KIM WHITSON, DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AT THE MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA, SPEAKS TO THE NASA / MARSHALL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE MEETING ON SEPT. 18 AT THE DAVIDSON CENTER FOR SPACE EXPLORATION AT THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER. MORE THAN 450 REPRESENTATIVES FROM SMALL BUSINESSES DISCUSSED POTENTIAL SUB-CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM MARSHALL CENTER, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, STENNIS SPACE CENTER AND THE NASA SHARED SERVICES.

NASA ADMINISTRATOR CHARLES BOLDEN PRESENTS CENTER LEADERS WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR’S CUP. PARTICIPATING IN THE AWARD CEREMONY WERE, FROM LEFT, MARSHALL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ROBIN HENDERSON, DAVID IOSCO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARSHALL’S OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT; MARSHALL SMALL BUSINESS SPECIALIST DAVID BROCK; MARSHALL CENTER DIRECTOR PATRICK SCHEUERMANN; GLENN DELGADO, ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA’S OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS; KIM WHITSON, DIRECTOR OF MARSHALL’S OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT; NASA ADMINISTRATOR CHARLES BOLDEN; AND TERRY WILCUTT, ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA’S OFFICE OF SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE.

iss073e0252485 (June 28, 2025) --- Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Jonny Kim from NASA and Axiom Mission 4 Commander Peggy Whitson work together inside the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module setting up research hardware to culture patient-derived cancer cells, model their growth in microgravity, and test a state-of-the-art fluorescence microscope. Results may lead to earlier cancer detection methods, development of advanced cancer treatments, and promote future stem cell research in space.

iss073e0511155 (July 3, 2025) --- Axiom Mission 4 Commander Peggy Whitson and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Jonny Kim from NASA pose together for portrait taken inside the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory module.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani (center) talks about his mission and the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station with astronaut Peggy Whitson, at right. Whitson served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment. He and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Tani will be joining the Expedition 15 crew on the space station as flight engineer. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts familiarize themselves with hardware and modules to be flown on upcoming shuttle flights. In the front is Peggy Whitson, looking at the Japanese remote manipulator system, part of the payload on a 2008 mission. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From the floor of the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts get a look at the S6 integrated truss and solar arrays, scheduled to fly on STS-119 in 2008. In the center are Peggy Whitson and Dan Tani. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, astronaut Peggy Whitson learns about the hardware the technician is holding. The hardware will be flown on an upcoming shuttle flight. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts look at one end of a module being processed for the International Space Station. Accompanied by technicians, at far left is Leopold Eyharts; at far right is Peggy Whitson. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts Garrett Reisman, Peggy Whitson and Leopold Eyharts look at one of the modules being processed there. The hardware will be flown on an upcoming shuttle flight. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From the floor of the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts get a look at the S6 integrated truss and solar arrays, scheduled to fly on STS-119 in 2008. On the left are Koichi Wakata, Dan Tani and Peggy Whitson. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, (left to right) astronauts Dan Tani, Leopold Eyharts, Koichi Wakata and Peggy Whitson study hardware for an upcoming shuttle flight. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts familiarize themselves with hardware and modules to be flown on upcoming shuttle flights. Seen here are Leopold Eyharts and Peggy Whitson. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts get data on the space station module they are in. At left is Leopold Eyharts; at right is Dan Tani and Peggy Whitson. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the floor of the Space Station Processing Facility, astronauts Dan Tani (left) and Peggy Whitson practice working with a cover, something they may handle during an upcoming shuttle flight. With construction of the Space Station the primary focus of future shuttle missions, astronaut crews will be working with one or more of the elements and hardware already being processed in the SSPF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

iss073e0249461 (June 26, 2025) --- The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) and Expedition 73 crews join each other for a group portrait inside the International Space Station's Harmony module. In the front row (from left) are, Ax-4 crewmates Tibor Kapu, Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, and Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski with Expedition 73 crewmates Anne McClain and Takuya Onishi. In the rear are, Expedition 73 crewmates Alexey Zubritsky, Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, Jonny Kim, and Nichole Ayers.

iss073e0252473 (June 28, 2025) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Jonny Kim (back to camera) joins Axiom Mission 4 crew members (clockwise from top left) Tibor Kapu from Hungary, Peggy Whitson from the U.S., and Shubhanshu Shukla from India for lunch inside the galley of the International Space Station's Unity module.

iss073e0249239 (June 26, 2025) --- The Axiom Mission 4 private astronauts gather with drink pouches inside the International Space Station shortly after docking to the orbital outpost's space-facing port on the Harmony module. In the dark suits (from left) are, Ax-4 crewmates Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, and Tibor Kapu. Surrounding the Ax-4 crew (clockwise from top are) Expedition 73 crewmates Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, Jonny Kim, Anne McClain, Kirill Peskov, and Sergey Ryzhikov.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Commander Pamela Melroy (center) learns more about the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. With her is astronaut Peggy Whitson, who served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay aboard the space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment. Melroy and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani (left) examines equipment for the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. Looking on, at right, is astronaut Peggy Whitson, who served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay aboard the space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment. Tani and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Tani will be joining the Expedition 15 crew on the space station as flight engineer. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani (left) and Commander Pamela Melroy learn some details about the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. With them, at right, is astronaut Peggy Whitson, who served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay aboard the space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment. Tani, Melroy and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Tani will be joining the Expedition 15 crew on the space station as flight engineer. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani (gesturing) explains to Scott Parazynski (center) and astronaut Peggy Whitson what he has learned about the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. Whitson served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. Tani and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Tani will be joining the Expedition 15 crew on the space station as flight engineer. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani (center) learns more about the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. With him, at right, is astronaut Peggy Whitson, who served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay aboard the space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment.. He and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Tani will be joining the Expedition 15 crew on the space station as flight engineer. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Commander Pamela Melroy (right) learns more about the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. With her is astronaut Peggy Whitson, who served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay aboard the space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment. She and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani (left) examines equipment for the Node 2, another element to be added to the International Space Station. Looking on, at right, is astronaut Peggy Whitson, who served on Expedition 5 aboard the space station. During her 6-month stay aboard the space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment. Tani and other crew members are at KSC for equipment familiarization. Tani will be joining the Expedition 15 crew on the space station as flight engineer. Node 2 will provide a passageway between three station science experiment facilities: the U.S. Destiny Laboratory, the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module, and the European Columbus Laboratory. STS-120 is targeted for launch on October 20. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

iss073e0511059 (July 3, 2025) --- Four astronauts representing Expedition 73 and the four-member Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew gather for a fun portrait clasping hands and surrounding the Kibo laboratory module's airlock. Clockwise from bottom left are, Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Jonny Kim of NASA, Ax-4 Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA (European Space Agency), Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers of NASA, Ax-4 Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary, Expedition 73 Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Ax-4 Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA, and Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a receiving line of NASA managers and well-wishers congratulate the members of the STS-129 crew on a successful mission. In line from left, in the blue suits, are STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik and Robert L. Satcher Jr. Looking on from the top of the stairs is astronaut Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Corps, who has spent a total of 377 days in space while a member of two Expedition crews on the International Space Station. Space shuttle Atlantis landed on Runway 33, completing the 4.5-million-mile STS-129 mission to the International Space Station on orbit 171. Main gear touchdown was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m. On STS-129, the six-member crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett