This composite image, made from ten frames, shows the International Space Station, with a crew of six onboard, in silhouette as it transits the sun at roughly five miles per second, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, from Newbury Park, California. Onboard as part of Expedition 50 are: NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Peggy Whitson: Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Oleg Novitskiy: and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
American actress Octavia Spencer, left, speaks with NASA Astrophysics Division Deputy Director Andrea Razzaghi, right, about the movie “Hidden Figures” during taping of media interviews, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. The film is based on the book of the same title, by Margot Lee Shetterly, and chronicles the lives of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- African-American women working at NASA as “human computers,” who were critical to the success of John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission in 1962. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
American actress and singer Taraji P. Henson, left, speaks with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, right, about the movie “Hidden Figures” during taping of media interviews, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. The film is based on the book of the same title, by Margot Lee Shetterly, and chronicles the lives of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- African-American women working at NASA as “human computers,” who were critical to the success of John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission in 1962. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Statue of Freedom atop the U.S. Capitol Dome is seen in silouette infront of the moon, or supermoon, on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the moon's orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth. Early Monday morning, the moon was the closest it has been to Earth since 1948 and it appeared 30 percent brighter and 14 percent bigger than the average monthly full moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope are seen as senior project scientist John Mather speaks during a media event on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The James Webb Space Telescope, the world's largest and most complex space telescope, will study every phase in the history of the universe; from the first luminous glows of the Big Bang, to the formation of planetary systems capable of supporting life, to the evolution of our own solar system. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Icons for the International Space Station and Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft are seen on a tracking map on a screen at the Moscow Mission Control Center as the spacecraft approaches for docking, Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 in Korolov, Russia. The Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft carrying Shane Kimbrough of NASA, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos docked with the International Space Station at 5:52 a.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 21, 251 statute miles over southern Russia and joined Expedition 49 Commander Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and flight engineers Kate Rubins of NASA and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Soyuz MS-02 rocket is launched with Expedition 49 Soyuz commander Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and flight engineer Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Ryzhikov, Kimbrough, and Borisenko will spend the next four months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Soyuz MS-02 rocket is launched with Expedition 49 Soyuz commander Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and flight engineer Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Ryzhikov, Kimbrough, and Borisenko will spend the next four months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 49 flight engineer Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos prepares to have his Russian Sokol Suit pressure checked ahead of his launch aboard the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft to the International Space Station with fellow crewmates Shane Kimbrough of NASA and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Borisenko, Kimbrough, and Ryzhikov are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Oct 19. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft is rolled out by train to the launch pad by train on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 49 flight engineer Shane Kimbrough of NASA, Soyuz commander Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 19. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden signs an autograph while at the Operations Support Building II (OSB II) while attending prelaunch activities for NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The two hour launch window opens tonight at 7:05pm ET. OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid, retrieve at least two ounces of surface material and return it to Earth for study. The asteroid, Bennu, may hold clues to the origin of the solar system and the source of water and organic molecules found on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA officials monitor the progress of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) after launch from the Atlas V Spaceflight Operations Center on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid, retrieve at least two ounces of surface material and return it to Earth for study. The asteroid, Bennu, may hold clues to the origin of the solar system and the source of water and organic molecules found on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft lifts off on from Space Launch Complex 41 on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid, retrieve at least two ounces of surface material and return it to Earth for study. The asteroid, Bennu, may hold clues to the origin of the solar system and the source of water and organic molecules found on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft on board is seen illuminated in the distance in this thirty second exposure on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to launch on Sept. 8 and will be the first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid, retrieve at least two ounces of surface material and return it to Earth for study. The asteroid, Bennu, may hold clues to the origin of the solar system and the source of water and organic molecules found on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Members of team Survey are seen working on their robot during a communications update period during its attempt at the level two challenge during the 2016 Sample Return Robot Challenge on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass. Seven teams are competing for a $1.36 million NASA prize purse. Teams will be required to demonstrate autonomous robots that can locate and collect samples from a wide and varied terrain, operating without human control. The objective of this NASA-WPI Centennial Challenge is to encourage innovations in autonomous navigation and robotics technologies. Innovations stemming from the challenge may improve NASA's capability to explore a variety of destinations in space, as well as enhance the nation's robotic technology for use in industries and applications on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Members of the West Virginia University Mountaineers team watch as their robot attempts the level two challenge at the 2016 Sample Return Robot Challenge on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass. Seven teams are competing for a $1.36 million NASA prize purse. Teams will be required to demonstrate autonomous robots that can locate and collect samples from a wide and varied terrain, operating without human control. The objective of this NASA-WPI Centennial Challenge is to encourage innovations in autonomous navigation and robotics technologies. Innovations stemming from the challenge may improve NASA's capability to explore a variety of destinations in space, as well as enhance the nation's robotic technology for use in industries and applications on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The planet Mercury is seen in silhouette, lower left, as it transits across the face of the sun Monday, May 9, 2016 from NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. Mercury passes between Earth and the sun only about 13 times a century, with the previous transit taking place in 2006. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Visitors learn about the water cycle at NASA's Earth Day event, Friday, April 22, 2016 at Union Station in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Audience members are seen as they watch the world Premiere of the IMAX film "A Beautiful Planet" at AMC Lowes Lincoln Square theater on Saturday, April 16, 2016 in New York City. The film features footage of Earth captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Jennifer Lawrence attends the world Premiere of the IMAX film "A Beautiful Planet" at AMC Lowes Lincoln Square theater on Saturday, April 16, 2016 in New York City. The film features footage of Earth captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks in the East Room of the White House during the sixth White House Science Fair, Wednesday, April 13, 2016 in Washington, DC. The White House Science Fair showcased the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) achievements of over 100 students from across the country. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen in this ten-second exposure as it lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 carrying the Dragon resupply spacecraft on Friday, April 8, 2016. Dragon is carrying almost 7,000 pounds of supplies and experiments to the International Space Station on its eight commercial resupply mission.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 carrying the Dragon resupply spacecraft on Friday, April 8, 2016. Dragon is carrying almost 7,000 pounds of supplies and experiments to the International Space Station on its eight commercial resupply mission.
Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA is seen after returning to Ellington Field, Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Houston, Texas after his return to Earth the previous day. Kelly and Flight Engineers Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos landed in their Soyuz TMA-18M capsule in Kazakhstan on March 1 (Eastern time). Kelly and Kornienko completed an International Space Station record year-long mission as members of Expeditions 43, 44, 45, and 46 to collect valuable data on the effect of long duration weightlessness on the human body that will be used to formulate a human mission to Mars. Volkov returned after spending six months on the station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The plane carrying Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA is seen as it taxis after landing at Ellington Field, Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Houston, Texas after his return to Earth. Kelly and Flight Engineers Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos landed in their Soyuz TMA-18M capsule in Kazakhstan on March 1 (Eastern time). Kelly and Kornienko completed an International Space Station record year-long mission as members of Expeditions 43, 44, 45, and 46 to collect valuable data on the effect of long duration weightlessness on the human body that will be used to formulate a human mission to Mars. Volkov returned after spending six months on the station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, right, are seen inside a mockup of the International Space Station, Wednesday, March 2, 2016 during a tour of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Biden traveled to Houston to welcome home astronaut Scott Kelly, who is returning to Houston after a year long mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is seen during a tour of a mockup of the International Space Station, Wednesday, March 2, 2016 in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Biden traveled to Houston to welcome home astronaut Scott Kelly, who is returning to Houston after a year long mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Norm Knight, chief, NASA's Flight Director Office, far right, speaks during a tour of the Apollo Mission Control Center with Dr. John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, left, Ellen Ochoa, director, NASA's Johnson Space Center, second from left, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, third from left, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, second from right, Wednesday, March 2, 2016 in the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Biden traveled to Houston to welcome home astronaut Scott Kelly, who is returning to Houston after a year long mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The International Space Station is seen in this eleven-second exposure as it passes over the US Marine Corps War Memorial, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, in Arlington, Va. Onboard are: NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Tim Kopra; Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko, Sergey Volkov, and Yuri Malenchenko; and ESA astronaut Tim Peake. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)