Extreme Underwater Mission on This Week @NASA – July 29, 2016

TL;DR

NASA's NEEMO-21 mission is underway with astronauts testing tools and technology for future space missions, while Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is being retrofitted. The Tecnam P2006T has arrived for conversion into NASA's X-57 aircraft, and the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is scheduled for launch to retrieve a surface sample of an asteroid. Astronaut Kjell Lindgren participated in activities at Comic-Con International.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” The 21st NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations got underway July 21 in the Florida Keys. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Megan McArthur are part of the international crew of NEEMO-21 aquanauts performing research during the 16-day mission, which takes place about 60 feet below the surf... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🚀 NEEMO-21 allows NASA to test and refine tools and techniques for future space missions, ensuring the success of manned missions.
• 🚀 Retrofitting Kennedy Space Center's VAB demonstrates NASA's progress towards the launch of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.
• 😃 The conversion of the Tecnam P2006T into the X-57 aircraft showcases NASA's efforts to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly aviation technologies.
• 👾 The OSIRIS-REx mission presents an opportunity to study asteroids and potentially discover organic molecules in space.
• 🇨🇩 Astronaut Kjell Lindgren's participation at Comic-Con International highlights NASA's collaboration with popular culture to inspire and educate future explorers.
• 👾 NASA's involvement with Star Trek showcases the influence of science fiction on space exploration and the Journey to Mars.
• 🛟 NASA's focus on mapping asteroids and identifying organic molecules contributes to a better understanding of the solar system's origins and potential for life.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the objective of the NEEMO-21 mission?

The NEEMO-21 mission aims to evaluate tools and mission operation techniques that could be used on future space missions, such as spacewalks and telemedicine devices.

Q: What is the purpose of retrofitting Kennedy Space Center's VAB?

The retrofitting of the VAB with new work platforms is to provide workers with access to the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft during prelaunch processing before their first test flight in 2018.

Q: What is the significance of the arrival of the Tecnam P2006T?

The Tecnam P2006T will be converted into NASA's X-57 aircraft, the first manned X-plane with a distributed electric propulsion system, marking a major step towards developing more efficient and environmentally friendly aviation technologies.

Q: What is the goal of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft?

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is scheduled for launch to retrieve a surface sample of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, with the science instruments onboard aiming to identify areas rich in organic molecules.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NEEMO-21 mission involves NASA astronauts testing tools and mission operation techniques for future space missions in an underwater habitat.

• Kennedy Space Center's VAB is being retrofitted with new work platforms to provide access to the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

• NASA's X-57 aircraft, featuring a distributed electric propulsion system, takes a significant step forward with the arrival of the Tecnam P2006T for conversion.

• The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, equipped with instruments to search for organic molecules, is scheduled for launch to retrieve a surface sample of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

• Astronaut Kjell Lindgren participated in events at Comic-Con International, discussing mobile gaming and NASA's Journey to Mars.