The first photographs of the expedition were taken by NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which launched on October 13. This achievement is known as “first light.” Psyche’s twin-camera imager instrument took 68 pictures of a star field in the constellation Pisces as part of a test of the spacecraft’s science instruments. The photos from “first light” were combined to create a mosaic.
In 2029, the spacecraft will reach its target, the asteroid Psyche, which is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
NASA Celebrates 25 Years of Operating the Space Station
On December 6, the crew of the International Space Station, NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, and International Space Station Program Manager Joel Montalbano had a space-to-Earth call to commemorate the station’s 25 years of existence.
During space shuttle mission STS-88, on December 6, 1998, Unity and Zarya, the first two components of the orbital outpost, were married. As the mission’s commander, Cabana made history by being the first American to visit the space station.
US Greenhouse Gas Center Launched by NASA and Affiliated Organizations
The U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center was unveiled by NASA and other U.S. government agencies during the 28th annual United Nations Climate Conference. The greenhouse gas data collected by satellite, aerial, and ground-based assets is combined in this multi-agency endeavor. The intention is to give decision-makers, researchers, and other stakeholders access to data and analysis on greenhouse gases in a single location.
Selected Student Teams To Participate in the Rover Challenge
Near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in April of next year, 72 student teams have been chosen by NASA to participate in the Human Exploration Rover Challenge. Celebrated for its 30th anniversary in 2024, the annual challenge allows students in high school, college, and university to design, build, and operate lightweight, human-powered rovers on a mock lunar and Martian obstacle course, all while completing science tasks related to the mission.
