New Crewmembers Onboard the Space Station on This Week @NASA – December 7, 2018 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This week at NASA, the International Space Station welcomes its newest crew members, a spacecraft arrives at asteroid Bennu, and the InSight lander captures the first sounds from the surface of Mars.

Key Insights

• 👶 The International Space Station has welcomed three new crew members who will witness the first test flights of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
• 👾 SpaceX's 16th resupply mission will support over 250 science and research investigations onboard the space station.
• 💨 The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully arrived at asteroid Bennu after a two-year journey, paving the way for studying and collecting a sample from the asteroid.
• 🇲🇭 Mars' surface vibrations caused by wind have been captured by the InSight lander's sensitive sensors, providing the first sounds from Mars.
• 👾 President George H.W. Bush's Space Exploration Initiative made a significant impact on NASA's long-term vision for space exploration.
• 👾 The passing of President George H.W. Bush was mourned by NASA, recognizing his contribution to space exploration.
• 💁 The InSight lander's mission to study Mars' deep interior will contribute to our understanding of the formation of rocky celestial bodies.

Transcript

The space station’s newest crew members are safely onboard … Our first asteroid sample return mission arrives at its destination … And, the first sounds from Mars … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! The International Space Station’s three newest crew members, including our Anne McClain, are adjusting to life aboard the orb... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Who are the newest crew members on the International Space Station?

The newest crew members on the International Space Station are Anne McClain, Oleg Konenenko, and David Saint-Jacques, who arrived after launching from Kazakhstan.

Q: What is the purpose of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's mission at asteroid Bennu?

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will spend almost a year surveying Bennu to select a safe and scientifically interesting location for collecting a sample, which will be returned to Earth in September 2023.

Q: How did the InSight lander capture the first sounds from Mars?

The InSight lander used two sensitive sensors to record vibrations caused by the Martian wind - an air pressure sensor recorded direct air vibrations, while a seismometer recorded vibrations experienced by the lander itself.

Q: How did President George H.W. Bush contribute to space exploration?

President George H.W. Bush's Space Exploration Initiative helped NASA to think big and long-term about space, and his vision still influences efforts to send humans farther into the solar system for extended periods.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Three new crew members, including Anne McClain, docked their spacecraft to the International Space Station, where they will spend over six months and witness the first test flights of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

• SpaceX's 16th resupply mission to the space station was launched, delivering critical materials to support numerous science and research investigations.

• After a journey of two years and two billion kilometers, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully arrived at asteroid Bennu, where it will study and collect a sample to be returned to Earth in 2023.

• The InSight lander captured the first sounds from Mars, using sensitive sensors to record vibrations caused by the Martian wind.