human-powered rovers for future missions.
• 😉 NASA's virtual tour of the Moon in 4K resolution provides a captivating and detailed exploration of lunar sites.
• 👾 The USA Science & Engineering Festival serves as a platform for NASA to engage with the public and educate them on various scientific topics related to space exploration.
• 👨‍🚀 The Instagram Live session with Will Smith from the International Space Station highlights the curiosity surrounding astronauts' daily experiences in space.
• 💁 NASA's nominations for Webby Awards recognize their successful efforts in using digital platforms to engage and inform the public.
• 🔬 Jim Green's appointment as NASA's new chief scientist ensures the agency's strategic science objectives are represented and advises the Administrator on science policy.
• 🌍 NASA continues to make significant contributions to the national and international science communities through their research and exploration endeavors.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Human Exploration Rover Challenge?

The Human Exploration Rover Challenge is an annual competition that challenges students to build and test human-powered roving vehicles inspired by lunar missions and future exploration plans.

Q: What was included in the virtual tour of the Moon?

The virtual tour of the Moon included visits to various lunar sites, some of which are familiar to observers on Earth, while others are only visible from space. The tour was recreated in eye-popping 4K resolution.

Q: What did NASA showcase at the USA Science & Engineering Festival?

At the festival, NASA offered interactive activities and presentations on topics such as exoplanets, the James Webb Space Telescope, deep-space exploration, and more, engaging attendees with the universe of discovery.

Q: Who participated in the Instagram Live session from the International Space Station?

Actor Will Smith chatted with astronaut Drew Feustel during the Instagram Live session, where they discussed the number of sunrises and sunsets astronauts witness in a day while orbiting the Earth.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The 24th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge took place in Huntsville, Alabama, where students built and tested human-powered roving vehicles inspired by lunar missions.

• A virtual tour of the Moon was recreated in stunning 4K resolution by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, showcasing various lunar sites.

• NASA participated in the USA Science & Engineering Festival, offering interactive activities and presentations on topics like exoplanets, deep-space exploration, and more.

• Actor Will Smith conducted an Instagram Live session with astronaut Drew Feustel from the International Space Station, discussing the number of sunrises and sunsets astronauts witness per day.

• NASA's digital communications efforts garnered six Webby Awards nominations for their websites and social media engagement.