[Spacetalk] https://www.nasa.gov/index.html; solarsystem.nasa.gov; https://spaceflightnow.com

Wed May 25 07:52:48 CDT 2022

Good morning all,

   Many schools will be ending the school year this week…it seems impossible another school year has passed so quickly... time is a blur…

  Watching the news of the horrific mass shooting of kids in an elementary is beyond comprehension…there are no words, there is only mind numbing disbelief and so many unanswered questions…such innocent lives, in school…how could anyone do this? Why? What can be done to prevent it in the future? Thinking of the families affected, the sadness and anguish, lives changed forever…

  Everything seems so insignificant, it is challenging to even think of anything else but will try to pass on some updates…
> We have to stay positive and always be thankful… remembering to do our best, enjoy everything we do, believe in ourselves, and let those we care about most know (I always say this, we all need to take it to heart) …hugs… STAY SAFE, TAKE CARE, Love ya, Gabe
> 

Starliner Launches to Space Station on Uncrewed Flight Test for NASA
 <https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/oft-2_launch_image.jpg>
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) is Starliner’s second uncrewed flight test and will dock to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. OFT-2 launched at 6:54 p.m. ET, and will serve as an end-to-end test of the system's capabilities.
Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is in orbit, heading for the International Space Station following launch Thursday of the next-generation spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on a mission designed to test the end-to-end capabilities of the crew-capable system as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Starliner lifted off on NASA’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) at 6:54 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Following an orbital insertion burn 31 minutes later, Starliner was on its way for a rendezvous and docking with the space station.

Coverage Set for NASA’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 Return to Earth
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The uncrewed Boeing CST-100 Starliner approaches the forward port of the International Space Station ahead of docking at 8:28 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 20 for the first time during NASA's Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2.
Credits: NASA
NASA will provide live coverage of the upcoming return activities for the agency’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2). As part of the uncrewed flight test, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft will depart from the International Space Station for a landing in the western United States. The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously undock from the space station to begin the journey home at 2:36 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 25. NASA and Boeing are targeting 6:49 p.m. for the landing and conclusion of OFT-2, wrapping up a six-day mission testing the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system. The return and related activities will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app <https://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html>, and the agency’s website <https://www.nasa.gov/live>. In advance of Starliner’s return, commercial crew astronauts at the space station will speak with NASA leadership and make farewell remarks prior to closing the hatch to the uncrewed spacecraft. Teams are targeting White Sands Space Harbor at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico as the primary landing site, with a backup White Sands opportunity Friday, May 27. The spacecraft will return with more than 600 pounds of cargo, including Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System reusable tanks that provide breathable air to station crew members. The tanks will be refilled on Earth and sent back to station on a future flight. NASA’s Boeing OFT-2 return coverage on NASA TV is as follows and all times are subject to change based on mission operations (all times are Eastern):

Wednesday, May 25
2 p.m. – TV coverage begins for the 2:36 p.m. undocking. NASA will break coverage after the spacecraft exits joint operations with the space station.
5:45 p.m. – Coverage begins for 6:05 p.m. deorbit burn and 6:49 p.m. landing in the western United States.
9 p.m. – Return to Earth news conference on NASA TV from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston:
Learn more about space station activities by following @space_station <https://twitter.com/space_station>, and @ISS_Research <https://twitter.com/ISS_Research> on Twitter, as well as the ISS Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ISS> and ISS Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/ISS/> accounts and the space station blog <https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/>. See full mission coverage, NASA's commercial crew blog, and more information about the mission at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew <https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew>

InSight's Final Selfie
 <https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/jpegpia25287.jpeg>
NASA's InSight Mars lander took this final selfie on April 24, 2022, the 1,211th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The lander is covered with far more dust than it was in its first selfie, taken in December 2018, not long after landing – or in its second selfie, composed of images taken in March and April 2019.

The arm now needs to move several times in order to capture a full selfie. Because InSight's dusty solar panels are producing less power, the team will soon put the lander's robotic arm in its resting position (called the "retirement pose") for the last time in May 2022.

Learn More <https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia25287-insights-final-selfie>.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Last Updated: May 24, 2022
Editor: Yvette Smith
NASA to Discuss Webb Telescope Alignment, Instrument Setup
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This illustration depicts NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, fully deployed in space.
Credits: Adriana Manrique Gutierrez, NASA Animator
NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 9, to discuss progress toward preparing the James Webb Space Telescope for science operations. The agency will livestream audio of the teleconference on its website <https://www.nasa.gov/live>. Webb will explore every phase of cosmic history – from within the solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, and everything in between. Participants will discuss the recent completion of mirror alignment <https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/04/28/nasas-webb-in-full-focus-ready-for-instrument-commissioning/> and preview what to expect for Webb’s final months of science instrument preparations. In early February, the Webb team successfully captured starlight <https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/02/11/photons-received-webb-sees-its-first-star-18-times/> through each of Webb’s 18 mirror segments. Over the following months, as Webb’s science instruments cooled to their operating temperatures, the team progressed through the seven stages <https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/02/03/photons-incoming-webb-team-begins-aligning-the-telescope/> of mirror alignment. With the successful completion of the final stage in late April, all four of Webb’s science instruments can now capture sharp, focused images. Now, the team will take about two months to prepare and test the science instruments – a process known as instrument commissioning – before Webb’s first science images and spectra debut in the summer. NASA has a digital media kit <https://www.webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/assets/documents/WebbMediaKit.pdf> as well as image <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fnasawebbtelescope%2Falbums%2Fwith%2F72157691368095482&data=05%7C01%7Chqnews%40newsletters.nasa.gov%7Ce52e1631f21e48373cc908da2f0e3d04%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C637874035459507571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Lpn9OBgfrLTXVqRAcovyIdasAsIMD%2FpPCCV%2BP6mRVwU%3D&reserved=0> and video <https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/JWST.html> galleries online. The public also can follow Webb’s progress via a “Where is Webb? <https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html>” interactive tracker. Webb, an international partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency, launched Dec. 25 from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. After unfolding <https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-webb-telescope-reaches-major-milestone-as-mirror-unfolds> into its final form in space and successfully reaching its destination <https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/01/24/orbital-insertion-burn-a-success-webb-arrives-at-l2/> 1 million miles from Earth, the observatory is now in the months-long process of preparing for science operations. For more information about the Webb mission, visit: https://nasa.govwebb <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnasa.govwebb%2F&data=05%7C01%7Chqnews%40newsletters.nasa.gov%7Ce52e1631f21e48373cc908da2f0e3d04%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C637874035459507571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Yurwjf2fmtsU5pNlnDJDOhSqiOd%2FKwkWo8u9q73EDgI%3D&reserved=0>

President Biden: NASA to Welcome Japanese Astronaut Aboard Gateway 
 <https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/iac7_alt_set2_gateway_hero_shots_3.png>
Illustration of Gateway in lunar orbit with contributions from international partners.
Credits: NASA
President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in Tokyo Monday where they announced <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fstatements-releases%2F2022%2F05%2F23%2Ffact-sheet-the-u-s-japan-competitiveness-and-resilience-core-partnership%2F&data=05%7C01%7Chqnews%40newsletters.nasa.gov%7C68dcb45b0457415e228808da3d062090%7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b%7C0%7C0%7C637889393764335337%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZRbyQS07PZe4l9yi0cqABJV2G8tHDGpNCc9zniPbpF8%3D&reserved=0> progress on collaboration for human and robotic lunar missions. They confirmed their commitment to include a Japanese astronaut aboard the lunar Gateway outpost and their shared ambition to see a future Japanese astronaut land on the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program.  “In recent years, the alliance between Japan and the United States has grown stronger, deeper, and more capable as we work together to take on new challenges – just as important as the opportunities – of a rapidly changing world,” said President Biden. “A great example of this: We viewed Japan's lunar rover... a symbol of how our space cooperation is taking off, looking towards the Moon and to Mars. And I'm excited about the work we'll do together on the Gateway station around the Moon and look forward to the first Japanese astronaut joining us in the mission to the lunar surface under the Artemis program.”  The United States and Japan are working to formalize the Japanese astronaut’s inclusion on Gateway through an Implementing Arrangement later this year.  “Our shared ambition to see Japanese and American astronauts walk on the Moon together reflects our nations’ shared values to explore space responsibly and transparently for the benefit of humanity here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “With this historic announcement, President Biden is once again showing nations throughout the world that America will not go alone but with like-minded partners. Under Artemis, it’s our intention to invest in and explore the cosmos with countries that promote science, economic opportunity, and a common set of shared values.”  As part of ongoing collaborations on space and Earth science missions, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the United States and Japan’s continued cooperation on Earth science data sharing to improve scientific understanding of the Earth’s changing climate. In addition, the president confirmed the United States’ intention to provide Japan with a sample from the asteroid Bennu in 2023, collected from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx <https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex> mission. Japan provided the United States with an asteroid sample collected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 asteroid sample-return mission in 2021. JAXA also is critical partner to NASA in helping the agency achieve its goals in science and human exploration, including on the International Space Station and through the Artemis. In 2020, Japan became an original signatory of the Artemis Accords and finalized an agreement <https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-government-of-japan-formalize-gateway-partnership-for-artemis-program> with NASA to provide several capabilities for Gateway’s I-HAB, which will provide the heart of Gateway life support capabilities and additional space where crew will live, work, and conduct research during Artemis missions. JAXA’s planned contributions include I-HAB’s environmental control and life support system, batteries, thermal control, and imagery components, which will be integrated into the module by ESA (European Space Agency) prior to launch. These capabilities are critical for sustained Gateway operations during crewed and uncrewed time periods . To read more about NASA’s Artemis missions, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis <https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/>  

Japan will send an astronaut to the moon with NASA, Biden says
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 <http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/pdpyCKojllDszcbHCifPauBWcNEKoC>
(Toyota)
Japanese astronauts will ride on NASA Artemis missions to the moon, and potentially even reach the surface, amid an interagency push to expand lunar exploration. 

NASA to Discuss Status of Artemis I Test, Launch
 <https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/nhq202203170009_large.jpeg>
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen through the windows of Firing Room One in the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center atop a mobile launcher as it rolls out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the first time to Launch Complex 39B, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of NASA’s Artemis I flight test, the rocket and spacecraft will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B to verify systems and practice countdown procedures for the first launch.
Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky
The agency plans to conduct another attempt of the wet dress rehearsal in early June to demonstrate the ability to load propellant into the tanks and conduct a full launch countdown ahead of the Artemis I launch this summer. NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived back at Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building April 26 after a 10-hour journey from launch pad 39B. Since their arrival, teams have worked to replace a faulty upper stage check valve <https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/04/09/artemis-i-wet-dress-rehearsal-update/> and repair a small leak  <https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/04/14/artemis-i-wdr-update-third-test-attempt-concluded/>within the tail service mast umbilical ground plate housing. The teams also have been performing additional checkouts while the spaceport’s supplier of gaseous nitrogen makes upgrades to their pipeline configuration to support Artemis I activities. Through Artemis <https://www.nasa.gov/artemisprogram> missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone to send astronauts to Mars. For updates, follow along on NASA’s Artemis blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis <https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis>

BLACK HOLES ARE HARD TO FIND….
Black holes are hard to find. They have such strong gravity that light can’t escape them, so scientists must rely on clues from their surroundings to find them.

Black holes are hard to find. They have such strong gravity that light can’t escape them, so scientists must rely on clues from their surroundings to find them. 
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