The Orion spacecraft installs a key system; the Artemis mission to the moon conducts the latest engine tests; new advances in rocket propulsion technology... The latest news feed is available at "NASA of the Week"!
The Team at the Kennedy Space Center transferred the Orion spacecraft from the unmanned Artemis I mission to the Launch Abort System Facility at the spaceport, installing part of the launch abort system on the spacecraft. The role of this critical system is to safely separate astronauts from Space Launch System (SLS) rockets in emergency situations during launch.
Credit：NASA
On July 14, NASA conducted an RS-25 engine ignition test at the Stennis Space Center, the fifth in a series of seven tests. Four RS-25 engines will power future SLS rockets for lunar missions, including artemis 1 later this year. For more information on the current RS-25 engine test series, please visit: nasa.gov/SLS.
NASA has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance space nuclear technology, and will choose from three companies' reactor design concept proposals for nuclear thermal propulsion systems. Nuclear propulsion is more efficient than chemical rockets and has the potential to enable faster and more powerful manned and cargo missions to Mars, as well as scientific missions to the outer solar system.
Astronaut and former U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Doug Hurley retired from NASA after 21 years of service. His career highlights include 93 days of spaceflight, the flight of his last space shuttle mission in July 2011, and, most recently, his tenure as commander of the spaceX Crew Dragon's first manned mission. The mission marks a new era for manned spaceflight, enabling commercial manned launches from the U.S. mainland to the International Space Station.
On July 13, the world's last S-3B Viking still in service left the Glenn Research Center. For 16 years, the aircraft has been a workhorse of research aircraft, performing a variety of missions, including missions to help define communications standards so that future unmanned aircraft systems can operate safely in U.S. airspace. The S-3B anti-submarine aircraft will be exhibited at the San Diego Air and Space Museum after its retirement.
Credit：NASA Glenn Research
On its first mission to visit Trojan asteroids, which share orbits jupiter, the Lucy probe will carry a plaque-shaped time capsule with advice, knowledge, joy and inspiration for human interpretations of those who might encounter Lucy in the distant future. The information was collected from thoughtful leaders and inspired celebrities, including Beatles members whose song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" indirectly provided inspiration for the task's name. Ringo Starr of the Beatles: "It's a bit noisy (referring to drum kits), but I'm excited. Lucy returned to the diamond-studded sky. If you meet anyone there, Lucy, please convey my love and peace. Lucy plans to visit a record number of asteroids in a single mission in 2033, after which it will continue to orbit in a stable orbit, traveling hundreds of thousands of years between Earth and the Trojan asteroid (hopefully not millions of years). For more information, please visit nasa.gov/lucy.
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