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This Week at NASA | SpaceX Dragon Arrives at ISS, Antarctic Meteorites Arrive at Johnson Space Center, more

Uploaded 04/15/2016

SpaceX Dragon Arrives at ISS, Antarctic Meteorites Arrive at Johnson Space Center, more

The SpaceX Dragon U.S. commercial cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station April 10 — two days after being launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Dragon was captured with the space station’s robotic Canadarm2 by Tim Peake of ESA (European Space Agency), with assistance from NASA’s Jeff Williams, as the two spacecraft were traveling over the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii. The cargo craft was loaded with about 7,000 pounds of science and research investigations, including the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. BEAM will be attached to the station’s Harmony module for a two-year testing period. Dragon’s arrival is the first time two U.S. commercial cargo craft have been docked to the space station at the same time. Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft arrived to the station on March 26. Also, NASA @32nd Space Symposium, White House Science Fair, USA Science and Engineering Festival, Student Launch Week Activities, and Antarctic Meteorites Arrive at JSC.

 

TRANSCRIPT

 

SpaceX Dragon Arrives Safely at ISS

The SpaceX Dragon U.S. commercial cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station April 10 — two days after being launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Dragon was captured with the space station’s robotic Canadarm2 by Tim Peake of ESA (European Space Agency), with assistance from NASA’s Jeff Williams, as the two spacecraft were traveling over the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii. The cargo craft was loaded with about 7,000 pounds of science and research investigations, including the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. BEAM will be attached to the station’s Harmony module for a two-year testing period. Dragon’s arrival is the first time two U.S. commercial cargo craft have been docked to the space station at the same time. Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft arrived to the station on March 26.

NASA @32nd Space Symposium

Administrator Charlie Bolden was one of several NASA officials attending the 32nd Space Symposium held April 11-14 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During remarks, the administrator reflected on the progress made by NASA and its partners in the six years since President Obama challenged NASA to send American astronauts to Mars in the 2030s. Bolden also accepted this year’s John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration, presented to NASA and members of the New Horizons mission in recognition of the first ever flyby of dwarf planet Pluto last July. The annual event has brought together space leaders from around the world to discuss, address and plan for the future of space since the inaugural symposium in 1984.

White House Science Fair

NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan attended the April 13 White House Science Fair, celebrating student winners of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. At the event, President Obama announced new commitments in support of the Administration’s Computer Science for All initiative announced earlier this year, as well as the “Educate to Innovate” campaign designed to inspire more students to excel in STEM subjects. The president hosted the first-ever White House Science Fair in 2010.

USA Science and Engineering Festival

The USA Science and Engineering Festival kicked off on April 15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, in Washington. Interactive NASA exhibits at the three-day event provides opportunities for the more than 350,000 expected visitors to take virtual reality walks on other planets, be photographed in a spacesuit, and talk to experts about a variety of NASA topics, including rockets, robots, X-Planes and deep space exploration, including the journey to Mars.

Student Launch Week Activities

The Mars Ascent Vehicle Challenge on April 13 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama was one of several activities conducted as part of this year’s student launch week at and near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. During the event, students showed designs for autonomous robotic systems capable of performing space exploration tasks, such as retrieving and storing samples. The next day at Marshall, NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren talked with students about his time aboard the International Space Station as a crew member of Expedition 44 and 45. Rounding out the week is the annual Student Launch competition, which is scheduled for April 16. Student Launch is a partnership with the Mars Ascent Vehicle Challenge designed to engage students across the country in NASA’s Journey to Mars through hands-on activities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Antarctic Meteorites Arrive at JSC

Almost 570 new meteorite samples recovered by the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) team, arrived at Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 14. The collection, which includes rare and scientifically valuable pieces of Mars and our moon, as well as rocks from very early in the formation and evolution of the solar system, were recovered from the Miller Range of the Trans-Antarctic Mountains during a 35-day excursion this past November to January. They will become part of the U.S. Antarctic meteorite collection housed at Johnson and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

And that’s what’s up this week @NASA.

 

 

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