Preparing the Space Station for Solar Array Upgrades on This Week @NASA – March 18, 2022

TL;DR

NASA astronauts conduct a spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station for solar array upgrades, the rollout of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I Moon mission begins, the James Webb Space Telescope reaches a milestone in aligning its mirrors, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's mission is extended, and the Deep Space Network adds a new antenna in Spain.

Transcript

Preparing the space station  for solar array upgrades … Rolling out the spacecraft  for our Artemis I mission … And the Webb Space Telescope team reaches another   milestone … a few of the stories to  tell you about – This Week at NASA! On March 15, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja  Chari conducted a 6-hour and 54-minute spacewalk   outside th... Read More

Key Insights

• ✊ NASA astronauts conducted a spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station for solar array upgrades, increasing its power capacity.
• 🎟️ The Artemis I Moon mission focuses on demonstrating the functionality and safety of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft.
• 🪩 The successful alignment of the James Webb Space Telescope's mirrors indicates its optical system is performing well.
• 🎟️ The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's mission extension showcases its impressive performance and ability to support the Perseverance rover.
• 👶 The addition of a new Deep Space Network antenna in Spain enhances the network's communication capabilities with spacecraft exploring the solar system.
• 👾 These recent NASA missions and milestones highlight advancements in space exploration and technology.
• ✊ The increased power capacity of the International Space Station will support future scientific research and missions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the objectives of the spacewalk conducted by NASA astronauts?

The NASA astronauts conducted the spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station for solar array upgrades, installing a support bracket for future roll-out solar arrays (iROSAs). This will increase the station's total power capacity.

Q: What is the purpose of the Artemis I Moon mission?

The Artemis I mission aims to demonstrate the functionality of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft in a spaceflight environment. It will also ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery ahead of future missions with astronauts.

Q: What milestone has the James Webb Space Telescope team achieved?

The James Webb Space Telescope team has successfully completed "fine phasing," a crucial alignment stage for the telescope's mirrors. This milestone indicates that the optical system is performing at or above expectations.

Q: Why was the mission of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter extended?

The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's mission was extended because of its successful technology demonstrations. It has completed 21 flights on Mars, surpassing the original expectation of only attempting up to 5 flights.

Q: What is the purpose of the Deep Space Network's new antenna in Spain?

The new Deep Space Network antenna, DSS-53, in Spain enables engineers and scientists on Earth to communicate with a growing number of spacecraft exploring our solar system. It expands the network's capability for spacecraft communication and data transmission.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA astronauts conducted a spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station for solar array upgrades, increasing the station's power capacity.

• The Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft were rolled out for the upcoming Artemis I Moon mission, aiming to demonstrate system functionality and ensure a safe re-entry.

• The James Webb Space Telescope team achieved a milestone in aligning the telescope's mirrors, showing that the optical system is performing as expected.

• The mission of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has been extended, supporting the Perseverance rover's exploration of Jezero Crater.

• The Deep Space Network added a new antenna in Spain, enabling communication with spacecraft exploring the solar system.