image: Loral O’Hara (right), NASA astronaut, holds a model of Vanguard America 2nd satellite while Bernard Kelm, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) acting director of Naval Center for Space Technology, explains to her the history of the satellite in Washington, D.C. Dec. 2, 2024. While at NRL O’Hara received briefings regarding the laboratories mission and viewed current research being conducted at the Naval Center for Space Technology.
Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold
WASHINGTON — NASA Astronaut Loral O’Hara visited the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) on Dec. 2, to share her firsthand experiences during her 200+ day mission aboard the International Space Station.
O’Hara told stories about her research in space and narrated a 20-minute video documenting her time on the space station before taking several questions from NRL scientists and engineers providing unique insights into life and research in space.
O’Hara captivated the audience with tales of her daily routine on the station, the challenges faced by the crew, and the most memorable moments of her mission. She also delved into the scientific research that was most meaningful to her, emphasizing the importance of space exploration for advancing human knowledge and technology.
She said one of the most interesting projects she got to work on was CIPHER. The Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research program helps scientists pinpoint how the human body reacts to time in space. The research will help NASA prepare astronauts for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
“I got to look at all aspects of human health in space, with an eye on how to protect astronauts for longer duration missions,” O’Hara said.
On Sept. 15, 2023, O’Hara launched to the space station aboard the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. Aboard the space station, she became a flight engineer for Expedition 70. Throughout her mission, O’Hara contributed to a host of science and maintenance activities and technology demonstrations, including investigating heart health, cancer treatments, and space manufacturing techniques. O’Hara conducted one spacewalk totaling 6 hours, 42 minutes, joined by NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, replacing one of the 12 trundle bearing assemblies on the port solar alpha rotary joint, which allows the arrays to track the Sun and generate electricity to power the station.
After making a safe, parachute-assisted landing southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on April 6, 2024, O’Hara completed her more than six-month science mission, logging 204 days aboard the space station. She traveled 86,555,554 miles during her mission and completed 3,264 orbits around Earth. Expedition 70 was the first spaceflight for O’Hara.
Following her presentation, O’Hara received a tour of the NRL facility, gaining firsthand knowledge of the laboratory's state-of-the-art research capabilities. She also participated in meetings with NRL scientists and engineers, discussing ongoing space research projects and exploring potential avenues for future collaboration between NASA and NRL.
This event further solidifies the strong bond between NRL and NASA, fostering collaboration and innovation in areas such as materials science, space physics, and advanced technologies.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil. Please reference package number at top of press release.
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