\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Marshall Star for October 2, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kam-vande-hei.jpg?w=1536\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Fabric of Marshall: Center Hosts Safety Day 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Serena Whitfield<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cSafety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall\u201d was the theme for Safety Day at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26.<\/p>\n
Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is crucial to ensure that each of us weaves safety into everything we do, not only at work, but in our daily lives,\u201d Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kam-2308resized.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey, left, with NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei, who was the keynote speaker for Marshall\u2019s Safety Day on Sept. 26. <\/div>\nNASA\/Krisdon Manecke<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past year, Marshall\u2019s leadership and workforce have highlighted that transparency is an essential cultural attribute of our workforce and center,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kam-vande-hei.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei talks about his time in space aboard the International Space Station. <\/div>\nNASA\/Krisdon Manecke<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGuest speaker Marceleus Venable, a purpose coach, trainer, and author, followed Pelfrey\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei<\/a> was the keynote speaker, encouraging employees to be team players in NASA\u2019s safety mission.<\/p>\n\u201cWe need a lot of talented team players to meet the challenges that we have for future space flights,\u201d 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. \u201cAlways 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/golden-eagle-award-2jpg.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nPeter 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. <\/div>\nNASA\/Serena Whitfield<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMicah Embry, the Safety Day 2024 chairperson, presented Vande Hei with a certificate for his participation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Marshall continues to be a leader at NASA and across the aerospace industry, \u2026 we must always be looking forward to improve our procedures and anticipate potential hazards,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cSafety is directly tied to our mission success. Without safety, we cannot achieve the goals we set for ourselves in space exploration, research, and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whitfield is an intern supporting the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nHuman Lander System Spotlight: Preparing for the First Crewed Lunar Landings for Artemis<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe featured business unit for the month of September at NASA\u2019s 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<\/a> (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\u2019s Artemis campaign.<\/p>\nFor Artemis III and Artemis IV, NASA has selected SpaceX\u2019s Starship HLS, while Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon lander will be used for Artemis V. Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA\u2019s mission needs, provides more robustness while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Learn more about HLS and meet some of the NASA Marshall teammates below who are working on the lunar landers:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Amy](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/amy-buck.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nAmy Buck<\/div>\nNASA\/Ken Hall<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAmy 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\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NASA HLS materials team is vital in supporting the design, testing, and manufacturing of the landers,\u201d Buck said. \u201cLanding on the Moon is central to the larger Artemis mission, and I\u2019m super excited to be part of the Artemis Generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buck is most excited to see the first woman land on the Moon under Artemis and says she hopes it will inspire young girls \u2013 the next generation of engineers and scientists \u2013 to go into science and engineering.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Sean](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sean-underwood.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nSean Underwood<\/div>\nNASA\/Ken Hall<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMission 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\u2019s harsh environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are unique thermal challenges associated with the Artemis III, IV, and V missions,\u201d Underwood said. \u201cOur primary objective is to manage thermal energy and heating rates, ensuring that HLS components and systems remain within thermal limits across all mission environments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Underwood joined Marshall in 2020 and sees his role with Artemis as one that will shape the future of space exploration \u2013 and Marshall. \u201cMarshall Space Flight Center has been at the forefront of monumental space projects since its inception,\u201d he said. \u201cThrough Artemis, we are ensuring that the legacy of past missions continues to inspire and drive us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nInnovative Thermal Energy Storage Tanks Keep Marshall Cool \u2013 and Save Taxpayer Dollars<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Rick Smith<\/em><\/p>\nAs 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.<\/p>\n
But one \u201ccool\u201d new infrastructure upgrade at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center will reduce the center\u2019s utility costs by approximately $250,000 a year, shrinking Marshall\u2019s environmental footprint and streamlining long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-0251.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA Marshall Space Flight Center facilities engineers Connor McLean, left, and Angela Bell assess the readiness of Marshall\u2019s new thermal energy storage tank, which officially goes into operation in October. The tank stands alongside Marshall\u2019s 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\u2019s Office of Center Operations. <\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIt\u2019s called a thermal energy storage tank \u2013 60 feet high, 60 feet in diameter, each unit capable of holding approximately 1.125 million gallons of chilled water \u2013 and it represents another milestone for facilities engineers in Marshall\u2019s Office of Center Operations, whose tactics have already reduced center-wide energy expenditure by a dizzying 58.3% since fiscal year 2003.<\/p>\n
Thermal energy storage is not a new process; it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe average team member might not realize it\u2019s chilled water, not just air, that keeps our labs, offices, and test facilities cool,\u201d said Marshall facilities engineer Angela Bell, who helped oversee the installation of the second tank. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marshall\u2019s 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 \u2013 situated adjacent to Building 4473 on the corner of Morris and Titan roads \u2013 provide an annual energy savings of roughly half a million dollars.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 or roughly 1,750 times as much cooling capacity as a central air system in a traditional family home.<\/p>\n
Even with that considerable output, Marshall\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a huge stride in critical system redundancy,\u201d McLean said. \u201cHaving 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The electricity that powers the storage tanks is a mix \u2013 hydroelectric, fossil fuels, nuclear, and an increasing amount of renewable energy sources \u2013 provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority via the U.S. Army, from whom NASA leases property on Redstone Arsenal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tanks will be tremendous cost-savers for the next 40-50 years,\u201d Bell said. \u201cThey allow us to use energy much more efficiently, based on past energy consumption levels \u2013 and that allows Marshall to do other things with those dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we didn\u2019t reduce consumption, our projected utility costs would be around $30 million per year,\u201d said Rhonda Truitt, Marshall\u2019s energy and water manager. \u201cThanks to efficient strategizing, encouraged and championed by Marshall and NASA leadership, we typically operate in the range of just $16-18 million per year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such strategies have enabled Marshall to effectively keep its infrastructure budget flat since the early 2010s \u2013 reducing overall energy consumption and replacing outdated facilities with more cost-conscious, environmentally friendly modern buildings, a program known among facilities engineers as \u201crepair by replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. Army at Redstone doesn\u2019t employ a central chiller plant of its own, but the Marshall facilities team works \u201cvery closely\u201d with their counterparts on the military side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a great working relationship,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cThe real advantage of our system is that by reducing our peak energy demand, it reduces it for all of Redstone \u2013 which benefits the rest of the Arsenal and the lower Tennessee Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new tank goes into operation just in time for the start of National Energy Awareness Month in October \u2013 and Truitt and her team encourage the Marshall workforce to continue to practice sensible energy conservation tactics even as sweat-inducing temperatures subside.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn off lights and computer monitors wherever possible, don\u2019t leave doors or windows propped open, and be mindful of all the small things that can add up over time,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cOur goal is always to help team members do their jobs in the most efficient way possible, to accomplish Marshall\u2019s objectives and conserve our energy budget without impeding the mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thanks to the center\u2019s new thermal energy storage tank, that should be no sweat.<\/p>\n
Smith, an Aeyon employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMarshall Welcomes Members of the NASA Advisory Council<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Rae](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-1332.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRae Ann Meyer, front right, deputy director of NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s mission. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nCommercial Crew Program Hangs Expedition 70 Plaque, Highlighting Work Done by Marshall Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"NASA\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-9031.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA\u2019s 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. <\/em>Expedition 70<\/em><\/a> \u2013 which ended April 5 \u2013 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)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-9034.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBuckley, left, signs an Expedition 70 plaque as Dennis looks on.<\/em> (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Sara](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-9041.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDennis hangs the Expedition 70 plaque inside the Huntsville Operations Support Center. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 Aboard International Space Station<\/strong><\/h2>\nNASA 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<\/a>\u00a0for a five-month science research mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"NASA's](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Expedition-72_blog.png?w=1276\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 crew joins Expedition 72 aboard the International Space Station.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe two crew members of NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station.<\/p>\n
The duo joined the space station\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The crewmates will conduct more than 200\u00a0scientific investigations<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\nWith 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\u2019s Artemis campaign, and beyond.<\/p>\n
Learn more<\/a> about NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 mission and the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. Follow the\u00a0space station blog<\/a> for updates on station activities.<\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nKeeping the Pace: Marshall Hosts Annual \u2018Racin\u2019 the Station\u2019 Duathlon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-0602.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA costumed gorilla pacer leads a group of runners during \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d duathlon, a run\/bike\/run event where the participants \u201craced\u201d the International Space Station. The event was Sept. 28 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, which is on Redstone Arsenal. \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d 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.\u00a0 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. \u201cThe rain was a first for race day since we started this event in 2012,\u201d said Kent Criswell, race organizer for Marshall. \u201cBut we still had a safe race with 106 individuals and 13 relay teams finishing.\u201d The event is organized by the\u00a0<\/em>Team Rocket Triathlon Club<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 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 <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Participants](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-0709.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nParticipants take off in the bike portion of the \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d duathlon. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA Seeks Innovators for Lunar Waste Competition\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Savannah Bullard<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\nA new NASA competition, the LunaRecycle Challenge<\/a>, is open and offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions.\u00a0<\/p>\nAs 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. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s 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\u2019s ingenuity and creativity to find solutions, NASA can restructure the agency\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOperating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth,\u201d said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. \u201cWith this challenge, we are seeking the public\u2019s innovative approaches to waste management on the Moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s 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\u00a0NASA Centennial Challenges<\/a>\u00a0and contribute to agency missions and initiatives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nTeams will have the opportunity to compete in either or both competition tracks, each of which will carry its own share of the prize purse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The LunaRecycle Challenge also will address some of the aerospace community\u2019s top technical challenges. In July, NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s space technology development and investments. This list and subsequent updates will help inform future Centennial Challenges. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pleased that NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge will contribute to solutions pertaining to technological needs within advanced manufacturing and habitats,\u201d said Kim Krome, acting program manager for agency\u2019s Centennial Challenges, and challenge manager of LunaRecycle. \u201cWe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA has contracted The University of Alabama to be the\u00a0allied partner<\/a>\u00a0for the duration of the challenge. The university, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner\u00a0AI Spacefactory<\/a>\u00a0to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nTo register as a participant in NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge, visit:\u00a0lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nNASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge is led by the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center with support from Marshall Space Flight Center. The competition is a NASA\u2019s Centennial Challenge, based at Marshall. Centennial Challenges are part of\u00a0NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing<\/a>\u00a0program within the agency\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nBullard, a Manufacturing Technical Solutions Inc. employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nFueling Complete on Europa Clipper Spacecraft<\/strong><\/h2>\nTechnicians completed loading propellants in the agency\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> spacecraft Sept. 22, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ksc-20240911-ph-kls01-0006large.jpg?w=1536\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nTechnicians work to complete operations prior to propellant load for NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper spacecraft inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11.<\/div>\nNASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHoused in the\u00a0largest spacecraft<\/a>\u00a0NASA has ever built for a planetary mission, Europa Clipper\u2019s propulsion module is an aluminum cylinder 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, and it holds the spacecraft\u2019s array of 24 engines and 6067.6 pounds of propellant in two propulsion tanks, as well as the spacecraft\u2019s 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\u2019s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.<\/p>\nAfter 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 \u201cgravity assists,\u201d Europa Clipper will achieve the velocity needed to reach Jupiter in April 2030.<\/p>\n
NASA is targeting launch Oct. 10 aboard a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy\u2019s historic Launch Complex 39A.<\/p>\n
Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the\u00a0Europa Clipper\u00a0mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with NASA JPL and NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Planetary Missions Program Office<\/a> at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.<\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPowered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\nGet The Details…<\/a>
\nLee Mohon <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Fabric of Marshall: Center Hosts Safety Day 2024 By Serena Whitfield \u201cSafety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall\u201d was the theme for Safety Day at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26. Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center. \u201cIt is crucial to ensure that each of [\u2026] Continue reading
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Fabric of Marshall: Center Hosts Safety Day 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Serena Whitfield<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cSafety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall\u201d was the theme for Safety Day at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26.<\/p>\n
Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is crucial to ensure that each of us weaves safety into everything we do, not only at work, but in our daily lives,\u201d Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey, left, with NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei, who was the keynote speaker for Marshall\u2019s Safety Day on Sept. 26. <\/div>\nNASA\/Krisdon Manecke<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past year, Marshall\u2019s leadership and workforce have highlighted that transparency is an essential cultural attribute of our workforce and center,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei talks about his time in space aboard the International Space Station. <\/div>\nNASA\/Krisdon Manecke<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGuest speaker Marceleus Venable, a purpose coach, trainer, and author, followed Pelfrey\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei<\/a> was the keynote speaker, encouraging employees to be team players in NASA\u2019s safety mission.<\/p>\n\u201cWe need a lot of talented team players to meet the challenges that we have for future space flights,\u201d 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. \u201cAlways 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nPeter 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. <\/div>\nNASA\/Serena Whitfield<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMicah Embry, the Safety Day 2024 chairperson, presented Vande Hei with a certificate for his participation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Marshall continues to be a leader at NASA and across the aerospace industry, \u2026 we must always be looking forward to improve our procedures and anticipate potential hazards,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cSafety is directly tied to our mission success. Without safety, we cannot achieve the goals we set for ourselves in space exploration, research, and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whitfield is an intern supporting the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nHuman Lander System Spotlight: Preparing for the First Crewed Lunar Landings for Artemis<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe featured business unit for the month of September at NASA\u2019s 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<\/a> (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\u2019s Artemis campaign.<\/p>\nFor Artemis III and Artemis IV, NASA has selected SpaceX\u2019s Starship HLS, while Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon lander will be used for Artemis V. Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA\u2019s mission needs, provides more robustness while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Learn more about HLS and meet some of the NASA Marshall teammates below who are working on the lunar landers:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nAmy Buck<\/div>\nNASA\/Ken Hall<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAmy 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\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NASA HLS materials team is vital in supporting the design, testing, and manufacturing of the landers,\u201d Buck said. \u201cLanding on the Moon is central to the larger Artemis mission, and I\u2019m super excited to be part of the Artemis Generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buck is most excited to see the first woman land on the Moon under Artemis and says she hopes it will inspire young girls \u2013 the next generation of engineers and scientists \u2013 to go into science and engineering.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nSean Underwood<\/div>\nNASA\/Ken Hall<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMission 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\u2019s harsh environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are unique thermal challenges associated with the Artemis III, IV, and V missions,\u201d Underwood said. \u201cOur primary objective is to manage thermal energy and heating rates, ensuring that HLS components and systems remain within thermal limits across all mission environments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Underwood joined Marshall in 2020 and sees his role with Artemis as one that will shape the future of space exploration \u2013 and Marshall. \u201cMarshall Space Flight Center has been at the forefront of monumental space projects since its inception,\u201d he said. \u201cThrough Artemis, we are ensuring that the legacy of past missions continues to inspire and drive us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nInnovative Thermal Energy Storage Tanks Keep Marshall Cool \u2013 and Save Taxpayer Dollars<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Rick Smith<\/em><\/p>\nAs 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.<\/p>\n
But one \u201ccool\u201d new infrastructure upgrade at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center will reduce the center\u2019s utility costs by approximately $250,000 a year, shrinking Marshall\u2019s environmental footprint and streamlining long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA Marshall Space Flight Center facilities engineers Connor McLean, left, and Angela Bell assess the readiness of Marshall\u2019s new thermal energy storage tank, which officially goes into operation in October. The tank stands alongside Marshall\u2019s 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\u2019s Office of Center Operations. <\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIt\u2019s called a thermal energy storage tank \u2013 60 feet high, 60 feet in diameter, each unit capable of holding approximately 1.125 million gallons of chilled water \u2013 and it represents another milestone for facilities engineers in Marshall\u2019s Office of Center Operations, whose tactics have already reduced center-wide energy expenditure by a dizzying 58.3% since fiscal year 2003.<\/p>\n
Thermal energy storage is not a new process; it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe average team member might not realize it\u2019s chilled water, not just air, that keeps our labs, offices, and test facilities cool,\u201d said Marshall facilities engineer Angela Bell, who helped oversee the installation of the second tank. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marshall\u2019s 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 \u2013 situated adjacent to Building 4473 on the corner of Morris and Titan roads \u2013 provide an annual energy savings of roughly half a million dollars.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 or roughly 1,750 times as much cooling capacity as a central air system in a traditional family home.<\/p>\n
Even with that considerable output, Marshall\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a huge stride in critical system redundancy,\u201d McLean said. \u201cHaving 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The electricity that powers the storage tanks is a mix \u2013 hydroelectric, fossil fuels, nuclear, and an increasing amount of renewable energy sources \u2013 provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority via the U.S. Army, from whom NASA leases property on Redstone Arsenal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tanks will be tremendous cost-savers for the next 40-50 years,\u201d Bell said. \u201cThey allow us to use energy much more efficiently, based on past energy consumption levels \u2013 and that allows Marshall to do other things with those dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we didn\u2019t reduce consumption, our projected utility costs would be around $30 million per year,\u201d said Rhonda Truitt, Marshall\u2019s energy and water manager. \u201cThanks to efficient strategizing, encouraged and championed by Marshall and NASA leadership, we typically operate in the range of just $16-18 million per year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such strategies have enabled Marshall to effectively keep its infrastructure budget flat since the early 2010s \u2013 reducing overall energy consumption and replacing outdated facilities with more cost-conscious, environmentally friendly modern buildings, a program known among facilities engineers as \u201crepair by replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. Army at Redstone doesn\u2019t employ a central chiller plant of its own, but the Marshall facilities team works \u201cvery closely\u201d with their counterparts on the military side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a great working relationship,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cThe real advantage of our system is that by reducing our peak energy demand, it reduces it for all of Redstone \u2013 which benefits the rest of the Arsenal and the lower Tennessee Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new tank goes into operation just in time for the start of National Energy Awareness Month in October \u2013 and Truitt and her team encourage the Marshall workforce to continue to practice sensible energy conservation tactics even as sweat-inducing temperatures subside.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn off lights and computer monitors wherever possible, don\u2019t leave doors or windows propped open, and be mindful of all the small things that can add up over time,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cOur goal is always to help team members do their jobs in the most efficient way possible, to accomplish Marshall\u2019s objectives and conserve our energy budget without impeding the mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thanks to the center\u2019s new thermal energy storage tank, that should be no sweat.<\/p>\n
Smith, an Aeyon employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMarshall Welcomes Members of the NASA Advisory Council<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRae Ann Meyer, front right, deputy director of NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s mission. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nCommercial Crew Program Hangs Expedition 70 Plaque, Highlighting Work Done by Marshall Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA\u2019s 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. <\/em>Expedition 70<\/em><\/a> \u2013 which ended April 5 \u2013 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)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBuckley, left, signs an Expedition 70 plaque as Dennis looks on.<\/em> (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDennis hangs the Expedition 70 plaque inside the Huntsville Operations Support Center. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 Aboard International Space Station<\/strong><\/h2>\nNASA 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<\/a>\u00a0for a five-month science research mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 crew joins Expedition 72 aboard the International Space Station.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe two crew members of NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station.<\/p>\n
The duo joined the space station\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The crewmates will conduct more than 200\u00a0scientific investigations<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\nWith 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\u2019s Artemis campaign, and beyond.<\/p>\n
Learn more<\/a> about NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 mission and the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. Follow the\u00a0space station blog<\/a> for updates on station activities.<\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nKeeping the Pace: Marshall Hosts Annual \u2018Racin\u2019 the Station\u2019 Duathlon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA costumed gorilla pacer leads a group of runners during \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d duathlon, a run\/bike\/run event where the participants \u201craced\u201d the International Space Station. The event was Sept. 28 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, which is on Redstone Arsenal. \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d 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.\u00a0 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. \u201cThe rain was a first for race day since we started this event in 2012,\u201d said Kent Criswell, race organizer for Marshall. \u201cBut we still had a safe race with 106 individuals and 13 relay teams finishing.\u201d The event is organized by the\u00a0<\/em>Team Rocket Triathlon Club<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 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 <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nParticipants take off in the bike portion of the \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d duathlon. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA Seeks Innovators for Lunar Waste Competition\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Savannah Bullard<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\nA new NASA competition, the LunaRecycle Challenge<\/a>, is open and offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions.\u00a0<\/p>\nAs 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. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s 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\u2019s ingenuity and creativity to find solutions, NASA can restructure the agency\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOperating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth,\u201d said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. \u201cWith this challenge, we are seeking the public\u2019s innovative approaches to waste management on the Moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s 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\u00a0NASA Centennial Challenges<\/a>\u00a0and contribute to agency missions and initiatives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nTeams will have the opportunity to compete in either or both competition tracks, each of which will carry its own share of the prize purse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The LunaRecycle Challenge also will address some of the aerospace community\u2019s top technical challenges. In July, NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s space technology development and investments. This list and subsequent updates will help inform future Centennial Challenges. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pleased that NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge will contribute to solutions pertaining to technological needs within advanced manufacturing and habitats,\u201d said Kim Krome, acting program manager for agency\u2019s Centennial Challenges, and challenge manager of LunaRecycle. \u201cWe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA has contracted The University of Alabama to be the\u00a0allied partner<\/a>\u00a0for the duration of the challenge. The university, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner\u00a0AI Spacefactory<\/a>\u00a0to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nTo register as a participant in NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge, visit:\u00a0lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nNASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge is led by the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center with support from Marshall Space Flight Center. The competition is a NASA\u2019s Centennial Challenge, based at Marshall. Centennial Challenges are part of\u00a0NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing<\/a>\u00a0program within the agency\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nBullard, a Manufacturing Technical Solutions Inc. employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nFueling Complete on Europa Clipper Spacecraft<\/strong><\/h2>\nTechnicians completed loading propellants in the agency\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> spacecraft Sept. 22, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nTechnicians work to complete operations prior to propellant load for NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper spacecraft inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11.<\/div>\nNASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHoused in the\u00a0largest spacecraft<\/a>\u00a0NASA has ever built for a planetary mission, Europa Clipper\u2019s propulsion module is an aluminum cylinder 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, and it holds the spacecraft\u2019s array of 24 engines and 6067.6 pounds of propellant in two propulsion tanks, as well as the spacecraft\u2019s 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\u2019s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.<\/p>\nAfter 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 \u201cgravity assists,\u201d Europa Clipper will achieve the velocity needed to reach Jupiter in April 2030.<\/p>\n
NASA is targeting launch Oct. 10 aboard a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy\u2019s historic Launch Complex 39A.<\/p>\n
Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the\u00a0Europa Clipper\u00a0mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with NASA JPL and NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Planetary Missions Program Office<\/a> at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.<\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPowered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\nGet The Details…<\/a>
\nLee Mohon <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Fabric of Marshall: Center Hosts Safety Day 2024 By Serena Whitfield \u201cSafety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall\u201d was the theme for Safety Day at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26. Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center. \u201cIt is crucial to ensure that each of [\u2026] Continue reading
\u201cSafety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall\u201d was the theme for Safety Day at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26.<\/p>\n
Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is crucial to ensure that each of us weaves safety into everything we do, not only at work, but in our daily lives,\u201d Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey said.<\/p>\n
![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kam-2308resized.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past year, Marshall\u2019s leadership and workforce have highlighted that transparency is an essential cultural attribute of our workforce and center,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Guest speaker Marceleus Venable, a purpose coach, trainer, and author, followed Pelfrey\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei<\/a> was the keynote speaker, encouraging employees to be team players in NASA\u2019s safety mission.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a lot of talented team players to meet the challenges that we have for future space flights,\u201d 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. \u201cAlways 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Micah Embry, the Safety Day 2024 chairperson, presented Vande Hei with a certificate for his participation.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Marshall continues to be a leader at NASA and across the aerospace industry, \u2026 we must always be looking forward to improve our procedures and anticipate potential hazards,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cSafety is directly tied to our mission success. Without safety, we cannot achieve the goals we set for ourselves in space exploration, research, and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitfield is an intern supporting the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n The featured business unit for the month of September at NASA\u2019s 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<\/a> (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\u2019s Artemis campaign.<\/p>\n For Artemis III and Artemis IV, NASA has selected SpaceX\u2019s Starship HLS, while Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon lander will be used for Artemis V. Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA\u2019s mission needs, provides more robustness while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Learn more about HLS and meet some of the NASA Marshall teammates below who are working on the lunar landers:<\/p>\n 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\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NASA HLS materials team is vital in supporting the design, testing, and manufacturing of the landers,\u201d Buck said. \u201cLanding on the Moon is central to the larger Artemis mission, and I\u2019m super excited to be part of the Artemis Generation.\u201d<\/p>\n Buck is most excited to see the first woman land on the Moon under Artemis and says she hopes it will inspire young girls \u2013 the next generation of engineers and scientists \u2013 to go into science and engineering.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s harsh environment.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are unique thermal challenges associated with the Artemis III, IV, and V missions,\u201d Underwood said. \u201cOur primary objective is to manage thermal energy and heating rates, ensuring that HLS components and systems remain within thermal limits across all mission environments.\u201d<\/p>\n Underwood joined Marshall in 2020 and sees his role with Artemis as one that will shape the future of space exploration \u2013 and Marshall. \u201cMarshall Space Flight Center has been at the forefront of monumental space projects since its inception,\u201d he said. \u201cThrough Artemis, we are ensuring that the legacy of past missions continues to inspire and drive us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Rick Smith<\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But one \u201ccool\u201d new infrastructure upgrade at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center will reduce the center\u2019s utility costs by approximately $250,000 a year, shrinking Marshall\u2019s environmental footprint and streamlining long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s called a thermal energy storage tank \u2013 60 feet high, 60 feet in diameter, each unit capable of holding approximately 1.125 million gallons of chilled water \u2013 and it represents another milestone for facilities engineers in Marshall\u2019s Office of Center Operations, whose tactics have already reduced center-wide energy expenditure by a dizzying 58.3% since fiscal year 2003.<\/p>\n Thermal energy storage is not a new process; it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe average team member might not realize it\u2019s chilled water, not just air, that keeps our labs, offices, and test facilities cool,\u201d said Marshall facilities engineer Angela Bell, who helped oversee the installation of the second tank. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Marshall\u2019s 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 \u2013 situated adjacent to Building 4473 on the corner of Morris and Titan roads \u2013 provide an annual energy savings of roughly half a million dollars.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 or roughly 1,750 times as much cooling capacity as a central air system in a traditional family home.<\/p>\n Even with that considerable output, Marshall\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a huge stride in critical system redundancy,\u201d McLean said. \u201cHaving 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The electricity that powers the storage tanks is a mix \u2013 hydroelectric, fossil fuels, nuclear, and an increasing amount of renewable energy sources \u2013 provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority via the U.S. Army, from whom NASA leases property on Redstone Arsenal.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe tanks will be tremendous cost-savers for the next 40-50 years,\u201d Bell said. \u201cThey allow us to use energy much more efficiently, based on past energy consumption levels \u2013 and that allows Marshall to do other things with those dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we didn\u2019t reduce consumption, our projected utility costs would be around $30 million per year,\u201d said Rhonda Truitt, Marshall\u2019s energy and water manager. \u201cThanks to efficient strategizing, encouraged and championed by Marshall and NASA leadership, we typically operate in the range of just $16-18 million per year.\u201d<\/p>\n Such strategies have enabled Marshall to effectively keep its infrastructure budget flat since the early 2010s \u2013 reducing overall energy consumption and replacing outdated facilities with more cost-conscious, environmentally friendly modern buildings, a program known among facilities engineers as \u201crepair by replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. Army at Redstone doesn\u2019t employ a central chiller plant of its own, but the Marshall facilities team works \u201cvery closely\u201d with their counterparts on the military side.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a great working relationship,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cThe real advantage of our system is that by reducing our peak energy demand, it reduces it for all of Redstone \u2013 which benefits the rest of the Arsenal and the lower Tennessee Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n The new tank goes into operation just in time for the start of National Energy Awareness Month in October \u2013 and Truitt and her team encourage the Marshall workforce to continue to practice sensible energy conservation tactics even as sweat-inducing temperatures subside.<\/p>\n \u201cTurn off lights and computer monitors wherever possible, don\u2019t leave doors or windows propped open, and be mindful of all the small things that can add up over time,\u201d Truitt said. \u201cOur goal is always to help team members do their jobs in the most efficient way possible, to accomplish Marshall\u2019s objectives and conserve our energy budget without impeding the mission.\u201d<\/p>\n Thanks to the center\u2019s new thermal energy storage tank, that should be no sweat.<\/p>\n Smith, an Aeyon employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Rae Ann Meyer, front right, deputy director of NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s mission. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\u2019s 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. <\/em>Expedition 70<\/em><\/a> \u2013 which ended April 5 \u2013 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)<\/em><\/p>\n Buckley, left, signs an Expedition 70 plaque as Dennis looks on.<\/em> (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n Dennis hangs the Expedition 70 plaque inside the Huntsville Operations Support Center. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/a>\u00a0for a five-month science research mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n The two crew members of NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station.<\/p>\n The duo joined the space station\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The crewmates will conduct more than 200\u00a0scientific investigations<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Artemis campaign, and beyond.<\/p>\n Learn more<\/a> about NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 mission and the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. Follow the\u00a0space station blog<\/a> for updates on station activities.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n A costumed gorilla pacer leads a group of runners during \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d duathlon, a run\/bike\/run event where the participants \u201craced\u201d the International Space Station. The event was Sept. 28 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, which is on Redstone Arsenal. \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d 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.\u00a0 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. \u201cThe rain was a first for race day since we started this event in 2012,\u201d said Kent Criswell, race organizer for Marshall. \u201cBut we still had a safe race with 106 individuals and 13 relay teams finishing.\u201d The event is organized by the\u00a0<\/em>Team Rocket Triathlon Club<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 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 <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n Participants take off in the bike portion of the \u201cRacin\u2019 the Station\u201d duathlon. (NASA\/Charles Beason)<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Savannah Bullard<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n A new NASA competition, the LunaRecycle Challenge<\/a>, is open and offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s ingenuity and creativity to find solutions, NASA can restructure the agency\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOperating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth,\u201d said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. \u201cWith this challenge, we are seeking the public\u2019s innovative approaches to waste management on the Moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s 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\u00a0NASA Centennial Challenges<\/a>\u00a0and contribute to agency missions and initiatives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n The LunaRecycle Challenge also will address some of the aerospace community\u2019s top technical challenges. In July, NASA\u2019s 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\u2019s space technology development and investments. This list and subsequent updates will help inform future Centennial Challenges. \u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am pleased that NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge will contribute to solutions pertaining to technological needs within advanced manufacturing and habitats,\u201d said Kim Krome, acting program manager for agency\u2019s Centennial Challenges, and challenge manager of LunaRecycle. \u201cWe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA has contracted The University of Alabama to be the\u00a0allied partner<\/a>\u00a0for the duration of the challenge. The university, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner\u00a0AI Spacefactory<\/a>\u00a0to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To register as a participant in NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge, visit:\u00a0lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s LunaRecycle Challenge is led by the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center with support from Marshall Space Flight Center. The competition is a NASA\u2019s Centennial Challenge, based at Marshall. Centennial Challenges are part of\u00a0NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing<\/a>\u00a0program within the agency\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Bullard, a Manufacturing Technical Solutions Inc. employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Technicians completed loading propellants in the agency\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> spacecraft Sept. 22, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center.<\/p>\n Housed in the\u00a0largest spacecraft<\/a>\u00a0NASA has ever built for a planetary mission, Europa Clipper\u2019s propulsion module is an aluminum cylinder 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, and it holds the spacecraft\u2019s array of 24 engines and 6067.6 pounds of propellant in two propulsion tanks, as well as the spacecraft\u2019s 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\u2019s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cgravity assists,\u201d Europa Clipper will achieve the velocity needed to reach Jupiter in April 2030.<\/p>\n NASA is targeting launch Oct. 10 aboard a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy\u2019s historic Launch Complex 39A.<\/p>\n Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the\u00a0Europa Clipper\u00a0mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with NASA JPL and NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Planetary Missions Program Office<\/a> at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> The Fabric of Marshall: Center Hosts Safety Day 2024 By Serena Whitfield \u201cSafety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall\u201d was the theme for Safety Day at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26. Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center. \u201cIt is crucial to ensure that each of [\u2026] Continue reading <\/a><\/figure>Human Lander System Spotlight: Preparing for the First Crewed Lunar Landings for Artemis<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/a><\/figure>Innovative Thermal Energy Storage Tanks Keep Marshall Cool \u2013 and Save Taxpayer Dollars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Marshall Welcomes Members of the NASA Advisory Council<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCommercial Crew Program Hangs Expedition 70 Plaque, Highlighting Work Done by Marshall Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 Aboard International Space Station<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Keeping the Pace: Marshall Hosts Annual \u2018Racin\u2019 the Station\u2019 Duathlon<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA Seeks Innovators for Lunar Waste Competition\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Fueling Complete on Europa Clipper Spacecraft<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nLee Mohon <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"