Making Progress on Our Artemis Moon Rocket on This Week @NASA – June 11, 2021

TL;DR

NASA provides updates on the stacking and assembly of the Artemis Moon rocket, Juno's flyby images of Jupiter's moon, an annular eclipse, SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft, winners of the Vascular Tissue Challenge, and a new STEM education-based competition.

Transcript

Making progress on our Artemis Moon rocket … Images from a close encounter with a Jovian moon … And a ring of fire for our Moon … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! Stacking and assembly activities for the agency’s uncrewed Artemis I mission continue at our Kennedy Space Center. These activities involve lifting the Space La... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎟️ Stacking and assembly activities for NASA's Artemis I mission are critical steps towards the agency's next-generation Moon missions.
• 🥮 Juno's flyby of Ganymede provides valuable data for understanding the moon's composition and radiation environment, contributing to future exploration of the Jovian system.
• 😋 An annular eclipse showcased celestial phenomena, with some regions observing a ring of fire around the Moon, while others experienced a partial eclipse.
• 🚚 The arrival of SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft at the International Space Station facilitated the delivery of vital supplies and scientific experiments.
• 💗 Scientists from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine achieved a breakthrough in growing and sustaining functioning human tissue in a lab, with potential implications for disease modeling and organ transplants.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the progress on NASA's Artemis I mission and what activities are involved?

Stacking and assembly activities are ongoing at Kennedy Space Center for the Artemis I mission. These activities include lifting the SLS rocket's core stage onto the mobile launcher, followed by the integration of other elements and the addition of the Orion spacecraft.

Q: What did Juno's flyby of Jupiter's moon Ganymede reveal?

Juno's recent flyby of Ganymede captured detailed images, showcasing surface features such as craters, dark and bright terrain areas, and potentially tectonic faults. The mission aims to gather insights into Ganymede's composition, makeup, and radiation environment for future missions to the Jovian system.

Q: What was notable about the recent annular eclipse?

The recent annular eclipse allowed certain regions, including Canada, Greenland, and northern Russia, to witness a "ring of fire" around the Moon. In other parts of the world, such as the eastern U.S. and northern Alaska, the Moon blocked a smaller portion of the Sun.

Q: What did the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft deliver to the International Space Station?

The Dragon cargo spacecraft delivered over 7,300 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station. This included the ISS Roll-out Solar Arrays (iROSA), a science experiment with squids for studying protective measures for astronauts, and a study on microscopic organisms called water bears that could aid in dealing with stress factors during spaceflight.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Stacking and assembly activities for NASA's Artemis I mission, involving the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, are underway at Kennedy Space Center.

• Juno mission's recent flyby of Jupiter's moon Ganymede has yielded detailed images, providing insights into its composition and radiation environment.

• A recent annular eclipse allowed parts of the world to witness a "ring of fire" around the Moon, while the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft delivered supplies to the International Space Station.

• Scientists from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine won the Vascular Tissue Challenge, while NASA introduced the TechRise Student Challenge for STEM education.