LADEE LAUNCHES! – WFF/GSFC/ARC

@NASALADEE

Launch Commentator:
“One, zero and ignition and liftoff …”

LADEE, the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer robotic probe launched Friday night atop an Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur V rocket. The first deep space mission from Wallops Flight Facility, LADEE will orbit the moon to collect information about its atmosphere and environmental influences on lunar dust.

John Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator for Science:
“Launching a rocket is hard and there’s so many things that we control – tonight just went spectacularly well … there’s things that we don’t control.”

Data from LADEE will help scientists better understand other planetary bodies in our solar system.

ANTARES UPDATE– JSC

@NASA_Wallops

A news briefing at Johnson Space Center focused on the upcoming Antares rocket launch from Wallops – and test flight to the International Space Station of Orbital’s Cygnus cargo craft.

Alan Lindenmoyer, Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Manager:
“They’re going to be demonstrating the full mission with a brand new state of the art cargo carrying autonomous spacecraft.” 

Launch is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 17. The flight is part of NASA’ Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Program to develop private and public partnerships for resupply of the ISS.

ASTEROID IDEAS SELECTED – HQ

#NASA

NASA has chosen the 96 most promising ideas out of 400 submitted in response to its June request for information or RFI about protecting Earth from asteroids and finding asteroid humans can explore. Submitted by industry, universities, international organizations and the public, the ideas include pointers on how to decrease an asteroid’s spin, nudge it away from Earth, take samples and increase public awareness about asteroid threats and potential scientific benefits. NASA plans a public workshop Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 to examine and synthesize the 96 highly rated ideas.

MAVEN’S WINGS – KSC

#Mars

Engineers and technicians at Kennedy Space Center are done testing the solar array wings for MAVEN, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft. Scheduled for launch November 18, MAVEN is the first mission dedicated to studying the upper atmosphere of Mars for traces of the elements that existed there in the past.

NEXT ISS CREW – JSC

#ISS

Expedition 37/38, the next crew in line for a trip to the International Space Station took part in prelaunch activities at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. NASA Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins, along with Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (Ree-ZAN-skee) of the Russian Federal Space Agency are scheduled to launch September 26 from Kazakhstan.

TESTING, TESTING! – GRC

@nasaglenn

A new compatibility testing system developed at Glenn Research Center verifies that spacecraft radio signals properly operate through NASA satellites before the spacecraft is launched. The Satellite Communication Compatibility Test Sets system replaces larger, obsolete equipment and is important because satellites rely on radio commands for operation.

LORI GARVER FAREWELL – HQ

#NASA

At NASA Headquarters, a special farewell and thanks to Lori Garver for four years service as NASA’s Deputy Administrator and best wishes in her new role as General Manager of the Air Line Pilots Association.

Lori Garver, General Manager, Air Line Pilots Association:
“My three priorities when I came in were to align NASA with national objectives, to provide the best value for the taxpayers and to be a clear and consistent leader.”

Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator:
“She has been a face of the agency and has been an incredibly effective leader.”

During her tenure Garver spearheaded many of the Obama Administration’s space priorities, including NASA’s commercial crew and cargo programs, the re-establishment of a space technology mission directorate, the agency’s use of challenges and prizes, and an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion.

BE PREPARED! – HQ

#NASA

September is National Preparedness Month, and the Emergency Management Team at NASA Headquarters is sponsoring events and activities to educate employees on how to ready themselves for emergencies at work and at home.

For more on how to prepare, visit www.ready.gov.

STUFF-A-TRUCK – GSFC

@NASAGoddard

Center Director Chris Scolese joined others at Goddard Space Flight Center to support the Stuff-A-Truck Feds Feeds Families event. The campaign collects donated items for food banks – including portable meals, canned and dry goods, and toiletries. The Center was striving to collect 10-thousand pounds of items.

And that’s This Week @NASA.

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