Bolden Testifies About Budget on This Week @NASA

TL;DR

NASA Administrator outlines the return on investment from proposed budget for Journey to Mars and other missions to enhance life on Earth.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” In his testimony before Congress during the first week of March, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden outlined the return on investment legislators can expect from the $18.5 billion dollars proposed for the agency under President Obama’s FY 2016 budget. The funding allows NASA to continue on the... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇲🇭 NASA's proposed budget for FY 2016 supports the Journey to Mars, advancements in aviation and climate investigations on Earth.
• 👾 The Dawn spacecraft reaching Ceres marks a historic achievement in space exploration.
• 🇺🇸 The recent spacewalks outside the ISS pave the way for future crewed missions from the United States.
• 🧑‍🎓 NASA is actively engaging with students and promoting STEM education.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is NASA's proposed budget for FY 2016 and what is it meant to support?

NASA's proposed budget for FY 2016 is $18.5 billion and it is meant to support the agency's Journey to Mars, development of vehicles and technologies for human missions, and advancements in greener aviation and climate investigations on Earth.

Q: What is the significance of NASA's Dawn spacecraft reaching Ceres?

The significance of NASA's Dawn spacecraft reaching Ceres is that it becomes the first spacecraft in history to reach a dwarf planet by entering into orbit. Ceres is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and is the largest unexplored world in the inner solar system.

Q: What was the purpose of the recent spacewalks outside the International Space Station?

The recent spacewalks outside the International Space Station were conducted to prepare for the installation of new docking ports for future use by U.S. spacecraft carrying crews launched from Florida. The spacewalks involved the installation of 400 feet of cable and several antennas associated with the Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles system.

Q: What is the purpose of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and his crewmates spending a year aboard the ISS?

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and his crewmates spending a year aboard the ISS are conducting research on the effects of long-duration space travel on the human body. This research is important for future deep space missions, such as the Journey to Mars.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden emphasizes the return on investment from the proposed budget for NASA's Journey to Mars and development of technologies for human missions to asteroids and Mars.

• The mission timeline for NASA's Dawn spacecraft includes entering into orbit around Ceres, the largest unexplored world in the inner solar system.

• Recent spacewalks outside the International Space Station involved the installation of new docking ports for future use by U.S. spacecraft.