1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,250 Installing new solar arrays for the space station … 2 00:00:03,250 --> 00:00:06,210 Updating launch and landing dates for Commercial Crew … 3 00:00:06,210 --> 00:00:11,050 And NASA’s new deputy administrator is confirmed … a few of the stories to tell you about 4 00:00:11,050 --> 00:00:14,740 – This Week at NASA! 5 00:00:14,740 --> 00:00:20,270 On June 16, NASA’s Shane Kimbrough and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet ventured 6 00:00:20,270 --> 00:00:25,340 outside the International Space Station for a spacewalk to install the first of six new 7 00:00:25,340 --> 00:00:29,970 solar arrays that will help the existing arrays power the station. 8 00:00:29,970 --> 00:00:34,970 On June 20, the pair is back outside to install the second array, with the other four being 9 00:00:34,970 --> 00:00:37,940 installed at a later date. 10 00:00:37,940 --> 00:00:42,150 NASA and SpaceX have adjusted target launch and return dates for upcoming Commercial Crew 11 00:00:42,150 --> 00:00:45,220 missions to and from the International Space Station. 12 00:00:45,220 --> 00:00:50,780 Our SpaceX Crew-3 mission is now targeted for launch no earlier than Oct. 31, while 13 00:00:50,780 --> 00:00:55,180 the Crew-2 astronauts currently onboard the station are looking at a return to Earth in 14 00:00:55,180 --> 00:00:56,660 early-to-mid November. 15 00:00:56,660 --> 00:01:01,530 The next crew rotation mission beyond that is targeted for no earlier than mid-April 16 00:01:01,530 --> 00:01:03,340 2022. 17 00:01:03,340 --> 00:01:09,950 The U.S. Senate confirmed former NASA astronaut Pam Melroy to be NASA’s next deputy administrator. 18 00:01:09,950 --> 00:01:13,689 President Biden nominated Melroy for the position in April. 19 00:01:13,689 --> 00:01:18,229 She is a veteran of three spaceflights, has more than 38 days in space, and is one of 20 00:01:18,229 --> 00:01:21,729 only two women to command a space shuttle. 21 00:01:21,729 --> 00:01:27,249 During a June 15 Senate hearing on the President’s budget request for NASA, our Administrator 22 00:01:27,249 --> 00:01:31,740 Bill Nelson discussed how the budget will help America maintain its leadership role 23 00:01:31,740 --> 00:01:33,599 in space exploration. 24 00:01:33,599 --> 00:01:38,219 He also talked about the importance of the funding to STEM education initiatives through 25 00:01:38,219 --> 00:01:43,579 which NASA can continue to recruit and maintain a diverse workforce, which has been key to 26 00:01:43,579 --> 00:01:45,479 the agency’s success. 27 00:01:45,479 --> 00:01:50,729 “We are being very mindful to diversify. 28 00:01:50,729 --> 00:01:57,759 This, I believe is directed for the entire Executive Branch of government. 29 00:01:57,759 --> 00:02:02,159 But I take it very, very seriously.” 30 00:02:02,159 --> 00:02:07,990 On June 15, NASA launched Mission Equity, a comprehensive effort to review NASA programs, 31 00:02:07,990 --> 00:02:14,000 procurements, grants, practices, and policies, and assess potential barriers and challenges 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,130 that may exist for historically underrepresented and underserved communities seeking access 33 00:02:19,130 --> 00:02:20,130 to them. 34 00:02:20,130 --> 00:02:23,550 The effort includes an agency request for public feedback. 35 00:02:23,550 --> 00:02:28,670 Find out more at nasa.gov/mission-equity. 36 00:02:28,670 --> 00:02:35,650 An agency LGBTQ+ Pride Month event on June 17 focused on the power of active allyship. 37 00:02:35,650 --> 00:02:40,000 It featured a panel discussion about what it means to be an ally, some of the barriers 38 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:45,940 faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and what you – as an active ally – can do to help break 39 00:02:45,940 --> 00:02:48,510 down those barriers. 40 00:02:48,510 --> 00:02:53,650 To kick off the start of summer, the U.S. Postal Service issued a set of stamps highlighting 41 00:02:53,650 --> 00:02:57,070 NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO. 42 00:02:57,070 --> 00:03:02,190 The Sun Science stamps celebrate over a decade of Sun-watching for SDO. 43 00:03:02,190 --> 00:03:07,030 The mission helps researchers study and track regular solar activity, like solar flares 44 00:03:07,030 --> 00:03:12,650 and coronal mass ejections – which can impact technology and life on and near Earth.