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By NASA
5 Min Read NASA’s Ames Research Center Celebrates 85 Years of Innovation
The NACA Ames laboratory in 1944 Credits: NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley pre-dates a lot of things. The center existed before NASA – the very space and aeronautics agency it’s a critical part of today. And of all the marvelous advancements in science and technology that have fundamentally changed our lives over the last 85 years since its founding, one aspect has remained steadfast; an enduring commitment to what’s known by some on-center simply as, “an atmosphere of freedom.”
Years before breaking ground at the site that would one day become home to the world’s preeminent wind tunnels, supercomputers, simulators, and brightest minds solving some of the world’s toughest challenges, Joseph Sweetman Ames, the center’s namesake, described a sentiment that would guide decades of innovation and research:
My hope is that you have learned or are learning a love of freedom of thought and are convinced that life is worthwhile only in such an atmosphere
Joseph sweetman ames
Founding member of the N.A.C.A.
“My hope is that you have learned or are learning a love of freedom of thought and are convinced that life is worthwhile only in such an atmosphere,” he said in an address to the graduates of Johns Hopkins University in June 1935.
That spirit and the people it attracted and retained are a crucial part of how Ames, along with other N.A.C.A. research centers, ultimately made technological breakthroughs that enabled humanity’s first steps on the Moon, the safe return of spacecraft through Earth’s atmosphere, and many other discoveries that benefit our day-to-day lives.
Russell Robinson momentarily looks to the camera while supervising the first excavation at what would become Ames Research Center.NACA “In the context of my work, an atmosphere of freedom means the freedom to pursue high-risk, high-reward, innovative ideas that may take time to fully develop and — most importantly — the opportunity to put them into practice for the benefit of all,” said Edward Balaban, a researcher at Ames specializing in artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced mission concepts.
Balaban’s career at Ames has involved a variety of projects at different stages of development – from early concept to flight-ready – including experimenting with different ways to create super-sized space telescopes in space and using artificial intelligence to help guide the path a rover might take to maximize off-world science results. Like many Ames researchers over the years, Balaban shared that his experience has involved deep collaborations across science and engineering disciplines with colleagues all over the center, as well as commercial and academic partners in Silicon Valley where Ames is nestled and beyond. This is a tradition that runs deep at Ames and has helped lead to entirely new fields of study and seeded many companies and spinoffs.
Before NASA, Before Silicon Valley: The 1939 Founding of Ames Aeronautical Laboratory “In the fields of aeronautics and space exploration the cost of entry can be quite high. For commercial enterprises and universities pursuing longer term ideas and putting them into practice often means partnering up with an organization such as NASA that has the scale and multi-disciplinary expertise to mature these ideas for real-world applications,” added Balaban.
“Certainly, the topics of inquiry, the academic freedom, and the benefit to the public good are what has kept me at Ames,” reflected Ross Beyer, a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute at Ames. “There’s not a lot of commercial incentive to study other planets, for example, but maybe there will be soon. In the meantime, only with government funding and agencies like NASA can we develop missions to explore the unknown in order to make important fundamental science discoveries and broadly share them.”
For Beyer, his boundary-breaking moment came when he searched – and found – software engineers at Ames capable and passionate about open-source software to generate accurate, high-resolution, texture-mapped, 3D terrain models from stereo image pairs. He and other teams of NASA scientists have since applied that software to study and better understand everything from changes in snow and ice characteristics on Earth, as well as features like craters, mountains, and caves on Mars or the Moon. This capability is part of the Artemis campaign, through which NASA will establish a long-term presence at the Moon for scientific exploration with commercial and international partners. The mission is to learn how to live and work away from home, promote the peaceful use of space, and prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
“As NASA and private companies send missions to the Moon, they need to plan landing sites and understand the local environment, and our software is freely available for anyone to use,” Beyer said. “Years ago, our management could easily have said ‘No, let’s keep this software to ourselves; it gives us a competitive advantage.’ They didn’t, and I believe that NASA writ large allows you to work on things and share those things and not hold them back.”
When looking forward to what the next 85 years might bring, researchers shared a belief that advancements in technology and opportunities to innovate are as expansive as space itself, but like all living things, they need a healthy atmosphere to thrive. Balaban offered, “This freedom to innovate is precious and cannot be taken for granted. It can easily fall victim if left unprotected. It is absolutely critical to retain it going forward, to ensure our nation’s continuing vitality and the strength of the other freedoms we enjoy.”
Ames Aeronautical Laboratory.NACAView the full article
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By NASA
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
NASA’s Stennis Space Center enjoyed an active 2024, marking several milestones and engaging in frontline activities in several key areas. A compilation video offers a look at 2024 highlights in such areas of work as propulsion testing, autonomous systems, range operations, community outreach, and STEM engagement. NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, celebrated propulsion testing and site operations milestones in 2024, all while inspiring the Artemis Generation and welcoming new leadership that will help NASA Stennis innovate and grow into the future.
Featured highlights show a year of progress and vision, as NASA Stennis accelerates the exploration and commercialization of space, innovates to benefit NASA and industry, and leverages assets to grow as an impactful aerospace and technology hub.
“These highlights are just a small snapshot of 2024 at NASA Stennis that show the future is bright,” Bailey said. “We have an incredibly talented and committed team of employees – and all of Mississippi can be proud of the work they do here at NASA Stennis. Together, with the Artemis Generation leading the way, we are returning to the Moon. Together, we are a part of something great.”
New Center Leadership
NASA Stennis Director John Bailey, right, and NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell stand near the United States Capitol during a visit to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18. It marked the first visit to Capitol Hill for the center leaders since being named to their current roles. NASA/Stennis NASA Administrator Bill Nelson named John Bailey as director of NASA Stennis in April. Bailey had been serving as acting director since January 2024. “So much of NASA runs through Stennis,” said Nelson. “It is where we hone new and exciting capabilities in aerospace, technology, and deep space exploration. I am confident that John will lead the nation’s largest and premier propulsion test site to even greater success.”
Four months later in August, Bailey announced that longtime propulsion engineer/manager Christine Powell had been selected as deputy director of NASA Stennis.
Powell, the first woman selected as NASA Stennis deputy director, began her 33-year agency career as an intern at the center in 1991. She previously worked in multiple Engineering and Test Directorate roles, and most recently served as manager of the NASA Rocket Propulsion Test Program Office.
Propulsion Activity
NASA achieves a major milestone for future Artemis missions with successful completion of the second – and final – RS-25 engine certification test series April 3 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA achieved major milestones for future Artemis missions at NASA Stennis in 2024. The NASA Stennis test team successfully completed a second – and final – RS-25 engine certification test series in April. The mission-critical series verified engine upgrades designed to enhance efficiency and reliability for future SLS (Space Launch System) missions.
NASA Stennis crews also completed a safe lift and installation of the interstage simulator component in October needed for future testing of NASA’s exploration upper stage in the B-2 position of the Thad Cochran Test Stand. The component will function during Green Run testing like the SLS interstage section that helps protect the upper stage during Artemis launches.
The test complex milestones support NASA’s goal of returning humans to the Moon and paving the way for future Mars exploration through Artemis missions.
Commercial Testing
NASA Stennis commercial tenant Rocket Lab completes a successful hot fire test of its Archimedes engine in its onsite test complex in the second half of 2024. Rocket Lab is one of numerous customers conducting test campaigns at NASA Stennis during the most recent year. Rocket Lab Already the nation’s largest multiuser propulsion test site, NASA Stennis aims to continue fueling growth of the commercial space market even further by working with aerospace companies to support a range of testing needs. In 2024, NASA Stennis supported work conducted by commercial companies such as Boeing, Blue Origin, Evolution Space, Launcher (a Vast company), Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, and Rolls-Royce.
Officials from NASA Stennis and Roll-Royce also broke ground in June for a test pad located in the NASA Stennis E Test Complex. Rolls-Royce will conduct hydrogen testing for the Pearl 15 engine, which helps power the Bombardier Global 5500 & 6500 aircraft.
ASTRA Mission Success
Members of the NASA Stennis Autonomous Systems Laboratory team monitor the center’s in-space satellite payload from the onsite ASTRA (Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications) Payload Operation Command Center. The ASTRA payload launched aboard the Sidus Space LizzieSat-1 small satellite in March 2024, with the NASA Stennis team announcing in July that it had achieved primary mission objectives. In September, the team announced the ASTRA mission would continue during the satellite’s planned four-year mission.NASA/Danny Nowlin In July, NASA Stennis and commercial partner Sidus Space Inc. announced primary mission success for the center’s historic in-space mission – an autonomous systems payload aboard an orbiting satellite.
ASTRA (Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications) is the on-orbit payload mission developed by NASA Stennis. The NASA Stennis ASTRA technology demonstrator is a payload rider aboard the Sidus Space premier satellite, LizzieSat-1 (LS-1) small satellite. Partner Sidus Space is responsible for all LS-1 mission operations, including launch and satellite activation, which allowed the NASA Stennis ASTRA team to complete its primary mission objectives.
NASA Stennis announced in September it will continue the center’s in-space autonomous systems payload mission through a follow-on agreement with Sidus Space Inc.
Range Operations
The Skydweller Aero solar-powered, autonomous aircraft flies above the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-1/B-2) at NASA’s Stennis Space Center during a September 2024 test operation. Skydweller Aero has an ongoing airspace agreement with NASA Stennis to conduct test flights of its aircraft in the area. Skydweller Aero During 2024, NASA Stennis 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 step towards achieving a strategic center goal.
The agreement marked the first Reimbursable Space Act agreement between NASA Stennis and a commercial company to utilize the south Mississippi center’s unique capabilities to support testing and operation of uncrewed systems.
The company announced in October it had completed an initial test flight campaign of the aircraft, including two test excursions totaling 16 and 22.5 hours.
NASA Engagement
NASA Stennis representatives inspire the Artemis Generation at the NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show on Nov. 1-2. NASA’s exhibits at the air show honored 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and showcased the agency’s mission to inspire the world through discovery. NASA/Stennis NASA representatives participated in a variety of outreach activities during the past year to create meaningful connections with the Artemis Generation.
The NASA ASTRO CAMP® Community Partners program, which originated at the south Mississippi NASA center, surpassed previous milestone marks in fiscal year 2024 by partnering with 373 community sites, including 50 outside the United States, to inspire youth, families, and educators.
NASA Stennis also supported STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) engagement during the year. It once again joined with NASA’s Robotics Alliance Project and co-sponsor Mississippi Power to support the second annual For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Magnolia Regional Competition in Laurel, Mississippi. The event attracted 37 high school teams from eight states and one from Mexico.
The center also supported NASA activities during the 2024 total solar eclipse. In addition, it hosted informational efforts and exhibits at high-visibility events such as the 51st Annual Bayou Classic, and Essence Fest in New Orleans.
For information about NASA’s Stennis Space Center, visit:
Stennis Space Center – NASA
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Last Updated Dec 16, 2024 EditorNASA Stennis CommunicationsContactC. Lacy Thompsoncalvin.l.thompson@nasa.gov / (228) 688-3333LocationStennis Space Center Related Terms
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By NASA
Caption: An artist’s concept of the International Space Station orbiting Earth. In the distance is the Moon, and a red star representing Mars.Credit: NASA As part of the agency’s efforts to enable broader use of space, NASA has released its final goals and objectives for low Earth orbit, defining the long-term approach toward advancing microgravity science, technology, and exploration for the benefit of all. Developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders, NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy will guide the agency toward the next generation of continuous human presence in orbit, enable greater economic growth, and maintain international partnerships.
“As we near the retirement of the International Space Station in 2030, these objectives are a pivotal next step in solidifying U.S. leadership in space,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Our consultation with industry, academia, and international partners has helped refine a visionary roadmap for our future in low Earth orbit, which will be enabled by a continuous human presence. Together, we are ensuring that the benefits of exploring space continue to grow – advancing science, innovation, and opportunities for all, while preparing for humanity’s next giant leap of exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond.”
In early 2024, NASA initiated a planning process that included drafting an initial set of goals and objectives for the low Earth orbit microgravity environment and seeking feedback from its workforce, government partners, industry, academia, international space agencies, and the public. The agency reviewed more than 1,800 comments and hosted two workshops, resulting in essential adjustments to the goals and objectives to better align with its partners. The final framework includes 13 goals and 44 objectives across seven key areas: commercial low Earth orbit infrastructure, operations, science, research and technology development for exploration, international cooperation, workforce development and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) engagement, and public engagement.
The agency’s efforts in low Earth orbit are integral to its broader ambitions for deep space exploration. The microgravity environment in low Earth orbit provides a cost-effective, easily accessible proving ground for technologies and research necessary for human missions to explore the solar system. With most of the journey to Moon and Mars occurring in microgravity, the objectives give the opportunity to continue vital human research, test future exploration systems, and retain the critical skills needed to operate in the microgravity environment.
“These finalized objectives represent a clear path forward as NASA transitions from the International Space Station to a new era of commercial space stations,” said Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station and acting director of commercial spaceflight. “Low Earth orbit will remain a hub for scientific discovery, technological advancement, and international cooperation, while making strategic investments in a commercial space ecosystem that benefits not just NASA, but the entire space community.”
The low Earth orbit microgravity goals and objectives, combined with significant stakeholder engagement, drive NASA’s need to maintain an unbroken, continuous heartbeat of humans in the commercial low Earth orbit destinations era. NASA requires long-duration flights to mitigate risk for future trips to the Red Planet. To ensure reliable access to and use of low Earth orbit, a diversity of providers operating on a regular cadence is essential. The objectives will also guide the development of requirements for future commercial space stations that will support NASA’s missions, while reducing risk for human missions to Mars, preserving operational skills, advancing critical scientific research, and sustaining engagement with international and commercial partners.
“Collaboration and consultation remain a cornerstone of our low Earth orbit strategy,” said John Keefe, director of cross-agency strategy integration at NASA. “The objectives we’ve established will help NASA craft a work plan that ensures NASA is positioned to meet current and future needs and prioritizes the development of critical capabilities for low Earth orbit.”
The low Earth orbit microgravity goals and objectives are available online at:
https://go.nasa.gov/3DsMtNI
-end-
Amber Jacobson
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
amber.c.jacobson@nasa.gov
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Last Updated Dec 16, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms
Pamela A. Melroy View the full article
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By Space Force
Space Force senior leaders outlined a comprehensive vision for the organization's future, marking significant milestones as the service approaches its fifth anniversary.
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By European Space Agency
Today, ESA’s powerful X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, celebrates 25 years in space. From planets to black holes, the space telescope has delivered many ground-breaking observations of a variety of celestial objects. And the mission is still going strong as recent results testify. We take a look at five fascinating discoveries from the last five years.
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