Tracking Our Next Mars Landing on This Week @NASA – February 12, 2021 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Mars Rover Perseverance and Ingenuity helicopter will arrive at Mars on Feb. 18. Cygnus mission to the International Space Station includes experiments and technologies. NASA welcomes new flight directors for human spaceflight and lunar missions.

Key Insights

• 🇲🇭 Mars 2020 Perseverance and Ingenuity aim to search for signs of ancient microbial life and pave the way for human exploration of Mars.
• 💪 The Northrop Grumman Cygnus mission includes diverse experiments related to artificial retinas, muscle weakening, and radiation detection.
• 🖐️ NASA's four new flight directors will play crucial roles in overseeing human spaceflight and lunar missions.
• 🧑‍🚀 The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for the Artemis II mission, which will carry astronauts to the Moon.

Transcript

Tracking our next Mars landing …

The science on the next   station resupply mission …

And the newest space station   flight directors … a few of the stories  to tell you about – This Week at NASA!   After nearly seven months and 300 million miles,  our Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and Ingenuity   helicopter arrive at the Red Planet on Feb. 18.... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the Mars 2020 Perseverance and Ingenuity mission?

The mission aims to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars and test technologies for future human exploration of the planet. Perseverance will use its instruments to gather data and examine the Martian environment.

Q: What experiments are included in the Northrop Grumman Cygnus mission?

The Cygnus mission includes an experiment to study manufacturing artificial retinas in space, an investigation using worms to better understand muscle weakening in microgravity, and a radiation detection system for the Artemis mission to the Moon.

Q: Who are the new flight directors at NASA?

The four new flight directors are Diane Dailey, Chloe Mehring, Fiona Turett, and Brandon Lloyd. They have completed a training program in technical knowledge and leadership skills and will oversee human spaceflight and lunar missions at the Mission Control in Johnson Space Center.

Q: What is the purpose of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission?

The Orion spacecraft is being prepared to manage oxygen flow and cabin pressure for astronauts during the Artemis II mission, which will be the first flight to carry astronauts to the Moon aboard Orion. This mission will pave the way for sustainable exploration on the Moon and future missions to Mars.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mars Rover Perseverance and Ingenuity helicopter will reach Mars on Feb. 18 to search for signs of ancient microbial life and test technologies for future human exploration.

• The upcoming Northrop Grumman Cygnus mission to the International Space Station includes experiments on artificial retinas, muscle weakening, and radiation detection.

• NASA introduces its four new flight directors who will oversee human spaceflight and lunar missions, and prepares the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission.