Tag: NASA

  • NASA Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Richard Hang, AFRC

    NASA Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Richard Hang, AFRC

    Richard Hang, an electronic engineer, has served as the Chief of Sensors and Systems Development Branch at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) since 2014. He previously served as the Chief of Instrumentation Branch at AFRC from 2012 to 2014. Prior to being selected as Branch Chief, he was a senior instrumentation engineer for design and development of real-time embedded data systems for flight research. He has been a NASA employee since September, 1996.

  • Kudos from NASA Administrator for Elementary School CubeSat Deployed into Space

    Kudos from NASA Administrator for Elementary School CubeSat Deployed into Space

    NASA Administrator Charles Bolden recorded a congratulatory video message to students at St. Thomas More Cathedral School in Arlington, Virginia on becoming the first elementary school to build a small satellite and have it launched into space. On May 16, the school’s St. Thomas More (STM Sat-1), was deployed from the International Space Station. STMSat-1 was launched to the ISS on Dec. 6, 2015 aboard an Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo resupply spacecraft as part of NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) IX mission. The STMSat-1 mission is an educational mission to provide hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities with an on-orbit mission to photograph the Earth and transmit images to our primary ground station and to remote ground stations throughout the country.

  • NASA Hosts Students of Beating the Odds Foundation

    NASA Hosts Students of Beating the Odds Foundation

    NASA Administrator Charles Bolden welcomed this year’s Beating the Odds Foundation/Student Success and Leadership Program participants to NASA HQ. They heard from Human Research Program Director for the Twin Study, Dr. John Charles and planetary scientist, Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman, who discussed NASA’s search for life in the Universe. Student teams presented results of research they conducted on the Twin Study using the Foundation’s Stepping Stones to Success model. This informal partnership between NASA Headquarters and the Beating the Odds Foundation, now in its third year, demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating formal education and NASA missions.

  • NASA Dedicates Facility to Mathematician, Presidential Medal Winner

    NASA Dedicates Facility to Mathematician, Presidential Medal Winner

    NASA commemorated the many contributions of retired mathematician Katherine Johnson to America’s space program during a building dedication ceremony on May 5, at the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Langley’s new Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility was formally dedicated to the venerated mathematician and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.

    Johnson worked at Langley from 1953 until her retirement in 1986, beginning as a research mathematician — part of a pool of women hired to perform mathematical equations and calculations by hand for engineers. She quickly distinguished herself and was permanently assigned to the branch that would later calculate the launch windows for NASA’s first Project Mercury flights.

    Notable accomplishments include her computation, by hand, of the launch window and trajectory for Alan Shepard’s maiden space voyage aboard Freedom 7 in 1961, and verification, also by hand, of calculations made by the first computers for John Glenn’s history-making orbit around the Earth in 1962. She also calculated the trajectory for the historic Apollo 11 first moon landing flight in 1969.

  • Women @NASA: Charlie Blackwell-Thompson

    Women @NASA: Charlie Blackwell-Thompson

    Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame introduces us to Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Space Launch System/Orion Launch Director.

    http://www.nasa.gov/feature/blackwell-thompson-named-launch-director-for-slsorion

  • Window to Earth: NASA Partners with IMAX for ‘A Beautiful Planet’

    Window to Earth: NASA Partners with IMAX for ‘A Beautiful Planet’

    ‘A Beautiful Planet’ stars Earth as seen from space by astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the orbiting laboratory. Shooting spanned multiple expeditions with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Terry Virts, and Barry “Butch” Wilmore as well as former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly volunteering as filmmakers during their time on station.

  • NASA Celebrates Earth Day

    NASA Celebrates Earth Day

    On April 22nd, Earth Day is an annual world wide celebration in support of environmental protection. NASA undertakes various efforts to protect and understand our home planet. NASA wants to capture what people all around the world are doing to protect, improve and celebrate Earth… So, where on EARTH will you be? http://www.nasa.gov/24Seven #24Seven

  • NASA Astronauts Talk About Life Aboard the ISS

    NASA Astronauts Talk About Life Aboard the ISS

    Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams of NASA discussed the pace of research on the orbital lab and recent cargo vehicle deliveries in an in-flight interview April 7 with NBC News’ website Today.com. Kopra is in the second half of a six-month mission on the station while Williams, who is in his third long duration flight on the complex, is nearing the completion of the first month of his half-year stay on the outpost.

  • Suited Test in Orion on This Week @NASA – April 1, 2016

    Suited Test in Orion on This Week @NASA – April 1, 2016

    Engineers at Johnson Space Center in Houston are using a mockup of NASA’s Orion spacecraft to evaluate how well astronauts are able to operate Orion’s rotational hand controller and cursor control device, while dressed in spacesuits. The controllers operate the displays and control system used to maneuver and interact with the spacecraft. The testing aims to provide data that can be used to make adjustments needed to ensure future Orion crews can interact appropriately with the spacecraft’s control system during deep space missions. Also, Milestone for Spaceport of the Future, Russian Supply Ship Launches to ISS, Team Selected to Build Planet-Hunting Instrument, First Heat Map of Super Earth and Milestone for Green Propellant Mission!

  • Bolden testifies on FY 2017 NASA budget on This Week @NASA – March 11, 2016

    Bolden testifies on FY 2017 NASA budget on This Week @NASA – March 11, 2016

    During a March 10 hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden testified about the $19 billion dollar Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposed for the agency by President Obama. In his remarks, the Administrator outlined the many benefits that this investment in NASA’s present will yield for the future. The funding will enable a future where we send American astronauts to Mars in the 2030s; where more Americans work in good-paying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) based careers; where future generations can breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water, and fly on cleaner, greener, more fuel-efficient aircraft; and a future where humankind has a deeper understanding of our universe, our place in it, and our own planet. Also, First SLS Flight Engine Test, New SLS Rocket Test Stand “Topped Out”, Crew Previews Upcoming Mission to ISS, Total Solar Eclipse, and Dawn’s Anniversary Image of Ceres

  • A Total Celestial Wonder

    A Total Celestial Wonder

    (Silent Video)

    NASA collaborated with the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the National Science Foundation to provide live coverage of the 2016 total solar eclipse from Micronesia, on March 8. The fully eclipsed sun was visible from only a few Pacific islands, but the live broadcast made the phenomenon available to millions of people around the world.

  • NASA Begins Work to Build a Quieter Supersonic Passenger Jet

    NASA Begins Work to Build a Quieter Supersonic Passenger Jet

    The return of supersonic passenger air travel is one step closer to reality with NASA’s award of a contract for the preliminary design of a “low boom” flight demonstration aircraft. This is the first in a series of ‘X-planes’ in NASA’s New Aviation Horizons initiative, introduced in the agency’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

    NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced the award at an event Monday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

    Participants:
    NASA Administrator, Charlie Bolden
    Associate Administrator, Jaiwon Shin
    David Melcher of the Aeronautic Industry Association

  • The One-Year Crew returns on This Week @NASA – March 4, 2016

    The One-Year Crew returns on This Week @NASA – March 4, 2016

    After spending nearly a year aboard the International Space Station — conducting a host of biomedical and psychological research on the impacts of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, NASA’s Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko of the Russian space agency Roscosmos wrapped up their historic mission on March 1 – with a safe parachute landing in Kazakhstan . Just over a day, later – at Houston’s Ellington Field, near Johnson Space Center, a host of family, colleagues and VIPs welcomed Kelly back to the United States, including Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. John P. Holdren, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. There were cheers, embraces and expressions of appreciation for his efforts to help advance deep space exploration and America’s Journey to Mars. Also, Next ISS crew heads to launch site, “Low boom” aircraft, Orion Service Module’s solar array wing deployment and more!

  • NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly Reflects on His Year in Space

    NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly Reflects on His Year in Space

    Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA reflected on his year aboard the orbital laboratory and the accomplishments he and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos have chalked up during their year-long mission in an in-flight interview recorded Jan. 28 with NASA Public Affairs Officer Rob Navias of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kelly and Kornienko are scheduled to land March 1, U.S. time (March 2, Kazakhstan time) in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to complete a 340-day mission in which they collected valuable biomedical data on the long duration effects of weightlessness that will be used to formulate a human mission to Mars.

  • Our NASA is strong on This Week @NASA – February 12, 2016

    Our NASA is strong on This Week @NASA – February 12, 2016

    During his Feb. 9 State of NASA speech at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va, Administrator Charles Bolden characterized President Obama’s $19 billion Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal for NASA as a vote of confidence and an indication of the agency’s strength. Bolden noted that the investments in the FY2017 budget proposal will empower NASA to continue to work with partners both in and out of government to develop the technologies that drive exploration – to build an even stronger future in which NASA continues reaching for new heights for the benefit of all humankind. Also, Space station one-year crew update, Increased land water slows sea level rise, Gravitational waves detected, and more!

  • Administrator Bolden Discusses the ‘State of NASA’

    Administrator Bolden Discusses the ‘State of NASA’

    On Tuesday, Feb. 9, as part of the rollout of President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal for NASA, Administrator Charles Bolden delivered a “State of NASA” speech at the agency’s Langley Research Center, in Hampton, Va. During the speech, Bolden highlighted key work and advancements by the agency during the last few years and discussed some of the future goals the agency continues to work toward, including exploration of Mars and elsewhere in our solar system and beyond, aeronautics research, development of technology to enable humans to explore deep space, and research aboard the International Space Station for the benefit of life on Earth and for astronauts on long duration space missions.

  • Welcome to NASA

    Welcome to NASA

    A visual highlight of the people involved in the innovative technologies developed and under development, as well as the scientific discoveries made as NASA explores and studies our changing Earth and our universe, and continues to make advancements in green, next-generation air travel.

  • NASA Day of Remembrance

    NASA Day of Remembrance

    January 28th 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle Challenger. NASA Day of Remembrance commemorates the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia; along with all the members of its family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery.

  • NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on Commercial Space

    NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on Commercial Space

    NASA is on a Journey to Mars and commercial space is a key component of our strategy to send American astronauts to the Red Planet in the 2030s.
    In 2010 when President Obama laid out his vision for space exploration, it may have been hard to believe that six years later we’d be regularly transporting cargo to the International Space Station on commercial spacecraft, or that we’d be on the verge of returning launches of American astronauts to the Station from U.S. soil on the spacecraft built by American companies.
    Today, that’s our reality.
    SpaceX and Orbital ATK are the first commercial space companies to deliver cargo to the ISS.
    We’ve also ordered the first missions from SpaceX and The Boeing Company — the first American companies that will carry American astronauts to space. The first astronauts are now training for test flights aboard commercial spacecraft in preparation for those missions.
    We are closer than ever before to sending American astronauts to Mars. We’re “insourcing” American jobs and empowering American entrepreneurs and innovators to expand the new commercial market in low-earth orbit.
    Today, we’re marking another significant milestone. We are announcing the companies that will continue our successful commercial cargo program until at least 2024. This phase of the program will allow us to continue using the Space Station as our springboard to the rest of the solar system and a test bed for human health in space.
    Our investment in commercial space is creating jobs and it’s bringing us closer to sending American astronauts to Mars. With the commercial cargo successes to date and our announcement today – I am very confident that commercial space will continue to propel our nation into the future – we’ll continue to Launch America.

  • NASA astronomical findings highlighted on This Week @NASA – January 8, 2016

    NASA astronomical findings highlighted on This Week @NASA – January 8, 2016

    New NASA astrophysics findings were highlighted at the 227th American Astronomical Society meeting, Jan. 4-8 in Kissimmee, Florida. The findings, which ranged from runaway stars to a burping galaxy, were made with the help of several NASA observation instruments, including the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array and others. Also, Next space station crew preparing for mission, Economical new era of aviation, A new level of coral reef studies and more!

  • Happy New Year 2016 from NASA

    Happy New Year 2016 from NASA

    2015 was an incredible year for aeronautics research, human exploration, earth science, space science, and technology. We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for 2016.

    From all of us here at NASA… Happy New Year.

  • Season’s Greetings from NASA

    Season’s Greetings from NASA

    Mars is not the only place to explore during holidays. Follow our little Robot as he surveys his new surroundings. This holiday house is full of NASA treats… see if you can spot them all.

    From our family to yours… Season’s Greetings, from NASA.

  • NASA 2016 Look Ahead

    NASA 2016 Look Ahead

    The work NASA does, and will continue in 2016, helps the United States maintain its world leadership in space exploration and scientific discovery. The agency will continue investing in its journey to Mars, returning human spaceflight launches from American soil, fostering groundbreaking technology development, breakthroughs in aeronautics and bringing to every American the awe-inspiring discoveries and images captured by NASA’s missions in our solar system and beyond.

    For more about NASA’s missions, research and discoveries, visit:

    http://www.nasa.gov

  • NASA Reaches New Heights in 2015

    NASA Reaches New Heights in 2015

    As 2015 comes to a close we look back at an exciting year of reaching new heights and revealing the unknown for the benefit of humankind.

  • What Happened This Year @NASA December 21, 2015

    What Happened This Year @NASA December 21, 2015

    In 2015, NASA explored the expanse of our solar system and beyond, and the complex processes of our home planet, while also advancing the technologies for our journey to Mars, and new aviation systems as the agency reached new milestones aboard the International Space Station. Here’s a look at some of the top NASA stories of the year!

  • Space Station Astronauts Return Safely to Earth on This Week @NASA – December 11, 2015

    Space Station Astronauts Return Safely to Earth on This Week @NASA – December 11, 2015

    On Dec. 11 aboard the International Space Station, NASA’s Kjell Lindgren, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, bid farewell to crew members remaining on the station — including Commander Scott Kelly, NASA’s one-year mission astronaut. The returning members of Expedition 45 then climbed aboard their Soyuz spacecraft for the trip back to Earth. They safely touched down hours later in Kazakhstan – closing out a 141-day stay in space. Also, Next space station crew prepares for launch, Supply mission arrives at space station, Quantum computing lab and more!

  • NASA Launches Go Ultra-High Definition

    NASA Launches Go Ultra-High Definition

    NASA Television’s newest offering, NASA TV UHD, brings ultra-high definition video to a new level with the kind of imagery only the world’s leader in space exploration could provide.

    Using an array of six 4K+ cameras, Harmonic documented the Dec. 6 launch of Orbital ATK’s commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Capturing footage at Ultra High Definition with high frame rate and in high dynamic range (HDR) options.

    The company then post-produced the footage into a program showcasing the entire launch process for airing on NASA TV UHD.

    For more info: http://go.nasa.gov/1lyUGlY

  • A chat with Congress, from space on This Week @NASA – December 4, 2015

    A chat with Congress, from space on This Week @NASA – December 4, 2015

    A Dec. 2 event with the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology, featured a live chat with NASA’s Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren from onboard the International Space Station. Kelly and Lindgren answered questions from Texas Representative and Chairperson Lamar Smith and other committee members, about life on the station and the research on the orbital laboratory. Kelly is in the ninth month of his year-long mission with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko to gather biomedical data that will help formulate a human mission to Mars, while Lindgren is preparing to return to Earth Dec. 11 to complete a 141-day mission. Also, Next space station crew preparing for launch, Orion powerhouse ready for testing, Anniversary of Orion’s first flight test, Your planet is changing. We’re on it, and Preparing Earth observation tool for space station!

  • NASA Mathematician, Recipient of Nations Highest Civilian Honor

    NASA Mathematician, Recipient of Nations Highest Civilian Honor

    Katherine Johnson spent more than three decades as a mathematician at NASA and the NACA.

  • Advancing the Journey to Mars on This Week @NASA – October 30, 2015

    Advancing the Journey to Mars on This Week @NASA – October 30, 2015

    During an Oct. 28 keynote speech at the Center for American Progress, in Washington, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden spoke about the advancement made on the journey to Mars and what lies ahead for future administrations and policy makers. NASA’s recently released report “Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration,” outlines its plan to reach Mars in phases – with technology demonstrations and research aboard the International Space Station, followed by hardware and procedure development in the proving ground around the moon, before sending humans to the Red Planet. Also, Space station spacewalk, Another record in space for Kelly, Mars Landing Sites/ Exploration Zones Workshop, Cassini’s “deep dive” flyby and more!

  • NASA & USDA teams to plant seeds Today on This Week @NASA – October 9, 2015

    NASA & USDA teams to plant seeds Today on This Week @NASA – October 9, 2015

    On Monday, October 5th, NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden planted “Outredgeous” Red Romaine Lettuce seeds in USDA’s People’s Garden, sister seeds of those grown and harvested on the International Space Station. During the event in Washington, D.C., they also signed an a new interagency agreement expanding USDA and NASA’s commitment to promoting careers in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and math to young people. Also, CubeSats launched to test new technology, New Orion crew egress test, NASA living of Land in Space? NASA lends a helping hand for Start Ups, Meet the New Inductees to the Glenn Hall of Fame, and it’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so Stop, Think & Connect.

  • Water Flowing on Mars Today on This Week @NASA – October 2, 2015

    Water Flowing on Mars Today on This Week @NASA – October 2, 2015

    A major scientific discovery was announced by NASA at a Sept. 28 news conference. From its vantage point high above the Martian surface, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has found the strongest evidence yet, that under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars. Researchers say an imaging spectrometer on MRO detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where downhill streaks, known as Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) are seen. In the past, RSL flows have been described as possibly related to liquid water. But the new findings of hydrated minerals is key evidence. Hydrated salts can lower the freezing point of liquid brine – and produce liquid water. Also, Life beyond Earth in the next decade?, “The Martian” screening event, Cargo ship departs space station, New cargo ship delivers to space station, Rare double celestial treat and Espacio a Tierra!

  • Water Flowing on Present-Day Mars

    Water Flowing on Present-Day Mars

    During a news conference at NASA headquarters, agency scientists and officials discussed new findings from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) that provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars. Using an imaging spectrometer on MRO, researchers detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where mysterious streaks are seen on the Red Planet. These downhill flows, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), often have been described as possibly related to liquid water.

  • Halfway point of the one year mission on This Week @NASA – September 18, 2015

    Halfway point of the one year mission on This Week @NASA – September 18, 2015

    Sept. 15 marked the halfway point in the yearlong mission on the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. An event the day before at the National Press Club in Washington included a discussion about the biomedical research conducted on the station, to help formulate future human missions to Mars. Kelly participated from the space station. His identical twin, retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, and NASA astronaut Terry Virts, who served as commander of Expedition 43, participated from the press club. Also, I spy the space station: Live!, Expedition 43 post-flight visit, Key milestone for Orion spacecraft, Global ocean on Enceladus, Connecting space to village and more!

  • ‘The Martian’ Director Ridley Scott Discusses NASA’s Journey to Mars

    ‘The Martian’ Director Ridley Scott Discusses NASA’s Journey to Mars

    Ridley Scott, director of the 20th Century Fox film “The Martian”, based on author Andy Weir’s book of the same name, reflects on the long-term personal and wide-ranging human fascination with Mars and how NASA’s exploration of the Red Planet is helping to turn science fiction into science fact.

  • Space Station Astronauts Make Safe Landing on This Week @NASA – September 11, 2015

    Space Station Astronauts Make Safe Landing on This Week @NASA – September 11, 2015

    Aboard the International Space Station, the Expedition 45 crew – including new Commander Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren of NASA, said goodbye to Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency) and Aidyn Aimbetov of the Kazakh Space Agency (Kazcosmos) as the trio climbed aboard their Soyuz spacecraft for the return trip to Earth. The Soyuz landed safely in Kazakhstan on Sept. 11 Eastern time, Sept. 12 in Kazakhstan — closing out a 168-day mission for Padalka and an 8-day stay on the station for Mogensen and Aimbetov. Also, First Orion crew module segments welded, SLS Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter, New Ceres imagery, New Horizons update, 9/11 tribute and National Preparedness Month!

  • Japanese supply ship delivers to space station on This Week @NASA – August 28, 2015

    Japanese supply ship delivers to space station on This Week @NASA – August 28, 2015

    It was a busy week for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s fifth H-II Transfer Vehicle, or HTV-5 arrived on Aug. 24 with more than 8,000 pounds of equipment, supplies and experiments in its pressurized cargo compartment. The delivery included an investigation that will search for signatures of dark matter, as well as enough additional food and supplies to last through 2015. Also, Soyuz relocated to Zvezda, Orion parachute drop test, Rising Seas, Hurricane Katrina remembrance, Tail first crash test, Webb telescope’s backplane arrives and Hubble’s double black hole!