Ready for Liftoff

The Soyuz rocket is seen shortly after arrival to the launch pad on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009.

About Operation Ice Bridge

Antarctica's Larsen Ice Shelf, viewed from NASA's DC-8 aircraft in 2004, is one target of the 2009 Operation: Ice Bridge Antarctica campaign. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross Operation Ice Bridge, a six-year NASA field campaign, is the largest airborne survey of Earth's polar ice ever flown. It will yield an unprecedented three-dimensional view of Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, ice shelves and sea ice.

Cosmic Rays Hit Space Age High

Planning a trip to Mars? Take plenty of shielding. According to sensors on NASA's ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) spacecraft, galactic cosmic rays have just hit a Space Age high."In 2009, cosmic ray intensities have increased 19% beyond anything we've seen in the past 50 years," says Richard Mewaldt of Caltech. "The increase is significant, and it could mean we need to re-think how much

Atlantis Powered Down, Crew Practice Entry

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians will power down Atlantis today for the final time before its move, or rollover, from Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Oct. 6.A structural leak test of the aft section of Atlantis, as well as a pressure test of the orbiter compartment, also will be performed.The STS-129 mission astronauts will conduct an

Expedition 21 Crew Launches From Kazakhstan

Flight Engineers Jeffrey Williams and Maxim Suraev of the 21st International Space Station crew launched in their Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:14 a.m. EDT Wednesday to begin a six-month stay in space.Less than 10 minutes after launch their spacecraft reached orbit, and its antennas and solar arrays were deployed shortly afterward.› View video of Soyuz

NASA Spacecraft Sees Ice on Mars Exposed by Meteor Impacts

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed frozen water hiding just below the surface of mid-latitude Mars. The spacecraft's observations were obtained from orbit after meteorites excavated fresh craters on the Red Planet.Scientists controlling instruments on the orbiter found bright ice exposed at five Martian sites with new craters that range in depth from approximately half a meter to 2.5

NASA Instruments Reveal Water Molecules on Lunar Surface

NASA scientists have discovered water molecules in the polar regions of the moon. Instruments aboard three separate spacecraft revealed water molecules in amounts that are greater than predicted, but still relatively small. Hydroxyl, a molecule consisting of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom, also was found in the lunar soil. The findings were published in Thursday's edition of the journal

New Space Station Crew Launches; In-Orbit News Conference Set

The next residents of the International Space Station launched into orbit aboard a Soyuz spacecraft Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, Russian cosmonaut Max Suraev and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte lifted off at 2:14 a.m. CDT.Future Expedition 22 Commander Williams, Soyuz Commander Suraev and Laliberte are scheduled to dock with the station

Go For Launch (L-18 hours)

We have completed all of the major activities leading up to launch. The rocket is on the launch pad and ready to go. Family and friends were able to attend the rollout which, of course, is a highlight of the Baikonur experience. Today, the State Commission formally gave a report of readiness and go for launch. A press conference followed immediately after that. After a short break, the prime

Rollout

Russian security officers walk along the railroad tracks as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009.

In-Line Water Filtration: Better Hygeine, Less Expense

Water, essential to sustaining life on Earth, is that much more highly prized in the unforgiving realm of space travel and habitation. Given a launch cost of $10,000 per pound for space shuttle cargo, however, each gallon of water at 8.33 pounds quickly makes Chanel No. 5 a bargain at $25,000 per gallon. Likewise, ample water reserves for drinking, food preparation, and bathing would take up an

Floundering El Niños Make for Fickle Forecasts

Since May 2009, the tropical Pacific Ocean has switched from a cool pattern of ocean circulation known as La Niña to her warmer sibling, El Niño. This cyclical warming of the ocean waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific generally occurs every three to seven years, and is linked with changes in the strength of the trade winds. El Niño can affect weather worldwide, including the

Water Detected at High Latitudes on the Moon

NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper, an instrument on the Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 mission, took this image of Earth's moon. It is a three-color composite of reflected near-infrared radiation from the sun, and illustrates the extent to which different materials are mapped across the side of the moon that faces Earth.Small amounts of water were detected on the surface of the

Firing Room 1: Adding One More "First"

If rooms could boast about an illustrious past, then the Launch Control Center's Firing Room 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida would have ample reason. Soon another chapter of launch history will be written from there as the Ares I-X launch team assembles in the newly remodeled nerve center for the rocket's flight test.Firing Room 1 "Firsts" Saturn VSaturn V with crewMoon mission with

NASA Selects Flight Dynamics Support Services Contractor

NASA has selected a.i. solutions Inc. of Lanham, Md., for a Flight Dynamic Support Services contract. The total value of this indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity cost-plus award fee contract is $95 million. The period of performance is five years.The contractor will provide flight dynamics support services to the Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch and the Guidance, Navigation and Control

NASA Seeks Ideas For New Prize Challenges

The Innovative Partnerships Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington is offering an opportunity for the public to help shape the prize challenges the agency offers to America's future citizen-inventors.For the next six weeks, ideas for new Centennial Challenge prize competitions may be proposed for NASA's consideration. Creative ideas are sought from industry, colleges, universities, private

NASA Instruments Reveal Water Molecules on Lunar Surface

NASA scientists have discovered water molecules in the polar regions of the moon. Instruments aboard three separate spacecraft revealed water molecules in amounts that are greater than predicted, but still relatively small. Hydroxyl, a molecule consisting of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom, also was found in the lunar soil. The findings were published in Thursday's edition of the journal

NASA Invites Students to Drop Everything

NASA is inviting student teams to experience microgravity science by designing and building experiments to be conducted in a NASA drop tower. Dropping In a Microgravity Environment, or DIME, is a competition for high school students. Students in grades 6-9 can compete in What If No Gravity?, or WING.Both competitions are open to teams from any state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Shadow on the Moon

Surveyor 1, the first of the Surveyor missions to make a successful soft landing, proved the validity of the spacecraft's design and landing technique. In addition to transmitting more than 11,000 pictures, Surveyor sent information on the bearing strength of the lunar soil, the radar reflectivity and temperature.This image of Surveyor 1's shadow shows it against the lunar surface in the late

NASA's LCROSS Mission Changes Impact Crater

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission (LCROSS) based on new analysis of available lunar data, has shifted the target crater from Cabeus A to Cabeus (proper).The decision was based on continued evaluation of all available data and consultation/input from members of the LCROSS Science Team and the scientific community, including impact experts, ground and space based

Newest Astronauts Follow the Footsteps of Pioneers at Langley

Jack Fischer flew F-22 Raptors at Langley Air Force Base but didn't have a clue about what was going on the other side of the fence.Reid Wiseman flew F-18 Super Hornets at Oceana and had an idea about some of the things done at NASA's Langley Research Center, but had never been to the facility."My daughter's really interested in NASA," he said. "She loves the Air and Space Center. I'm not sure

NASA Ice Satellite Maps Profound Polar Thinning

Researchers have used NASA’s Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) to compose the most comprehensive picture of changing glaciers along the coast of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.The new elevation maps show that all latitudes of the Greenland ice sheet are affected by dynamic thinning -- the loss of ice due to accelerated ice flow to the ocean. The maps also show surprising,

The Ups and Downs of Global Warming

According to the vast majority of climate scientists, the planet is heating up1. Scientists have concluded that this appears to be the result of increased human emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, which trap heat near the surface of Earth. However, some information sources -- blogs, websites, media articles and other voices -- highlight that the planet has been cooling since

NASA Announces Awards For Future Astrophysics Suborbital Flights

NASA has selected nine scientific teams to work on future high-altitude balloon and sounding rocket payloads. The selected proposals address a wide range of astrophysical mysteries from dark matter and cosmic-ray antiprotons to studies of galaxy clusters and supernova remnants."The suborbital research program is a very important part of astrophysics," said Jon A. Morse, director of the

With an Eye on Locusts and Vegetation, Scientists Make a Good Tool Better

Locusts, the grasshopper-like insects of Biblical lore, are normally docile creatures that prefer solitary lives in the desert, away from other members of their species. But sometimes, when the rains come and patches of green begin to dot dry landscapes, their populations skyrocket and something extraordinary can happen. Hormonal changes, triggered by crowding, can cause the insects to change

From Nothing, Something: One Layer at a Time

A group of engineers working on a novel manufacturing technique at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., have come up with a new twist on the popular old saying about dreaming and doing: "If you can slice it, we can build it."That's because layers mean everything to the environmentally-friendly construction process called Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication, or EBF3150, and its operation

MESSENGER Spacecraft Prepares for Final Pass by Mercury

NASA's Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft known as MESSENGER will fly by Mercury for the third and final time on Sept. 29. The spacecraft will pass less than 142 miles above the planet's rocky surface for a final gravity assist that will enable it to enter Mercury's orbit in 2011.Determining the composition of Mercury's surface is a major goal of the orbital

NASA's Spitzer Spots Clump Of Swirling Planetary Material

Astronomers have witnessed odd behavior around a young star. Something, perhaps another star or a planet, appears to be pushing a clump of planet-forming material around. The observations, made with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, offer a rare look into the early stages of planet formation.Planets form out of swirling disks of gas and dust. Spitzer observed infrared light coming from one such

STS-128 Outfits Station for New Science

Space shuttle Discovery launched atop brilliant pillars of fire into a midnight sky over NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 28, 2009, to begin a textbook outfitting and supply mission to the International Space Station.With the Leonardo cargo module bolted tight into the payload bay and astronaut Rick “C.J.” Sturckow in the commander’s seat, Discovery pursued the space station for two

Next Up: Atlantis

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are preparing space shuttle Atlantis for its move from Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, next month.Final preparations in the shuttle's aft section are complete and crews are working on the forward sections now. The main landing gear is set to be leak tested and the hydraulic fluid level will be checked

Lump of Planetary Stuff

This artist's conception shows a lump of material in a swirling, planet-forming disk. Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope found evidence that a companion to a star -- either another star or a planet -- could be pushing planetary material together, as illustrated here.Planets are born out of spinning disks of gas and dust. They can carve out lanes or gaps in the disks as they grow

NASA To Hold Teleconference To Discuss New Findings About Mars

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., will host a media teleconference at noon PDT on Thursday, Sept. 24, to discuss new research results from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The findings will be reported in Friday's edition of the journal Science. NASA will stream audio from the teleconference online.The teleconference participants are:- Ken Edgett, team member, Context

Ames Bioengineering Scientist Establishes GREEN Team

After earning his Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, Jonathan Trent spent six years in Europe at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Germany, the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and the University of Paris at Orsay in France. He returned to the United States to work at the Boyer Center for Molecular

Robotic Lunar lander

Marshall Space Flight Center is testing a new robotic lunar lander test bed that will aid in the development of a new generation of multi-use landers for robotic space exploration. The test article is equipped with thrusters that guide the lander, one set of which controls the vehicle's attitude with that directs the altitude and landing. On the test lander, an additional thruster offsets the

NASA News Audio Live Streaming

NASA to Preview Mission's Third Flight Past Mercury NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to preview the third and final flyby of Mercury by the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft known as MESSENGER. The briefing participants are:- Anthony Carro, MESSENGER program executive, NASA Headquarters in Washington'- Eric J.

North American Carbon KML

Using Google Earth for Exploring Atmospheric Observations of Carbon Dioxide for Understanding the North American Carbon BudgetAtmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased from approximately 280 ppm (parts per million) to 380 ppm since the beginning of the industrial era. We know that this increase contributes to global climate change. Carbon cycle scientists are trying to

North Polar Arcuate Scarp and Dunes

OBSERVATION TOOLBOX Acquisition date:28 November 2006 Local Mars time: 1:43 PM Latitude (centered):83.4 ° Longitude (East):118.8 ° Range to target site:320.2 km (200.1 miles)Original image scale range:from 32.0 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) to 64.1 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning)Map projected scale:25 cm/pixelMap projection:POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC Emission angle:4.6 ° Phase angle:

2009 Honoree Awards Program - September 19 2009

Events Open to the Public10:30 Plaque Unveiling Boeing Plaza3:00 Awards Ceremony LPAC*, Main Stage5:00 Moon Tree Planting LPAC, Judy Garland Courtyard5:20 Honoree Autographs LPAC, Front of Box OfficeEvents by Invitation Only5:00 Cocktail Hour LPAC, Lobby6:00 Cocktail Reception LPAC, Main StageHonorees Announced! Click here

Radar Mapping of Icy Layers Under Mars' North Pole

This composite graphic illustrates the use of the Shallow Radar instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for mapping underground ice-rich layers of the north polar layered terrain on Mars.Pane "a" is a radargram from the instrument, showing a cross-section of Mars' north polar cap, based on time lags of radio-wave echoes returning from different layers. The penetrating radar reveals icy

Desert Layover

Space shuttle Discovery is parked within the Mate-Demate Device gantry at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Cener prior to beginning turnaround processing for its ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discoloration on Discovery's reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap gives evidence of the extreme heating it encountered during re-entry into the Earth' atmosphere prior to landing on

EVE: Measuring the Sun's Hidden Variability

Every 11 years, the sun undergoes a furious upheaval. Dark sunspots burst forth from beneath the sun's surface. Explosions as powerful as a billion atomic bombs spark intense flares of high-energy radiation. Clouds of gas big enough to swallow planets break away and billow into space. It's a flamboyant display of stellar power.So why can't we see any of it?Almost none of the drama of Solar

Atlantis Tank Connected to Boosters; Discovery in OPF

Preparations are under way in the Vehicle Assembly Building for the November launch of Atlantis on the STS-129 mission. The external tank for Atlantis was connected yesterday to the twin solid rocket boosters.Space shuttle Discovery was hoisted off of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft that brought it from California and is inside Orbiter Processing Facility-3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in

Radar Map of Buried Mars Layers Matches Climate Cycles

New, three-dimensional imaging of Martian north-polar ice layers by a radar instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is consistent with theoretical models of Martian climate swings during the past few million years.Alignment of the layering patterns with the modeled climate cycles provides insight about how the layers accumulated. These ice-rich, layered deposits cover an area one-third

Astronaut James McDivitt, Others Inducted Into Aerospace Walk of Honor

Retired NASA Apollo program astronaut James McDivitt was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster City, Calif. on Sept. 19, 2009. McDivitt, who commanded the Gemini IV mission in 1965 and the Apollo 9 mission in 1969, was one of five former test pilots and astronauts honored at the 20th induction ceremonies.McDivitt was joined at the induction ceremony by retired NASA astronaut

Engineers to Practice on Webb Telescope Simulator

The huge assembly standing in Northrop Grumman Corporation’s high bay looks a lot like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, but it’s a full-scale simulator of the space telescope’s key elements.Engineers are using the simulator, consisting of the telescope’s primary backplane assembly and the sunshield’s integrated validation article, to develop the Webb Telescope’s hardware design. In addition,

NASA Sets Target Date for Ares I-X Rocket's Test Launch

NASA is targeting Tuesday, Oct. 27, for the flight test of the Ares I-X rocket, pending successful testing and data verification. Senior managers made the decision after a meeting Monday at NASA Headquarters in Washington.The Oct. 27 target date has been confirmed with the Air Force's Eastern Range. The launch window will extend from 8 a.m. to noon EDT. There is another launch opportunity on Oct.

Nasa To Reveal New Scientific Findings About The Moon

NASA will hold a media briefing at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 24, to discuss new science data from the moon collected during national and international space missions. NASA Television and the agency's Web site will provide live coverage of the briefing from the James E. Webb Memorial Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. SW, in Washington. The briefing participants are: - Jim Green,

Homecoming

Space shuttle Discovery sits atop the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft as it touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:05 p.m. EDT. The two-day return flight from Edwards Air Force Base in California began at 9:20 a.m. EDT Sept. 20. After three fueling stops that included an overnight stay in Louisiana, the piggybacked shuttle had to navigate through a line of showers across

Google Earth Application Maps Carbon's Course

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words, particularly when the picture is used to illustrate science. Technology is giving us better pictures every day, and one of them is helping a NASA-funded scientist and her team to explain the behavior of a greenhouse gas.Google Earth -- the digital globe on which computer users can fly around the planet and zoom in on key features -- is

Shuttle's Ferry Flight Presented Challenging Weather

One of the pilots for Discovery's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft says today's final leg of the ferry flight presented the most challenging weather situation he's dealt with in the more than 10 cross-country piggyback treks he's flown.The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:05 p.m. EDT.Discovery will be detached from the

Join Us Sept. 24 for the STS-127 Space Shuttle Crew's Tweetup in Washington

Thanks for your interest in the Tweetup. Registration is now closed. Attendees will receive an e-mail with more details on the event. NASA will host a Tweetup with space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 crew from 3 to 5 p.m. EDT Sept. 24 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The astronauts will discuss their recent mission to the International Space Station.A Tweetup is an informal meeting of people

My Summer at NASA Chat Event

What's it like to work at NASA? Undergraduate and graduate students who are on NASA aeronautics scholarships spent this past summer working at NASA centers across the country.They worked on everything from hypervelocity impact experiments to damage mitigation for aircraft and flight tests for future aircraft design concepts.What was the work like? What were the people like?What did they learn

Centaur is No Longer the Bridesmaid

Centaur was the unnamed companion to the Atlas V rocket when it launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 18, 2009. Their mission: lift NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) into its lunar orbit. Piggybacking a ride on the Centaur was also the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) that will impact the moon in October. But something is different about this mission for

Cassini Reveals New Ring Quirks, Shadows During Saturn Equinox

NASA scientists are marveling over the extent of ruffles and dust clouds revealed in the rings of Saturn during the planet's equinox last month. Scientists once thought the rings were almost completely flat, but new images reveal the heights of some newly discovered bumps in the rings are as high as the Rocky Mountains. NASA released the images Monday."It's like putting on 3-D glasses and seeing

The Journey Home

NASA's modified Boeing 747 carrying the space shuttle Discovery taxis toward the runway at Edwards Air Force Base shortly before dawn on Sept. 20, 2009, prior to taking off on their two-day ferry flight to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery landed at Edwards on Sept. 11, after a 14-day mission STS-128 to the International Space Station.

Cassini Reveals New Ring Quirks, Shadows During Saturn Equinox

NASA scientists are marveling over the extent of ruffles and dust clouds revealed in the rings of Saturn during the planet's equinox last month. Scientists once thought the rings were almost completely flat, but new images reveal the heights of some newly discovered bumps in the rings are as high as the Rocky Mountains. NASA released the images Monday."It's like putting on 3-D glasses and seeing

NASA Selects Engineering Evaluation and Test Contractor

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., has selected the Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif., for the Specialized Engineering Evaluation and Test Services contract. The total value of this indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity cost-plus fixed fee contract is $35 million. The period of performance is 18 months.Under this contract, the Aerospace Corporation will provide

NASA to Preview Mission's Third Flight Past Mercury

NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to preview the third and final flyby of Mercury by the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft known as MESSENGER.On Sept. 29, the spacecraft will swing less than 142 miles above the planet's rocky surface for a final gravity assist that will enable it to enter orbit around Mercury in

Discovery's Ferry Flight Team Targets an Early Afternoon Return to Kennedy Space Center

The ferry flight team plans to meet at 8 a.m. EDT Monday to evaluate the latest weather conditions and set a take off time for the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with shuttle Discovery on top and NASA's C-9 "pathfinder" support aircraft. Weather permitting, the team is targeting a possible 10 a.m. EDT departure from Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana. Depending on real time weather

Highest GigaPan Panoramas Taken On Earth's Surface

On May 20, 2009, former NASA astronaut and Ames employee Scott Parazynski became the first person to have been to space and to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. On his way to the summit Parazynski was able to capture several photographic panoramas from record-setting heights.An avid climber, Parazynski's main goal was to scale the majestic mountain. However, on his way up, Parazynski also

In Search of Dark Asteroids (and Other Sneaky Things)

Ninjas knew how to be stealthy: Be dark. Emit very little light. Move in the shadows between bright places.In modern warfare, though, ninjas would be sitting ducks. Their black clothes may be hard to see at night with the naked eye, but their warm bodies would be clearly visible to a soldier wearing infrared goggles.To hunt for the "ninjas" of the cosmos -- dim objects that lurk in the vast dark

NASA Assigns Crew for Final Scheduled Space Shuttle Mission

NASA has assigned the crew for the last scheduled space shuttle mission, targeted to launch in September 2010. The flight to the International Space Station will carry a pressurized logistics module to the station.Veteran shuttle commander and retired Air Force Col. Steven W. Lindsey will command the eight-day mission, designated STS-133. Air Force Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot; it

U.S. and France Sign Agreements for Civil Space Cooperation

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and French Space Agency President Yannick d'Escatha signed four agreements in support of U.S. and French space cooperation during a ceremony Thursday at NASA Headquarters in Washington."The French Space Agency has a long history of participating with NASA in Earth and space science missions," Bolden said. "I am pleased to see this cooperation expand as we look to

NASA Invites News Media to Ames for LCROSS Impact Events

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission, known as LCROSS, will culminate with two lunar impacts at approximately 4:30 a.m. PDT on Oct. 9. The mission will search for water ice in the Cabeus A crater near the moon's south pole. Reporters are invited to observe the event and participate in pre-impact and post-impact media briefings Oct. 9 at NASA's Ames Research Center at

Lunar South Pole -- Out of the Shadows

During the LRO Commissioning Phase, the high-resolution Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) captured this 1-m pixel scale (angular resolution) two-image mosaic of the lunar south pole, which is located on the rim of the 19-km diameter Shackleton crater. At meter scales features such as boulders and ridges can be mapped, paving the way for future explorers. Right now we know little of the

Shuttle Team Looks to Sunday to Start Ferry Flight

Dynamic weather will keep shuttle Discovery’s ferry flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., at least through Saturday. Teams now are looking at Sunday to begin the 2,500 mile cross-country trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla.Shuttle managers met at NASA’s Dryden Research Center this afternoon to assess ferry flight preparations and weather conditions across the southeastern United States.

Up and Away

Space shuttle Discovery, mounted on leveling jacks, is surrounded by work platforms while undergoing servicing and preparations at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center for its ferry flight to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Test of Futuristic X-48C is Historic Wind Tunnel's Swan Song

A historic wind tunnel at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., has been pressed into service one last time to help test the prototype of a new, more fuel-efficient, quieter aircraft design. embedFlashVideo("/387707main_x48c-timelapse.flv","center","400","260","Time lapse video of the assembly of the X-48C model prior to testing. (FLV)","/images/content/387708main_x48c-video-400.jpg")

Planck Snaps its First Images of Ancient Cosmic Light

The Planck mission has captured its first rough images of the sky, demonstrating the observatory is working and ready to measure light from the dawn of time. Planck – a European Space Agency mission with significant NASA participation – will survey the entire sky to learn more about the history and evolution of our universe.The space telescope started surveying the sky regularly on Aug. 13 from

New Temperature Maps Provide a 'Whole New Way of Seeing the Moon'

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, an unmanned mission to comprehensively map the entire moon, has returned its first data. One of the instruments aboard, the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment, is making the first global survey of the temperature of the lunar surface.Diviner has obtained enough data already to characterize many aspects of the moon's current thermal environment. So far, the

Masten Space Systems Attempts to Qualify For Lunar Lander Challenge

Masten Space Systems unsuccessfully attempted a Level 1 flight on Sept. 16 as part of the Centennial Challenges - Lunar Lander Challenge at the company’s test facility at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port.In order to qualify for Level 1 prize money, a rocket vehicle must lift off from one concrete pad, ascend to approximately 50 meters, travel horizontally, and land on a second pad. After

Learning How Materials Work in Space to Make Them Better on Earth

What's about the size of a large refrigerator, weighs a ton and may help pave the way for new and improved metals or glasses here on Earth?It's the Materials Science Research Rack -- a new laboratory on board the International Space Station.This facility will allow researchers to study a variety of materials -- including metals, alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, and glasses to see how the

LRO Begins Detailed Mapping of Moon's South PoleLRO Begins Detailed Mapping of Moon's South Pole

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has successfully completed its testing and calibration phase and entered its mapping orbit of the moon. The spacecraft already has made significant progress toward creating the most detailed atlas of the moon's south pole to date.NASA showcased new images from LRO's seven instruments and provided updates about the topography of the moon's south pole

NASA Invites Media to Ames for LCROSS Impact Events

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission, known as LCROSS, will culminate with two lunar impacts at approximately 4:30 a.m. PDT on Oct. 9. The mission will search for water ice in the Cabeus A crater near the moon's south pole. Reporters are invited to observe the event and participate in pre-impact and post-impact media briefings Oct. 9 at NASA's Ames Research Center at

The Return of Buzz Lightyear

Disney's space ranger Buzz Lightyear returned from space on Sept. 11, aboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission after 15 months aboard the International Space Station. His time on the orbiting laboratory will celebrated in a ticker-tape parade together with his space station crewmates and former Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin on Oct. 2, at Walt Disney World in Florida.While on the space

Ozone Hole Watch

This is the Ozone Hole Watch web site, where you can check on the latest status of the ozone layer over the South Pole. Satellite instruments monitor the ozone layer, and we use their data to create the images that depict the amount of ozone. The blue and purple colors are where there is the least ozone, and the greens, yellows

Peering into Titan's haze

A new study has thrown light on the processes that form organic molecules called polyynes in the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The research could help explain what makes up the moon's characteristic orange haze.Titan fascinates astrobiologists and chemists alike due to its complex organic chemistry.A recent spate of interest in the satellite has been fuelled by data from the

NASA Satellite Data Show Progress of 2009 Antarctic Ozone Hole

The annual ozone hole has started developing over the South Pole, and it appears that it will be comparable to ozone depletions over the past decade. This composite image from September 10 depicts ozone concentrations in Dobson units, with purple and blues depicting severe deficits of ozone."We have observed the ozone hole again in 2009, and it appears to be pretty average so far," said ozone

On the Tarmac

Technicians clad in protective suits check for any hazardous gases emanating from space shuttle Discovery moments after it rolled to a stop on the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 11. The checks are required before the crews move in for recovery operations.

Centennial Challenge - Armadillo Aerospace

In this image, the rocket vehicle takes off.On Sept. 12, 2009, Armadillo Aerospace successfully conducted flights at the Armadillo Aerospace test facility in Caddo Mills, Texas. Armadillo met the Level 2 requirements for the Centennial Challenges - Lunar Lander Challenge and qualified to win a $1 million dollar first place prize.To qualify for the Level 2 prize, Armadillo Aerospace's rocket

Asteroid Juno Grabs the Spotlight

Toward the end of September, the sun will turn a spotlight on the asteroid Juno, giving that bulky lump of rock a rare featured cameo in the night sky. Those who get out to a dark, unpolluted sky will be able to spot the asteroid's silvery glint near the planet Uranus with a pair of binoculars."It can usually be seen by a good amateur telescope, but the guy on the street doesn't usually get a

Swift Makes Best-ever Ultraviolet Portrait of Andromeda Galaxy

In a break from its usual task of searching for distant cosmic explosions, NASA's Swift satellite has acquired the highest-resolution view of a neighboring spiral galaxy ever attained in the ultraviolet. The galaxy, known as M31 in the constellation Andromeda, is the largest and closest spiral galaxy to our own."Swift reveals about 20,000 ultraviolet sources in M31, especially hot, young stars

NASA Sets Briefings for November Space Shuttle Mission

NASA will preview the next space shuttle mission during a series of news briefings on Friday, Oct. 16, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA Television and the agency's Web site will broadcast the briefings live. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations.Shuttle Atlantis' 11-day mission, designated STS-129, is targeted to launch Nov. 12. The flight will include three

Snapshots From Space Cultivate Fans Among Midwest Farmers

Noreen Thomas’ farm looks like a patchwork quilt. Fields change hue with the season and with the alternating plots of organic wheat, soybeans, corn, alfalfa, flax, or hay.Thomas enjoys this view from hundreds of miles above Earth’s surface -- not just for the beauty, but the utility. She is among a growing group of Midwest farmers who rely on satellite imagery from Landsat to maximize their

NASA Awards Grants for Research Centers at 6 Minority Universities

NASA has selected six universities that serve large numbers of minority and underrepresented students to receive research grants totaling nearly $30 million. The funding will help the universities establish significant, multi-disciplinary scientific, engineering and commercial research centers that contribute substantially to NASA programs. The six universities selected are: - California State

NASA gets ready for STS-129

The U.S. space agency says it is preparing for the next space shuttle mission -- STS-129 -- scheduled to be launched Nov. 12. Space shuttle Atlantis' 11-day mission will include three spacewalks and the installation of two platforms to the International Space Station's truss, NASA said. The platforms will hold spare hardware to sustain station operations after the Shuttles are retired. Atlantis

NASA's moon program gets boost in Congress

The head of a panel of space experts that poured cold water last week on NASA's plan to return to the moon conceded Tuesday that the plan is sound and would work, given enough money. Norman Augustine, a former chief executive of Lockheed Martin and head of the panel of experts appointed by President Barack Obama, told Congress the Constellation moon program is technically feasible, well

Above Dione's Fractures

The Cassini spacecraft looks down on the north pole of Dione and the fine fractures that cross its trailing hemisphere.The north pole of Dione lies on the terminator between shadow and light, about halfway down the left side of the image. This view is centered on terrain at 66 degrees north latitude, 224 degrees west longitude. Lit terrain seen here is on the trailing hemisphere and anti-Saturn

Eyes on the Prize

Armadillo Aerospace successfully met the Level 2 requirements for the Centennial Challenges - Lunar Lander Challenge and qualified to win a $1 million dollar first place prize. The flights were conducted Sept. 12 at the Armadillo Aerospace test facility in Caddo Mills, Texas.To qualify for the Level 2 prize, Armadillo Aerospace's rocket vehicle took off from one concrete pad, ascended

Fires and Smoke in Borneo

The highlands of Central Kalimantan province in Indonesian Borneo were hidden by clouds on September 13, 2009, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image, but the lowlands to the northwest and southeast were shrouded with thick, gray smoke. MODIS detected dozens of fires (locations outlined in red) in the swampy, low-lying area

Saturn's Turbulent 'Storm Alley' Sets Another Record

The longest continuously observed thunderstorm in the solar system has been roiling Saturn's atmosphere since mid-January and is still churning now, according to a presentation by a Cassini team scientist at the European Planetary Science Congress in Potsdam, Germany.A team led by Georg Fischer, a scientist at the Austrian Academy of Sciences has been using Cassini's Radio and Plasma Wave Science

Kepler and the Search for Life in Our Galaxy

There are so many stars in our galaxy that even if planets with complex life (animals and plants) are rare – say one for every billion stars – there could still be dozens here in the Milky Way. But we are just beginning to learn about worlds beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, so we really don't have a good idea of what the chances are for advanced life. That's where NASA's Kepler mission

The X-15, the Pilot and the Space Shuttle

Fifty years ago in 1959, test pilot Scott Crossfield threw the switch to ignite the twin XLR-11 engines of his North American Aviation X-15 rocket plane and begin the storied test program's first powered flight.It was a real kick in the pants."The drop from the B-52 carrier aircraft was pretty abrupt, and then when you lit that rocket a second or two later you definitely felt it,” said Joe Engle,

James Webb Space Telescope Begins to Take Shape at Goddard

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is starting to come together. A major component of the telescope, the Integrated Science Instrument Module structure, recently arrived at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. for testing in the Spacecraft Systems Development and Integration Facility.The Integrated Science Instrument Module, or ISIM, is an important component of the Webb telescope.

NASA Ames Hosts White House CIO

Vivek Kundra, the federal chief information officer, announced a new government cloud computing initiative at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., on Sept. 15, 2009. Kundra unveiled the new Apps.gov platform, an online storefront for federal agencies to browse and purchase cloud-based information technology (IT) services and predicted it would significantly lower government costs

NDVI: Satellites Could Help Keep Hungry Populations Fed as Climate Changes

In the early 1980s, scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., developed the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), an innovative combination of two satellite measurements that allowed them to analyze changes in the "greenness" of Earth as viewed from space. Much like measurements from weather satellites allow meteorologists to track and monitor hurricanes, NDVI

NASA, Partners Celebrate First Anniversary of Vital Air Quality Communications Resource in Mesoamerica, Caribbean

NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and their partners today celebrate the first anniversary of the air quality initiative within SERVIR that delivers in-situ, satellite-based, and modeled air quality data to forecasters, researchers, broadcasters, and communities throughout Mesoamerica and the Caribbean.A key component of

Landsat: A Space Age Water Gauge

NASA has released a video illustrating an innovative satellite-based method that maps agricultural water consumption. The new mapping tool, based on Landsat satellite data, received a prestigious Innovations In American Government award from Harvard University’s Ash Institute on September 14.Water specialists Rick Allen, Bill Kramber and Tony Morse use Landsat thermal band data to measure the

Scientists Discover New Radiation Belt at Saturn

Scientists using the Cassini spacecraft's Magnetospheric Imaging instrument have detected a new, temporary radiation belt at Saturn, located around the orbit of its moon Dione at about 377,000 kilometers (234,000 miles) from the center of the planet.The new belt, which has been named "the Dione belt," was detected by the instrument for only a few weeks on three separate occasions in 2005.

Armadillo Aerospace Qualifies for $1 Million Prize From NASA's Centennial Challenges

Armadillo Aerospace has successfully met the Level 2 requirements for the Centennial Challenges - Lunar Lander Challenge and qualified to win a $1 million dollar first place prize. The flights were conducted Sept. 12 at the Armadillo Aerospace test facility in Caddo Mills, Texas.To qualify for the Level 2 prize, Armadillo Aerospace's rocket vehicle took off from one concrete pad, ascended to

Hometown Heroes 2009: St. Louis Cardinals Honor Sandra Magnus and Celebrate NASA

In late August, the St. Louis Cardinals took NASA Astronaut Sandra Magnus to the ball game to throw out the first pitch. Magnus isn’t part of the Cardinals’ starting line-up, but she is a hometown hero.Magnus’ roots were planted in nearby Belleville, Ill. Her homecoming was part of NASA’s Hometown Heroes campaign, which aims to engage and excite the public about NASA’s space exploration missions,

SOFIA Program Supports Astronomy For Students With Sensory Impairments

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Science Center at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, has selected the YAAYS (Yerkes Astrophysics Academy for Young Scientists) and Space Exploration and Experience (SEE) projects at the University of Chicago's Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, to receive funding support for the 2009 calendar year.

Rocket Test in Northern Utah Goes Off Problem-Free

The Ares I has been a centerpiece of NASA's $100 billion return to the moon plans, first suggested by President George W. Bush in 2004. The idea was that the Ares I would take the Orion crew capsule to the international space station in Earth orbit and to the moon, with the big equipment coming from a heavy lift rocket, still to be built, called Ares V.The first test of NASA's powerful moon

Astronaut Urine Glows in Sky

It was Wednesday night when several people spotted a beautiful glow in the dark sky - and that beautiful glow of light was astronaut urine.Several onlookers noticed a glow of light amongst the stars Wednesday night and thought the glow was some sort of celestial event. Little did they know, the glow was actually just pee dumped by the space shuttle Discovery astronauts.According to Space.com, the

ISRO, NASA experiment to look for ice on moon ended in failure: NASA

"A NASA scientist has said that his joint experiment with ISRO to look for ice in a permanently shadowed crater near the moon's NorthPole using Chandrayaan-I had failed.Known as bi-static experiment, it involved coordinated use of Chandrayaan-I and US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft.Ahead of the experiment, LRO executed a

NASA gives $1 million in grant money to the state

NASA funds astronomy research in New MexicoThe New Mexico NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research recently received two grants from NASA totaling more than $1 million for astronomy-related research.Patricia Hynes, the director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium and NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research chair, said the relationship between NMSU and

Education and Public Outreach Products for Fermi from Sonoma State University

Education and Public Outreach Products for Fermi from Sonoma State University Online Activities can be found at: http://glast.sonoma.edu/teachers/online.html Following are a list of activities and descriptions of them with the direct links to them: Fermi Large Area Tracker Simulator - See what happens when gamma rays and particles enter the Fermi Large Area Telescope at different angles and

Preparing for the Voyage Home

Members of the STS-128 mission crew line up behind Space Shuttle Discovery and the Mate DeMate Device at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center prior to their departure. From left are Jose Hernandez, Kevin Ford, Christer Fuglesang, Rick Sturckow, Danny Olivas and Patrick Forrester. Discovery landed Sept. 11, 2009, at Edwards Air Force Base after an almost 14-day mission to the International Space

NASA'S LCROSS Reveals Target Crater for Lunar South Pole Impacts

LCROSS will search for water ice by sending its spent upper-stage Centaur rocket to impact the permanently shadowed polar crater. The satellite will fly into the plume of dust left by the impact and measure the properties before also colliding with the lunar surface. The LCROSS team selected Cabeus A based on a set of conditions that include proper debris plume illumination for visibility from

My Summer at NASA

What did you do during your summer vacation?Greg Papp destroyed aircraft models—on purpose. Reid Berdanier used ultrasonic snoopers to look for cracks in aircraft materials. Eric Blood built a computer database to keep track of all the flight maneuvers of a future aircraft that looks like a flying manta ray.All three young men were interns at different NASA research centers this summer. They also

NASA Selects Company For Central Process Systems Service

NASA's Glenn Research Center has selected Mainthia Technologies, Inc. (MTI), Cleveland, for a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract valued at $27 million to provide implementation, maintenance and operation of the central process systems.MTI will provide specialized services to ensure that the central process systems and its collateral equipment housed in various buildings at Glenn and the Plum Brook

Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Earth After Successful Mission

Space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven astronauts ended a 14-day journey of more than 5.7 million miles with an 5:53 p.m. PDT landing Friday at Edwards Air Force Base in California.The mission, designated STS-128, delivered two refrigerator-sized science racks to the International Space Station. One rack will be used to conduct experiments on materials such as metals, glasses and

NASA Exercises Payload Processing Contract Option

NASA is exercising its final option in the Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services contract known as CAPPS.The option is the second of two on the cost-plus-award-fee CAPPS contract awarded to Boeing Space Operations Company of Titusville, Fla., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company. The option's performance period is from Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2012, with a maximum

U.S. and Europe Agree on Civil Space Transportation Cooperation

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain signed a memorandum of understanding Friday for cooperation in the field of space transportation. The agreement was signed at NASA Headquarters in Washington."From shuttle Spacelab missions to the International Space Station, ESA has a long history of participating with NASA in human

NASA's LCROSS Reveals Target Crater For Lunar South Pole Impacts

NASA has selected a final destination for its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, after a journey of nearly 5.6 million miles that included several orbits around Earth and the moon. The mission team announced Wednesday that Cabeus A will be the target crater for the LCROSS dual impacts scheduled for 7:30 a.m. EDT on Oct. 9, 2009. The crater was selected after an extensive

NASA's LCROSS Reveals Target Crater For Lunar South Pole Impacts

NASA has selected a final destination for its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, after a journey of nearly 5.6 million miles that included several orbits around Earth and the moon. The mission team announced Wednesday that Cabeus A will be the target crater for the LCROSS dual impacts scheduled for 7:30 a.m. EDT on Oct. 9, 2009. The crater was selected after an extensive

Students To Participate In NASA's Lunar Field Test Activities

To prepare for human exploration of the moon and other destinations in our solar system, NASA is conducting a field test of rovers and equipment at an Earthly site in the Arizona desert. Hundreds of students are invited to experience it. NASA's annual Desert RATS -- or Research and Technology Studies -- field test is underway. The agency has planned a variety of activities to engage students in

A Day of Remembrance

Visible from space, a smoke plume rises from Manhattan after two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. This photo was taken of metropolitan New York City the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, from aboard the International Space Station. "Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the people there, and everywhere else," said Station Commander Frank Culbertson of Expedition 3, after the

NASA and ATK Successfully Test Ares First Stage Motor

NASA and industry partners lit up the Utah sky today with the initial full scale, full-duration test firing of the first motor for the Ares I rocket. The Ares I is a crew launch vehicle in development for NASA's Constellation Program.

Friday's Landing Strategy

Capcom Eric Boe informed the crew that if weather looks unfavorable for Friday’s first Kennedy Space Center landing opportunity, the entry team will focus early on the 2nd landing opportunity. If weather prevents landing on the 2nd Kennedy opportunity, Boe said the shuttle will land Friday at Edwards Air Force Base.Friday Landing Opportunities in Florida and CaliforniaMission Control has called

Electronic Nose to Return from Space Station

Sniffing out any potential contaminants on the International Space Station where it was stationed for the last six months, the JPL-built electronic nose, or ENose, is homeward bound.While on the space station, the ENose sampled the air with 32 sensors that can detect various odors and pinpoint which ones are dangerous to humans. The sleek, shoebox-sized ENose, the third generation of its kind,

Eight Years of ISS Science Research Accomplishments Published

Advances in the fight against food poisoning, new methods for delivering medicine to cancer cells, and better materials for future spacecraft are among the results just published in a NASA report detailing scientific research accomplishments made aboard the International Space Station during its first eight years. The results include more than 100 science experiments, ranging from bone studies to

NASA Ames to Host Administration's Cloud Computing Announcement

Reporters are invited to participate in a news conference at NASA's Ames Research Center at 10 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, Sept. 15, featuring Vivek Kundra, White House federal chief information officer. He will outline his vision for a new federal government cloud computing initiative.NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and top Silicon Valley information technology leaders are scheduled to attend the

NASA and ATK Successfully Test Ares First Stage Motor

NASA and industry engineers lit up the Utah sky Thursday with the initial full-scale, full-duration test firing of the first stage motor for the Ares I rocket. The Ares I is a crew launch vehicle in development for NASA's Constellation Program.ATK Space Systems conducted the successful stationary firing of the five-segment solid development motor 1, or DM-1. ATK Space Systems, a division of

Spacecraft Talk Continued During JPL Wildfire Threat

As the flames of the raging brush fire dubbed the Station Fire threatened the northern edge of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Saturday, Aug. 29, the managers of NASA's Deep Space Network prepared for the worst.The Deep Space Operations Center at JPL is the nerve center for the Deep Space Network, an international network of antennas that send and receive information to interplanetary

Hubble Opens New Eyes on the Universe

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is back in business, ready to uncover new worlds, peer ever deeper into space, and even map the invisible backbone of the universe.The first snapshots from the refurbished Hubble showcase the 19-year-old telescope's new vision. Topping the list of exciting new views are colorful multi-wavelength pictures of far- flung galaxies, a densely packed star cluster, an eerie

Discovery Ready for Landing

Space shuttle Discovery underwent the Flight Control System checkout and Reaction Control System hotfire using all the primary jets. A piece of debris jarred loose from the shuttle during the checkout, though it was determined not to be a piece of the thermal protection system. Late inspection results cleared the Discovery's wing leading edge and nose cap and the shuttle is ready for

Remnant N132D

Probing the Tattered Remains of Supernova Remnant N132DThe wispy, glowing, magenta structures in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image are the remains of a star 10 to 15 times the mass of the Sun that we would have seen exploding as a supernova 3,000 years ago. The remnant’s fast-moving gas is plowing into the surrounding gas of the galaxy, creating a supersonic shock wave in the surrounding

Markarian 817

Capturing the Spectacular Outflow from Markarian 817Rings of brilliant blue stars encircle the bright, active core of this spiral galaxy, whose monster black hole is blasting material into space at 9 million miles an hour.Viewed nearly face-on, the galaxy, called Markarian 817, shows intense star-forming regions and dark bands of interstellar dust along its spiral arms.Observations by the new

PKS 0405-123

Fingerprinting the Distant Universe Using Light from Quasar PKS 0405-123Using a distant quasar as a cosmic flashlight, a new instrument aboard NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has begun probing the invisible, skeletal structure of the universe.Called the cosmic web, it is the diffuse, faint gas located in the space between galaxies. More than half of all normal matter resides outside of galaxies. By

Abell 370

Gravitational Lensing in Galaxy Cluster Abell 370The Hubble Space Telescope's newly repaired Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) has peered nearly 5 billion light-years away to resolve intricate details in the galaxy cluster Abell 370.Abell 370 is one of the very first galaxy clusters where astronomers observed the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, where the warping of space by the cluster’s

Eta Carinae

Probing the Last Gasps of Doomed Star Eta CarinaeThe signature balloon-shaped clouds of gas blown from a pair of massive stars called Eta Carinae have tantalized astronomers for decades. Eta Carinae has a volatile temperament, prone to violent outbursts over the past 200 years.Observations by the newly repaired Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope

Stephan's Quintet

Galactic Wreckage in Stephan's QuintetA clash among members of a famous galaxy quintet reveals an assortment of stars across a wide color range, from young, blue stars to aging, red stars.This portrait of Stephan’s Quintet, also known as Hickson Compact Group 92, was taken by the new Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) aboard NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Stephan’s Quintet, as the name implies, is a

Omega Centauri

Colorful Stars Galore Inside Globular Star Cluster Omega CentauriNASA's Hubble Space Telescope snapped this panoramic view of a colorful assortment of 100,000 stars residing in the crowded core of a giant star cluster.The image reveals a small region inside the massive globular cluster Omega Centauri, which boasts nearly 10 million stars. Globular clusters, ancient swarms of stars united by

Carina Nebula

Stars Bursting to Life in Chaotic Carina NebulaThese two images of a huge pillar of star birth demonstrate how observations taken in visible and in infrared light by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope reveal dramatically different and complementary views of an object.The pictures demonstrate one example of the broad wavelength range of the new Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) aboard the Hubble telescope,

NGC 6302 Butterfly Emerges from Stellar Demise in Planetary Nebula

This celestial object looks like a delicate butterfly. But it is far from serene.What resemble dainty butterfly wings are actually roiling cauldrons of gas heated to more than 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The gas is tearing across space at more than 600,000 miles an hour -- fast enough to travel from Earth to the moon in 24 minutes!A dying star that was once about five times the mass of the Sun is

Sen. Mikulski Unveils First Images from Rejuvenated Hubble

Astronomers declared NASA's Hubble Space Telescope a fully rejuvenated observatory with the release Wednesday of observations from four of its six operating science instruments. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., unveiled the images at NASA Headquarters in Washington.Topping the list of new views are colorful, multi-wavelength pictures of far-flung galaxies, a densely packed star cluster, an eerie

NASA Awards SOFIA Contract Option to L-3 Communications

NASA has awarded a contract modification to L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, L.P., of Waco, Texas, for further developmental engineering in support of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy mission, known as SOFIA.This option modification under the base contract L-3 currently holds extends the period of performance through Dec. 31, 2009. The option is valued at approximately

Veteran Astronaut Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper Leaves NASA

NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper has left NASA to return to the Navy. Stefanyshyn-Piper is a veteran of two space shuttle flights and five spacewalks."Heide has been an outstanding astronaut, contributing significantly to the space shuttle and space station programs," said Steve Lindsey, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "In

U.S. and Canada Sign Agreement on Civil Space Cooperation

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Canadian Space Agency President Steve MacLean signed a framework agreement Wednesday for cooperative activities in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. Canadian Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson hosted the signing at the Canadian Embassy in Washington."NASA is very proud of its long and outstanding relationship with

European Space Agency Reflection

European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang is visible in the reflection of NASA astronaut Danny Olivas's helmet visor during this, the STS-128 mission's third and final spacewalk.Olivas and Fuglesang deployed the Payload Attachment System, replaced the Rate Gyro Assembly #2, installed two GPS antennae and worked to prepare for the installation of Node 3 next year.

NASA and ATK Schedule Motor Test for Ares Rocket on Sept. 10

NASA and Alliant Techsystems Inc., or ATK, have rescheduled the test of the new first-stage solid rocket motor for the Ares I rocket. The static firing of the five-segment solid motor, designated development motor -1, is scheduled for 1 p.m. MDT on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the ATK test facility in Promontory, Utah. The first firing attempt on Aug. 27 was scrubbed because of an anomaly with the

Space Shuttle Discovery Crew Set to Return to Earth Thursday

Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew are expected to return to Earth Thursday after a 13-day mission. Two landing opportunities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are available at 7:05 p.m. and 8:42 p.m. EDT.NASA will evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting Discovery and its crew to land. If bad weather prevents a return on Thursday, both Kennedy and the

NASA Selects Target Crater for Lunar Impact of LCROSS Spacecraft

NASA has identified the spot where it will search for water on the moon. Reporters are invited to attend the announcement of the target location where the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and its spent Centaur rocket will hit in October. The briefing will take place at 10 a.m. PDT, Friday, Sept. 11, in the main auditorium, Building N201, of NASA's Ames Research Center in

NASA Awards Helium Contract

NASA has selected five companies to provide liquid and gaseous helium for 17 agency locations, including centers and facilities.This new fixed-price requirements contract with economic price adjustment is for the acquisition of approximately 12.5 million liters of liquid helium and 235.7 million standard cubic feet of gaseous helium during a five-year period of performance starting Oct. 1. It has

New NASA Image Shows Extent of Station Fire Burn

On September 6, 2009, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite captured this simulated natural color image of the Station fire, burning in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. The fire began August 26 in La Canada Flintridge near NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (seen at the bottom of the image), and

Saturn Moon Could Power 150 Billion Labor Day Barbecues

Since its discovery by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens in 1655, Saturn's most massive moon, Titan, has been known as a place of mystery and intrigue. The large, cloud-enshrouded moon is such a scientific enigma that for the past five years, it has been targeted by NASAs Cassini spacecraft with more than 60 probing flybys. One of its latest findings could be a valuable asset to future

NASA Approves X-ray Space Mission

NASA recently confirmed that the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, mission will launch in August 2011. NuSTAR will carry the first high-energy X-ray focusing telescopes into orbit, providing a much deeper, clearer view of energetic phenomena such as black holes and supernova explosions than any previous instrument has provided in this region of the electromagnetic spectrum.NuSTAR

North by Northwest – S'COOL on First Leg of Ocean Passage

NASA's S'COOL project is now underway in a part of the world where few have sailed before: the open waters of the Northwest Passage.S'COOL, Students' Cloud Observations On-Line, is one of eight scientific experiments onboard the ship Ocean Watch as it journeys around the Americas to help promote ocean health awareness. S'COOL was invited to be part of the expedition by the Around the Americas (

Orion Launch Abort Team Designs With Confidence

Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., responsible for developing propulsion elements for the Orion crew capsule's Launch Abort System passed a major milestone Aug. 31 with the completion of Orion's Preliminary Design Review.The Launch Abort System is the critical element of the Orion capsule that will pull its crew safely away from the Ares I rocket in the event of

Hometown Heroes 2009: NASA Astronaut Brings Some Heat to San Diego

Most people born before 1969 can remember where they were when man first stepped on the moon. Astronaut Tracy Caldwell cannot tell you where she was during that historic walk, since she was born after Apollo 11 landed on the moon, but she can tell you where she was on the 40th anniversary. She threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres baseball game.“It was exhilarating,” said Caldwell about

Hometown Heroes 2009: Tradition Continues for Ohio Aviation Heroes

Orville and Wilbur Wright along with astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong each have two things in common – they hold a very distinctive place in aviation history and all of them are from Ohio. Joining them in this unique club is another Ohio native, retired U.S. Air Force colonel Gregory H. Johnson. Johnson is a NASA astronaut from Fairborn, Ohio and served as the pilot of the STS-123 shuttle

A Day's Work

Expedition 20 flight engineer Nicole Stott participates in the STS-128 mission's first spacewalk as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the six-hour, 35-minute spacewalk, Stott and astronaut Danny Olivas (out of frame) removed an empty ammonia tank from the station's truss and temporarily stowed it on the station's robotic arm. Olivas and Stott also

In Tandem

As part the STS-128 mission's first spacewalk, astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott (right) removed an empty ammonia tank from the station's truss and temporarily stowed it on the station's robotic arm. Olivas and Stott also retrieved the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) and Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) from the Columbus laboratory module and installed

Working in a Vacuum

Discovery spacewalker Danny Olivas at work during the STS-128 mission's first spacewalk. During the six-hour, 35-minute spacewalk, Olivas and astronaut Nicole Stott, removed an empty ammonia tank from the station's truss and temporarily stowed it on the station's robotic arm.Olivas and Stott also retrieved the European Technology Exposure Facility and Materials International Space Station

Leonardo

Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module is visible in Discovery's payload bay, as is the shuttle's vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system pods, Orbiter Boom Sensor System and docking mechanism in this image shot from an aft flight deck window.For the STS-128 mission, Leonardo carried 7.5 tons of supplies to the station,

Apollo 12 and Surveyor 3

This image from LRO shows the spacecraft's first look at the Apollo 12 landing site. The Intrepid lunar module descent stage, experiment package (ALSEP) and Surveyor 3 spacecraft are all visible. Astronaut footpaths are marked with unlabeled arrows. This image is 824 meters (about 900 yards) wide. The top of the image faces North. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State

Second of Three STS-128 Spacewalks Concludes

The second of three STS-128 spacewalks concluded Friday at 12:51 a.m. EDT. It lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes. The spacewalkers, Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang, completed their major objectives and some get-ahead tasks, including the installation of portable foot restraints on the station's truss.Image above: Astronaut Christer Fuglesang rides the station's robotic arm carrying an empty ammonia

Pollution from California Wildfires Spreads Across the United States

Beginning August 26, 2009, and continuing into September 2009, a large wildfire in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles known as the Station Fire burned more than 140,000 acres through September 3. Carbon monoxide in the smoke from this large fire was lofted as high as 8.3 kilometers (27,000 feet) into the atmosphere, where it was observed by JPL's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)

NASA Briefings to Unveil Hubble's New Observations

NASA will hold news briefings at 11 a.m. and noon EDT Wednesday, Sept. 9, to release and discuss the first images from the newly refurbished Hubble Space Telescope. NASA Television and the agency's Web site will provide live coverage of the briefings from NASA Headquarters in Washington.Space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission upgraded the telescope in May with state-of-the-art science instruments

Link Exchange

Reciprocal Link ExchangeWe link to sites on reciprocal basis in order to improve search engine rankings.To be added to this website's please select any of the codes listed below and add it to your website.Also send us your site information to jishnusubhash@gmail.com or samsubhash@gmail.com.We will add it promptly.We will accept links from quality sites onlyGambling or adult sites are not

Beauty in the Night

Billows of smoke and steam rise above Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida alongside space shuttle Discovery as it races toward space on the STS-128 mission.The STS-128 mission is the 30th International Space Station assembly flight and the 128th space shuttle flight. The 13-day mission will deliver more than 7 tons of supplies, science racks and equipment, as well as

Los Angeles Fire Images

Triple-digit temperatures, extremely low relative humidities, dense vegetation that has not burned in decades, and years of extended drought are all contributing to the explosive growth of wildfires throughout Southern California. The Station fire, which began Aug. 26, 2009, in La Canada/Flintridge, not far from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, had reportedly burned 105,000 acres (164 square

NASA Takes You on a New Tour of the Cryosphere

Back in 2002, NASA created a film using satellite data that took viewers on a tour of Earth’s frozen regions. This year, NASA visualizers are taking viewers on a return trip to see how things have changed over the years."The Tour of the Cryosphere 2009" combines satellite imagery and state-of-the-art computer animation software to create a fact-filled and visually stunning tour that shows viewers

Return to Sender: MISSE-6 Comes Home After More Than a Year in Space

It's been eight years since the first Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE, arrived at the orbiting laboratory. During that time, more than 4,000 materials samples have been placed outside the space station to test how they react to the harsh environment of space.The fourth set of test hardware in the experiment series -- MISSE-6A and 6B -- launched aboard space shuttle

Thousands of New Images Show Mars in High Resolution

Thousands of newly released images from more than 1,500 telescopic observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show a wide range of gullies, dunes, craters, geological layering and other features on the Red Planet.The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the orbiter recorded these images from the month of April through early August of this year. The camera team at

What's Holding Antarctic Sea Ice Back From Melting?

Global temperatures are increasing. Sea levels are rising. Ice sheets in many areas of the world are retreating. Yet there’s something peculiar going on in the oceans around Antarctica: even as global air and ocean temperatures march upward, the extent of the sea ice around the southern continent isn’t decreasing. In fact, it's increasing.Sea ice at the other end of the world has been making

Satellites and Submarines Give the Skinny on Sea Ice Thickness

This summer, a group of scientists and students - as well as a Canadian senator, a writer, and a filmmaker - set out from Resolute Bay, Canada, on the icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent. They were headed through the Northwest Passage, but instead of opening shipping lanes in the ice, they had gathered to open up new lines of thinking on Arctic science.Among the participants in the shipboard workshop