2015 was a great
year for Marshall,
and for space exploration.
Over the past year we've
supported the one year crew
mission with
Commander Scott Kelly.
The space launch system team has
made great progress this year.
The time is now to drive
up the technologies that
will take us to Mars.
Our team is advancing
propulsion technologies
and life support systems
that will make deep space
exploration possible.
Getting the world's largest
rocket off the ground
requires serious lift.
We've just completed our
critical design review,
we are testing
engines and boosters,
and we're making great advances
in avionics, and software,
and manufacturing components
all over the country.
New technologies that help with
lighter, higher performance
and more affordable,
large structures
have been tested and
developed here at Marshall.
The Chandra
Observatory continues
to write and rewrite textbooks.
Recently, the
surface of Pluto has
been revealed by the
New Horizon spacecraft,
and we've recently
launched a new severe node,
which uses satellite imagery
to help with natural disasters.
We support the
crew in the science
experiments 24 hours a
day, seven days a week,
365 days a year.
We've actually printed 21 parts
in space-- first parts ever
printed-- and we've analyzed and
tested those, and compared them
to the parts printed
on the ground.
And we've incorporated
those lessons
learned for the next periods
of print on space stations.
What we're learning through
our one year crew mission
will enable us to go further
on our mission to Mars.
Scores of tests, nodes,
dynamics, wind tunnels,
structure, avionics, software.
These are helping us build the
safest rocket for the crew.
Through our major
STEM activities,
the Rover challenge,
and student launch,
plus the Centennial
Challenge competition,
we've reached thousands
of competitors.
NASA is working closely
with companies, acadamia,
and other government
entities in order
to leverage these technology
advancements within the budget
and the schedule that we have.
With all the innovation, and
progress, and discoveries,
it was a great year.
But with this team, I know
the best is yet to come.
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