Journey to Mars Update on This Week @NASA – September 30, 2016 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

NASA discusses new elements of its Journey to Mars plan at the International Astronautical Congress in Mexico, while also announcing plans for a deep space mission near the moon and the appointment of a new associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. Additionally, the Hubble Space Telescope captures images of water vapor plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa and the Rosetta mission concludes with a controlled descent onto comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Key Insights

• 💦 NASA is actively working on its Journey to Mars project, with plans to extend human presence to the Red Planet, including testing habitation and readiness through various phases.
• 👾 Thomas Zurbuchen's appointment as associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate highlights NASA's focus on scientific advancements and innovation in space exploration.
• 🌊 The discovery of potential water vapor plumes on Europa provides exciting opportunities for studying the moon's sub-surface ocean, potentially without the need for landing or drilling.
• 💋 The conclusion of the Rosetta mission marks a significant milestone in comet exploration and the collection of valuable scientific data.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden joined other leaders of the world’s space agencies to discuss the latest technological breakthroughs and developments in space exploration at the 67th International Astronautical Congress, Sept. 26-30th in Guadalajara, Mexico. At the event, NASA discussed new... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What were some of the main topics discussed at the 67th International Astronautical Congress?

At the congress, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden talked about new elements of their Journey to Mars project, continuing operations on the International Space Station, and plans for a deep space mission near the moon. These discussions focused on technological breakthroughs and developments in space exploration.

Q: Who is Thomas Zurbuchen and what is his role at NASA?

Thomas Zurbuchen has been appointed as the new associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA. He is a professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan and brings expertise in solar and heliospheric physics, experimental space research, space systems, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

Q: What did the Hubble Space Telescope observe on Jupiter's moon Europa?

The Hubble Space Telescope captured images of potential water vapor plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa. These plumes are estimated to rise about 125 miles before raining material back down onto the surface. This observation supports previous findings and suggests the presence of a sub-surface ocean on Europa.

Q: How did the Rosetta mission conclude?

The Rosetta mission, launched in 2004, concluded with a planned, controlled descent onto the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The mission, which included several NASA science instruments, made history by rendezvousing and orbiting a comet. The small lander, Philae, deployed from Rosetta, obtained the first images from a comet's surface and sent valuable scientific data to Earth.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden discusses the agency's plans and breakthroughs in space exploration, including new elements of the Journey to Mars project, continuation of operations on the International Space Station through 2024, and missions to test habitation and readiness for Mars.

• Thomas Zurbuchen is appointed as the new associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, bringing expertise in space science and aerospace engineering.

• NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures images of potential water vapor plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa, adding to previous observations and providing opportunities for gathering samples from its sub-surface ocean.

• The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission concludes with a controlled descent onto comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after studying the comet since its launch in 2004.