Japanese supply ship delivers to space station on This Week @NASA – August 28, 2015 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

NASA had a busy week with the arrival of the HTV-5 at the International Space Station, the relocation of the Soyuz spacecraft, a successful test of the Orion parachute system, a global discussion on rising sea levels, and commemorations of Hurricane Katrina's 10th anniversary.

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 NASA's HTV-5 delivery to the International Space Station included supplies for the crew and experiments, such as the search for dark matter.
• 😚 The successful test of the Orion parachute system brings NASA a step closer to qualifying it for crewed flights.
• 🤢 "Rising Seas" events highlighted the use of NASA data to study sea level rise and its impact on the planet.
• 👾 Commemorative ceremonies honored those who protected critical space hardware during Hurricane Katrina.
• 🚨 NASA conducted crash tests with a Cessna 172 aircraft to evaluate emergency locator transmitters.
• 🚀 The James Webb Space Telescope's backplane arrived on schedule, a crucial component for the telescope's launch in 2018.
• 😚 Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a close galaxy that hosts a quasar generated by two central black holes whirling around each other, creating a tremendous amount of energy.

Transcript

HERE'S SOME OF THE STORIES TRENDING "THIS WEEK AT NASA!" >>> IT WAS A BUSY WEEK FOR THE CREW ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. THE JAPANESE AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY'S FIFTH H-II TRANSFER VEHICLE, OR HTV-5 ARRIVED ON AUGUST 24 WITH MORE THAN 8,000 POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND EXPERIMENTS IN ITS PRESSURIZED CARGO COMPARTMENT. THE D... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What was delivered by the HTV-5 to the International Space Station?

The HTV-5 delivered over 8,000 pounds of equipment, supplies, and experiments, including a search for dark matter and enough food for the crew until the end of 2015.

Q: Why was the Soyuz spacecraft relocated?

The Soyuz spacecraft was moved to clear the docking port for the arrival of Expedition 45 crew members, who are scheduled to launch on September 2.

Q: What was the purpose of the Orion parachute system test?

The test was done to evaluate the system's performance for future crewed deep space missions, as it is crucial for safely returning crews to Earth.

Q: What was discussed in the "Rising Seas" events?

The events provided an insight into current sea level conditions and future projections, including fieldwork on the Greenland ice sheet and the use of NASA satellite views to study sea level changes worldwide.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The HTV-5 arrived at the International Space Station, delivering 8,000 pounds of supplies and experiments, including a search for dark matter and enough food to last through 2015.

• The Soyuz spacecraft was moved to make way for the arrival of Expedition 45 crew members, launching on September 2.

• NASA conducted a successful test of the Orion parachute system, a critical component for returning crews to Earth from deep space missions.