National Space Council Meets on This Week @NASA – October 6, 2017

TL;DR

Vice President Mike Pence emphasizes the importance of American space exploration and announces plans for a return to the Moon, with Mars as the ultimate goal.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” Vice President Mike Pence called for renewed U.S. leadership in space during the first meeting of the National Space Council. “We will return American astronauts to the Moon. Not only to leave behind footprints and flags, but to build the foundation we need to send Americans to Mars and beyon... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Vice President Mike Pence emphasizes the importance of American leadership in space exploration and announces plans to return to the Moon and reach Mars.
• 🦾 NASA astronauts successfully replace a robotic arm on the International Space Station during a spacewalk, with additional maintenance tasks planned.
• 😚 Physicist Dr. Eugene Parker visits the spacecraft named after him, the Parker Solar Probe, which aims to study the sun's atmosphere up close.
• 😒 Astronomers use various observatories to identify five pairs of supermassive black holes in galaxy centers, offering insights into their growth and gravitational wave production.
• 🚀 Launching a suborbital sounding rocket, NASA tests parachute systems in a supersonic environment, supporting future Mars landings.
• 👾 The meeting of the National Space Council brings together representatives from all sectors of the national space enterprise after a 25-year hiatus.
• 🏛️ Vice President Mike Pence emphasizes the importance of building a foundation on the Moon in order to reach Mars and beyond in the future.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the National Space Council meeting led by Vice President Mike Pence?

The meeting aimed to discuss and emphasize the need for U.S. leadership in space exploration, with plans to return American astronauts to the Moon and eventually send them to Mars. This meeting brought together representatives from various sectors of the national space enterprise after a quarter century.

Q: What was the purpose of the spacewalk conducted by NASA astronauts?

The spacewalk was conducted to replace one of the Latching End Effectors (LEE) on the International Space Station's robotic arm. This maintenance task is part of a series of spacewalks scheduled in October to ensure the proper functioning of the station.

Q: What is the significance of the Parker Solar Probe?

The Parker Solar Probe is the first-ever mission that will travel directly into the sun's atmosphere, conducting studies closer to the sun's surface than any previous spacecraft. It aims to provide valuable data and insights on the sun's behavior, helping scientists better understand our star.

Q: How did astronomers identify pairs of supermassive black holes?

Astronomers used data from various observatories, including our Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona, to identify five pairs of supermassive black holes in galaxy centers. This discovery could provide insights into the growth of black holes and their production of gravitational wave signals.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vice President Mike Pence leads the first meeting of the National Space Council, calling for renewed U.S. leadership in space and announcing plans to return American astronauts to the Moon and eventually send them to Mars.

• NASA astronauts conduct a spacewalk to replace one of the robotic arms on the International Space Station, with additional spacewalks scheduled for October to perform maintenance tasks.

• Physicist Dr. Eugene Parker visits the spacecraft named after him, the Parker Solar Probe, which will launch in 2018 to study the sun's atmosphere up close.