NASA

jsc2022e017100_alt (March 22, 2023) — Official portrait of ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford NASAView the full article

jsc2022e017107_alt (March 22, 2023) — Official portrait of ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Bill StaffordNASAView the full article

jsc2022e017115_alt (March 22, 2023) — Official portrait of ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford NASAView the full article

jsc2022e068687_alt (Sept. 6, 2023) — Official portrait of NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz NASAView the full article

jsc2022e068688_alt (Sept. 6, 2023) — Official portrait of NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Robert MarkowitzNASAView the full article

jsc2022e068715_alt (Sept. 8, 2023) — Official portrait of NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Robert MarkowitzNASAView the full article

jsc2022e068730_alt (Sept. 8, 2023) — Portrait of NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli in a spacesuit. Credit: NASA/Robert MarkowitzNASAView the full article

3 min read Artemis I Team Receives Laurels Award for Team Achievement The International Academy of Astronautics has awarded its 2023 Laurels for Team Achievement award to the international team that supported NASA’s Artemis I mission. (Nov. 21, 2022) A portion of the Moon looms large just beyond the Orion spacecraft in this image taken on the sixth day of the Artemis I mission by a camera on the tip of one of Orion’s solar arrays. The spacecraft entered the lunar sphere of influence Sunday, Nov. 20, making the Moon, instead of Earth, the main gravitational force acting on the spacecraft. On Monday, Nov. 21, it came within 80 miles of the lunar surface, the closest approach of the uncrewed Artemis I mission, before moving into a distant retrograde orbit around the Moon.NASA The academy presented the award Oct. 1 during their Academy Day program, taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, for extraordinary performance and achievement by a team of scientists, engineers, technicians, and managers in the field of astronautics. Amit Kshatriya, deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, accepted the award on behalf of the Artemis I team. The award recognizes the contributions from NASA and partners around the world that supported the Artemis I flight test. Artemis I was the first of a series of increasingly complex missions to establish long-term exploration at the Moon and prepare to send astronauts to Mars. “Contributions from teams at NASA and our international and industry partners made the success of the Artemis I mission possible,” said Kshatriya. “Together with this growing community, we’re conducting groundbreaking science at the Moon and preparing for humanity’s next giant leap to explore the Red Planet.” The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket launched the uncrewed Orion spacecraft Nov. 16, 2022 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a 25.5-day flight test that traveled a total of more than 1.4 million miles around the Moon and back to Earth. SLS flew as designed and with precision, and the Orion spacecraft successfully completed all test objectives while flying farther than any spacecraft built for humans has flown, reaching nearly 270,000 miles beyond the Moon. The mission paved the way for the first flight test with astronauts on Artemis II. NASA is collaborating with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon through Artemis. The Laurels award recognized the contributions to Artemis I from ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Italian Space Agency, Israel Space Agency, and the German Aerospace Center. Additionally, the Deep Space Network facilitated space communications and navigation for Artemis I through ground stations in Australia and Spain. Industry partners recognized as part of the Artemis I team for the award included Aerojet Rocketdyne, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Teledyne Brown, United Launch Alliance, Northrop Grumman, and Airbus. “This award belongs to the thousands of skilled workers and their families that dedicated themselves to the development of the rocket, spacecraft, and supporting systems that demonstrated the beginning of what we can achieve in this new era of exploration,” said Kshatriya. “From factories around the world, to the assembly and launch from Kennedy, around the Moon and safely recovered from the Pacific Ocean, each contribution shares in this accomplishment.” The International Academy of Astronautics is an independent non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations with members are from more than 80 countries. Since its founding in 1960, the IAA has brought together experts in the disciplines of astronautics on a regular basis to recognize the accomplishments of their peers, explore and discuss cutting-edge issues in space research and technology, and provide direction and guidance in the non-military uses of space and the ongoing exploration of the solar system. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon as we learn how to live and work on another world and inspire the next generation of explorers. The agency and its partners will explore more of the lunar surface than ever before using innovative technologies to unlock the mysteries of our solar system and our home planet for the benefit of all. Share Details Last Updated Oct 13, 2023 Related Terms ArtemisArtemis 1Humans in Space Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Humans In Space Destinations Artemis Science Artemis View the full article

jsc2022e095887_alt (March 24, 2023) — Official portrait of NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara. Credit: NASA/Robert MarkowitzNASAView the full article

NASA In this image from Jan. 15, 2003, astronaut Carlos I. Noriega, spacecraft communicator, smiles while sitting at his console in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. At the time this photo was taken, astronauts Kenneth D. Bowersox and Donald R. Pettit, Expedition 6 mission commander and NASA International Space Station science officer, respectively, were taking part in the mission’s only scheduled spacewalk. Noriega was selected by NASA in December 1994 to become an astronaut. He flew on STS-84 in 1997 and STS-97 in 2000. He logged more than 481 hours in space, including over 19 hours in three spacewalks. He retired from the astronaut corps in 2005. Read more about some of NASA’s Hispanic astronauts. Image Credit: NASA View the full article

7 Min Read Lagniappe The Lagniappe newsletter for October is now available from NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Read about the new RS-25 test series and how data is collected, continued preparations for Exploration Upper Stage testing, and a new test area for future commercial use, along with much more. 7 min read Lagniappe Explore the October 2023 edition featuring: Start Your Engines: NASA to Begin Critical Testing for Future Artemis Missions Data Tells Story of NASA Moon Rocket Engine Tests Evolution Space to Produce and Test Solid Rocket Motors at NASA Stennis Gator Speaks Gator SpeaksNASA / Stennis Greetings to all my friends out there! For those that may not know, my name is Gator. I became the NASA Stennis mascot long ago to offer encouragement to employees, especially during the hot summer months when the site was under construction. What a ride it has been at the nation’s largest propulsion test site and a prime aerospace and technology hub. NASA Stennis has helped power American spaceflight since the mid-1960s. Before we make it any further, it would not be too kind of me if I did not welcome you to the new NASA website. It offers all a chance to see the rich history of NASA, and the future that is still to come. Kudos to the hard-working folks making it easier for my friends (you!) to have an elevated user experience, all the while setting the stage to be the foundation for a one-stop shop for all things NASA. A special benefit to being part of the NASA family is the teamwork, so if you see something that looks a little off-kilter with the still-in-progress updates, feel free to provide feedback. Meanwhile, in addition to the cool, crisp air and leaves changing colors in October, this month is full of great NASA moments. It started with the celebration of NASA’s 65th birthday on Oct. 1. Since Oct.1, 1958, when NASA opened for business, it has accelerated work on human and robotic spaceflight, and is responsible for scientific and technological achievements that have had widespread impacts on our nation and the world. Another birthday comes our way Oct. 25 when NASA Stennis turns 62. Less than eight years after the site’s 1961 birthday, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin traveled aboard a space vehicle with boosters tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis. The two were the first to step foot on the lunar surface. Here we are 62 years later at NASA Stennis testing engines that will help return us back to the Moon through Artemis on NASA’s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. A new RS-25 test series starting this month will take us into 2024, so birthday candles are not the only thing that will be lit around here. Bring on the hot fires! Now, before I get too carried away, I suggest you make like an astronaut and go explore more of the new website. There is something for everyone on NASA.gov. Enjoy! NASA Stennis Top News Start Your Engines: NASA to Begin Critical Testing for Future Artemis Missions NASA will begin a new RS-25 test series Oct. 17, the final round of certification testing ahead of production of an updated set of the engines for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Read More About the RS-25 Test Series Data Tells Story of NASA Moon Rocket Engine Tests Viewing an RS-25 engine hot fire is a visceral experience – ignition sounds like thunder, the ground shakes, a steam cloud billows – but a central reason for conducting a test is much less observable to viewers. Read More About Data Acquisition Evolution Space to Produce and Test Solid Rocket Motors at NASA Stennis NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, joined with Evolution Space on Oct. 10 to announce plans for the aerospace company to establish production and testing operations for solid rocket motors onsite. Read More About the Evolution Space Announcement NASA Stennis Creates New Test Area NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA / Stennis NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA / Stennis NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA / Stennis NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA / Stennis NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA / Stennis NASA Stennis is “pouring” the way to a new chapter in propulsion testing with construction of a 3,600-square-foot concrete pad, creating the CSTAR (C*) Test Area onsite. A crew completed the concrete pour for the new test NASA Stennis test pad Sept. 28. The goal of this new test area is to provide a lower-cost, fast turnaround test bed for the growing list of commercial partners at NASA Stennis. CSTAR will provide a safe and controlled area to run small scale engine and component level testing using individual test rigs. From established companies to fresh start-ups NASA Stennis is working to partner with commercial aerospace entities to push the envelope of space flight capabilities as NASA continues to inspire the world through discovery. NASA / Stennis Preparations for Exploration Upper Stage Testing Continue A pair of umbilical support structures arrive by barge at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26, part of the site’s preparations for future testing of the agency’s new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) for future flights of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system. The umbilical support structures will be installed on the B-2 Test Stand to support testing of the new EUS unit, which will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. A team from NASA Stennis and Jacobs Technology led the design of the umbilical support structures, while a team from Syncom Space Services at NASA Michoud completed the fabrication.NASA / Shane Corr Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center receive delivery Sept. 26 of a pair of umbilical support structures for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS). The next step is to paint the structures prior to their transport to the B-2 Test Stand for installation. The work is yet another sign of NASA Stennis’ continued preparation for EUS testing to support future Artemis missions. NASA / Shane Corr Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center perform a lift and fit operation of an umbilical support structure at the site’s B-2 Test Stand for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. After delivery of the structures Sept. 26, crews performed the lift-and-fit operation Oct. 3 to ensure all was on course for future EUS testing. NASA is building the EUS to fly on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The unit will enable larger payloads on deep space missions. Prior to its initial flight, EUS will undergo a series of so-called Green Run tests to ensure all systems are ready to go. The test series will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company and lead SLS engines contractor.NASA / Danny Nowlin Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center perform a lift and fit operation of an umbilical support structure at the site’s B-2 Test Stand for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. After delivery of the structures Sept. 26, crews performed the lift-and-fit operation Oct. 3 to ensure all was on course for future EUS testing. NASA is building the EUS to fly on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The unit will enable larger payloads on deep space missions. Prior to its initial flight, EUS will undergo a series of so-called Green Run tests to ensure all systems are ready to go. The test series will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company and lead SLS engines contractor. NASA / Danny Nowlin Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center perform a lift and fit operation of an umbilical support structure at the site’s B-2 Test Stand for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. After delivery of the structures Sept. 26, crews performed the lift-and-fit operation Oct. 3 to ensure all was on course for future EUS testing. NASA is building the EUS to fly on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The unit will enable larger payloads on deep space missions. Prior to its initial flight, EUS will undergo a series of so-called Green Run tests to ensure all systems are ready to go. The test series will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company and lead SLS engines contractor. NASA / Danny Nowlin Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center perform a lift and fit operation of an umbilical support structure at the site’s B-2 Test Stand for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. After delivery of the structures Sept. 26, crews performed the lift-and-fit operation Oct. 3 to ensure all was on course for future EUS testing. NASA is building the EUS to fly on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The unit will enable larger payloads on deep space missions. Prior to its initial flight, EUS will undergo a series of so-called Green Run tests to ensure all systems are ready to go. The test series will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company and lead SLS engines contractor. NASA / Danny Nowlin Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center perform a lift and fit operation of an umbilical support structure at the site’s B-2 Test Stand for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. After delivery of the structures Sept. 26, crews performed the lift-and-fit operation Oct. 3 to ensure all was on course for future EUS testing. NASA is building the EUS to fly on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The unit will enable larger payloads on deep space missions. Prior to its initial flight, EUS will undergo a series of so-called Green Run tests to ensure all systems are ready to go. The test series will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company and lead SLS engines contractor. NASA / Danny Nowlin Crews at NASA’s Stennis Space Center perform a lift and fit operation of an umbilical support structure at the site’s B-2 Test Stand for future testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. After delivery of the structures Sept. 26, crews performed the lift-and-fit operation Oct. 3 to ensure all was on course for future EUS testing. NASA is building the EUS to fly on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The unit will enable larger payloads on deep space missions. Prior to its initial flight, EUS will undergo a series of so-called Green Run tests to ensure all systems are ready to go. The test series will culminate with a hot fire of the stage’s four RL10 engines, made by Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company and lead SLS engines contractor. NASA / Danny Nowlin Center Activities NASA Stennis Attends Gulfport Event NASA Stennis visitor relations specialist Nick Middleton speaks with local Mississippi high school students during the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise event at the University of Southern Mississippi Marine Research Center in Gulfport on Sept. 28. The center joined with the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command to participate in the event designed to see the future of naval technology in action today. During his presentation, Middleton shared about the role NASA Stennis plays in NASA’s Artemis mission, how the Navy supported Artemis I recovery efforts, and how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can play a role in their future success. Through Artemis, NASA will explore more of the Moon than ever before with highly trained astronauts and advanced robotics, while also inspiring a new generation – the Artemis Generation.NASA / Stennis NASA Day at Delgado NASA is committed to using innovations and technologies developed for exploration and discovery to benefit all of life. As part of that effort, NASA Stennis representatives recently participated in NASA Day activities at the Delgado River City Site and Advanced Manufacturing Center on the campus of Delgado Community College in Avondale, Louisiana, provided an opportunity for attendees to learn how NASA provides benefits to leverage business development activities for growth. The networking event on Sept. 14, in collaboration with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana, featured NASA Stennis representatives from the Technology Transfer Expansion and Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Programs, the Office of Small Business Programs, and Office of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Engagement. Information provided included ways of creating partnerships to accelerate commercialization of NASA-developed technology, how NASA provides more than early-stage funding for small businesses, and the role STEM is playing for a new era of American innovation. NASA / Stennis NASA is committed to using innovations and technologies developed for exploration and discovery to benefit all of life. As part of that effort, NASA Stennis representatives recently participated in NASA Day activities at the Delgado River City Site and Advanced Manufacturing Center on the campus of Delgado Community College in Avondale, Louisiana, provided an opportunity for attendees to learn how NASA provides benefits to leverage business development activities for growth. The networking event on Sept. 14, in collaboration with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana, featured NASA Stennis representatives from the Technology Transfer Expansion and Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Programs, the Office of Small Business Programs, and Office of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Engagement. Information provided included ways of creating partnerships to accelerate commercialization of NASA-developed technology, how NASA provides more than early-stage funding for small businesses, and the role STEM is playing for a new era of American innovation. NASA / Stennis Space Force Training Leadership Team Visit NASA Stennis The United States Space Force Training Leadership Team visited NASA Stennis Sept. 20 for a tour of various facilities. The group received an overview of work conducted at NASA Stennis, including stops at the Autonomous Systems Laboratory and B Test Stand, along with visits to Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies Company, and Lockheed Martin. A day earlier, NASA Stennis senior management attended the activation ceremony for the first United States Space Force unit in the state of Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.NASA / Stennis NASA inspires Artemis Generation at College and Career Fair Employees from NASA Stennis and NASA Marshall participated in U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson’s Annual College & Career Fair on Oct. 6 at the Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi. Over 1,500 high schoolers attended the event sponsored by the Mississippi congressional representative to learn more about opportunities available with NASA.NASA / Stennis Employees from NASA Stennis and NASA Marshall participated in U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson’s Annual College & Career Fair on Oct. 6 at the Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi. Over 1,500 high schoolers attended the event sponsored by the Mississippi congressional representative to learn more about opportunities available with NASA.NASA / Stennis Employees from NASA Stennis and NASA Marshall participated in U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson’s Annual College & Career Fair on Oct. 6 at the Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi. Over 1,500 high schoolers attended the event sponsored by the Mississippi congressional representative to learn more about opportunities available with NASA.NASA / Stennis Employees from NASA Stennis and NASA Marshall participated in U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson’s Annual College & Career Fair on Oct. 6 at the Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi. Over 1,500 high schoolers attended the event sponsored by the Mississippi congressional representative to learn more about opportunities available with NASA.NASA / Stennis NASA in the News Life Encapsulated: Inside NASA’s Orion for Artemis II Moon Mission – NASA 6 Things to Know About NASA’s Asteroid-Exploring Psyche Mission – NASA 2023 Annular Eclipse – NASA Science NASA’s Hubble Finds Bizarre Explosion in Unexpected Place – NASA Science Employee Profile Gina Ladner describes herself as “a proud employee of the best place to work in all of the federal government” at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.NASA/Danny Nowlin For Gina Ladner, seeing NASA return to the Moon on Artemis missions, in preparation for the next giant leap of sending astronauts to Mars, will be a full circle moment. Read More About Gina Ladner Looking Back An image from 1979 shows crews preparing to lift a space shuttle main engine for testing at what is now NASA’s Stennis Space Center.NASA / Stennis Becoming a Part of NASA In the 1970s, the Mississippi Test Facility (MTF), now known as NASA’s Stennis Space Center, had about 1,127 employees. After the Apollo Program ended, budget cuts caused workforce downsizing. However, an engine test project was on the horizon for the space shuttle. The space shuttle was designed as a reusable vehicle to carry humans to low-Earth orbit following the Apollo Program. An effort to manufacture shuttle engines at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in nearby New Orleans and test at MTF went into motion. Roy Estess, then a MTF engineer, was assigned to create a presentation to convince NASA to select MTF to perform tests of space shuttle main engines. In December 1970, Estess gave the presentation to a board of NASA managers. He spoke of the low cost of facility modifications needed to conduct space shuttle main engine tests at MTF, the experience already at the facility due to Apollo testing, and the local communities’ willingness to support the program. The board came away impressed with Estess and his knowledge of the program. One of the board members said the presentation was “the best we’ve had out of all three places” seeking the testing assignment. Unknown to Estess, a now-familiar name to the installation was in the camp for the Mississippi site to conduct the space shuttle engine tests, Jerry Hlass. He was working on his master’s thesis at George Washington University. It was titled “Search for a Role for a Large Government Facility” and was focused on the Space Shuttle Program and the use of MTF. Hlass, who later led the Mississippi facility as director, had the ear of the Site Evaluation Board. When asked his opinion, he gave his case for MTF. On March 1, 1971, NASA selected MTF for “sea-level testing of the rocket engines to power the space shuttle.” A lot happened at MTF between the announcement in March 1971 and the first space shuttle main engine test in 1975. MTF Manager Jackson Balch was still leading the way to fully utilize the facility and to move government and private agencies to the site. On June 14, 1974, the Mississippi Test Facility was renamed the National Space Technology Laboratories (NSTL) and became an independent installation of NASA, reporting to NASA Headquarters. U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis said the “efforts to increase the use of NSTL by NASA and other federal agencies [would] now be more successful than ever.” Balch was quite pleased with the changes, saying, “It will be nice to be a (NASA) club member.” Just a year later, on June 24, 1975, a brief but significant event occurred at the newly independent site: the first ignition test of a space shuttle main engine. It lasted just a second but marked the return to propulsion testing for NSTL and opened the door for testing projects to follow. Additional Resources Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Addressing Misconceptions of Depression Artemis Artemis Resources – NASA NASA’s Moon to Mars Strategy NASA’s Stennis Space Center – Moving Forward NASA Stennis – Avanzando Subscription Info Lagniappe is published monthly by the Office of Communications at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The NASA Stennis office may be contacted by at 228-688-3333 (phone); ssc-office-of-communications@mail.nasa.gov (email); or NASA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS, Attn: LAGNIAPPE, Mail code IA00, Building 1111 Room 173, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (mail). The Lagniappe staff includes: Managing Editor Lacy Thompson, Editor Bo Black, and photographer Danny Nowlin. To subscribe to the monthly publication, please email the following to ssc-office-of-communications@mail.nasa.gov – name, location (city/state), email address. View the full article

iss070e003191 (Oct. 12, 2023) — Expedition 70 Flight Engineers (from left) Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, both from NASA, pose for a portrait in front of the International Space Station’s Cold Atom Lab. The physics research device observes the quantum behavior of atoms chilled to about one ten billionth of a degree above absolute zero — much colder than the average temperature of deep space.NASAView the full article

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is launched from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will travel to a metal-rich asteroid by the same name orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter to study it’s composition. The spacecraft also carries the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. NASA/Aubrey Gemignani NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on its voyage to an asteroid of the same name, a metal-rich world that could tell us more about the formation of rocky planets. Psyche successfully launched 10:19 a.m. EDT Friday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Integrated onto the spacecraft is the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, a test of deep space laser communications that could support future exploration missions by providing more bandwidth to transmit data than traditional radio frequency communications. “Congratulations to the Psyche team on a successful launch, the first journey to a metal-rich asteroid,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The Psyche mission could provide humanity with new information about planet formation while testing technology that can be used on future NASA missions. As Asteroid Autumn continues, so does NASA’s commitment to exploring the unknown and inspiring the world through discovery.” Less than five minutes after liftoff, once the rocket’s second stage climbed to a high-enough altitude, the fairings separated from the rocket and returned to Earth. About an hour after launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket, and ground controllers waited to acquire a signal from the spacecraft. Shortly after, the Psyche spacecraft commanded itself into a planned safe mode, in which it completes only minimal engineering activities while awaiting further commands from mission controllers on Earth. Psyche established two-way communication at 11:50 a.m. EDT with NASA’s Deep Space Network complex in Canberra, Australia. Initial telemetry reports show the spacecraft is in good health. “I am excited to see the treasure trove of science Psyche will unlock as NASA’s first mission to a metal world,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “By studying asteroid Psyche, we hope to better understand our universe and our place in it, especially regarding the mysterious and impossible-to-reach metal core of our own home planet, Earth.” By August 2029, the spacecraft will begin to orbit the 173-mile-wide (279-kilometer-wide) asteroid – the only metal-class asteroid ever to be explored. Because of Psyche’s high iron-nickel metal content, scientists think it may be the partial core of a planetesimal, a building block of an early planet. The goal is a 26-month science investigation. “We said ‘goodbye’ to our spacecraft, the center of so many work lives for so many years – thousands of people and a decade,” said Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Psyche principal investigator at Arizona State University in Tempe. “But it’s really not a finish line; it’s a starting line for the next marathon. Our spacecraft is off to meet our asteroid, and we’ll fill another gap in our knowledge – and color in another kind of world in our solar system.” For its six-year, 2.2-billion-mile (3.6-billion-kilometer) trip to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Psyche relies on solar electric propulsion. The efficient propulsion system works by expelling charged atoms, or ions, of the neutral gas xenon to create a thrust that gently propels the spacecraft. Along the way, the spacecraft will use Mars’ gravity as a slingshot to speed it along on its journey. “I’m so proud of the Psyche team, who overcame many challenges on their way to this exciting day,” said Laurie Leshin, the director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. “Now the real fun begins as we race toward asteroid Psyche to unlock the secrets of how planets form and evolve.” The first 100 days of the mission are a commissioning phase, called the initial checkout period, to make sure all flight systems are healthy. Key to the checkout is ensuring that the electric thrusters are ready to begin continuously firing over long stretches of the trajectory. Active checkout of the science instruments – the magnetometer, the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, and the multispectral imager – starts about six weeks from now. During this period, the imager will take its first images for calibration purposes, targeting standard stars and a star cluster at a variety of exposures, with several different filters. Then the Psyche team will activate an automatic feed of publicly viewable raw images online for the duration of the mission. The first opportunity to power on the optical communications technology demonstration is expected in about three weeks, when Psyche would be roughly 4.7 million miles (7.5 million kilometers) from Earth. This will be the agency’s first test beyond the Moon of high-data-rate optical, or laser, communications. While the transceiver is hosted by Psyche, the tech demo will not relay Psyche mission data. “Launching with Psyche is an ideal platform to demonstrate NASA’s optical communications goal to get high-bandwidth data into deep space,” said Dr. Prasun Desai, acting associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters. “It’s exciting to know that, in a few short weeks, Deep Space Optical Communications will begin sending data back to Earth to test this critical capability for the future of space exploration. The insights we learn will help us advance these innovative new technologies and, ultimately, pursue bolder goals in space.” More Mission Information Arizona State University leads the Psyche mission. A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL is responsible for the mission’s overall management, system engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. Maxar Space in Palo Alto, California, provided the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis. JPL manages the Deep Space Optical Communications project for the Technology Demonstration Missions program within STMD and the Space Communications and Navigation Program within the Space Operations Mission Directorate. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center, is responsible for the insight and approval of the launch vehicle and manages the launch service for the Psyche mission. NASA certified the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for use with the agency’s most complex and highest priority missions in early 2023 at the conclusion of a 2.5-year effort. Psyche is the 14th mission selected as part of NASA’s Discovery Program, managed by the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. For more information about NASA’s Psyche mission go to: https://www.nasa.gov/psyche -end- Gretchen McCartney Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-6215 gretchen.p.mccartney@jpl.nasa.gov Alise Fisher / Alana Johnson Headquarters, Washington 202-358-2546 / 202-358-1501 alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov / alana.r.johnson@nasa.gov View the full article

In June 2023, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) awarded the 2023 AIAA Wright Brothers Lectureship in Aeronautics to Larry Young, a researcher in the Aeromechanics Office at NASA Ames Research Center. As part of this award, Mr. Young delivered a lecture titled “NASA Aeronautics Contributions to the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter” at the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum in San Diego, CA. More information is at https://www.aiaa.org/news/news/2023/05/15/2023-aiaa-wright-brothers-lectureship-in-aeronautics-awarded-to-larry-a.-young-nasa-ames-research-center. YouTube video of the lecture can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vnxDNdyMD0. Larry A. Young, Aerospace Engineer, NASA Ames Research CenterNASAView the full article

On Oct. 15, 1958, the first X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft rolled out of its factory. A joint project among NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, the X-15 greatly expanded our knowledge of flight at speeds exceeding Mach 6 and altitudes above 250,000 feet. Between 1959 and 1968, 12 pilots completed 199 missions, achieving ever-higher speeds and altitudes while gathering data on the aerodynamic and thermal performance of the aircraft flying to the edge of space and beyond and returning to Earth. The X-15 served as a platform for a series of experiments studying the unique hypersonic environment. The program experienced several mishaps and one fatal crash. Knowledge gained during X-15 missions influenced the development of future programs such as the space shuttle. Left: Rollout of the first X-15 hypersonic research rocket plane at the North American Aviation facility in Los Angeles. Middle: North American pilot A. Scott Crossfield poses in front of the X-15-1. Right: Rear view of the X-15-1, showing the twin XLR-11 rocket engines used on early test flights. The origins of the X-15 date to 1952, when the Committee on Aerodynamics of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) adopted a resolution to expand their research portfolio to study flight up to altitudes between 12 and 50 miles and Mach numbers between 4 and 10. The Air Force and Navy agreed and conducted joint feasibility studies at NACA’s field centers. On Dec. 30, 1954, the U.S. Air Force released a Request for Proposals (RPF) for aerospace firms to bid on building the experimental hypersonic aircraft. Four companies submitted proposals with the Air Force selecting North American Aviation, Los Angeles, as the winning bid on Sept. 30, 1955, awarding the contract in November. The Air Force held a separate competition for the aircraft’s XLR-99 rocket engine, a 57,000-pound throttleable single-chamber engine. The process began with release of the RFP on Feb. 4, 1955, and selection in February 1956 of the Reaction Motors Division of Thiokol Chemical Corporation. Delays in the development of the XLR-99 engine required North American to rely on a pair of four-nozzle XLR-11 engines, similar to the one that powered the X-1 on its historic sound-barrier breaking flight in 1947. Providing only 16,000 pounds of thrust, this left the X-15 significantly underpowered for the first 17 months of test flights. On Oct. 1, 1958, the new National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) incorporated the NACA centers and inherited the X-15 project, just two weeks before rollout from the factory of the first flight article. Left: Crowds gather to admire the first X-15 after its rollout from the North American Aviation plant in Los Angeles. Right: Workers at Edwards Air Force Base in California lift the first X-15 off its delivery truck. On Oct. 15, 1958, the rollout of the first of the three aircraft took place with some fanfare at North American’s Los Angeles facility. Vice President Richard M. Nixon and news media attended the festivities, as did North American X-15 project manager Harrison A. “Stormy” Storms and several of the early X-15 pilots. After the conclusion of the ceremonies, workers wrapped the aircraft, placed it on a flatbed truck, and drove it overnight to the High Speed Flight Station, today NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California’s Mojave Desert. Even before this first aircraft took to the skies, North American rolled out X-15-2 on Feb. 27, 1959. The third aircraft, equipped with the LR-99 engine and a more advanced adaptive flight control system, rounded out the small fleet in 1960. Left: Diagram showing the two main profiles used by the X-15, either for altitude or speed. Right: The twin XLR-11 engines, left, and the more powerful XLR-99 engine used to power the X-15. Like earlier X-planes, a carrier aircraft, in this case two modified B-52 Stratofortresses, released the 34,000-pound X-15 at an altitude of 45,000 feet to conserve its fuel for the research mission. Flights took place within the High Range, extending from Wendover AFB in Utah to the Rogers Dry Lake landing zone adjacent to Edwards AFB, with emergency landing zones along the way. Typical missions lasted eight to 12 minutes and followed either a high-altitude or a high-speed profile following launch from the B-52 and ignition of the rocket engine. After burnout of the engine, the pilot guided the aircraft to an unpowered landing on the lakebed runway. To withstand the high temperatures during hypersonic flight and reentry, the X-15’s outer skin consisted of a then-new nickel-chrome alloy called Inconel-X. Because traditional aerodynamic surfaces used for flight control while in the atmosphere do not work in the near vacuum of space, the X-15 used its Ballistic Control System thrusters for attitude control while flying outside the atmosphere. North American pilot A. Scott Crossfield had the primary responsibility for carrying out the initial test flights of the X-15 before handover to NASA and the Air Force. Left: With North American Aviation pilot A. Scott Crossfield in the cockpit, the first captive flight of the X-15-1 rocket plane takes off under the wing of its B-52 Stratofortress carrier aircraft. Right: Seconds after release from the B-52, with Crossfield at the controls, the X-15-1 begins its first unpowered glide flight. With Crossfield at the controls of X-15-1, the first captive flight during which the X-15 remained attached to the B-52’s wing, took place on March 10, 1959. Crossfield completed the first unpowered glide flight of an X-15 on June 8, the flight lasting just five minutes. On Sept. 17, at the controls of X-15-2, Crossfield completed the first powered flight of an X-15, reaching a speed of Mach 2.11 and an altitude of 52,000 feet. Overcoming a few hardware problems, he brought the aircraft to a successful landing after a flight lasting nine minutes. During 12 more flights, Crossfield expanded the aircraft’s flight envelope to Mach 2.97 and 88,116 feet while gathering important data on its flying characteristics. All except his last three flights used the lower thrust LR-11 engines, limiting the aircraft’s speed and altitude. The last three used the powerful LR-99 engine, the one the aircraft was designed for. Crossfield’s 14th flight on Dec. 6, 1960, marked the end of North American’s contracted testing program, turning the X-15 over to the Air Force and NASA. Left: Chief NASA X-15 pilot Joseph A. “Joe” Walker launches from the B-52 carrier aircraft to begin his first flight. Middle: Walker following his altitude record-setting flight in 1963. Right: Walker at the controls of the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle in 1964. On March 25, 1960, NASA’s chief X-15 pilot Joseph A. “Joe” Walker, completed the agency’s first flight aboard X-15-1. Walker, one of five NASA pilots to fly the X-15, completed 25 flights aboard the aircraft. On May 12, 1960, Walker took X-15-1 above Mach 3 for the first time. On two of his flights, Walker exceeded the Von Karman line, the internationally recognized boundary of space of 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, earning him astronaut wings. On a third flight, he flew above 50 miles, the altitude the Air Force considered the boundary of space. By that standard, 13 flights by eight X-15 pilots qualified them for Air Force astronaut wings. On Walker’s final flight on Aug. 22, 1963, he flew X-15-3 to an altitude of 354,200 feet, or 67.1 miles, the highest achieved in the X-15 program, and a record for piloted aircraft that stood until surpassed during the final flight of SpaceShipOne on Oct. 4, 2004. After leaving the X-15 program, Walker conducted 35 test flights of the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) between 1964 and 1966, the precursor to the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle that Apollo commanders used to simulate the final several hundred feet of the Lunar Module’s descent to the lunar surface. Tragically, Walker died in a mid-air collision on June 8, 1966, when his F-104 Starfighter struck an XB-70 Valkyrie during a demonstration exercise. Left: NASA X-15 pilot John B. “Jack” McKay poses with X-15-3 after a mission. Middle: Rollout of X-15A-2 in 1964, repaired and modified following a landing mishap. The second NASA X-15 pilot, John B. “Jack” McKay completed 29 flights, the most of any NASA pilot. He achieved a maximum speed of Mach 5.65 and reached an altitude of 295,600 feet, qualifying him for Air Force astronaut wings. On Nov. 9, 1962, he suffered serious injuries during a landing mishap on his seventh mission but recovered to make 22 more flights. Engineers at North American not only repaired the damaged X-15-2 but redesignated it as X-15A-2. They extended its fuselage by more than two feet and added two external fuel tanks to enable longer engine burns. McKay made another emergency landing on his 25th flight on May 6, 1966, when the X-15-1’s LR-99 engine shut down prematurely. The aircraft did not incur any damage and McKay suffered no injuries. Left: NASA pilot Neil A. Armstrong stands next to an X-15. Middle: Armstrong sits in Gemini VIII prior to liftoff. Right: Armstrong in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle following his historic Moon walk. Neil A. Armstrong joined NACA as an experimental test pilot in January 1952, and gained experience flying the X-1B supersonic rocket plane. NACA selected him as its third X-15 pilot, and he flew the aircraft seven times. After his first two checkout flights in December 1960, Armstrong spent a year as a consultant on the X-20 Dyna-Soar program before returning to fly his remaining five X-15 missions. Because he helped to develop the adaptive flight control system, on Dec. 20, 1961, Armstrong completed the first flight of X-15-3, rebuilt after an explosion in June 1960 of the LR-99 engine on a test stand destroyed the back of the aircraft. On his sixth flight on April 20, 1962, while trying to maintain a constant g-load during reentry, the aircraft’s attitude caused it to skip out of the atmosphere. This resulted in an overshoot of the landing zone, requiring a high-altitude U-turn, with Armstrong just barely reaching the lakebed runway. Armstrong left the X-15 program when NASA selected him as an astronaut on Sept. 17, 1962. In March 1966, as the Gemini VIII Command Pilot, he executed the first docking in space and then guided the spacecraft back to Earth after the first in-space emergency. On July 20, 1969, during Apollo 11, Armstrong took humanity’s first step on the Moon. Left: NASA pilot Milton O. Thompson poses in front of X-15-3. Right: Thompson poses in front of the M2-F2 lifting body aircraft after his first flight in 1966. In June 1963, NASA selected Milton O. “Milt” Thompson as an X-15 pilot, and he completed 14 flights. Although he achieved a maximum speed of Mach 5.48 and reached 214,100 feet, more than half his flights remained at relatively low altitude but high speed to gather data on the effects of high temperatures on the skin of the X-15. Thompson transferred to test fly the experimental M2-F2 lifting body aircraft before giving up flying to manage advanced research projects for NASA, including influencing the design of the space shuttle orbiter. His X-15 experience convinced him that the orbiter did not need jet engines to assist in the landing. Thompson served as the chief engineer at NASA’s Dryden Flight Reseach Center, now Armstrong Flight Research Center, from 1975 until his death in 1993. Left: NASA pilot William “Bill” Dana poses in front of X-15-3. Right: Dana after the final rocket powered aircraft flight, aboard the X-24B, at Edwards Air Force Base in 1975. In May 1965, NASA selected William “Bill” H. Dana, already involved in the program as a chase pilot and simulation engineer, to backfill Thompson as an X-15 pilot. Dana completed 16 flights including what turned out to be the final flight of the X-15 program on Oct. 24, 1968. He reached a maximum speed of Mach 5.53 and an altitude of 306,900 feet, high enough to qualify him for Air Force astronaut wings. With the program sufficiently mature, in addition to gathering flight characteristics data, several experiments flew aboard Dana’s flights. On the last mission, Dana observed a Minuteman missile launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Following the end of the X-15 program, between April 1969 and December 1972, Dana piloted experimental lifting body aircraft like the HL-10 and M2-F3, and in September 1975, he flew the X-24B twice, including the final flight of a rocket-powered aircraft at Edwards. After test flying other aircraft, he served as Dryden’s chief engineer between 1993 and 1998, taking over from Thompson. Left: U.S. Air Force pilot Robert M. White after the last flight of an X-15 with the LR-11 engines. Right: White inside the X-15 about to launch on the first flight above Mach 6. Five U.S. Air Force and one U.S. Navy pilot made history flying the X-15. The U.S. Air Force selected Iven C. “Kinch” Kincheloe as their first X-15 pilot, but tragically he died in an aircraft accident on July 26, 1958, before making a flight. His backup, Robert M. White, stepped in as the first Air Force pilot to fly the X-15, completing 16 missions. Over the course of these missions, White’s achievements included the first flight of an X-15 above 100,000 feet, then 200,000 feet, and eventually to 314,750 feet. That earned White U.S. Air Force astronaut wings on his July 17, 1962, flight. He also broke speed records, as the first person to fly faster than Mach 4, then Mach 5, and finally reaching Mach 6.04 – more than doubling the speed record in just eight months. After leaving the X-15 program, White flew combat missions in southeast Asia, the only X-15 pilot to see active duty in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired as a major general in 1981. Left: U.S. Navy pilot Forrest S. “Pete” Petersen poses next to an X-15. Right: The B-52 carrier aircraft flies overhead to salute Petersen’s highest and fastest flight. Left: Air Force pilot Robert A. Rushworth following a flight aboard X-15-3. Right: Unusual photograph of two B-52s preparing to launch two X-15s in November 1960 – X-15-1 prepares to taxi for Rushworth’s first flight, left, and X-15-2 for A. Scott Crossfield and the first flight of the XLR-99 rocket engine. Image credit: courtesy mach25media.com. The pilot with the most X-15 missions, the Air Force’s Robert A. Rushworth completed 34 flights. For the first time, flight surgeons could monitor a pilot’s electrocardiogram in real time thanks to a new biomonitoring system and did so during Rushworth’s seventh flight. On his 14th flight, Rushworth reached an altitude of 285,000 feet, high enough to earn him U.S. Air Force astronaut wings. Rushworth flew his fastest flight on Dec. 5, 1963, when he reached a top speed of Mach 6.06. On June 25, on his 21st mission, Rushworth completed the first flight of X-15A-2, rebuilt and upgraded following its November 1962 crash. He piloted it to Mach 4.59, the first time the aircraft flew faster than Mach 4. On his next flight, he took the aircraft past Mach 5. On his 34th and final mission, Rushworth tested one of the significant upgrades to X-15A-2, the addition of disposable external fuel and oxidizer tanks to increase the rocket engine’s burn time. He encountered some difficulties when he jettisoned the tanks at the half-full stage, a condition that planners had not anticipated, but successfully landed the aircraft. As previously planned, Rushworth left the X-15 program five days later, attending the National War College before flying 189 combat missions in Vietnam. He retired as a major general in 1981. Left: Air Force pilot Joe H. Engle following a flight aboard X-15A-2. Middle: NASA astronaut Engle poses in front of space shuttle Enterprise during its first rollout in 1976. Right: Engle during Columbia’s STS-2 mission in November 1981. Air Force pilot Joe H. Engle joined the X-15 program in June 1963, completing 16 missions. He achieved his highest speed, Mach 5.71, on his 10th flight, and earned his U.S. Air Force astronaut wings at 33 years of age, the youngest X-15 pilot to do so, on his 14th flight. Within less than four months, Engle surpassed the 50-mile mark two more times on his final two X-15 flights in August and October 1965. Engle left the X-15 program when NASA selected him as an astronaut on April 4, 1966. Putting his X-15 experience to good use, he commanded two of the five Approach and Landing Tests with space shuttle Enterprise in 1977. In 1982, he commanded STS-2, the second orbital flight of Columbia, and in 1985 he commanded STS-51I, the sixth flight of Discovery. Comparing the X-15 and the space shuttle, the only person to have piloted both said, “From a pilot-task standpoint, the entry and landing are very similar, performance wise. You fly roughly the same glide speed and the same glide slope angle. The float and touchdown were very similar.” Engle retired from NASA and the Air Force as a major general in 1986 but remained active in an advisory capacity into the 2010s. Left: Air Force pilot William J. “Pete” Knight poses with X-15A-2 with its unusual white outer paint over an ablative coating. Right: Knight, right, following his speed record-setting flight in October 1967. The Air Force selected William J. “Pete” Knight as an X-15 pilot in 1965, and he completed 16 flights in two years. On his eighth flight on Nov. 18, 1966, Knight took X-15A-2 to above Mach 6, with the fully fueled external tanks operating as expected. In an attempt to protect the X-15’s skin during sustained flight at Mach 6, or proposed future flights at Mach 7 and 8, engineers coated X-15A-2 with an ablative material. Since the color of the material resembled the pink of a pencil eraser, workers painted it a gleaming white. On Oct. 3, 1967, Knight flew X-15A-2, with fully fueled external tanks, to an unofficial speed record of Mach 6.70, or 4,520 miles per hour, for a piloted winged vehicle. The mark stood until surpassed during the reentry of space shuttle Columbia on April 14, 1981. While the flight appeared to have gone well, hypersonic shock waves, especially around a model scramjet attached to the bottom rear of the aircraft, caused such heating that it burned through the ablative material, exposing the skin of the aircraft to 2,400 degrees, twice its design limit. Postflight inspection revealed significant damage to the aircraft that would have ended catastrophically had the heating continued for a few more seconds. A previous flight to Mach 6.33 showed similar, although less, severe damage, but engineers did not consider it as a warning sign. Due to the damage, X-15A-2 never flew again. In 2003, space shuttle Columbia suffered similar burn, caused by damage to its thermal protection system, leading to loss of the vehicle and its seven-member crew. When the X-15 program ended at the end of 1968, Knight returned to active duty, flying 253 combat missions in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. He eventually returned to Edwards as its vice commander before retiring in 1982 and entering politics. Left: Michael J. Adams, left, selected in the first group of astronauts for the U.S. Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory in 1965. Right: Adams following a mission aboard X-15-1. The U.S. Air Force first selected Michael J. Adams as an astronaut for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory program in November 1965 before transferring him to the X-15 program in July 1966 as its 12th and final pilot. He flew the X-15 seven times and on his third flight reached his highest speed of Mach 5.59. Adams took off on his seventh flight on Nov. 15, 1967, a mission using X-15-3 with its advanced flight control system, to reach 250,000 feet and Mach 6 to conduct several experiments. After overshooting to a peak altitude of 266,000 feet and beginning the descent but sill well outside the atmosphere, the X-15-3 entered into a hypersonic spin traveling at more than 3,000 miles per hour, at one point flying tail first. Adams and the aircraft’s systems recovered from the spin, but now the aircraft began serious pitch oscillations as it continued to fall. At 62,000 feet, the g-loads from the oscillations overcame the structural limits of the aircraft and it broke apart. The X-15-3 crashed, killing Adams. The accident investigation identified proximate causes as a short-circuit from one of the experiments that had not been tested at low atmospheric pressures or high temperatures, causing both the aircraft’s computer and its flight control system to repeatedly fail. Adams became distracted and did not realize his aircraft’s attitude was increasingly off nominal. In addition, an attitude indicator switch had been set at the wrong setting, providing Adams with confusing information. Telemetry to the ground did not include attitude information, so controllers did not know the problems Adams faced and could not provide any helpful direction. Adams may have suffered from vertigo, a condition for which he had previously tested positive, a fact not known to his flight surgeon. Two major changes from the accident included adding attitude information to the telemetry and ensuring that all pilots received thorough vestibular screening to identify cases of vertigo. With the loss of X-15-3 and the retirement of the damaged X-15A-2 following Knight’s October flight, only one aircraft, the original X-15-1, remained to close out the program until funding ran out in December 1968. The Air Force posthumously honored Adams with astronaut wings. The Edwards Air Force Base ground crew poses in front of the B-52 with X-15-1 mounted under its wing during a rare snowstorm that thwarted a final attempt at a 200th flight. NASA pilot Dana flew what turned out to be the 199th and final X-15 mission on Oct. 24, 1968. Managers tried to fly a 200th mission before funding ran out on Dec. 31. Eight attempts between Nov. 27 and Dec. 20 for Air Force pilot Knight to take X-15-1 on a final mission failed for a variety of reasons. Due to the delays, the initial mission plan of flying to 250,000 feet at Mach 4.9 in an attempt to visualize a missile launch from Vandenberg AFB had to change to a more modest altitude goal of 162,000 feet and reduced speed of Mach 3.9 to test a new experiment. On Dec. 20, with Knight suited up and ready to board the X-15, a rare snowstorm put an end to any plans to fly, and so the program ended. The next morning, on the other side of the continent, a Saturn V lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to take Apollo 8 astronauts on the first voyage to the Moon. Seven months later, former NASA X-15 pilot Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on the Moon. Summary of X-15 pilots’ accomplishments. A grateful nation recognized the accomplishments of the X-15 pilots. On Nov. 28, 1961, in a White House ceremony President John F. Kennedy presented Crossfield, Walker, and White with the Harmon International Trophy for Aviators. On July 18, 1962, President Kennedy presented the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy to Crossfield, Walker, White, and Petersen for their pioneering hypersonic flights. On Dec. 3, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the Harmon Trophy to Knight for his Mach 6.70 record-setting flight. Left: President John F. Kennedy, left, presents the Harmon Trophy to X-15 pilots A. Scott Crossfield of North American Aviation, Joseph A. Walker of NASA, and Robert White of the U.S. Air Force. Middle: President Kennedy presents the Collier Trophy to X-15 pilots Crossfield, White, Walker, and Forrest S. Petersen of the U.S. Navy. Right: President Lyndon B. Johnson presents the Harmon Trophy to U.S. Air Force X-15 pilot William J. “Pete” Knight. Left: The X-15-1 as it looked in the Milestones of Flight exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Image credit: courtesy National Air and Space Museum. Middle: The X-15A-2 on display at the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), in Dayton, Ohio. Image credit: courtesy National Museum of the Air Force. Right: A replica of the X-15-3 as it looked on display in 1997 outside the entrance to NASA’s Dryden, now Armstrong, Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB. Following the end of the program, the two surviving X-15 aircraft found permanent homes in prestigious museums. The X-15-1 arrived at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., in June 1969. When the new National Air and Space Museum opened in July 1976, the X-15-1 found a place of prominence in the Milestones of Flight exhibit. In 2019, curators placed it in temporary storage while the museum undergoes a major renovation. The X-15A-2 went on display at the Air Force Museum, now the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio, where it still resides. Although the third aircraft was lost in a crash, North American built replica of X-15-3 that was mounted outside the entrance to Dryden in 1995. Damage from winds required its removal and refurbishment, and it is currently in storage at Armstrong. Explore More 23 min read NASA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 Article 2 days ago 6 min read 65 Years Ago: NASA Begins Operations Article 2 weeks ago 16 min read 35 Years Ago: STS-26 Returns the Space Shuttle to Flight Article 2 weeks ago View the full article

NASA/Peter Jacobs Continuing the temperature trend from this summer, September 2023 was the hottest September on record, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). The month also set the record for the highest temperature anomaly – the largest difference from the long-term average. This visualization shows global temperature anomalies along with the underlying seasonal cycle. Temperatures advance from January through December left to right, rising during warmer months and falling during cooler months. The color of each line represents the year, with colder purples for the 1960s and warmer oranges and yellows for more recent years. A long-term warming trend can be seen as the height of each month increases over time, the result of human activities releasing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. “What’s remarkable is that these record values are happening before the peak of the current El Nino event, whereas in 2016 the previous record values happened in the spring, after the peak,” said Gavin Schmidt, director of GISS. El Nino is the warm phase of a naturally recurring pattern of trade winds and ocean temperatures in the Eastern Tropical Pacific that influences global temperatures and precipitation patterns. By Katy Mersmann NASA Goddard Share Details Last Updated Oct 13, 2023 Related Terms Climate ChangeEarthGoddard Institute for Space StudiesGoddard Space Flight Center View the full article

2 min read NASA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2023: Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa, project manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.NASA Dr. Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa, born and raised in Puerto Rico, made a courageous decision to pivot her academic studies – launching her towards an accomplished career in defense, space, and aeronautics research for NASA. She headed to medical school after earning her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico. After two years, she knew it was not the right path for her and shifted her sights to graduating with a doctorate in physics. Now, she manages foundational electrified aircraft propulsion research for NASA’s Transformational Tools and Technologies project, leading a team of researchers aiming to develop innovative materials and methods to advance sustainable aviation. Biaggi-Labiosa delivers a presentation in Spanish to engineering students at the University of Puerto Rico.NASA This past year, she gave back to her alma mater. Dr. Biaggi-Labiosa was instrumental in organizing university engagements and industry visits to Puerto Rico, building relationships with NASA. She delivered a project overview in Spanish to an engaged group of engineering students and has helped recruit inspiring individuals for NASA internships. Today, we celebrate Dr. Biaggi-Labiosa’s selection as a 2023 Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC) award winner in the category of Outstanding Technical Achievement – Government. Individuals who are awarded in the Outstanding Technical Achievement category have made a significant technological contribution to STEM through key research and by having designed, developed, managed, or assisted in the development of a product, service, system, or intellectual property. The HENAAC awards were created in 1989 to honor the world-class achievements of outstanding Hispanic engineers, scientists, and STEM professionals. Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 3 min read NASA Targets 2024 for First Flight of X-59 Experimental Aircraft Article 20 hours ago 2 min read NASA Concludes Significant Technical Challenge: In-Time Terminal Area Risk Management Article 7 days ago 3 min read La seguridad es fundamental para la movilidad aérea avanzada Article 1 week ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans In Space Solar System Exploration Overview Since 1998, NASA’s Solar System Exploration hub has served as a real-time, living encyclopedia of the scientific exploration of… Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Oct 13, 2023 Editor Lillian Gipson Contact Jim Bankejim.banke@nasa.gov Related Terms AeronauticsAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateTransformational Tools TechnologiesTransformative Aeronautics Concepts Program View the full article

iss070e002415 (Oct. 4, 2023) — ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen is pictured trying on his spacesuit and testing its components aboard the International Space Station’s Quest airlock in preparation for an upcoming spacewalk.NASAView the full article

iss070e002869 (Oct. 11, 2023) — (From left) Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency); and Flight Engineers Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, both from NASA; and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), pose for a portrait aboard the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory module. The quartet is showing off crew active dosimeters that monitor the amount of radiation astronauts are exposed to in the microgravity environment.NASAView the full article

iss070e002889 (Oct. 9, 2023) — NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara is pictured trying on her spacesuit and testing its components aboard the International Space Station’s Quest airlock in preparation for an upcoming spacewalk.NASAView the full article

iss070e003139 (Oct. 12, 2023) — Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency) demonstrates collecting air samples to analyze and quantify trace contaminants in the International Space Station’s atmosphere. The Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2, or ANITA-2, serves as a technology demonstration in support of human exploration missions beyond low-Earth orbit.NASAView the full article

“I can almost directly trace my entire career back to [my extracurriculars] in high school and a mentor I had. My first foray into engineering was this high school program called the Robotics Science Academy. It was basically my high school’s attempt to put together a curriculum that was designed specifically to prepare students for an engineering track in college. But since it was the first year of trying this program, there were only about eight of us. The high school teacher leading the robotics track, Mr. Donelson, was always [encouraging] about trying new things and getting out of our comfort zone. And I think that always really helped me. “So I owe a lot to him, for sure. He would stay after school with us and walk us through our assignments, and ended up encouraging us to enter an underwater robotics competition. Because we were fairly landlocked — which is obviously not great for underwater robotics that are meant for deep sea missions — we sort of lucked our way into the international competition. “Even so, we ended up winning a ‘bang for your buck’ award based on the amount of tasks we completed in the mission and the cost of our robot, because the cost was very, very low. It was just this Frankenstein monstrosity of PVC pipes and messy high schooler soldering and wiring. But no matter how it looked, I was lucky to have teachers like Mr. Donelson to push all of us forward.” — Jennifer Hamilton, Communications Lead, ISS Research Integration Office, NASA’s Johnson Space Center Image Credit: NASA / James Blair Interviewer: NASA / Thalia Patrinos Check out some of our other Faces of NASA. View the full article

Nelson Morales (left), Janette C. Briones (center), and Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Aerospace Communications Facility in October 2023.Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna Three employees from NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland have been chosen to receive awards that recognize the achievements of outstanding Hispanic engineers, scientists, and STEM professionals. Janette C. Briones, Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa, and Nelson Morales will be presented with Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Corporation (HENAAC) and Luminary awards during the Great Minds in STEM conference in Pasadena, California, held from Oct. 11 through 14. Learn more about the NASA Glenn honorees and each of their recognitions: Nelson Morales Nelson Morales, chief of NASA Glenn’s Structural Mechanics Branch, has been chosen as a 2023 Luminary. This award recognizes Hispanic innovators who are engineering the future while lighting the way for the next generation of STEM leaders. Luminaries are chosen for their achievements leading, collaborating, and initiating key programs and research in their respective fields. “It’s an honor to receive this award because we want to be role models for the Hispanic community,” Morales said. “I am thankful for all of the people who have helped and supported me throughout the years and have made this possible.” Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna Janette C. Briones Janette C. Briones, project manager and principal investigator for NASA Glenn’s Cognitive Communications Project, has received the 2023 HENAAC Professional Achievement I (Government) award. The HENAAC award recognizes leaders, innovators, and champions who contribute to the Hispanic community at the highest levels of academia, government, military, and corporate America. “It’s something that I wasn’t expecting; there are so many outstanding engineers,” Briones said of being chosen for the award. “I’m very grateful that I have received it, and I have worked hard for it.”Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa, NASA Glenn’s manager for the Foundational Electrified Aircraft Propulsion Subproject, has received the 2023 HENAAC Outstanding Technical Achievement (Government) award. The HENAAC award recognizes leaders, innovators, and champions who contribute to the Hispanic community at the highest levels of academia, government, military, and corporate America. “It feels great to be honored and appreciated,” Biaggi-Labiosa said. “It validates all the work that I put in these 14 years [at NASA].” Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna Explore More 3 min read NASA Targets 2024 for First Flight of X-59 Experimental Aircraft Article 4 hours ago 4 min read National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Addressing Misconceptions of Depression Article 4 hours ago 1 min read NASA Ames Hosts Briefing on New Initiative, Congresswomen to Attend Article 1 day ago View the full article

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out of the horizontal integration facility on Oct. 10, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as preparations continue for the Psyche mission. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will travel to a metal-rich asteroid by the same name orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter to study its composition. The spacecraft also carries the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. If all goes as planned, asteroid Psyche’s gravity will capture the spacecraft in late July 2029, and Psyche will begin its prime mission in August. It will spend about two years orbiting the asteroid to take pictures, map the surface, and collect data to determine Psyche’s composition. NASA and SpaceX are targeting Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at 10:19 a.m. EDT for launch from Kennedy Space Center. Watch the launch on NASA TV. Image Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani View the full article

1 min read Radio JOVE 2023 Solar Eclipse Observations The Radio JOVE logo, with radio data from the Sun and Jupiter. Credit: The Radio JOVE Project NASA’s Radio JOVE project wants your help to study the Sun! Radio JOVE, in partnership with the SunRISE Ground Radio Lab, is planning to use radio telescopes to make coordinated observations of the Sun for the 2024 solar eclipse. With our plans and training modules, you can build and use your own radio telescope and contribute data to this research effort. Radio JOVE’s amateur scientists from around the world observe and analyze natural radio emissions of Jupiter, the Sun, and our galaxy using their own easy to construct radio telescopes. Now Radio JOVE is studying the Sun at radio frequencies below 30 MHz to better understand the radio emissions caused by solar activity. We will learn about how energetic plasma in the sun’s corona generates these waves, and how the waves travel through the Earth’s ionosphere. Learn more and join us here: https://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/joinin.php NASA’s Citizen Science Program: Learn about NASA citizen science projects Follow on X Follow on Facebook View the full article