NASA

(1966) — Portrait of astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, wearing his spacesuit.Credits: NASA The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Monday’s passing of Thomas Stafford, a lifelong space exploration advocate, former NASA astronaut, and U.S. Air Force general: “Today, General Tom Stafford went to the eternal heavens, which he so courageously explored as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut as well as a peacemaker in the Apollo-Soyuz mission. Those of us privileged to know him are very sad but grateful we knew a giant. “Tom was critical to the earliest successes of our nation’s space program and was instrumental in developing space as a model for international cooperation. He also helped us learn from our tragedies and grow and reach for the next generation of achievement. He was intimately involved with the space program, sharing his thoughts and suggestions on NASA missions until the end of his life. “Tom was a gentleman and a daredevil. He flew our first rendezvous in space on Gemini 6, and piloted Gemini 9’s path to Earth with pencil and paper when the spacecraft’s guidance computer failed in orbit. He commanded Apollo 10, the first flight of the lunar module to the Moon, a critical test flight that resulted in the successful landing on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Tom also flew more than 100 different types of aircraft throughout his career as he pushed the edge of the envelope of our achievement in air and space. He was an extraordinary peacemaker who commanded NASA’s first rendezvous of an international spacecraft on the Apollo-Soyuz mission. His counterpart, General Alexei Leonov, became a best friend over the years. Tom gave Alexei’s eulogy in 2019 at the Russian state funeral. “Tom’s dedication to NASA never wavered. In later years, he chaired a team to independently advise NASA on how to carry out President H.W. Bush’s space policy and completed the study ‘America at the Threshold’ about the nation’s potential future with humans in space. He also was co-chairman of the Stafford-Covey Space Shuttle Return to Flight Task Group that assessed NASA’s implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board Space Shuttle Return to Flight recommendations. “Our nation will be forever grateful to an explorer who never lost his sense of wonder. About his time in space, he said, ‘It changes you, oh sure. Changes your outlook…As you look back, you see a little blue and white baseball, actually, it’s smaller than a baseball. But it’s hard to envision that is where all the people you’ve known all your life are, where you went to school, your friends, your family. It’s also hard to envision that there are three billion people on that blue and white baseball.’ “Godspeed, Tom Stafford.” For more information about Stafford’s NASA career, and his agency biography, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/former-astronaut-thomas-stafford/ -end- Faith McKie / Cheryl Warner Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 faith.d.mckie@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsThomas P. StaffordAstronautsFormer AstronautsHumans in Space View the full article

1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia will support commercial launch provider Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launch no earlier than March 21 at 2:40 a.m. EDT. The four-hour launch window runs through 6:30 a.m. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket stands atop the company’s Launch Complex-2 on NASA’s Wallops Island.Rocket Lab The mission, named NROL-123, is a dedicated launch for NRO (National Reconnaissance Office). The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. For those interested in seeing the launch in person, viewing locations on Chincoteague Island include Robert Reed Park, Curtis Merritt Harbor, and the Beach Road causeway between Chincoteague and Assateague islands. The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center and grounds will not be open for launch viewing. The launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout much of the East Coast of the United States. The launch can also be viewed online through Rocket Lab’s of the event on their YouTube channel. The stream will begin about 40 minutes before the opening of the launch window. Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 2024 Related TermsWallops Flight Facility View the full article

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement has selected seven student teams to participate in a culminating event for the 2024 App Development Challenge (ADC), one of the agency’s Artemis Student Challenges, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The coding challenge invites middle and high school student teams to contribute to deep space exploration missions by developing solutions to real-world technical problems. Screenshot of the app submitted by ADC Top Team, Team Spaghetti Code from Trinity Christian School in Morgantown, West Virginia. The ADC, a part of NASA’s Next Gen STEM project, gives students an opportunity to participate in NASA’s endeavors to land American astronauts, including the first woman and the first person of color, on the Moon. Artemis Generation students are prompted to create an application to visualize the Moon’s South Pole region and display essential information for navigating the lunar surface and receiving signals from Earth. NASA will make history by sending the first humans to explore the region near the lunar South Pole on Artemis III. “Working on this application gave us a simplified understanding and real-world experience of how professionals approach similar problems in the work-field,” stated Team Frostbyte, from North High School in Des Moines, Iowa, “Engaging in this hands-on project has deepened our passion for innovative utilization of technology. Our participation in this challenge has only further affirmed our goals to pursue careers in these fields.” Over the 10-week challenge, participating teams joined subject matter expert talks, attended ADC office hours, researched lunar landing regions and mathematical concepts, and spent hundreds of hours coding to develop their applications. Additionally, students learned about the complexities of communicating from the lunar surface with Earth-based assets from NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) team. The following five teams excelled in their application and interview, thereby earning the chance to showcase their work to NASA leadership, tour NASA’s unique facilities, and meet industry leaders, in April 2024 at NASA Johnson: Baton Rouge Magnet High School: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Dougherty Valley High School: San Ramon, California North High School: Des Moines, Iowa Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies: Reseda, California Trinity Christian School: Morgantown, West Virginia In addition, two more schools were selected as honorable mentions to present their work virtually to NASA leadership in April 2024. Edison Academy Magnet School: Edison, New Jersey Falcon Cove Middle School: Weston, Florida Screenshot of the app submitted by ADC Top Team, Team Lunarsphere from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In addition to being named as Honorable Mentions, Edison Academy Magnet School was awarded Most Realistic Visualization of Technical Features and Falcon Cove Middle School was awarded Best Middle School Team. “Given that participating in the NASA ADC gave us insights on outreach, technical programming, app development, and working as a team, it has overall made us feel more prepared for future projects and even future jobs,” stated Team Lunarsphere from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Previous Years ADC 2023: Artemis Generation Coders Earn Invite to Johnson Space Center Read Article View the full article

NASA Remembers Legendary Astronaut Thomas Stafford

NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus pose for a portrait at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center on Nov. 2, 2023Credits: GCTC/Andrey Shelepin Three crew members will blast off on Thursday, March 21, to support Expedition 70 aboard the International Space Station. NASA will provide full coverage of launch and crew arrival at the microgravity laboratory. NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus, are scheduled to lift off on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:21 a.m. EDT (6:21 p.m. Baikonur time). Launch coverage will begin at 8:20 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media. Dyson, Novitskiy, and Vasilevskaya will journey to the station on a two-orbit, three-hour trajectory that will result in a docking to the station’s Prichal module at 12:39 p.m. Shortly after, hatches between the station and the Soyuz will open and the new crew members will connect with NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Alexander Grebenkin, already living and working aboard the space station. NASA coverage of the mission is as follows (all times Eastern and are subject to change based on real-time operations): Thursday, March 21: 8:20 a.m. – Launch coverage begins 9:21 a.m. – Launch 11:30 a.m. – Rendezvous and docking coverage begins 12:39 p.m. – Docking 2:50 p.m. – Hatch opening and welcome remarks coverage begins Dyson will spend six months aboard the station as an Expedition 70 and 71 flight engineer, returning to Earth in September with Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of Roscosmos, who will complete a year-long mission on the laboratory. Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya will be aboard the station for 12 days, providing the ride home for O’Hara on Tuesday, April 2, aboard Soyuz MS-24 for a parachute-assisted landing on steppe of Kazakhstan. O’Hara will have spent 200 days in space when she returns. This will be the third spaceflight for Dyson, the fourth for Novitskiy, and the first for Vasilevskaya. To read more about the International Space Station, its research, and crew, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/station -end- Joshua Finch / Claire O’Shea Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsHumans in SpaceAstronautsExpedition 70Expedition 71International Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchMissionsTracy Caldwell Dyson View the full article

Vision To be a world-leading science organization, which contributes substantially to NASA’s science mission enterprise. Mission To provide scientific leadership in research and flight missions, enabled by the excellence of a diverse workforce. View the full article

Students from the University of Michigan work on their Measurement of Actuator Response and In Orbit (MARIO) CubeSat which launched to the International Space Station in November 2022. Photo credit: University of Michigan NASA selected 10 small research satellites across eight states to fly to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s efforts to expand education and science opportunities, support technology advancement, and provide for workforce development. These small satellites, or CubeSats, use a standard size and form measured in units. One unit (1U) is 10x10x11 centimeters and allows for the modular design of larger CubeSats measuring up to 12U. CubeSats encourage greater collaboration across government, industry, and academia because they are modular and inexpensive to build and launch. The small satellites allow for rapid development and provide a cost-effective means for science investigations and technology demonstrations in space. This year’s selections include the first project from Delaware, three from minority serving institutions, and a submission from a K-12 school. New participants include the University of Delaware, Oakwood School in California, California State University, Long Beach, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and the University of Chicago. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s Research and Education Vehicle for Evaluating Radio Broadcasts (TJREVERB) launched to the International Space Station in November 2022. Photo credit: Thomas Jefferson High School NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) selected the missions, currently planned to launch in 2025 to 2028, in response to a call for proposals on Aug. 7, 2023. The complete list of organizations and CubeSats chosen during CSLI 15th selection round are: University of Louisiana at Lafayette – CAPE-Twiggs (Cajun Advanced Picosatellite Experiment) will serve as a first prototype of a 3U CubeSat designed to contain and launch tethered SlimSat modules into very low-Earth orbit. Having launched successful CubeSat missions in the past, the university’s current project will work with several other schools with little or no experience on the design, build, and operations of their own SlimSat module. CAPE-Twiggs will enhance both STEM education and the ability to conduct regular and collaborative space-based experiments on a larger scale. Oakwood School in California – NyanSat is a 2U CubeSat designed and built by a K-12 independent school in rural California. This mission will serve as template for educational outreach and space technology development. NyanSat features several technology development payloads, each designed to test and demonstrate the efficacy of various new systems in the space environment. Included among these are the acoustic spacecraft mapping and sounding payload, aimed at simplifying sensor architectures in spacecraft and providing supplementary mission information, and the cryptographic ledgers in space payload, intended to verify the feasibility of space-based digital notaries for on-Earth and in-geospace transactions. University of Hawaii at Manoa – CREPES (CubeSat Relativistic Electron and Proton Energy Separator) aims to study solar energetic particle events and increase our knowledge of the Sun. CREPES will fly a new type of micropattern gaseous detector using gas electron multipliers to amplify the signals of radiation. Data obtained from these measurements is expected to contribute to the understanding of space weather and development of space climatology. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is a minority serving institution and has previously launched a CubeSat with the program. California State University, Long Beach – SharkSat-1 seeks to monitor LED-induced blue light pollution across Earth. LED lights are popular due to their cost efficiency, but their impacts are currently being studied by climate and health researchers. Data collected by SharkSat-1 will create a database for experts to create light pollution maps. California State University, Long Beach, is a minority serving institution. University of Delaware – DAPPEr (Delaware Atmospheric Plasma Probe Experiment) will map average variations in electron density and temperature versus latitude and time of day in the ionosphere’s F2 layer. Another objective is to determine the preferred size for a Langmuir probe to measure ionospheric electrons from a CubeSat. This is the first CubeSat selection from Delaware for CSLI and aims to provide students with hands-on learning experiences on flight systems. Saint Louis University – DARLA-02 (Demonstration of Artificial Reasoning, Learning, and Analysis) will demonstrate autonomous event response on a 3U spacecraft and create a dynamic map of the radio frequency background noise in the amateur ultra-high frequency band. DARLA-02 follows DARLA, which is targeted to launch with CSLI in 2024. This follow-up seeks to double the amount of time the spacecraft can be in science mode in orbit. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona – The Pleiades Five mission will be the first to use a commoditized CubeSat architecture to provide effective and sustainable educational opportunities for future generations of the space industry. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, will partner with five other universities and offer a pathway enabling students to design, test, launch, and operate a low-cost educational 1U CubeSat within one academic year. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, is a minority serving institution. University of Chicago – PULSE-A (Polarization modUlated Laser Satellite Experiment) will demonstrate a way to increase the speed of space-to-ground communications. PULSE-A also aims to make space-to-ground operations more difficult to intercept and jam through an on-orbit tech demonstration. PULSE-A will use 10 Mbps polarization-keyed laser communications instead of radio frequency for a space to Earth call. Free-space optical communications improves on power, bandwidth, and effective data transfer rates over radio frequency. Utah State University – GASRATS (Get Away Special Radio and Antenna Transparency Satellite) will demonstrate a novel transparent patch antenna integrated on top of a solar panel. Having a dual-purpose use of the external surface of a satellite and combining power generation with communications capabilities, tackles the common space mission constraints of power and mass limitations. Utah State University has previously participated in CSLI, deploying GASPACS (Get Away Special Passive Attitude Control Satellite) in early 2022 to test inflatable structures in space. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center – GPDM (Green Propulsion Dual Mode) will test chemical and electrospray capability of the low-toxicity or “green” rocket propellant known as Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT) during an in-space flight demonstration. The project is a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgia Institute of Technology to develop a chemical propulsion subsystem that will include a 3D printed tank, manifold, and propellant management device. NASA has selected CubeSat missions from 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and launched about 160 CubeSats into space on an ELaNa (Educational Launch of a Nanosatellite) manifest. The CubeSat Launch Initiative is managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information about CSLI, visit: https://go.nasa.gov/CubeSat_initiative View the full article

4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Leslie Livesay is JPL’s new deputy director.NASA/JPL-Caltech The first woman to serve as JPL’s deputy director, Livesay serves under Laurie Leshin, the first woman to lead the lab. Leslie Livesay begins her tenure as deputy director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Monday, March 18. She succeeds Larry D. James, who served as deputy director since September 2013. During a career spanning more than 37 years at JPL, Livesay has managed teams in the development of technologies and flight systems for planetary, Earth science, and astrophysics missions. She served as the project manager of the Kepler space telescope mission, led the lab’s Engineering and Science Directorate, was director for Astronomy and Physics, and most recently served as associate director for Flight Projects and Mission Success, overseeing the implementation and operations of all JPL flight missions. “Having served a variety of roles at JPL, I’ve been fortunate to be able to work up close with the many remarkable organizations that make this lab such a special place. I’m looking forward to my new role as we dare mighty things together, boldly driving transformative science and technology,” said Livesay. Born in Chicago, Livesay holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. She is the recipient of the American Astronautical Society Carl Sagan Memorial Award, Aviation Week Network’s Laureate Award, NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal. As the first woman to be named JPL’s deputy director, Livesay serves under Laurie Leshin, who in May 2022 became the first woman to lead JPL. Functioning as the laboratory’s chief operating officer, the deputy director is responsible for the day-to-day management of its resources and activities. Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL employs about 6,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and business support personnel, and manages over three dozen flight missions and science instruments, with more in development. “Leslie has blazed a path in numerous senior leadership positions across JPL. She brings remarkable experience and capabilities to the role as we look toward the enormous and exciting opportunities that lay ahead,” said Leshin. “I also want to express my deep gratitude to Larry James, whose tenure is marked with multiple successful missions, significant improvement in JPL’s operations, and exemplary institutional stewardship.” Lt. Gen. James was the Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in Washington before retiring from active duty and coming to JPL. Earlier in his career, he trained as an Air Force payload specialist for the Space Shuttle Program. James also served as vice commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles and as commander of the 14th Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where he was responsible for all Department of Defense satellite and launch systems. “I’ve been a space enthusiast from an early age, so it’s been a privilege to have been part of JPL,” said James. “Although my time here is done, I’m eager to see the full manifest of missions and projects that we’ve been working on come to fruition, and I know Leslie will thrive in her new role. As for me, I’ll be taking a new position in Australia to help build their space capabilities and continue to strengthen the U.S.-Australia partnership.” A division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL began in 1936, going on to build and help launch America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958. By the end of that year, Congress established NASA, and JPL became a part of the agency. Since then, JPL has managed such historic missions as Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, the Mars Exploration Rover program, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, and many more. Veronica McGregor / Matthew Segal Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-354-9452 / 818-354-8307 veronica.c.mcgregor@jpl.nasa.gov / matthew.j.segal@jpl.nasa.gov 2024-027 Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 2024 Related TermsJet Propulsion Laboratory Explore More 5 min read NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter’s Moon Europa Article 1 week ago 2 min read NASA Pi Day Challenge Serves Up a Mathematical Marvel Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read SWOT Satellite Catches Coastal Flooding During California Storms Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Roland Wescott, representing the range at NASA Wallops, engages with participants during the Junior Achievement Inspire event at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.NASA/Olivia Littleton NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, partners, and area employers joined forces on a mission to inspire more than 4,500 eighth-grade students seeking answers to all questions “career” at the 2024 Junior Achievement (JA) Inspire event. The annual career-exploration event was held March 12-13 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland, featuring more than 100 local businesses in 15 career clusters. Public and private school students from Sussex County, Delaware; Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties in Maryland; and Accomack and Northampton counties in Virginia, attended JA Inspire to connect with community members representing various career fields. Students were offered an engaging experience full of insight into the education and skills needed for specific careers, and information on how to find jobs when entering the workforce. The event featured hands-on activities, industry tools and equipment, and inspiration for students as they begin to map high-school coursework and future career paths. “At Wallops, we are delivering on NASA’s mission today, while planning the mission of tomorrow. And that includes our workforce,” said David L. Pierce, director of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. “Wallops is partnering with local institutions to build a diverse, highly-skilled workforce.” The event’s Aerospace Industry exhibit cluster included nearly 40 NASA Wallops employees, showcasing career opportunities in sounding rockets, scientific balloons, small satellites, launch range operations, robotics, and education. An additional 35 representatives from Wallops’ partners also joined the cluster, including personnel from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy’s Surface Combat Systems Center, and Virginia Spaceport Authority. “Wallops is committed to supporting JA Inspire because it connects students from across the Eastern Shore between what they are learning in the classroom to the outside world right here on Delmarva,” said Pierce. Pat Benner, directorate education coordinator at NASA Wallops, demonstrates Ultraviolet light exposure during the Junior Achievement Inspire event at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.NASA/Olivia Littleton Career inspiration and education doesn’t stop at the conclusion of the JA Inspire event. The Wallops’ team will continue to reach out to area students at the Wallops Flight Facility Junior Achievement Storefront located inside the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury, Maryland. Wallops will join approximately 20 storefronts inside the center, which offers experiential learning of financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship to more than 10,000 students each year. The center serves students from six counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and one county in Virginia. Storefronts are sponsored by area businesses and run by JA staff and respective business volunteers, who guide students through a designed program for a 4.5- to 5-hour period during school hours. Programs offered at the center include Biz Town where students experience a “day in the life” of a working person and running a business. Students learn how a business operates, pays its bills and employees, and earns revenue. Another program, called Finance Park, focuses on how to plan a household budget, pay bills, and look for housing and transportation. Wallops volunteers will have a chance to offer their expertise to these learning opportunities, while promoting NASA and STEAM careers on Delmarva. “JA Inspire helps students have a better understanding of how the real world operates,” said Pierce. “In our fourth year of supporting JA Inspire and with the start of our storefront, Wallops continues to motivate students to take up a STEM-related study track in high school, and hopefully one day come to work here at Wallops.” Wallops’ storefront is slated for completion by mid-April. Share Details Last Updated Mar 18, 2024 EditorOlivia F. LittletonContactOlivia F. Littletonolivia.f.littleton@nasa.govLocationWallops Flight Facility Related TermsWallops Flight FacilitySTEM Engagement at NASA Explore More 2 min read NASA Pi Day Challenge Serves Up a Mathematical Marvel Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read GUSTO Breaks NASA Scientific Balloon Record for Days in Flight Article 3 weeks ago 5 min read Math, Mentorship, Motherhood: Behind the Scenes with NASA Engineers Article 4 weeks ago View the full article

NASA selected its Wildfire Climate Tech Challenge winners, awarding three teams $100,000 for their diverse, innovative approaches to address the escalating effects of wildfires and climate change. The challenge combined the expertise of Minority Serving Institutions – including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and others – with NASA resources to enhance Earth science and technological capabilities to support operational fire management agencies. Participants focused on integrated solutions using NASA Earth observational data to address wildfire and wildland fire risks. After evaluation by a panel of experts, three winners and three runners-up emerged, each demonstrating exceptional creativity, technical expertise, and a high potential for real-world impact. Winners: Team Howard U • Team members: Lauren Taylor, Amy Quarkume, and Joseph Wilkins, with Howard University • Concept: Fire Smart Health Guardian + Taylor: Addresses critical gaps in wildfire risk communication and air quality monitoring by integrating NASA data, empowering communities with accurate information to make informed decisions with Generative AI in Natural Language Processing technology, mitigating risk, and protecting their health. Team HorizonForce • Team members: Jay Desai with the University of North Carolina Pembroke and Elikem Des-Amekudi, North Carolina A&T State University • Concept: A Next-Generation Solution for Wildfire Detection, Monitoring, and Elimination: System integrating a network of low-cost Internet of Things sensors, NASA MODIS and VIIRS satellite imagery, and high-payload Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to detect, accurately localize, monitor, and autonomously extinguish emerging wildfires before they escalate. Team FLARE • Team members: Andrew Saah and Owen Sordillo with the University of San Francisco • Concept: Fuel Load Analysis and Risk Estimation (FLARE): A software suite leveraging Terrestrial Laser Scanning methods and conventional Earth observation technologies to revolutionize wildfire risk assessments at sub-meter resolution. Runners-up: Team FIRESENCE • Team members: Neftaly Lara, Jose Marquez, and Shuaiang Rong with the University of Illinois, Chicago • Concept: Computer Vision-Based Situational Awareness: A software suite using low Earth orbit data and other video and image sources to address pre-, active- and post-fire requirements of firefighting agencies, electric power companies, U.S. Forest Service, and other stakeholders. Team Sireen • Team members: Vania Arrendondo, Thi Thuy, and Ishel Zain with Florida International University • Concept: Smart Forests: An Internet of Things solution utilizing sensors, drones, and advanced computing to enable enhanced forest monitoring and protection through comprehensive data collection, capturing a wide range of environmental indicators for immediate alerts and swift responses to threats like fires or illegal logging. Team Project FireWatch • Team members: Riannon Reagan, Sofia Silva, and Huston Scharnagl with San Jose State University • Concept: Wildfire Drone and Fire Trajectory Software: Wildfire drones and fire trajectory software aiming to improve wildfire management technologies and combat wildfires using machine learning and AI to display fire direction and implement smoke/fire detection capabilities. “These innovative solutions hold tremendous promise in addressing the complex challenges of wildfires and climate change, and we commend the winners for their dedication and ingenuity,” said Michael Seablom, associate director in the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters. “The unique perspectives and diverse talent pool of participants made them invaluable partners in this endeavor. ” In the competition’s opening round, participants submitted a five-page white paper and a short video describing their proposed idea, highlighting the existing NASA resources or technologies used. From these submissions, NASA chose semi-finalists to present their ideas in a live startup pitch event on March 14 at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. The three winning teams earned a spot in the NASA MSI Incubator program’s second round where they will create commercial opportunities around their ideas. This multi-week program, running from March through May, offers a blend of hybrid workshops and an in-person finale. Participants will gain insights into forming a startup, product-market fit, raising capital, giving an engaging pitch, and more. The program culminates in a Demo Day during Wildfire Week in June. The three challenge runners-up will participate in the NASA Innovation (I-Corps) Pilot: Wildfire Technology Management Cohort. The NASA I-Corps Pilot supports participation in the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps Program that trains faculty, students in higher education, post-docs, and other researchers to “get out of their comfort zone” and talk to customers. Cornell University will teach this course, where the cohort will explore their technology’s product-market fit and have the opportunity to attend the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement Wildfire Technology Management Conference in April. “We believe that these winning solutions have the potential to make a significant difference in wildfire management and resilience efforts,” said Ian Mccubbin, Startup and Venture Capital Engagement manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The NASA Tournament Lab – part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate – managed the challenge. The NASA Tournament Lab facilitates crowdsourcing to tackle agency science and technology challenges, engaging the global community to seek new ideas and approaches that will ultimately benefit all of humanity. Blue Clarity administered the challenge for NASA. To learn more about NASA prizes and challenges opportunities, visit: www.nasa.gov/get-involved View the full article

Discussing the Strong State of NASA on This Week @NASA – March 15, 2024

NASA's SpaceX 30th Commercial Resupply Services Launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, on the company’s 29th commercial resupply services mission for the agency to the International Space Station.Credits: SpaceX New research and technology demonstrations for NASA are set to launch aboard the agency’s SpaceX 30th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for 4:55 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 21, lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Live launch coverage will air on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, with prelaunch events starting Tuesday, March 19. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will deliver new scientific investigations, food, supplies, and equipment to the international crew. NASA and its partners will send studies aboard the mission on plant metabolism in space and a set of new sensors for free-flying Astrobee robots to provide 3D mapping capabilities. Other research includes a fluid physics study that could benefit solar cell technology and a university project from CSA (Canadian Space Agency) that will monitor sea ice and ocean conditions. Arrival at the station is scheduled for approximately 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously to the zenith port of the station’s Harmony module. The spacecraft is expected to spend about a month attached to the orbiting outpost before it returns to Earth with research and cargo, splashing down off the coast of Florida. Full mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on operations): Tuesday, March 19 3 p.m. – Prelaunch media teleconference with the following participants: Kristi Duplichen, deputy manager, NASA’s International Space Station Transportation Integration Office Heidi Parris, associate program scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program Research Office Sarah Walker, director, SpaceX Dragon mission management Melody Lovin, launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron Media may ask questions during the media teleconference by phone only. For the dial-in number and passcode, please contact NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no later than 2 p.m. EDT March 19, at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov. Thursday, March 21 4:35 p.m. – Launch coverage begins 4:55 p.m. – Launch Saturday, March 23 5:30 a.m. – NASA arrival coverage begins 7:30 a.m. – Targeted docking to the zenith port of the station’s Harmony module NASA’s coverage is subject to change based on real-time operational activities. Follow the International Space Station blog for updates. NASA Television launch coverage Live coverage of the launch on NASA Television will begin at 4:35 p.m. Thursday, March 21. For downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, or -7135. On launch day, the full mission broadcast can be heard on -1220 and -1240, while the countdown net only can be heard on -7135 beginning approximately one hour before the mission broadcast begins. On launch day, live coverage of the launch without NASA Television commentary will be carried on the NASA Television media channel. NASA website launch coverage Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 4:35 p.m. Thursday, March 21, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on our commercial resupply services mission blog for updates. Attend launch virtually Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. Registrants will receive mission updates and activities by email. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities, and a virtual guest passport stamp following a successful launch. Watch, engage on social media Let people know you’re watching the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts: Twitter: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASocial, @Space_Station, ISS_Research, @ISS National Lab Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitor entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov. Learn more about NASA commercial resupply services missions at: https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/commercial-resupply/ -end- Julian Coltre / Claire O’Shea Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 julian.n.coltre@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov Stephanie Plucinsky / Steven Siceloff Kennedy Space Center, Florida 321-876-2468 stephanie.n.plucinsky@nasa.gov / steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Mar 15, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchSpaceX Commercial Resupply View the full article

2 Min Read NASA Volunteers Find Fifteen Rare “Active Asteroids” NASA’s Active Asteroids project Credits: Henry Hsieh Some extraordinary asteroids have “activity”–comet-like tails or envelopes of gas and dust. NASA’s Active Asteroids project announced the discovery of activity on fifteen asteroids, challenging conventional wisdom about the solar system. To find these fifteen rare objects, more than 8000 volunteers combed through 430,000 images from the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile. A paper about the results, now published in the Astronomical Journal, includes nine volunteers among the co-authors. “For an amateur astronomer like me it’s a dream come true.” said volunteer Virgilio Gonano from Udine, Italy. “Congratulations to all the staff and the friends that also check the images!” Volunteers from the NASA’s “Active Asteroids” Citizen Science project identified a comet tail coming from Asteroid 2015 VA108, one of the active asteroids spotted by volunteers from NASA’s “Active Asteroids” Citizen Science project. The object, indicated by the green arrow, orbits entirely within the main asteroid belt (located between Mars and Jupiter), but sports a tail like a comet. Credit: Colin Orion Chandler (University of Washington) Studying these rare active asteroids teaches scientists about the formation and evolution of the solar system, including the origins of water here on Earth. These objects may also aid future space exploration because the same ices that cause comet-like tails can power rockets or provide breathable air. “I have been a member of the Active Asteroids team since its first batch of data,” said volunteer Tiffany Shaw-Diaz from Dayton, Ohio. “And to say that this project has become a significant part of my life is an understatement. I look forward to classifying subjects each day, as long as time or health permits, and I am beyond honored to work with such esteemed scientists on a regular basis.” The Active Asteroids project was founded by Dr. Colin Orion Chandler, a LINCC Frameworks project scientist at the University of Washington and DiRAC Institute. To join the project and help discover the next active asteroid, visit https://www.activeasteroids.net. Facebook logo @DoNASAScience @DoNASAScience Share Details Last Updated Mar 15, 2024 Related Terms Citizen Science Planetary Science Explore More 3 min read GLOBE Eclipse Challenge: Clouds and Our Solar-Powered Earth Article 5 hours ago 5 min read Eclipse Photographers Will Help Study Sun During Its Disappearing Act Article 1 day ago 3 min read Hubble Tracks Jupiter’s Stormy Weather Article 1 day ago View the full article

1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Second Gentleman Douglass Emhoff and Deputy Center Director Laurie Grindle shake hands as the meet before the National Space Council’s Women in Space Roundtable in Hawthorne, California, on Monday, March 12, 2024. Grindle, from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards California, moderated a discussion with the Second Gentleman on a wide range of topics related to women in space.White House/Katie Ricks The National Space Council hosted the Women in Space Roundtable on Monday, March 12, and Deputy Center Director Laurie Grindle from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, was there to welcome Second Gentleman Mr. Douglass Emhoff and moderate a panel discussion. NASA has partnered with the National Space Council, and our private partners, to invest in building a workforce, needed to support the growing private space sector. The Space Council, along with the Vice President as its chair, has been an important voice in the White House for how NASA’s work directly benefits the lives of people here on Earth, from tackling climate change, to creating good paying jobs, to inspiring the next generation. The discussion included Second Gentleman Douglass Emhoff, National Space Council Chief of Staff Tahara Dawkins, Cal Poly Pomona student Ericka Ontiveros, while moderated by Grindle. The panel shared its experience and thoughts with the group on a wide range of topics related to women in space. The event was hosted by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board in Hawthorne, California. Panelists from the National Space Council’s Women in Space Roundtable are hosted by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board in Hawthorne, California. Pictured from left to right: Laurie Grindle, Deputy Center Director NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center; Cal Poly Pomona student Ericka Ontiveros; Second Gentleman Douglass Emhoff; Chris Cagle with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board; and Tahara Dawkins, National Space Council Chief of Staff.White House/Katie Ricks Panelists from the National Space Council’s Women in Space Roundtable are hosted by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board in Hawthorne, California. Panel members included Second Gentleman Douglass Emhoff, Cal Poly Pomona student Ericka Ontiveros, and Tahara Dawkins, National Space Council Chief of Staff. Laurie Grindle, Deputy Center Director NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center moderated the discussion. The panel is pictured with attendees from the event.White House/Katie Ricks Share Details Last Updated Mar 15, 2024 EditorDede DiniusContactMegan Personmegan.person@nasa.gov Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterPeople of NASAWomen at NASAWomen's History Month Explore More 4 min read Women’s History Month: Meet Sarah Mann Article 4 hours ago 3 min read NASA Armstrong Updates 1960s Concept to Study Giant Planets Article 2 days ago 9 min read Jennifer Krottinger: Designing Ways to Serve Article 1 week ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Armstrong People Women at NASA Women’s History Month View the full article

3 min read NASA Delivers Science Instrument to JAXA’s Martian Moons Mission On March 14, NASA delivered its gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer instrument to JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) for integration onto JAXA’s MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission spacecraft and final system-level testing. U.S. and Japanese team members gather around and discuss the gamma-ray spectrometer portion of the MEGANE instrument during its development at Johns Hopkins APL. NASA/JAXA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman NASA’s Mars-moon Exploration with Gamma Ray and Neutrons (MEGANE) instrument, developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, in collaboration with colleagues from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California, will play a major role in the MMX mission, which aims to characterize and determine the origin of Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos and deliver a sample from Phobos to Earth. Scientists suspect the asteroid-sized bodies either are remnants of an ancient collision between Mars and a large impactor or are themselves asteroids captured by Mars’ gravity. By measuring the energies of neutrons and gamma rays emitted from the surface of Phobos, MEGANE will let MMX “see” the elemental composition of the moon’s surface and help peg the likely origin of the moon. “MEGANE will be a key instrument on MMX, making a big contribution toward the goal of understanding the origin of the Martian moons,” said Thomas Statler, MEGANE program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “NASA is glad to see MEGANE ready for integration, another step in NASA’s continuing collaboration with JAXA on this groundbreaking mission.” The instrument team received the green light last fall to ship MEGANE (pronounced meh-GAH-nay, the Japanese word for “eyeglasses”) after the project’s standing review board evaluated the device’s readiness. That milestone marked the end of a demanding 6-year design and development process, which met NASA’s cost and schedule constraints. “Passing the pre-ship review and delivering the hardware are significant steps for all those working on MEGANE,” said APL’s David Lawrence, the instrument’s principal investigator. “Like all spaceflight builds, we have had challenges getting to this point, but we are excited to see how MEGANE works with all the other spacecraft components for this exciting MMX mission.” With MEGANE now in Japan, the MMX team will begin integrating the scientific instruments, including MEGANE, with other spacecraft components, before putting the entire system through a series of tests in preparation for launch, which is scheduled for fiscal year 2026, aboard a JAXA H3 rocket. “For me personally, I’m looking forward to all the integration and test operations that are to come,” said Sarah Bucior, a space systems engineer in SES and the MEGANE I&T Lead Engineer. “I love rockets, so I’m really interested to see how they build their spacecraft and then follow it along to launch operations and liftoff.” MEGANE was developed under NASA’s Discovery Program, which provides low-cost access to space. The Discovery Program is managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The instrument science team includes investigators from APL, LLNL, Marietta College, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, and JAXA. To learn more about MEGANE and the MMX mission, visit http://megane.jhuapl.edu. Facebook logo @NASA @NASA Instagram logo @NASA Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 2 min read Hubble Views a Galaxy Under Pressure Article 7 hours ago 5 min read Eclipse Photographers Will Help Study Sun During Its Disappearing Act Article 1 day ago 3 min read Hubble Tracks Jupiter’s Stormy Weather Article 1 day ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Asteroids Planetary Science Our Solar System Asteroids, Comets & Meteors View the full article

This majestic image of the dazzling green lights of the aurora borealis was captured on March 17, 2015, around 5:30 a.m. EDT in Donnelly Creek, Alaska. The aurora borealis and aurora australis, often called the northern lights and southern lights, are common occurrences at high northern and southern latitudes, less frequent at mid-latitudes, and seldom seen near the equator. These colorful ribbons of light are the visible manifestation of the solar wind – the flow of charged particles from the Sun – interacting with the Earth’s magnetosphere. Strong geomagnetic storms stimulate our atmosphere and light up the night sky, creating auroras. See how you can help track auroras around the world with the Aurorasaurus project. Image Credit: Sebastian Saarloos View the full article

The Power to Explore 2024 logo pays homage to the upcoming total eclipse in the United States.NASA NASA selected 45 student essays as semifinalists of its 2024 Power to Explore Challenge, a national competition for K-12 students featuring the enabling power of radioisotopes. Contestants were challenged to explore how NASA has powered some of its most famous science missions and to dream up how their personal “superpower” would energize their success on their own radioisotope-powered science mission. The competition asked students to learn about Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), “nuclear batteries” that NASA uses to explore the harshest, darkest, and dustiest parts of our solar system. RPS have enabled many spacecraft to conduct otherwise impossible missions in total darkness. In 250 words or less, students wrote about a mission of their own that would use these space power systems and described their own power to achieve their mission goals. The challenges of space exploration without solar power are especially relevant ahead of the United States’ upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse, which will offer a momentary glimpse into what life would be like without sunlight. We have been thrilled to read their creative RPS-powered mission concepts and have been inspired learning about their many ‘superpowers’ that make them the bright future of NASA – the Artemis Generation. Carl Sandifer Program Manager, Radioisotope Power Systems Program. The Power to Explore Challenge offered students the opportunity to learn more about these reliable power systems, celebrate their own strengths, and interact with NASA’s diverse workforce. This year’s contest received 1,787 submitted entries from 48 states and Puerto Rico. “It has been so exciting to see how many students across the nation have submitted essays to NASA’s Power to Explore Challenge,” said Carl Sandifer, program manager of the Radioisotope Power Systems Program at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “We have been thrilled to read their creative RPS-powered mission concepts and have been inspired learning about their many ‘superpowers’ that make them the bright future of NASA – the Artemis Generation.” Entries were split into three categories: grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Every student who submitted an entry received a digital certificate, and over 4,094 participants who signed up received an invitation to the Power Up virtual event. With NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate Nicola Fox, NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems Program Manager Carl Sandifer, and Kim Rink of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, students learned about what powers the NASA workforce to dream big and work together to explore. Fifteen national semifinalists in each grade category (45 semifinalists total) have been selected. These participants also will receive a NASA RPS prize pack. Finalists for this challenge will be announced on April 8 in celebration of the total solar eclipse. Semifinalists: Grades K-4 Maryam Asif, Sarasota, FL Thashvi Balaji, Riverview, FL Yavuz Bastug, Peckville, PA Claire Bennett, La Grange, NC Ada Brolan, Somerville, MA Joseph Brown, Huntsville, AL Ashwin Cohen, Washington, D.C. Adara George, Lithia, FL Katerine Leon, Long Beach, CA Rainie Lin, Lexington, KY Connor Personette, Lakeland, FL Yash Rajan, Issaquah, WA Camila Rymzo, Belmont, MA Arslan Soner, Columbia, SC Zachary Tolchin, Guilford, CT Semifinalists: Grades 5-8 Nithilam Arivuchelvan, Short Hills, NJ Nandini Bandyopadhyay, Short Hills, NJ Cooper Basi, Rocklin, CA Joshua Cheng, Rockville, MD Kaitlyn Chu, Mercer Island, WA Mayson Howell, Troy, MO Dhiraj Javvadi, Louisville, KY Aadya Karthik, Redmond, WA Subham Maiti, Bloomington, MN Meadow McCarthy, Corvallis, OR Elianna Muthersbaugh, Bluffton, SC Archer Prentice, Koloa, HI Andrew Tavares, Bridgewater, MA Sara Wang, Henderson, NV Anna Yang, Austin, TX Semifinalists: Grades 9-12 Sabrina Affany, Fresno, CA Alejandro Aguirre, Mission Viejo, CA Sai Meghana Chakka, Charlotte, NC Khushi Jain, San Jose, CA Aiden Johnson, Virginia Beach, VA Robert Kreidler, Cincinnati, OH Zoie Lawson, Tigard, OR Thomas Liu, Ridgewood, NJ Madeline Male, Fairway, KS Dang Khoi Pham, Westminster, CA Sofia Anna Reed-Gomes, Coral Gables, FL Ava Schmidt, Leavenworth, WA Madden Smith, Loveland, OH Kailey Thomas, Las Vegas, NV Warren Volles, Lyme, CT One of last year’s winners shared drawings with his essay.Courtesy of Pollack Family About the Challenge The challenge is funded by the Radioisotope Power Systems Program Office in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and administered by Future Engineers under the NASA Open Innovation Services 2 contract. This contract is managed by the NASA Tournament Lab, a part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. Kristin Jansen NASA’s Glenn Research Center View the full article

4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Sarah MannNASA Graphics In honor of Women’s History Month, we recently sat down with Sarah Mann, public affairs specialist and member of the Women’s Networking Group (WNG) at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, to learn more about her role and working at NASA. What do you do at NASA and how do you help support Armstrong’s mission? I get to tell the story about the exciting developments that happen with various programs and projects happening at NASA’s primary center for high-risk, atmospheric flight research. In writing for web and social, working with media, my job informs the public on the status and successes of programs and projects. Why did you choose to work at NASA and how long have you worked here? Who wouldn’t want to work for NASA?! I have been working for NASA for just over three years – and I have loved every minute! Growing up in “Aerospace Valley” it feels natural to work for NASA, and especially at Armstrong, where NASA develops the most cutting-edge technology for the first “A” in NASA. What has been your proudest accomplishment or highlight of your career? Before I worked for NASA, I did public relations for a local charter school that focused on STEM education; within my first week working for this school, it was decided to build a brand-new school and public outreach was a major component of the project. It was incredible to be a part of something from the very beginning; community outreach meetings to the groundbreaking ceremony, beam signing, getting the certificate of occupancy, to finally the grand opening of a brand-new school. I don’t think I will ever forget during the ribbon cutting ceremony and looking around to see so many students, families, and the community and thinking how far we had come from those initial conversations to now walking into the front door of a beautiful new school. What is one piece of advice you’ve never forgotten? My favorite professor in undergrad told us to keep our textbooks. Hardcover textbooks may be a thing of the past, but for me, they are still valuable reference tools, idea generators, reminders, and in some ways just a way to reminisce about the good old college days. Do you have any advice for others like yourself who may be contemplating a career at NASA? Network! Apply! Throughout my career, I have found that networking has been important for my career goals. Also, apply to all possible jobs – even those positions that are a little bit of a stretch for your experience. But with every interview you learn more and more and it helps prepare for future positions. What is the most exciting aspect of your job? It is really hard to identify just one exciting aspect of my job. Every day I get to work with the best people in their field and I get to tell the story about what they are working on to move the NASA mission forward. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Did you think you would ever work for NASA? Growing up I really thought I was going to be a professional ballet dancer, however, physically that wasn’t going to be possible, so I had to pivot. Thinking that being a lawyer would be very cool so I could afford to have a BMWZ8 – but I really wasn’t passionate about law. While in high school I took a lot of advanced science classes (chemistry and physics) but being in a lab all day wasn’t really appealing to me either. Then my senior year of high school, I learned about public affairs, and the rest is history. Never did I think I would work for NASA, an aerospace company probably, but NASA – it was such an exciting day when I got the call being offered a position to work for NASA. What’s the strangest tradition in your family? Or a unique family tradition? We all sit in the same exact spots in my parents’ house on Christmas morning to open gifts. It started when we were very little and still happens today – we also take turns opening gifts. If you could master a skill without any work, what would it be? Being a nuclear engineer would be so cool, so all the skills that would come with that job! Read More About Women at Armstrong Share Details Last Updated Mar 15, 2024 EditorDede DiniusContactAmber YarbroughLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related TermsArmstrong Flight Research CenterFeatured CareersLife at NASANASA Centers & FacilitiesPeople of NASAWhat We DoWomen at NASAWomen's History Month Explore More 2 min read Hubble Views a Galaxy Under Pressure This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows LEDA 42160, a galaxy about 52 million light-years… Article 4 hours ago 3 min read NASA Artemis Mission Progresses with SpaceX Starship Test Flight Article 19 hours ago 4 min read NASA Lights ‘Beacon’ on Moon With Autonomous Navigation System Test Article 1 day ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center People of NASA Women’s History Month Armstrong People View the full article

2024 Total Eclipse Total Eclipse Overview Safety Prepare Where and When What to Expect Total Eclipse FAQ Events Science NASA Research Citizen Science The Eclipse and NASA For Media More All Eclipses 3 min read GLOBE Eclipse Challenge: Clouds and Our Solar-Powered Earth The GLOBE Program invites you to participate in the natural experiment provided by April 8’s total solar eclipse by recording changes in cloud conditions and in temperature everywhere (both inside and outside the eclipse path). Heather Mortimer, GLOBE Observer/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Imagine standing outside on a cool spring day when all at once, the clouds shift and sunlight streams down, bathing you with warmth. In moments like this, you might notice – and appreciate – the Sun just a little bit more, but you feel the Sun’s influence every day, even when you don’t feel the Sun itself. Solar energy drives the water cycle and cloud formation. It fuels winds and nourishes growing plants. The Sun is intricately connected to the rhythm of life on Earth because we live on a solar-powered planet. So what happens on Earth when the Sun is blocked during an eclipse? How cold will it get in the Moon’s shadow? What will happen to the clouds? Will the temperature change? Will winds shift? To answer these questions, The GLOBE Program invites you to participate in the natural experiment provided by April 8’s total solar eclipse by recording changes in cloud conditions and in temperature everywhere (both inside and outside the eclipse path). Volunteers measuring changes in temperature and clouds with GLOBE Observer saw a drop in air temperature. Some volunteers also saw puffy (cumulus) clouds dissipate or collapse and flatten out. The GLOBE Program To participate in GLOBE Eclipse: Download the free GLOBE Observer app and register with an active email address. Get an air temperature thermometer so you are ready to record the temperature during the eclipse. Begin observing clouds now (before eclipse day) so that you are comfortable with the process. To get ready, we encourage you to participate in the GLOBE Eclipse Challenge: Clouds and Our Solar-Powered Earth, March 15-April 15. During the challenge, you will record cloud conditions at varying times during the day. On April 8, tap on “Eclipse” in the GLOBE Observer app and start recording your temperature and sky conditions before, during, and after the eclipse. You will measure temperature every 5-10 minutes and clouds every 15-30 minutes or whenever you see change. You can explore the Eclipse protocol in the app without entering data (practice mode) starting in mid-March. You can start entering actual temperature data the week before the eclipse. Participating in GLOBE Eclipse as a volunteer requires the GLOBE Observer app and a thermometer. Training is provided in the app. No prior experience is necessary. Heather Mortimer/GLOBE Observer/NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center You can find videos and additional training resources at: https://observer.globe.gov/eclipse. The GLOBE Program is an international science and education program that engages students and volunteers from around the globe in monitoring the environment in support of Earth system science. Through GLOBE Observer, the app of The GLOBE Program, volunteers document clouds every day, creating a years-long record of change across seasons. The GLOBE Eclipse tool with the app extends routine cloud observations to provide insight into what happens in the sky when the Sun is blocked. By Holli Kohl GLOBE Observer, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Share Details Last Updated Mar 15, 2024 Related Terms 2024 Solar Eclipse Citizen Science Eclipses Skywatching Solar Eclipses Explore More 2 min read Partner with Local NASA Volunteers Partner with NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors and Night Sky Network and help bring the wonders… Article 5 hours ago 5 min read Eclipse Photographers Will Help Study Sun During Its Disappearing Act Article 23 hours ago 5 min read Total Solar Eclipse 2024: The Moon’s Moment in the Sun To know exactly where and when the solar eclipse will cast its shadow, we study… Article 4 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

2 min read Hubble Views a Galaxy Under Pressure This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows dwarf galaxy, LEDA 42160. ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Sun This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows LEDA 42160, a galaxy about 52 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. The dwarf galaxy is one of many forcing its way through the comparatively dense gas in the massive Virgo cluster of galaxies. The pressure exerted by this intergalactic gas, known as ram pressure, has dramatic effects on star formation in LEDA 42160. The gas and dust that permeates space exerts pressure on a galaxy as it moves. This resistance, called ram pressure, can strip a galaxy of its star-forming gas and dust, reducing or even stopping the creation of new stars. However, ram pressure can also compress gas in the galaxy, which can boost star formation. The Hubble data used to create this image of LEDA 42160 is part of a project that studied dwarf galaxies undergoing ram pressure stripping that are part of large galaxy clusters, like the Virgo cluster. Studies show that ram pressure stripping can initially cause new stars to form in larger galaxies. The researchers wanted to see if the same holds true for smaller galaxies, like LEDA 42160. The bright patches on LEDA 42160’s lower-right flank may be star-forming regions spurred on by ram pressure stripping. Hubble’s observations of LEDA 42160 will help astronomers determine the processes that created the features we see in this small galaxy. Download this image Media Contact: Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD claire.andreoli@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Mar 15, 2024 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location Goddard Space Flight Center Related Terms Astrophysics Astrophysics Division Galaxies Goddard Space Flight Center Hubble Space Telescope Missions The Universe Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Hubble Space Telescope Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe. Galaxies Stories Stars Stories NASA Astrophysics View the full article

SpaceX launched the third integrated flight test of its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage from the company’s Starbase orbital launch pad at 8:25 a.m. CT on March 14. This flight test is an important milestone toward providing NASA with a Starship HLS for its Artemis missions. SpaceX As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign to return humans to the Moon for the benefit of all, the agency is working with SpaceX to develop the company’s Starship human landing system (HLS), which will land astronauts near the Moon’s South Pole during the Artemis III and Artemis IV missions. On March 14, SpaceX launched the third integrated flight test of its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage, an important milestone toward providing NASA with a Starship HLS for its Artemis missions. A complement of 33 Raptor engines, fueled by super-cooled liquid methane and liquid oxygen, powered the Super Heavy booster with Starship stacked on top, from the company’s Starbase orbital launch pad at 8:25 a.m. CDT. Starship, using six Raptor engines, separated from the Super Heavy booster employing a hot-staging technique to fire the engines before separation at approximately three minutes into the flight, in accordance with the flight plan. This was the third flight test of the integrated Super Heavy-Starship system. “With each flight test, SpaceX attempts increasingly ambitious objectives for Starship to learn as much as possible for future mission systems development. The ability to test key systems and processes in flight scenarios like these integrated tests allows both NASA and SpaceX to gather crucial data needed for the continued development of Starship HLS,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, HLS Program Manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This test accomplished several important firsts that will contribute to the development of Starship for Artemis lunar landing missions. The spacecraft reached its expected orbit and Starship completed the full-duration ascent burn. One objective closely tied to future Artemis operations is the transfer of thousands of pounds of cryogenic propellant between internal tanks during the spacecraft’s coast phase as part of NASA’s Space Technology Missions Directorate 2020 Tipping Point awards. The propellant transfer demonstration operations were completed, and the NASA-SpaceX team is currently reviewing the flight data that was received. This Tipping Point technology demonstration is one of more than 20 development activities NASA is undertaking to solve the challenges of using cryogenic fluids during future missions. As a key step toward understanding how super-cooled propellant sloshes within the tanks when the engines shut down, and how that movement affects Starship’s stability while in orbit, engineers will study flight test data to assess the performance of thrusters that control Starship’s orientation in space. They are also interested to learn more about how the fluid’s movement within the tanks can be settled to maximize propellant transfer efficiency and ensure Raptor engines receive needed propellant conditions to support restart in orbit. “Storing and transferring cryogenic propellant in orbit has never been attempted on this scale before,” said Jeremy Kenny, project manager, NASA’s Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio at Marshall. “But this is a game-changing technology that must be developed and matured for science and exploration missions at the Moon, Mars, and those that will venture even deeper into our solar system.” Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface and prepare for human expeditions to Mars. Commercial human landing systems are critical to deep space exploration, along with the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, advanced spacesuits and rovers, exploration ground systems, and the Gateway space station. Learn more about NASA’s Human Landing System Program: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/human-landing-system/ News Media Contact Jenalane (Rowe) Strawn Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034 View the full article

(8 de noviembre de 2021) — La Estación Espacial Internacional, fotografiada desde la nave Crew Dragon Endeavour de SpaceX durante un vuelo alrededor del laboratorio orbital que tuvo lugar tras el desacoplamiento de Dragon del puerto orientado al espacio del módulo Harmony de la estación.Crédito: NASA Read this release in English here. La NASA ofrecerá una rueda de prensa con cuatro astronautas a las 9:30 a.m. EDT (hora del este de EE.UU.) del martes 19 de marzo en la sede de la agencia en Washington. La tripulación, entre la que se encuentra el astronauta de la NASA de origen salvadoreño Frank Rubio, hablará de su reciente misión a bordo de la Estación Espacial Internacional, donde llevaron a cabo una amplia gama de experimentos científicos en beneficio de la vida en la Tierra y de la exploración con seres humanos del espacio. Rubio, así como sus compañeros astronautas de la NASA Stephen Bowen y Woody Hoburg, y el astronauta de los EAU (Emiratos Árabes Unidos) Sultan Alneyadi, formaron parte de la Expedición 69 de la estación espacial y participarán en la conferencia de prensa. Durante su primera misión espacial, Rubio completó aproximadamente un viaje de más de 157 millones de millas y 5.936 órbitas a la Tierra, lo que equivale a 328 viajes de ida y vuelta a la Luna. La misión extendida de Rubio brindó a los investigadores la oportunidad de observar los efectos de los vuelos espaciales de larga duración en el ser humano, ya que la agencia planea volver a la Luna a través de la campaña Artemis y prepararse para explorar Marte. Rubio regresó a la Tierra en septiembre de 2023 a bordo de la nave espacial Soyuz de Roscosmos tras pasar 371 días en el espacio, un récord para Estados Unidos. Como parte de la misión SpaceX Crew-6 de la NASA, Bowen, Hoburg y Alneyadi regresaron a la Tierra en septiembre de 2023 a bordo de una nave espacial Dragon tras pasar 186 días a bordo del laboratorio en microgravedad. Como parte de la misión SpaceX Crew-6 de la NASA, Bowen, Hoburg y Alneyadi regresaron a la Tierra en septiembre de 2023 a bordo de una nave espacial Dragon tras pasar 186 días a bordo del laboratorio en microgravedad. Durante su misión, Bowen y Hoburg llevaron a cabo dos caminatas espaciales, y Alneyadi se convirtió en el primer astronauta de los EAU en realizar una caminata espacial. Con 10 caminatas espaciales realizadas durante sus varias misiones, Bowen está empatado con otros cuatro astronautas por el récord de mayor número de caminatas completadas por un astronauta estadounidense. Ocupa el tercer puesto en la lista de mayor número de horas acumuladas en caminatas espaciales. Además de sus investigaciones, los miembros de la tripulación también realizaron demostraciones tecnológicas y actividades de mantenimiento de la estación espacial. Bowen, Hoburg y Alneyadi recorrieron 78.875.292 millas durante su misión y completaron 2.976 órbitas alrededor de la Tierra. La misión Crew-6 fue el primer vuelo espacial para Hoburg, Alneyadi y Fedyaev. Bowen ha pasado en total 227 días en el espacio, acumulados en cuatro misiones. Los medios de comunicación interesados en participar deben confirmar su asistencia antes de las 5 pm EDT del lunes 18 de marzo a Joshua Finch (joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov) y María José Viñas (maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov). La política de acreditación de medios de comunicación de la NASA está disponible en línea. El encuentro con los medios de comunicación tendrá lugar en el Auditorio Webb de la sede central de la NASA, en el edificio Mary W. Jackson, 300 E. Street SW, en Washington. Aprende más sobre la Estación Espacial Internacional: https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/ (inglés) https://go.nasa.gov/3wUF46G (español) -fin- Joshua Finch Sede, Washington 202-358-1100 joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov María José Viñas Sede, Washington 240-458-0248 maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Mar 14, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsNASA en españolAstronautsExpedition 69Frank RubioHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchNASA HeadquartersStephen G. Bowen View the full article

(Nov. 8, 2021) — The International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port.Credits: NASA Lee esta nota de prensa en español aquí. NASA will host a media availability with four astronauts at 9:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, March 19, at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. The crew, including record-breaking NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, will discuss their recent mission aboard the International Space Station where they conducted a broad range of science experiments to benefit life on Earth and human space exploration. Rubio, as well as fellow NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, served as part of space station Expedition 69 and will participate in the media opportunity. During his first spaceflight mission, Rubio completed approximately 5,936 orbits and a journey of more than 157 million miles, roughly the equivalent of 328 trips to the Moon and back. Rubio’s extended mission provided researchers the opportunity to observe the effects of long-duration spaceflight on humans as the agency plans to return to the Moon through the Artemis campaign and prepare for exploration of Mars. He returned to Earth in September 2023 aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft after spending an American record-breaking 371 days in space. As part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission, Bowen, Hoburg, and Alneyadi returned to Earth in September 2023 aboard a Dragon spacecraft after spending 186 days aboard the microgravity laboratory. During the mission, Bowen and Hoburg completed two spacewalks, and Alneyadi became the first UAE astronaut to conduct a spacewalk. With 10 spacewalks throughout his missions, Bowen ties the record for most excursions by a U.S. astronaut, also held by four others. He ranks third on the all-time list for cumulative hours of spacewalking. In addition to their research, crew members also conducted technology demonstrations, and space station maintenance activities. Bowen, Hoburg, and Alneyadi traveled 78,875,292 miles during their mission and completed 2,976 orbits around Earth. The Crew-6 mission was the first spaceflight for Hoburg, Alneyadi, and Fedyaev. Bowen has logged 227 days in space over four flights. Media interested in participating must RSVP by 5 p.m., Monday, March 18, to Joshua Finch at joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov. NASA’s media accreditation policy is online. The media opportunity will take place in the Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in the Mary W. Jackson building, 300 E. Street SW in Washington. Learn more about the International Space Station: https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/ -end- Joshua Finch Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Mar 14, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsInternational Space Station (ISS)AstronautsExpedition 69Frank RubioHumans in SpaceISS ResearchNASA HeadquartersStephen G. Bowen View the full article

In this image from March 13, 2023, NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Stephen Bowen holds a small pie that is festively decorated in commemoration of Pi Day aboard the International Space Station. March 14 marks the annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi, aka the Greek letter π. Its infinite number of digits is usually rounded to 3.14, hence the date of Pi Day. For some people, the occasion marks an annual excuse to eat pizza or pie (or both), but to truly honor this wondrously useful number, a serving of mathematics is in order, too. Continuing a decade-long tradition, the Education Office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has cooked up a set of illustrated math problems involving real-life NASA science and engineering. Learn more about the NASA Pi Day Challenge. Image Credit: NASA/Warren Hoburg View the full article