NASA Administrator Bolden in Australia

This week has seen NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in Australia, the first NASA administrator since 1973 to do so.

Mr Bolden at the CDSCC (Photo credit: Penny Bradfield)

Mr Bolden visited the NASA Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla, highlighting that when the Curiosity Rover touches down on the surface of Mars on August 6th, that the CDSCC will be receiving the signal as an integral part of the mission and the only deep space facility located in the southern hemisphere. Mr Bolden also examined the current upgrades to the CDSCC facility which will see four new dishes built at the facility.

In his visit, Mr Bolden also gave an address at the University of Sydney, and visited Questacon in Canberra where he answered questions from the audience and students across Australia.

Hayabusa Return Interactive Event

To correspond with the Hayabusa spacecraft return to Earth at Woomera on the 13th of June, the Hayabusa project manager, Dr Junichiro Kawaguchi, and Australian Scientist Dr. Trevor Ireland, will be participating in an Interactive Event on the 6th of June. The even will be hosted by Questacon in Canberra, as well as The Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) in Melbourne.

For full details about how to attend (tickets are free), head here.