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Goddard’s Office of the Chief Technologist named engineer Steven Denis as the FY23 Internal Research and Development (IRAD) Innovator of the Year, an honor the office bestows annually on individuals who demonstrate the best in innovation. Kevin DenisCredit: NASA / Christopher Gunn Denis demonstrated persistence and innovation in developing hair-thin photon sieves to focus extreme ultraviolet light – a difficult wavelength to capture. Thin membranes matter for solar science, he said, because these sieves transmit up to seven times more light than thicker materials. Denis’s work will open new ways to study the Sun in better detail and understand its influence on Earth and the solar system. Working closely with solar scientists over many years through Goddard ’s IRAD, or Internal Research and Development program, Denis developed new ways to create wider and thinner membranes of silicon and niobium. These photon sieves, created in Goddard’s Detector Development Laboratory, are so thin they must be supported by a honeycomb lattice of thicker silicon to prevent tearing. Etched with microscopic holes in a circular pattern, they refract light similar to Fresnel lenses used in lighthouses. Extreme ultraviolet light passing through this sieve is bent gradually inward to a distant receiver. Photon sieves like this are cut from a single wafer of silicon or niobium to focus extreme ultraviolet light – a difficult wavelength to capture.NASA / Christopher Gunn “It’s a sheer physical challenge to construct sieves with such precision,” said Goddard heliophysicist Dr. Doug Rabin. “Their smallest features are a few microns across. Kevin has really responded to that challenge with very creative solutions.” Denis’s photon sieves should eventually be able to resolve features near the surface of the Sun 10 to 50 times smaller than can be seen today with the Solar Dynamics Observatory’s EUV imager, Rabin said. Denis takes inspiration from working closely with scientists to overcome barriers to advancing their field, he said. “With this project in particular, scientists Rabin and Adrian Daw have done a great job using the sieves in near-term science applications while we push the technology for larger and more capable missions.” Denis’s work was highlighted in Physics Today, a publication of the American Institute for Physics, for its importance in advancing pivotal technology that can address outstanding questions of how coronal heating and acceleration happens in the Sun’s lower atmosphere. With two patents already awarded based on this project, Denis is submitting a new application for his latest fabrication process. While he continues to push the limits of engineering, Denis said he is looking forward to seeing them used in missions of increasing complexity and capability. “It’s a great motivation to see they are going to be used for new science.” By Karl B. Hille NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Related Terms GeneralGoddard Space Flight CenterOffice of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS)People of GoddardPeople of NASAScience-enabling TechnologyTechnology Explore More 4 min read NASA Telescope Data Becomes Music You Can Play Article 27 mins ago 2 min read Modeling Turbofan Engines to Understand Aircraft Noise Article 47 mins ago 5 min read Webb Follows Neon Signs Toward New Thinking on Planet Formation Article 5 hours ago View the full article

4 min read NASA Telescope Data Becomes Music You Can Play For millennia, musicians have looked to the heavens for inspiration. Now a new collaboration is enabling actual data from NASA telescopes to be used as the basis for original music that can be played by humans. Since 2020, the “sonification” project at NASA’s Chandra X-ray Center has translated the digital data taken by telescopes into notes and sounds. This process allows the listener to experience the data through the sense of hearing instead of seeing it as images, a more common way to present astronomical data. A musical ensemble performs soundscape that composer Sophie Katsner created using data sonifications from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. Based in Montreal, Ensemble Éclat is dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music and promoting the works of emerging composers. A new phase of the sonification project takes the data into different territory. Working with composer Sophie Kastner, the team has developed versions of the data that can be played by musicians. “It’s like a writing a fictional story that is largely based on real facts,” said Kastner. “We are taking the data from space that has been translated into sound and putting a new and human twist on it.” This pilot program focuses on data from a small region at the center of our Milky Way galaxy where a supermassive black hole resides. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and retired Spitzer Space Telescope have all studied this area, which spans about 400 light-years across. The Galactic Center sonification, using data from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, has been translated into a new composition with sheet music and score. Working with a composer, this soundscape can be played by musicians. The full score and sheet music for individual instruments is available at: https://chandra.si.edu/sound/symphony.htmlComposition: NASA/CXC/SAO/Sophie Kastner We’ve been working with these data, taken in X-ray, visible, and infrared light, for years,” said Kimberly Arcand, Chandra visualization and emerging technology scientist. “Translating these data into sound was a big step, and now with Sophie we are again trying something completely new for us.” In the data sonification process, computers use algorithms to mathematically map the digital data from these telescopes to sounds that humans can perceive. Human musicians, however, have different capabilities than computers. Kastner chose to focus on small sections of the image in order to make the data more playable for people. This also allowed her to create spotlights on certain parts of the image that are easily overlooked when the full sonification is played. “I like to think of it as creating short vignettes of the data, and approaching it almost as if I was writing a film score for the image,” said Kastner. “I wanted to draw listener’s attention to smaller events in the greater data set.” The result of this trial project is a new composition based upon and influenced by real data from NASA telescopes, but with a human take. “In some ways, this is just another way for humans to interact with the night sky just as they have throughout recorded history,” says Arcand. “We are using different tools but the concept of being inspired by the heavens to make art remains the same.” Kastner hopes to expand this pilot composition project to other objects in Chandra’s data sonification collection. She is also looking to bring in other musical collaborators who are interested in using the data in their pieces. Sophie Kastner’s Galactic Center piece is entitled “Where Parallel Lines Converge.” If you are a musician who wants to try playing this sonification at home, check out the sheet music at: https://chandra.si.edu/sound/symphony.html. The piece was recorded by Montreal based Ensemble Éclat conducted by Charles-Eric LaFontaine on July 19, 2023 at McGill University. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts. Read more from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. For more Chandra images, multimedia and related materials, visit: Megan Watzke Chandra X-ray Center Cambridge, Mass. 617-496-7998 Jonathan Deal Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034 Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Chandra News Galaxies Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is typical: it has hundreds of billions of stars, enough gas and dust to make… Universe Explore the universe: Learn about the history of the cosmos, what it’s made of, and so much more. NASA Astrophysics The science goals of the SMD Astrophysics Division are breathtaking: we seek to understand the universe and our place in… View the full article

2 min read Modeling Turbofan Engines to Understand Aircraft Noise To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This simulation shows the complex flow of air particles through the Source Diagnostic Test turbofan engine. By simulating the fan’s rotations, researchers can target design innovations and modifications to reduce the impact of fan noise on people living and working in areas with heavy air traffic. Credit: Timothy Sandstrom, Luis Fernandes/NASA Ames Research Center Airplane engines are loud – just ask anyone who lives near an airport. Increased air traffic from next-generation aircraft has the potential for even more disruptive noise. Researchers and engineers at NASA are working to reduce noise generated by turbofan engines, but each new design requires certification and testing to understand how much noise it will generate during takeoff and approach. Using the Pleiades supercomputer at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility at the agency’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, researchers have developed software that can model different engine configurations in a more timely and economic manner. Generating accurate simulations of rotating geometry, like a turbofan, requires time-consuming computations. Using NASA’s Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics software, the team used a sliding mesh technique, which reduces the amount of runtime mapping procedures by analytically matching stationary and rotating points on the modeling grid. The simulation is based on the Source Diagnostic Test fan, a simplified turbofan engine model used for physical tests. By using a simulation instead of a physical model, testing will require less time and expense, opening the door to easier testing and certification of turbofan engine designs that lower fuel burn and reduce emissions without increased noise levels. NASA is showcasing 42 of the agency’s computational achievements at SC23, the international supercomputing conference, Nov. 12-17, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. For more technical information, visit: ​ https://www.nas.nasa.gov/sc23. For news media: Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the NASA Ames newsroom. About the AuthorTara Friesen Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Related Terms AeronauticsAmes Research CenterGeneral Explore More 4 min read Volunteers Worldwide Successfully Tracked NASA’s Artemis I Mission Article 6 hours ago 4 min read Rocket Exhaust on the Moon: NASA Supercomputers Reveal Surface Effects Article 1 day ago 5 min read Five Ways NASA Supercomputing Takes Missions from Concept to Reality Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Our world is facing many urgent challenges, such as climate change, water insecurity, and food insecurity. Maintaining and improving quality of life around the world requires bringing together innovators across disciplines and countries to find creative solutions. One critical tool for understanding and improving the urgent challenges facing our world is Earth observation data, meaning data that is gathered in outer space about life here on Earth! Earth observation data provides accurate and publicly accessible information on our atmosphere, oceans, ecosystems, land cover, and built environment. The United States and its partners have a long history of exploring outer space and making satellite, airborne, and in-situ sensor datasets openly available to all. Your goal in this challenge is to create a visualization using Earth observation data that advances at least one of the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 2: Zero Hunger 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 13: Climate Action By participating, you can be part of NASA’s initiative to Transform to Open Science and to make Earth observation data available to all. Award: 10-day Space Study program, with travel, lodging, and tuition covered. Open Date: November 15, 2023 Close Date: January 26, 2024 For more information, visit: https://www.drivendata.org/competitions/256/ View the full article

NASA / William R. Pogue Astronaut William R. Pogue, Skylab 4 pilot, recorded this wide scene of his crewmates, astronauts Edward G. Gibson (left), science pilot, and Jerry P. Carr (right), commander, on the other end of the orbital workshop on Feb. 1, 1974. Also in the frame are parts of three spacesuits, used on several EVA sessions during the third and final mission on the Skylab space station. Skylab 4 launched on Nov. 16, 1973. Pogue, Gibson, and Carr were the first all-rookie crew since Gemini 8 in 1966. The crew continued the science program begun by the previous two Skylab crews, including biomedical investigations on the effects of long-duration space flight on the human body, Earth observations using the Earth Resources Experiment Package, and solar observations with instruments mounted on the Apollo Telescope Mount. Added to their science program were observations of the comet Kohoutek, discovered earlier in the year and predicted to make its closest approach to the Sun in December. Watch a recap of Skylab’s legacy as a major stepping stone to the successful construction and operation of the International Space Station and future long-duration human missions to asteroids, Mars and other destinations. Image Credit: NASA/William R. Pogue View the full article

7 min read NASA’s Cold Atom Lab Sets Stage for Quantum Chemistry in Space This animation depicts six finely tuned lasers used inside NASA’s Cold Atom Lab to slow down atoms, lowering their temperature. Scientists can now use the lab to see how different types of atoms interact with each other at these cold temperatures. NASA/JPL-Caltech The remotely operated facility aboard the International Space Station has created another tool that researchers can use to probe the fundamental nature of the world around us. For the first time in space, scientists have produced a quantum gas containing two types of atoms. Accomplished with NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory aboard the International Space Station, the achievement marks another step toward bringing quantum technologies currently available only on Earth into space. Quantum tools are already used in everything from cellphones to GPS to medical devices. In the future, they could be used to enhance the study of planets, including our own, and help solve mysteries of the universe while deepening our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. The new work, performed remotely by scientists on Earth, is described in the Nov. 16 issue of the journal Nature. With this new capability, the Cold Atom Lab can now study not only the quantum properties of individual atoms, but also quantum chemistry, which focuses on how different types of atoms interact and combine with each other in a quantum state. Researchers will be able to conduct a wider range of experiments with Cold Atom Lab and learn more about the nuances of performing them in microgravity. That knowledge will be essential for harnessing the one-of-a-kind facility to develop new space-based quantum technologies. Quantum Chemistry The physical world around us depends on atoms and molecules staying bound together according to an established set of rules. But different rules can dominate or weaken depending on the environment the atoms and molecules are in – like microgravity. Scientists using the Cold Atom Lab are exploring scenarios where the quantum nature of atoms dominates their behaviors. For example, instead of acting like solid billiard balls, the atoms and molecules behave more like waves. In one of those scenarios, the atoms in two- or three-atom molecules can remain bound together but grow increasingly far apart, almost as though the molecules are getting fluffy. To study these states, scientists first need to slow the atoms down. They do this by cooling them to fractions of a degree above the lowest temperature matter can reach, far colder than anything found in the natural universe: absolute zero, or minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 273 degrees Celsius). NASA’s Cold Atom Lab lets scientists investigate the quantum nature of atoms in the freedom of microgravity. Learn how quantum science has led to the development of everyday technologies like cellphones and computers, and how Cold Atom Lab is paving the way for new breakthroughs. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Physicists have created these fluffy molecules in cold atom experiments on the ground, but they are extremely fragile and either break apart quickly or collapse back down to a normal molecular state. For that reason, enlarged molecules with three atoms have never been directly imaged. In the microgravity of the space station, the fragile molecules can exist for longer and potentially get larger, so physicists are excited to start experimenting with the Cold Atom Lab’s new capability. These types of molecules likely don’t occur in nature, but it’s possible they could be used to make sensitive detectors that can reveal subtle changes in the strength of a magnetic field, for example, or any of the other disturbances that cause them to break apart or collapse. “What we’re doing with cold atom science in general is looking for and learning about new tools that nature gives us,” said Jason Williams of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, project scientist for the Cold Atom Lab and a co-author on the new study. “It’s like we’ve discovered a hammer and we’re just starting to investigate all the ways we could use it.” A Modern Mystery One possible way of using a quantum gas with two types of atoms would be to test something called the equivalence principle, which holds that gravity affects all objects the same way regardless of their mass. It’s a principle that many physics teachers will demonstrate by putting a feather and a hammer in a sealed vacuum chamber and showing that, in the absence of air friction, the two fall at the same rate. In 1971, Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott did this experiment on the Moon’s surface without the need for a vacuum chamber. Using an instrument called an atom interferometer, scientists have already run experiments on Earth to see if the equivalence principle holds true at atomic scales. Using a quantum gas with two types of atoms and an interferometer in the microgravity of the space station, they could test the principle with more precision than what’s possible on Earth. Doing so, they might learn whether there’s a point where gravity doesn’t treat all matter equally, indicating Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity contains a small error that could have big implications. The equivalence principle is part of the general theory of relativity, the backbone of modern gravitational physics, which describes how large objects, like planets and galaxies, behave. But a major mystery in modern physics is why the laws of gravity don’t seem to match up with the laws of quantum physics, which describe the behaviors of small objects, like atoms. The laws of both fields have proven to be correct again and again in their respective size realms, but physicists have been unable to unite them into a single description of the universe as a whole. Looking for features of gravity not explained by Einstein’s theory is one way to search for a means of unification. Better Sensors Scientists already have ideas to go beyond testing fundamental physics in microgravity inside the Cold Atom Lab. They have also proposed space-based experiments that could use a two-atom interferometer and quantum gases to measure gravity with high precision in order to learn about the nature of dark energy, the mysterious driver behind the accelerating expansion of the universe. What they learn could lead to the development of precision sensors for a wide range of applications. The quality of those sensors will depend on how well scientists understand the behavior of these atoms in microgravity, including how those atoms interact with each other. The introduction of tools to control the atoms, like magnetic fields, can make them repel each other like oil and water or stick together like honey. Understanding those interactions is a key goal of the Cold Atom Lab. More About the Mission A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL designed and built Cold Atom Lab, which is sponsored by the Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. BPS pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomena under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.  To learn more about Cold Atom Lab, go here: https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/ News Media Contact Calla Cofield Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 626-808-2469 calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov 2023-170 Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Related Terms Biological & Physical SciencesCold Atom Laboratory (CAL)Fundamental PhysicsInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchJet Propulsion LaboratoryPhysical Sciences Explore More 6 min read NASA Data Reveals Possible Reason Some Exoplanets Are Shrinking Article 51 mins ago 4 min read Trailblazing New Earth Satellite Put to Test in Preparation for Launch Article 1 day ago 3 min read Time Is Running Out to Add Your Name to NASA’s Europa Clipper Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

8 Min Read Satellite Data Can Help Limit the Dangers of Windblown Dust Dust storms present a growing threat to the health and safety of U.S. populations. A new model, powered by NASA and NOAA satellite data, provides important early warnings. Credits: Stock Footage Provided by Pond5/EnglerAerial Interstate 10, an artery that cuts through the rural drylands of southern New Mexico, is one of the country’s deadliest roadways. On one stretch of the highway, just north of a dry lakebed called Lordsburg Playa, fatal collisions occur with such regularity that officials often call it the “dust trap.” It’s a fitting name. Since 1967, at least 55 deaths in the area have been linked to dust storms. This stretch of Interstate 10 offers a concentrated example of the hazards that dust storms carry. But across the U.S. Great Plains, levels of windblown dust have increased steadily, by about 5% each year between 2000 and 2018, contributing to a decline in air quality and an increase in fatal collisions. “Dust storms are appearing with greater frequency for reasons that include extended drought conditions and urban sprawl, which disrupt the fragile biotic crust of the desert,” said John Haynes, program manager for NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team. As reduced rainfall in arid regions and warmer weather become regular fixtures of the U.S. climate, experts expect the trend to continue. Dust storms can cause traffic accidents, negatively impact air quality, and even carry pathogens that cause diseases. /wp-content/plugins/nasa-blocks/assets/images/article-templates/anne-mcclain.jpg john Haynes Program manager for NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team On the ground, dust storms form menacing palls that can swallow entire cities whole. From space, dust storms can be observed moving across continents and oceans, revealing their tremendous scale. It’s from this vantage point, high above the clouds, that NASA and NOAA have Earth-observing satellites that help scientists and first responders track windblown dust. Daniel Tong, professor of atmospheric chemistry and aerosols at George Mason University, working closely with NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team, leads a NASA-funded effort to improve the country’s dust forecasting capabilities. Tong’s forecasting system relies on an algorithm called FENGSHA, which means “windblown dust” in Mandarin. By plugging real-time satellite data into a complex model of Earth’s atmosphere – one that accounts for site-specific variables like soil type, wind speed, and how Earth’s surface interacts with winds – the system churns out hourly forecasts that can predict dust storms up to three days in advance. On March 16, 2021, images acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite show large dust plumes sweeping across New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory NASA/NOAA FENGSHA was initially developed using a dust observation method trained by NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites. It’s these “space truths,” as Tong calls them, that make reliable forecasting possible. Comparing the model’s predictions with satellite imagery from real dust storms allows the team to identify shortcomings and improve accuracy. The most recent version of the model includes data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NASA-NOAA Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21 satellites, which observe each location on the planet at least twice a day. Currently, the dust monitoring system is available to all 122 of the National Weather Service’s regional forecasting offices. When a forecast calls for dust, local teams assess each case individually and decide whether to send out alerts. These could involve a warning to transit authorities or weather alerts sent directly to people’s phones. “Dust storms cause traffic accidents, negatively impact air quality, and even carry pathogens that cause diseases,” Haynes said. “Early warning systems empower individuals to take necessary actions, such as sheltering indoors or clearing roadways until the storm passes.” The Benefits of Early Warning On May 1, 2023, high winds in Illinois sent a dark cloud of dust creeping along Interstate 55, the state’s main throughway. Visibility was reduced to zero in a matter of minutes – leaving drivers with little time to react. The resulting collision involved 72 vehicles and killed eight people. Dozens more were hospitalized. In some hotspots for dust, officials are taking steps to minimize the damage. On Interstate 10 in New Mexico and Arizona, for example, drivers are now met with 100 miles of roadside warning signs that urge them to pull over when dust is detected. But Interstate 55, in Illinois, isn’t a hotspot. No one saw the storm coming. And as dust claims new territory, local ground-based solutions may not provide sufficient coverage. This is why satellite-based forecasting is essential, said Morgan Gorris, an Earth system scientist and geohealth expert at Los Alamos National Laboratory. “When we see a dust storm developing in radar returns or on dust sensors, people are already on the road, and it’s more difficult to make safety decisions.” Tong hopes to see forecasts used more frequently in commercial trucking “to prevent delays, traffic jams, and accidents,” he said. Notably, semi-trucks or tractor-trailers are involved in almost all fatal collisions involving dust. By rerouting or delaying truck drivers, the worst accidents could be avoided. Tong also promotes advanced forecasting as a way to reduce the frequency and intensity of dust storms. Storms like the one in Illinois – which rose from the overworked soil of the surrounding farmland – might be preventable. “If we know that there might be a dust storm tomorrow, farmers might stop tilling their land,” he said. Most fatal collisions are the result of smaller, quick-forming dust storms. But larger storms carry additional hazards. Billowing plumes of dust lofted from loose soil or desert floors by high-speed winds can reach thousands of feet into the air and travel hundreds of miles, affecting the respiratory health of populations across great distances. Valley fever —an infectious disease caused by a soil-dwelling fungus endemic to the arid and semi-arid climates of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California — is also a threat. The fungus is harmless in the ground, but airborne spores can lead to infections that are sometimes fatal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 200,000 infections of Valley fever since 1998. The current infection rate is about 10 times higher than that of the West Nile Virus, a vector-transmitted disease that often receives far more attention. An Image of Baja, CA, taken from the International Space Station depicts strong winds blowing dust into the Pacific Ocean. Valley fever cases have been discovered off the California coast among populations of bottle-nosed dolphins and other marine mammals, a sign that windblown dust could be carrying the fungus to non-endemic regions of the country. Credit: NASA “The areas where we see dust storms and the areas endemic to Valley fever are both expanding,” said Gorris, who also warns that the expanding reach of dust storms might unearth new airborne diseases. “We don’t yet know what other biology is in the soil that might infect us.” It’s not just what’s in the soil. Even when traces of chemical or biological toxins are absent, the soil itself can be a significant irritant. “People think that it’s a natural phenomenon carrying natural material, so it’s probably innocuous,” said Thomas E. Gill, professor of Earth and environmental sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. But that’s not the case. Fine grains of dust can penetrate deep into lung tissue and are linked to an increase in respiratory illness and premature death. According to a global study conducted by atmospheric scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, 2.89 million premature deaths were connected to PM2.5 in 2019 – and 22% of those deaths were attributed to dust. Most at risk were children and those with pre-existing conditions like asthma. A New Way to See an Old Problem In the 1930s, during the Dust Bowl years, severe drought and poor land management sent deadly “black blizzards” sweeping across the landscape. From Texas to Nebraska, wind stripped the soil of vital nutrients, generating massive dust storms that blocked out the Sun for days at a time and reached as far east as New York City – where the sky was dark enough for streetlights to switch on in the middle of the day. Some scientists claim that the threat of a “dust bowl 2.0” is imminent. Urban sprawl, industrial-scale agriculture, wildfires, drought, and a warming climate can all strip the land of vegetation and remove moisture from the soil. But it can be difficult to draw a hard line from these individual sources to their cumulative effects. “We have to continue developing our understanding of the consequences on our communities and come up with better ways to protect citizens,” Tong said. The next generation of FENGSHA will soon be integrated into an atmospheric model developed by NASA called the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART). Features of Earth’s surface like rocks, vegetation, and uneven soil all influence how much dust the wind can kick up. As a result, both the amount of dust in the air and the direction that windblown dust travels are often governed by what’s on the ground. GOCART’s ability to model these surface features will improve the accuracy of the forecasting system, said Barry Baker, an atmospheric physicist and lead of chemical modeling for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who led the research to operation transition of FENGSHA for NOAA’s oceanic and atmospheric research team. The ultimate goal, though, he added, is a geostationary satellite. Polar-orbiting satellites pass over each spot of the globe twice a day; a geostationary satellite could hover over the U.S. and monitor dust around the clock, tracking storms as they develop and grow. Each year, 182 million tons of dust escapes into the atmosphere from the Sahara. This image captured by the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-20 satellite captures the tremendous scale of African dust. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory. Despite its hazards, windblown dust is a fundamental feature of the atmosphere and a critical ingredient for life on Earth. Dust from the Saharan Desert carries life-sustaining nutrients across the Atlantic Ocean to the Amazon rainforest, roughly 1,600 miles away. It also feeds the vast algal ecosystems that teem near the surface of Earth’s oceans, which in turn support a diverse menagerie of marine life. Even if we could rid the planet of dust, we would not want to. “There’s no way to contain the situation; you can’t just eliminate the desert,” Tong said. “But what we can do is increase awareness and try to help those who are impacted most.” Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Related Terms Dust Storms Earth Natural Disasters Uncategorized Explore More 10 min read A Tale of Three Pollutants Freight, smoke, and ozone impact the health of both Chicago residents and communities downwind. A… Article 3 weeks ago 5 min read NASA Maps Air Quality in Ozone Hot Spot Scientists are flying an airborne campaign out of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia… Article 2 years ago View the full article

6 min read NASA Data Reveals Possible Reason Some Exoplanets Are Shrinking This artist’s concept shows what the sub-Neptune exoplanet TOI-421 b might look like. In a new study, scientists have found new evidence suggesting how these types of planets can lose their atmospheres. NASA, ESA, CSA, and D. Player (STScI) A new study could explain the ‘missing’ exoplanets between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. Some exoplanets seem to be losing their atmospheres and shrinking. In a new study using NASA’s retired Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers find evidence of a possible cause: The cores of these planets are pushing away their atmospheres from the inside out. Exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) come in a variety of sizes, from small, rocky planets to colossal gas giants. In the middle lie rocky super-Earths and larger sub-Neptunes with puffy atmospheres. But there’s a conspicuous absence – a “size gap” – of planets that fall between 1.5 to 2 times the size of Earth (or in between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes) that scientists have been working to better understand. This video explains the differences between the main types of exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech “Scientists have now confirmed the detection of over 5,000 exoplanets, but there are fewer planets than expected with a diameter between 1.5 and 2 times that of Earth,” said Caltech/IPAC research scientist Jessie Christiansen, science lead for the NASA Exoplanet Archive and lead author of the new study in The Astronomical Journal. “Exoplanet scientists have enough data now to say that this gap is not a fluke. There’s something going on that impedes planets from reaching and/or staying at this size.” Researchers think that this gap could be explained by certain sub-Neptunes losing their atmospheres over time. This loss would happen if the planet doesn’t have enough mass, and therefore gravitational force, to hold onto its atmosphere. So sub-Neptunes that aren’t massive enough would shrink to about the size of super-Earths, leaving the gap between the two sizes of planets. But exactly how these planets are losing their atmospheres has remained a mystery. Scientists have settled on two likely mechanisms: One is called core-powered mass loss; and the other, photoevaporation. The study has uncovered new evidence supporting the first. This infographic details the main types of exoplanets. Scientists have been working to better understand the “size gap,” or conspicuous absence, of planets that fall between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes.NASA/JPL-Caltech Solving the Mystery Core-powered mass loss occurs when radiation emitted from a planet’s hot core pushes the atmosphere away from the planet over time, “and that radiation is pushing on the atmosphere from underneath,” Christiansen said. The other leading explanation for the planetary gap, photoevaporation, happens when a planet’s atmosphere is essentially blown away by the hot radiation of its host star. In this scenario, “the high-energy radiation from the star is acting like a hair dryer on an ice cube,” she said. While photoevaporation is thought to occur during a planet’s first 100 million years, core-powered mass loss is thought to happen much later – closer to 1 billion years into a planet’s life. But with either mechanism, “if you don’t have enough mass, you can’t hold on, and you lose your atmosphere and shrink down,” Christiansen added. For this study, Chistiansen and her co-authors used data from NASA’s K2, an extended mission of the Kepler Space Telescope, to look at the star clusters Praesepe and Hyades, which are 600 million to 800 million years old. Because planets are generally thought to be the same age as their host star, the sub-Neptunes in this system would be past the age where photoevaporation could have taken place but not old enough to have experienced core-powered mass loss. So if the team saw that there were a lot of sub-Neptunes in Praesepe and Hyades (as compared to older stars in other clusters), they could conclude that photoevaporation hadn’t taken place. In that case, core-powered mass loss would be the most likely explanation of what happens to less massive sub-Neptunes over time. In observing Praesepe and Hyades, the researchers found that nearly 100% of stars in these clusters still have a sub-Neptune planet or planet candidate in their orbit. Judging from the size of these planets, the researchers think they have retained their atmospheres. This differs from the other, older stars observed by K2 (stars more than 800 million years old), only 25% of which have orbiting sub-Neptunes. The older age of these stars is closer to the timeframe in which core-powered mass loss is thought to take place. From these observations, the team concluded that photoevaporation could not have taken place in Praesepe and Hyades. If it had, it would have occurred hundreds of millions of years earlier, and these planets would have little, if any, atmosphere left. This leaves core-powered mass loss as the leading explanation for what likely happens to the atmospheres of these planets. Christiansen’s team spent more than five years building the planet candidate catalog necessary for the study. But the research is far from complete, she said, and it is possible that the current understanding of photoevaporation and/or core-powered mass loss could evolve. The findings will likely be put to the test by future studies before anyone can declare the mystery of this planetary gap solved once and for all. This study was conducted using the NASA Exoplanet Archive, which is operated by Caltech in Pasadena under contract with NASA as part of the Exoplanet Exploration Program, which is located at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. JPL is a division of Caltech. More About the Mission On Oct. 30, 2018, Kepler ran out of fuel and ended its mission after nine years, during which it discovered more than 2,600 confirmed planets around other stars along with thousands of additional candidates astronomers are working to confirm. NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, manages the Kepler and K2 missions for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. JPL managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation operated the flight system with support from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. For more information about the Kepler and K2 missions, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/kepler News Media Contacts Calla Cofield Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 626-808-2469 calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov Karen Fox / Alise Fisher NASA Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1257 / 202-358-2546 karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov Written by Chelsea Gohd 2023-169 Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Related Terms Exoplanet ScienceExoplanetsJet Propulsion LaboratoryKepler / K2Neptune-Like ExoplanetsSuper-Earth Exoplanets Explore More 5 min read Webb Follows Neon Signs Toward New Thinking on Planet Formation Article 2 hours ago 4 min read Trailblazing New Earth Satellite Put to Test in Preparation for Launch Article 24 hours ago 3 min read Time Is Running Out to Add Your Name to NASA’s Europa Clipper Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Scientists are following neon signs in a search for clues to one planetary system’s future and the past of another – our own solar system. Following up on a peculiar reading by NASA’s previous infrared flagship observatory, the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope, the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope detected distinct traces of the element neon in the dusty disk surrounding the young Sun-like star SZ Chamaelontis (SZ Cha). Image: SZ Chamaeleontis Protoplanetary Disk (Artist Concept ) In this artist concept, the young star SZ Chamaeleontis (SZ Cha) is surrounded by a disk of dust and gas with the potential to form a planetary system. Once our solar system looked something like this, before planets, moons, and asteroids formed. The raw ingredients, including those for life on Earth, were present in the Sun’s protoplanetary disk. SZ Cha emits radiation in multiple wavelengths which are evaporating the disk. Planets are in a race against time to form before the disk of material is evaporated completely. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed typical conditions in the disk – it was being bombarded primarily by X-rays. However, when NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope observed the disk in 2008, it saw a different scene, dominated by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light, indicated by the presence of a specific type of neon in the disk. These differences are significant because planets would have more time to form from a disk dominated by EUV. Astronomers are investigating the cause of the difference between Webb and Spitzer’s readings, and think it may be due to the presence (or not) of a strong wind that, when active, absorbs EUV, leaving X-rays to hit the disk.NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI) Differences in the neon readings between Spitzer and Webb point to a never-before-observed change in high-energy radiation that reaches the disk, which eventually causes it to evaporate, limiting the time planets have to form. “How did we get here? It really goes back to that big question, and SZ Cha is the same type of young star, a T-Tauri star, as our Sun was 4.5 billion years ago at the dawn of the solar system,” said astronomer Catherine Espaillat of Boston University, in Massachusetts, who led both the 2008 Spitzer observations and the newly published Webb results. “The raw materials for Earth, and eventually life, were present in the disk of material that surrounded the Sun after it formed, and so studying these other young systems is as close as we can get to going back in time to see how our own story began.” Scientists use neon as an indicator of how much, and what type, of radiation is hitting and eroding the disk around a star. When Spitzer observed SZ Cha in 2008, it saw an outlier, with neon readings unlike any other young T-Tauri disk. The difference was the detection of neon III, which is typically scarce in protoplanetary disks that are being pummeled by high-energy X-rays. This meant that the high-energy radiation in the SZ Cha disk was coming from ultraviolet (UV) light instead of X-rays. Besides being the lone oddball result in a sample of 50-60 young stellar disks, the UV vs. X-ray difference is significant for the lifetime of the disk and its potential planets. Image: Neon Gas In Protoplanetary Disk Contrasting data from NASA’s James Webb and Spitzer space telescopes show change in the disk surrounding the star SZ Chamaeleontis (SZ Cha) in just 15 years. In 2008, Spitzer’s detection of significant neon III made SZ Cha an outlier among similar young protoplanetary disks. However, when Webb followed up on SZ Cha in 2023, the ratio of neon II to III was within typical levels. All of this is significant because protoplanetary disks are the stuff of future planetary systems – and those potential planets are in a race against time. Astronomers use neon as an indicator of the dominant radiation hitting the disk and causing it to evaporate. When extreme ultraviolet light is dominant, there is more neon III. That is the unusual circumstance that Spitzer observed in 2008. Typically, a disk is dominated by X-ray radiation, which evaporates the disk more quickly, leaving planets less time to form. Researchers think the dramatic differences in neon detections are the result of a wind that, when present, absorbs ultraviolet light and leaves X-rays to pummel the disk. They will continue using Webb to find other examples of variability in disk conditions, working toward a better understanding of how planetary systems develop around Sun-like stars.NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI) “Planets are essentially in a race against time to form up in the disk before it evaporates,” explained Thanawuth Thanathibodee of Boston University, another astronomer on the research team. “In computer models of developing systems, extreme ultraviolet radiation allows for 1 million more years of planet formation than if the evaporation is predominately caused by X-rays.” So, SZ Cha was already quite the puzzle when Espaillat’s team returned to study it with Webb, only to find a new surprise: The unusual neon III signature had all but disappeared, indicating the typical dominance of X-ray radiation. The research team thinks that the differences in neon signatures in the SZ Cha system are the result of a variable wind that, when present, absorbs UV light and leaves X-rays to pummel the disk. Winds are common in a system with a newly formed, energetic star, the team says, but it is possible to catch the system during a quiet, wind-free period, which is what Spitzer happened to do. “Both the Spitzer and Webb data are excellent, so we knew this had to be something new we were observing in the SZ Cha system – a significant change in conditions in just 15 years,” added co-author Ardjan Sturm of Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands. Espaillat’s team is already planning more observations of SZ Cha with Webb, as well as other telescopes, to get to the bottom of its mysteries. “It will be important to study SZ Cha, and other young systems, in multiple wavelengths of light, like X-ray and visible light, to discover the true nature of this variability we’ve found,” said co-author Caeley Pittman of Boston University. “It’s possible that brief, quiet periods dominated by extreme UV radiation are common in many young planetary systems, but we just have not been able to catch them.” “Once again, the universe is showing us that none of its methods are as simple as we might like to make them. We need to rethink, re-observe, and gather more information. We’ll be following the neon signs,” said Espaillat. This research has been accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters. The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. Media Contacts Laura Betz – laura.e.betz@nasa.gov, Rob Gutro– rob.gutro@nasa.gov NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, , Greenbelt, Md. Leah Ramsay lramsay@stsci.edu , Christine Pulliam cpulliam@stsci.edu Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md. Downloads Download full resolution images for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute. Research results have been accepted for publication in Astropyisical Journal Letters. Related Information How do Planets Form? https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/faq/43/how-do-planets-form/ Planetary Systems – https://universe.nasa.gov/stars/planetary-systems/ Webb Mission – https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/ Webb News – https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/latestnews/ Webb Images – https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/multimedia/images/ Related For Kids Planet Formation in a Snap (video) SpacePlace About Our Solar System and Planets En Español Ciencia de la NASA NASA en español Space Place para niños Keep Exploring Related Topics James Webb Space Telescope Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the… Planets Our solar system can be divided into three regions: the inner solar system, the outer solar system, and the Kuiper… Exoplanets Overview Most of the exoplanets discovered so far are in a relatively small region of our galaxy, the Milky Way.… Stars Overview Stars are giant balls of hot gas – mostly hydrogen, with some helium and small amounts of other elements.… Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Editor Steve Sabia Contact Related Terms ExoplanetsGoddard Space Flight CenterJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)Planets View the full article

2 min read NASA’s X-59 Goes from Green to Red, White, and Blue Lockheed Martin NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft continues to make progress, most recently moving to the paint barn at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ facility in Palmdale, California. The X-59’s paint scheme will include a mainly white body, a NASA “sonic blue” underside, and red accents on the wings. The paint doesn’t just add cosmetic value. It also serves a purpose – the paint helps to protect the aircraft from moisture and corrosion and includes key safety markings to assist with ground and flight operations. The aircraft made the move to the paint barn on Nov. 14, 2023. Once it is painted, the team will take final measurements of its weight and exact shape to improve computer modeling. “We are incredibly excited to reach this step in the mission. When the X-59 emerges from the paint barn with fresh paint and livery, I expect the moment to take my breath away because I’ll see our vision coming to life,” said Cathy Bahm, the low boom flight demonstrator project manager. “The year ahead will be a big one for the X-59, and it will be thrilling for the outside of the aircraft to finally match the spectacular mission ahead.” The X-59 is an experimental aircraft designed to fly faster than the speed of sound while reducing the sound of the typical sonic boom to a sonic thump. The aircraft is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission. Through Quesst, NASA will fly the X-59 over several to-be-selected U.S. communities and gather data about people’s perceptions about the sound it makes. NASA will provide that data to regulators which could potentially adjust current rules that prohibit commercial supersonic flight over land. Text Credit: Anya Shah, NASA Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 4 min read Rocket Exhaust on the Moon: NASA Supercomputers Reveal Surface Effects Article 22 hours ago 5 min read Indigenous Student Brings Skills, Perspective to NASA Internship Article 1 day ago 5 min read Five Ways NASA Supercomputing Takes Missions from Concept to Reality Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans In Space Solar System Exploration Solar System Overview Our solar system has one star, eight planets, five officially recognized dwarf planets, at least 290 moons,… Explore NASA’s History Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Editor Lillian Gipson Contact Jim Bankejim.banke@nasa.gov Related Terms AeronauticsAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateAmes Research CenterArmstrong Flight Research CenterGlenn Research CenterIntegrated Aviation Systems ProgramLangley Research CenterLow Boom Flight DemonstratorQuesst (X-59)Quesst: The VehicleSupersonic Flight View the full article

4 min read Volunteers Worldwide Successfully Tracked NASA’s Artemis I Mission NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky In the year since NASA’s historic Artemis I mission successfully launched, the agency has been analyzing data from its approximately 25-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth, including data submitted from volunteers around the world as they tracked the uncrewed Orion spacecraft. The flight test, which launched on Nov. 16, 2022, atop the agency’s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, sent the Orion spacecraft nearly 270,000 miles beyond the Moon to test the integrated rocket and spacecraft for the first time before future crewed missions. NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program selected 18 participants to attempt to passively track the Orion spacecraft. The effort helped NASA gain a better understanding of external organizations’ tracking capabilities as it seeks to augment the agency’s capabilities for tracking future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Ten volunteers successfully tracked the Orion spacecraft during Artemis I’s uncrewed flight test to and from the Moon. The participants – ranging from international space agencies, academic institutions, commercial companies, nonprofits, and private citizens – attempted to receive Orion’s signal and use their respective ground antennas to passively track and measure changes in the radio waves transmitted by Orion. They took measurements during three phases of the mission: the spacecraft’s journey to the Moon, its orbit around the Moon, and the journey back to Earth. We have spent the last few months really understanding what the data can mean for future Artemis or lunar tracking efforts. John Hudiburg SCaN Mission Integration and Commitment Manager “We were happy with the engagement and have spent the last few months really understanding what the data can mean for future Artemis or lunar tracking efforts,” said John Hudiburg, SCaN Mission Integration and Commitment Manager. Data collected from the participants was provided to Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) analysts at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for evaluation. “The public and industry sector’s response was very exciting,” said Flight Dynamics Facility liaison Juan Crenshaw. “It shows the worldwide interest in supporting the next era of human exploration. The Flight Dynamics Facility analysts found that the data showed promising results, with many of the participants successfully tracking Orion during its journey.” Sam Schrieber, Director of Goddard’s Flight Dynamics Facility sits on console at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., for the Artemis I launch on November 16, 2023. NASA To process the data, analysts combined it with operational data from NASA’s Deep Space Network and generated standard datasets that were easier to analyze. Analysts then compared this data against the actual Artemis I tracking data collected by engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. This comparison allowed analysts to identify any errors or trends in the data. Some of the data submitted also revealed certain challenges. These challenges included differences in the implementation of Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) standards, formatting issues with the data, data quality issues. However, these challenges help NASA understand what information should be clarified for future tracking efforts. “NASA gained an understanding of the broader community’s capabilities, the participating organizations got to show what they can do in terms of tracking, and the Flight Dynamics Facility learned how to analyze unconventional external tracking data,” said Flight Dynamics Facility Deputy Operations Director Jason Laing. “Now, we can take the lessons learned and apply them to potential tracking opportunities for future missions.” SCaN serves as the program office for all of NASA’s space communications and navigation activities and supports the Artemis missions through both the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network. SCaN is a part of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. With Artemis missions, NASA is collaborating with commercial and international partners to explore the Moon for scientific discovery and technology advancement and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. The Moon missions will serve as training for how to live and work on another world as NASA prepares for human exploration of Mars. By Katrina Lee NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md Share Details Last Updated Nov 15, 2023 Editor Katherine S. Schauer Contact Katherine S. Schauerkatherine.s.schauer@nasa.gov Location Goddard Space Flight Center Related Terms ArtemisArtemis 1Communicating and Navigating with MissionsGeneralGoddard Space Flight CenterJohnson Space CenterSpace Communications & Navigation ProgramSpace Communications Technology Explore More 4 min read Working in Tandem: NASA’s Networks Empower Artemis I Article 1 year ago 3 min read Volunteers Worldwide to Track Lunar Journey of NASA’s Artemis I Mission Article 1 year ago 3 min read NASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas Article 11 months ago View the full article

NASA Explorers Season 6, Episode 1: Launch

NASA / Scott Battaion NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility C-130 aircraft, shown in this image from Oct. 28, 2023, delivered the agency’s Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO) payload to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This was the first mission to Antarctica for the plane. The GUSTO mission, launching aboard a football-stadium-sized, zero-pressure scientific balloon in December 2023, will fly an Ultralong-Duration Balloon (ULDB) carrying a telescope with carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen emission line detectors. This unique combination of data will supply the spectral and spatial resolution information needed for the mission team to untangle the complexities of the cosmic material found between stars, and map out large sections of the plane of our Milky Way galaxy and the nearby galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud. See more photos from the C-130’s voyage to Antarctica. Image Credit: NASA/Scott Battaion View the full article

The NISAR satellite enters the thermal vacuum chamber at an ISRO facility in Bengaluru on Oct. 19. It emerged three weeks later having met all requirements of its performance under extreme temperatures and space-like vacuum.ISRO During three weeks in a thermal vacuum chamber in Bengaluru, India, the joint NASA-ISRO satellite demonstrated its hardiness in a harsh, space-like environment. NISAR, the trailblazing Earth-observing radar satellite being developed by the United States and Indian space agencies, passed a major milestone on Nov. 13, emerging from a 21-day test aimed at evaluating its ability to function in the extreme temperatures and the vacuum of space. Short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, NISAR is the first space hardware collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, on an Earth-observing mission. Scheduled to launch in early 2024, the satellite will scan nearly all the planet’s land and ice twice every 12 days, monitoring the motion of those surfaces down to fractions of an inch. It will be able to observe movements from earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity and track dynamic changes in forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands. The thermal vacuum test occurred at ISRO’s Satellite Integration and Test Establishment in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru. It’s one of a battery of tests the satellite will face leading to launch. Other tests will ensure it can withstand the shaking, vibration, and jostling that it will encounter during launch. The NISAR satellite stayed in this ISRO antenna testing facility for 20 days in September as engineers evaluated the performance of its L- and S-band radar antennas. The foam spikes lining the walls, floor, and ceiling prevent radio waves from bouncing around the room and interfering with measurement.ISRO NISAR, partially covered in gold-hued thermal blanketing, entered the vacuum chamber on Oct. 19. Over the following week, engineers and technicians lowered the pressure to an infinitesimal fraction of the normal pressure at sea level. They also subjected the satellite to an 80-hour “cold soak” at 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius), followed by an equally lengthy “hot soak” at up to 122 F (50 C). This simulates the temperature swings the spacecraft will experience as it is exposed to sunlight and darkness in orbit. ISRO and JPL teams worked around the clock during the three-week period, testing the performance of the satellite’s thermal systems and its two primary science instrument systems – the L-band and S-band radars – under the most extreme temperature conditions they will experience in space. See a 3D Model of NISAR in Space This latest round of testing followed 20 days of testing in September in which engineers used ISRO’s compact antenna test facility to evaluate whether the radio signals from the two radar systems’ antennas passed requirements. Blue foam spikes lining the facility’s walls, floor, and ceiling prevent radio waves from bouncing around the room and interfering with measurement. With thermal vacuum and compact antenna tests successfully done, NISAR will soon be fitted with its solar panels and its nearly 40-foot (12-meter) radar antenna reflector, which resembles a snare drum and will unfold in space at the end of a 30-foot (9-meter) boom extending from the spacecraft. After it launches in early 2024, NISAR will scan nearly all of the planet’s land and ice twice every 12 days. In orbit, the satellite will extend its solar panels and nearly 40-foot (12-meter) radar antenna reflector, which resembles a snare drum and will unfold at the end of a 30-foot (9-meter) boom extending from the spacecraft.NASA-JPL/Caltech The satellite will undergo additional tests before being packed up and transported about 220 miles (350 kilometers) eastward to Satish Dhawan Space Centre, where it will be mounted atop ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II rocket and sent into low Earth orbit. More About the Mission NISAR is an equal collaboration between NASA and ISRO and marks the first time the two agencies have cooperated on hardware development for an Earth-observing mission. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, leads the U.S. component of the project and is providing the mission’s L-band SAR. NASA is also providing the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru, which leads the ISRO component of the mission, is providing the spacecraft bus, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations. ISRO’s Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad is providing the S-band SAR electronics. To learn more about NISAR, visit: https://nisar.jpl.nasa.gov/ NISAR Is Coming Together in India News Media Contacts Andrew Wang / Jane J. Lee Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 626-379-6874 / 818-354-0307 andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov / jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov 2023-167 Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Related Terms EarthEarth ScienceEarth Science DivisionEarth System Observatory (ESO)Jet Propulsion LaboratoryNISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) Explore More 3 min read Time Is Running Out to Add Your Name to NASA’s Europa Clipper Article 1 day ago 2 min read NASA’s Mars Fleet Will Still Conduct Science While Lying Low Article 4 days ago 5 min read NASA’s Juno Finds Jupiter’s Winds Penetrate in Cylindrical Layers Article 5 days ago View the full article

5 min read Joshua Abel: Delivering Roman’s Optical Telescope Assembly On Time, On Target Joshua Abel’s job as lead systems engineer for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s Optical Telescope Assembly is “to deliver the assembly to the Roman observatory on time, within budget, and meeting all the technical requirements.”Credit: NASA / Chris Gunn Name: Joshua Abel Title: Lead systems engineer for the Roman Space Optical Telescope Assembly Formal Job Classification: Flight Systems Design Engineer Organization: Instrument/Payload Systems Engineering Branch (Code 592), Mission Engineering and Systems Analysis Division, Engineering and Technology Directorate Editor’s note: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) includes the telescope’s primary and secondary mirrors, as well as supporting optics. The OTA enables the telescope to collect light that is then delivered to the observatory instruments. What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission? As the lead systems engineer for the Roman Space Telescope Optical Telescope Assembly, I am the government technical authority for procurement of the assembly, currently being manufactured by L3Harris Corporation in Rochester, New York. I am responsible for technical oversight of the vendor and verifying requirements. What was your path to becoming an aerospace engineer at Goddard? In 1999, I received a B.S. in interdisciplinary engineering focused on biomedical engineering from Purdue University. I began a master’s in biomedical engineering in bioheat transfer from Purdue University, but left in 2001 to work at Space Systems/Loral as a thermal systems engineer for satellites. In 2005, I came to Goddard to work on Hubble Servicing Mission 4 and other NASA satellite servicing projects as a thermal systems engineer. In 2018, I began supporting the New Opportunities Office as a systems engineer, later joining the Instrument/Payload Systems Engineering Branch in my current role. What are your goals as the lead systems engineer for the Roman Space Telescope Optical Telescope Assembly? My goal is to deliver the assembly to the Roman observatory on time, within budget, and meeting all the technical requirements. I lead a small team of subject matter experts to review the vendor’s plans and help resolve any technical issues. What is your management style? I have a broad engineering background which helps me ask the right questions. I like to build consensus within the team and consolidate everyone’s work into a cohesive and understandable package, communicating complex issues both within the team and to management. What makes Goddard special? Everyone here loves their work and is focused on mission success. Even when conversations are difficult and the stakes are high, the emotion comes from caring so deeply. As a systems engineer, my goal is to listen to all ideas and help find the best direction for the project. Systems engineer Joshua Abel is a team player at work, where he and his team review vendor plans and resolve technical issues for the Roman Space Telescope’s Optical Telescope Assembly, and at home, where he plays and coaches soccer.Courtesy of Joshua Abel What drives you? I try to do what is needed and contribute to the best of my ability. I am energized when someone says they need help, be it fixing things that are broken or putting new things together. I’m always excited to continue to learn from the our expert team members and vendors. I prefer working in a team. I like the dynamic environment of systems engineering, which is full of difficult problems that need a larger group to get enough perspectives to solve. My background and skill mix are a little bit of everything. I enjoy English, communication, math, and science. These interests help me see different sides of a problem. I like to take things that are slow and repetitive and make them faster and more interesting for myself and others. For example, I like to write Microsoft Excel programs to analyze thermal model data and other large databases to improve productivity. What advice would you give young engineers? Take whatever project you are working on and exceed expectations. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Early tasks for young engineers are not always the most exciting, but work to the best of your ability and try to learn as much as you can. Understand the job and try to see if it can be accomplished better or faster. If you approach every task with this attitude, the next opportunity will always come. Build your network of experts and use their lessons learned to help your project, always returning that help when you can. Oftentimes the most important piece of knowledge you’ll be able to provide your team is simply knowing who to call to for advice. All of NASA’s engineers are always willing to help. What are your hobbies? I play and coach soccer and I also play guitar with my three children around our fire pit. Like every engineer, I’m continually working on home improvement projects for my favorite manager, my wife, who is a thermal systems engineer at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage. By Elizabeth M. Jarrell NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Editor Jessica Evans Contact Rob Garnerrob.garner@nasa.gov Location Goddard Space Flight Center Related Terms Goddard Space Flight CenterNancy Grace Roman Space TelescopePeople of Goddard Explore More 6 min read Lynn Bassford Prioritizes Learning as a Hubble Mission Manager Lynn Bassford levels decades of experience and a desire for self-growth as she helps lead… Article 4 weeks ago 6 min read Glenn Bazemore: Professional Problem-Solver Glenn Bazemore is a mechanical engineer working on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Team.… Article 3 months ago 5 min read Melissa Harris: Propelling Space Telescopes Toward Success Melissa Harris is an engineer working on the propulsion system for the Nancy Grace Roman… Article 5 months ago View the full article

Desde entrevistas con astronautas e ingenieros hasta historias que te transportan a través de la galaxia, los podcasts de la NASA te permiten experimentar la emoción de la exploración espacial sin tener que salir de la Tierra.NASA Read this release in English here. La NASA publicó este martes su colección de pódcasts originales en Spotify, brindando a más gente acceso a conversaciones en profundidad e historias, así como contenidos en español, mientras la agencia trabaja para explorar lo desconocido en el aire y el espacio. Los pódcasts de la agencia están ahora disponibles sin publicidad y sin coste alguno para los 574 millones de usuarios de Spotify. “Contar la historia de los objetivos y misiones de la NASA inspira al mundo a soñar a lo grande y alcanzar las estrellas, especialmente a los miembros de la Generación Artemis. Estamos encantados de ampliar nuestro alcance mediante la presencia de pódcasts de la NASA en Spotify por primera vez”, dijo Marc Etkind, administrador asociado de la Oficina de Comunicaciones de la sede de la agencia en Washington. La NASA ahora ofrece cinco pódcasts en Spotify, incluyendo: Universo curioso de la NASA, el primer podcast en español de la agencia: Bienvenidos a Universo curioso de la NASA, en donde te invitamos a explorar el cosmos en tu idioma. En este pódcast, ¡la NASA es tu guía turística a las estrellas! NASA’s Curious Universe (en inglés): Nuestro universo es un lugar salvaje y maravilloso. Únete a los astronautas, científicos e ingenieros de la NASA en una nueva aventura en cada episodio. ¡Todo lo que necesitas es tu curiosidad! Exploradores novatos del espacio son bienvenidos. Houston We Have a Podcast (en inglés): Desde la órbita terrestre hasta la Luna y Marte, explora cada semana el mundo de los vuelos espaciales tripulados con la NASA en el pódcast oficial del Centro Espacial Johnson de Houston. On a Mission (en inglés): Un viaje a las estrellas no empieza en la plataforma de lanzamiento. Descubre nuevos mundos a través de historias épicas contadas por científicos en misiones al espacio exterior. Small Steps Giant Leaps (en inglés): El personal técnico de la NASA puso botas en la Luna, huellas de neumáticos en Marte y la primera nave espacial reutilizable en órbita alrededor de la Tierra. Descubre lo que está por venir mientras construyen misiones que redefinen el futuro con asombrosos descubrimientos y notables innovaciones. En los próximos meses, la NASA tiene previsto incluir más productos de audio en Spotify, como sonificaciones que transforman datos en sonido y grabaciones de nuestro sistema solar y más allá. “Mediante nuestros pódcasts, compartimos la ciencia e historias espaciales de una manera que solo la NASA puede hacer, aprovechando el acceso único que tiene la agencia a entrevistas con expertos, lugares dinámicos y descubrimientos alucinantes”, dijo Katie Konans, líder del programa de audio del contrato SESDA de ADNET Systems con la NASA. “Estamos encantados de llevar la programación de la NASA a Spotify, y estamos deseando conectar con más oyentes que sienten curiosidad por el universo que les rodea”. Además de en Spotify, los usuarios pueden encontrar pódcasts de la NASA en Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts y Soundcloud. Desde entrevistas de larga duración con astronautas e ingenieros de la NASA hasta historias que llevan al público de viaje por la galaxia, la oferta de audio de la NASA permite experimentar la emoción de la exploración espacial sin tener que salir de la Tierra. Descubre todos los pódcasts de la NASA en: https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/ -fin- Abbey Donaldson / María José Viñas Sede, Washington 202-358-1600 / 240-458-0248 abbey.a.donaldson@nasa.gov / maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov Katie Konans Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard, Greenbelt, Md. katie.konans@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Location NASA Headquarters Related Terms AudioNASA en españolPodcasts View the full article

This June 2021 aerial photograph shows the coastal launch range at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The Atlantic Ocean is at the right side of this image, and nearby Chincoteague and Assateague islands are at upper left and right, respectively. A subset of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops is the agency’s only owned-and-operated launch range. Shore replenishment and elevated infrastructure at the range are incorporated into Goddard’s recently approved master plan.courtesy Patrick J. Hendrickson; used with permission Two sounding rockets are scheduled to launch for the Department of Defense from NASA’s launch range at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The launch window is Nov. 15-17, 2023. No launch times will be provided. No real-time launch status updates will be available. The launches will not be livestreamed. The rocket launches are expected to be visible from the Chesapeake Bay region. Share Details Last Updated Nov 13, 2023 Editor Amy L. Barra Contact Amy L. Barraamy.l.barra@nasa.gov Location Wallops Flight Facility Related Terms Sounding RocketsWallops Flight Facility Explore More 4 min read NASA C-130 Makes First-Ever Flight to Antarctica for GUSTO Balloon Mission Article 2 weeks ago 6 min read NASA Rocket to See Sizzling Edge of Star-Forming Supernova UPDATE: The INFUSE payload launched on Sunday, Oct. 29th, from White Sands Missile Range at… Article 3 weeks ago 3 min read NASA Retires UHF SmallSat Tracking Site Ops at Wallops Article 3 weeks ago View the full article

4 min read Rocket Exhaust on the Moon: NASA Supercomputers Reveal Surface Effects Researchers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama produced a simulation of the Apollo 12 lander engine plumes interacting with the lunar surface. This animation depicts the last half-minute of descent before engine cut-off, showing the predicted forces exerted by plumes on a flat computational surface. Known as shear stress, this is the amount of lateral, or sideways, force applied over a set area, and it is the leading cause of erosion as fluids flow across a surface. Here, the fluctuating radial patterns show the intensity of predicted shear stress. Lower shear stress is dark purple, and higher shear stress is yellow. Patrick Moran, NASA Ames Research Center/Andrew Weaver, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Through Artemis, NASA plans to explore more of the Moon than ever before with human and robotic missions on the lunar surface. Because future landers will be larger and equipped with more powerful engines than the Apollo landers, mission risks associated with their operation during landing and liftoff is significantly greater. With the agency’s goal to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, mission planners must understand how future landers interact with the lunar surface as they touch down in unexplored moonscapes. Landing on the Moon is tricky. When missions fly crew and payloads to the lunar surface, spacecraft control their descent by firing rocket engines to counteract the Moon’s gravitational pull. This happens in an extreme environment that’s hard to replicate and test on Earth, namely, a combination of low gravity, no atmosphere, and the unique properties of lunar regolith – the layer of fine, loose dust and rock on the Moon’s surface. Each time a spacecraft lands or lifts off, its engines blast supersonic plumes of hot gas toward the surface and the intense forces kick up dust and eject rocks or other debris at high speeds. This can cause hazards like visual obstructions and dust clouds that can interfere with navigation and science instrumentation ­or cause damage to the lander and other nearby hardware and structures. Additionally, the plumes can erode the surface under the lander. Although craters were not formed for Apollo-scale landers, it is unknown how much the larger landers being planned for upcoming Artemis missions will erode the surface and whether they will rapidly cause cratering in the landing zone, posing a risk to the lander’s stability and astronauts aboard. To improve its understanding of plume-surface interactions (PSI), researchers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have developed new software tools to predict PSI environments for NASA projects and missions, including the Human Landing System, Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, and future Mars landers. These tools are already being used to predict cratering and visual obscuration on upcoming lunar missions and are helping NASA minimize risks to spacecraft and crew during future landed missions. The team at NASA Marshall recently produced a simulation of the Apollo 12 lander engine plumes interacting with the surface and the predicted erosion that closely matched what happened during landing. This animation depicts the last half-minute of descent before engine cut-off, showing the predicted forces exerted by plumes on a flat computational surface. Known as shear stress, this is the amount of lateral, or sideways, force applied over a set area, and it is the leading cause of erosion as fluids flow across a surface. Here, the fluctuating radial patterns show the intensity of predicted shear stress. Lower shear stress is dark purple, and higher shear stress is yellow. These simulations were run on the Pleaides supercomputer at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley over several weeks of runtime, generating terabytes of data. NASA is showcasing 42 of the agency’s computational achievements at SC23, the international supercomputing conference, Nov. 12-17, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. For more technical information, visit: ​ https://www.nas.nasa.gov/sc23. Used for this research, the framework for the Descent Interpolated Gas Granular Erosion Model (DIGGEM) was funded through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) in Washington, and by the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studiesproject that is managed by NASA’s Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia also funded by STMD. The Loci/CHEM+DIGGEM code was further refined through direct support for flight projects within the Human Landing System program funded by NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) in Washington as well as the Strategy and Architecture Office in ESDMD. For news media: Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the NASA Ames newsroom. Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Related Terms Ames Research CenterGeneral Explore More 5 min read Five Ways NASA Supercomputing Takes Missions from Concept to Reality Article 19 hours ago 6 min read NASA Ames Astrogram – November/December 2023 Article 5 days ago 1 min read The Benefits of Semiconductor Manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for Terrestrial Use Article 5 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System /wp-content/plugins/nasa-blocks/assets/images/media/media-example-01.jpgThis landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScIView the full article

From interviews with astronauts and engineers to stories that take you on a tour of the galaxy, NASA’s podcasts let you experience the thrill of space exploration without ever leaving Earth.NASA NASA released its collection of original podcasts on Spotify Tuesday, giving more people access to in-depth conversations, stories, and Spanish-language content, as the agency works to explore the unknown in air and space. The agency’s podcasts are available ad-free, and without cost, to Spotify’s audience of 574 million users. “Telling the story of NASA’s goals and missions inspires the world to dream big and reach for the stars, especially members of the Artemis Generation. We’re excited to expand our reach, bringing NASA podcasts to Spotify for the first time,” said Marc Etkind, associate administrator, Office of Communications at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington. NASA now offers five podcasts on Spotify, including: NASA’s Curious Universe Our universe is a wild and wonderful place. Join NASA astronauts, scientists, and engineers on a new adventure each episode — all you need is your curiosity! First time space explorers welcome. Houston We Have a Podcast From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. On a Mission A journey to the stars doesn’t just begin at the launchpad. Discover new worlds through epic stories told by scientists on missions to outer space. Small Steps Giant Leaps NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations. Universo curioso de la NASA Bienvenidos a Universo curioso de la NASA, en donde te invitamos a explorar el cosmos en tu idioma. En este pódcast, ¡la NASA es tu guía turística a las estrellas! In the coming months, NASA plans to offer more audio-first products on Spotify, including sonifications that translate data into sound and recordings from our solar system and beyond. “Through our podcasts, we share science and space storytelling in a way that only NASA can, leveraging the agency’s unique access to expert interviewees, dynamic locations, and mind-blowing discoveries,” said Katie Konans, audio program lead, ADNET Systems’ SESDA contract with NASA. “We are thrilled to bring NASA’s slate to Spotify, and we’re looking forward to connecting with more listeners who are curious about the universe around them.” In addition to Spotify, users may find NASA podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Soundcloud. From long-form interviews with NASA astronauts and engineers to stories that take audiences on a tour of the galaxy, NASA’s audio offerings let anyone experience the thrill of space exploration without leaving Earth. Discover all of NASA’s podcasts at: https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/ -end- Abbey Donaldson Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 abbey.a.donaldson@nasa.gov Katie Konans Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. katie.konans@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Location NASA Headquarters Related Terms AudioGoddard Space Flight CenterPodcasts View the full article

9 Min Read Lagniappe Explore the November 2023 edition to learn about the framework for the future of NASA Stennis, the first RS-25 hot fire of the ongoing certification series, Stennis Day in the Bay, and much more! 9 min read Lagniappe Explore the November 2023 edition featuring: NASA Stennis Compiles Framework for the Future to Guide Center Forward NASA Conducts 1st Hot Fire of New RS-25 Certification Test Series NASA ASTRO CAMP® Sets New Record While Providing STEM Opportunities Gator Speaks Gator Speaks Thank you very much! You may be thinking, ‘Why is Gator telling me thanks?’ The month of November naturally brings a sense of gratitude with it, and I feel the joy by merely expressing thankfulness to others, so I wanted to thank you for reading this month’s portion of Gator Speaks. Whether surrounded by the love and laughter of cherished family or the comforts of a shared experience with valued friends, November warms the heart like indulging in a fresh slice of pumpkin pie (something else to be thankful for!). Just like it is easy to eat a slice or three of pumpkin pie, it is easy to find reasons to be thankful at NASA Stennis. Nov. 11 was Veterans Day. There are many NASA employees at NASA Stennis who have served in various military branches and are now contributing their talents as part of our skilled and diverse workforce. One such veteran working at NASA Stennis is featured this month. In addition to Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the Stennis Day in the Bay event highlighted how thankful NASA Stennis is for the great community support and relationships NASA Stennis enjoys. We are all better together! Nov. 14 is the 90th birthday for the great, NASA astronaut Fred Haise. His name graces the test stand where RS-25 engine testing is underway for future Artemis missions. Haise also is a veteran, as the Korean War put him on a path to joining the military and ultimately becoming a NASA astronaut. Read how that came to pass here. Nov. 23 is Thanksgiving. How can one not be thankful for the benefits NASA provides to humanity? From exploring the Moon and Mars, to increasing access to space for all, to growing new commercial markets, space exploration helps us gain a new perspective. And just like exploring space helps us gain a new perspective, so, too, does taking inventory of all we have to be thankful for throughout the month of November. NASA Stennis Top News NASA Stennis Compiles Framework for the Future to Guide Center Forward NASA’s Stennis Space Center began with a single mission – to test Apollo rocket stages to carry humans to the Moon. Moving forward, the site has a renewed vision – to evolve as a unique, multifaceted aerospace and technology hub. Read More About NASA Stennis Strategic Plan NASA Conducts 1st Hot Fire of New RS-25 Certification Test Series NASA conducted the first hot fire of a new RS-25 test series Oct. 17, beginning the final round of certification testing ahead of production of an updated set of the engines for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Read More About the Test Series NASA ASTRO CAMP® Sets New Record While Providing STEM Opportunities Another year equals another record as NASA’s ASTRO CAMP® initiative reached across the nation and beyond to help a broad spectrum of students learn about NASA and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Read More About NASA's ASTRO CAMP® Record Year NASA Stennis Participates in Stennis Day in the Bay Activities NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis NASA employees joined some of the almost 40 federal, state, academic, private, and technology-based tenants that are part of the NASA Stennis federal city for Stennis Day in the Bay on Nov. 11 at the historic Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The event celebrated and recognized all that NASA and resident agencies at NASA Stennis do to create jobs and opportunities for the Gulf Coast. It also paid special tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi’s own Fred Haise prior to his 90th birthday on Nov. 14.NASA/Stennis Center Activities NASA Stennis Deputy Director Receives Distinguished Award John Bailey, NASA Stennis Deputy DirectorNASA/Stennis NASA Stennis Deputy Director John Bailey was among 232 federal employees to receive a 2023 Presidential Rank Award for exceptional leadership, accomplishments, and service over an extended period of time. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the awards, one of the most prestigious in career civil service, Nov. 2. The president’s 2023 list included distinguished and meritorious award recipients. Bailey was one of just 14 NASA employees to receive a Presidential Meritorious Award. Bailey joined the NASA Stennis team in 1998 after working as a Department of Defense civil servant. He served in various positions at the center prior to being named director of the NASA Stennis Engineering and Test Directorate in 2015. Bailey was selected as NASA associate director in 2018, before assuming his current role in January 2021. “Public servants are unsung heroes – working to better the lives of families across America,” White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said in a release announcing the awards. “They do everything from making sure you get your tax refund to helping you set up your small business to keeping us all safe at home. They get things done with grace and skill and first and foremost to serve the American people. The president, the vice president, and everyone across the Biden-Harris Administration are grateful for their dedication and their service.” OPM Director Kiran Ahuja added, “Every day, tens of thousands of dedicated federal employees are solving the nation’s most pressing challenges and developing new technologies to improve the lives of millions. The Presidential Rank Awards highlight public servants who exemplify integrity, exceptional leadership, and a relentless commitment to the American people. Congratulations to all the awardees. The federal government and the American people are safer and better off thanks to your hard work and dedication.” The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 established the Presidential Rank Awards Program to recognize a select group of career members of senior leaders for exceptional performance. For a complete list of 2023 recipients, visit here. NASA Stennis Employee named NASA Energy Action Hero Energy Action Spotlight: Damon SaulNASA Damon Saul, lead operator of NASA’s Stennis Space Center’s Energy Management Control System, was honored as a NASA energy action hero in October. Each October, the federal government celebrates Energy Action Month to honor the work of the federal workforce to achieve mission success while also cutting energy waste, reducing costs, optimizing performance, and advancing America’s progress toward energy independence, resilience, and security. NASA has made significant strides in its Energy and Water Management Program, including Reducing total energy consumption by 19% and greenhouse gas emissions 47% since FY 2008 Increasing our consumption of carbon pollution-free electricity to 41% of total electricity Reducing facility water intensity by 33% since FY 2007 None of this would be possible without the efforts of hundreds of NASA personnel, many of whom are never recognized for their contributions. Since 2021, NASA has recognized some of the unsung heroes through the Energy Action Spotlights. NASA Chief Technologist Visits NASA Stennis NASA Chief Technologist A.C. Charania (third from right) stands with NASA Stennis leaders during his first visit onsite early this month since assuming his new agency role in January. As chief technologist, Charania serves as the NASA administrator’s principal advisor on technology policy and programs, leads technology innovation at the agency, and works to align NASA’s agencywide technology investments with mission needs across its six mission directorates. Charania also oversees technology collaboration with other federal agencies and the private sector while coordinating with external stakeholders. During the two-day visit to NASA Stennis on Nov. 1-2, Charania, along with Charity Weeden, associate administrator for the NASA Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, and Deputy Associate Administrator Ellen Gertson, learned about the NASA Stennis federal city, home to about 40 companies, agencies, and organizations. On Nov. 1, the group visited with officials from federal city tenants Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, Lockheed-Martin, Rolls-Royce, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Evolution Space. On Nov. 2, the group learned about NASA Stennis work with the commercial aerospace companies, autonomous systems lab, and RS-25 testing, as well as site preparations for Green Run testing the Exploration Upper Stage. Shown above (l to r) are NASA Stennis Chief Technologist Anne Peek, NASA Stennis Deputy Director John Bailey, Gertsen, Charania, NASA Stennis Director Rick Gilbrech, and NASA Stennis Strategic Business Officer Manager Duane Armstrong.NASA/Stennis NASA Stennis Hosts Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (r) talks with NASA Stennis Deputy Director John Bailey (l) during a visit to the south Mississippi site. During the visit, Bailey and other NASA Stennis leaders briefed Hosemann on site business opportunities and the potential for future growth. They also provided information about the center’s primary lines of business – including propulsion testing, autonomous systems, and range operations – and commercial aerospace and technology companies currently operating at NASA Stennis.NASA/Stennis Mississippi Development Authority Visits NASA Stennis Members of the Mississippi Development Authority, including site selectors from across the country, stand in front of the Thad Cochran Test Stand during their Gulf Coast Road Trip stop at NASA Stennis on Nov. 1. The road trip was designed to introduce developers to the Gulf Coast region and provide information about doing business in Mississippi, including at NASA Stennis.NASA/Stennis LSU Aeronautics Organization Visits NASA Stennis Members of the Louisiana State University branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) stand at the Thad Cochran Test Stand, site of future Green Run testing for NASA’s Exploration Upper Stage, during a visit to NASA Stennis on Nov. 6. During the visit, branch members learned about propulsion testing activity at NASA Stennis and received guidance on how to find a career in the aerospace industry. The LSU branch of AIAA is dedicated to research and development of aerospace technology and careers.NASA/Stennis Stennis Employees Enjoy Family Day at INFINITY The first Saturday in November brought Stennis Space Center employees and family members to INFINITY Science Center for a day of fun-filled activities during the 2023 Stennis Family Day event. INFINITY, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, displays decades of NASA history and is where visitors enjoy a mix of environmental sciences, space, and hands-on experiential programming that seeks to inspire minds and spark imaginations.NASA/Danny Nowlin The first Saturday in November brought Stennis Space Center employees and family members to INFINITY Science Center for a day of fun-filled activities during the 2023 Stennis Family Day event. INFINITY, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, displays decades of NASA history and is where visitors enjoy a mix of environmental sciences, space, and hands-on experiential programming that seeks to inspire minds and spark imaginations.NASA/Danny Nowlin The first Saturday in November brought Stennis Space Center employees and family members to INFINITY Science Center for a day of fun-filled activities during the 2023 Stennis Family Day event. INFINITY, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, displays decades of NASA history and is where visitors enjoy a mix of environmental sciences, space, and hands-on experiential programming that seeks to inspire minds and spark imaginations.NASA/Danny Nowlin The first Saturday in November brought Stennis Space Center employees and family members to INFINITY Science Center for a day of fun-filled activities during the 2023 Stennis Family Day event. INFINITY, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, displays decades of NASA history and is where visitors enjoy a mix of environmental sciences, space, and hands-on experiential programming that seeks to inspire minds and spark imaginations.NASA/Danny Nowlin The first Saturday in November brought Stennis Space Center employees and family members to INFINITY Science Center for a day of fun-filled activities during the 2023 Stennis Family Day event. INFINITY, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, displays decades of NASA history and is where visitors enjoy a mix of environmental sciences, space, and hands-on experiential programming that seeks to inspire minds and spark imaginations.NASA/Danny Nowlin The first Saturday in November brought Stennis Space Center employees and family members to INFINITY Science Center for a day of fun-filled activities during the 2023 Stennis Family Day event. INFINITY, the official visitor center of NASA Stennis, displays decades of NASA history and is where visitors enjoy a mix of environmental sciences, space, and hands-on experiential programming that seeks to inspire minds and spark imaginations.NASA/Danny Nowlin NASA in the News First Artemis Crew Trains for Mission Around Moon – NASA NASA’s Webb Discovers New Feature in Jupiter’s Atmosphere – NASA Look Up: New NASA App Helps Stargazers Spot Space Station – NASA NASA’s Bennu Asteroid Sample Contains Carbon, Water – NASA Commander Callie Continues Moon Mission in NASA’s New Graphic Novel – NASA Calling all Eclipse Enthusiasts: Become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador! – NASA Science NASA Seeks Students to Imagine Nuclear Powered Space Missions – NASA Employee Profile Van Ward leads center operations for security, emergency management, and fire protection at NASA Stennis. NASA/Danny Nowlin It was “many Moons ago,” but Van Ward distinctly remembers the presentation a NASA speaker gave to his third-grade class in Union, Mississippi. Read More About Van Ward Looking Back An image shows former NASA astronaut Fred Haise during the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission on April 20, 2010. NASA/Stennis Former NASA Astronaut Haise Turns 90 Former NASA astronaut and Biloxi, Mississippi native, Fred Haise, celebrated his 90th birthday – and lifetime of accomplishments – on Nov. 14. Haise initially pursued a career in journalism before serving in the Korean War as a Marine Corps fighter pilot. After the war, he flew as a research pilot. One of 19 individuals selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in April 1966, Haise was the highest-scoring applicant of Astronaut Group 5. Following training, Haise served as a backup crew member for the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions to the Moon before his chance to fly in space came on the Apollo 13 mission as lunar module pilot with commander Jim Lovell and command module pilot Jack Swigert. He was slated to become the sixth person to walk on the lunar surface. However, Haise never had his chance to step onto the Moon. Just 56 hours into the Apollo 13 mission, an oxygen tank explosion created a crisis that held the world spellbound for days. Haise was in the lunar module at the time of the incident; by the time he reached his command module seat, oxygen tank No. 2 was gone. The world watched as the crew endured a perilous trip around the Moon and back to Earth in the crippled spacecraft. The mission is well documented in print and onscreen. In total, Haise logged 142 hours and 54 minutes in space on the Apollo 13 mission. The Mississippi native remained a NASA astronaut for nine more years and was slated to serve as commander of the Apollo 19 mission to the Moon before it was canceled by the end of the Apollo Program. Haise was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. Twelve years later, NASA presented him with the agency’s Ambassador of Exploration Award in recognition of his role as a spokesperson for space. Haise presented the encased Moon rock he received for the recognition to his former Biloxi elementary school – Goren Elementary – for display to students. Since then, he has remained a space spokesperson and a staunch supporter of NASA’s Stennis Space Center and INFINITY Science Center. “I think aviation, space, and science museums are important for the knowledge imparted to young and old,” he said of the Mississippi science facility that serves as the official visitor center of NASA Stennis. “For the young, it is possible the interesting things they see and learn about will inspire them to make the most of the talent with which they are blessed. INFINITY also serves as a beacon along the highway into Mississippi to encourage people to visit and stay awhile. It gives them a view of the incredible work being done at Stennis Space Center. Through the hands-on exhibits and special programs, education is provided to many visiting young people.” Happy birthday to Mississippi’s own Fred Haise! Additional Resources Small Steps, Giant Leaps Podcast with Christine Powell NASA Stennis and NASA Shared Services Center Proudly Celebrate Native American/Alaska Native Heritage Month Native American Heritage Month – NASA Artemis Artemis Resources – NASA Stennis NASA’s Moon to Mars Strategy NASA’s Stennis Space Center – Moving Forward NASA Stennis – Avanzando Subscription Info Lagniappe is published monthly by the Office of Communications at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The NASA Stennis office may be contacted by at 228-688-3333 (phone); ssc-office-of-communications@mail.nasa.gov (email); or NASA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS, Attn: LAGNIAPPE, Mail code IA00, Building 1111 Room 173, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (mail). The Lagniappe staff includes: Managing Editor Lacy Thompson, Editor Bo Black, and photographer Danny Nowlin. To subscribe to the monthly publication, please email the following to ssc-office-of-communications@mail.nasa.gov – name, location (city/state), email address. 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This animation shows a possible layout of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s High Latitude Time-Domain Survey tiling pattern. The observing program will be designed by a community process, but it is expected to cover five square degrees – a region of the sky as large as 25 full moons – and pierce far into space, back to when the universe was about 500 million years old, less than 4 percent of its current age of 13.8 billion years.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will pair space-based observations with a broad field of view to unveil the dynamic cosmos in ways that have never been possible before. “Roman will work in tandem with NASA observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory, which are designed to zoom in on rare transient objects once they’ve been identified, but seldom if ever discover them,” said Julie McEnery, Roman’s senior project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Roman’s much larger field of view will reveal many such objects that were previously unknown. And since we’ve never had an observatory like this scanning the cosmos before, we could even find entirely new classes of objects and events.” The mission’s High Latitude Time-Domain Survey is well-designed to discover a particular type of exploding star that astronomers can use to trace the evolution of the universe and probe possible explanations for its accelerated expansion. And since this survey will repeatedly observe the same large vista of space, scientists will also see sporadic events like stellar corpses colliding and stars being swept into black holes. The survey will look beyond our galaxy to observe the same patch of sky approximately every five days for two years. Stitching these observations together like stop-motion animation will create movies that will reveal a wealth of transient events. NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will see thousands of exploding stars called supernovae across vast stretches of time and space. One kind, called type Ia, serves as “standard candles” because they peak at about the same intrinsic brightness. Scientists can use them to measure distances and trace cosmic expansion over time, providing a window onto the universe’s distant past. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab Retreating Stellar Sparks Astronomers will hunt through all this data for a special kind of exploding star called type Ia supernovae. These phenomena originate from certain binary star systems that contain at least one white dwarf – the small, hot core remnant of a Sun-like star. In some cases, the dwarf may siphon material from its companion. This triggers a runaway nuclear reaction that ultimately detonates the thief. Astronomers have also found evidence supporting another scenario, involving two white dwarfs that spiral toward each other until they merge. If their combined mass is high enough, they, too, may produce a type Ia supernova. Since these explosions each peak at a similar, known intrinsic brightness, astronomers can use them to determine how far away they are by simply measuring how bright they appear. Astronomers will use Roman to study the spectrum of light from these supernovae to find out how rapidly they appear to be moving away from us due to the expansion of space. By comparing how fast type Ia supernovae at different distances are receding, scientists will trace cosmic expansion over time. This will help us understand whether and how dark energy – the unexplained pressure thought to be speeding up the universe’s expansion – has changed throughout time. Using these and other Roman measurements should also help clear up mismatched measurements of the Hubble constant, which is the universe’s current expansion rate. “Roman will paint a more vivid picture of our universe’s past and present, giving us new clues about its possible fate,” said Rebekah Hounsell, a research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Goddard, who is exploring ways to optimize Roman’s High Latitude Time-Domain Survey. “Its findings could reshape our understanding of the cosmos.” This time-lapse of supernova 2018gv in galaxy NGC 2525 compresses nearly one-year of observations from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope into a few seconds. The supernova initially outshines the brightest stars in the galaxy before fading into obscurity. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, currently under construction, could capture such events from start to finish and alert other telescopes, such as the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, for even more detailed observations. Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Riess (STScI/JHU) and the SH0ES team; acknowledgment: M. Zamani (ESA/Hubble) Fleeting Cosmic Wonders Because of the way this survey will observe the cosmos, it will also spot other rare phenomena. Through Roman, we will witness the birth of new black holes that form when neutron stars – the cores of exploded stars that weren’t quite massive enough to collapse to form black holes on their own – merge. These titanic events create ripples in the fabric of space-time and brilliant kilonova explosions. The mission is also expected to reveal several dozen tidal disruption events, which happen when a star venturing too close to a black hole is shredded by the black hole’s extreme gravity. The stellar shrapnel generates a huge amount of light as it speeds toward the black hole. Roman will pick up these flares of energy to learn how black holes affect their surroundings. The survey will also allow astronomers to explore variable objects, like active galaxies whose cores each host an extremely bright quasar. A quasar is a brilliant beacon of intense light powered by a supermassive black hole. The black hole voraciously feeds on infalling matter that unleashes a torrent of radiation. Roman’s steady gaze will help astronomers study how and why these outbursts fluctuate in brightness. And by finding hundreds of faint, faraway quasars, Roman will also allow scientists to probe the period of reionization. During this cosmic epoch, scientists think intense ultraviolet light from quasars stripped electrons from atoms and turned them into ions. This transition ushered in “cosmic dawn,” as the universe went from being mostly opaque to transparent, allowing visible and ultraviolet light to travel freely. “This Roman survey will provide a treasure trove of data for astronomers to comb through, enabling more open-ended cosmic exploration than is typically possible,” McEnery said. “We may serendipitously discover entirely new things we don’t yet know to look for.” The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech/IPAC in Southern California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation in Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Florida; and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California. Download high-resolution video and images from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio By Ashley Balzer NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Media contact: Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-1940 Explore More 6 min read Why NASA’s Roman Mission Will Study Milky Way’s Flickering Lights Article 3 weeks ago 6 min read NASA’s Roman Mission Will Help Empower a New Era of Cosmological Discovery Article 2 years ago 7 min read NASA’s Roman Mission to Probe Cosmic Secrets Using Exploding Stars Article 2 years ago Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Related Terms Active GalaxiesAstrophysicsBlack HolesDark Matter & Dark EnergyGalaxiesGalaxies, Stars, & Black Holes ResearchGoddard Space Flight CenterMissionsNancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeOrigin & Evolution of the UniverseScience & ResearchStarsSupernovaeThe Universe 301-286-1940 View the full article

4 min read Webb Telescope’s Marcia Rieke Awarded Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal Dr. Marcia Rieke, principal investigator for the Near-Infrared Camera on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s (ASP) 2023 recipient of its most prestigious award. ASP’s Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal honors Rieke, a Regents Professor of astronomy and Elizabeth Roemer Endowed Chair, Steward Observatory, at the University of Arizona. Rieke’s award and achievements will be recognized at the ASP Awards Gala on Saturday, Nov. 11, in Redwood City, California. Marcia Rieke, Regents’ Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona and principal investigator for the near-infrared camera on the James Webb Space Telescope.Credit: George Rieke / UAZ Groundbreaking Contributions Rieke’s research has focused on infrared observations of the center of the Milky Way and high redshift galaxies in the early universe. Rieke is considered by many to be one of the “founding mothers of infrared astronomy,” and it is for her groundbreaking contributions to astronomical research at these wavelengths that she is being recognized and celebrated. “I owe a debt of gratitude to my team that made all this possible. I am humbled that I’m on a list that includes the founders of infrared astronomy, Gerry Neugebauer and Frank Low,” said Rieke. Rieke served as deputy principal investigator for the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and co-investigator for the multiband imaging photometer on NASA’s retired Spitzer Space Telescope. Rieke was also involved with several infrared ground-based observatories, including the Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory in Arizona. Rieke’s nominators credit her leadership for the success of Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). As one of her nominators stated, “NIRCam was the Webb program’s most challenging instrument development effort. The instrument’s outstanding performance is due largely to the outstanding performance of its principal investigator. Marcia’s consistent focus, diligence, and ‘lead from the front’ approach under extremely difficult technical and programmatic circumstances presents an example for others to follow.” Marcia Rieke, Regents’ Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona and principal investigator for the near-infrared camera on the James Webb Space Telescope.Credit: George Rieke / UAZ Rieke has authored 310 refereed publications, which have over 30,000 citations. Her deep knowledge and expertise were put into service as vice chair for program prioritization for the Astro 2010 Decadal Survey Committee’s report, “New Worlds, New Horizons.” Her landmark contributions to astronomical research and instrument development, as well as her service to public policy and public outreach, have been recognized nationally. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007, a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in 2012, and a legacy fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2020. Rieke has also been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2023 for her contribution to the field of astronomy and key role in the development of cutting-edge instruments for Webb. About the Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal ASP is an international non-profit scientific and educational organization, founded in 1889, that works to increase understanding and appreciation of astronomy. The Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal is the organization’s highest award given annually to a professional astronomer in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement and contributions to astrophysics research. It was established by Catherine Wolfe Bruce, an American philanthropist and patroness of astronomy. The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s largest, most powerful, and most complex space science telescope ever built. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. For more information about NASA’s Webb telescope visit: www.nasa.gov/webb Media Contact Rob Gutro NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA James Webb Space Telescope Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the… Hubble Space Telescope Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe. Infrared Waves What are Infrared Waves? Infrared waves, or infrared light, are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. People encounter Infrared waves every… The Electromagnetic Spectrum Video Series & Companion Book Share Details Last Updated Nov 14, 2023 Editor Marty McCoy Related Terms Goddard Space Flight CenterJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)People of Goddard View the full article

5 min read Indigenous Student Brings Skills, Perspective to NASA Internship Alyssa Warrior, who is Onödowá’ga’(Seneca) and belongs to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, was an intern at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in summer 2023.Credit: NASA/Ellen Bausback On hot, summer days when Alyssa Warrior was growing up, she spent her time outside by her home on the Seneca Nation Cattaraugus Reservation near Buffalo, New York. She lay in the creek to escape the boiling sun, ran through the woods with her sister and five brothers, picked raspberries and wild onions, and lounged in a hammock. When night came, her father started a fire and told scary stories while hot dogs and s’mores sizzled. Her family sunk down in lawn chairs after the fire turned to ash and gazed up, searching for lights in the sky. “Looking at stars was always my favorite thing,” Warrior said. “I think I’ve always been interested in the natural world.” With a blanket wrapped around her, Warrior walked barefoot in the dewy grass, staying out long after her family retreated inside. Other nights, she lay with her face pressed against the sliding glass door in her living room, hoping to catch just one more glimpse of the sky. “I was always like, ‘One more, just one more shooting star,’’ Warrior said. “I just couldn’t stop. I loved to see them.” In summer 2023, Warrior – now a physics senior at the University at Buffalo – interned at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where she used software to validate and verify a model of a control system that could be used in future hybrid-electric aircraft. Adjusting the model and combing over code for hours to make improvements reminded Warrior of her skywatching memories. “At one point, I needed to stop,” Warrior said. “But I’d be thinking, well, maybe I’ll just make one more adjustment and that’ll help.” Warrior, who is Onödowá’ga’(Seneca) and belongs to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, never expected to come to NASA. But after attending an American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) conference and meeting Glenn engineer Joseph Connolly, she was recruited as an intern. Outreach is integral to bringing more Indigenous people to NASA, says Connolly, who shares Warrior’s Haudenosaunee background and has mentored a handful of other Indigenous interns during his 19 years at Glenn. “I think one of the reasons that it’s really important to get more Indigenous people at NASA, and just people with different perspectives, is because the problems that we work on are ridiculously hard,” Connolly said. “If we have all of the smartest people, but they get trained the exact same way, sometimes you just don’t have the insights that can give you the ability to look at problems in a new way.” Building connections with fellow Indigenous employees is another way to help inspire the next generation, Connolly says, and Warrior connected with many through an online Natives at NASA group. “It’s been really great to see other Native people working here at NASA – people that looks like me or look like my family – because it’s not something I see or that I’m used to,” Warrior said. “Everyone I’ve met has held some sort of information or knowledge that has improved my time here and will improve my future.” Alyssa Warrior (far right) poses with other summer 2023 interns outside a small-scale electrical lab at NASA’s Glenn Research Center.Credit: Joe Connolly Warrior sees a clear connection between Indigenous people and the STEM fields. “I think a lot of Native people specifically are connected with nature and have an interest in learning from it,” she said. “I think that’s its own science.” In addition, working on hybrid-electric aircraft and sustainability aligned with Warrior’s cultural values, she said. “Within Native communities, that is very important,” Warrior said. “It’s not always just trying to go to space, it’s also just trying to improve the planet that we’re on now. “ Besides recruiting and speaking at conferences, NASA Glenn works with Cleveland organizations, like the Lake Erie Native American Council and the Cleveland Metroparks, to support Indigenous Peoples Day events and other gatherings. NASA also supports a high-powered rocket competition for Indigenous students called First Nations Launch. Within the agency, the Science Mission Directorate hosts monthly conversations with Indigenous scholars. “It’s incredibly important to make sure that Alyssa and some of the other students see that these communities exist, because when I was getting started [in STEM], I had no idea they did,” Connolly said. Along with continuing outreach, Warrior suggests that those at NASA and others seeking to connect with Indigenous people learn about Indigenous heritage and history. “Those are all really important things to know before even trying to open your arms up to Native people because then you‘re aware of where they’re coming from and certain struggles that they face,” Warrior said. “That makes it easier to reach out.” Warrior says she is proud to have been an intern at NASA and hopes she’ll inspire younger Indigenous people, like her nieces and nephews, to reach for the stars. She knows she’ll continue to draw on the lessons of the natural world as she pursues a future STEM career. “It’s always with me, this mindset and maybe looking at things a little differently. I feel more comfortable outside, seeing green,” Warrior said. “I think it’s definitely affected who I am today. I’ve got to put my feet in the grass sometimes.” Explore More 4 min read NASA Glenn Helps Military Service Members Transition to Civilian Life Article 5 days ago 4 min read Aviones de movilidad aérea avanzada: un viaje suave en el futuro Article 3 weeks ago 4 min read Submit Your 2024 Event Proposal to NASA Glenn Article 3 weeks ago View the full article

NASA high-end computing plays a key role in taking many agency missions from concept to application in the real world. From increasing accuracy of global weather forecasts for forecast entities (like NOAA) to warn of severe storms, to designs for future air taxis to safely fly people around urban areas, to parachute design tests for landing spacecraft on the Moon and other planets, our supercomputing resources and experts are driving science and engineering advances for the benefit of humanity. These projects and much more will be on display in the agency’s hybrid exhibit during SC23, the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis. This year’s conference is being held in Denver, Nov. 12–17. 1. Simulating Air Taxi Safety Near the Ground With the development of urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, in the near future people might be hailing rides in air taxis. Researchers studying the aerodynamics performance of multiple UAM designs are focusing this year on simulations to analyze how these vehicles perform close to the ground. Many of the agency’s UAM aircraft concepts have rotors, just like helicopters. Supercomputers at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) facility at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley run complex, high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics simulations that capture in detail the interaction between rotors, other vehicle components, and the ground surface. These simulations enable scientists to better understand the vehicle aerodynamics and the rotor-induced flow around the vehicles to detect potentially dangerous areas with high winds and gusts. Simulation data allows the team to predict changes in how UAMs handle close to the ground and to provide guidelines for safe crew and passenger movement near the vehicles. NASA’s six-passenger air taxi quadcopter in hover (out of ground effect). Q-criterion — a measure of the amount of vorticity in the aerodynamic flow — isosurfaces colored with the vorticity magnitude show the vortex wake, where blue is low and magenta is high. In the background, the pressure coefficient is shown, where black is low and white is high. Understanding the complex flow and aerodynamic interactions of multi-rotor vehicles is key to design the future air taxis.NASA/Patricia Ventura Diaz 2. Predicting the Strongest Storms within a Global Computer Model The common fuel for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes is convection – vigorous up-and-down motions of the atmosphere that vertically transport heat and moisture. Operational weather forecasting centers typically predict convective-scale weather using regional, limited-area computer models because global models at convection resolving resolution need too much computing power. Researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have adapted their global Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model to apply finer grid resolutions of 2 to 4 kilometers (about 1.25 to 2.5 miles) over the continental United States. GEOS forecasts running on the NASA Center for Climate Simulation’s (NCCS’s) Discover supercomputer and NAS’s Aitken supercomputer are extending the predictability of the strongest storms beyond two days while better representing local impacts from intense precipitation, winds, and heat. Ongoing simulations accurately tracked extreme weather events of 2023 including hurricanes Idalia and Lee and tropical storm Ophelia. Hurricane Idalia made landfall along Florida’s northern Gulf Coast on August 30, 2023. Radar reflectivity from observations (left) and simulations by the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model at 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) (center) and 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) (right) resolution visualize Idalia’s internal structure. While both GEOS forecasts captured Idalia’s landfall within miles of the actual landfall days in advance, the 4- kilometer forecast improved representations of central pressure values, near-surface wind speeds, a very compact eye, and banding convection spiraling inwards from the southeast.NASA/William Putman 3. Protecting Space Capsules During Planetary Entry, Descent, and Landing NASA space capsules are designed to survive entering planetary atmospheres at hypersonic speeds and protect their payloads – or their crew – from the extreme temperatures that occur during entry. In addition to heat, the spacecraft can also encounter dynamic instabilities as they are slowed down by aerodynamic drag during descent. To quantify and understand this additional hazard, researchers at NASA Ames used the agency’s Pleiades and Electra supercomputers to simulate the free-flight conditions of capsules during the full trajectory of planetary entry. These complex simulations are used to analyze capsule flight dynamics and identify any risks the instabilities may pose during the later stage of the flight trajectory. The resulting analyses help engineers design entry vehicles for planetary exploration, helping ensure the success of NASA programs including Artemis and the upcoming Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Free-flight simulation of the Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology vehicle showing Q-criterion, which is a measure of the amount of vorticity in the aerodynamic flow. The iso-contours indicate vortex structure, indicating lower vorticity in blue and higher vorticity in red.NASA/Joseph Brock 4. Transforming and Depicting Earth Science Data From the agency’s founding in 1958, NASA has been tasked with widely disseminating information about its activities and results. One new NASA public communication effort is the Earth Information Center (EIC), which presents visualizations of raw observational and model data across a set of dashboards arranged like a NASA Mission Control Center for our planet. The EIC installation at NASA Headquarters in Washington includes a multi-panel hyperwall for displaying large-format animations surrounded by smaller portals depicting a number of “vital signs” of the Earth. The diverse data sources include simulations run on the NCCS Discover supercomputer and observations from satellites and ground instruments maintained by NASA and partners. Since opening in late June 2023, the EIC has drawn a great variety of visitors, from dignitaries to elementary school students. In addition, EIC information is aiding policy makers, scientists, and NASA data users such as farmers, business owners, and researchers. The Earth Information Center (EIC) dashboards include (left) visualizations generated by simulations run on the NASA Center for Climate Simulation’s Discover supercomputer and (right) an “Image of the Day” and “Vital Signs” of the planet compiled from NASA and partner agency observations. NASA/Brenda Lopez Silva, Michael Chyatte 5. Using Autonomous Onboard Science Agents for Planetary Exploration Researchers in NASA Goddard’s Distributed Systems Missions initiative are working to enable deep-space missions that are adaptable and can autonomously interpret and respond to newly-collected science data using an onboard software “agent” rather than waiting for new instructions from Earth at each phase of the mission. To test this new, autonomous mission design, they chose Enceladus, an icy ocean moon of Saturn and one of the most promising targets to search for life in our solar system. In a simulated mission scenario, the scientists modeled various trajectories and orbits of eight small spacecraft to produce what would be the first stable constellation around Enceladus to provide global coverage of the moon for collecting science observations. The team deployed their autonomous onboard science agent to analyze simulated data in “real-time.” The agent uses multiple machine learning models to process and interpret the relative amounts of various compounds detected in Europa’s icy plumes – indicators of the possibility of life – autonomously interprets those data, then makes decisions impacting follow-on analysis or prioritized data transmission based on pre-programmed mission goals. With its steady plume of subsurface liquid water jetting out into space, Saturn’s moon Enceladus is a likely candidate for an astrobiology study on a future NASA mission using autonomous spacecraft. In this visualization of that mission, the onboard system (science agent) tracks all eight spacecraft in the constellation (top center window). When the ground track lights up (shows white), the animation in the left window shows a close-up view of the position of that spacecraft. The spacecraft field of view is shown by a green cone (representing a volume of space) and corresponding green rectangle (on the surface). These spacecraft positions could be altered if strongly recommended by the science data results, and these changes can be safely executed autonomously.NASA/Pavel Galchenko, NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio For more information about supercomputers run by NASA High-End Computing, visit: https://hec.nasa.gov/ For news media: Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the NASA Ames newsroom. Authors: Jill Dunbar and Michelle Moyer, NASA’s Ames Research Center, and Jarrett Cohen and Sean Keefe, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center View the full article

In this photo from Nov. 9, 2023, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket illuminates the water as it launches at night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 29th commercial resupply mission of the Cargo Dragon spacecraft brought new scientific research, technology demonstrations, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station, including NASA’s Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) and Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE). Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett View the full article