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NASA Targets 2024 for First Flight of X-59 Experimental Aircraft


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NASA Targets 2024 for First Flight of X-59 Experimental Aircraft

X-59 being moved from the construction site.
NASA’s X-59 research aircraft moved from its construction site to the flight line — or the space between the hangar and the runway — at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California on June 16, 2023. The move allowed the X-59 team to perform safety and structural testing, critical steps toward first flight.
Lockheed-Martin

NASA’s Quesst mission has adjusted the scheduled first flight of its X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft to 2024.

A one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft, the X-59 has required complex engineering from NASA researchers working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. In addition to the aircraft’s design, the X-59 also combines new technology with systems and components from multiple, established aircraft, such as its landing gear from an F-16 and its life-support system adapted from an F-15.

As part of the demands of developing this unique aircraft, the Quesst team is working through several technical challenges identified over the course of 2023, when the X-59 had been scheduled to make its first flight.  Extra time is needed to fully integrate systems into the aircraft and ensure they work together as expected. The team is also resolving intermittent issues with some of the safety-redundant computers that control the aircraft’s systems.

Quesst made steady progress toward flight over the past year. The team installed the finishing touches to the X-59’s tail structure, which allowed them to finalize its electrical wiring and proceed to critical ground tests, and moved it from its assembly facility to the flight line to perform structural testing.

The X-59 will demonstrate the ability to fly supersonic, or faster than the speed of sound, while reducing the normally loud sonic boom to a quiet sonic thump. NASA plans to fly the X-59 over several communities to gather data on how people perceive the sound it produces. The agency will provide that information to U.S. and international regulators to potentially adjust rules that currently prohibit commercial supersonic flight over land.

NASA’s top priorities for any mission are safety and ensuring success. For Quesst, that means not only being sure that the X-59 is safe before it flies, but safe in the long term and reliable during the community test phase. The aircraft is currently undergoing integrated testing, which must be completed before it flies. Once that stage is complete, the aircraft will continue its journey with a flight readiness review, at which point NASA plans to release a more specific timeline for first flight.

Quesst is a mission with the potential to revolutionize commercial aviation travel by dramatically reducing travel time. Safely and reliably flying the X-59 is critical for NASA to achieve those benefits. The agency is committed to a thorough review and testing process that results in the success of that mission.

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      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.
      Explore More
      4 min read Lagniappe for October 2024
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      Article 3 months ago View the full article
    • By NASA
      4 min read
      Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
      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.
      “It has been a dream career. I count it an honor to share the NASA story and humbled to know our team witnesses a part of history,” said Keating, a NASA public affairs specialist in the NASA Stennis Office of Communications. “Every day is an opportunity to contribute to the NASA legacy that will last beyond today. “
      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. In fact, she organized much of the recent Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy Award ceremony at NASA Stennis in August, except for one part. As the ceremony finished, NASA Stennis Director John Bailey said one more award was to be given.
      No one was more surprised than the logistics coordinator herself when Keating’s family joined her on stage. The 21-year NASA Stennis employee was honored for her outstanding contributions in sharing the NASA story of exploring the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all with a diverse audience and for equipping everyone with a broader knowledge and appreciation of the center’s vital role within NASA.
      “I am not sure I will ever be able to top that in my NASA career,” Keating said.
      It became a full-circle moment that she described as a great honor. The Silver Snoopy is the astronauts’ personal award and is presented to less than 1 percent of the total NASA workforce. Reid Wiseman, a NASA astronaut and commander for the upcoming Artemis II mission around the Moon, presented the award to Keating, along with a lapel pin flown aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission.
      As NASA returns to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for the Artemis Generation, Keating says it will be extra-special watching Wiseman and the Artemis II crew lay the groundwork for future milestones.
      Keating helped lay the groundwork ahead of the successful Artemis I mission. She served as lead logistics for onsite guest operations in 2021 when NASA conducted the most powerful propulsion test in more than 40 years at NASA Stennis. A full-duration hot fire of the first SLS (Space Launch System) core stage and its four RS-25 engines culminated a year-long series of integrated tests. Keating coordinated the viewing of the hot fire for some 200 agency leaders and guests, despite restricted settings due to COVID-19.  
      “It was truly a highlight. I had grown up hearing my parents and grandparents talk about engines that were tested during the Apollo era, and I had never experienced something of that magnitude,” Keating said. “I was able to live it, feel it, and watch the next part of NASA history onsite.”
      For Keating, the groundwork for a NASA career came following graduation with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from William Carey University and a master’s degree in Communications from The University of Southern Mississippi, both schools in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Having grown up in Pearl River County, Mississippi, for most of her life, she knew about NASA Stennis. However, she did not think she could ever work at the center because her strengths were in areas beyond math and science.
      Following some additional exploration and conversations with influential people in her life, Keating discovered she, in fact, could be a part of something great at NASA Stennis.
      “The possibilities are endless at NASA when you allow yourself to put your best foot forward and research the many opportunities that are available. There is always room for various types of studies,” Keating said. “I credit where I am in my career to God and to the people who have helped to guide my path. I will be forever grateful.” 
      Learn more about the people who work at NASA Stennis View the full article
    • By NASA
      3 min read
      Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
      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 A tree-planting ceremony at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Oct. 29 celebrated NASA’s successful Artemis I mission as the agency prepares for a return around the Moon with astronauts on Artemis II.
      “We already have a thriving Moon Tree from the Apollo years onsite,” NASA Stennis Director John Bailey said. “It is exciting to add trees for our new Artemis Generation as it continues the next great era of human space exploration.”
      NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement Next Gen STEM Project partnered with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service to fly five species of tree seeds aboard the Orion spacecraft during the successful uncrewed Artemis I test flight in 2022 as part of a national STEM Engagement and conservation education initiative. 
      The Artemis Moon Tree species included sweetgums, loblolly pines, sycamores, Douglas-firs, and giant sequoias. The seeds from the first Artemis mission have been nurtured by the USDA into seedlings to be a source of inspiration for the Artemis Generation.
      The Moon Tree education initiative is rooted in the legacy of Apollo 14 Moon Tree seeds flown in lunar orbit over 50 years ago by the late Stuart Roosa, a NASA astronaut and Mississippi Coast resident.
      NASA Stennis and the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC), located at the site, planted companion trees during the Oct. 29 ceremony. Bailey and NSSC Executive Director Anita Harrell participated in a joint planting ceremony attended by a number of employees from each entity.
      The American sweetgum trees are the second and third Moon Trees at the south Mississippi site. In 2004, ASTRO CAMP participants planted a sycamore Moon Tree to honor the 35th anniversary of Apollo 11 and the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969.
      The road to space for both Apollo 14 and Artemis I went through Mississippi. Until 1970, NASA Stennis test fired first, and second stages of the Saturn V rockets used for Apollo.
      NASA Stennis now tests all the RS-25 engines powering Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Prior to Artemis I, NASA Stennis tested the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage and its four RS-25 engines.
      The Artemis Moon Trees have found new homes in over 150 communities and counting since last spring, and each of the 10 NASA centers also will plant one.
      As the tree grows at NASA Stennis, so, too, does anticipation for the first crewed mission with Artemis II. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration.
      The flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities – the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft – for the first time with astronauts.
      Explore More NASA Stennis Image Articles View the full article
    • 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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