Building the International Effort for the Moon and Mars This Week @NASA – June 21, 2019 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

NASA discusses plans to put the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024, selects finalists for future small satellite missions, and conducts safety tests with a crashed airplane.

Key Insights

• 👩‍⚕️ NASA is actively working on international collaborations to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024 through the Artemis program.
• 🖐️ The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been instrumental in collecting data that helps us understand the Moon, our solar system, and lays the groundwork for human return missions.
• 💦 NASA has selected three finalists for future small satellite missions, focusing on studying asteroid systems, energetic particles around Mars, and water on the Moon.
• 👾 The PUNCH and TRACERS missions have been chosen to advance our understanding of the Sun and its impacts on space.
• 🤖 The Astrobee robot, currently on the International Space Station, has taken its first steps towards autonomous flight, potentially assisting with routine maintenance tasks and lab monitoring in the future.
• 🏆 NASA Langley Research Center conducted a crash test of a Fokker F-28 airplane to improve future airline safety through data collected from crash-test dummies.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of meeting with international space agencies at the Paris Air Show?

The meeting aimed to discuss NASA's plans to put the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024 through the Artemis program. Collaborating with international partners is crucial for the success of this mission.

Q: How long has the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter been exploring the Moon, and what is its significance?

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been exploring the Moon for 10 years. It plays a vital role in collecting data that enhances our understanding of the lunar landscape, environment, and contributes to future exploration objectives for both the Moon and Mars.

Q: What are the finalists for future small satellite missions, and what do they aim to study?

The three finalists include Janus, a mission to study two asteroid systems; EscaPADE, twin spacecraft to examine the effects of energetic particles around Mars; and Lunar Trailblazer, an orbiter focused on studying water on the Moon. These missions aim to expand our knowledge of various celestial bodies.

Q: What are the two new missions selected by NASA to study the Sun and its effects on space?

The PUNCH mission will study the Sun's corona and the generation of the solar wind, while the TRACERS mission will study Earth's response to the Sun by observing the magnetic field around the North Pole.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine, meets with international space agencies to discuss plans for the Artemis program, aiming to put the first woman and man on the Moon by 2024.

• The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) celebrates its 10th year, collecting valuable data for our understanding of the Moon, the solar system, and future exploration goals.

• NASA selects three finalists from a dozen concepts for future small satellite missions, including missions to study asteroid systems, energetic particles around Mars, and water on the Moon.

• NASA also announces two new missions to study the Sun's outer atmosphere and the Earth's response to the Sun.