28 December 2002
NASA Cites 2002 Accomplishments in Space and on Earth
(Space agency working to inspire next generation of explorers) (1,490)
In a summary of its 2002 accomplishments, NASA says that it maintained
an ambitious set of programs to study the earth, explore the universe,
and "inspire the next generation of explorers."
In a December 23 press release, NASA said that the agency undertook a
"monumental and comprehensive shift in management philosophy" during
the year with its "One NASA" initiative to focus all elements on
collaborative and common missions. Sean O'Keefe, former deputy
director of the Office of Management and Budget became NASA's 10th
administrator.
NASA cited a number of major accomplishments during 2002, including
the following:
-- NASA conducted five successful Space Shuttle missions: four to
expand the International Space Station, the largest and most
sophisticated spacecraft ever built, and one to upgrade the Hubble
Space Telescope
-- Space Shuttle Columbia installed new solar panels, a better central
power unit, and a new camera that increased Hubble Telescope's
"vision" tenfold.
-- Barbara Morgan was named NASA's first Educator Astronaut and
assigned to a November 2003 shuttle mission. Her assignment fulfills
the commitment to send an educator into space to help inspire a new
generation of explorers.
-- NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft measured enormous quantities of
water ice buried deep under the poles of the mysterious red planet.
-- NASA planet-hunters found a planetary system with a Jupiter-sized
planet at about the same distance from its parent star as our own
Jupiter is from our Sun.
-- Using images from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers,
for the first time, tracked the life cycle of X-ray jets from a
deep-space black hole.
-- NASA conducted space-based observations of Earth to monitor and
study everything from the movement of the West Nile virus to glaciers
and ice shelves in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
-- Scientists from NASA have developed a prototype that can monitor
the air for bacterial spores, as well as a new aluminum-silicon alloy
that promises to lower engine emissions.
Following is the text of NASA's December 23 press release:
(begin text)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Press Release
Washington, D.C.
December 23, 2002
NASA'S YEAR OF CHALLENGES, CHANGES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NASA completed a monumental and comprehensive shift in management
philosophy and structure during a busy and exciting year. NASA is
flourishing with the vision of exploration and discovery, as the
agency continues to strive to understand and protect the Earth;
explore the Universe and search for life; and inspire the next
generation of explorers, as only NASA can.
Sean O'Keefe, the former Deputy Director of the Office of Management
and Budget, became the agency's 10th Administrator, and former Space
Shuttle Commander, Frederick Gregory, was appointed as NASA's first
African American Deputy Administrator.
The agency is realigning strategically and emphasizing the "One NASA"
management philosophy. The philosophy is robust, flexible, and
research driven. "One NASA" focuses all agency elements on
collaborative and common missions.
"The NASA family has much to be proud of as we reflect on the agency's
accomplishments in 2002," said Administrator O'Keefe. "We are facing
the most exciting period of challenges, changes and expanding
scientific accomplishment since the early days of space flight. The
new Integrated Space Transportation Plan and 'One NASA' philosophy
provides us with a systematic approach to address future space
transportation needs. It will guide our role as the leader of
space-based scientific research and exploration," he said.
PROTECTING AND UNDERSTANDING EARTH
NASA is conducting research that may allow public health officials to
better track and predict the spread of West Nile Virus or similar
diseases. NASA's goal is to provide people on the front lines of
public health with innovative technologies and data from the unique
vantage point of space. NASA's products are tailored into useful tools
and databases for streamlining efforts to combat disease.
NASA observed the Antarctic Larsen Ice Shelf and the seasonal
acceleration of the Greenland ice sheet. The study indicated glaciers
could dramatically affect global ocean currents, marine life,
terrestrial productivity, and the ocean food chain.
NASA airborne and spaceborne observations are helping to improve
prediction of hurricane tracks and to increase warning time. NASA is
using data to improve our knowledge of how clouds insulate the Earth
and reflect heat in and out of our atmosphere. NASA continues to
develop cutting-edge technologies that will increase our weather
forecasting capability from the current three- to-five-day accuracy
level up to a seven-to-ten-day level within this decade.
BETTER LIVING THROUGH SPACE AGE TECHNOLOGY
NASA scientists helped develop several potentially life saving
devices. The Child Presence Sensor uses precision materials and
electronics to alert parents when a child, seated in an automobile
infant or booster seat, is left in the vehicle. Other technology was
adapted to create a portable, non-invasive fetal heart monitor.
NASA researchers demonstrated a prototype device to automatically and
continuously monitor the air for the presence of bacterial spores. The
device, about the size of a home smoke detector, may be used to detect
biohazards, such as anthrax.
A new high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy promises to lower engine
emissions, which will improve air quality.
INTEGRATED SPACE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
NASA launched a new and historic space transportation plan,
dramatically changing the way the agency does business. Using existing
funds, NASA revised the ISTP to match its new management philosophy.
The new Integrated Space Transportation Plan restructures and improves
the existing Space Launch Initiative. It will benefit the
International Space Station, Space Shuttle, Orbital Space Plane
Program, and NASA's science and research objectives.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
The International Space Station, the largest and most sophisticated
spacecraft ever built, celebrated a second year of continuous human
habitation. During 2002, the Space Shuttle fleet turned 21 and
successfully flew five missions, four to support Station expansion and
one unique mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope.
Astronaut John B. Herrington, on the Shuttle Endeavour (STS-113),
became the first Native American to walk in space.
CONTINUOUS PRESENCE...CONTINUOUS RESULTS
Astronaut Peggy Whitson, the first NASA Space Station Science Officer,
reflected the agency's increased research tempo. Approximately 48
research and technology development experiments were conducted.
Crewmembers conducted the first materials science research, which
tested medical procedures for controlling the negative effects of
space flight and increased our understanding of changes to bone and
the central nervous system that occur in space. Astronauts conducted
advanced cell culturing research, broke new ground in the study of
dynamic systems, made up of tiny particles mixed in a liquid
(colloids), and installed three new Station experiment equipment
racks.
OUR QUEST TO GO FASTER AND FARTHER
A new program to develop the future of spacecraft propulsion and
power, the Nuclear Systems Initiative, was announced for 2003. The
approximate $1 billion, five-year program supports research into
nuclear reactor technology, nuclear electric propulsion and other
advanced power systems for deep space exploration.
HUBBLE GETS UPGRADE... 400 KILOMETERS FROM HOME
The crew of the Shuttle Columbia (STS-109) installed new solar panels,
a better central power unit, and a new camera that increased Hubble's
"vision" tenfold. The new Advanced Camera for Surveys sent back
spectacular images. The Hubble provided data to help measure of the
age of the Universe by uncovering the oldest stars. The new
measurements confirmed other methods of measuring the age of the
Universe.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Barbara Morgan was named NASA's first Educator Astronaut and assigned
as a crewmember on Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-118), a November 2003
mission. Her assignment fulfills the commitment to send an educator
into space to help inspire a new generation of explorers.
Educator Astronauts will be fully trained Shuttle crewmembers. They
will perform mission tasks, such as coordinating resupply operations
and spacewalks, as well as interacting with students from space to
encourage interest in science, mathematics and the space program.
NASA CONTINUES TO RECORD MAJOR DISCOVERIES
NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft measured enormous quantities of water
ice buried deep under the poles of the mysterious red planet. It found
enough water, if thawed, to fill Lake Michigan twice over.
Are we alone in the universe? NASA planet-hunters found a planetary
system, which has some important similarities to our own, with a
Jupiter-sized planet at about the same distance from its parent star
as our own Jupiter is from our Sun. This discovery enhances the
possibility that Earth-like planets could exist in similar systems.
For the first time, astronomers tracked the life cycle of X-ray jets
from a deep space black hole. A series of images from NASA's Chandra
X-ray Observatory Center revealed the jets traveled at near-light
speed for several years before slowing down and fading. Chandra also
produced stunning photographs of a high-energy panorama from the
central regions of our Milky Way galaxy. The findings are an important
step toward understanding the most active area of the Milky Way and
other galaxies.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
