From landing on Mars to launching the powerful @NASAWebb, it’s hard to beat the monumental achievements we’ve had this past year. But in #NASAScience our momentum doesn’t just stop, it keeps going! Here are 10 things I look forward to in science this year: go.nasa.gov/3IGw868
#1: First Images of @NASAWebb
Soon we will #UnfoldTheUniverse, looking to the first stars and galaxies formed over 13.5 billion years ago. I am so excited to see what this powerful telescope will uncover about our universe this year.
#2: Celebrating 50 years of Landsat and the start of Landsat Next
Last year we launched @USGS/@NASA_Landsat 9, adding to the legacy of satellites tracking changes on Earth from space. Now, we celebrate the progress we've made as we continue to better understand our home planet.
#3: Go for @NASAEarth System Observatory & Open Science
We're integrating multiple spacecraft in a new way to learn more about our planet and revolutionize the way we do Earth Science. With this data, it is critical for those who need it the most to have access.
#4: Going to the Moon!
We’re landing on the Moon in transformative ways thanks to the help of commercial providers. With more #NASAScience and technology demonstrations, we can help prepare for sustainable astronaut missions through @NASAArtemis.
#5 Small Satellites doing big #NASAScience
Small satellites help @NASA advance scientific and human exploration, while also reducing the cost of new missions and expanding access to space. Today #NASAScience has over 54 under development and 16 in operation!
@NASA #6 Next-gen of @NASASun missions
A new generation of Sun missions began in Feb. with the launch of MinXSS-3 to study the X-rays coming from solar flares. MinXSS-3 along with other spacecraft, will help us predict space weather and protect our astronauts, satellites & technology.
#7 A closer look at our Sun in great detail
Over the next year, 3 revolutionary assets — @NSF's Daniel K Inoue Solar Telescope, @NASASun’s #ParkerSolarProbe & @esa’s Solar Orbiter — will make unprecedented observations revamping the way we think about our star.
#8 Another year for asteroids
With the launch of Psyche & experimental secondary payload Janus this summer, 4 asteroid missions will have launched in the past year. #OSIRISREx, #LucyMission, #MissionToPsyche & #DARTmission are adding their chapters to our story of exploration.
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It is remarkable to me how little attention this has gotten in the broad @NASAEarth science and tech communities thus far. A decision needs to be made about the importance of that priority.
Yes, it is critical for NASA to adjust their approach and find solutions within budget constraints. Novel commercial approaches sometimes offer more science/dollar than traditionally built missions.
But, it is also true that the whole idea of the Earth System Observatory, a distributed observatory of our planet to serve our planet, cannot be achieved in a scenario as outlined by @jeff_foust in his article.
The goal of the @NASAArtemis I mission is to test the flight of the @NASA_SLS rocket & @NASA_Orion – the spacecraft that will carry humans to the lunar surface. Through this test we can ensure the safety of a crewed second mission.
But the mega moon rocket is not all we’re testing! Riding along are ten cubesats and experiments that will help us understand the Moon’s environment and collect data to prepare us for a sustained presence on the Moon with @NASA_Astronauts, #NASAScience, and new @NASA_Technology.