Curiosity heads to active Martian dunes on This Week @NASA – November 20, 2015

TL;DR

NASA's Curiosity rover is studying actively moving sand dunes on Mars, technicians finish welding the Orion spacecraft crew module, preparations are underway for the launch of Orbital ATK's enhanced Cygnus spacecraft, engineers make progress on the Commercial Crew Access Tower, and the Houston Cinema Arts Festival features the CineSpace film competition.

Transcript

“Here’s some of the stories trending This Week at NASA!” NASA’s Curiosity rover is making an unscheduled stop on its way up Mount Sharp on Mars, for a close-up look at a collection of actively moving sand dunes. Images from orbit indicate that the Bagnold Dunes are migrating as much as about 3 feet per Earth year, and includes one particular dune t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥪 NASA's Curiosity rover is exploring and studying actively moving sand dunes on Mars, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of dune migration.
• 😚 The welding of cone panels to the Orion spacecraft crew module is an important step in its construction, bringing it closer to its mission of flying beyond the moon.
• 🚀 The launch of Orbital ATK's enhanced Cygnus spacecraft via a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket marks a significant milestone in cargo transportation to the International Space Station.
• 👾 The progress on the Commercial Crew Access Tower highlights the preparations being made for future crewed space launches.
• 🛰️ The CineSpace film competition at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival showcases the creative use of NASA imagery in filmmaking, fostering collaboration between the space agency and the arts community.
• 🧑‍🎓 NASA's involvement and support in projects like the STMSat-1 CubeSat, built by students, highlights the agency's commitment to education and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
• 😒 The use of social media and the NASA website allows for broader engagement and dissemination of information about ongoing projects and initiatives.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Curiosity rover studying on Mars?

The Curiosity rover is studying actively moving sand dunes on Mars, including one dune that is about two-stories high and as broad as a football field. This marks the first time that active dunes have been visited anywhere else in the solar system besides Earth.

Q: What progress has been made on the Orion spacecraft crew module?

Technicians at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility have finished welding three cone panels to the pressure vessel of the Orion spacecraft crew module. The pressure vessel holds an atmosphere inside the crew module so astronauts can breathe and is made of seven large aluminum pieces that are being welded together in a detailed fashion.

Q: What is significant about the launch of the enhanced Cygnus spacecraft?

The launch of Orbital ATK's enhanced Cygnus spacecraft will be the first time a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is used to launch a payload to the International Space Station. The spacecraft can transport more than 7,000 pounds of cargo, including food, experiments, and supplies for the crew aboard the station.

Q: What is the purpose of the Commercial Crew Access Tower?

The Commercial Crew Access Tower is being assembled near Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and will be used for future launches of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The tower's components, including the White Room and the Crew Access Arm, will be extensively tested before being installed onto the tower. Astronauts will use the tower to access the spacecraft prior to launches.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA's Curiosity rover is studying actively moving sand dunes on Mars, including one dune that is about two-stories high and as broad as a football field.

• Technicians at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility have finished welding three cone panels to the Orion spacecraft crew module.

• Preparations continue for the launch of Orbital ATK's enhanced Cygnus spacecraft, which will be the first time a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is used to launch a payload to the International Space Station.

• Engineers are making progress on the assembly of hardware for the new Commercial Crew Access Tower.

• The recent Houston Cinema Arts Festival featured the awards ceremony for the first CineSpace film competition.