Confirming the Nomination of NASA’s Next Administrator on This Week @NASA – April 30, 2021

TL;DR

NASA confirms Bill Nelson as new administrator, updates on Crew-1 mission, pays tribute to astronaut Michael Collins, discusses Ingenuity Helicopter's achievements, and progresses with Space Launch System.

Transcript

Confirming the nomination of  NASA’s next administrator …   An update on a commercial crew mission …

And remembering a spaceflight pioneer … a   few of the stories to tell you  about – This Week at NASA!   Former Senator Bill Nelson has been confirmed  by the U.S. Senate to be the 14th Administrator   of NASA. President Biden nominated Nelson  ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Former Senator Bill Nelson's confirmation as NASA's Administrator highlights the government's commitment to the space program.
• 👾 The Commercial Crew Program's progress with the Crew-1 mission showcases the success of public-private partnerships in space exploration.
• 👾 The tribute to Michael Collins serves as a reminder of the pioneers who paved the way for space exploration and the impact of seeing Earth from space.
• 🚡 Ingenuity's accomplishments demonstrate the potential for aerial exploration on Mars and future planetary missions.
• 💯 The arrival of the core stage for the Space Launch System signifies progress towards the Artemis I mission.
• 🚒 Engine tests at Stennis Space Center highlight NASA's commitment to developing advanced propulsion systems for future Moon missions.
• 👩‍🚀 The focus on diversity and inclusion, with plans for the first woman and person of color on the Moon, reflects NASA's dedication to equal representation in space exploration.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who is the new Administrator of NASA?

Former Senator Bill Nelson has been confirmed as the 14th Administrator of NASA, appointed by President Biden. Nelson has previous experience as the chair of the House space subcommittee and flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia on the STS-61C mission.

Q: What is the Commercial Crew Program?

The Commercial Crew Program is a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. aerospace industry to restore human spaceflight capabilities to American rockets and spacecraft. The program aims to launch astronauts from American soil, with SpaceX's Crew-1 mission being the first of the crewed missions.

Q: Who was Michael Collins, and what was his role in the space program?

Michael Collins was an astronaut known for his role as the command module pilot on the Apollo 11 mission. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the lunar surface, Collins remained in orbit. Collins also flew aboard Gemini X and made significant contributions to the Moon landings.

Q: What are the achievements of the Ingenuity Helicopter on Mars?

The Ingenuity Helicopter successfully completed its third flight, fulfilling all its mission objectives. It became the first aircraft to achieve powered controlled flight on another planet. The team now plans to utilize the helicopter for aerial observation and exploring inaccessible areas.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Former Senator Bill Nelson has been confirmed as the 14th Administrator of NASA, who previously flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia.

• Mission managers are monitoring the weather for the splashdown of NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission. The mission is part of the Commercial Crew Program.

• NASA pays tribute to former astronaut Michael Collins, known for his role in the Apollo 11 mission.

• The Ingenuity Helicopter successfully accomplished its mission objectives on Mars and will now focus on aerial observation and other operational tasks.

• The core stage of the Space Launch System for the Artemis I mission arrives at Kennedy Space Center, and engine tests are conducted at Stennis Space Center.