NASA Television Airs Journey to Mars Showcase, Rocket Engine Test

NASA is offering a behind-the-scenes look Thursday, Aug. 18, at its Journey to Mars, including the test of a rocket engine that will launch the agency to the Red Planet, with live coverage on social media, NASA Television and the agency’s website.

The day’s events begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the agency’s social media followers will have a conversation with NASA officials about the numerous efforts enabling exploration of the Red Planet. The public can ask questions during the live broadcast, which will air on NASA TV, using the hashtag #askNASA.

Participants will include:

Todd May, director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama
Bill Hill, deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development at NASA Headquarters in Washington
Richard (Rick) Davis, assistant director for Science and Exploration, Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters
John Vickers, principal technologist for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at Marshall
Katie Boggs, manager for Systems and Technology Demonstration at NASA Headquarters
NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio
NASA then will bring its online audience live views of exhibits at Michoud, where work is underway on the core stage of the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and parts of its Orion spacecraft. The event can be viewed on Periscope at: