How to virtually participate in ‘Launch America’ …
Vice President Pence highlights the nation’s return to human spaceflight …
And honoring a legendary astronomer … a few of the stories to tell you about – This
Week at NASA!
On May 20, astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley arrived at our Kennedy Space Center,
in Florida ahead of their launch on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight to the International
Space Station.
Two days later, the mission got the formal go ahead for a May 27 launch attempt at a
Flight Readiness Review.
The mission, targeted for launch from Kennedy’s historic Launch Complex 39A, is being celebrated
as ‘Launch America,’ marking the first human spaceflight from the U.S. since the
end of the space shuttle era.
“I happen to have been one of the four astronauts that landed here almost nine years ago in
T-38s on the Fourth of July in 2011 to close out the Space Shuttle Program.
So it’s incredibly humbling to be here to start out the next launch from the United
States.”
“As graduates of military test pilot schools, if you gave us one thing that we could have
put on our list of dream jobs that we would have gotten to have someday it would have
been to be aboard a new spacecraft, be conducting a test mission aboard that spacecraft, and
Doug and I get that chance to do it.
So, we’re thankful for that opportunity.”
While pre-launch and launch day activities are not open to the public due to social distancing
concerns, NASA invites you to virtually participate in this historic milestone.
In addition to continuous launch-day to docking-day coverage on NASA Television, virtual activities
include a NASA Social, as well as activities across our social media channels including
YouTube, Twitter, Facebook.
Instagram and LinkedIn.
For more about how to virtually participate go to nasa.gov/beourguest.
“Welcome to the ‘Launch America’ edition of the National Space Council.”
On May 19, Vice President Mike Pence convened the 7th meeting of the National Space Council
at our headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Our Administrator, Jim Bridenstine, as well as astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley
joined the event via live web streams, to highlight NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to
the space station.
On May 20, we announced that the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope currently under
development has been named in honor of the late Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief
astronomer.
The telescope is targeted for launch in the mid-2020s to investigate long-standing astronomical
mysteries, and to search for distant planets beyond our solar system.
NASA received four 2020 Webby awards, and four People's Voice awards highlighting the
agency's diverse online offerings.
We received an agency record 12 nominations this year.
The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched an unpiloted
HTV-9 cargo spacecraft on May 20, loaded with more than four tons of supplies for the International
Space Station, including the final set of new lithium-ion batteries and adapter plates
to complete a multi-year upgrade of the station’s power system.
Annie Glenn, wife of late NASA astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn, died this week at
age 100.
A NASA statement praised Annie Glenn as a stalwart member of the space and military
communities, whose courageous support of her legendary husband was unmatched.
The statement also noted her lifelong public service on behalf of children, the elderly,
and the disabled.
That’s what’s up this week @NASA …
For more on these and other stories, follow us on the web at nasa.gov/twan.