NASA Space Exploration Programs

NASA's space exploration programs aim to understand the universe and search for life beyond Earth
Current focus areas:
- Exploring the solar system (Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets)
- Understanding the Sun and its effects on the solar system
- Searching for life in the universe
NASA's space exploration vision:
- Send humans to the Moon by 2024 (Artemis program)
- Establish a sustainable presence on the Moon
- Send humans to Mars in the 2030s

Also known as EVAs (extravehicular activities)
Purpose:
- Perform maintenance and repairs on spacecraft and space stations
- Conduct scientific experiments and gather data
- Test equipment and procedures for future space missions
Spacewalk milestones:
- First American spacewalk: Ed White (1965)
- First female spacewalker: Svetlana Savitskaya (1984)
- Longest spacewalk: 8 hours 56 minutes (Scott Parazynski, 2007)

Astronaut Candidate School:
- 2-year training program for new astronauts
- Covers:
  - Scientific and technical coursework
  - Spacecraft systems and operations
  - Spacewalk training
  - Russian language training
  - Leadership and teamwork skills
Advanced training:
- Mission-specific training for each astronaut
- Simulation training for spacewalks, emergency scenarios, and spacecraft operations
- Physical conditioning and survival training

A collaborative project between space agencies around the world
Launched in 1998, with continuous human presence since 2000
Purpose:
- Conduct scientific research in microgravity
- Test technologies and systems for future space missions
- Provide a testing ground for space exploration
ISS facts:
- Size: approximately the length of a football field
- Weight: over 450,000 kilograms
- Orbit: 250 miles above Earth's surface
- Crew: typically 6 people from around the world

NASA's space exploration programs aim to understand the universe and search for life beyond Earth
Current focus areas include exploring the solar system, understanding the Sun, and searching for life in the universe
NASA's vision involves sending humans to the Moon by 2024, establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, and sending humans to Mars in the 2030s through the Artemis program

NASA's Mars Exploration Program was launched in 1996 to explore Mars and understand its geology, climate, and potential biosignatures
Successful Mars missions include Mars Pathfinder, Mars Odyssey, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Science Laboratory, and InSight Lander
Ongoing and upcoming Mars missions include Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and Mars Sample Return

Purpose: perform maintenance, repairs, scientific experiments, and test equipment and procedures for future space missions
Milestones: first American spacewalk by Ed White in 1965, first female spacewalker Svetlana Savitskaya in 1984, and longest spacewalk by Scott Parazynski in 2007

Astronaut Candidate School is a 2-year training program covering scientific and technical coursework, spacecraft systems, spacewalk training, Russian language, leadership, and teamwork skills
Advanced training includes mission-specific training, simulation training for spacewalks and emergency scenarios, and physical conditioning and survival training

A collaborative project between space agencies around the world, launched in 1998 with continuous human presence since 2000
Purpose: conduct scientific research in microgravity, test technologies and systems for future space missions, and provide a testing ground for space exploration
ISS facts: approximately the length of a football field, over 450,000 kilograms in weight, orbits 250 miles above Earth's surface, and typically has a crew of 6 people from around the world

Focuses on understanding Earth's atmosphere, natural resources, and neighboring planets
Aims to develop capabilities for space travel, asteroid defense, and space-based astronomy
Launched several missions, including:
- Aryabhata (1975): First Indian satellite, studied Earth's atmosphere
- Bhaskara (1979): Series of satellites, studied Earth's oceans and atmosphere
- APPLE (1981): Experimental satellite, tested three-axis stabilization

Developed several rocket systems, including:
- SLV-3 (1980): First Indian launch vehicle
- ASLV (1980s): Four successful launches
- PSLV (most successful and reliable launch vehicle, over 50 launches)
- GSLV (for heavy satellites in geosynchronous orbit)
Working on reusable launch vehicles, including:
- SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)
- TDS (Two-Stage-to-Orbit) reusable launch system

Launched numerous satellites for various applications, including:
- Communication satellites: INSAT and GSAT series
- Navigation satellites: IRNSS series
- Earth observation satellites: IRS and RISAT series
- Scientific satellites: ASTROSAT and Aditya-L1

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) launched in 2013 and entered Mars' orbit in 2014
Mission aimed to study Mars' surface features, composition, and atmosphere
Orbiter equipped with five scientific instruments, including:
- Mars Colour Camera
- Methane Sensor
- Lyman Alpha Photometer

Series of lunar exploration missions, including:
- Chandrayaan-1 (2008): First Indian lunar mission, with lunar orbiter and impactor
- Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Second lunar mission, with lunar orbiter, lander (Vikram), and rover (Pragyan)
Program aims to study Moon's composition, geology, and atmosphere, and search for water and mineral resources