Testing Orion’s “Powerhouse” on This Week @NASA - August 9, 2019

TL;DR

NASA conducted a critical test of the propulsion system for the Orion spacecraft, the Curiosity Mars Rover completed its 22nd full-depth drill hole, Hubble captured a new view of Jupiter, and the James Webb Space Telescope successfully deployed its support structure.

Transcript

A critical test of the "powerhouse" for our Orion spacecraft ... Curiosity is still going strong after seven Earth years on Mars ... And Hubble's new portrait of Jupiter ... a few of the stories to tell you about - This Week at NASA! On Aug. 5, at our White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, we conducted a ground-based firing test of the propulsion... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 NASA conducted a critical ground-based firing test for the Orion spacecraft's propulsion system, ensuring its safety during future deep space missions.
• 🇲🇭 Curiosity Mars Rover's exploration and drilling activities continue to contribute valuable data about Mars' geological features.
• 🪐 Hubble's observations of Jupiter's atmosphere provide important insights into the planet's ongoing atmospheric processes.
• 😚 The successful deployment of the support structure for the James Webb Space Telescope brings the observatory closer to its mission of groundbreaking science.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the purpose of the ground-based firing test conducted for the Orion spacecraft?

The test simulated an abort-to-orbit scenario to ensure the system can place Orion into a safe orbit if a problem occurs after jettisoning the abort system. This is crucial for future Artemis exploration missions to deep space, including the Moon.

Q: What did the recent panorama captured by the Curiosity Mars Rover reveal?

The panorama captured a location called "Teal Ridge" on Mars, which is part of the rover's exploration of the "clay-bearing unit" on Mount Sharp. The full-depth drill hole completed by the rover will now be analyzed using its instruments.

Q: What did Hubble's new view of Jupiter reveal?

Hubble captured the Great Red Spot of Jupiter and observed a more intense color palette in the swirling clouds of its atmosphere compared to previous years. The colors and changes provide important clues about ongoing atmospheric processes on Jupiter.

Q: What milestone did the James Webb Space Telescope achieve recently?

The telescope successfully deployed the support structure that holds its secondary mirror in place. This is crucial for the highly-choreographed series of deployments and movements required to bring the observatory to life in orbit.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA conducted a ground-based firing test of the propulsion and pressurization systems for the Orion spacecraft's service module to simulate an abort-to-orbit scenario for future deep space missions.

• The Curiosity Mars Rover captured a 360-degree panorama of a location called "Teal Ridge" on Mars and successfully completed its 22nd full-depth drill hole on the planet.

• Hubble captured a new view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and observed intense color changes in the planet's atmosphere, providing insights into ongoing atmospheric processes.

• The James Webb Space Telescope team successfully deployed the support structure for the telescope's secondary mirror, a key step in preparing it for launch and conducting groundbreaking science.