NASA Weekly Update from the Administrator – Sept. 28, 2020
I am thrilled at the momentum our agency is generating by continuing to hit our goals. Last week, we released a detailed phase 1 plan of the Artemis program’s mission to land the first woman and next man on the lunar South Pole in 2024. We also released our first-ever agencywide economic impact report. Our country is stronger because of NASA, and life on Earth is better because of our dedicated work in scientific discovery, technological advancement and space exploration.
- Top News: Tomorrow, Sept. 29, the first of three news conferences for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 flight mission will stream live on NASA TV and the agency’s website at 11 a.m. EDT. Additionally, on Thursday, Oct. 1, NASA TV will stream live coverage of the launch of the Northrop Grumman CRS-14 Antares Rocket Cygnus Cargo Mission to the International Space Station. The launch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. EDT from our Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
- Next Up: This Wednesday, Sept. 30, I will present at the U.S. Senate Commerce Science, and Transportation Committee hearing. Our agency is delivering on our promise to the American taxpayer, even in the midst of a challenging pandemic. I am excited to provide further updates on our Artemis Plan, progress on the Green Run tests, and much more.
- Shout Out: The coronavirus pandemic has confronted us with many challenges, but none more important than ensuring that we have all the equipment needed to keep our workforce safe. Pearl Hill, Supply and Material Program Manager in the Office of Strategic Infrastructure, coordinated th
e agency’s PPE material purchases and center distributions. She worked with a great team across many different offices and centers, including, Julie Wise, Office of Procurement (OP); Michael Victory, OP; Angel Plaza, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer; Sara-Beth Jensen, Goddard Space Flight Center; and Chuck Brooks, Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Thank you, Pearl and team for your great work in our time of need!
Early testing for our 2024 moonwalk on the lunar South Pole is underway! Engineers at Johnson Space Center in Houston are evaluating the performance of our new spacesuits and other tools in simulated tests at our Neutral Buoyancy Lab. What an awesome photo!
Ad astra,
Jim Bridenstine
