On April 7, a group of NASA experts held a panel discussion at the agency’s headquarters about recent discoveries of water and organics in our solar system, the role our sun plays in water-loss in neighboring planets, and our search for habitable worlds among the stars. Understanding the distribution of water in our solar system tells us a great deal about how the planets, moons, comets and other bodies formed. Recent findings related to water by several NASA spacecraft are helping to inspire the continued investigation of our origins and the fascinating possibilities of life on other worlds in the universe. Also, 3-D printed parts back from space, Small Business Administrator’s Cup, Student Rocket Fair, #NoPlaceLikeHome and more.

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Water in the universe

On April 7, a group of NASA experts held a panel discussion at the agency’s headquarters about recent discoveries of water and organics in our solar system, the role our sun plays in water-loss in neighboring planets, and our search for habitable worlds among the stars. Understanding the distribution of water in our solar system tells us a great deal about how the planets, moons, comets and other bodies formed. Recent findings related to water by several NASA spacecraft are helping to inspire the continued investigation of our origins and the fascinating possibilities of life on other worlds in the universe.

3-D printed parts back from space

An April 6 event at Marshall Space Flight Center provided an opportunity to showcase the first collection of recently returned 3-D printed parts made onboard the International Space Station. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden was there inspecting some of the parts fabricated using the 3-D or additive manufacturing process, one of the new technologies being tested on the space station that could be used by future astronauts to make spare parts and other essential items while traveling to Mars and other deep space destinations.

Small Business Administrator’s Cup

While at Marshall Space Flight Center, Administrator Bolden joined associate administrator of NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs Glenn Delgado to award Marshall and Center Director Patrick Scheuermann the agency’s Small Business Administrator’s Cup, presented annually to the NASA center that operates the best overall small business program. The center was recognized for promoting the participation of small businesses in helping NASA achieve its goals. It is the fourth time Marshall has earned the cup in the award’s seven-year history.

Student Rocket Fair

Prior to the start of the 15th annual NASA Student Launch event at Marshall Space Flight Center, student teams participated in a Rocket Fair, where they gave technical presentations to, and received valuable feedback from, engineers and team members from NASA and Student Launch corporate sponsor Orbital ATK. The Student Launch program challenges students to design rockets that address the research needs of different NASA missions. Some of the students’ research results may be used to design and develop future NASA projects.

#NoPlaceLikeHome

On Earth Day – which is April 22, NASA is asking you to share photos and video of your favorite places on Earth using social media – and tag the images with, #NoPlaceLikeHome. NASA’s exploration missions have seen a lot of beauty on other planets, but recognizing the beauty right here is NASA’s way of giving a great big Earth Day hug to our home planet.

Maya Angelou poem presented to NASA

On April 6 at NASA headquarters, the family of the late Dr. Maya Angelou presented the agency with the text of a poem she wrote that was flown onboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft during its December 2014 flight test. Administrator Charlie Bolden accepted the poem, titled, A Brave and Startling Truth, on behalf of the agency.

And that’s what’s up this week @NASA.