WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ — To address a rapidly changing space operating environment and ensure its preservation for generations to come, NASA released the first part of its integrated Space Sustainability Strategy, on Tuesday advancing the agency’s role as a global leader on this crucial issue.

“The release of this strategy marks true progress for NASA on space sustainability,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Space is busy – and only getting busier. If we want to make sure that critical parts of space are preserved so that our children and grandchildren can continue to use them for the benefit of humanity, the time to act is now. NASA is making sure that we’re aligning our resources to support sustainable activity for us and for all.”

For decades, NASA has served as a proactive leader for responsible and sustainable space operations. Entities across the agency develop best practices, analytic tools, and technologies widely adopted by operators around the world. The new strategy seeks to integrate those efforts through a whole-of-agency approach – allowing NASA to focus its resources on the most pressing issues. To facilitate that integration, NASA will appoint a new director of space sustainability to coordinate activities across the agency.

Key aspects of our approach include providing global leadership in space sustainability, supporting equitable access to space, and ensuring NASA’s missions and operations enhance space sustainability. 

Space environments currently are seeing the rapid emergence of commercial capabilities, many of them championed by NASA. These capabilities include increased low Earth orbit satellite activity and plans for the use of satellite constellations, autonomous spacecraft, and commercial space destinations. However, this increased activity also has generated challenges, such as an operating environment more crowded with spacecraft and increased debris. Understanding the risks and benefits associated with this growth is crucial for space sustainability. 

Developed under the leadership of a crossagency advisory board, the space sustainability strategy focuses on advancements NASA can make toward measuring and assessing space sustainability in Earth orbit, identifying cost-effective ways to meet sustainability targets, incentivizing the adoption of sustainable practices through technology and policy development, and increasing efforts to share and receive information with the rest of the global space community.

NASA’s approach to space sustainability recognizes four operational domains: Earth, Earth orbit, the orbital area near and around the Moon known as cislunar space, and deep space, including other celestial bodies. The first volume of the strategy focuses on sustainability in Earth orbit. NASA plans to produce additional volumes focusing on the other domains.

Learn more about the Space Sustainability Strategy at:

https://www.nasa.gov/spacesustainability

SOURCE NASA

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Are you excited about space exploration? Well, get ready, because NASA is gearing up for an extraordinary event. On Monday, May 6th at 10:34 p.m. EDT, the agency’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station will take place, and NASA is inviting everyone to join in the excitement.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, esteemed NASA astronauts, will ascend to the heavens aboard Boeing’s remarkable Starliner spacecraft. The journey will commence with a launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Their destination? The International Space Station, where they will reside for approximately one week. This highly anticipated mission is a significant milestone for the Starliner spacecraft, as it marks its first crewed flight. With its end-to-end capabilities being put to the ultimate test, including launch, docking, and a return to Earth in the western United States, NASA is one step closer to certifying Starliner and its systems for future crewed missions to the space station.

NASA is offering media opportunities for those who are interested in witnessing and being a part of the upcoming Starliner Crew Flight event. Two briefings will be hosted by NASA on Thursday, April 25 to provide exciting information about this groundbreaking event.

First up, at 1 p.m. EDT, is the Crew Arrival Media Event at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. We are expecting to see Janet Petro, director of NASA Kennedy, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy program manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, along with the remarkable astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The crew arrival event will be broadcasted live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Unfortunately, only in-person media will be able to ask questions, but don’t worry, we can still experience the thrill of this event from the comfort of our own screens. Stay updated by following Commercial Crew and Kennedy Space Center for the latest arrival news.

Later in the day, at 6 p.m. EDT, there will be a Flight Test Readiness Review Media Teleconference. This teleconference, which will commence no later than one hour after the completion of the readiness review, will feature illustrious participants such as Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program, and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing Commercial Crew Program. Although we cannot be physically present, we can still join in on the excitement by participating in the teleconference via phone. Don’t miss out! Make sure to contact the Kennedy newsroom by 4 p.m. on April 25 to obtain the dial-in number and passcode.

Although the deadline for media accreditation for in-person coverage of the launch has already passed, you can still stay informed about NASA’s media credentialing policy by visiting their website. If you have any questions regarding media accreditation, you can email them at ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.

The marvels of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program cannot be ignored. Through their partnership with American private industry, they have achieved the goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station. This partnership is revolutionizing human spaceflight history by offering increased accessibility to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station, leading to boundless opportunities for scientific endeavors and commercial ventures. As we look ahead, the space station remains the launching point for NASA’s upcoming space exploration, including future lunar missions and, ultimately, journeys to Mars.

So, get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure with NASA. The Starliner Crew Flight is just around the corner, and the excitement is building. Stay updated on this incredible journey by following NASA’s coverage on various platforms, including NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and their official website. Let’s join NASA’s mission to explore the vast universe, one launch at a time.

For NASA’s launch blog and more information about the mission, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

SOURCE NASA

Tagline: Embark on a Celestial Expedition: NASA’s Starliner Crew Flight Briefings

https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

In just five years, on April 13, 2029, the world will witness the close encounter of a rather infamous asteroid named Apophis. This grand event, visible to the naked eye, has sparked curiosity among astronomers and captured the attention of the public. However, rest assured, there is no reason for alarm. Let’s delve into the fascinating story of the asteroid Apophis and shed light on its journey through the cosmos.

Location, Location, Location:
Apophis is an asteroid measuring about 1,100 feet (340 meters) in diameter. Extensive calculations have revealed that it will safely pass by Earth both in 2029 and 2036. During the 2029 flyby, Apophis will come within a nominal distance of 19,662 miles (31,643 km) from our planet’s surface, closer than the moon and many satellites in Earth’s orbit. As it traverses through Earth’s gravitational field, the passage of Apophis might even cause subtle asteroid-quakes and slightly alter its orbit.

Spectacular Viewing Opportunities:
Although not observable from everywhere, lucky viewers in Australia, southern Asia, southern Europe, and Africa will have a front-row seat to witness Apophis at its brightest in 2029. As the asteroid gradually moves away from Earth and dims, it will become visible in eastern South America. Furthermore, as evening falls along the east coast of North America, telescopes will reveal Apophis located approximately 15 degrees north of the Pleiades. An ephemeris for the asteroid can be found on our website to help astronomers and enthusiasts track its celestial journey.

The Discovery of Apophis:
On the remarkable evening of June 19, 2004, astronomers at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona made a thrilling discovery. Dave Tholen, Fabrizio Bernardi, and the late Roy Tucker stumbled upon an asteroid, later designated as 2004 MN4. What made this discovery even more extraordinary was the fact that the asteroid was unusually close to the sun, only 57 degrees away. Further observations revealed that Apophis had an orbit different from most asteroids, resembling that of an Aten-class asteroid.

Narrowing the Probability of Collision:
Initially, calculations showed that Apophis had a 2.7% chance of colliding with Earth on April 13, 2029, a date marked with superstition. This resulted in a media frenzy surrounding the potentially hazardous asteroid. However, over several years, astronomers meticulously observed Apophis, taking into account the influence of other celestial bodies and the Yarkovsky effect caused by sunlight. By 2006, these studies dispelled the notion of a collision in 2029, relieving the world of any imminent danger.

No More Worries for the Future:
Many eagerly awaited the subsequent close approach of Apophis in 2036. However, in 2013, after conducting radar observations using the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex and the Green Bank Observatory, NASA definitively ruled out any potential impact in 2036 and for the next 100 years. Apophis is now no longer on the Sentry Impact Risk Table, which lists potentially dangerous objects near Earth.

Unlocking the Scientific Opportunities:
With the new knowledge that Apophis poses no threat, astronomers can fully embrace the upcoming close encounter as a fantastic scientific opportunity. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, known for its historic mission to bring samples from asteroid Bennu back to Earth, is now en route to rendezvous with Apophis in April 2029. Renamed OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Apophis Explorer), this mission will unlock further insights into the asteroid’s composition and characteristics.

As we eagerly anticipate the visit of the asteroid Apophis in 2029, let us celebrate the wonders of our universe. Apophis serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our cosmic neighborhood and the continuously advancing knowledge of our exceptional astronomers. So mark your calendars and join the world in witnessing this extraordinary celestial event, which promises to be a captivating spectacle for all.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/