YOU ARE HERE: Home > Government > NASA

This Week at NASA | This Week @ NASA: Orion Spacecraft Parachute Test

Uploaded 03/13/2017

This Week @ NASA: Orion Spacecraft Parachute Test

Orion Spacecraft Parachute Test

NASA conducted the latest successful test of the Orion spacecraft’s parachute system on March 8 in the skies above the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The test was designed to evaluate the parachutes’ performance in an emergency abort situation that would require Orion to be jettisoned from the agency’s Space Launch System rocket during a launch. Even at this relatively low altitude, the parachutes are designed to fully deploy and safely return Orion and its crew to Earth

Shin Honored by Aviation Week

NASA’s Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Research, Jaiwon Shin, was recently honored by Aviation Week, with its prestigious Innovation Laureate for 2017. Shin has directed the agency’s team of aeronautical innovators since 2008. The publication recognized him for his efforts focusing the agency’s research around long-range strategies, such as NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation, and other programs aimed at meeting the global challenges facing aviation during the years ahead.

Space Station Resupply Mission

Members of the media were invited to see Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft March 9, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. The Cygnus, which has been dedicated to late NASA astronaut and U.S. Senator, John Glenn, is targeted to launch from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. The cargo Cygnus will carry includes 38 CubeSats, studies on plant physiology, growing fresh food in space and an investigation to increase the effectiveness and decrease the side effects of chemotherapy treatment.

Small Business Innovation Proposals Selected

On March 8, NASA announced the selection of 133 proposals from U.S. companies under Phase II of the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, to develop technologies for space exploration, aeronautics, science, and human exploration and operations. Phase II projects expand on results of recently completed Phase I projects. NASA’s SBIR program is a competitive, awards-based program that encourages American small businesses to engage in federal research, development and commercialization.

Deep Space Atomic Clock

Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are preparing the agency’s Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) for a year-long technology demonstration mission to validate a miniaturized, ultra-precise, mercury-ion atomic clock. It uses precise radio frequency technology to determine position, and is orders of magnitude more stable than today’s best navigation clocks. This technology is vital to the success of a range of deep-space exploration missions. The payload is scheduled for launch into Earth orbit in September 2017.

Modern Figures Virtual Tour

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, NASA unveiled an educational virtual tour on March 8. The Modern Figures Tour, available via the free Google Expeditions mobile app, takes students inside the careers of seven women at NASA who work in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. The tour, which builds on NASA’s participation with the 20th Century Fox film, “Hidden Figures,” is the first NASA-themed career tour available as part of Google Expeditions.

NASA Aero “Night of Flight”

In recognition of National Engineering Month, NASA Aeronautics sponsored a “Night of Flight” event at Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in Washington. Students were honored as NASA Aero Junior Ambassadors for planning and creating STEM related activities. The event, which was inspired by the “Museum in a Box” series, was designed to help students understand the physical science of flight, and encourage them to pursue STEM related careers.

And that’s what’s up this week @NASA …

(c)2017 NASA | SCVTV
No Comments for This Week at NASA: This Week @ NASA: Orion Spacecraft Parachute Test

Comments are closed.

Newest Uploads

See latest uploads here