The leader of NASA’s Huntsville-based operations said Monday’s total eclipse of the sun is a “tremendous” opportunity for research, inspiration for the next generation of scientists and encouragement for the Artemis mission to return to the moon.
“It was absolutely amazing, stunning to see and experience here,” Joseph Pelfrey, director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, said after experiencing totality in Russellville, Arkansas. He offered his reaction in an interview with Todd Stacy on Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
“As things started to get dark, you could feel it cooled down and then when we went into totality it was like it was right at sunset, and pretty dark and the streetlights started coming on.”
Pelfrey noted Marshall had multiple scientists around the path of totality studying the various stages in the eclipse.
“A tremendous day to advance our knowledge and continue to study the sun and its effects on Earth.”
Watch the full interview below.
While the next solar eclipse will not occur until 2044, Palfrey hoped that Monday’s events inspired and sparked questions into the youth about our solar system.
As the eclipse passes, the research begins. Marshall scientists will begin to examine their findings ahead of multiple instruments and satellites in orbiting the solar system this year. Notably, Pelfrey said the Parker Solar Probe will fly towards the sun, “the closest approach to the sun’s surface that we’ve ever had.”
Additionally in an effort to learn more about the moon, Marshall Space Flight Center is helping in multiple aspects regarding the Artemis Mission, humans first return to the moon in 50 years.
“Events like today just make us want to go explore even further, to go learn and continue to understand what it’s like to live on another celestial body, to live for long durations away from Earth,” said Palfrey. “Because all of this is preparing us for an eventual trip to Mars, which is our big goal.”
Scheduled for September 2025, Marshall is developing the Space Launch System rocket that will launch the crew to the moon.
“Marshall is going to be a key leader and leading the way for that trip when we get ready,” said Palfrey. “So, a lot of excitement on the center, in the community. Our entire community in Alabama is contributing to what we’re doing as an agency, as we have for the last 60-plus years and will continue to do so in the future.”