NASA Digest, Vol 54, Issue 14

	November 30, 2017  RELEASE 17-091 NASA Statement on Nomination for Agency Chief Financial Officer   President Trump has nominated Jeffrey DeWit to serve as NASA's Chief Financial Officer. Credits: Office of the Arizona State Treasurer The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot on Wednesday's announcement of the intended nomination by President Donald Trump of Jeffrey DeWit to serve as the agency's Chief Financial Officer: "It is encouraging to see more members of the agency's leadership team being named. Jeff's solid financial background will be a tremendous addition as we continue to advance our nation's aeronautic and exploration initiatives." For information about NASA's missions, discoveries and activities, visit: https://www.nasa.gov
	Press Contacts Jen Rae Wang Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 jenrae.wang@nasa.gov

	November 30, 2017  MEDIA ADVISORY M17-141 NASA TV to Broadcast Departure of Cygnus Cargo Spacecraft from International Space Station The Orbital ATK Cygnus resupply ship approached the International Space Station on its eighth resupply mission as both spacecraft flew into an orbital sunrise. Credits: NASA After delivering almost 7,400 pounds of cargo to support dozens of science experiments from around the world, the Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft is set to leave the International Space Station on Wednesday, Dec. 6. NASA Television and the agency's website will provide live coverage of Cygnus' departure beginning at 7:45 a.m. EST. On Tuesday, Dec. 5, ground controllers will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach the Cygnus spacecraft from the Earth-facing side of the station's Unity module. The spacecraft, which arrived at the station Nov. 14, will be maneuvered above the Harmony module to gather data that will aid in rendezvous and docking operations for future U.S. commercial crew vehicles arriving for a linkup to Harmony's international docking adapters. The maneuver will not be televised. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, at approximately 8:10 a.m., Expedition 53 Flight Engineers Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA will give the command to release Cygnus. Cygnus is packed with more than 5,500 pounds of trash and other items marked for disposal. Experiments delivered on Cygnus supported NASA and other research investigations during Expedition 53, including studies in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science -- research that improves life on Earth. Investigations included studies on communication and navigation, microbiology, animal biology and plant biology. Cygnus also will release 14 CubeSats from an external NanoRacks deployer on Dec. 7. The craft will remain in orbit until Monday, Dec. 18, when its engines will fire twice, pushing it into Earth's atmosphere, where it will burn up over the Pacific Ocean. NASA TV will not provide live coverage of these events. The Cygnus launched Nov. 12 on Orbital ATK's upgraded Antares 230 rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia for the company's eighth NASA-contracted commercial resupply mission. Keep up with the International Space Station, and its research and crews, at: http://www.nasa.gov/station
	Press Contacts Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov Dan Huot Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 daniel.g.huot@nasa.gov