MAY 2016 1 NASAnext National Aeronautics and Space Administration next NASAempowering the next generation of space explorers

OSIRIS-REx NASA’s asteroid sampling mission takes off

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Dear Reader,

Humans are curious; they love to explore. Throughout our history, man has tirelessly pursued the next hori- zon. The same is true of our scientists and engineers. NASA’s missions and accomplish- ments are a direct result of this ines- capable curiosity and thirst for explo- ration. To many of our scientists and engineers, space is the final frontier — a place of endless discovery. Our eyes are fixed on this frontier. NASA’s Hubble has helped scientists uncover some of the most distant objects ever seen. We observed the Juno spacecraft make A meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower on Aug. its arrival at Jupiter this summer. In 12, 2016, in West Virginia. What have you seen in the night sky? NASA/Bill Ingalls fall, we watch as OSIRIS-REx trav- els to a near-Earth asteroid known as Bennu to retrieve a sample and send it back to Earth. SEPTEMBER 2016 But our scientists and engineers juno know that we also must keep a close meets a 3 Juno meets a giant eye on our own planet. Warmer than NASA/JPL-Caltech average temperatures and disappear- ing sea ice are indicators that our

4 NASA’s NICER planet is changing. NASA continuous- ly monitors and studies these chang- giant 5 One planet, two suns es to help us understand the future of upiter has captivated people sky, Jupiter’s magnetic field would ap- our home. since ancient times. Today, pear as large as the full moon. 6 Destination: Asteroid I hope this magazine inspires you to scientists believe Jupiter holds But scientists are unsure what ex- NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sets off on its Jclues to understanding our solar actly generates Jupiter’s magnetic explore and make a great discovery system’s origins and formation. field. We know that magnetic fields journey to Bennu all your own. You are our next genera- tion of scientists and engineers, and it NASA’s Juno spacecraft are produced by dynamos. As a plan- is through you that this pursuit of dis- launched August 5, 2011, and trav- et rotates, the liquid swirls around

8 Webb’s sunshield covery will continue. eled more than 2 billion miles to reach and drives electric currents, creating Jupiter. Juno, which arrived at Jupiter a magnetic field. Earth’s magnetic 9 The last frontier Sarah Schlieder on July 4, will spend more than a year field is generated by liquid iron in its NASA Next editor at the gas giant, orbiting Jupiter 37 core. But with Jupiter, scientists do times in total. The spacecraft will un- not know what material is producing 10 Arctic temps ravel some of the greatest mysteries its magnetic field. Observations made NASANext surrounding Jupiter, including its ori- by Juno will help to solve this mystery. Empowering the next generation of space explorers 11 Heating up gin, atmosphere and magnetosphere. The team equipped Juno with a pair Goddard Space Flight Center Jupiter is a ball of gas 11 times of magnetometers to look inside Jupi- Jupiter’s north polar region comes into 12 Q&A: Joy Ng Volume 1, Issue 2 | September 2016 wider than Earth and 300 times more ter and map its magnetic field. A mag- view as Juno passes the giant planet. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SWRI/MSSS Front cover: An illustration of OSIRIS-REx before massive. It takes 12 years to orbit the netometer is like a compass. Both re- sampling the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. NASA/ sun, but it rotates so fast that its day is cord the direction of a magnetic field. 13 For Educators Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image Lab Resources and activities to only 10 hours long. Its magnetic field But magnetometers expand on that field and peering inside the planet, incorpoarate NASA Next into your Back cover: An artist’s concept of our sun 4 billion is nearly 20,000 times as powerful as capability and record the direction scientists hope to gain a better un- classroom years ago. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/ Earth’s field, reaching as far as Sat- and magnitude of the magnetic field. derstanding of what produces the Conceptual Image Lab urn’s orbit. If it were visible in the night By mapping Jupiter’s magnetic giant’s magnetic field.

Q&A Quick dek under here maybe MAY 2016 MAY 2016 4 5 NASAnext NASAnext One planet, two suns A planet orbiting two suns — sounds WORDS TO KNOW straight out of Star Wars, right? NASA Circumbinary planet: a planet scientists spot new Tatooine-like planet. that orbits two stars Kepler Space Telescope: This artist’s rendition shows the NICER payload. The mission will reveal the physics that make neutron stars the densest objects in nature. NASA Launched in 2009, this space around a double-star system — that observatory is searching for is, a planet orbiting two suns. It has Earth-size planets orbiting oth- NASA MISSION PROFILE a mass and radius nearly identical to er stars. So far, it’s confirmed that of Jupiter! Kepler-1647b takes more than 2,330 exoplanets — 1,107 days — just over three years and counting. — to orbit both of its stars. It is about 3,700 light-years away and about 4.4 billion years old. That’s roughly the same age as Earth! Left, an artist’s impression of the stellar Planets that orbit two stars are eclipse and planetary transit events on Ke- Meetn 2017, a NASA mission will begin NICER known as circumbinary planets, or pler-1647b. Below, a comparison of the rel- uncovering the physics surround- sometimes “Tatooine,” like in “Star ative sizes of several Kepler circumbinary planets. Kepler-1647b is much larger than ing the ultra-dense interiors of Wars.” The stars are similar to the sun, with one slightly larger than our any of the previously discovered circumbi- Ineutron stars. NASA’s Neutron nary planets. Both illustrations: Lynette Cook star Interior Composition Explor- own and the other slightly smaller. er (NICER) mission will uncover the physics surrounding the interiors team led by astronomers from of a particular group of stars known NASA’s Goddard Space Flight as neutron stars. Center and San Diego State A neutron star begins its life as AUniversity in California discovered a star that has about 10 times the a new planet that orbits two suns — mass of the sun. When its nuclear much like Luke Skywalker’s home fuel exhausts, the star’s outer layers The 56-telescope payload will fly on the International Space Station. NASA world in Star Wars. explode in a supernova. Crushed by Using data from NASA’s Kepler its own gravity, the star’s core col- houses that sweep narrow beams sars as beacons. This will ultimately Space Telescope, astronomers lapses and forms what scientists call of radiation through space as they further deep into searched for slight dips in brightness a neutron star. These stellar corpses spin. They can spin up to hundreds of the solar system and beyond. that hint a planet might be passing are the densest, most magnetic and times every second. NICER will use Scientists have created models to in front of the stars, blocking a tiny fastest spinning objects known in the these pulsations to investigate phys- describe the physics of neutron star amount of their light. universe. ics of the interiors of these stars, as interiors. Ultimately, NICER’s astro- The planet, Kepler-1647b, is lo- Some rapidly rotating neutron stars, well as demonstrate a technological physical observations will test these cated in the constellation Cygnus. It called pulsars, are like cosmic light- first: spacecraft navigation using pul- models. is the largest planet yet discovered MAY 2016 MAY 2016 6 7 NASAnext NASAnext

OSIRIS-REx is an acronym of the mission’s objectives:

Origins Return and analyze a pristine, carbon-rich asteroid sample

Spectral Interpretation Provide direct observations for telescopic data of the entire aster- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center oid

Resource Identification Map the chemistry and mineralogy of a primitive carbon-rich asteroid

Security Near-Earth Asteroid 101955 Bennu’s mass is estimated at Measure the effect of sunlight Bennu is the target of the OSIRIS- 85.5 million U.S. tons (77.6 million on the orbit of a small asteroid, REx mission. It was first discovered metric tons). known as the Yarkovsky effect — on Sep. 11, 1999, by the Lincoln Bennu was named by a third-grad- the slight push created when the Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Re- er as part of an international student asteroid absorbs sunlight and re- search project, part of NASA’s NEO contest. The asteroid was named emits that energy as heat Observations Program. after the Egyptian mythological fig- Bennu is the most well-under- ure linked to rebirth. Regolith Explorer stood near-Earth asteroid that has By returning a sample to Earth for Document the regolith — layer not been visited by a spacecraft. It study, scientists will better under- of loose, outer material — at the OSIRIS-REx stands for Origins, seconds, during which it will retrieve has a diameter of about 1,614 feet stand the formation of planets and sampling site Launching this fall, Spectral Interpretation, Resource a sample of regolith — the loose ma- (492 meters). It orbits the sun about our solar system, as well as the or- NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Identification, Security – Regolith terial on the asteroid surface. every 1.2 Earth years. igin of life. Explorer. After launching on a rocket With sample in hand, OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will from Florida, the spacecraft will orbit will begin its journey back to Earth in the sun for a year, then use Earth’s 2021, arriving two and a half years SAMPLE RETURN travel to the gravitational field to assist it in its jour- later in 2023. The sample — stowed EARTH OPERATIONS ney toward the asteroid. OSIRIS- in the sample return capsule — will GRAVITY MARGIN DEPARTURE SAMPLE MANEUVER asteroid Bennu to REx will begin its approach toward separate from the spacecraft and en- ASSIST SAMPLE ANALYSIS Bennu in 2018. It will then spend more ter the Earth’s atmosphere and use COLLECTION collect a sample than a year imaging and mapping the a parachute to land safely on Earth. APPROACH RETURN asteroid, as well as taking detailed Scientists from all over the world MANEUVER CRUISE and bring it back measurements and observations. will be able to study the sample for LAUNCH ASTEROID to Earth for study. Using the images, maps and data, years to come. Analyzing the sam- OPERATIONS the team will select a sample site in ple will help us understand the ear- OUTBOUND This is the first which OSIRIS-REx will briefly touch ly solar system. Asteroids are the CRUISE the surface of Bennu to retrieve a remnants of the building blocks that NASA mission of sample. The spacecraft will extend formed the planets and enabled life. its long sampling arm and make con- Some may contain natural resources tact with the asteroid for about five such as water, organics and metals. its kind! Background image: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

PLANNING AND FABRICATION 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2011 MAY 2016 MAY 2016 8 9 NASAnext NASAnext Webb’s sunshield catches some rays The shiny silver material aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope may look like a giant sheet of tin foil, but it’s actually a complex and innovative feat of science and engineering.

The telescope’s five-layer sunshield is lightweight and ro- bust to protect the telescope and its mirrors from the sun’s radiation. Some of the things that make the sunshield unique are its strong yet ultra-thin material, special kite-like shape, and the special role of its layers.

Material Make-up The sunshield consists of five layers of a material called Kapton. Each layer is coated with aluminum. The sun-fac- ing side of the two hottest layers also have a treated silicon coating to reflect the sun’s heat back into space. The sunshield is a critical part of the telescope because the infrared cameras and instruments aboard must be kept very cold and out of the sun’s heat and light to work properly. Kite-Like Shape and Layers The kite-like shape and the number of layers of sunshield both play an important role on the Webb telescope. Each layer is made from a unique material, each has a specific Hubble looks to the final frontier thickness and size, and they all must be precisely separat- ust as Star Trek aimed to cluttered-looking universe filled ed in space. boldly go where no one with galaxies near and far. The five layers block and re-direct heat to get the tele- Jhas gone before, NASA’s In the center of the image is the scope down to required temperatures at which the instru- Hubble Space Telescope is galaxy cluster Abell S1063, locat- ments can operate. The gap between the layers provides boldly peering deeper into the ed 4 billion light-years away, and an additional insulating effect. universe than ever before. surrounded by magnified images Both infographics: STScI The layers are slightly different sizes and shapes. Layer Since 1990, Hubble has been of galaxies much farther away. 5, which lies just under the primary mirror, is smallest and helping scientists uncover some The cluster contains nearly 100 Layer 1 is largest. Layer 1 is relatively flat and Layer 5 is of the most distant objects ever million-million solar masses and more curved. Learn more about the James Webb seen. contains 51 confirmed galaxies The James Webb Space Telescope is the scientific suc- Space Telescope and check out videos, This Hubble image unveils a and perhaps even 400 more. Both images: NASA, ESA and J. Lotz (STScI) cessor to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. It will be the photos and more at jwst.nasa.gov. most powerful space telescope ever built. MAY 2016 MAY 2016 10 11 NASAnext NASAnext THE Heating Up MELTING The first half of 2016 is the warmest half- year on record. What does that mean for our planet?

Global surface temperatures broke This image, taken from an Operation IceBridge flight over the Beaufort Sea on July 14, shows a large pool of melt water over sea numerous records through the first ice. This summer, IceBridge mapped the extent, frequency and depth of melt ponds. NASA/Operation IceBridge half of 2016. ARCTIC Each of the first six months of 2016 set a record as the warmest respec- rctic sea ice grows and NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Matthew Radcliff tive month globally in the modern shrinks throughout the year. temperature record, which dates It reaches its maximum be- back to 1880. Atween February and April, and hits its The six-month period from January minimum in September during what to June was also the planet’s warmest is known as melt season, which oc- half-year on record, with an average curs in the spring and summer. temperature 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.4 This year’s melt season in the Arc- degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the tic Ocean began with a record low late 1800s. July 2016 also set the re- maximum in March and continued cord as the hottest month ever since with relatively rapid ice loss of sea 1880. ice through the month of May. While this climate indicator has bro- Though the melt slowed down ken records in 2016, NASA scientists in June, the Arctic sea ice cover is To study shrinking sea ice levels, a NASA airborne survey of polar ice carried re- said it is more significant that glob- not showing any signs of recovery. search flights over Arctic sea ice this summer.NASA/Operation IceBridge al temperature is continuing its de- September Arctic sea ice — when cades-long trend of change. sea ice is at its minimum — is now completed the first research flight predictor of the sea ice yearly mini- The trend is ultimately driven by declining at a rate of 13.4 percent of its new 2016 arctic summer cam- mum extent in September. Essential- rising concentrations of heat-trapping per decade compared to the 1981 to paign on July 13. The science contin- ly, if there are more ponds on the ice NASA carbon dioxide and other greenhouse 2010 average. ued through the end of July, collect- earlier in the melt season, they reduce gases in the atmosphere. To study these shrinking sea ice ing data on sea ice in a year following the ability of sea ice to reflect solar ra- NASA tracks temperature as part of levels, a NASA airborne survey of a record-warm winter in the Arctic. diation. This leads to more melt. Did you know? its effort to understand the Earth as a polar ice carried research flights The summer flights mapped the The flight campaign operated from system and to understand how Earth over Arctic sea ice this summer. Its extent, frequency and depth of Barrow, Alaska. The flights are low at is changing. NASA has a fleet of satellites observing Earth’s air, land and sea. The Earth target: aquamarine pools of water melt ponds, which are — the pools an altitude of 1,500 feet (450 meters). Observing System (above) is helping scientists understand our planet as a In addition to maintaining 19 from melted sea ice on the sea ice of melt water that form on sea ice The plane carried three instruments whole. On the ground, in the air and in orbit, NASA is working to understand Earth-observing space missions, surface that may be accelerating the during spring and summer. Studies that measured changes in the ice ele- our changing climate. NASA also sends researchers around overall melt. have found that the formation of melt vation and surface temperatures and the globe to investigate different as- If you could build and launch a satellite to orbit Earth, what would it study? NASA’s Operation IceBridge ponds early in the summer is a good created color maps of sea ice. pects of the planet at closer range. MAY 2016 MAY 2016 12 13 NASAnext NASAnext One of my first positions was with the NG continues from page 14. What do you enjoy most about Everything’s impossible BBC Science Unit in London, where I working here? helped set up shoots, research topics is very easy to stick with a format that One of the things I love about and interview potential contributors. I you know does well, but I think there working here is that everyone is UNTIL SOMEBODY then worked with other British TV pro- are many ways you can tell a story. open to collaborating and spreading duction companies before starting my their knowledge. master’s at Imperial. Do you have any storytelling If someone has a strong skill in DOES IT. I love getting people excited about tips? something, I’m able to learn from the big and small quirks of science Write scripts with the visuals at the them. It is great that we can learn - JOY NG and have found telling stories is the forefront of your mind. When I first from each other to develop individu- & best way to connect with people started writing scripts, I fell into the ally and as a team. // office of communications whether through writing, exhibitions, trap of writing for text rather than life and this is where my love of out- Joy QNg A radio or video. video but soon learned that showing What do you do for fun? door life has developed. something was much more impactful From high school through univer- I’ll take any chance to camp, hike, Joy Ng translates science into videos that reach Why did you come to Goddard? that just telling something. sity, I was in a contemporary dance explore and take photos, or be in wa- I wanted to come to Goddard for Another tip I have is to do your company that performed around the ter whether that is in a lake, ocean or thousands of people. Her goal: share NASA’s many reasons. I wanted to gain expe- homework. When I’m covering a new United Kingdom. I also like to paint stream. rience doing science communication science paper, I make sure to find out and draw. I try to give paintings as work with the world. Ng tells us how her interest in a different country. I also wanted what has been said about the topic be- gifts to friends and family. What is your “six-word mem- in science and art let her to a job in science to meet scientists from all over the fore and how this finding is significant I recently passed my motorcycle oir?” A six-word memoir de- world. Goddard has a huge role in to the science community. I make sure riding test. I’m excited about explor- scribes something in just six storytelling. studying the Earth, sun, solar system I understand the scientific concepts, ing the world on two wheels and words. and universe and is very internation- which is important since I am the one learning how to fix and repair bikes. Everything’s impossible until al. I was really excited about being breaking it down to the public. I have lived by the coast my whole somebody does it. What do you do at Goddard? How in the middle of all the amazing work do you help support Goddard’s that goes on here. I still jump around mission? with excitement when I chat to a sci- I transform science research into entist about a new finding or an an- videos understandable to non-ex- imator about coming up with a new perts. These videos appear on visualization. Next NASA.gov, YouTube and other so- EmpoweringNASA the next generation of space explorers cial media platforms. I primarily focus What do you think about when on covering NASA’s research within making videos? get social with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Earth science, which includes things I always have the audience in mind Volume 1, Issue 2 | September 2016 like volcanoes, oceans, the atmo- when creating videos. I never make join the conversation on social media sphere and climate. assumptions about what people Editor know. I ask myself, “What will they Sarah Schlieder Why did you become a science find interesting? What can I link this Layout Editor storyteller? to that is relevant to them? How can @nasagoddard goddardtv Jenny Hottle When I was younger, my teachers I keep them watching until the end of didn’t know where I was headed. I the video?” Sometimes I break down Contributors Copyright Nadine Ajaka. Used with permission. was very artistic. I was also good misconceptions to draw people into NASA.GSFC NASA GSFC Rob Gutro in science and at one point thought the video. Amanda Harvey I might become a scientist. During Liz Jarrell university, I realized that most scien- What do you say to yourself nasagoddard nasa Patrick Lynch tists are very specialized and found when thinking of new projects? Ashley Morrow that I was drawn to learning about I always try to learn something new Nancy Neal-Jones Joy Ng everything. As well as choosing biol- in the process, whether it is a new Clare Skelly ogy courses from human genetics to technical skill or trying to tell a story Ray Villard Job: Mutimedia and social media plant pathology, I also chose courses in a different way. Also, I always try to Maria-Jose Viñas fellow in Spanish and psychology. My love remind myself not to be afraid of do- NASANEXT is a publication of Goddard Space of learning and exploring science in a ing or pitching something different. It www.nasa.gov/socialmedia Previous job: BBC Science Unit Flight Center’s Office of Communications to en- broader sense, led me to work in mu- gage children and young teens in the fascinating continues on seums, radio stations and television. NG page 13. world of science and space exploration. MAY 2016 14 NASAnext

+ FOR EDUC A TORS

Want to incorporate NASANext articles into your classroom? Get started with these lesson plans!

Juno’s arrival at Jupiter (page 3) Havey our students make the connection that Check out the Juno Toolkit for links to data, videos Hubble and space science isn’t just reserved for and activities that will help you and your students the classroom by getting them to notice and pay explore Juno’s role in learning more about Jupiter. attention to Hubble in their daily lives. solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/juno/junotoolkit www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/2016/spothubble

Planet orbiting two suns discovered (page 5) Sea ice and high temperatures (pages 10-11) This lesson helps students understand how the Use real NASA data to make observations on tem- Kepler Space Telescope is helping researchers perature and sea ice coverage in Alaska. to learn more about planets outside of our solar http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/les- system. son-plans/?page_id=474?&passid=90 spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/Modules/7Module10. html To learn more about NASA’s many educator resources, check out NASA’s Office of Education Webb sunshield (page 8) website and the Science Mission Directorate’s Explore the James Webb Space Telescope edu- digital collection of Earth and space science re- cator page for activities and lessons. sources, NASA Wavelength. You can also receive jwst.nasa.gov/teachers.html regular updates on educational resources and activities going on at NASA centers right now by Have your students check in on what’s happening signing up for our weekly email lists, EXPRESS live in Goddard’s clean room via the Webb cam. and Science WOW! www.jwst.nasa.gov/webcam.html Quick Links There are a lot of activities to observe how heat and the sun can impact materials and to explore NASA Education ways that our engineers work to protect space- www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about craft from the sun. The activity looks at how different materials can help to control the speed NASA Goddard Office of Education at which items heat up. www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/education http://www.solarweek.org/cms/LinkClick.aspx?fi- leticket=3%2fr3WRtEZ84%3d&tabid=166 NASA Wavelength http://nasawavelength.org/ New Hubble Final Frontier image (page 9) #spothubble — The Hubble Space Telescope has Digital Learning Network for students/teachers impacted our lives from science to art to dance. http://www.nasa.gov/dln