Cygnus Packed for Space Station Mission on This Week @NASA – June 10, 2016

TL;DR

NASA announces upcoming missions to International Space Station, the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, coral reef research, and open house event at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” On June 7 at Wallops Flight Facility, in Virginia, NASA and Orbital ATK hosted members of the media to see the Cygnus cargo spacecraft scheduled to fly the company’s next delivery mission to the International Space Station. The mission – the company’s fifth to the space station under its Comm... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚚 NASA and Orbital ATK continue their partnership for delivering supplies to the International Space Station with the upcoming launch of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft.
• 👾 The BEAM module provides an opportunity to study expandable habitats in space and its condition will be periodically checked by the crew.
• 🐻‍❄️ The Juno mission's entry into polar orbit around Jupiter will provide crucial insights into the planet's environment.
• 🪸 CORAL's focus on studying coral reefs will contribute to understanding the impact of climate change and human activities on these ecosystems.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft and when is the launch?

The Cygnus cargo spacecraft will be delivering supplies to the International Space Station. The launch is scheduled for July, marking Orbital ATK's fifth delivery mission under their contract with NASA.

Q: What is the purpose of the BEAM module on the space station?

The BEAM module is a technology demonstration to study expandable habitats in space. It will remain attached to the station for a two-year data collection period, allowing crew members to periodically check its condition.

Q: What is unique about NASA's Juno mission and when is it set to enter orbit around Jupiter?

The Juno mission will be the first spacecraft to enter polar orbit around Jupiter. It is set to enter orbit on July 4. The mission will gather valuable data about the planet and its environment.

Q: What is the purpose of the CORAL field campaign and what regions will it study?

The CORAL field campaign aims to study how coral reefs are changing globally due to climate change and human activities. It will conduct airborne and in-water surveys of representative coral reefs from Hawaii to Australia.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA and Orbital ATK showcase the Cygnus cargo spacecraft for their upcoming delivery mission to the International Space Station.

• Astronauts open the hatch to the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) for the first time and collect air samples in space.

• NASA's Juno mission prepares to enter polar orbit around Jupiter, equipped with innovative hardware models.

• CORAL field campaign begins data-gathering phase to study coral reefs and the impacts of climate change and human activities.

• More than 20,000 people attend NASA's open house event at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, featuring models of Mars rovers and other cutting-edge robotic technology.