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By NASA
NASA/Aubrey Gemignani NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, center, and Marcos Berrios, right, share a laugh with staff during a White House Hispanic Heritage Month event on Sept. 30, 2024. Rubio broke the record of longest single duration spaceflight for a U.S. astronaut with a mission duration of 371 days; Berrios graduated in the most recent class of astronaut candidates.
Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates and honors the rich history of the shared culture and tradition of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Read some of their stories.
Image Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
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By NASA
4 Min Read Lagniappe for October 2024
Explore the October 2024 issue, highlighting an update for the historic ASTRA project at NASA Stennis, and more! Explore Lagniappe for October 2024 featuring:
NASA Stennis Set to Continue ASTRA Mission with Sidus Space NASA Stennis Completes Key Test Complex Water System Upgrade NASA Stennis Leaders Visit Capitol Hill NASA Stennis Hosts Safety and Health Day
Gator Speaks
The news in September about the historic NASA Stennis ASTRA (Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications) payload mission brings wonderful encouragement to this ‘ol Gator!
Gator SpeaksNASA/Stennis I know great potential when I see it, and the continuation of the center’s first-ever in-space autonomous systems payload mission aboard an orbiting satellite with Sidus Space, Inc. has just that.
The historic mission highlights the can-do attitude shared by all at NASA Stennis.
The center has a storied history of pushing the boundaries for what is possible. If there is a way to get something done, the folks at NASA Stennis will discover it.
ASTRA is no different and represents a first in this particular space (pun intended!) of autonomous systems work at NASA Stennis.
This is a first step toward fulfilling part of the center’s strategic plan to design autonomous systems to help accelerate the development of intelligent aerospace systems and services for government and industry.
Such work could contribute to enhanced efficiency, improved safety, scalability to meet demands, and much more. The potential is ASTRA-nomical. See what I did there?
Potential is not developed over night, which makes ASTRA even more intriguing. The mission could run for up to four years while gathering valuable data along the way.
The ASTRA mission is an exciting leap forward for NASA Stennis to learn what is possible and perhaps open doors for a future that unlocks new frontiers.
One thing this Gator has learned to be true is the brighter the future, the more we must believe in ourselves, and I believe in the NASA Stennis Autonomous Systems Laboratory team.
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NASA Stennis Top News
NASA Stennis Set to Continue ASTRA Mission with Sidus Space
NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, announced Wednesday it will continue its historic in-space autonomous systems payload mission aboard an orbiting satellite through a follow-on agreement with Sidus Space, Inc.
Read More About the ASTRA Mission NASA Stennis Completes Key Test Complex Water System Upgrade
For almost 60 years, NASA’s Stennis Space Center has tested rocket systems and engines to help power the nation’s human space exploration dreams. Completion of a critical water system infrastructure project helps ensure the site can continue that frontline work moving forward.
Read More About the Upgrades to the Test Complex Water System Center Activities
NASA Highlights Program with Southern University Law Students
Representatives from the Office of General Counsel for NASA’s Stennis Space Center and the NASA Shared Services Center Office near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi speak and visit with students at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge Sept. 4 to promote a new externship partnership beginning next spring between the agency and school. NASA Office of General Counsel Director Ron Bald and office representatives Davin Rieke, Jeff Renshaw, Cary Tolman, and Nathan Jermyn engaged in an hour-long panel discussion attended by approximately 40 students. NASA Stennis Office of STEM Engagement representative Louis Thompson also supported the event. In addition to the panel participation by the NASA legal team, the agency representatives met with students before and after the panel discussion to answer questions and share experiences from their legal careers. Participants reported that students expressed high interest in the externship program that the Office of General Counsel plans to launch in the spring 2025 semester. NASA Stennis representatives said they look forward to a strong partnership with Southern University as a minority-serving institution and HBCU (Historically Black College and University). NASA and Southern University Representatives from the Office of General Counsel for NASA’s Stennis Space Center and the NASA Shared Services Center Office near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi speak and visit with students at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge Sept. 4 to promote a new externship partnership beginning next spring between the agency and school. NASA Office of General Counsel Director Ron Bald and office representatives Davin Rieke, Jeff Renshaw, Cary Tolman, and Nathan Jermyn engaged in an hour-long panel discussion attended by approximately 40 students. NASA Stennis Office of STEM Engagement representative Louis Thompson also supported the event. In addition to the panel participation by the NASA legal team, the agency representatives met with students before and after the panel discussion to answer questions and share experiences from their legal careers. Participants reported that students expressed high interest in the externship program that the Office of General Counsel plans to launch in the spring 2025 semester. NASA Stennis representatives said they look forward to a strong partnership with Southern University as a minority-serving institution and HBCU (Historically Black College and University). NASA and Southern University University of Mississippi Leadership Visit NASA Stennis
Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET), a public-private partnership between Mississippi Development Authority, NASA, and Mississippi’s research institutions, hosted a visit for University of Mississippi leadership on Sept. 4 to NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The visit showcased the center’s federal assets and the role Mississippi Enterprise for Technology plays in supporting industry and driving sustained economic development of the region and state. Pictured, from left to right, are: Davis Pace, president and CEO of MSET; William Kneip, director of External Relations and assistant to the Chancellor for Executive Affairs, University of Mississippi; Amy Lewis, executive director of Federal Relations, University of Mississippi; John Bailey, director of NASA Stennis; Dr. Glenn Boyce, chancellor of the University of Mississippi; Hughes Miller, senior director of Industry Engagement, University of Mississippi; and Dr. John Higginbotham, vice chancellor of Research and Economic Development, University of Mississippi. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Leaders Visit Capitol Hill
NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell, left, and NASA Stennis Director John Bailey 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 leaders from NASA’s Stennis Space Center since being named to their current roles. Following conversations with Mississippi and Louisiana congressional representatives and staffers, Bailey and Powell attended the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. The awards recognized the women who contributed to the U.S. space race, including the NASA mathematicians who helped land the first astronauts on the Moon under the agency’s Apollo Program. NASA Stennis, established in the 1960s, tested first and second stages of the Saturn V rocket for Apollo missions to the Moon. The south Mississippi NASA center continues supporting the NASA mission by testing engines and stages to help power the agency’s Artemis campaign to return astronauts to the Moon and beyond. NASA NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell, left, and NASA Stennis Director John Bailey, right, meet with U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell of Mississippi during a visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18. The leaders from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, spoke with congressional representatives and staffers about NASA legislation, current and future work at NASA Stennis, and the growing number of commercial aerospace companies at the NASA Stennis Federal City.NASA NASA Stennis Director John Bailey, left, and NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell, right, meet with U.S. Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi during a visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18. The leaders from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, spoke with congressional representatives and staffers about NASA legislation, current and future work at NASA Stennis, and the growing number of commercial aerospace companies at the NASA Stennis Federal City.NASA NASA Stennis Director John Bailey, right, meets with U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana during a visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18. The leaders from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, spoke with congressional representatives and staffers about NASA legislation, current and future work at NASA Stennis, and the growing number of commercial aerospace companies at the NASA Stennis Federal City.NASA NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell, center, and NASA Stennis Director John Bailey, right, meet with Dr. Timla Washington, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, during a visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18. The leaders from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, spoke with congressional representatives and staffers about NASA legislation, current and future work at NASA Stennis, and the growing number of commercial aerospace companies at the NASA Stennis Federal City.NASA NASA Stennis Director John Bailey, near left, and NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell, near right, meet with Semaj Redd, operations and legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly of Mississippi, and Reed Craddock, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly of Mississippi. The leaders from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, spoke with congressional representatives and staffers about NASA legislation, current and future work at NASA Stennis, and the growing number of commercial aerospace companies at the NASA Stennis Federal City.NASA Contractor Leadership Team Visits NASA Stennis
Afognak Native Corporation Board of Director members and Alutiiq, LLC executives stand at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-1/B-2) during a visit to NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 19. The board members and executives visited the site to learn about laboratory services provided by Alutiiq Essential Services at NASA Stennis since 2020. Afognak is an Alaskan Native corporation focused on serving the needs of its native Alaskan people. Alutiiq, LLC operates as a subsidiary of the corporation to provide a variety of services to federal entities. Alutiiq Essential Services operates as a subsidiary of Alutiiq, LLC. Shown at the test stand during the Sept. 19 visit are, left to right: Ian Neumann, Alutiiq executive; John Monaccio, Alutiiq Essential Services president; Autumn Sellers, Alutiiq executive; Loretta Nelson, director; Marci Orth, director; Wade Hall, director; Shane Mendel, Alutiiq Essential Services program manager at NASA Stennis; Erik Olsen, director; Alan Hines, Alutiiq Essential Services executive. NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Hosts Space Flight Awareness Meeting
Representatives of NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program are shown at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-1/B-2) on Sept. 25. The Space Flight Awareness program manager and working group had its annual meeting this year at NASA’s Stennis Space Center to review plans for 2025. NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program recognizes outstanding job performances and contributions by civil servants and contract employees and focuses on excellence in quality and safety in support of human space flight.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Hosts NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo
Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. NASA/Lacy Thompson Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel Representatives from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, inspire the Artemis Generation by conducting STEM engagement activities Sept. 14 during NASA Day at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Nearly 2,800 visitors had the opportunity to learn about NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. NASA is going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. Audubon Zoo/Chelsea Creel NASA Stennis Hosts Safety and Health Day
NASA’s Stennis Space Center hosts the annual Safety and Health Day event on Sept. 26. The yearly event, organized by the NASA Stennis Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment. The event concluded with employees visiting various safety exhibits in the Roy S. Estess Building, which also provided an opportunity to receive health screenings.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Deputy Director Christine Powell thanks all employees for attending the annual Safety and Health Day event in the StenniSphere Auditorium at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. Powell noted the NASA Stennis workforce contributed to the NASA mission while holding safety – a NASA core value – as a top priority.NASA/Danny Nowlin Former NASA astronaut Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg shares how safety is critical to human space flight by sharing personal experiences from her time working with the Space Shuttle Program during the annual Safety and Health Day in the StenniSphere Auditorium at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. The yearly event is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis Safety and Mission Assurance Director Gary Benton, right, presents a token of appreciation to keynote speaker and former NASA astronaut Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg at the annual Safety and Health Day in the StenniSphere Auditorium at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. The yearly event is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis employees visit booths with safety and health information in the Roy S. Estess Building during the annual Safety and Health Day at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. The yearly event is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment and provided the opportunity for a health screening.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis employees visit booths with safety and health information in the Roy S. Estess Building during the annual Safety and Health Day at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. The yearly event is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment and provided the opportunity for a health screening.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis employees visit booths with safety and health information in the Roy S. Estess Building during the annual Safety and Health Day at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. The yearly event is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment and provided the opportunity for a health screening.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Stennis employees visit booths with safety and health information in the Roy S. Estess Building during the annual Safety and Health Day at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on Sept. 26. The yearly event is a reminder to the NASA Stennis workforce about the importance of a safe work environment and provided the opportunity for a health screening.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA Connects with Artemis Generation at College and Career Fair
Employees from NASA’s Stennis Space Center participate in U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson’s Annual College and Career Fair on Oct. 2 at the Washington County Convention Center in Greenville, Mississippi. The college and career fair welcomed high schoolers, college students, and the public to the event. Participants could visit the NASA exhibit area to gain insight into NASA Stennis, America’s largest rocket propulsion test site, and the opportunities for students to undertake meaningful work. In an accompanying photo, Rep. Thompson (left to right) is shown with NASA Stennis employees Britton Fortenberry, Louis Thompson, and Dawn Davis. As NASA explores more of the Moon than ever before through the Artemis campaign, the Artemis Generation will contribute to make an impact on humanity for the benefit of all.NASA/Stennis Employees from NASA’s Stennis Space Center participate in U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson’s Annual College and Career Fair on Oct. 2 at the Washington County Convention Center in Greenville, Mississippi. The college and career fair welcomed high schoolers, college students, and the public to the event. Participants could visit the NASA exhibit area to gain insight into NASA Stennis, America’s largest rocket propulsion test site, and the opportunities for students to undertake meaningful work. In an accompanying photo, Rep. Thompson (left to right) is shown with NASA Stennis employees Britton Fortenberry, Louis Thompson, and Dawn Davis. As NASA explores more of the Moon than ever before through the Artemis campaign, the Artemis Generation will contribute to make an impact on humanity for the benefit of all.NASA/Stennis Employees from NASA’s Stennis Space Center participate in U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson’s Annual College and Career Fair on Oct. 2 at the Washington County Convention Center in Greenville, Mississippi. The college and career fair welcomed high schoolers, college students, and the public to the event. Participants could visit the NASA exhibit area to gain insight into NASA Stennis, America’s largest rocket propulsion test site, and the opportunities for students to undertake meaningful work. In an accompanying photo, Rep. Thompson (left to right) is shown with NASA Stennis employees Britton Fortenberry, Louis Thompson, and Dawn Davis. As NASA explores more of the Moon than ever before through the Artemis campaign, the Artemis Generation will contribute to make an impact on humanity for the benefit of all.NASA/Stennis Employees from NASA’s Stennis Space Center participate in U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson’s Annual College and Career Fair on Oct. 2 at the Washington County Convention Center in Greenville, Mississippi. The college and career fair welcomed high schoolers, college students, and the public to the event. Participants could visit the NASA exhibit area to gain insight into NASA Stennis, America’s largest rocket propulsion test site, and the opportunities for students to undertake meaningful work. In an accompanying photo, Rep. Thompson (left to right) is shown with NASA Stennis employees Britton Fortenberry, Louis Thompson, and Dawn Davis. As NASA explores more of the Moon than ever before through the Artemis campaign, the Artemis Generation will contribute to make an impact on humanity for the benefit of all.NASA/Stennis > Back to Top
NASA in the News
9 Phenomena NASA Astronauts Will Encounter at Moon’s South Pole – NASA Science NASA’s Europa Clipper NASA, Boeing Welcome Starliner Spacecraft to Earth, Close Mission – NASA NASA Engagement Platform Brings Experts to Classrooms, Communities – NASA NASA Shares Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Remarks – NASA NASA’s Spanish-language Podcast Returns for New Season – NASA NASA’s Artemis II Crew Uses Iceland Terrain for Lunar Training – NASA Science > Back to Top
Employee Profile: Bridget Moody
Bridget Moody has the future in mind every day she works for NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Bridget Moody stands at NASA’s Stennis Space Center where she is the technical lead for the NASA Stennis Environmental and Health Services Office. Along with supporting the NASA mission at NASA Stennis, Moody supports commercial companies by helping them determine environmental requirements and obtain required permits.NASA/Danny Nowlin Read More About Bridget Moody > Back to Top
Looking Back: A First for Women in Space
Forty years ago this month, NASA demonstrated in real time that there is space for everybody. An image from Oct. 11, 1984, shows astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan checking the latch of an antenna in the space shuttle Challenger’s open cargo during her historic extravehicular activity (spacewalk). The 13th flight of the Space Shuttle Program, STS-41G, was the first flight to include two women, Sullivan and Sally Ride. Ride has become the first American woman to fly to space in June 1983. A little more than a year later, Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space. NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, tested space shuttle main engines for 34 years, from 1975 to 2009. The testing included hot fires of the flight engines that helped power this historic moment. To honor this time in space history, watch Space for Women on the agency’s new streaming platform – NASA+. The film features interviews with NASA employees and shows the variety of positions held by women in the agency.NASA The official portrait of Astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan from 1984. NASA/Johnson > Back to Top
Additional Resources
STEM: NASA Astro Camp Community Partners Program (fox8live.com) Catching up with Stennis Space Center’s new director – WXXV News 25 (wxxv25.com) 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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6 min read Lagniappe for July 2024
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Article 4 weeks ago View the full article
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By NASA
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
Two NASA employees, Howard Chang and Bradley Williams, were named as two of the “20 under 35 of 2024” by the Space and Satellite Professionals International. The award recognizes outstanding young professionals in the space industry.
Photos courtesy of Bradley Williams and Howard Chang The annual list of “20 Under 35” features 20 employees and entrepreneurs to keep your eye on in coming years. They were selected from nominations submitted by the membership and evaluated by the same panel of judges who name winners of the Promise Awards.
Howard Chang is an Assistant Chief Counsel at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Bradley (Brad) Williams is the Acting Associate Director for Flight, Heliophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington.
“I’m honored to be named in this year’s cohort,” Chang said. “I saw how SSPI connects people across the space and satellite industry—across generations, countries, and even disciplines—to build up the space economy of the future. And I can’t express enough thanks to all my NASA colleagues for their support and kindness—especially Deputy Chief Counsel Amber Hufft for her time and mentorship this year.”
“It is an absolute honor to be recognized by SSPI on the 20 under 35 list of 2024,” said Williams. “I feel privileged to have benefitted from the opportunities I’ve had so far in my career. I want to thank the numerous mentors through the years who have provided me guidance and lessons learned and especially my colleagues and the leaders at NASA who have recognized my contributions and supported my growth potential as a leader.”
About Howard Chang
Howard Chang serves as the lead attorney for NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility’s commercial, nonprofit, and interagency partnerships in Wallops Island, Virginia. He also focuses on legal issues involving Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), small UAS, real property transactions, government contracts litigation and administration supporting NASA Goddard, and partnerships involving the Goddard Institute for Space Studies located at Columbia University, New York, NASA commended Chang with an individual merit award in recognition of his superior support to the Goddard Space Flight Center during his first six months.
In addition to his legal work, Chang contributes substantially to thought leadership in space law and policy. He has authored articles for The Federalist and the International Institute of Space Law on topics from the Apollo 8 mission to the travaux preparatoires of the Principles Declaration of 1963—the precursor to the Outer Space Treaty. He is a frequent speaker on matters of space law. He will be presenting at the 2024 International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy on the Wolf Amendment and the future of the International Space Station. In Milan, he will present in his capacity as an Advisor for the Georgetown University Space Initiative. He continues to serve as a guest lecturer on space policy for law schools and undergraduate space courses as well.
Chang previously worked at an international firm in its aerospace finance and space law practices, engaging in litigation, transactional, regulatory, and policy work for aerospace and space companies. In addition, he worked on white-collar criminal defense, internal corporate investigations, congressional investigations, trial litigation, appellate litigation, and national security matters.
About Bradley Williams
Bradley Williams is the acting Associate Director for Flight Programs in the Heliophysics Division of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington where he oversees more than a dozen missions in operations and approximately another dozen missions in different stages of development.
Previously, Williams was a Program Executive in the Heliophysics Division where his assignments included IMAP, TRACERS, HelioSwarm, the Solar Cruiser solar sail technology project, and Senior Program Executive of the NASA Space Weather Program.
Before joining NASA, he was the Director of Civil Space Programs at Terran Orbital Corporation, where he led the spacecraft development for both commercial and NASA technology demonstration missions and assisted with the growth of the science mission portfolio.
Previously at the University of Arizona, he worked with faculty and research teams to identify proposal opportunities and develop spaceflight proposals. Williams was a vital member of the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) team. He also served as the Deputy Payload Manager on GUSTO, the first of its kind, balloon-borne observatory.
He has been recognized for his achievements being named a Via Satellite Rising Star in 2024 and has been awarded the Robert H. Goddard Engineering Team Award, NASA Group Achievement Award, and asteroid (129969) Bradwilliams named in his honor.
The “20 Under 35“ are honored each year at SSPI’s Future Leaders Dinner. At the Dinner, SSPI presents the three top-ranked members of the 20 Under 35 with a Promise Award, recognizing them as leaders of their year’s cohort, and honors the Mentor of the Year for fostering young talent, both within his or her organization and throughout the industry. The 2024 “20 Under 35” will be honored at the Future Leaders Celebration on October 21, 2024 during Silicon Valley Space Week.
Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
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Last Updated Oct 03, 2024 EditorJamie AdkinsContactRob Garnerrob.garner@nasa.gov Related Terms
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By NASA
3 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
The American flag inside the cupola of the International Space Station (Credits: NASA).Credit: NASA NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station have the opportunity to vote in general elections through absentee ballots or early voting in coordination with the county clerk’s office where they live.
So, how is voting from space possible? Through NASA’s Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) Program.
Similar to most data transmitted between the space station and the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, votes cast in space travel through the agency’s Near Space Network, managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The network connects missions within 1.2 million miles of Earth with communications and navigation services – including the space station.
NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli (from left) give a thumbs up after voting as Texas residents from the International Space Station. The duo filled out electronic absentee ballots in March 2024 and downlinked them to Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, which relayed the votes to the county clerk’s office.Credit: NASA
Just like any other American away from home, astronauts may fill out a Federal Post Card Application to request an absentee ballot. After an astronaut fills out an electronic ballot aboard the orbiting laboratory, the document flows through NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to a ground antenna at the agency’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
From New Mexico, NASA transfers the ballot to the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson and then on to the county clerk responsible for casting the ballot. To preserve the vote’s integrity, the ballot is encrypted and accessible only by the astronaut and the clerk.
NASA’s Near Space Network enables astronauts on the International Space Station to communicate with Earth and electronically deliver ballots from space. Credit: NASA
Astronauts have voted in U.S. elections since 1997 when the Texas Legislature passed a bill that allowed NASA astronauts to cast ballots from orbit. That year, NASA astronaut David Wolf became the first American to vote from space while aboard the Mir Space Station. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins became the latest astronaut to vote in a presidential election, as she voted aboard the International Space Station in November 2020.
Astronauts forego many of the comforts afforded to those back on Earth as they embark on their journeys to space for the benefit of humanity. Though they are far from home, NASA’s networks connect them with their friends and family and give them the opportunity to participate in democracy and society while in orbit. While astronauts come from all over the United States, they make their homes in Texas so they can be near NASA Johnson’s training and mission support facilities.
For more than two decades, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory stay connected with Earth and their civilian lives back home by communicating with mission control through the Near Space Network. This development in communication ultimately can benefit humanity and lay the groundwork for other agency missions, like NASA’s Artemis campaign, and future human exploration of Mars.
Learn more about the International Space Station online:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
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Dominique V. Crespo
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Last Updated Oct 03, 2024 Related Terms
General Astronauts Goddard Space Flight Center Humans in Space International Space Station (ISS) Johnson Space Center Johnson's Mission Control Center Near Space Network Space Communications & Navigation Program Space Communications Technology Space Operations Mission Directorate Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) White Sands Test Facility Explore More
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By NASA
20 Min Read The Marshall Star for October 2, 2024
The Fabric of Marshall: Center Hosts Safety Day 2024
By Serena Whitfield
“Safety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall” was the theme for Safety Day at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26.
Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center.
“It is crucial to ensure that each of us weaves safety into everything we do, not only at work, but in our daily lives,” Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey said.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey, left, with NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei, who was the keynote speaker for Marshall’s Safety Day on Sept. 26. NASA/Krisdon Manecke NASA started the Safety Day tradition following the space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. Centers across the agency dedicate a day each year for team members to pause and reflect on keeping the work environment safe.
This year’s Safety Day began with a breakfast for employees, which was sponsored by Jacobs and Bastion Technologies. After breakfast, Bill Hill, director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate at Marshall, welcomed center team members before introducing Pelfrey.
“Over the past year, Marshall’s leadership and workforce have highlighted that transparency is an essential cultural attribute of our workforce and center,” Pelfrey said. “It is also important to our core value of safety. Transparency fosters an environment where employees feel comfortable in reporting potential risks or safety concerns without fear of retribution. This openness ensures that issues are addressed early. It builds trust and accountability within our workforce, center, NASA, and external stakeholders.”
NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei talks about his time in space aboard the International Space Station. NASA/Krisdon Manecke Guest speaker Marceleus Venable, a purpose coach, trainer, and author, followed Pelfrey’s remarks, telling team members to be safe by taking care of their physical and mental health. He encouraged them to take the time to pat themselves on the back for all their hard work and to appreciate their fellow workers at Marshall.
NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei was the keynote speaker, encouraging employees to be team players in NASA’s safety mission.
“We need a lot of talented team players to meet the challenges that we have for future space flights,” said Vande Hei, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009 and most recently served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station as part of Expedition 65 and 66. “Always try to do your best, but make sure that other people around you are doing their best as well and help them do that rather than you standing out as always being the best.”
Peter Wreschinsky, second from left, a Jacobs Space Exploration Group employee, is presented with the Golden Eagle Award during Safety Day. He is joined by his wife, Terri. They are joined by Bill Hill, left, director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate at Marshall, and Jeff Haars, right, Jacobs vice president. The Golden Eagle Award is a part of the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative, a collaboration between Marshall and Jacobs. Wreschinsky was recognized with the award for voicing concern about a valve impacted by corrosion on the Commercial Crew Program Crew-8 Dragon Capsule. The valve and several others were subsequently replaced. NASA/Serena Whitfield Micah Embry, the Safety Day 2024 chairperson, presented Vande Hei with a certificate for his participation.
Also during the event, Hill awarded the Golden Eagle Award to Peter Wreschinsky, a Jacobs Space Exploration Group employee. The award is part of the Mission Success is in Our Hands safety initiative, a collaboration between Marshall and Jacobs.
More than 400 civil servants and contractors participated in Safety Day, with organizational and vender booths providing information to employees across a variety of safety topics, including Emergency Management Services, fire protection, storm shelters, and more.
“As Marshall continues to be a leader at NASA and across the aerospace industry, … we must always be looking forward to improve our procedures and anticipate potential hazards,” Pelfrey said. “Safety is directly tied to our mission success. Without safety, we cannot achieve the goals we set for ourselves in space exploration, research, and innovation.”
Whitfield is an intern supporting the Marshall Office of Communications.
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Human Lander System Spotlight: Preparing for the First Crewed Lunar Landings for Artemis
The featured business unit for the month of September at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center was Lander Systems. Marshall leads the development of the systems needed to safely land humans on the Moon and, eventually Mars. This includes the Human Landing System Program (HLS), which manages the development of commercial lunar landing systems that will transport astronauts to and from the surface of the Moon as part of the agency’s Artemis campaign.
For Artemis III and Artemis IV, NASA has selected SpaceX’s Starship HLS, while Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander will be used for Artemis V. Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA’s mission needs, provides more robustness while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings.
NASA works closely with its industry partners to mature the landers, exercising insight and offering collaboration to ensure astronaut safety and mission success. Through Artemis, NASA aims to land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface while advancing key science and discovery for the benefit of all.
Learn more about HLS and meet some of the NASA Marshall teammates below who are working on the lunar landers:
Amy BuckNASA/Ken Hall Amy Buck has been working with Artemis systems since she first came to Marshall 10 years ago. Previously part of the cryogenic insulation team for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Buck is now the materials discipline lead for HLS. In her role, she has the chance to work on nearly every piece of hardware for the two landers as she and her team work with each of the HLS providers to ensure compliance with NASA’s requirements.
“The NASA HLS materials team is vital in supporting the design, testing, and manufacturing of the landers,” Buck said. “Landing on the Moon is central to the larger Artemis mission, and I’m super excited to be part of the Artemis Generation.”
Buck is most excited to see the first woman land on the Moon under Artemis and says she hopes it will inspire young girls – the next generation of engineers and scientists – to go into science and engineering.
Sean UnderwoodNASA/Ken Hall Mission success is all in the details for Sean Underwood, the thermal discipline lead for HLS. The Georgia native works with a team responsible for ensuring that the lunar landers can operate in the Moon’s harsh environment.
“There are unique thermal challenges associated with the Artemis III, IV, and V missions,” Underwood said. “Our primary objective is to manage thermal energy and heating rates, ensuring that HLS components and systems remain within thermal limits across all mission environments.”
Underwood joined Marshall in 2020 and sees his role with Artemis as one that will shape the future of space exploration – and Marshall. “Marshall Space Flight Center has been at the forefront of monumental space projects since its inception,” he said. “Through Artemis, we are ensuring that the legacy of past missions continues to inspire and drive us forward.”
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Innovative Thermal Energy Storage Tanks Keep Marshall Cool – and Save Taxpayer Dollars
By Rick Smith
As any home or business owner in the Southern United States knows, maintaining energy costs while trying to keep cool in the sweltering summer months is no simple challenge.
But one “cool” new infrastructure upgrade at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will reduce the center’s utility costs by approximately $250,000 a year, shrinking Marshall’s environmental footprint and streamlining long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center facilities engineers Connor McLean, left, and Angela Bell assess the readiness of Marshall’s new thermal energy storage tank, which officially goes into operation in October. The tank stands alongside Marshall’s original thermal tank outside Building 4473, where they chill and store water to cool off laboratories, offices, and other buildings during the hot summer months. McLean and Bell lead the tank project on behalf of Marshall’s Office of Center Operations. NASA/Charles Beason It’s called a thermal energy storage tank – 60 feet high, 60 feet in diameter, each unit capable of holding approximately 1.125 million gallons of chilled water – and it represents another milestone for facilities engineers in Marshall’s Office of Center Operations, whose tactics have already reduced center-wide energy expenditure by a dizzying 58.3% since fiscal year 2003.
Thermal energy storage is not a new process; it’s been used for decades to maximize efficiency in temperature control, particularly among industrial facilities and large public venues from hospitals to indoor stadiums. At Marshall, the chilled water serves a critical purpose center-wide, circulating from a central plant via a network of underground pipes to help keep laboratories and other buildings temperate throughout the summer heat.
“The average team member might not realize it’s chilled water, not just air, that keeps our labs, offices, and test facilities cool,” said Marshall facilities engineer Angela Bell, who helped oversee the installation of the second tank. “Our tanks operate at night, when utility prices drop and there is less overall demand on the regional energy grid, then send the chillwater out during the day.”
Marshall’s first tank was built and put into operation in 2008-2009. The second officially goes into service in October, joining its counterpart in creating chilled water overnight. Together, the tanks – situated adjacent to Building 4473 on the corner of Morris and Titan roads – provide an annual energy savings of roughly half a million dollars.
Marshall facilities engineer Connor McLean, who succeeded Bell as project manager for the new tank, noted that each thermal energy storage tank handles approximately 106,000 kilo-BTUs worth of cooling activity per day – or roughly 1,750 times as much cooling capacity as a central air system in a traditional family home.
Even with that considerable output, Marshall’s original tank had been hard-pressed to keep up with demand across the entire center over the past decade and a half, as climate change steadily pushed temperatures to sustained extremes.
“This is a huge stride in critical system redundancy,” McLean said. “Having the second tank enables us to run both concurrently or give one of them some necessary downtime without loss of center-wide functionality. That added capability makes Marshall more resilient and bolsters our confidence in our ability to handle unforeseen challenges.”
The electricity that powers the storage tanks is a mix – hydroelectric, fossil fuels, nuclear, and an increasing amount of renewable energy sources – provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority via the U.S. Army, from whom NASA leases property on Redstone Arsenal.
“The tanks will be tremendous cost-savers for the next 40-50 years,” Bell said. “They allow us to use energy much more efficiently, based on past energy consumption levels – and that allows Marshall to do other things with those dollars.”
Over the past 20 years, Marshall has reinvested energy savings and facilities cost underruns back into center operations, often to fund new, cost-saving overhauls: upgrading facility HVAC systems or replacing obsolete lighting with more efficient LEDs.
“If we didn’t reduce consumption, our projected utility costs would be around $30 million per year,” said Rhonda Truitt, Marshall’s energy and water manager. “Thanks to efficient strategizing, encouraged and championed by Marshall and NASA leadership, we typically operate in the range of just $16-18 million per year.”
Such strategies have enabled Marshall to effectively keep its infrastructure budget flat since the early 2010s – reducing overall energy consumption and replacing outdated facilities with more cost-conscious, environmentally friendly modern buildings, a program known among facilities engineers as “repair by replacement.”
The U.S. Army at Redstone doesn’t employ a central chiller plant of its own, but the Marshall facilities team works “very closely” with their counterparts on the military side.
“We have a great working relationship,” Truitt said. “The real advantage of our system is that by reducing our peak energy demand, it reduces it for all of Redstone – which benefits the rest of the Arsenal and the lower Tennessee Valley.”
The new tank goes into operation just in time for the start of National Energy Awareness Month in October – and Truitt and her team encourage the Marshall workforce to continue to practice sensible energy conservation tactics even as sweat-inducing temperatures subside.
“Turn off lights and computer monitors wherever possible, don’t leave doors or windows propped open, and be mindful of all the small things that can add up over time,” Truitt said. “Our goal is always to help team members do their jobs in the most efficient way possible, to accomplish Marshall’s objectives and conserve our energy budget without impeding the mission.”
Thanks to the center’s new thermal energy storage tank, that should be no sweat.
Smith, an Aeyon employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.
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Marshall Welcomes Members of the NASA Advisory Council
Rae Ann Meyer, front right, deputy director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, is joined by members of the NASA Advisory Council and NASA Headquarters staff Oct. 1 at Marshall. The group toured various areas across the center during their visit Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Council members are appointed by the NASA administrator to provide advice and make recommendations on programs, policies, and other matters pertaining to the agency’s mission. (NASA/Charles Beason)
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Commercial Crew Program Hangs Expedition 70 Plaque, Highlighting Work Done by Marshall Team
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center continued the tradition of honoring engineers for their exceptional efforts on Commercial Crew Program (CCP) missions to the International Space Station on Sept. 4, with a plaque hanging for Expedition 70 at the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC). Holding their plaques are, from left, Shelby Bates, Ali Reilly, Chris Buckley, Mandy Clayton, Elease Smith, Sara Dennis, Stephanie Stoll, John Griffin, Kylie Keeton, and Blake Parker. Team members are nominated from Marshall, Johnson Space Center, and Kennedy Space Center to hang the plaque of the mission they supported. Expedition 70 – which ended April 5 – researched heart health, cancer treatments, space manufacturing techniques, and more during their long-duration stay in Earth orbit. The HOSC provides engineering and mission operations support for the space station, the CCP, and Artemis missions, as well as science and technology demonstration missions. The Payload Operations Integration Center within HOSC operates, plans, and coordinates the science experiments onboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. (NASA/Charles Beason)
Buckley, left, signs an Expedition 70 plaque as Dennis looks on. (NASA/Charles Beason)
Dennis hangs the Expedition 70 plaque inside the Huntsville Operations Support Center. (NASA/Charles Beason)
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Aboard International Space Station
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov arrived at the International Space Station on Sept. 29 as the SpaceX Dragon Freedom docked to the orbiting complex at 4:30 p.m. CDT, joining Expedition 72 for a five-month science research mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew joins Expedition 72 aboard the International Space Station.NASA The two crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission launched at 12:17 p.m. CDT Sept. 28 for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station. This is the first human spaceflight mission launched from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the agency’s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station.
The duo joined the space station’s Expedition 72 crew of NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, Don Pettit, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. The number of crew aboard the space station increased to 11 for a short time until Crew-8 members Barratt, Dominick, Epps, and Grebenkin depart the space station early this month.
The crewmates will conduct more than 200 scientific investigations, including blood clotting studies, moisture effects on plants grown in space, and vision changes in astronauts during their mission. Following their stay aboard the space station, Hague and Gorbunov will be joined by Williams and Wilmore to return to Earth in February 2025.
With this mission, NASA continues to maximize the use of the orbiting laboratory, where people have lived and worked continuously for more than 23 years, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to operate future commercial destinations in low Earth orbit and explore farther from Earth. Research conducted at the space station benefits people on Earth and paves the way for future long-duration missions to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign, and beyond.
Learn more about NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission and the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Follow the space station blog for updates on station activities.
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Keeping the Pace: Marshall Hosts Annual ‘Racin’ the Station’ Duathlon
A costumed gorilla pacer leads a group of runners during “Racin’ the Station” duathlon, a run/bike/run event where the participants “raced” the International Space Station. The event was Sept. 28 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, which is on Redstone Arsenal. “Racin’ the Station” is an annual event where participants try to complete the course faster than it takes the space station to complete one Earth orbit, which is every 91 minutes, 12 seconds. Organizers track the starting location of the space station at the race start, and a costumed pacer keeps up with the station time on the course as a visual marker for participants to stay ahead of. Before the race, organizers drew a to-scale SLS (Space Launch System) Block 1 rocket in chalk onto the Activities Building parking lot near the race transition area. The opening ceremonies featured a video of the Artemis 1 launch, with the race starting with the launch of a model rocket. “The rain was a first for race day since we started this event in 2012,” said Kent Criswell, race organizer for Marshall. “But we still had a safe race with 106 individuals and 13 relay teams finishing.” The event is organized by the Team Rocket Triathlon Club in Huntsville and by the Marshall Association, a professional employee service organization at the Marshall Center whose members include civil service employees, retirees and contractors. Proceeds from the registration fee for the event go to the Marshall Association scholarship fund. Race results can be found here. (NASA/Charles Beason)
Participants take off in the bike portion of the “Racin’ the Station” duathlon. (NASA/Charles Beason)
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NASA Seeks Innovators for Lunar Waste Competition
By Savannah Bullard
A new NASA competition, the LunaRecycle Challenge, is open and offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions.
As NASA continues efforts toward long-duration human space travel, including building a sustained human presence on the Moon through its Artemis missions, the agency needs novel solutions for processing inorganic waste streams like food packaging, discarded clothing, and science experiment materials. While previous efforts focused on the reduction of trash mass and volume, this challenge will prioritize technologies for recycling waste into usable products needed for off-planet science and exploration activities.
NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will incentivize the design and development of energy-efficient, low-mass, and low-impact recycling solutions that address physical waste streams and improve the sustainability of longer-duration lunar missions. Through the power of open innovation, which draws on the public’s ingenuity and creativity to find solutions, NASA can restructure the agency’s approach to waste management, support the future of space travel, and revolutionize waste treatments on Earth, leading to greater sustainability on our home planet and beyond.
“Operating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. “With this challenge, we are seeking the public’s innovative approaches to waste management on the Moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all.”
NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will offer two competition tracks: a Prototype Build track and a Digital Twin track. The Prototype Build Track focuses on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface. The Digital Twin Track focuses on designing a virtual replica of a complete system for recycling solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing end products. Offering a Digital Twin track further lowers the barrier of entry for global solvers to participate in NASA Centennial Challenges and contribute to agency missions and initiatives.
Teams will have the opportunity to compete in either or both competition tracks, each of which will carry its own share of the prize purse.
The LunaRecycle Challenge also will address some of the aerospace community’s top technical challenges. In July, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate released a ranked list of 187 technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The results integrated inputs from NASA mission directorates and centers, industry organizations, government agencies, academia, and other interested individuals to help guide NASA’s space technology development and investments. This list and subsequent updates will help inform future Centennial Challenges.
The three technological needs that LunaRecycle will address include logistics tracking, clothing, and trash management for habitation; in-space and on-surface manufacturing of parts and products; and in-space and on-surface manufacturing from recycled and reused materials.
“I am pleased that NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will contribute to solutions pertaining to technological needs within advanced manufacturing and habitats,” said Kim Krome, acting program manager for agency’s Centennial Challenges, and challenge manager of LunaRecycle. “We are very excited to see what solutions our global competitors generate, and we are eager for this challenge to serve as a positive catalyst for bringing the agency, and humanity, closer to exploring worlds beyond our own.”
NASA has contracted The University of Alabama to be the allied partner for the duration of the challenge. The university, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner AI Spacefactory to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.
To register as a participant in NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge, visit: lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu.
NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge is led by the agency’s Kennedy Space Center with support from Marshall Space Flight Center. The competition is a NASA’s Centennial Challenge, based at Marshall. Centennial Challenges are part of NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Bullard, a Manufacturing Technical Solutions Inc. employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.
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Fueling Complete on Europa Clipper Spacecraft
Technicians completed loading propellants in the agency’s Europa Clipper spacecraft Sept. 22, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Technicians work to complete operations prior to propellant load for NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11.NASA/Kim Shiflett Housed in the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission, Europa Clipper’s propulsion module is an aluminum cylinder 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, and it holds the spacecraft’s array of 24 engines and 6067.6 pounds of propellant in two propulsion tanks, as well as the spacecraft’s helium pressurant tanks. The fuel and oxidizer held by the tanks will flow to the 24 engines, creating a controlled chemical reaction to produce thrust in space during its journey to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.
After launch, the spacecraft plans to fly by Mars in February 2025, then back by Earth in December 2026, using the gravity of each planet to increase its momentum. With help of these “gravity assists,” Europa Clipper will achieve the velocity needed to reach Jupiter in April 2030.
NASA is targeting launch Oct. 10 aboard a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s historic Launch Complex 39A.
Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with NASA JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Planetary Missions Program Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.
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