ICYMI: JSC Town Hall from Aug. 23, 2023

by Linda Grimm | 2023-08-29

NASA's Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche welcomed employees and a special guest, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, to the JSC Town Hall on Aug. 23, 2023. In addition to sharing important center updates, Wyche moderated a fireside chat with Melroy that spanned topics including NASA 2040, the agency’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results, and its strategic plan for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Two women sit on chairs on a stage, speaking to a theater audience. — NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche (left) leads a fireside chat with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy (right) during a special JSC Town Hall on Aug. 23, 2023, in the center’s Teague Auditorium. **Credit: NASA/** ***Riley McClenaghan***

A key focus of the conversation was the three key drivers of NASA’s Moon to Mars approach and specifically the Artemis program – science, national posture, and inspiration. Melroy emphasized the importance of the science that will be conducted on future missions, observing that “there are so many things we can only learn in space” and that going out into the solar system is how NASA and its partners can “unleash science.” She also observed that when the agency sets out to solve a challenging problem with a focused outcome in mind, it creates new scientific and technological capabilities that strengthen the United States’ economic security, diplomatic ties, and other national interests. Finally, Melroy highlighted how space inspires the human spirit, and how that inspiration and excitement can be leveraged to grow the STEM generations of the future.

Before and after the town hall, employees had an opportunity to engage with the Exploration exhibit in the Teague lobby. The exhibit highlighted the broad range of innovative work being done at Johnson that is critical to NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach.

Two people discuss Mars Sample Return with a woman visiting their exhibit table. — NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche visits an Exploration exhibit table showcasing information about the agency’s Mars sample return campaign following the JSC Town Hall on Aug. 23, 2023. **Credit: NASA/** ***Riley McClenaghan***

The exhibit was designed by the Exploration Architecture, Integration, and Science (EAIS) Directorate to tell the story of Johnson’s role in space exploration in three sections. The Learning in Low Earth Orbit section highlighted the International Space Station’s exploration-enabling research. The Moon section featured interactive exhibits from Orion, Gateway, the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP), and the Engineering Directorate that showcased cutting-edge technologies, including a virtual reality exploration of Gateway, concepts for in-situ resource utilization, and innovative extravehicular activity (EVA) tools being developed as a collaboration between EAIS’ Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division, EHP, and the Johnson EVA Tools Team. ARES also displayed astromaterials samples, including meteorite samples from asteroids, Mars, and Apollo samples from the Moon. Finally, the Mars section highlighted EAIS’ Mars Architecture Team and the Mars Sample Return Project, which is led out of EAIS/ARES. This section also featured exploration-enabling research being conducted by the Human Health and Performance Directorate and the Human Research Program.

People sit or stand behind exhibit tables with information about space exploration.

People visit exhibit tables and displays to learn more about space exploration.

Watch the JSC Town Hall below.