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Week in images: 28 October - 01 November 2024
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By Space Force
A prototype F-16 Fight Falcon cockpit collapsible ladder for agile combat employment and contingency operations emerged as the 2024 Spark Tank winner at the Pentagon.
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By NASA
6 Min Read Lagniappe for November 2024
Explore the November 2024 issue, highlighting a milestone for future Artemis testing, a key step to expand NASA Stennis Range Operations work, and more! Explore Lagniappe for November 2024 featuring:
NASA Stennis Takes Key Step in Expanding its Range Operations Work NASA Stennis Plants Artemis Moon Tree NASA Employees Complete Agency Leadership Program Gator Speaks
Gator SpeaksNASA/Stennis The month of October is known for becoming cooler in these parts, and there sure were plenty of recent cool moments for NASA Stennis that set the tone for the future.
Last month, the center marked a milestone for testing a new SLS (Space Launch System) rocket stage to fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.
Crews safely lifted and installed the interstage simulator component that will be used for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage on the B-2 side of the Thad Cochran Test Stand.
Why does this matter?
When the new upper stage is ready to fly following testing at NASA Stennis, it will allow NASA to send astronauts and larger payloads to the Moon on a single mission.
It is expected to fly on Artemis IV when astronauts will live and work in humanity’s first lunar space station, Gateway.
How exciting! This mission will make possible new opportunities for science and preparation for human missions to Mars.
The massive interstage simulator component lifted and installed at NASA Stennis is 103 tons, or 206,000 pounds. When you learn about the exploration upper stage, and how it functions, it makes sense. The upper stage is powered by four engines and provides more than 97,000 pounds of thrust.
Speaking of missions to the Moon, have you ever asked yourself why are we returning to the Moon?
A few goals NASA has set for Artemis missions include: preparing for future exploration missions deeper into space – including Mars – by developing and proving new technologies and capabilities, while learning how to live and operate on the lunar surface; finding and using water and other critical resources needed for long-term exploration; and investigating the Moon’s mysteries to learn more about Earth and the universe for the benefit of all.
These long-term plans build on more than 50 years of NASA’s experience and are reigniting everyone’s passion for discovery.
I believe it because the grandgators have been talking NASA nonstop lately.
All of this culminates with inspiring the Artemis Generation and encouraging young people to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Throughout the month of October, NASA Stennis representatives have been doing just that, sharing the cool ways NASA explores, innovates, and inspires all of humanity and the Artemis Generation.
Such stops have included Congressman Bennie Thompson’s College and Career Fair in Greenville, Mississippi, located in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta area, bordering the state of Arkansas; Cruisin’ the Coast, where car enthusiasts from over 37 states and Canada drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast annually; and various college and career fairs throughout Pearl River County and Hancock County, areas where many NASA Stennis employees live.
October indeed was a cool month, and November has started off that way, too. NASA Stennis representatives participated in the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, one of Pensacola’s largest events with more than 150,000 in attendance.
It marked just the fifth time in history that the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels have flown together. This event also celebrated the 55th anniversary of NASA’s lunar landing.
Pretty cool, huh?
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NASA Stennis Top News
NASA Stennis Achieves Milestone in Preparation for Future Artemis Testing
NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, achieved a key milestone this week for testing a new SLS (Space Launch System) rocket stage to fly on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.
Read More About the Interstage Simulator Lift NASA Stennis Takes Key Step in Expanding its Range Operations Work
NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, has entered into an agreement with Skydweller Aero Inc. for the company to operate its solar-powered autonomous aircraft in the site’s restricted airspace, a key step towards achieving a strategic center goal.
Read More About the Agreement with Skydweller Aero NASA Stennis Conducts Water Flush at Fred Haise Test Stand
Crews conduct a planned flame deflector water flow system flush on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Oct. 22, following the recent completion of upgrades to the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility’s underground piping network. The flush, a periodic procedure to ensure system functionality and performance, involves flowing 150,000 gallons or more per minute from the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to the stand. It also continues stand preparations for testing RS-25 flight engines for use on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Danny Nowlin Crews conduct a planned flame deflector water flow system flush on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Oct. 22, following the recent completion of upgrades to the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility’s underground piping network. The flush, a periodic procedure to ensure system functionality and performance, involves flowing 150,000 gallons or more per minute from the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to the stand. It also continues stand preparations for testing RS-25 flight engines for use on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin Crews conduct a planned flame deflector water flow system flush on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Oct. 22, following the recent completion of upgrades to the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility’s underground piping network. The flush, a periodic procedure to ensure system functionality and performance, involves flowing 150,000 gallons or more per minute from the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to the stand. It also continues stand preparations for testing RS-25 flight engines for use on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin Crews conduct a planned flame deflector water flow system flush on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Oct. 22, following the recent completion of upgrades to the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility’s underground piping network. The flush, a periodic procedure to ensure system functionality and performance, involves flowing 150,000 gallons or more per minute from the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to the stand. It also continues stand preparations for testing RS-25 flight engines for use on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Employees Complete Agency Leadership Program
Eli Ouder, left, and Thom Rich are pictured at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Oct. 23 after graduating from the NASA ASPIRE Program. Ouder is the procurement officer for NASA’s Stennis Space Center and NASA Shared Services Center. Rich is the associate director of the NASA Stennis Center Operations Directorate. The two were part of the first cohort in the new 18-month leadership program to prepare NASA leaders for executive leadership roles in the future. NASA NASA Stennis Plants Artemis Moon Tree
NASA employees plant an Artemis Moon Tree at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Oct. 29 to celebrate NASA’s successful Artemis I mission as the agency prepares for a return around the Moon with astronauts on Artemis II. NASA/Danny Nowlin Read More About the Artemis Moon Tree NASA Stennis Crews Continue Exploration Upper Stage Preparations
A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023. Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges. Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023.
Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges.
Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Danny Nowlin A pair of umbilical support structures needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage (EUS) were installed in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand on Oct. 30-31 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The support structures arrived from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans via the unique NASA Stennis seven-and-a-half-mile canal system in 2023.
Since then, crews have prepared the structures, which will align with the EUS unit, for installation. In addition to helping secure the unit in place during hot fire testing, the umbilical support structures are where the command, control, and data electrical connections are mated to connect the ground systems to the vehicle systems, as well as most the commodity connections, such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, hydrogen vent, helium bottle fill pressure, and purges.
Prior to its initial flight, the EUS unit will undergo a series of Green Run tests at NASA Stennis 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 lead SLS engines contractor L3 Harris. The new upper stage will enable NASA to carry larger payloads on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Danny Nowlin > Back to Top
Center Activities
LSU Engineering Students Visit NASA Stennis
Members of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering at Louisiana State University stand at the Thad Cochran Test Stand during a visit to NASA Stennis on Oct. 4. The Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2) is where future Green Run testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage will take place ahead of future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The mission of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering at LSU is to provide enhanced educational opportunities by delivering information on new and advanced materials and processing technology. NASA/Danny Nowlin U.S. Ambassador Visits NASA Stennis
Heide Fulton, U.S. Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, visits NASA Stennis on Oct. 8 to meet with site leadership and tour test complex facilities. During her visit, Fulton met with NASA Stennis Director John Bailey and other leaders of the center and the NASA Shared Services Center located onsite. She also toured the rocket propulsion test complex, visiting the B-2 side of the Thad Cochran Test Stand, where she was briefed by B-2 Stand Director Ryan Roberts about NASA Stennis testing for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Uruguay is one of 45 nations who have signed the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations. The country became the 36th nation to sign the Artemis Accords during a Washington, D.C. ceremony in February. Ambassador Fulton was joined on the visit by Cmdr. Brendan Rok, chief of the U.S. Navy Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay; and Leah Thorstenson, foreign policy advisor with the U.S. Marines Corps. Forces South.NASA/Danny Nowlin Heide Fulton, U.S. Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, visits NASA Stennis on Oct. 8 to meet with site leadership and tour test complex facilities. During her visit, Fulton met with NASA Stennis Director John Bailey and other leaders of the center and the NASA Shared Services Center located onsite. She also toured the rocket propulsion test complex, visiting the B-2 side of the Thad Cochran Test Stand, where she was briefed by B-2 Stand Director Ryan Roberts about NASA Stennis testing for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Uruguay is one of 45 nations who have signed the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations. The country became the 36th nation to sign the Artemis Accords during a Washington, D.C. ceremony in February. Ambassador Fulton was joined on the visit by Cmdr. Brendan Rok, chief of the U.S. Navy Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay; and Leah Thorstenson, foreign policy advisor with the U.S. Marines Corps. Forces South. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Danny Nowlin Heide Fulton, U.S. Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, visits NASA Stennis on Oct. 8 to meet with site leadership and tour test complex facilities. During her visit, Fulton met with NASA Stennis Director John Bailey and other leaders of the center and the NASA Shared Services Center located onsite. She also toured the rocket propulsion test complex, visiting the B-2 side of the Thad Cochran Test Stand, where she was briefed by B-2 Stand Director Ryan Roberts about NASA Stennis testing for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Uruguay is one of 45 nations who have signed the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations. The country became the 36th nation to sign the Artemis Accords during a Washington, D.C. ceremony in February. Ambassador Fulton was joined on the visit by Cmdr. Brendan Rok, chief of the U.S. Navy Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay; and Leah Thorstenson, foreign policy advisor with the U.S. Marines Corps. Forces South.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Highlights Return to the Moon in Louisiana
NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation Oct. 12 at the Wild Things event celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week in Lacombe, Louisiana. Participants played a game to identify different phases of the Moon and learned more about NASA’s return to the Moon. The event was hosted by Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex at Bayou Lacombe Center, headquarters for the nine National Wildlife Refuges in southeast Louisiana.NASA/Lacy Thompson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation Oct. 12 at the Wild Things event celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week in Lacombe, Louisiana. Participants played a game to identify different phases of the Moon and learned more about NASA’s return to the Moon. The event was hosted by Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex at Bayou Lacombe Center, headquarters for the nine National Wildlife Refuges in southeast Louisiana.NASA/Lacy Thompson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation Oct. 12 at the Wild Things event celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week in Lacombe, Louisiana. Participants played a game to identify different phases of the Moon and learned more about NASA’s return to the Moon. The event was hosted by Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex at Bayou Lacombe Center, headquarters for the nine National Wildlife Refuges in southeast Louisiana. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Lacy Thompson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation Oct. 12 at the Wild Things event celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week in Lacombe, Louisiana. Participants played a game to identify different phases of the Moon and learned more about NASA’s return to the Moon. The event was hosted by Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex at Bayou Lacombe Center, headquarters for the nine National Wildlife Refuges in southeast Louisiana. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Lacy Thompson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation Oct. 12 at the Wild Things event celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week in Lacombe, Louisiana. Participants played a game to identify different phases of the Moon and learned more about NASA’s return to the Moon. The event was hosted by Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex at Bayou Lacombe Center, headquarters for the nine National Wildlife Refuges in southeast Louisiana. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Lacy Thompson NASA Stennis Hosts Office of the Chief Information Officer Teams
The NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer Integrated Design and Assurance Systems team are shown at the Thad Cochran Test Stand during a tour of NASA Stennis on Oct. 9. To accomplish NASA’s vision, the agency depends heavily on many things and information technology is key among them. Information technology capabilities enable NASA’s discoveries, allow sharing of mission data, improve workforce productivity, and increase mission quality, resilience, and cost-effectiveness. To enable success for NASA’s mission portfolio, the Office of the Chief Information Officer goals are to deliver great customer experiences; achieve consistent operational excellence; transform NASA through information and technology; and ensure proactive, resilient cybersecurity – all delivered by an exceptional team.NASA/Danny Nowlin Members of the NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer Strategy and Architecture Office team are shown at the Thad Cochran Test Stand during a tour of NASA Stennis on Oct. 31. The NASA team visited NASA Stennis as part of an annual face-to-face meeting. The Strategy and Architecture Office collaboratively develops and manages Information Technology strategy and architecture to meet NASA’s current and future needs, driving transformation, innovation, informed investment planning, and processes to measure and communicate results. Development includes NASA’s Information Technology Strategic Plan, integrated roadmaps, future-state business capabilities and services, and data-driven investment guidance. NASA/Danny Nowlin Start Your Engines: NASA Stennis Cruises on the Coast
NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation and share NASA Stennis’ rich history of propulsion testing with attendees from over 37 U.S. states and Canada during the 28th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast car show along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Oct. 10-12. NASA provided a virtual reality space experience, and participants were welcomed to the exhibit by life size cardboard cutouts of the Artemis II crew. Artemis II, targeted for 2025, is the first crewed test of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, which will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) around the Moon. All RS-25 engines that help power NASA’s SLS rocket are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis prior to use on Artemis missions.NASA/Samone Wilson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation and share NASA Stennis’ rich history of propulsion testing with attendees from over 37 U.S. states and Canada during the 28th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast car show along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Oct. 10-12. NASA provided a virtual reality space experience, and participants were welcomed to the exhibit by life size cardboard cutouts of the Artemis II crew. Artemis II, targeted for 2025, is the first crewed test of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, which will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) around the Moon. All RS-25 engines that help power NASA’s SLS rocket are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis prior to use on Artemis missions. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Samone Wilson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation and share NASA Stennis’ rich history of propulsion testing with attendees from over 37 U.S. states and Canada during the 28th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast car show along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Oct. 10-12. NASA provided a virtual reality space experience, and participants were welcomed to the exhibit by life size cardboard cutouts of the Artemis II crew. Artemis II, targeted for 2025, is the first crewed test of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, which will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) around the Moon. All RS-25 engines that help power NASA’s SLS rocket are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis prior to use on Artemis missions.NASA/Samone Wilson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation and share NASA Stennis’ rich history of propulsion testing with attendees from over 37 U.S. states and Canada during the 28th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast car show along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Oct. 10-12. NASA provided a virtual reality space experience, and participants were welcomed to the exhibit by life size cardboard cutouts of the Artemis II crew. Artemis II, targeted for 2025, is the first crewed test of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, which will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) around the Moon. All RS-25 engines that help power NASA’s SLS rocket are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis prior to use on Artemis missions. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Samone Wilson NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation and share NASA Stennis’ rich history of propulsion testing with attendees from over 37 U.S. states and Canada during the 28th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast car show along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Oct. 10-12. NASA provided a virtual reality space experience, and participants were welcomed to the exhibit by life size cardboard cutouts of the Artemis II crew. Artemis II, targeted for 2025, is the first crewed test of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, which will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) around the Moon. All RS-25 engines that help power NASA’s SLS rocket are tested and proven flightworthy at NASA Stennis prior to use on Artemis missions.NASA/Samone Wilson Stennis Hosts Family Day at INFINITY
NASA Stennis’ sitewide employees and their guests attend the annual NASA Stennis Family Day at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, on Oct. 19. Attendees had the opportunity to journey through the INFINITY exhibits and enjoy additional activities provided by participating organizations of the NASA Stennis federal city. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis’ sitewide employees and their guests attend the annual NASA Stennis Family Day at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, on Oct. 19. Attendees had the opportunity to journey through the INFINITY exhibits and enjoy additional activities provided by participating organizations of the NASA Stennis federal city. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis’ sitewide employees and their guests attend the annual NASA Stennis Family Day at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, on Oct. 19. Attendees had the opportunity to journey through the INFINITY exhibits and enjoy additional activities provided by participating organizations of the NASA Stennis federal city. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis’ sitewide employees and their guests attend the annual NASA Stennis Family Day at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, on Oct. 19. Attendees had the opportunity to journey through the INFINITY exhibits and enjoy additional activities provided by participating organizations of the NASA Stennis federal city. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis’ sitewide employees and their guests attend the annual NASA Stennis Family Day at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, on Oct. 19. Attendees had the opportunity to journey through the INFINITY exhibits and enjoy additional activities provided by participating organizations of the NASA Stennis federal city. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis’ sitewide employees and their guests attend the annual NASA Stennis Family Day at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, on Oct. 19. Attendees had the opportunity to journey through the INFINITY exhibits and enjoy additional activities provided by participating organizations of the NASA Stennis federal city. NASA/Danny Nowlin Java with John: Brewing Conversations and Connection with NASA Stennis Employees
NASA Stennis Director John Bailey hosts a Java with John session with Office of Procurement employees on Oct. 15. Java with John is an employee-led discussion in a casual environment aimed at fostering a culture in which employees are welcome to share what matters most to them at work.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Director John Bailey hosts a Java with John session with Office of Procurement employees on Oct. 15. Java with John is an employee-led discussion in a casual environment aimed at fostering a culture in which employees are welcome to share what matters most to them at work.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Director John Bailey hosts a Java with John session with Office of Procurement employees on Oct. 15. Java with John is an employee-led discussion in a casual environment aimed at fostering a culture in which employees are welcome to share what matters most to them at work.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Director John Bailey hosts a Java with John session with Center Operations Directorate and Office of Communications employees on Oct. 23. Java with John is an employee-led discussion in a casual environment aimed at fostering a culture in which employees are welcome to share what matters most to them at work.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Director John Bailey hosts a Java with John session with Center Operations Directorate and Office of Communications employees on Oct. 23. Java with John is an employee-led discussion in a casual environment aimed at fostering a culture in which employees are welcome to share what matters most to them at work.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Attends Blue Angels Airshow
NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 1-2, following STEM engagement activities on Oct. 31. NASA’s exhibit at the air show honors the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcases the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA Attends Picayune Street Fair
NASA Stennis representatives engage with the Artemis Generation at the Picayune Street Fair in Picayune, Mississippi on Nov. 2-3. The south Mississippi NASA center is located less than 15 miles from Picayune with many employees living in the community. NASA Stennis tests all RS-25 engines to help power NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on Artemis missions. The NASA center is also preparing to conduct a full series of tests on the agency’s exploration upper stage to demonstrate it is ready to fly on future Artemis missions. With the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives engage with the Artemis Generation at the Picayune Street Fair in Picayune, Mississippi on Nov. 2-3. The south Mississippi NASA center is located less than 15 miles from Picayune with many employees living in the community. NASA Stennis tests all RS-25 engines to help power NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on Artemis missions. The NASA center is also preparing to conduct a full series of tests on the agency’s exploration upper stage to demonstrate it is ready to fly on future Artemis missions. With the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever. NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives engage with the Artemis Generation at the Picayune Street Fair in Picayune, Mississippi on Nov. 2-3. The south Mississippi NASA center is located less than 15 miles from Picayune with many employees living in the community. NASA Stennis tests all RS-25 engines to help power NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on Artemis missions. The NASA center is also preparing to conduct a full series of tests on the agency’s exploration upper stage to demonstrate it is ready to fly on future Artemis missions. With the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever. NOTE: Right click on photo to open full image in new tab.NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis representatives engage with the Artemis Generation at the Picayune Street Fair in Picayune, Mississippi on Nov. 2-3. The south Mississippi NASA center is located less than 15 miles from Picayune with many employees living in the community. NASA Stennis tests all RS-25 engines to help power NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on Artemis missions. The NASA center is also preparing to conduct a full series of tests on the agency’s exploration upper stage to demonstrate it is ready to fly on future Artemis missions. With the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever. NASA/Stennis > Back to Top
NASA in the News
Liftoff! NASA’s Europa Clipper Sails Toward Ocean Moon of Jupiter – NASA NASA Activates Resources to Help Assess Impacts from Hurricane Milton – NASA NASA Welcomes Estonia as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory – NASA How NASA Astronauts Vote from Space Aboard International Space Station – NASA NASA: New Insights into How Mars Became Uninhabitable – NASA Science > Back to Top
Employee Profile: Tessa Keating
Tessa Keating is a public affairs specialist in the Office of Communications at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Keating plans onsite logistics, serves as a protocol officer, and coordinates the Space Flight Awareness Program for NASA Stennis and the NASA Shared Services Center.NASA/Danny Nowlin Every task at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is not simply work for Tessa Keating – it is a meaningful step toward a part of something great.
Read More About Tessa Keating > Back to Top
Additional Resources
WXXV: Developing autonomous space technology at NASA Stennis FOX8: NASA Astro Camp Community Partners Program WXXV: Catching up with Stennis Space Center’s new director New and Notables: John Bailey – Biz New Orleans Good Things with Rebecca Turner – SuperTalk Mississippi (interview with NASA Stennis employees Lee English Jr. and Noah English) Certifying Artemis Rocket Engines – NASA (Houston We Have a Podcast segment featuring NASA Stennis engineers Chip Ellis and Bradley Tyree) NASA Stennis Overview – Going Further video 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.
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4 min read Lagniappe for October 2024
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Article 3 months ago View the full article
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By NASA
Bioprinted patches could help wounds heal
Researchers successfully demonstrated the function of a handheld bioprinter that could provide a simple and effective way to treat wounds in space using human skin cells. Crews could use this technology to treat their own injuries and protect crew health and mission success in the future.
Spaceflight can affect how wounds heal. The Bioprint FirstAid device tested a process for bioprinting a patch to cover a wound and accelerate healing. In the future, a crew member’s own cells may be used to create personalized patches for treating an injury. The bioprinting device is easy to use, can be tailored to specific needs, has a low failure rate, and its mechanics are electronics- and maintenance-free. This ESA (European Space Agency) investigation was coordinated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer demonstrates the Bioprint FirstAid prototype during preflight training. German Aerospace Center/European Space Agency Countering post-flight proficiency challenges
The day they return from spaceflight, astronauts demonstrate significant impairments in fine motor control and the ability to multitask in simulated flying and driving challenges. This finding could help develop countermeasures so crew members can safely land and conduct early operations on the Moon and Mars.
Manual Control used a battery of tests to examine how spaceflight affects cognitive, sensory, and motor function after landing. Researchers concluded that subtle physiological changes that occur during spaceflight degrade post-flight performance. Subsequent tests showed recovery of performance once exposed to the task, suggesting that simulation training immediately before a task could be an effective countermeasure. Researchers also suggest limiting dual or competing tasks during mission-critical phases.
A simulator used to test crew members’ ability to fly and drive after spaceflight. NASA Gamma-ray telescope resilient to space radiation
Researchers found that the station’s Glowbug gamma-ray telescope could perform in the space radiation environment for multi-year missions. Radiation can affect these types of instruments, but Glowbug regularly detected gamma ray bursts (GRBs) during its one-year operation. Studying GRBs can help scientists better understand the universe and its origins.
Glowbug demonstrated technology to detect and characterize cosmic GRBs, primarily short GRBs, which result from mergers of compact binary star systems containing either two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole. Short GRBs produce gravitational waves, ripples in space that travel at the speed of light. Studying these gravitational waves could provide insight into the star systems where they originate and the behavior of matter during the mergers.
Learn more about GRB research here.
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By NASA
Skywatching Home What’s Up: November 2024… Skywatching Skywatching Home Eclipses What’s Up Explore the Night Sky Night Sky Network More Tips and Guides FAQ See the Moon Hide a Bright Star
In the early morning hours of November 27, catch a rare lunar occultation of Spica visible from parts of the U.S. and Canada.
Skywatching Highlights
All month – Planet visibility report: Saturn shines in the south most of the night, Jupiter rises in the early evening alongside Taurus and Orion, while Mars trails a couple of hours behind, visible high in the early morning sky. November 4 – Slim crescent Moon pairs with Venus. Enjoy a beautiful sight just after sunset as the Moon and Venus meet up in the southwestern sky. November 10 – Saturn & the Moon. The ringed planet has a close pairing with the Moon tonight (perfect for binoculars) November 27 – Lunar occultation of Spica. Early risers in the eastern U.S. and Canada can catch the Moon passing in front of Spica this morning, briefly hiding the bright star from view. Transcript
What’s Up for November?
When to look for Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars this month, a NASA spacecraft swings by Venus on its way to the Sun, and the tricky business of seeing the Moon hide a bright star. And stick around until the end for photos of highlights from last month’s skies.
Saturn is visible toward the south for most of the night. For observers in the Americas, it has a close meetup with the Moon on the 10th, when the pair will appear less than a degree apart just after dark, making for a great sight through binoculars. Check the sky again around midnight, and you’ll see the Moon has visibly shifted a couple of degrees west of Saturn, showing evidence of the Moon’s orbital motion in just a few hours.
In late 2024, Jupiter could be found high overhead as dawn approached with the bright stars of Taurus and Orion. (Jupiter is the bright object at top, right of center.) NASA/Preston Dyches Jupiter is rising in the east early in the night, together with the bright stars of the constellations Taurus and Orion, and working its way across the sky by dawn. By the end of November, it’s rising just as the sky is getting dark. Mars follows behind Jupiter, rising about three hours after the giant planet.
As in October, early risers will find the Red Planet high overhead in the morning sky before dawn. In the evening sky, Venus is low in the southwest following sunset throughout the month of November. It’s blazing bright and unmistakable if you find a relatively unobstructed view. It appears much higher in the sky for those in the Southern Hemisphere, who’ll also be able to easily observe Mercury after sunset this month. And on the 4th, a slim crescent Moon will appear just below Venus for a beautiful pairing as the glow of sunset fades.
Now, staying with Venus, one of NASA’s intrepid solar system explorers is headed for a close encounter with this Earth-sized hothouse of a planet on November 6th. Parker Solar Probe studies our planet’s nearest star, the Sun. Its mission is to trace the flow of energy that heats the Sun’s outer atmosphere and accelerates the million-mile-per-hour stream of particles it emits. It makes its measurements from super close to the Sun, within the region where all the action happens. To do this, the spacecraft was designed to fly within just 4 million miles of the Sun’s surface, which is 10 times closer than the orbit of the closest planet, Mercury. No other spacecraft has ever gotten this close to the Sun before. In the six years since its launch, the spacecraft has made a bunch of approaches to the Sun, using flybys of the planet Venus to shape its orbit. The November 6th flyby is the final such maneuver, intended to send the spacecraft toward its three closest-ever solar approaches, starting on December 24th. During this last Venus flyby, the mission will capture images of the planet. Previous views returned by Parker showed that the spacecraft could actually see features of the Venusian surface through its dense cloud cover. So look out for Venus in the evening sky, as the brilliant planet helps a craft from Earth to touch the face of the Sun.
In the couple of hours before sunrise on November 27th, skywatchers in the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada will have the chance to witness an occultation – an event where the Moon passes in front of, and temporarily hides, a bright star – in this case Spica. Observers in other parts of the world will see the Moon pass extremely close to Spica, but won’t see it cover up the star. This occultation is one of a series that began in June and will continue monthly through late next year. These happen as the Moon’s orbit slowly shifts northward and southward across the sky, and every so often, its path crosses in front of Spica monthly for a time. But each occultation is only visible from a small portion of Earth. For example, while this November event favors North American viewers, South American observers will get their chance next April. For U.S. skywatchers, this November occultation is the last good opportunity in this series to see the Moon occult Spica until 2032, when a new series of monthly occultations will begin for locations across the globe. Now, if you miss this event, don’t worry!
The Moon also passes in front of three other bright stars from time to time. This means that no matter where you’re located, you’ll have the opportunity before too long to witness the impressive sight of a bright star briefly disappearing behind the Moon.
Watch our video for views of what some of the highlights we told you about in last month’s video actually looked like.
The phases of the Moon for November 2024. NASA/JPL-Caltech Above are the phases of the Moon for November.
Stay up to date on all of NASA’s missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov.
I’m Preston Dyches from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that’s What’s Up for this month.
Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA
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By NASA
3 Min Read November’s Night Sky Notes: Snowballs from Space
This diagram compares the size of the icy, solid nucleus of comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) to several other comets. The majority of comet nuclei observed are smaller than Halley’s comet. They are typically a mile across or less. Comet C/2014 UN271 is currently the record-holder for big comets. And, it may be just the tip of the iceberg. There could be many more monsters out there for astronomers to identify as sky surveys improve in sensitivity. Though astronomers know this comet must be big to be detected so far out to a distance of over 2 billion miles from Earth, only the Hubble Space Telescope has the sharpness and sensitivity to make a definitive estimate of nucleus size. Credits:
Illustration: NASA, ESA, Zena Levy (STScI) by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
If you spotted comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) in person, or seen photos online this October, you might have been inspired to learn more about these visitors from the outer Solar System. Get ready for the next comet and find out how comets are connected to some of our favorite annual astronomy events.
Comet Composition
A comet is defined as an icy body that is small in size and can develop a ‘tail’ of gas as it approaches the Sun from the outer Solar System. The key traits of a comet are its nucleus, coma, and tail.
The nucleus of the comet is comprised of ice, gas, dust, and rock. This central structure can be up to 80 miles wide in some instances, as recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2022 – large for a comet but too small to see with a telescope. As the comet reaches the inner Solar System, the ice from the nucleus starts to vaporize, converting into gas. The gas cloud that forms around the comet as it approaches the Sun is called the coma. This helps give the comet its glow. But beware: much like Icarus, sometimes these bodies don’t survive their journey around the Sun and can fall apart the closer it gets.
The most prominent feature is the tail of the comet. Under moderately dark skies, the brightest comets show a dust tail, pointed away from the Sun. When photographing comets, you can sometimes resolve the second tail, made of ionized gases that have been electronically charged by solar radiation. These ion tails can appear bluish, in comparison to the white color of the dust tail. The ion tail is also always pointed away from the Sun. In 2007, NASA’s STEREO mission captured images of C/2006 P1 McNaught and its dust tail, stretching over 100 million miles. Studies of those images revealed that solar wind influenced both the ion and dust tail, creating striations – bands – giving both tails a feather appearance in the night sky.
Comet McNaught over the Pacific Ocean. Image taken from Paranal Observatory in January 2007. Credits: ESO/Sebastian Deiries Coming and Going
Comets appear from beyond Uranus, in the Kuiper Belt, and may even come from as far as the Oort Cloud. These visitors can be short-period comets like Halley’s Comet, returning every 76 years. This may seem long to us, but long-period comets like Comet Hale-Bopp, observed from 1996-1997 won’t return to the inner Solar System until the year 4385. Other types include non-periodic comets like NEOWISE, which only pass through our Solar System once.
But our experiences of these comets are not limited to the occasional fluffy snowball. As comets orbit the Sun, they can leave a trail of rocky debris in its orbital path. When Earth finds itself passing through one of these debris fields, we experience meteor showers! The most well-known of these is the Perseid meteor shower, caused by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. While this meteor shower happens every August in the northern hemisphere, we won’t see Comet Swift-Tuttle again until the year 2126.
The Perseids Meteor Shower. NASA/Preston Dyches See how many comets (and asteroids!) have been discovered on NASA’s Comets page, learn how you can cook up a comet, and check out our mid-month article where we’ll provide tips on how to take astrophotos with your smartphone!
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