Volume 17 Issue 6 www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis June 2021 INFINITY Science Center Reopening See page 5 Page 2 LAGNIAPPE June 2021 his month marked a welcome step forward at In fact, when inside the life-sized mockup of the Stennis Space Center – the reopening of the International Space Station, I often pretend I am TINFINITY Science Center, a place I hold dear completing an actual mission in space. Once returned in my heart. I could not wait to explore my favorite to Earth, I then enjoy a fun selfie session, using the exhibits that I have missed since the facility closed due Sensors, Satellites, & Selfies module to make my Insta- to COVID-19 in December 2020. gram feed more interesting. When entering the center, I always begin in the Earth At the INFINITY Science Center grand reopening Gallery exhibits on the first floor. I get lost in thought event, visitors were offered even more opportunities at the interesting learning exhibits, including the to live out their science-related dreams with special Sandbox, the Inundation Station, and the Hurricane activity and guests. Prediction Lab. Time has a tendency to pass quickly as I press buttons to see the experiments come to life. I even had a chance to meet my favorite Star Wars characters Chewbacca and R2-D2. Who knows – As you can guess, I am a big fan of the water. The maybe there will be a role for ol’ Gator in the next Deep Ocean Explorer is perfect for days I do not movie installment – Ark! want to get my tail wet, but still see a few of my fishy friends. I am always sure to end my time on this floor All in all, it was a great day, and the official reopening by stopping by The Swamp to Space gallery, which not of the facility means more children will get to come only reminds me of my home but allows me to see the out on other days to live out their space dreams and growth of my favorite place – Stennis Space Center. fill their heads and dreams with visions of galaxies and shooting stars. It is always excited to see future genera- On the second floor, my imagination runs wild in the tions receive the first spark of interest in space. Who Space Gallery. Small- and full-scale models provide a knows – it may even be their first stepping to a future perfect viewing experience for any space lover, offer- in space exploration, maybe even as a member of the ing them a taste of what being a space explorer is like. Stennis team! Lagniappe is published monthly by the Office of Communications at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center. Access monthly copies at: www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/news/publications/index.html Contact info – (phone) 228-688-3749; (email) [email protected]; (mail) NASA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS, Attn: LAGNIAPPE, Mail code IA00, Building 1100 Room 304, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 Subscribe at: https://lists.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/stennis-space-center-lagniappe Managing Editor – Lacy Thompson Editor – Kaylan Courteaux Staff Photographer – Danny Nowlin Page 3 LAGNIAPPE June 2021 NASA’s MOON to MARS MISSION NASA Fires Up Fourth RS-25 Engine Test for Future Artemis Moon Missions NASA conducted its fourth RS-25 single-engine hot fire of the year on May 20, a con- tinuation of its seven-part test series to support development and production of engines for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on future missions to the Moon. The engine was fired for more than 8 minutes (500 seconds) on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center, the same amount of time RS-25 engines need to fire for launch of the SLS rocket. The test series is designed to provide valuable data to Aerojet Rocketdyne, prime contractor for the SLS engines, as it begins produc- tion of new engines for use after the first four SLS flights. Four RS-25 engines, along with a pair of solid rocket boosters, will help power SLS at launch. With testing of the engines for the rocket’s first four Artemis missions to the Moon already completed, operators now are focused on collecting data to demonstrate and verify various engine capabilities while reducing operational risk. During the May 20 test, the team fired the engine at 111% of its original power level for a set duration of time, the same level that RS-25 engines are required to operate during launch. SLS is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built and the only one capable of sending Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission. As part of the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon and establish sus- tainable exploration in prepara- tion for missions to Mars. SLS and NASA’s Orion spacecraft are NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration. RS-25 tests at Stennis are conducted by a combined team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services operators. Syncom Space Services is the prime contrac- tor for Stennis facilities and operations. Page 4 LAGNIAPPE June 2021 These tiny squids went to space along with many other scientific experiments aboard SpaceX’s 22nd cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, launched on June 3. The squids are a part of the UMAMI study which examines the effects of spaceflight on interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. UMAMI stands for Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions. Microbes play a significant role in the normal development of animal tissues and in maintaining human health. This investigation helps determine whether spaceflight alters the mutually beneficial relationship, which could support development of protective measures and mitigation to preserve astronaut health on long-duration space mis- sions. The work also could lead to a better understanding of the complex interactions between animals and beneficial microbes, including new and novel pathways that microbes use to communicate with animal tissues. NASA in the News NASA to Study the ‘Lost Habitable’ Venus NASA Rover Begins First Mars Campaign NASA has selected two new missions to Venus, Earth’s NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover kicked off the science nearest planetary neighbor. Part of NASA’s Discovery phase of its mission by leaving the “Octavia E. Butler” Program, the missions aim to understand how Venus landing site. Until recently, the rover has been undergo- became an inferno-like world when it has so many other ing systems tests, or commissioning, and supporting the characteristics similar to Earth – and may have been Ingenuity Mars helicopter’s month of flight tests. During the first habitable world in the solar system, complete the first few weeks of this first science campaign, the with an ocean and Earth-like climate. These investiga- mission team will drive to a low-lying scenic overlook tions are the final selections from four mission concepts from which the rover can survey some of the oldest geo- NASA picked in February 2020 as part of the agency’s logic features in Jezero Crater, and they will bring online Discovery 2019 competition. Following a competitive, the final capabilities of the rover’s auto-navigation and peer-review process, the two missions were chosen based sampling systems. By the time Perseverance completed on their potential scientific value and the feasibility of its commissioning phase, the rover had already tested its their development plans. The project teams will now work oxygen-generating MOXIE instrument and conducted to finalize their requirements, designs, and development the technology demonstration flights of the Ingenuity plans. NASA is awarding approximately $500 million per helicopter. Its cameras had taken more than 75,000 im- mission for development, expecting to launch in the 2028- ages, and its microphones had recorded the first audio 2030 timeframe. The selected missions are: DAVINCI+ soundtracks of Mars. The Mars 2020 Perseverance (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, mission is part of NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration Chemistry, and Imaging) and VERITAS (Venus Emissivi- approach. To learn more about NASA’s Venus missions, ty, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy). click here. To learn more about Perseverance, click here. Page 5 LAGNIAPPE June 2021 INFINITY Science Center Reopens to the Public for the First Time Since Dec. 2020 NFINITY Science Center, the official visitors center of NASA’s Stennis Space “I probably want to be an astrophysicist, and the INFINITY Science Center really “In the immediate future, we are starting Astro Camp® sessions in two weeks, and Center, officially reopened its doors to the public for the first time May 29 fol- helps inform me of all of the things I might need to know…”, he said. “I really we’ll continue to have large events, like this, usually at least once a month as well as Ilowing its temporary closing on Dec. 30, 2020, due to COVID 19. enjoy doing the Astro Camp®, and it helps me collaborate with everybody else special members-only benefits as well,” said Anne Peek, a resident of Mississippi who likes doing the things that I want to do in my field. Birds of a feather.” and partner of the INFINITY Science Center. “We just want to keep doing what During a daylong grand opening event, visitors were greeted by Stennis astronaut we do, and that’s to do science for folks and have fun.” mascots Orbie and Starla; special Stars Wars guests, including Chewbacca and As the official visitor center, INFINITY aims to be the focal point for Earth and Darth Vader; the International Star Trek Fan Association; the Mandeville Robot- space science education and dialogue in the Gulf Coast area between New Orleans With the reopening, INFINITY Science Center staff members hope they are one ics Team 2992; and others.