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NASA Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off in this Nov. 3, 1994, image, with NASA astronauts Donald R. McMonagle, Curtis L. Brown, Jr., Ellen S. Ochoa, Scott E. Parazynski, and Joseph R. Tanner, and ESA (********* Space Agency) astronaut Jean-Francois-Clervoy aboard. During the 11-day mission, the crew studied Earth’s atmosphere, gathering data on the Sun’s energy output, the atmosphere’s chemical composition, and how these affect global ozone levels. Learn more about the mission. Image credit: NASA View the full article

1 Min Read ¿Cómo se investiga en gravedad cero? Preguntamos a una científica de la NASA La astronauta de la NASA Megan McArthur atiende a las células de donantes dentro de la Caja de Guantes de Ciencias en Microgravedad para el estudio Inmunidad Celeste. Credits: NASA Realizar experimentos científicos en la Tierra puede ser complicado pero en el espacio es aún más difícil debido a las condiciones de gravedad cero y microgravedad. La gerente de investigaciones comerciales de la Estación Espacial Internacional, Yuri Guinart-Ramírez, te explica cómo en la estación se llevan a ***** cientos de investigaciones científicas en condiciones de microgravedad y cómo los investigadores adaptan sus experimentos e instrumentos para que funcionen adecuadamente en ese entorno. Crédito de video: NASA 360 Quince maneras en que la Estación Espacial Internacional beneficia a la humanidad en la Tierra Descubre más temas de la NASA Ciencia en la estación NASA en español Explora el universo y descubre tu planeta natal **** nosotros, en tu idioma. Station Benefits for Humanity International Space Station Share Details Last Updated Nov 04, 2024 Related TermsInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS Research View the full article

Learn Home Professional Learning: Using… For Professionals Overview Learning Resources Science Activation Teams SME Map Opportunities More Science Activation Stories Citizen Science 3 min read Professional Learning: Using Children’s Books to Build STEM Habits of Mind On October 14, 2024, the Science Activation program’s NASA eClipsTM Education team from the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrative Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) Education (NIA-CISE) delivered a professional development session entitled “Using Children’s Books to Build STEM Habits of Mind” to 62 Media Specialists and Gifted Teachers from Richmond Public Schools in Virginia. The session kicked off with an engaging overview of NASA’s methods for gathering Earth data, including the use of stratospheric balloons. Participants then took part in the Balloon Aerodynamics Challenge 1 & 2. Divided into small groups, the teachers assumed the role of “stratospheric balloon engineers” and were tasked with adjusting helium-filled balloons to achieve neutral buoyancy. Initially, teams analyzed qualitative and quantitative aspects of their balloons before exploring the materials available to help them reach the target height. Once they achieved neutral buoyancy, their next challenge was to guide their balloons around the room using only a straw and a 5×7-inch card. As they completed this task, participants linked the activity to Bernoulli’s Principle and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Following the activity, teachers were introduced to NASA eClips’ newly released Guide Lites: Comparing Science and Engineering Practices Using ****** Box Models. During this segment, they discussed the distinction between engineering and science, reflecting on the engineering practices applied in the Balloon Aerodynamics Challenge and how scientific concepts influenced their balloon modifications. Additionally, teachers explored Favorite STEM Books and Activities: A Literary Collection Curated by the NASA eClips Team and Advisory Board Members, a resource designed to integrate children’s literature with STEM learning. Participants reviewed at least two book entries from the collection, assessing their alignment with educational standards, evaluating associated activities, and offering feedback on strengths and suggested improvements. As a final activity, teams selected a STEM trade book from the curated collection and analyzed it for potential cross-disciplinary connections, including inquiry, engineering, or hands-on activities. The event was planned collaboratively with Judy Deichman (Coordinator of Library Services for Richmond Public Schools), Lynn Pleveich (Coordinator for Programs for the Gifted and Talented in Richmond Public Schools), Dr. Sharon Bowers and Joan Harper-Neely (NASA eClips Senior STEM Specialists), and Betsy McAllister (NIA’s Educator in Residence from Hampton City Schools). NASA eClips is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB91A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: [Hidden Content] Teacher teams discussed the alignment of STEM books to educational standards and provided feedback for the new activity, Favorite STEM Books and Activities: A Literary Collection Curated by the NASA eClips Team and Advisory Board Members. Share Details Last Updated Nov 04, 2024 Editor NASA Science Editorial Team Related Terms For Professionals Opportunities For Educators to Get Involved Science Activation Explore More 2 min read Watch How Students Help NASA Grow Plants in Space: Growing Beyond Earth Article 7 days ago 3 min read Kites in the Classroom: Training Teachers to Conduct Remote Sensing Missions Article 1 week ago 2 min read Educator Night at the Museum of the North: Activating Science in Fairbanks Classrooms Article 2 weeks ago 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… Perseverance Rover This rover and its aerial sidekick were assigned to study the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient microbial… Parker Solar Probe On a mission to “touch the Sun,” NASA’s Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona… Juno NASA’s Juno spacecraft entered orbit around Jupiter in 2016, the first explorer to peer below the planet’s dense clouds to… View the full article

Citizen science projects enabled by data from the WISE and NEOWISE missions have given hundreds of thousands around the world the opportunity to make new discoveries. The projects can be done by anyone with a laptop and internet access and are available in fifteen languages. No U.S. citizenship required. NASA’s NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) spacecraft re-entered and burned up in Earth’s atmosphere on Friday night, as expected. Launched in 2009 as the WISE mission, the spacecraft has been mapping the entire sky at infrared wavelengths over and over for nearly fifteen years. During that time, more than one hundred thousand ******** scientists have used these data in citizen science projects like the Milky Way Project, Disk Detective, Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, Backyard Worlds: Cool Neighbors, and Exoasteroids. This citizen science work has led to more than 55 scientific publications. Highlights include: The discovery of Yellowballs, a kind of compact star-forming region. The discovery of Peter Pan Disks, long lived accretion disks around low-mass stars. The discovery of the first extreme T subdwarfs. The likely discovery of an aurora on a brown dwarf. Measurement of the field substellar mass function down to effective temperature ~400 K. The discovery of the oldest known white dwarf with a disk. Detection of a possible collision between planets. The discovery of the lowest-mass hypervelocity star. Although the spacecraft is no longer in orbit, there is plenty of work to do. The WISE/NEOWISE data contain trillions of detections of astronomical sources – enough to keep projects like Disk Detective, Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, Backyard Worlds: Cool Neighbors, and Exoasteroids busy making new discoveries for years to come. Join one of these projects today to help unravel the mysteries of the infrared universe! Facebook logo @DoNASAScience @DoNASAScience Share Details Last Updated Nov 04, 2024 Related Terms Astrophysics Citizen Science Explore More 2 min read Sadie Coffin Named Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences/NASA Citizen Science Leaders Series Fellow Article 1 hour ago 6 min read NASA’s Hubble, Webb Probe Surprisingly Smooth Disk Around Vega Article 3 days ago 5 min read ‘Blood-Soaked’ Eyes: NASA’s Webb, Hubble Examine Galaxy Pair Article 4 days ago View the full article

4 min read Final Venus Flyby for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Queues Closest Sun Pass On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will complete its final Venus gravity assist maneuver, passing within 233 miles (376 km) of Venus’ surface. The flyby will adjust Parker’s trajectory into its final orbital configuration, bringing the spacecraft to within an unprecedented 3.86 million miles of the solar surface on Dec. 24, 2024. It will be the closest any human made object has been to the Sun. Parker’s Venus flybys have become boons for new Venus science thanks to a chance discovery from its Wide-Field Imager for Parker Solar Probe, or WISPR. The instrument peers out from Parker and away from the Sun to see fine details in the solar wind. But on July 11, 2020, during Parker’s third Venus flyby, scientists turned WISPR toward Venus in hopes of tracking changes in the planet’s thick cloud cover. The images revealed a surprise: A portion of WISPR’s data, which captures visible and near infrared light, seemed to see all the way through the clouds to the Venusian surface below. “The WISPR cameras can see through the clouds to the surface of Venus, which glows in the near-infrared because it’s so hot,” said Noam Izenberg, a space scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Venus, sizzling at approximately 869 degrees Fahrenheit (about 465 C), was radiating through the clouds. The WISPR images from the 2020 flyby, as well as the next flyby in 2021, revealed Venus’ surface in a new light. But they also raised puzzling questions, and scientists have devised the Nov. 6 flyby to help answer them. Left: A series of WISPR images of the nightside of Venus from Parker Solar Probe’s fourth flyby showing near infrared emissions from the surface. In these images, lighter shades represent warmer temperatures and darker shades represent cooler. Right: A combined mosaic of radar images of Venus’ surface from NASA’s Magellan mission, where the brightness indicates radar properties from smooth (dark) to rough (light), and the colors indicate elevation from low (blue) to high (red). The Venus images correspond well with data from the Magellan spacecraft, showing dark and light patterns that line up with surface regions Magellan captured when it mapped Venus’ surface using radar from 1990 to 1994. Yet some parts of the WISPR images appear brighter than expected, hinting at extra information captured by WISPR’s data. Is WISPR picking up on chemical differences on the surface, where the ground is made of different material? Perhaps it’s seeing variations in age, where more recent lava flows added a fresh coat to the Venusian surface. “Because it flies over a number of similar and different landforms than the previous Venus flybys, the Nov. 6 flyby will give us more context to evaluate whether WISPR can help us distinguish physical or even chemical properties of Venus’ surface,” Izenberg said. After the Nov. 6 flyby, Parker will be on course to swoop within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface, the final objective of the historic mission first conceived over 65 years ago. No human-made object has ever passed this close to a star, so Parker’s data will be charting as-yet uncharted territory. In this hyper-close regime, Parker will cut through plumes of plasma still connected to the Sun. It is close enough to pass inside a solar eruption, like a surfer diving under a crashing ocean wave. “This is a major engineering accomplishment,” said Adam Szabo, project scientist for Parker Solar Probe at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, will occur on Dec. 24, 2024, during which mission control will be out of contact with the spacecraft. Parker will send a beacon tone on Dec. 27, 2024, to confirm its success and the spacecraft’s health. Parker will remain in this orbit for the remainder of its mission, completing two more perihelia at the same distance. Parker Solar Probe is part of NASA’s Living with a Star program to explore aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. The Living with a Star program is managed by the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, manages the Parker Solar Probe mission for NASA and designed, built, and operates the spacecraft. By Miles Hatfield NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Share Details Last Updated Nov 04, 2024 Related Terms Goddard Space Flight Center Heliophysics Heliophysics Division Parker Solar Probe (PSP) Solar Wind The Sun Venus Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Parker Solar Probe On a mission to “touch the Sun,” NASA’s Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona… Sun Parker Solar Probe Stories Sun: Exploration View the full article

In August, the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS) announced a fellowship opportunity in partnership with the NASA Citizen Science Leaders Series. Fifty-five people applied! The applications came from graduate students and early career professionals in diverse disciplines, including astronomy, ecology, engineering, nursing, policy, and zoology, to name a few. Sadie Coffin, AAPS-NASA Cit Sci Leaders Fellow. (Credit: Olivia Schlichtkrull) We are delighted to announce that Sadie Coffin, PhD student and co-lead (alongside her advisor, Dr. Jeyhan Kartaltepe) of the Redshift Wrangler project, will serve as the AAPS-NASA Cit Sci Leaders Fellow. Sadie’s task is to curate resources, advice, and best practices on topics of common interest from four years of NASA Cit Sci Leaders events. Sadie will dig into our recordings to find the moments, speakers, advice, and resources that offer the best guidance for project leaders starting or managing projects. She’ll help package the best elements of the recordings into usable formats for busy scientists and project leaders interested in creating, managing, and improving participatory science projects. “This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to gain the mentorship and expertise I need to build a career that not only advances research but also fosters public engagement and inclusivity in science,” said Sadie. The enthusiasm, talent, and passion in the applications we received revealed the broad appeal, utility, and growing acceptance of participatory research. One applicant commented, “Working in the participatory sciences is how I find meaning in my career as a researcher.” Many others commented that they were eager to connect with mentors and colleagues who were as invested in this work as they were. Thank you to everyone who applied for this fellowship and to all of the early career professionals working in this field. You are inspiring, and we can’t wait to see what big ideas you contribute to the growth of this field! AAPS will announce additional fellowships focused on different projects in the coming months. Please watch for upcoming calls, consider applying yourself, and share them with the inspiring early career individuals in your networks! Facebook logo @DoNASAScience @DoNASAScience Share Details Last Updated Nov 04, 2024 Related Terms Astrophysics Biological & Physical Sciences Citizen Science Earth Science Heliophysics Planetary Science Explore More 4 min read Final Venus Flyby for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Queues Closest Sun Pass Article 5 mins ago 2 min read NASA’s New Edition of Graphic Novel Features Europa Clipper NASA has released a new edition of Issue 4 of the Astrobiology Graphic History series.… Article 3 days ago 5 min read 30 Years On, NASA’s Wind Is a Windfall for Studying our Neighborhood in Space Article 3 days ago View the full article

On Nov. 3, 1994, space shuttle Atlantis took to the skies on its 13th trip into space. During the 11-day mission, the STS-66 crew of Commander Donald R. McMonagle, Pilot Curtis L. Brown, Payload Commander Ellen Ochoa, and Mission Specialists Joseph R. Tanner, Scott E. Parazynski, and French astronaut Jean-François Clervoy representing the ********* Space Agency (ESA) operated the third Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Sciences (ATLAS-3), and deployed and retrieved the U.S.-******* Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite (CRISTA-SPAS), as part of NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth. The remote sensing instruments studied the Sun’s energy output, the atmosphere’s chemical composition, and how these affect global ozone levels, adding to the knowledge gained during the ATLAS-1 and ATLAS-2 missions. Left: Official photo of the STS-68 crew of Jean-François Clervoy, left, Scott E. Parazynski, Curtis L. Brown, Joseph R. Tanner, Donald R. McMonagle, and Ellen Ochoa. Middle: The STS-66 crew patch. Right: The ATLAS-3 payload patch. In August 1993, NASA named Ochoa as the ATLAS-3 payload commander, and in January 1994, named the rest of the STS-66 crew. For McMonagle, selected as an astronaut in 1987, ATLAS-3 marked his third trip into space, having flown on STS-39 and STS-54. Brown, also from the class of 1987, previously flew on STS 47, while Ochoa, selected in 1990, flew as a mission specialist on STS-56, the ATLAS-2 mission. For Tanner, Parazynski, and Clervoy, all from the Class of 1992 – the French space agency CNES previously selected Clervoy as one of its astronauts in 1985 before he joined the ESA astronaut cadre in 1992 – STS-66 marked their first spaceflight. Left: Schematic illustration of ATLAS-3 and its instruments. Right: Schematic illustration of CRISTA-SPAS retrievable satellite and its instruments. The ATLAS-3 payload consisted of six instruments on a Spacelab pallet and one mounted on the payload bay sidewall. The pallet mounted instruments included Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS), Millimeter-Wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS), Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM), Measurement of the Solar Constant (SOLCON), Solar Spectrum Measurement from 1,800 to 3,200 nanometers (SOLSCAN), and Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM). The Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) instrument constituted the payload bay sidewall mounted experiment. While the instruments previously flew on the ATLAS-1 and ATLAS-2 missions, both those flights took place during the northern hemisphere spring. Data from the ATLAS-3’s mission in the fall complemented results from the earlier missions. The CRISTA-SPAS satellite included two instruments, the CRISTA and the Middle Atmosphere High Resolution Spectrograph Investigation (MAHRSI). Left: Space shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Middle: Liftoff of Atlantis on STS-66. Right: Atlantis rises into the sky. Following its previous flight, STS-46 in August 1992, Atlantis spent one and a half years at the Rockwell plant in Palmdale, California, undergoing major modifications before arriving back at KSC on May 29, 1994. During the modification *******, workers installed cables and wiring for a docking system for Atlantis to use during the first Shuttle-Mir docking mission in 1995 and equipment to allow it to fly Extended Duration Orbiter missions of two weeks or longer. Atlantis also underwent structural inspections and systems upgrades including improved nose wheel steering and a new reusable drag chute. Workers in KSC’s Orbiter Processing Facility installed the ATLAS-3 and CRISTA-SPAS payloads and rolled Atlantis over to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Oct. 4 for mating with its External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. Atlantis rolled out to Launch Pad 39B six days later. The six-person STS-66 crew traveled to KSC to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, essentially a dress rehearsal for the launch countdown, on Oct. 18. They returned to KSC on Oct. 31, the same day the final countdown began. Following a smooth countdown leading to a planned 11:56 a.m. EST liftoff on Nov. 3, 1994, Atlantis took off three minutes late, the delay resulting from high winds at one of the Transatlantic Abort sites. The liftoff marked the third shuttle launch in 55 days, missing a record set in 1985 by one day. Eight and a half minutes later, Atlantis delivered its crew and payloads to space. Thirty minutes later, a ******* of the shuttle’s Orbiter Maneuvering System (OMS) engines placed them in a 190-mile orbit inclined 57 degrees to the equator. The astronauts opened the payload bay doors, deploying the shuttle’s radiators, and removed their bulky launch and entry suits, stowing them for the remainder of the flight. Left: Atlantis’ payload bay, showing the ATLAS-3 payload and the CRISTA-SPAS deployable satellite behind it. Middle: ********* Space Agency astronaut Jean-François Clervoy uses the shuttle’s Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to grapple the CRISTA-SPAS prior to its release. Right: Clervoy about to release CRISTA-SPAS from the RMS. The astronauts began to convert their vehicle into a science platform, and that included breaking up into two teams to enable 24-hour-a-day operations. McMonagle, Ochoa, and Tanner made up the Red Team while Brown, Parazynski, and Clervoy made up the Blue Team. Within five hours of liftoff, the Blue Team began their sleep ******* while the Red Team started their first on orbit shift by activating the ATLAS-3 instruments, the CRISTA-SPAS deployable satellite, and the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) or robotic arm in the payload bay and some of the middeck experiments. The next day, Clervoy, operating the RMS, grappled CRISTA-SPAS, lifted it from its cradle in the payload bay, and while Atlantis flew over Germany, deployed it for its eight-day free flight. McMonagle fired Atlantis’ thrusters to separate from the satellite. Left: Ellen Ochoa and Donald R. McMonagle on the shuttle’s flight deck. Middle: ********* Space Agency astronaut Jean-François Clervoy in the commander’s seat during the mission. Right: Scott E. Parazynski operates a protein crystallization experiment in the shuttle middeck. Left: Joseph R. Tanner operates a protein crystallization experiment. Middle: Curtis L. Brown operates a microgravity acceleration measurement system. Right: Ellen Ochoa uses the shuttle’s Remote Manipulator System to grapple CRISTA-SPAS following its eight-day free flight. For the next eight days, the two teams of astronauts continued work with the ATLAS instruments and several middeck and payload bay experiments such as protein crystal growth, measuring the shuttle microgravity acceleration environment, evaluating heat pipe performance, and a student experiment to study the Sun that complemented the ATLAS instruments. On November 12, the mission’s 10th day, the astronauts prepared to retrieve the CRISTA-SPAS satellite. For the retrieval, McMonagle and Brown used a novel rendezvous profile unlike previous ones used in the shuttle program. Instead of making the final approach from in front of the satellite, called the V-bar approach, Atlantis approached from below in the so-called R-bar approach. This is the profile Atlantis planned to use on its next mission, the first rendezvous and docking with the Mir space station. It not only saved fuel but also prevented contamination of the station’s delicate sensors and solar arrays. Once within 40 feet of CRISTA-SPAS, Ochoa reached out with the RMS, grappled the satellite, and then berthed it back in the payload bay. A selection from the 6,000 STS-66 crew Earth observation photographs. Left: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Middle left: Hurricane Florence in the North Atlantic. Middle right: The Ganges River delta. Right: The Sakurajima Volcano in southern Japan. As a Mission to Planet Earth, the STS-66 astronauts spent considerable time looking out the window, capturing 6,000 images of their home world. Their high inclination orbit enabled views of parts of the planet not seen during typical shuttle missions. Left: The inflight STS-66 crew photo. Right: Donald R. McMonagle, left, and Curtis R. Brown prepare for Atlantis’ deorbit and reentry. On flight day 11, with most of the onboard film exposed and consumables running low, the astronauts prepared for their return to Earth the following day. McMonagle and Brown tested Atlantis’ reaction control system thrusters and aerodynamic surfaces in preparation for deorbit and descent through the atmosphere, while the rest of the crew busied themselves with shutting down experiments and stowing away unneeded equipment. Left: Atlantis makes a perfect touchdown at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. Middle: Atlantis deploys the first reusable space shuttle drag chute. Right: Mounted atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Atlantis departs Edwards for the cross-country trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On Nov. 14, the astronauts closed Atlantis’ payload bay doors, donned their launch and entry suits, and strapped themselves into their seats for entry and landing. Tropical Storm Gordon near the KSC primary landing site forced a diversion to Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California. The crew fired Atlantis’ OMS engines to drop out of orbit. McMonagle piloted Atlantis to a smooth landing at Edwards, ending the 10-day 22-hour 34-minute flight, Atlantis’ longest flight up to that time. The crew had orbited the Earth 174 times. Workers at Edwards safed the vehicle and placed it atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for the ferry flight back to KSC. The duo left Edwards on Nov. 21, and after stops at Kelly Field in San Antonio and Eglin AFB in the Florida panhandle, arrived at KSC the next day. Workers there began preparing Atlantis for its next flight, STS-71 in June 1995, the first Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Meanwhile, a Gulfstream jet flew the astronauts back to Ellington Field in Houston for reunions with their families. As it turned out, STS-66 flew Atlantis’ last solo flight until STS-125 in 2009, the final Hubble Servicing Mission. The 16 intervening flights, and the three that followed, all docked with either Mir or the International Space Station. “The mission not only met all our expectations, but all our hopes and dreams as well,” said Mission Scientist Timothy L. Miller of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “One of its high points was our ability to receive and process so much data in real time, enhancing our ability to carry out some new and unprecedented cooperative experiments.” McMonagle said of STS-66, “We are very proud of the mission we have just accomplished. If there’s any one thing we all have an interest in, it’s the health of our planet.” Enjoy the crew narrate a video about the STS-66 mission. Explore More 3 min read Halloween on the International Space Station Article 4 days ago 9 min read 60 Years Ago: The First Flight of the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle Article 5 days ago 11 min read 35 Years Ago: STS-34 Sends Galileo on its Way to Jupiter Article 2 weeks ago View the full article

Credit: NASA NASA has awarded the Custodial and Refuse/Recycle Services contract to Ahtna Integrated Services LLC of Anchorage, Alaska, to provide trash, waste, and recycling services at the agency’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. This is a hybrid contract that includes a firm-fixed-price and an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity portion. The ******* of performance begins Friday, Nov. 1, with a 60-day phase-in *******, followed by a one-year base *******, and options to extend performance through November 2029. This contract has a maximum potential value of approximately $24 million. Under this contract, the company will perform basic, regularly scheduled custodial and refuse and recycling services at NASA Ames. The company will focus on health and safety, environmental compliance, sanitary cleaning, and customer service. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Hillary Smith Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650-313-1701 *****@*****.tld View the full article

A new edition of Issue #4 of Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe has been released to include the NASA Europa Clipper mission. NASA Astrobiology/Aaron Gronstal To celebrate the successful launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, the agency’s Astrobiology program has released a new edition of Issue #4 – Missions to the Outer Solar System – of its graphic history series Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe. Issue #4 tells the story of the outer solar system, from beyond the asteroid belt to the outer reaches of the Sun’s magnetic influence. Gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are not habitable, but many of their moons raise questions about life’s potential far, far away from the warmth of the Sun. One such body is Jupiter’s moon Europa, which contains an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface. The Europa Clipper mission is designed to help scientists understand whether this ocean holds key ingredients that could support habitable environments for life as we know it. The spacecraft launched on Oct. 14 and will arrive at Jupiter in 2030. Additional content in the fourth edition of Issue #4 also includes ESA’s (********* Space Agency) Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission, which will arrive in the Jovian system in 2031 and collect data on many of Jupiter’s moons, including Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, and Io, that is complementary to Europa Clipper’s investigation. Read more about how astrobiologists study the potential for life on worlds like Europa and the exciting data that Europa Clipper will gather by visiting NASA’s Astrobiology website and downloading the new edition. Digital wallpaper for phones, desktops, or meeting backgrounds that feature the new Europa Clipper artwork from Issue #4 are also available. This wallpaper image featuring NASA’s Europa Clipper mission uses artwork from Issue #4 of the astrobiology graphic history series, Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe. The image of Jupiter in the background is adapted from imagery taken by NASA’s Juno Mission (Exotic Marble, 2019, NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Prateek Sarpal/©CCNCSA) NASA Astrobiology/Aaron Gronstal For more information on NASA’s Astrobiology program, visit: [Hidden Content] -end- Karen Fox / Molly Wasser Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Nov 01, 2024 Related Terms Astrobiology Explore More 5 min read NASA: New Insights into How Mars Became Uninhabitable Article 4 weeks ago 14 min read The Making of Our Alien Earth: The Undersea Volcanoes of Santorini, Greece Article 2 months ago 5 min read NASA Scientists on Why We Might Not Spot Solar Panel Technosignatures Article 3 months ago View the full article

2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) ********* company apetito uses Neurala’s vision inspection software to ensure the quality of its prepared meals, such as green bean portions pictured here. The software evolved from code Neurala was developing more than a decade ago, with NASA funding, for a rover that could independently learn to traverse Martian terrain. Credit: Neurala Inc. Artificial intelligence software initially designed to learn and analyze Martian terrain is now at the heart of a system to monitor assembly lines on Earth. The vision inspection software from Neurala Inc., an artificial intelligence company in Boston, Massachusetts, works with existing cameras, computers, and even cellphones to monitor the quality of products running along a conveyor belt, for instance. “Our software can learn very quickly on a processor with a very small footprint, a skill we learned working with NASA,” said Neurala cofounder and CEO Massimiliano Versace. “By doing so, we enable vision inspection with whatever components are already available, deploying in minutes. In our exploration of the market, we realized that the manufacturing space had a precise need for this technology.” Versace and Neurala (Spinoff 2018) began working with NASA more than a decade ago on a project funded through the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. NASA was interested in “adaptive bio-inspired navigation for planetary exploration,” and Versace and his team had been working on neural network AI software modeled on the human brain. Focusing on a rover concept that could independently learn to traverse Martian terrain, Neurala went on to win STTR Phase II funding for the project. Additional money from a NASA Center Innovation Fund enabled the Neurala team to adapt its technology to drone navigation and collision avoidance. In both the rover and the drone applications, the Neurala software could run on a small device on the vehicle itself, eliminating the delay of sending signals to a decision maker in another location. Since then, the company developed the software to help monitor assembly lines. Onsite computing is an advantage in manufacturing, as well, where an assembly line may have a hundred items passing every minute, making visual inspections for quality control difficult. Read More Share Details Last Updated Nov 01, 2024 Related TermsTechnology Transfer & SpinoffsSpinoffsTechnology Transfer Explore More 2 min read The View from Space Keeps Getting Better After 50 years of Landsat, discovery of new commercial and scientific uses is only accelerating Article 2 weeks ago 2 min read Controlled Propulsion for Gentle Landings A valve designed for NASA rover landings enables effective stage separations for commercial spaceflight Article 3 weeks ago 2 min read Tech Today: Spraying for Food Safety Article 4 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Technology Transfer & Spinoffs Rover Basics Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a… Artificial Intelligence SBIR/STTR Resources View the full article

5 min read 30 Years On, NASA’s Wind Is a Windfall for Studying our Neighborhood in Space An artist’s concept of NASA’s Wind spacecraft outside of Earth’s magnetosphere. NASA Picture it: 1994. The first World Wide Web conference took place in Geneva, the first Chunnel train traveled under the English Channel, and just three years after the end of the Cold War, the first Russian instrument on a U.S. spacecraft launched into deep space from Cape Canaveral. The mission to study the solar wind, aptly named Wind, held promise for heliophysicists and astrophysicists around the world to investigate basic plasma processes in the solar wind barreling toward Earth —key information for helping us understand and potentially mitigate the space weather environment surrounding our home planet. Thirty years later, Wind continues to deliver on that promise from about a million miles away at the first Earth-Sun Lagrange Point (L1). This location is gravitationally balanced between Earth and the Sun, providing excellent fuel economy that requires mere puffs of thrust to stay in place. According to Lynn Wilson, who is the Wind project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, fuel is only one indicator of Wind’s life expectancy, however. “Based on fuel alone, Wind can continue flying until 2074,” he said. “On the other hand, its ability to return data hinges on the last surviving digital tape recorder onboard.” An artist’s concept shows a closeup of the Wind spacecraft. NASA Wind launched with two digital tape recorders to record data from all the instruments on the spacecraft and provide reports on the spacecraft’s thermal conditions, orientation, and overall health. Each recorder has two tape decks, A and B, which Wilson affectionately refers to as “fancy eight-tracks.” After six years of service, the first digital tape recorder ******* in 2000 along with its two tape decks, forcing mission operators to switch to the second one. Tape Deck A on that one started showing signs of wear in 2016, so the mission operators now use Tape Deck B as the primary deck, with A as a backup. “They built redundancy into the digital tape recorder system by building two of them, but you can never predict how technology will perform when it’s a million miles away, bathing in ionizing radiation,” said Wilson. “We’re fortunate that after 30 years, we still have two functioning tape decks.” Wind launched on Nov. 1, 1994, on a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Bonus Science When Wind launched on Nov. 1, 1994, nobody could have possibly predicted that exactly 30 years later, NASA would be kicking off “Bonus Science” month in the Heliophysics Big Year. Beyond the mission’s incredible track record of mesmerizing discoveries about the solar wind — some detailed on its 25th anniversary — Wind continues to deliver with bonus science abound. Opportunity and Collaborative Discovery Along its circuitous journey to L1, Wind dipped in and out of Earth’s magnetosphere more than 65 times, capturing the largest whistler wave — a low-frequency radio wave racing across Earth’s magnetic field — ever recorded in Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts. Wind also traveled ahead of and behind Earth — about 150 times our planet’s diameter in both directions, informing potential future missions that would operate in those areas with extreme exposure to the solar wind. It even took a side quest to the Moon, cruising through the lunar wake, a shadow devoid of solar wind on the far side of the Moon. Later, from its permanent home at L1, Wind was among several corroborating spacecraft that helped confirm what scientists believe is the brightest gamma-ray burst to occur since the dawn of human civilization. The burst, GRB 221009A, was first detected by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in October 2022. Although not in its primary science objectives, Wind carries two bonus instruments designed to observe gamma-ray bursts that helped scientists confirm the burst’s origin in the Sagitta constellation. Academic Inspiration More than 7,200 research papers have been published using Wind data, and the mission has supported more than 100 graduate and post-graduate degrees. Wilson was one of those degree candidates. When Wind launched, Wilson was in sixth grade, on the football, baseball, and wrestling teams, with spare time spent playing video games and reading science fiction. He had a knack for science and considered becoming a medical doctor or an engineer before committing to his love of physics, which ultimately led to his current position as Wind’s project scientist. While pursuing his doctorate, he worked with Adam Szabo who was the Wind project scientist at NASA Goddard at the time and used Wind data to study interplanetary collisionless shock waves. Szabo eventually hired Wilson to work on the Wind mission team at Goddard. Also in sixth grade at the time, Joe Westlake, NASA Heliophysics division director,was into soccer and music, and was a voracious reader consumed with Tolkein’s stories about Middle Earth. Now he leads the NASA office that manages Wind. “It’s amazing to think that Lynn Wilson and I were in middle school, and the original mission designers and scientists have long since retired,” said Westlake. “When a mission makes it to 30 years, you can’t help but be inspired by the role it has played not only in scientific discovery, but in the careers of multiple generations of scientists.” By Erin Mahoney NASA Headquarters, Washington Share Details Last Updated Nov 01, 2024 Related Terms Goddard Space Flight Center Heliophysics Heliophysics Division Science & Research Solar Wind The Sun Wind Mission Explore More 6 min read NASA’s Hubble, Webb Probe Surprisingly Smooth Disk Around Vega Article 4 hours ago 5 min read ‘Blood-Soaked’ Eyes: NASA’s Webb, Hubble Examine Galaxy Pair Article 1 day ago 3 min read Buckle Up: NASA-Funded Study Explores Turbulence in Molecular Clouds Article 2 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

Born and raised in Mexico City, Carlos Fontanot has dedicated 34 years to NASA. He supports the International Space Station Mission Integration and Operations Office, ensuring that high-quality imagery enhances mission objectives and operations. Fontanot is known for conceiving and leading the High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) project, which has brought stunning live visuals of Earth to millions around the globe. As he approaches his well-deserved retirement, we are excited to spotlight Fontanot’s remarkable career, celebrating his contributions to NASA and the lasting impact he has made on the agency’s mission to share the wonders of space. Carlos Fontanot (left) receives the Great Minds in STEM Lifetime Achievement Award from Joel Montelbano, NASA at the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Conference. What does your position entail? Integrate all aspects of station imagery, from initial requirements to acquisition, processing, cataloging, archiving, and distribution of station imagery to multiple stakeholders, our clients. How would you describe your job to family or friends who may not be as familiar with NASA? I manage an array of television and digital still imagery cameras on the International Space Station. Each day we receive eight channels of high definition (HD) video and thousands of digital images that allow the ground team to see what the crew is doing in their daily lives and as part of scientific activities. In today’s age of social media and high-quality imagery, having these images is crucial for effectively conveying the station narrative. I also chair the International Space Station’s Multilateral Imagery Working Group. Our team captures and processes the video and still images on a large server, where they are cataloged, archived, and distributed to our clients. Additionally, we are responsible for the photo and TV hardware aboard the space station and provide training to astronauts on how to use this equipment. Carlos Fontanot with Liam Kennedy at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference. How do you feel the imagery and public affairs teams contribute to the overall mission of NASA? Imagery is critical for communication in today’s visual environment. If people can’t see it, they won’t believe it! Effective communication through multimedia and pointed messaging is essential for securing continued support for NASA missions from both Congress and the public. What was your path to NASA? I was always interested in photography and film, so I studied radio, TV, and film in college. My first job after graduation was with a local TV station, and I also managed a media center for a multinational company. Then, I joined Johnson Space Center’s television and film division, where I managed space shuttle and institutional imagery. Once at Johnson, I worked in the Office of Public Affairs as the audiovisual manager and served for two years as the public affairs officer in Moscow at the start of the International Space Station Program, including the launch of the first station crew. What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to work in the space industry or at NASA? NASA is not just about astronauts, flight controllers, and engineers—there are countless disciplines and job opportunities here. Take imagery, for example: in today’s digital age, having the highest resolution imagery of our incredible orbiting laboratory environment and our home planet is essential. For those aspiring to join the NASA team, I encourage you be open-minded and a team player. We need well-educated and talented individuals from diverse backgrounds across all disciplines to help us achieve our goals and explore the wonders of space. Is there a space figure you’ve looked up to? The space figure I will always remember and look up to is John Glenn. I had the fortune and privilege to meet him during his training. He was an extraordinary human being with incredibly high goals throughout his career. I was assigned to ******* John Glenn and the STS-95 crew on a two-week official visit to several ********* countries. John was by far the most inspiring and dedicated crew member that I’d ever met. He was always ready and willing to engage with dignitaries, politicians, leaders, journalists, and the public to share the NASA story and promote future programs to gain support from various governments and the public. What do you love sharing about the International Space Station to general audiences? I love sharing the wonders of life in space, especially the unique and breathtaking views of our planet Earth that can only be appreciated from space. I like to tell audiences about the observations and inspiration our astronauts share upon returning from their missions. I emphasize our thin and fragile atmosphere that sustains life as we know it, the beauty of Earth’s deserts, mountains, jungles, and oceans, and most importantly, the absence of borders. There’s always a profound realization that we are all human and that Earth belongs to all of us. How has the technology for capturing images and video in space evolved over the years? There was no digital imagery when I started my professional career. Photographs were taken on film that had to be processed in a dark room using chemicals to produce images. Video was recorded on two-inch magnetic tape at low resolution. We even flew film on our spacecraft that had to be brought back and processed on the ground. Today, in the digital world, images can be streamed directly from our spacecraft and almost instantaneously shared with the entire globe. The evolution of technology has truly transformed how we capture and share the wonders of space! Carlos Fontanot (left) sets up a NASA imagery exhibit in the Houston Downtown Tunnel System. What are some of the key projects you’ve worked on during your time at NASA? What have been your favorites? During my time at NASA, I co-led the High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) project, which deployed four Earth-viewing cameras on the International Space Station, reaching over 318 million viewers globally. I also contributed to designing Johnson’s new PAO studio, collaborated on upgrading the space station’s downlink system from four standard-definition to eight high-definition channels, and advanced television technology, including the first HD and later UHD live downlinks from the station. These projects have allowed me to enhance NASA’s capacity for sharing space imagery with the world. What are your plans for retirement, and how do you hope to stay connected to the space community? I plan to travel across the U.S. in a travel trailer with my wife and dog and enjoying my hobbies I will now have time for, such as photography and spending quality time with my family. Carlos and Pat Fontanot at the Grand Canyon South Rim in Arizona. How do you believe NASA’s imagery can continue to inspire future generations? Astronaut John Young would come to the photo lab after every shuttle mission to review the film shot onboard. He would say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” What can inspire more than a breathtaking image of a sunset captured from space or the aurora borealis over the polar regions? What legacy do you hope to leave behind after your time at NASA? I hope to leave behind a legacy of passion and dedication to acquiring and making pristine, high-resolution imagery from space available for the public to enjoy. If you could have dinner with any astronaut, past or present, who would it be? I would choose John Young. He flew during both the Apollo and shuttle eras, was an imagery expert, and had a deep understanding of the space station. Favorite space movie? Interstellar   NASA Worm or Meatball logo? Worm   *** Every day we are conducting exciting research aboard our orbiting laboratory that will help us explore farther into space and bring benefits back to people on Earth. You can keep up with the latest news, videos, and pictures about space station science on the Station Research & Technology news page. It is a curated hub of space station research and digital media from Johnson and other centers and space agencies. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to get the updates delivered directly to you. Follow updates on social media at @ISS_Research on X, and on the space station accounts on Facebook and Instagram. View the full article

Dr. Eugene Tu, center director at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, presents Representative Anna Eshoo with a replica of the Pioneer plaque during a recognition event for her 32 years of public service.NASA/Brandon Torres Navarrete On Oct. 29, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley hosted a gathering to recognize Representative Anna G. Eshoo for her 32 years of distinguished public service and her enduring support for the agency. During the event, Dr. Eugene Tu, center director at Ames, presented the Congresswoman with the Pioneer plaque, a replica of the messages sent on the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes, which launched in 1972 and 1973 respectively. View the full article

Lane Polak is a technical writer for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System), where he is responsible for creating content that raises public awareness of NASA and specifically SLS.NASA/Samuel Lott Growing up, Lane Polak didn’t have much interest in space. Instead, he was busy writing stories, doodling, or riding his skateboard. He later dreamed of becoming an author but also considered stepping into the arena as an ********* Gladiator. After earning a degree in communications with a minor in English from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Polak chose to embrace his passion for storytelling and continued his path toward technical writing. Fast forward 14 years and Polak is now a technical writer for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System); a dream he never knew he had. In his current role at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, he is responsible for creating content that raises public awareness of NASA and specifically SLS. He also assists with outreach programs and supports exhibits, but it’s the opportunity to engage with the community, especially children, that he finds most rewarding. “I believe a child’s development is one of the most amazing wonders in this world,” Polak said. “As a father, I love watching my two boys progress and learn new things, but I’ve always had a passion for helping children take their own giant leaps. That’s another great thing about creating – there is always a new idea to build on and explore.” One way Polak has made his mark with the agency is through a series of children’s books designed to inspire the youngest members of the Artemis Generation. His first book, “Hooray for SLS!”, invites young readers on a journey to learn all about the SLS Moon rocket. With catchy writing and colorful illustrations, he captures the wonder of space exploration, making learning about the Artemis campaign both fun and engaging. It’s a celebration of curiosity and adventure, showing children just how exciting the journey to the Moon and Mars can be. Working with NASA has transformed Polak’s perspective on collaboration and the power of storytelling in science. “After just a few months at NASA, I found myself completely captivated by space and the incredible projects and opportunities unfolding daily,” he said. “Being part of the Artemis Generation isn’t just a job for me; it’s a privilege. I have the opportunity to inspire future generations while contributing to humanity’s quest for deep space exploration. One of the many things my position allows me to do is help others see the scale of this amazing agency, all the work people are doing, and that there truly is a place for anyone here.” Outside of work, Polak stays busy coaching youth sports, mountain biking, and spending quality time with his family. He and his wife Emily also enjoy buying and selling vintage clothing. Whether it’s creating new stories for kids or finding the next great idea to explore, he embraces the endless possibilities of creation. Read other I am Artemis features. View the full article

Skywatching Home What’s Up: November 2024… Skywatching Skywatching Home Eclipses What’s Up Explore the Night Sky Night Sky Network More Tips and Guides FAQ See the Moon Hide a Bright Star In the early morning hours of November 27, catch a rare lunar occultation of Spica visible from parts of the U.S. and Canada. Skywatching Highlights All month – Planet visibility report: Saturn shines in the south most of the night, Jupiter rises in the early evening alongside Taurus and Orion, while Mars trails a couple of hours behind, visible high in the early morning sky. November 4 – Slim crescent Moon pairs with Venus. Enjoy a beautiful sight just after sunset as the Moon and Venus meet up in the southwestern sky. November 10 – Saturn & the Moon. The ringed planet has a close pairing with the Moon tonight (perfect for binoculars) November 27 – Lunar occultation of Spica. Early risers in the eastern U.S. and Canada can catch the Moon passing in front of Spica this morning, briefly hiding the bright star from view. Transcript What’s Up for November? When to look for Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars this month, a NASA spacecraft swings by Venus on its way to the Sun, and the tricky business of seeing the Moon hide a bright star. And stick around until the end for photos of highlights from last month’s skies. Saturn is visible toward the south for most of the night. For observers in the Americas, it has a close meetup with the Moon on the 10th, when the pair will appear less than a degree apart just after dark, making for a great sight through binoculars. Check the sky again around midnight, and you’ll see the Moon has visibly shifted a couple of degrees west of Saturn, showing evidence of the Moon’s orbital motion in just a few hours. In late 2024, Jupiter could be found high overhead as dawn approached with the bright stars of Taurus and Orion. (Jupiter is the bright object at top, right of center.) NASA/Preston Dyches Jupiter is rising in the east early in the night, together with the bright stars of the constellations Taurus and Orion, and working its way across the sky by dawn. By the end of November, it’s rising just as the sky is getting dark. Mars follows behind Jupiter, rising about three hours after the giant planet. As in October, early risers will find the Red Planet high overhead in the morning sky before dawn. In the evening sky, Venus is low in the southwest following sunset throughout the month of November. It’s blazing bright and unmistakable if you find a relatively unobstructed view. It appears much higher in the sky for those in the Southern Hemisphere, who’ll also be able to easily observe Mercury after sunset this month. And on the 4th, a slim crescent Moon will appear just below Venus for a beautiful pairing as the glow of sunset fades. Now, staying with Venus, one of NASA’s intrepid solar system explorers is headed for a close encounter with this Earth-sized hothouse of a planet on November 6th. Parker Solar Probe studies our planet’s nearest star, the Sun. Its mission is to trace the flow of energy that heats the Sun’s outer atmosphere and accelerates the million-mile-per-hour stream of particles it emits. It makes its measurements from super close to the Sun, within the region where all the action happens. To do this, the spacecraft was designed to fly within just 4 million miles of the Sun’s surface, which is 10 times closer than the orbit of the closest planet, Mercury. No other spacecraft has ever gotten this close to the Sun before. In the six years since its launch, the spacecraft has made a bunch of approaches to the Sun, using flybys of the planet Venus to shape its orbit. The November 6th flyby is the final such maneuver, intended to send the spacecraft toward its three closest-ever solar approaches, starting on December 24th. During this last Venus flyby, the mission will capture images of the planet. Previous views returned by Parker showed that the spacecraft could actually see features of the Venusian surface through its dense cloud cover. So look out for Venus in the evening sky, as the brilliant planet helps a craft from Earth to touch the face of the Sun. In the couple of hours before sunrise on November 27th, skywatchers in the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada will have the chance to witness an occultation – an event where the Moon passes in front of, and temporarily hides, a bright star – in this case Spica. Observers in other parts of the world will see the Moon pass extremely close to Spica, but won’t see it cover up the star. This occultation is one of a series that began in June and will continue monthly through late next year. These happen as the Moon’s orbit slowly shifts northward and southward across the sky, and every so often, its path crosses in front of Spica monthly for a time. But each occultation is only visible from a small portion of Earth. For example, while this November event favors North ********* viewers, South ********* observers will get their chance next April. For U.S. skywatchers, this November occultation is the last good opportunity in this series to see the Moon occult Spica until 2032, when a new series of monthly occultations will begin for locations across the globe. Now, if you miss this event, don’t worry! The Moon also passes in front of three other bright stars from time to time. This means that no matter where you’re located, you’ll have the opportunity before too long to witness the impressive sight of a bright star briefly disappearing behind the Moon. Watch our video for views of what some of the highlights we told you about in last month’s video actually looked like. The phases of the Moon for November 2024. NASA/JPL-Caltech Above are the phases of the Moon for November. Stay up to date on all of NASA’s missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov. I’m Preston Dyches from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that’s What’s Up for this month. Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Asteroids, Comets & Meteors Moons Planets Solar System Exploration View the full article

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Pictured left to right, Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps.Credit: SpaceX After spending 235 days in space, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts will discuss their science mission aboard the International Space Station during a post-flight news conference at 3:15 p.m. EST Friday, Nov. 8, from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps will answer questions about their mission. The three crew members, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, returned to Earth on Oct. 25. Grebenkin will not participate because of his travel schedule. NASA will provide live coverage on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of additional platforms, including social media. Media are invited to attend in-person or virtually. For in-person attendance, media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at: *****@*****.tld or 281-483-5111. Media participating by phone must dial into the news conference no later than 10 minutes prior to the start of the event to ask questions. Questions also may be submitted on social media using #AskNASA. A copy of NASA’s media accreditation policy is available on the agency’s website. The crew spent more than seven months in space, including 232 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, traveling nearly 100 million miles, and completing 3,760 orbits around Earth. While living and working aboard station, the crew completed hundreds of science experiments and technology demonstrations. Get the latest NASA space station news, images, and features on Instagram, Facebook, and X. Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: [Hidden Content] -end- Jimi Russell / Claire O’Shea Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 *****@*****.tld / claire.a.o’*****@*****.tld Raegan Scharfetter Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-910-4989 raegan.r*****@*****.tld Share Details Last Updated Nov 01, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsCommercial CrewAstronautsHumans in SpaceInternational Space Station (ISS)ISS ResearchJeanette J. EppsJohnson Space CenterMatthew DominickMichael R. Barratt View the full article

Hubble Space Telescope Home NASA’s Hubble, Webb… Hubble Space Telescope Hubble Home Overview About Hubble The History of Hubble Hubble Timeline Why Have a Telescope in Space? Hubble by the Numbers At the Museum FAQs Impact & Benefits Hubble’s Impact & Benefits Science Impacts Cultural Impact Technology Benefits Impact on Human Spaceflight Astro Community Impacts Science Hubble Science Science Themes Science Highlights Science Behind Discoveries Hubble’s Partners in Science Universe Uncovered Explore the Night Sky Observatory Hubble Observatory Hubble Design Mission Operations Missions to Hubble Hubble vs Webb Team Hubble Team Career Aspirations Hubble Astronauts News Hubble News Hubble News Archive Social Media Media Resources Multimedia Multimedia Images Videos Sonifications Podcasts E-books Lithographs Fact Sheets Glossary Posters Hubble on the NASA App More Online Activities 6 Min Read NASA’s Hubble, Webb Probe Surprisingly Smooth Disk Around Vega Teams of astronomers used the combined power of NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes to revisit the legendary Vega disk. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, S. Wolff (University of Arizona), K. Su (University of Arizona), A. Gáspár (University of Arizona) In the 1997 movie “Contact,” adapted from Carl Sagan’s 1985 novel, the lead character scientist Ellie Arroway (played by actor Jodi Foster) takes a space-alien-built wormhole ride to the star Vega. She emerges inside a snowstorm of debris encircling the star — but no obvious planets are visible. It looks like the filmmakers got it right. A team of astronomers at the University of Arizona, Tucson used NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes for an unprecedented in-depth look at the nearly 100-billion-mile-diameter debris disk encircling Vega. “Between the Hubble and Webb telescopes, you get this very clear view of Vega. It’s a mysterious system because it’s unlike other circumstellar disks we’ve looked at,” said Andras Gáspár of the University of Arizona, a member of the research team. “The Vega disk is smooth, ridiculously smooth.” The big surprise to the research team is that there is no obvious evidence for one or more large planets plowing through the face-on disk like snow tractors. “It’s making us rethink the range and variety among exoplanet systems,” said Kate Su of the University of Arizona, lead author of the paper presenting the Webb findings. A Hubble Space Telescope false-****** view of a 100-billion-mile-wide disk of dust around the summer star Vega. Hubble detects reflected light from dust that is the size of smoke particles largely in a halo on the periphery of the disk. The disk is very smooth, with no evidence of embedded large planets. The ****** spot at the center blocks out the bright glow of the hot young star. The James Webb Space Telescope resolves the glow of warm dust in a disk halo, at 23 billion miles out. The outer disk (analogous to the solar system’s Kuiper Belt) extends from 7 billion miles to 15 billion miles. The inner disk extends from the inner edge of the outer disk down to close proximity to the star. There is a notable dip in surface brightness of the inner disk from approximately 3.7 to 7.2 billion miles. The ****** spot at the center is due to lack of data from saturation. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, S. Wolff (University of Arizona), K. Su (University of Arizona), A. Gáspár (University of Arizona) Download this image Webb sees the infrared glow from a disk of particles the size of sand swirling around the sizzling blue-white star that is 40 times brighter than our Sun. Hubble captures an outer halo of this disk, with particles no ******* than the consistency of smoke that are reflecting starlight. The distribution of dust in the Vega debris disk is layered because the pressure of starlight pushes out the smaller grains faster than larger grains. “Different types of physics will locate different-sized particles at different locations,” said Schuyler Wolff of the University of Arizona team, lead author of the paper presenting the Hubble findings. “The fact that we’re seeing dust particle sizes sorted out can help us understand the underlying dynamics in circumstellar disks.” The Vega disk does have a subtle gap, around 60 AU (astronomical units) from the star (twice the distance of Neptune from the Sun), but otherwise is very smooth all the way in until it is lost in the glare of the star. This shows that there are no planets down at least to Neptune-mass circulating in large orbits, as in our solar system, say the researchers. Hubble acquired this image of the circumstellar disk around the star Vega using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, S. Wolff (University of Arizona), K. Su (University of Arizona), A. Gáspár (University of Arizona) Download this image “We’re seeing in detail how much variety there is among circumstellar disks, and how that variety is tied into the underlying planetary systems. We’re finding a lot out about the planetary systems — even when we can’t see what might be hidden planets,” added Su. “There’s still a lot of unknowns in the planet-formation process, and I think these new observations of Vega are going to help constrain models of planet formation.” Disk Diversity Newly forming stars accrete material from a disk of dust and gas that is the flattened remnant of the cloud from which they are forming. In the mid-1990s Hubble found disks around many newly forming stars. The disks are likely sites of planet formation, migration, and sometimes destruction. Fully matured stars like Vega have dusty disks enriched by ongoing “bumper car” collisions among orbiting asteroids and debris from evaporating comets. These are primordial bodies that can survive up to the present 450-million-year age of Vega (our Sun is approximately ten times older than Vega). Dust within our solar system (seen as the Zodiacal light) is also replenished by minor bodies ejecting dust at a rate of about 10 tons per second. This dust is shoved around by planets. This provides a strategy for detecting planets around other stars without seeing them directly – just by witnessing the effects they have on the dust. “Vega continues to be unusual,” said Wolff. “The architecture of the Vega system is markedly different from our own solar system where giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn are keeping the dust from spreading the way it does with Vega.” Webb acquired this image of the circumstellar disk around the star Vega using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, S. Wolff (University of Arizona), K. Su (University of Arizona), A. Gáspár (University of Arizona) Download this image For comparison, there is a nearby star, Fomalhaut, which is about the same distance, age and temperature as Vega. But Fomalhaut’s circumstellar architecture is greatly different from Vega’s. Fomalhaut has three nested debris belts. Planets are suggested as shepherding bodies around Fomalhaut that gravitationally constrict the dust into rings, though no planets have been positively identified yet. “Given the physical similarity between the stars of Vega and Fomalhaut, why does Fomalhaut seem to have been able to form planets and Vega didn’t?” said team member George Rieke of the University of Arizona, a member of the research team. “What’s the difference? Did the circumstellar environment, or the star itself, create that difference? What’s puzzling is that the same physics is at work in both,” added Wolff. First Clue to Possible Planetary Construction Yards Located in the summer constellation Lyra, Vega is one of the brightest stars in the northern sky. Vega is legendary because it offered the first evidence for material orbiting a star — presumably the stuff for making planets — as potential abodes of life. This was first hypothesized by Immanuel Kant in 1775. But it took over 200 years before the first observational evidence was collected in 1984. A puzzling excess of infrared light from warm dust was detected by NASA’s IRAS (Infrared Astronomy Satellite). It was interpreted as a shell or disk of dust extending twice the orbital radius of Pluto from the star. In 2005, NASA’s infrared Spitzer Space Telescope mapped out a ring of dust around Vega. This was further confirmed by observations using submillimeter telescopes including Caltech’s Submillimeter Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and also the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, and ESA’s (********* Space Agency’s) Herschel Space Telescope, but none of these telescopes could see much detail. “The Hubble and Webb observations together provide so much more detail that they are telling us something completely new about the Vega system that nobody knew before,” said Rieke. Two papers (Wolff et al. and Su et. al.) from the Arizona team will be published in The Astrophysical Journal. 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 (********* Space Agency) and CSA (********* Space Agency). The Hubble Space Telescope has been operating for over three decades and continues to make ground-breaking discoveries that shape our fundamental understanding of the universe. Hubble is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (********* Space Agency). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope and mission operations. Lockheed Martin Space, based in Denver, Colorado, also supports mission operations at Goddard. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, conducts Hubble science operations for NASA. Explore More: Finding Planetary Construction Zones The science paper by Schuyler Wolff et al., PDF (3.24 MB) The science paper by Kate Su et al., PDF (2.10 MB) Facebook logo @NASAHubble @NASAHubble Instagram logo @NASAHubble Facebook logo @NASAWebb @NASAWebb Instagram logo @NASAWebb Media Contacts: Claire Andreoli (*****@*****.tld), Laura Betz (laura.e*****@*****.tld) NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD Ray Villard, Christine Pulliam Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD Share Details Last Updated Nov 01, 2024 Editor Andrea Gianopoulos Location NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Related Terms Astrophysics Goddard Space Flight Center Hubble Space Telescope James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Stars Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From Hubble and Webb Hubble Space Telescope Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe. James Webb Space Telescope Space Telescope Hubble vs. Webb Hubble Focus: Strange New Worlds NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope team has released a new edition in the Hubble Focus e-book series, called “Hubble Focus: Strange… View the full article

“Discipline is one of the things that they instill within you [in the military.] All the way starting in boot camp, [the goal] is doing the right thing when no one is looking. Integrity. “Whenever you’re in boot camp, they always say, ‘it’s too easy.’ It’s just too easy to follow the rules, read the book, read the regulations, and that’s probably why I enjoy contracting. I like reading the regulations and following the regulations. …[Now that I work for Safety and Mission Assurance,] it’s really cool to read everything about the different types of the scenarios. I always get to see the task orders and the type of work that is going on to keep people safe on the ground and in the air.” — Miranda Meyer, Contract Specialist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Image Credit: NASA/Thalia Patrinos Interviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos Check out some of our other Faces of NASA. View the full article

Creating a golden streak in the night sky, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars upward after liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, 2023, on the company’s 27th Commercial Resupply Services mission for the agency to the International Space Station. SpaceX NASA invites the public to participate in virtual activities ahead of the launch of SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission for the agency. NASA and SpaceX are targeting 9:29 p.m. EST Monday, Nov. 4, for the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to launch on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, Dragon will deliver several new experiments, including the COronal Diagnostic EXperiment to examine solar wind and how it forms, as well as Antarctic moss to observe the combined effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity on plants. Other investigations aboard include a device to test cold welding of metals in microgravity and an investigation that studies how space impacts different materials Members of the public can register to attend the launch virtually. As a virtual guest, you’ll gain access to curated resources, interactive opportunities, and mission-specific information delivered straight to your inbox. Following liftoff, virtual guests will receive a commemorative stamp for their virtual guest passport Learn more about NASA research and activities on the International Space Station at: [Hidden Content] View the full article

3 Min Read November’s Night Sky Notes: Snowballs from Space This diagram compares the size of the icy, solid nucleus of comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) to several other comets. The majority of comet nuclei observed are smaller than Halley’s comet. They are typically a mile across or less. Comet C/2014 UN271 is currently the record-holder for big comets. And, it may be just the tip of the iceberg. There could be many more monsters out there for astronomers to identify as sky surveys improve in sensitivity. Though astronomers know this comet must be big to be detected so far out to a distance of over 2 billion miles from Earth, only the Hubble Space Telescope has the sharpness and sensitivity to make a definitive estimate of nucleus size. Credits: Illustration: NASA, ESA, Zena Levy (STScI) by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific If you spotted comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) in person, or seen photos online this October, you might have been inspired to learn more about these visitors from the outer Solar System. Get ready for the next comet and find out how comets are connected to some of our favorite annual astronomy events. Comet Composition A comet is defined as an icy body that is small in size and can develop a ‘tail’ of gas as it approaches the Sun from the outer Solar System. The key traits of a comet are its nucleus, coma, and tail. The nucleus of the comet is comprised of ice, gas, dust, and rock. This central structure can be up to 80 miles wide in some instances, as recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2022 – large for a comet but too small to see with a telescope. As the comet reaches the inner Solar System, the ice from the nucleus starts to vaporize, converting into gas. The gas cloud that forms around the comet as it approaches the Sun is called the coma. This helps give the comet its glow. But beware: much like Icarus, sometimes these bodies don’t survive their journey around the Sun and can fall apart the closer it gets. The most prominent feature is the tail of the comet. Under moderately dark skies, the brightest comets show a dust tail, pointed away from the Sun. When photographing comets, you can sometimes resolve the second tail, made of ionized gases that have been electronically charged by solar radiation. These ion tails can appear bluish, in comparison to the white ****** of the dust tail. The ion tail is also always pointed away from the Sun. In 2007, NASA’s STEREO mission captured images of C/2006 P1 McNaught and its dust tail, stretching over 100 million miles. Studies of those images revealed that solar wind influenced both the ion and dust tail, creating striations – bands – giving both tails a feather appearance in the night sky. Comet McNaught over the Pacific Ocean. Image taken from Paranal Observatory in January 2007. Credits: ESO/Sebastian Deiries Coming and Going Comets appear from beyond Uranus, in the Kuiper Belt, and may even come from as far as the Oort Cloud. These visitors can be short-******* comets like Halley’s Comet, returning every 76 years. This may seem long to us, but long-******* comets like Comet Hale-Bopp, observed from 1996-1997 won’t return to the inner Solar System until the year 4385. Other types include non-periodic comets like NEOWISE, which only pass through our Solar System once. But our experiences of these comets are not limited to the occasional fluffy snowball. As comets orbit the Sun, they can leave a trail of rocky debris in its orbital path. When Earth finds itself passing through one of these debris fields, we experience meteor showers! The most well-known of these is the Perseid meteor shower, caused by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. While this meteor shower happens every August in the northern hemisphere, we won’t see Comet Swift-Tuttle again until the year 2126. The Perseids Meteor Shower. NASA/Preston Dyches See how many comets (and asteroids!) have been discovered on NASA’s Comets page, learn how you can cook up a comet, and check out our mid-month article where we’ll provide tips on how to take astrophotos with your smartphone! View the full article

Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions The Solar System The Sun Mercury Venus Earth The Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto & Dwarf Planets Asteroids, Comets & Meteors The Kuiper Belt The Oort Cloud 2 min read Sols 4350-4351: A Whole Team Effort NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Right Navigation Camera on sol 4348 — Martian day 4,348 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission — on Oct. 29, 2024, at 14:20:08 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech Earth planning date: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 Just like you and me, the Curiosity rover has a few idiosyncratic tendencies — special ways that the rover behaves that we, the team on Earth, have come to understand to be harmless but still throw a curveball to our planning. Unfortunately, the set of activities that were planned to ******** on Monday behaved in one of these special ways — leaving the rover’s arm down on the ground without completing the planned set of activities, including the remainder of our contact science, remote sensing, or drive. When this happens the whole team gets together to review the information Curiosity sends to us, and we ensure as a team that we understand the quirky way the rover acted and that we are good to proceed. While not ideal for keeping up with our scientific cadence, I appreciate these moments because they remind me of all the experts we have evaluating the rover’s health and safety day in and day out. So for today’s plan — we completed the contact science observations of “Reds Meadow” that had been planned on Monday and picked up a second suite of contact science measurements of “Ladder Lake.” Both of these are bedrock targets and the APXS and MAHLI observations we make will continue our characterization of changes in bedrock composition and morphology in this area. We also repeated the remote sensing observations planned on Monday that did not ********. With a fresh set of Rover Planner eyes, we reassessed if the drive planned on Monday was still the best we could do and, impressively, today’s RP agreed. So the drive ******** the same, making excellent progress toward our next imaging waypoint. The remainder of the plan contained our usual atmospheric measurements! We’ll see what Friday holds! Written by Elena Amador-French, Science Operations Coordinator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Share Details Last Updated Nov 01, 2024 Related Terms Blogs Explore More 2 min read Sols 4348-4349: Smoke on the Water Article 1 day ago 2 min read A Spooky Soliday: Haunting Whispers from the Martian Landscape Article 2 days ago 3 min read Sols 4345-4347: Contact Science is Back on the Table Article 3 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It’s the only planet we know of inhabited… All Mars Resources Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,… Rover Basics Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a… Mars Exploration: Science Goals The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA’s four… View the full article

4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) A SWOT data visualization shows water on the northern side of Greenland’s Dickson Fjord at higher levels than on the southern side on Sept. 17, 2023. A huge rockslide into the fjord the previous day led to a tsunami lasting nine days that caused seismic rumbling around the world. NASA Earth Observatory Data from space shows water tilting up toward the north side of the Dickson Fjord as it sloshed from south to north and back every 90 seconds for nine days after a 2023 rockslide. The international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission, a collaboration between NASA and France’s CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales), detected the unique contours of a tsunami that sloshed within the steep walls of a fjord in Greenland in September 2023. Triggered by a massive rockslide, the tsunami generated a seismic rumble that reverberated around the world for nine days. An international research team that included seismologists, geophysicists, and oceanographers recently reported on the event after a year of analyzing data. The SWOT satellite collected water elevation measurements in Dickson Fjord on Sept. 17, 2023, the day after the initial rockslide and tsunami. The data was compared with measurements made under normal conditions a few weeks prior, on Aug. 6, 2023. In the data visualization (above), colors toward the red end of the scale indicate higher water levels, and blue colors indicate lower-than-normal levels. The data suggests that water levels at some points along the north side of the fjord were as much as 4 feet (1.2 meters) higher than on the south. “SWOT happened to fly over at a time when the water had piled up pretty high against the north wall of the fjord,” said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “Seeing the shape of the wave — that’s something we could never do before SWOT.” In a paper published recently in Science, researchers traced a seismic signal back to a tsunami that began when more than 880 million cubic feet of rock and ice (25 million cubic meters) fell into Dickson Fjord. Part of a network of channels on Greenland’s eastern coast, the fjord is about 1,772 feet (540 meters) deep and 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) wide, with walls taller than 6,000 feet (1,830 meters). Far from the open ocean, in a confined space, the energy of the tsunami’s motion had limited opportunity to dissipate, so the wave moved back and forth about every 90 seconds for nine days. It caused tremors recorded on seismic instruments thousands of miles away. From about 560 miles (900 kilometers) above, SWOT uses its sophisticated Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) instrument to measure the height of nearly all water on Earth’s surface, including the ocean and freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. “This observation also shows SWOT’s ability to monitor hazards, potentially helping in disaster preparedness and risk reduction,” said SWOT program scientist Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. It can also see into fjords, as it turns out. “The KaRIn radar’s resolution was fine enough to make observations between the relatively narrow walls of the fjord,” said Lee-Lueng ***, the SWOT project scientist. “The footprint of the conventional altimeters used to measure ocean height is too large to resolve such a small body of water.” More About SWOT Launched in December 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, SWOT is now in its operations phase, collecting data that will be used for research and other purposes. The SWOT satellite was jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the ********* Space Agency (CSA) and the *** Space Agency. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, leads the U.S. component of the project. For the flight system payload, NASA provided the KaRIn instrument, a GPS science receiver, a laser retroreflector, a two-beam microwave radiometer, and NASA instrument operations. CNES provided the Doppler Orbitography and Radioposition Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) system, the dual frequency Poseidon altimeter (developed by Thales Alenia Space), the KaRIn radio-frequency subsystem (together with Thales Alenia Space and with support from the *** Space Agency), the satellite platform, and ground operations. CSA provided the KaRIn high-power transmitter assembly. NASA provided the launch vehicle and the agency’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the associated launch services. To learn more about SWOT, visit: [Hidden Content] News Media Contacts Jane J. Lee / Andrew Wang Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874 *****@*****.tld / *****@*****.tld 2024-153 Share Details Last Updated Oct 31, 2024 Related TermsSWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography)EarthEarth ScienceEarth Science DivisionJet Propulsion Laboratory Explore More 6 min read Why NASA’s SPHEREx Mission Will Make ‘Most Colorful’ Cosmic Map Ever Article 7 hours ago 4 min read NASA’s Perseverance Captures ‘Googly Eye’ During Solar Eclipse Article 1 day ago 2 min read NASA Brings Drone and Space Rover to Air Show Article 1 day ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics Missions Humans in Space Climate Change Solar System View the full article

2024 Blue Origin and KBR Dinner.10.30.24 JASWDC Gala.10.30.24 SPI GWU Dinner.10.30.24 36th Annual Dr. Wernher von Braun Memorial Dinner 2024 Keystone Space Conference 2024 IAC Event WIA Reception and Awards Dinner.10.10.24 2024 JPL Europa Clipper Launch Reception.10.8.24 SPI GWU Dinner.9.18.24 2024 VASBA HR AUVSI Gala Blue Origin Reception.8.27.24 AIA & Amazon Reception.8.26.24 Exolaunch Reception.8.7.24 Farnborough Air Show.7.20-21.24 Artemis II SLS Roll Out Reception.7.15.24 Astroscale Reception Tokyo.7.12.24 Brooke Owens Fellowship Dinner.7.11.24 SpaceX GOES-U Launch MSBR lunch.6.18.24 NAA Collier Dinner.6.13.24 Greater Cleveland Partnership.6.13-14.24 VAST Space LLC.6.12.24 Coalition for Deep Space Exploration Return to the Moon.6.5.24 The 2024 Infinite Exhibit Grand Opening AIA and ******* Embassy Reception.6.4.24 AIA and British Embassy Reception.5.22.24 Space Foundation Event.5.16.24 Foundation Fratelli Tutti Dinners.5.10-11.24 MSBR STEM Gala.5.10.24 H2M Conference and Event.5.7-8.24 SPI/GW Dinner.5.1.24 Astrolab and Axiom.4.30.24 2024 Monthly NSCFL Luncheon MEI 77th Annual Gala.4.17.24 Crowell & Moring Reception.4.16.24 2024 ASF Hall of Fame Gala 2024 Space Heroes and Legends Awards Dinner SpaceX Symposium Reception.4.10.24 39th Space Symposium Supplemental 39th Space Symposium Main Events SPI GWU Dinner.4.5.24 Goddard Memorial Dinner.3.22.24 SPI GW Dinner.3.20.24 AIA and Amazon Reception.3.19.24 MSBR Lunch.3.19.24 AIAA Awards Gala.3.15.24 NASM Event.3.6.24 Planetary Society.3.5.24 Embassy of Australia and Space Foundation.2.29.24 SPI/GWO Dinner.2.27.24 2024 Artemis Suppliers Conference BDB Engineering Award Event 2024 Aerospace Days Legislative Reception 2024 NG-20 CRS Launch IDGA 17th Annual Event.1.23 – 24.24 MSBR Lunch 1.16.24 Latino Biden-Harris Appointees Reception.1.11.24 STA Reception.1.11.24 2024 Axiom Space AX-3 Launch Reception 2023 2023 Astrobotic PM1 PreLaunch Reception AERO Club Awards Dinner.12.15.23 WIA Dinner.12.13.23 MSBR Lunch.12.12.23 SCL and GBM Foundation Reception.12.11.23 LASP and Ball Aerospace Reception.12.11.23 Bayou Classic Brunch L Oreal USA for Women Event.11.16.23 AAIA Reception.11.15.23 KBR Welcome Reception.11.14.23 SPI GWU Dinner 11.15.23 Museum of Natural History Board Events 11.2.23 USF Reception.10.24.23 Blue Origin KBR Reception 2023 Von Braun Memorial Dinner Planet Labs PBC Reception.10.26.23 ELI Reception Dinner.10.24.23 OSIRIS REX RECEPTION.10.17.23 WIA Reception and Award Dinner.10.12.23 National Space Club Banquet 2023 Space Foundation and Airbus.10.3.23 IAC Event NAHF Dinner Ceremony.9.22.23 2023 VASBA HR AUVSI Gala and Symposium 2023 Psyche Mission Team SPI GWU Dinner 9.13.23 AIA Congress Space Reception.9.7.23 MSBR Lunch 8.16.23 WAG NG CRS 7-24-23 2023 ASF Innovators Gala Space Foundation Reception 7.19.23 Chamber of Commerce Reception.7.13.23 ECI Fellows Meeting.7.12 to 7.14.23 Embassy of Italy and ******* Galactic.7.12.23 JWST Reception 7.13.23 Brook Owens Fellowship Dinner 7.13.23 Comteck and Airbus Space Defense 07.11.23. Calgary Stampede.7.7.23 CLD Reception.6.20.23 CFA SAO Reception.6.15.23 Paris Air Show.6.17-20.23 UCAR Reception 6.7.23 Space Forum 2023 Rocket Lab TROPICS.5.18.23 2023 Axiom Space AX-2 Launch Event WAG SW SPI Dinner 5.9.23 H2M WAG 2023 MSBR STEM Gala 5.5.23 AIAA Awards Gala Event 5.18.23 38th Space Symposium 4.16 to 4.20.23 Planet Labs PGC Reception.4.13.23 AL-23-009 RNASA 2023 TEMPO Pre-Launch Reception MSBR Lunch 4.4.23 Coalition for Deep Space Exploration SLS Orion EGS Gateway Suppliers 3.26.23 Orion SLS Conference 3.27 to 3.28.23 EWDC Event.3.23.23 2023 Agency WAG Debus Award Banquet VHMC And Boeing Reception 3.18.23 Ball Aerospace Kinship Reception 3.15.23 Airbus Defence Event 3.14.23 Terran Orbital Event 3.15.23 SpaceX Satellite Reception 3.13.23 SPI GWU Dinner 3.9.23 Goddard Memorial Dinner 3.10.23 2023 Agency Wag AHOF Gala Space Foundation Event 2.16.23 BDB National Engineers Week 2023 Banquet MSBR Lunch 2.28.23 STA Luncheon 2.7.23 WSBR Reception 2.1.23 SPI GWU SWF Reception 1.31.23 Artemis I Splashdown 01.17.23 MSBR Lunch 1.17.23 2022 GRC An Evening With the Stars 8.30.22 JPL 25 Years on Mars Reception 7.27.22 SPI GWU Dinner 7.6.22 Berlin Air Show 6.22-26.22 MSBR Lunch 6.21.22 KSC Gateway VIP Rception 6.14.22 MSBR Dinner Gala 6.10.22 NAA Robert J. Collier Awards Dinner 6.9.22 Advanced Space and Rocket Lab Capstone Event 6.8.22 AIA Challenger Center Reception 6.2.22 2022 H2M Summit 5.17-19.22 MSBR Lunch 5.17.22 FCW GovExec Awards Dinner 5.12.22 Meta Reception 5.4.22 JSC RNASA Luncheon and Dinner 4.29.22 Coalition for Deep Space Reception 4.28.22 SLS Orion EGS Suppliers Conference 4.28-29.22 SPI GWU Dinner 4.27.22 AIAA Awards Gala Dinner 4.27.22 MSBR Luncheon 4.19.2022 Arianespace Northrop Grumman JWST Reception 4.5.22 37th Space Symposium 4.4 to 7.22 Axiom Space Launch Event 3.30.22 Heinrich Boell Foundation Dinner 3.30.22 Aarianespace Reception 3.23.22 SIA Conference Events 3.21-23.22 Revised Satellite Industry Association Reception 3.21.22 Goddard Memorial Dinner 3.18.22 GOES-T Post-Launch Reception 3.1.22 Goes-T L3 Harris Reception 3.1.22 Christopher Newport University Dinner 02.23.22 NG-17 CRS Launch Events VA 2.19.22 SPI GWU Dinner 02.04.2022 MSBR Dinner 01.18.2022 KSC CCTS Spaceport Summit 1.11-12.22 2021 JWST Launch 12.25.21 Aero Club Awards Reception 12.17.21 KSC NSC Celebrate Space 12.10.21 AGI Ansys Reception 12.10.21 KSC Ball Aerospace IXPE Launch Celebration Reception 12.7.21 WIA Awards Dinner 12.2.21 National Space Council Recognition Reception 12.1.21 SPI Dinner 11.16.21 AIAA ASCEND Event 11.15.21 AIAA Ascend 2021 Reception Dinner Las Vegs 11.14.21 KSC Astronaut Hall of Fame Event 11.13.21 KSC DNC Taste of Space Event 11.5.21 SPI Dinner 11.2.21 IAC Closing Gala 10.29.21 GRC Evening With The Stars 10.27.21 Goddard Memorial Awards Dinner 10.22.21 IAC 2021 Lucy Post Launch Dinner 10.16.21 KSC Lucy Launch Mission Events 10.12-13.21 ******* Airlines Reception 10.12.21 Blue Origin Launch 10.12.21 SPI Dinner on or about 9.28.21 Goddard Memorial Dinner 9.17.21 CANCELLED SPI Dinner 9.7.21 RNASA Awards Dinner and Luncheon 9.3.21 GRC Evening With the Stars 8.31.21 FED100 Gala Awards Dinner 8.27.21 Addendum to 36th Space Symposium 8.22-26.21 36th Space Symposium 8.22-26.21 KSC ASF Innovators Gala 8.14.21 NG16 Launch Events 8.10.21 LaRC Virginia Space Reception 7.30.21 KSC 2021 Debus Award Dinner 7.30.21 Coalition for Deep Space 07.22.21 KSC Lockheed WAS Star Center Reception 7.15.21 2020 ******* Launch Alliance Satellite 2020 Reception 3.10.20 SpaceX Reception 3.9.20 U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2020 Aviation Summit 3.5.20 Maryland Space Business Roundtable Lunch 2.18.20 SLS Orion Suppliers Conference 2.12.20 Coalition for Deep Space Exploration Reception 2.11.20 Northrop Grumman NG-13 CRS Launch Events 2.9.20 VA UAS AeroSpace Legislative Reception 1.29.20 MSBR Lunch 1.21.20 Guidance Keough School of Global Affairs 1.16.20 Boeing Orbital Flight Test Launch Events 12.20.19 ******* Space Reception 12.17.19 SEA Summit 12.17.19 Wright Memorial Dinner 12.13.19 Analytical Graphics AGI Reception 12.13.19 Ball Reception 12.10.19 MSBR Lunch 12.3.19 Plant Reception 11.20.19 JSC Spacecom Conference VIP Reception 11.20.19 JSC Spacecom Conference Reception 11.19.19 SAIC BSU STEM Roundtable 11.07.19 Apollo *** Productions Ltd 7.10.19 SpaceX Satellite Reception 5.6.19 SPI GWU Dinner 5.1.19 AIAA Reception 4.30.19 MSBR Lunch 1.21.20 MSBR Lunch 1.21.20 View the full article

Bone cellsNASA Malcolm O’Malley and his mom sat nervously in the doctor’s office awaiting the results of his bloodwork. This was no ordinary check-up. In fact, this appointment was more urgent and important than the SATs the seventeen-year-old, college hopeful had spent months preparing for and was now missing in order to understand his symptoms. But when the doctor shared the results – he had off-the-charts levels of antibodies making him deathly allergic to shellfish – O’Malley realized he had more questions than answers. Like: Why is my immune system doing this? How is it working? Why is it reacting so severely and so suddenly (he’d enjoyed shrimp less than a year ago)? And why does the only treatment – an injection of epinephrine – have nothing to do with the immune system, when allergies appear to be an immune system problem? Years later, O’Malley would look to answer some of these questions while interning in the Space Biosciences Research Branch at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “Anaphylaxis is super deadly and the only treatment for it is epinephrine; and I remember thinking, ‘how is this the best we have?’ because epinephrine does not actually treat the immune system at all – it’s just adrenaline,” said O’Malley, who recently returned to his studies as a Ph.D. student of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville. “And there’s a thousand side effects, like heart attacks and ******* – I remember thinking ‘these are worse than the allergy!’” O’Malley’s curiosity and ******* to better understand the mechanisms and connections between what triggers different immune system reactions combined with his interest in integrating datasets into biological insights inspired him to shift his major from computer science to biomedical engineering as an undergraduate student. With his recent allergy diagnosis and a lifelong connection to his aunt who worked at the UVA Heart and Vascular Center, O’Malley began to build a bridge between the immune system and heart health. By the time he was a senior in college, he had joined the Cardiac Systems Biology Lab, and had chosen to focus his capstone project on better understanding the role of neutrophils, a specific type of immune cell making up 50 to 70% of the immune system, that are involved in cardiac inflammation in high blood pressure and after heart attacks. jsc2022e083018 (10/26/2022) — A preflight image of beating cardiac spheroid composed of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs), endothelial cells (ECs), and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). These cells are incubated and put under the microscope in space as part of the Effect of Microgravity on ***** Responses Using Heart Organoids (Cardinal Heart 2.0) investigation. Image courtesy of Drs. Joseph Wu, Dilip Thomas and Xu Cao, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute “The immune system is involved in everything,” O’Malley says. “Anytime there’s an injury – a paper cut, a heart *******, you’re ***** – the immune system is going to be the first to respond; and neutrophils are the first responders.” O’Malley’s work to determine what regulates the immune system’s interrelated responses – like how one cell could affect other cells or immune processes downstream – provided a unique opportunity for him to support multiple interdisciplinary NASA biological and physical sciences research projects during his 10-week internship at NASA Ames over the summer of 2024. O’Malley applied machine learning techniques to the large datasets the researchers were using from experiments and specimens collected over many years to help identify possible causes of inflammation seen in the heart, brain, and blood, as well as changes seen in bones, metabolism, the immune system, and more when humans or other model organisms are exposed to decreased gravity, social isolation, and increased radiation. These areas are of keen interest to NASA due to the risks to human health inherent in space exploration and the agency’s plans to send humans on long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. “It’s exciting that we just never know what’s going to happen, how the immune system is going to react until it’s already been activated or challenged in some way,” said O’Malley. “I’m particularly interested in the adaptive immune system because it’s always evolving to meet new challenges; whether it’s a pandemic-level virus, bacteria or something on a mission to Mars, our bodies are going to have some kind of adaptive immune response.” During his NASA internship, O’Malley applied a statistical analysis techniques to plot and make more sense of the massive amounts of life sciences data. From there, researchers could find out which proteins, out of hundreds, or attributes – like differences in **** – are related to which behaviors or outcomes. For example, through O’Malley’s analysis, researchers were able to better pinpoint the proteins involved in inflammation of the brain that may play a protective role in spatial memory and motor control during and after exposure to radiation – and how we might be able to prevent or mitigate those impacts during future space missions and even here on Earth. As someone who’s both ****** and white, representation is important to me. It’s inspiring to think there will be people like me on the Moon – and that I’m playing a role in making this happen Malcolm o'malley Former NASA Intern “I had this moment where I realized that since my internship supports NASA’s Human Research Program that means the work I’m doing directly applies to Artemis, which is sending the first woman and person of ****** to the Moon,” reflected O’Malley. “As someone who’s both ****** and white, representation is important to me. It’s inspiring to think there will be people like me on the Moon – and that I’m playing a role in making this happen.” Artist conception of a future Artemis Base Camp on the lunar surface NASA When O’Malley wasn’t exploring the mysteries of the immune system for the benefit of all at NASA Ames, he taught himself how to ride a bike and started to surf in the nearby waters of the Pacific Ocean. O’Malley considers Palmyra, Virginia, his hometown and he enjoys playing sports – especially volleyball, water polo, and tennis – reading science fiction and giving guest lectures to local high school students hoping to spark their curiosity. O’Malley’s vision for the future of biomedical engineering reflects his passion for innovation. “I believe that by harnessing the unique immune properties of other species, we can achieve groundbreaking advancements in limb regeneration, revolutionize ******* therapy, and develop potent antimicrobials that are considered science fiction today,” he said. View the full article

NASA/JPL-Caltech This 2013 image taken by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, captures a nebula that looks like a witch screaming. Perhaps that imagined scream is a creation spell, for the Witch Hat nebula’s billowy clouds are a star nursery. We can see these clouds thanks to massive stars lighting them up; dust in the cloud is being hit with starlight, causing it to glow with infrared light, which was picked up by WISE’s detectors. WISE launched to near-Earth orbit on Dec. 14, 2009, and surveyed the full sky in four infrared wavelength bands until the frozen hydrogen cooling the telescope was depleted in September 2010. The spacecraft was placed into hibernation in February 2011, having completed its primary astrophysics mission. In late 2013, the spacecraft was resurrected – no incantation needed – when NASA’s Planetary Science Division gave it a new mission and a new name: NEOWISE. The spacecraft began helping NASA identify and describe near-Earth objects (NEOs). NEOs are comets and asteroids that have been nudged into orbits that allow them to enter Earth’s neighborhood. NEOWISE was decommissioned Aug. 8, 2024, and placed into hibernation for the last time, ending its career as an active asteroid hunter. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech View the full article