Space Station Spacewalkers Work on a Cosmic Particle Detector on This Week @NASA – November 22, 2019

TL;DR

NASA astronauts conducted a spacewalk to repair a cosmic particle detector, more companies were added to deliver payloads to the Moon, water vapor was detected above Jupiter's moon Europa, and NASA highlighted its aeronautics research projects.

Transcript

Spacewalkers work on a cosmic particle detector … More potential partners to transport payloads to the Moon… And a key finding on a Jovian moon … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! On Nov. 22, our Andrew Morgan and the European Space Agency’s Luca Parmitano were back outside the International Space Station for their second ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😀 Astronauts and engineers faced a complex challenge during the spacewalk to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station.
• 💪 The addition of more vendors for lunar payload delivery highlights NASA's efforts to establish a strong marketplace for the Artemis program.
• 🌊 The confirmation of water vapor above Europa's surface supports the presence of a significant liquid water ocean beneath the moon's icy shell.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the purpose of the spacewalk performed by NASA astronauts?

The astronauts conducted the spacewalk to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a cosmic particle detector on the International Space Station. They accessed, cut, and labeled stainless steel tubes to attach a new cooling system to the detector.

Q: How many American companies are now eligible to bid on delivering payloads to the Moon?

Five American companies, namely Blue Origin, Ceres Robotics, Sierra Nevada Corporation, SpaceX, and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc., have been added to the pool of vendors eligible to bid. This brings the total number of contracted CLPS participants to 14.

Q: What did NASA detect for the first time above Europa's surface?

An international research team led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center detected water vapor above Jupiter's moon Europa. This finding supports the belief that a large liquid water ocean exists beneath Europa's icy surface.

Q: How is NASA furthering its aeronautics research?

NASA showcased its aeronautics research projects during the "Flight Night" event on Capitol Hill. The research focused on topics like quiet supersonic flight, urban air mobility, electrified aircraft propulsion, and advanced air traffic management.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronauts performed a spacewalk to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station.

• Five American companies were added to the list of vendors eligible to bid on delivering payloads to the Moon.

• Water vapor was detected above the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, supporting the existence of a liquid water ocean underneath.