NASA’s current projects

NASA announced on Thursday that the Kepler space telescope discovered a new planet that orbits two stars. Here is a look at some of the other projects NASA has in the works.

5 Seconds

00:00

The bulkhead and nose cone of the Orion spacecraft are joined using friction stir welding at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Nondestructive evaluations will test the strength and integrity of the weld before the spacecraft is prepped for ground testing in flight-like environments, including static vibration, acoustics and water landing tests.

Carl "Chip" Howat Jr. / Jacobs Technology / MSFOC Contract

The bulkhead and nose cone of the Orion spacecraft are joined using friction stir welding at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Friction stir welding is a technique in which the metal is not melted when it is joined.

Carl "Chip" Howat Jr. / Jacobs Technology / MSFOC Contract

The bulkhead and nose cone of the Orion spacecraft are joined using friction stir welding at the Michoud Assembly Facility.

Ryan H. Martin / Lockheed Martin Space Systems - Michoud

A full-scale Orion model was recently developed for antenna performance testing at the Johnson Space Center in Houston in an echo-free chamber. Candidate antennas for Orion will be tested in the chamber, which absorbs electromagnetic energy to simulate an open space environment. NASA conducted similar tests for the Apollo and shuttle programs in this facility.

Devin Boldt

Sept. 8, 2011

This image provided by ATK Aerospace Systems shows a two-minute test in Utah's west desert of a 154-foot, five-stage booster rocket. This rocket booster could launch future space flights for NASA and commercial operators.

/ AP

Sept. 14, 2011

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) speak during a news conference on Capitol Hill to introduce the design of the new Space Launch System. In combination with a crew capsule already under development, the new heavy-lift rocket will use a liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel system and will be capable of lifting 70 to 100 metric tons before evolving to a lift of 130 metric tons.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

This illustration provided by NASA shows the design for the Space Launch System, a new space rocket system. According to NASA, the rocket will be used to carry the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, as well as cargo and science experiments to Earth's orbit, as a backup for the space station and possibly destinations beyond that.

NASA / Getty Images

An image of NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory spacecraft, which will map the moon's gravity field. Radio signals traveling between the two spacecraft provide scientists the exact measurements required, as well as a flow of information that will not be interrupted when spacecraft are at the lunar far side, the area not seen from Earth.

AP / AP

This artist rendering provided by the European Southern Observatory shows a planet orbiting the Sun-like star HD 85512 in the southern constellation of Vela, which is latin for “the sail.” The planet is one of 16 discovered by the HARPS instrument on the 3.6-meter telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. The planet is about 3.6 times the size of Earth, and is located at the edge of the habitable zone around the star, where liquid water, and perhaps even life, could potentially exist. Astronomers have confirmed a second planet outside our solar system that seems to be in the right place for life, but it would be a steam bath: hot, sticky and downright uncomfortable.

/ AP

An artist's impression of the newly discovered planet Kepler 16b, which, like the planet Tatooine in the movie “Star Wars,” orbits twin suns. As the planet moves in front of its stars, it blocks some of their light, creating a blip seen by NASA's Kepler space telescope.

NASA / NASA/JPL-Caltech

Featured Photo Galleries

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

COVINGTON, LA - MAY 14: Brother Emmanuel Labrise of St. Joseph's Abbey prepares a casket for lining on May 15, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. Louisiana law forbids those who are not licensed funeral directors from selling caskets. And since Hurricane Katrina leveled the timberlands that once provided the main source of funding for the abbey, the monks have attempted to make a living by building and selling simple cypress caskets. The monks won their first round last year, and have a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in June. (Photo by Sean Gardner/For the Washington Post)

Louisiana monks fight for the right to sell coffins

Federal court case pits a group of monks against the funeral home industry.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.