Planet finder Corot launches into space

Planet finder Corot launches into space from PhysOrg.com

A French-made Corot spacecraft designed to search out planets has blasted off on a Russian rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia's space agency said.

[...]

NASA's Top Exploration and Discovery Stories of the Year

Dec. 27, 2006

David Mould/Dean Acosta
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1898/1400

RELEASE: 06-376

NASA'S TOP EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY STORIES OF THE YEAR

WASHINGTON - NASA moved forward in 2006 to extend humanity's
exploration of the solar system and learn more about the universe and
our home planet. The space shuttle got back to work building the
International Space Station, and the agency began developing the next
generation of spacecraft and outlined plans for returning to the moon
as a stepping stone toward Mars. Space science missions found new
evidence of water on Mars, sent the first-ever probes toward Pluto,
brought back dust from a comet and launched new instruments to study
the sun and the weather on Earth.

NEXT STOP - THE MOON
America's Vision for Space Exploration, the long-term plan for sending
humans to Mars and beyond, moved ahead in August with the selection
of Lockheed Martin Corp. as the prime contractor to build the Orion
crew exploration vehicle, to be operational by 2014. Orion and its
astronaut crew will be propelled into space by the new Ares I launch
vehicle. Larger equipment bound for the moon and Mars will ride into
space atop the Ares V heavy launch vehicle. The Ares I successfully
completed its systems requirement review during the fall of 2006. The
next generation launch vehicles will be based on advanced versions of
technology from the Apollo and shuttle programs but also will employ
newly developed systems and hardware with far greater capabilities.
In December, NASA unveiled elements of a Global Exploration Strategy
and lunar architecture to explain the rationale for returning to the
moon for further exploration and to help prepare for later journeys
to Mars and other destinations. For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

SHUTTLE AND STATION BACK TO BUSINESS
During the space shuttle's 25th anniversary year, three missions
resumed construction work on the International Space Station. Space
shuttle Discovery's STS-121 mission in July was the second flight to
the station since the Columbia accident in 2003. Astronauts proved
new engineering designs and safety techniques and demonstrated that
if needed the shuttle's robotic arm could serve as a platform for
emergency repairs. Discovery also delivered a new crew member,
increasing the station's crew size to three for the first time since
May 2003. NASA followed up that flight with launches of STS-115 in
September and STS-116 in December. The shuttles delivered and
attached a critical piece of the station's girder-like backbone,
including a new set of solar arrays to provide up to one quarter of
the station's power, and reconfigured the station's power and thermal
control systems. Astronauts also installed a new station component,
giving crew members more room to live and work in orbit. The stage is
now set for an active 2007 that will see the station's size and
research capabilities dramatically grow. For images and information,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle and http://www.nasa.gov/station

HUBBLE SERVICING MISSION 'GO'
In late October, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced plans
for a fifth space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space
Telescope to extend and improve the observatory's capabilities
through 2013. The announcement reversed an earlier decision, made
following the Columbia accident, that further Hubble servicing
missions would no longer be feasible. NASA revised that decision
after a detailed analysis of safety issues for the shuttle crew and
procedures necessary to carry out a successful repair and upgrade
mission. The flight to Hubble is targeted for launch in 2008. During
2006, the Hubble continued to make unprecedented observations that
included an image of the dimmest stars ever seen in any globular
cluster and the discovery of 16 extrasolar planet candidates. For
more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

A WET RED PLANET?
New NASA images from the Mars Global Surveyor revealed bright new
deposits seen in two gullies on Mars. The images suggest water
carried sediment through the gullies sometime during the past seven
years. These observations give the strongest evidence to date that
water still flows occasionally on the surface of the red planet. The
new findings heighten intrigue about the potential for microbial life
on Mars. Other Mars program activities included NASA's long-lived
robotic rover Opportunity achieving the long-held goal of reaching
the massive Victoria Crater, with the rover beginning to explore
layered rocks in cliffs ringing the crater. While Opportunity spent
its first week at the crater, NASA's newest eye in the Martian sky,
the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, photographed the rover and its
surroundings. The new level of detail in the images from the orbiter
will help guide the rover's exploration of Victoria. Coupled with
other scientific instruments, the spacecraft will change our
understanding of the Red Planet and lay the groundwork for future
surface missions. For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mars

DEEP SPACE DISCOVERIES
The launch of the New Horizons spacecraft to Pluto in January began an
extraordinary year of deep space activities. Scheduled to arrive at
Pluto in 2015, the spacecraft will encounter Jupiter in 2007. NASA's
Stardust mission completed a 2.88 billion mile round-trip odyssey to
capture and return comet and interstellar dust particles to Earth.
Scientists believe these rare samples may provide answers to
fundamental questions about the origins of the solar system. The
Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs
that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus.
The unusual occurrence of liquid water so near the surface of
Enceladus raises many new questions about the mysterious moon.
Cassini also discovered two new rings around Saturn, confirmed the
presence of two others and photographed something never before seen
on another planet - a hurricane-like storm at Saturn's south pole.
For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/features/index.html

WEATHER AND CLIMATE STUDIES
NASA's Earth research provided new discoveries during 2006 about our
home planet and its climate. The agency launched the first satellite
to provide three-dimensional images of clouds and a weather satellite
to provide timely environmental information to meteorologists and the
public. NASA also completed its "A-train" of six satellites flying in
close proximity around Earth to gain a better understanding of key
factors related to climate change. Research activities included a
comprehensive hurricane study on how winds and dust from Africa
influence the life of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean.
Scientists studied the discovery that this year's ozone hole over the
Antarctic had exceeded earlier observations for area and depth.
Scientists also observed the reduction of the ocean's primary food
supply, which potentially could threaten fisheries and ecosystems in
a warming climate. Researchers also examined the effects of pollution
moving around the world; improved wildfire and hurricane tracking;
and studied the changing landscape of global ice and snow. Scientists
announced that, based on Earth's average temperature, 2005 was one of
the five warmest years in a century, and 2006 was one of the10
warmest. For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/features/index.html

A NEW DIRECTION FOR AERONAUTICS
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate restructured its
research portfolio in 2006 to return to long-term, cutting-edge,
fundamental research. This ensures the directorate conducts the
high-quality, innovative research required to enable the next
generation air transportation system and supports the nation's Vision
for Space Exploration. Today, through close collaboration with
academia, industry and other federal agencies, NASA's aeronautics
research portfolio is better positioned to provide research that is
directly aligned with national priorities. For more information,
visit:

http://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/

HERE COMES THE SUN
NASA research on Earth's nearest star provided many firsts in 2006.
Researchers developed a computer simulation to create a model of the
sun's outer atmosphere. Scientists predicted the next solar activity
cycle to be 30 to 50 percent stronger than the previous one. In
March, NASA and Libyan scientists conducted joint activities to
observe and study a total solar eclipse. This complemented the launch
of NASA's twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories mission
(STEREO) spacecraft that will help researchers construct the
first-ever three-dimensional views of the sun. These research
activities may provide information to help mitigate effects of solar
storms, which can disrupt satellite orbits and electronics, interfere
with radio communication and threaten astronaut safety. For more
information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stereo

NASA'S NOBEL LAUREATE
On Dec.10, Dr. John C. Mather, senior astrophysicist and senior
project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Md., received the 2006 Nobel Prize in physics in Stockholm. Mather is
the first NASA civil-servant employee to win the Nobel Prize. Mather
and George Smoot of the University of California at Berkeley were
recognized for "their discovery of the black body form and anisotropy
of the cosmic microwave background radiation." Mather coordinated the
science work of NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer satellite, which
helped validate the big-bang theory of the origin of the universe.
For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/mather_spotlight.html

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
NASA worked in 2006 toward expanding its relationships with the
spacefaring nations of the world. Administrator Michael Griffin and
the leaders of other space agencies from around the world approved a
new configuration and assembly plan for the International Space
Station. Griffin also made landmark visits to India and China to
learn more about the emerging space programs of those nations. Deputy
Administrator Shana Dale also met with leaders of the world's space
agencies and launched an effort to engage other nations in building a
Global Exploration Strategy to help ensure broad and active
international cooperation as NASA pursues the Vision for Space
Exploration.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Russian space launch pad to be built in French Guyana

Russian space launch pad to be built in French Guyana from PhysOrg.com

Work will begin on a launch pad for Russian rockets in French Guyana in February, Russian Space Agency head Anatoly Perminov said Tuesday, predicting the first will blast off in 2009.[...]

Spider Robots And The Space Web

Spider Robots And The Space Web from PhysOrg.com

Robotic 'spiders' could be the key to building large-scale structures in space, according to ESA's Advanced Concepts Team. The tiny mechanical spiders would inch their way across large nets of fabric in space performing small tasks or lining up to create an antenna or some other structure...
"This is the first small step towards satellites that collect solar energy using large arrays of solar panels and then beam the energy down to Earth..."[...]

JAXA Unfolds Key Antenna on Satellite

JAXA Unfolds Key Antenna on Satellite from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Japan's space agency successfully unfolded a key antenna on a newly launched satellite - the country's largest - after a technical glitch hampered previous attempts, officials said.

[...]

Russia Won't Transfer Space Technology

Russia Won't Transfer Space Technology from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Russia will cooperate with China on space projects, but will not transfer sensitive technologies that could enable Beijing to become a rival in a future space race, the head of the Russia's space agency said Tuesday.[...]

40 years ago, UW researcher changed our view of the world

40 years ago, UW researcher changed our view of the world from PhysOrg.com

Forty years ago this month, thanks to an inventive University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist, our view of the world was changed forever.[...]

Russia leads 2006 space launches

Russia leads 2006 space launches from PhysOrg.com

The Russian Federal Space Agency said the country was the 2006 leader in space launches, accounting for 45 percent of craft sent into space this year.

[...]

Portrait of a dramatic stellar crib

Portrait of a dramatic stellar crib from PhysOrg.com

Known as the Tarantula Nebula for its spidery appearance, the 30 Doradus complex is a monstrous stellar factory. It is the largest emission nebula in the sky, and can be seen far down in the southern sky at a distance of about 170,000 light-years, in the southern constellation Dorado (The Swordfish or the Goldfish). It is part of one of the Milky Way's neighbouring galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud.[...]

Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle

Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle from PhysOrg.com

Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one. Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 "looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.[...]

Shuttle's Landing Ends Big Year for NASA

Shuttle's Landing Ends Big Year for NASA from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- NASA began 2006 having flown only a single space shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster three years earlier. After Friday's landing of space shuttle Discovery and its seven astronauts, the U.S. space agency will end the year with three successful shuttle missions under its belt and the resumption of construction on the international space station.[...]

Space: Our Ticket to Survival

Paul Johnson 12.11.06, 12:00 AM ET

>>>

Forbes registration (free) may be required.

Search for other Earths

Search for other worlds to step up with launch of French planet hunter from PhysOrg.com

A 12-year-old quest to find planets orbiting other stars gets a big boost this week with the launch of a French-made spacecraft that may help reveal a home-from-home for our descendants.[...]

NASA Welcomes Discovery Crew Home for the Holidays

Dec. 22, 2006

Grey Hautaluoma
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0668

Jessica Rye/Katherine Trinidad
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 06-375

NASA WELCOMES DISCOVERY CREW HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew
returned home Friday after a 13-day journey of more than 5.3 million
miles in space. Discovery's STS-116 mission successfully reconfigured
the International Space Station's power and cooling systems from a
temporary setup to a permanent mode and added a new piece to the
station's backbone.

Discovery's Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein and mission
specialists Nicholas Patrick, Bob Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Thomas
Reiter and Christer Fuglesang landed Friday, Dec. 22, at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 5:32 p.m. EST. Reiter and Fuglesang
are European Space Agency astronauts.

After landing, Polansky told Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space
Center, Houston, "Seven thrilled people right here. We're just really
proud of the entire NASA team that put this together. Thank you, and
I think it's going to be a great holiday."

The flight was the second in a series of missions that are among the
most complex in space history. Discovery's crew rewired the station's
power system and delivered a key component of the station's
structure. The segment will enable future missions to attach a new
set of solar arrays.

The mission involved intensive ground commands as the station's power
was shut down and rerouted in stages on two spacewalks. As systems
were then powered up for the first time on their new channels, the
station's power system was in its final configuration, ready for
further expansion with more solar arrays and laboratories to be
launched in 2007. As part of the station power reconfiguration and
assembly process, the station flight control team uplinked a total of
17,901 computer commands, averaging about 2,000 commands per day.
During a typical day on the station, flight controllers give
approximately 800 commands.

The newest resident of the International Space Station also traveled
aboard Discovery. Astronaut Sunita Williams joined the crew of
Expedition 14. She is scheduled to spend six months on the station.

Curbeam, Fuglesang and Williams, with the help of crewmates, made four
spacewalks that completed the construction tasks, reconfigured power
and cooling systems, and retracted a snagged solar array. The
astronauts also replaced a failed camera, cleared a worksite
essential to the next shuttle mission, reconfigured power to
station's Russian segment and installed panels to provide additional
protection from space debris.

The fourth spacewalk was added to the mission to retract a solar array
that only partially folded into its box on flight day 5. The solar
wings were retracted far enough so that the new arrays installed in
September could begin to fully rotate and track the sun to provide
power. Mission managers decided, however, to address the problem of
the partially retracted arrays while the shuttle crew was on the
station. With only several days notice, mission engineers in both the
shuttle and station programs developed a spacewalk plan for Curbeam
and Fuglesang that resulted in the arrays' successful retraction on
flight day 10.

Discovery's launch was the first night liftoff of a shuttle since Nov.
2002. Several inspections in orbit revealed no critical damage, and
Discovery's thermal protection system was declared safe for re-entry
on the flight's thirteenth day.

The day before landing, pilot Bill Oefelein, who was born in Alaska,
and the rest of the Discovery crew talked to Alaskan schoolchildren
from the shuttle's flight deck.

With Discovery and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the next
phase of International Space Station assembly. Preparations continue
for Space Shuttle Atlantis' launch, targeted for March 2007, on the
STS-117 mission to deliver to the station the S3/S4 truss segment and
a third set of solar arrays.

For more on the STS-116 mission and the upcoming STS-117 mission,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Land lease pacts signed for Spaceport

Land lease pacts signed for Spaceport from PhysOrg.com

New Mexico and two ranching operations signed long-term agreements that will allow the state's spaceport center and the ranches to co-exist.

[...]

NASA waves off first Florida shuttle landing try

NASA waves off first Florida shuttle landing try from PhysOrg.com

NASA opted not to bring down the space shuttle Discovery on a first Florida landing attempt Friday due to bad weather conditions, the space agency announced. [...]

First Images From Hinode Offer New Clues About Our Violent Sun

Dec. 22, 2006

Erica Hupp/Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1237/1726

Steve Roy
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034

RELEASE: 06-374

FIRST IMAGES FROM HINODE OFFER NEW CLUES ABOUT OUR VIOLENT SUN

WASHINGTON - Instruments aboard a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
satellite named Hinode, or "Sunrise," are returning extraordinary new
images of our sun. The international mission to study the forces that
drive the violent, explosive power of the sun launched from Japan in
September.

Hinode is circling Earth in a polar flight path (a "sun-synchronous"
orbit) that allows the spacecraft's instruments to remain in
continuous sunlight for nine months each year. An international team
of scientists and engineers is performing the calibration and
checkout of Hinode's three primary instruments: the Solar Optical
Telescope, the X-ray Telescope and the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging
Spectrometer. NASA made significant contributions to the development
of these scientific instruments.

"The checkout phase is crucial because it allows controllers to
confirm the spacecraft's instruments are working properly," said John
M. Davis, NASA project scientist at the Marshall Space Flight Center,
Huntsville, Ala. "As part of this checkout, we've been treated to
some remarkable images of the sun."

Hinode's X-ray Telescope has captured unprecedented details in solar
active region corona, the sun's outer atmosphere. The corona is the
spawning ground for explosive solar activity, such as coronal mass
ejections. Powered by the sun's magnetic field, these violent
atmospheric disturbances of the sun can be of danger to space
travelers, disruptive to orbiting satellites and can cause power grid
problems on Earth.

Hinode's Solar Optical Telescope has delivered images that show
greatly magnified views of the sun's surface. These images are
revealing new details about solar convection. Solar convection is the
process that drives the rising and falling of gases in the lowest
atmospheric region, the photosphere. In addition, the Solar Optical
Telescope is the first space-borne instrument to measure the strength
and direction of the sun's magnetic field.

The Solar Optical Telescope images and magnetic maps uncover highly
dynamic, intermittent nature of the sun's lower atmosphere -
chromosphere. It is also providing revolutionary views on various
solar phenomena from heating of solar atmosphere to generation of
magnetic fields and magnetic reconnection.

Hinode's third primary instrument is the Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging
Spectrometer. The instrument has provided measurements of the speed
of solar material, along with information that will help scientists
diagnose the temperature and density of solar outer atmosphere. The
Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer provides a crucial link
between the other two instruments aboard Hinode since it measures the
layers that separate the photosphere from the corona: the
chromosphere and the chromosphere-corona transition region.

"These first engineering images have given us a fascinating preview of
what's on the horizon once the science phase of the mission begins,
sometime in late December," Davis said. "Once we enter that phase,
the focus will shift from calibration to using the instruments for
making continuous, simultaneous observations of specific solar
features."

By performing coordinated measurements with all three instruments,
Hinode will help scientists observe how changes in the magnetic field
at the sun's surface spread through the outer layers of the solar
atmosphere. These first images leave no doubt that Hinode
observations will revolutionize the knowledge of our nearest and most
important star, the sun.

The Hinode mission, known as "Solar-B" before launch, is led by the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The collaborative mission
includes the space agencies of Japan, the U.S., Great Britain and
Europe. Marshall managed the development of the scientific
instrumentation provided by NASA, academia and industry. Hinode's
operations center is located at JAXA's facility in Sagamihara, Japan.

For more information about Hinode, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/solar-b

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Set to Land Friday

Dec. 21, 2006

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-191

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY SET TO LAND FRIDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Commander Mark Polansky and his crew aboard the
Space Shuttle Discovery will complete their 13-day mission to the
International Space Station Friday, Dec. 22. NASA will choose one of
three potential landing sites based on weather conditions.

The different shuttle landing opportunities are (all times Eastern):

--Kennedy Space Center, Fla.: 3:56 p.m. or 5:32 p.m.
--Edwards Air Force Base, Calif: 5:27 p.m., 7 p.m. or 8:36 p.m.
--White Sands Space Harbor, N.M.: 5:27 p.m. or 7:02 p.m.

Two hours after landing NASA officials will hold a briefing to discuss
the STS-116 mission. The participants are:

--NASA Administrator Michael Griffin
--Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier
--NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach

A news conference with Discovery's crew will depend on the landing
site and time. For information on landing day, please call the
Kennedy Press Site at 321-867-2468.

The Kennedy Press Site will open for landing activities at 8 a.m. EST
Friday and close at approximately 10:30 p.m. The STS-116 mission
badges are in effect through landing. The press accreditation
building on State Road 3 will be open on Friday from 12 p.m. to 2:30
p.m. The last bus will depart the press site for the Shuttle Landing
Facility one hour before landing.

In the event of a landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., limited facilities will be available
to previously accredited journalists. For further information, please
call Dryden Public Affairs at 661-276-3449.

For credentials to cover a White Sands landing, media should contact
the White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office at 505-678-1134
by Thursday at 5 p.m. EST. News organizations requesting access for
satellite transmissions should contact the public affairs office by 3
p.m. EST. Journalists with STS-116 mission badges from NASA will be
issued separate credentials.

For the latest information on the STS-116 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Sci-fi Life Support

Sci-fi Life Support from PhysOrg.com

In Frank Herbert's epic ecological novel Dune (1965), set on the fictitious desert planet Arrakis in another star system, water is so precious that even perspiration and breath moisture are captured and purified for drinking.[>>>]

Magnetism mystery of Mercury is explained at last

Magnetism mystery of Mercury is explained at last from PhysOrg.com

A German scientist believes he has resolved a three-decade mystery about why Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, has such a weak magnetic field.[...]

Crew Inspecting Heat Shield, Preparing for Landing

Crew Inspecting Heat Shield, Preparing for Landing from PhysOrg.com

The STS-116 crew is conducting a final inspection of Space Shuttle Discovery’s heat shield today and preparing for landing.[...]

So, what's so hard about building a spaceship?...

by Jeffrey F. Bell, "a former space scientist and recovering pro-space activist", September 09, 2005.

The Cold Equations Of Spaceflight from PhysOrg.com

In the past month, we have been blessed with numerous leaks from NASA of various study documents relating to the new boosters that will be needed to carry out the new manned moon program. I've been monitoring the large volume of Web chatter about these plans, and have noticed a disturbing theme therein.[>>>]

Students Design System to Return Astronauts to Earth

Students Design System to Return Astronauts to Earth from PhysOrg.com

NASA's planned mission to the moon won't lift off for more than seven years, but student engineers at Texas A&M University are already designing the systems that could get it safely back to the ground. [>>>]

Newfound diversity in gamma-ray bursts puzzles astronomers

Newfound diversity in gamma-ray bursts puzzles astronomers from PhysOrg.com

Two brilliant flashes of light from nearby galaxies are puzzling astronomers and could indicate that gamma-ray bursts, which signal the birth of a black hole, are more diverse than once thought.[>>>]

Astronomers discover new kind of black-hole explosion

Astronomers discover new kind of black-hole explosion from PhysOrg.com

Scientists have discovered what appears to be a new kind of cosmic explosion -- a "hybrid gamma-ray burst" -- which will be the subject of four articles to be published in the journal Nature on 21 December 2006.[>>>]

NASA Satellite Discovers New Kind of Black Hole Explosion

Dec. 20, 2006

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726

Susan Hendrix
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-7745

RELEASE: 06-373

NASA SATELLITE DISCOVERS NEW KIND OF BLACK HOLE EXPLOSION

GREENBELT, Md. - Scientists using NASA data are studying a newly
recognized type of cosmic explosion called a hybrid gamma-ray burst.
As with other gamma-ray bursts, this hybrid blast is likely signaling
the birth of a new black hole.

It is unclear, however, what kind of object or objects exploded or
merged to create the new black hole. The hybrid burst exhibits
properties of the two known classes of gamma-ray bursts yet possesses
features that remain unexplained.

NASA's Swift first discovered the burst on June 14. Since the Swift
finding, more than a dozen telescopes, including the Hubble Space
Telescope and large ground-based observatories, have studied the
burst.

"We have lots of data on this event, have dedicated lots of
observation time, and we just can't figure out what exploded," said
Neil Gehrels of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.,
lead author on one of four reports appearing in this week's edition
of the journal Nature. "All the data seem to point to a new but
perhaps not so uncommon kind of cosmic explosion."

Gamma-ray bursts represent the most powerful known explosions in the
universe. Yet they are random and fleeting, never appearing twice.
Scientists have only recently begun to understand their nature.

Such bursts typically fall into one of two categories, long or short.
The long bursts last more than two seconds and appear to be from the
core collapse of massive stars forming a black hole. Most of these
bursts come from the edge of the visible universe. The short bursts,
which are under two seconds and often last just a few milliseconds,
appear to be the merger of two neutron stars or a neutron star with a
black hole, which subsequently creates a new or bigger black hole.

The hybrid burst, called GRB 060614, after the date it was detected,
originated from within a galaxy 1.6 billion light years away in the
southern constellation Indus. The burst lasted for 102 seconds,
placing it soundly in long-burst territory. But the burst lacked the
hallmark of a supernova, or star explosion, commonly seen shortly
after long bursts. Also, the burst's host galaxy has a low
star-formation rate with few massive stars that could produce
supernovae and long gamma-ray bursts. "This was close enough to
detect a supernova if it existed," said Avishay Gal-Yam of Caltech,
Pasadena, Calif., lead author on another Nature report. "Even Hubble
didn't see anything."

Certain properties of the burst concerning its brightness and the
arrival time of photons of various energies, called the
lag-luminosity relationship, suggest that burst behaved more like a
short burst (from a merger) than a long burst. Yet no theoretical
model of mergers can support a sustained release of gamma-ray energy
for 102 seconds. "This is brand new territory; we have no theories to
guide us," said Gehrels.

The burst is perhaps not unprecedented. Archived data from the Compton
Gamma-Ray Observatory in the 1990s possibly reveal other hybrid
"long-short" bursts, but no follow-up observations are available to
confirm this. Johan Fynbo of the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen,
also lead author on a Nature report, suggests that a burst from May
of this year was also long, but had no associated supernova.

Scientists remain divided on whether this was a long-short burst from
a merger or a long burst from a star explosion with no supernova.
Most conclude, however, that some new process must be at play -
either the model of mergers creating second-long bursts needs a major
overhaul, or the progenitor star from an explosion is intrinsically
different from the kind that make supernovae.

"We siphoned out all the information we could from GRB 060614," said
Massimo Della Valle of the Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri in
Firenze, Italy, another lead author on a Nature report. "All we can
do now is wait for the next nearby hybrid burst."

Swift launched in November 2004. It is a NASA mission in partnership
with the Italian Space Agency and the Particle Physics and Astronomy
Research Council, England, and managed by Goddard. Penn State in
State College controls science and flight operations. Los Alamos
National Laboratory, N.M., provides gamma-ray imaging analysis.

For images and more information on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/swift

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Tough Choices for NASA Put Shuttle, Crew and Mission At Risk

Mission Managers Decide to Conduct Final Inspection
By GINA SUNSERI, ABC News

Dec. 19, 2006 — The mission management team at NASA made the choice to do a final inspection of the Space Shuttle Discovery on Thursday and land on Friday or Saturday at the first available and weather-friendly landing site — the Kennedy Space Center, Edwards Air Force Base or White Sands New Mexico.

The managers had faced a tough decision as to which was the bigger risk: skipping the late inspection to see if Discovery was damaged by a micrometeorite while it was docked with the International Space Station during the past week? Or running out of time to land Discovery safely when the shuttle's fuel reserves are close to empty? ...

STEREO Sends Back First Solar Images

STEREO Sends Back First Solar Images from PhysOrg.com

NASA's twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories (STEREO) sent back their first images of the sun this week and with them a view into the sun's mounting activity.[...]

Celestial Season's Greetings from Hubble

Celestial Season's Greetings from Hubble from PhysOrg.com

Swirls of gas and dust reside in this ethereal-looking region of star formation imaged by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. This majestic view, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), reveals a region where low-mass, infant stars and their much more massive stellar neighbors reside. A shroud of blue haze gently lingers amid the stars.[...]

Discovery Crew Begins Trek Home

Discovery Crew Begins Trek Home from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery's crew bade the international space station's residents goodbye and closed the hatch between the two ships Tuesday, leaving behind American Suni Williams for a six-month stay in orbit.[...]

Astronauts stow stubborn solar array

Astronauts stow stubborn solar array from PhysOrg.com

Two astronauts finally unstuck a balky solar array on the International Space station, folding the panel into its box during a special space walk. [...]

NASA and Google to Bring Space Exploration Down to Earth

Dec. 18, 2006

Michael Mewhinney
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-3937

Jon Murchinson
Google Inc., Mountain View, Calif.
650-253-4437

RELEASE: 06-371

NASA AND GOOGLE TO BRING SPACE EXPLORATION DOWN TO EARTH

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - NASA Ames Research Center and Google have
signed a Space Act Agreement that formally establishes a relationship
to work together on a variety of challenging technical problems
ranging from large-scale data management and massively distributed
computing, to human-computer interfaces.

As the first in a series of joint collaborations, Google and Ames will
focus on making the most useful of NASA's information available on
the Internet. Real-time weather visualization and forecasting,
high-resolution 3-D maps of the moon and Mars, real-time tracking of
the International Space Station and the space shuttle will be
explored in the future.

"This agreement between NASA and Google will soon allow every American
to experience a virtual flight over the surface of the moon or
through the canyons of Mars," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin
at Headquarters in Washington. "This innovative combination of
information technology and space science will make NASA's space
exploration work accessible to everyone," added Griffin.

"Partnering with NASA made perfect sense for Google, as it has a
wealth of technical expertise and data that will be of great use to
Google as we look to tackle many computing issues on behalf of our
users," said Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google. "We're
pleased to move forward to collaborate on a variety of technical
challenges through the signing of the Space Act Agreement."

Recently, teams from NASA and Google met to discuss the many
challenging computer science problems facing both organizations and
possible joint collaborations that could help address them.

NASA and Google intend to collaborate in a variety of areas, including
incorporating agency data sets in Google Earth, focusing on user
studies and cognitive modeling for human computer interaction, and
science data search utilizing a variety of Google features and
products.

"Our collaboration with Google will demonstrate that the private and
public sectors can accomplish great things together," said S. Pete
Worden, Ames center director. "I want NASA Ames to establish
partnerships with the private sector that will encourage innovation,
while advancing the Vision for Space Exploration and commercial
interests," Worden added.

"NASA has collected and processed more information about our planet
and universe than any other entity in the history of humanity," said
Chris C. Kemp, director of strategic business development at Ames.
"Even though this information was collected for the benefit of
everyone, and much is in the public domain, the vast majority of this
information is scattered and difficult for non-experts to access and
to understand.

"We've worked hard over the past year to implement an agreement that
enables NASA and Google to work closely together on a wide range of
innovative collaborations," said Kemp. "We are bringing together some
of the best research scientists and engineers to form teams to make
more of NASA's vast information accessible."

NASA and Google also are finalizing details for additional
collaborations that include joint research, products, facilities,
education and missions.

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Google is headquartered
close to Ames in Silicon Valley with offices through the Americas,
Europe and Asia.

For more information about Google, please visit:

http://www.google.com

For information about NASA and agency programs, please visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Astronauts Prepare for 4th Spacewalk

No Day of Rest As Astronauts Prepare for 4th Spacewalk; Stubborn Solar Array Targeted
By MIKE SCHNEIDER

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Dec 17, 2006 (AP)— Instead of enjoying a relaxing day at the international space station, the space shuttle Discovery's seven astronauts prepared Sunday for an unplanned, fourth spacewalk to get a stubborn, half-retracted solar array to fold up....

'Cosmic freezer' yields unique discovery

'Cosmic freezer' yields unique discovery from PhysOrg.com

Stardust, the NASA spacecraft mission, was given that name in hopes that the seven-year journey to capture comet samples would bring back to Earth, well, stardust.[...]

"a pinch of comet dust"

Stardust findings override some commonly held astronomy beliefs from PhysOrg.com

Contrary to a popular scientific notion, there was enough mixing in the early solar system to transport material from the sun's sizzling neighborhood and deposit it in icy deep-space comets. It might have been like a gentle eddy in a stream or more like an artillery blast, but evidence from the Stardust mission shows that material from the sun’s vicinity traveled to the edge of the solar system, beyond Pluto, as the planets were born.[...]

ESA mission controllers react to solar flare

ESA mission controllers react to solar flare from PhysOrg.com

An energetic storm on the Sun has forced ESA mission controllers to react to anomalies or take action to avoid damage to spacecraft. Several missions, including Integral, Cluster and Envisat, felt the storm's effects, highlighting the need for ESA's ongoing development of space weather forecasting tools.[...]

Solar physicist says weak sun produces record solar outburst

Solar physicist says weak sun produces record solar outburst from PhysOrg.com

A solar outburst, which can play havoc with global positioning systems and cell phone reception, bombarded Earth, Dec. 6, 2006, with a record amount of radio noise, said solar physicist Dale Gary. Gary, who confirmed the news today, is a professor and chair of the department of physics at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). "Reports of significant events worldwide are still coming in as late as yesterday afternoon," said Gary. Due to a computer software failure, initial research reports in the U.S. downplayed the outbursts.
[...]

NASA's Moon Plan Worries Mars Scientists

NASA's Moon Plan Worries Mars Scientists from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- The chief scientist behind the twin Mars rovers said Wednesday he supports a human presence on the moon but hopes the journey won't dead-end there.[...]

Venus Express sees right down to the hell-hot surface

Venus Express sees right down to the hell-hot surface from PhysOrg.com

Thanks to ESA’s Venus Express data, scientists obtained the first large-area temperature maps of the southern hemisphere of the inhospitable, lead-melting surface of Venus.[...]

Jules Verne goes hot and cold

Jules Verne goes hot and cold from PhysOrg.com

For 21 days in a row, Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), has not only survived the most stringent conditions of the space environment, but it has successfully tested on the ground its flight software and hardware under the toughest simulated conditions of space vacuum, freezing temperatures and burning sun radiation.[...]

Va. Spaceport Launches 1st Rocket

Va. Spaceport Launches 1st Rocket from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Spectators cheered as a rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasted off Saturday in the first launch from the mid-Atlantic region's commercial spaceport, creating a blazing streak across the sky just before sunrise.[...]

Sunita Williams' spacewalk, Dec. 16

By GINA SUNSERI

Dec. 16, 2006 — Navy Commander Sunita Williams is a tall, willowy brunette — and smart, very smart. She flew helicopters in the Navy, and has logged over 2,700 hours in 30 different aircraft.

She is also the eighth American woman to walk in space. story

Veteran Spacewalker Poised to Set Record

Veteran Spacewalker Poised to Set Record from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Astronaut Robert Curbeam is poised to set a new record next week when he is scheduled to embark on his fourth spacewalk of the space shuttle Discovery mission, this one to work on a stalled solar panel.[...]

NASA Ames Schedules Briefing to Discuss Google Agreement

Dec. 15, 2006

Michael Mewhinney
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-3937/9000

MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-190

NASA AMES SCHEDULES BRIEFING TO DISCUSS GOOGLE AGREEMENT

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif,. - NASA Ames Research Center hosts a media
briefing Monday to discuss a major announcement involving Google,
Inc.

WHAT: Media briefing announcing details of Space Act Agreement with
Google, Inc.

WHERE: NASA Ames Research Center, Bldg. N-200, upstairs conference
room

WHO: S. Pete Worden, director, NASA Ames Research Center and Chris
Kemp, director of business development, NASA Ames Research Center

WHEN: 11:00 a.m. PST, Monday, Dec. 18, 2006. Media call-in:
1-866-758-1669; pass code: 2663262

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

NASA Looking for Future Explorers for Educational Challenge

Dec. 15, 2006

Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761

Angela Storey
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034

MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-189

NASA LOOKING FOR FUTURE EXPLORERS FOR EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - NASA is searching for the next generation of space
explorers to participate in the fun, exciting and educational
challenge of designing and building their own version of NASA's lunar
rover or "moonbuggy" to compete in NASA's 14th Great Moonbuggy Race.

This annual event will be held at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in
Huntsville, Ala., and is sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corp of
Los Angeles. The high school competition will be Friday, April 13,
2007, with the college competition scheduled for Saturday, April 14.

College and high school students from across the country will put
their knowledge to work in a real-world environment as they discover
practical uses for science, technology, engineering and math in the
unique competitive atmosphere of the race.

Student teams are challenged to meet design criteria set by scientists
and engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville,
where the original lunar rover was designed and tested before it was
driven by astronauts on the moon during the last three Apollo
missions in the 1970s. The first Great Moonbuggy Race was run in 1994
to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing.

Teams will compete for the best time around a half-mile, simulated
lunar course. The deadline for schools to register for the
competition is Feb. 1, 2007.

For more information, including race rules, information on the course
and photos from previous competitions, visit:

http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

NASA Selects Undergraduate Teams to Fly on 'Weightless Wonder'

Dec. 15, 2006

Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761

Debbie Nguyen
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 06-372

NASA SELECTS UNDERGRADUATE TEAMS TO FLY ON 'WEIGHTLESS WONDER'

HOUSTON -Thirty-four undergraduate student teams have been selected to
fly and conduct experiments aboard NASA's "Weightless Wonder" reduced
gravity aircraft next spring. After arrival at Ellington Field and
NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, the teams will spend several
days preparing themselves and their experiments for flight by
participating in technical reviews and physical training.

This unique learning experience is part of NASA's Reduced Gravity
Student Flight Opportunities Program. The program has given
undergraduate teams the chance to research, design, fabricate, fly
and evaluate reduced gravity experiments annually since 1995.

The "Weightless Wonder" is a modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 that
conducts parabolic flights. The plane does a steep climb followed by
an equally steep descent, producing about 18 to 25 seconds of
weightlessness. Each team will have about 32 parabolas to run
experiments, with gravitational forces ranging from zero gravity to
Martian-like levels at one-third Earth's gravity.

Four of the teams have been selected for the program's first lunar
gravity flights. These experiments relate to areas of interest such
as propulsion, areas that NASA is investigating as it prepares for
future lunar missions. Lunar gravity is one-sixth that of Earth.

"These explorers of tomorrow will be given a chance to experiment
under conditions that can't be replicated in any laboratory here on
Earth," said Donn Sickorez, the program's university affairs officer
at Johnson. "Not only will they get to briefly experience reduced
gravity, but they'll also learn what's needed to take humans back to
the moon, and beyond."

Each proposal was evaluated for technical merit, safety and an
outreach plan. Past proposals have included topics such as aviation,
biology, medicine and communications.

Selected teams may also invite a full-time, accredited journalist to
participate with them to document their experiences. For questions
regarding team journalists, contact Debbie Nguyen, with Johnson's
Public Affairs Office, at 281-483-5111.

With this project, NASA continues the agency's tradition of investing
in the nation's education programs. This commitment is directly tied
to the agency's education goal of strengthening NASA and the nation's
future workforce.

To view the selected teams, their scheduled flight weeks, and get more
information about the Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities
Program, visit:

http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer detects vast polar ethane cloud on Titan

Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer detects vast polar ethane cloud on Titan from PhysOrg.com

Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) has detected what appears to be a massive ethane cloud surrounding Titan's north pole. The cloud might be snowing ethane snowflakes into methane lakes below.[...]

Some Super-Earths Form in Super Snowstorms

Some Super-Earths Form in Super Snowstorms from PhysOrg.com

The 200 known planets that orbit other stars exhibit incredible variety. Among them are a handful of worlds that weigh between 5 and 15 times Earth. Astronomers believe these "super-Earths" are rocky iceballs rather than gas giants like Jupiter. While theorists can explain how such worlds form around Sun-like stars, the discovery of super-Earths around tiny red dwarf stars was surprising. New research suggests that some super-Earths build up rapidly when local temperatures drop and ices condense out of the surrounding gas.[...]

US defends its opposition to ban on weapons in space

US defends its opposition to ban on weapons in space from PhysOrg.com

The United States defended Wednesday its opposition to a new ban on weapons in space, saying it needed to keep its options open amid threats from nations seeking ways to attack US space systems.[...]

NASA Retracts Solar Array on Station

NASA Retracts Solar Array on Station from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- In fits and starts, NASA began retracting via remote control a 115-foot solar panel on the international space station Wednesday, likening the tricky task to folding a road map back up and stuffing it in the glove compartment.[...]

BEST Meteor Shower TONIGHT! and Tomorrow

The 2006 Geminid Meteor Shower from PhysOrg.com

The best meteor shower of the year peaks this week on Dec. 13th and 14th.[...]

Geologists finding a different Mars underneath

Geologists finding a different Mars underneath from PhysOrg.com

Scientists are finding an older, craggier face of Mars buried beneath the surface, thanks to pioneering sounding radar co-sponsored by NASA aboard the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft.[...]

Astronomers Find Distant, Fluffy Planet

Astronomers Find Distant, Fluffy World, the Largest and Least Dense of Them All
WASHINGTON Sep 14, 2006 (AP)— The largest planet ever found orbiting another star is so puffy it would float on water, astronomers said Thursday....

Mars rocks could provide vital clue to how life began on Earth

Mars rocks could provide vital clue to how life began on Earth from PhysOrg.com

Studying rocks on Mars, which are among the oldest rocks in the Solar System, could provide scientists with key evidence of how the earliest forms of life arose on Earth, say researchers writing in this month’s edition of Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres.[...]

Cassini's infrared camera sees tall mountains on Saturn's moon Titan

Cassini's infrared camera sees tall mountains on Saturn's moon Titan from PhysOrg.com

The infrared-sensitive camera on NASA's Cassini spacecraft has photographed the tallest mountains ever seen on Saturn's moon, Titan.[...]

Astronauts Begin Six-Hour Spacewalk

Astronauts Begin Six-Hour Spacewalk from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Two astronauts climbed out of a hatch on the international space station Tuesday, starting a difficult six-hour spacewalk during which they will guide and bolt into place a new 2-ton addition to the orbiting lab.[...]

NASA Outlines Recent Changes in Earth's Freshwater Distribution

Dec. 12, 2006

Erica Hupp/Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1237/1726

Alan Buis
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-0474

RELEASE: 06-370

NASA OUTLINES RECENT CHANGES IN EARTH'S FRESHWATER DISTRIBUTION

Recent space observations of freshwater storage by the Gravity
Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) are providing a new picture
of how Earth's most precious natural resource is distributed globally
and how it is changing.

Researchers are using GRACE's almost five-year data record to estimate
seasonal water storage variations in more than 50 river basins that
cover most of Earth's land area. The variations reflect changes in
water stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs; in floodplains as snow and
ice; and underground in soils and aquifers.

"Grace is providing a first-ever look at the distribution of
freshwater storage on the continents," said Jay Famiglietti,
professor of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine.
"With longer time series, we can distinguish long-term trends from
natural seasonal variations and track how water availability responds
to natural climate variations and climate change."

Several African basins, such as the Congo, Zambezi and Nile, show
significant drying over the past five years. In the United States,
the Mississippi and Colorado River basins show water storage
increases during that time. Such information is vital for managing
water resources in vulnerable parts of Africa and Southeast Asia,
since increasing populations and standards of living place demands on
water resources that are often unsustainable. The data can be used to
make more informed regional water management decisions.

The twin GRACE satellites monitor tiny month-to-month changes in
Earth's gravity field that are primarily caused by the movement of
water in Earth's land, ocean, ice and atmosphere reservoirs.
Hydrologists are analyzing GRACE data to identify possible trends in
precipitation changes, groundwater depletion and snow and glacier
melt rates, and to understand their underlying causes.

Matt Rodell, a hydrologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Md., said GRACE data correspond well with ground
observations. As a result, hydrologists can now apply GRACE data in
ways that will impact regional water management. "GRACE data improve
our understanding of the water cycle and simulations of soil
moisture, snow and groundwater in computer models," he said. "This is
a key step toward better weather, stream flow, flood, drought and
water resource forecasts worldwide."

Michael Watkins, GRACE project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., said Grace is the only element in
NASA's broad water cycle research program that measures changes in
all types of water storage. "GRACE detects water storage changes from
Earth's surface to its deepest aquifers, water can't hide from it,"
he said.

GRACE's abilities to detect water are particularly vital for the
emerging field of groundwater remote sensing. "Remote sensing of
groundwater has been a Holy Grail for hydrologists because it is
stored beneath the surface and is not detected by most sensors," said
Famiglietti. "Outside of the United States and a few other developed
nations, it is not well monitored. It's been speculated that many of
Earth's key aquifers are being depleted due to over-exploitation, but
a lack of data has hampered efforts to quantify how aquifer levels
are changing and take the steps necessary to avoid depleting them.
With additional data, such as measurements of surface water and soil
moisture, we can use GRACE to solve this problem."

GRACE is also allowing scientists to estimate another key component of
the water cycle for the first time: water discharged by freshwater
streams from Earth's continents. Stream flow measurements are often
not shared for economic, political or national defense reasons. GRACE
measurements of the total water discharged by continental streams are
important for monitoring the availability of freshwater and
understanding how surface water runoff from continents contributes to
rises in global sea level.

Scientists from NASA and the University of California, Irvine, are
presenting their research today during the American Geophysical Union
meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

GRACE is a partnership between NASA and the German Aerospace Center
(DLR). The University of Texas Center for Space Research, Austin, has
overall mission responsibility. JPL developed the two GRACE
satellites. DLR provided the launch, and the GeoForschungsZentrum
Potsdam, Germany, operates the GRACE mission.

For more information about GRACE, see:

http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/

For more on NASA water and energy cycle research, visit:

http://watercycle.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.php

Other media contacts: Margaret Baguio, University of Texas Center for
Space Research, Austin, 512-471-6922; Jennifer Fitzenberger,
University of California, Irvine, 949-824-3969.

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Shuttle Docks Smoothly With Space Station

Major Station Wiring Job Ahead for Astronauts
By NED POTTER

Dec. 11, 2006 — Moving ever so slowly — albeit at 17,200 miles an hour relative to Earth's surface — the astronauts of Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station, 200 miles out in space.

Having made the first night launch since the Columbia accident in 2003, the astronauts also had no problem approaching the giant station as they passed over the night side of Earth.

"Houston, Discovery," radioed the shuttle crew, "no trim required, we're initiating final approach."[...]

Star on a Hubble diet

Star on a Hubble diet from PhysOrg.com

How heavy can a star be? This conundrum has haunted astronomers for decades. Theory indicates that there should be an upper stellar mass limit somewhere between 120 and 300 solar masses. Even though heavy stars are very bright, measurements of their masses can be complicated.[...]

Discovery Set to Dock With Space Station

Discovery Set to Dock With Space Station from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery closed in on the international space station Monday, carrying U.S. astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams to her new home for the next six months.[...]

NASA Press Secretary Leaves for D.C. Communications Firm

Dec. 11, 2006

David Mould
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600

RELEASE: 06-369

NASA PRESS SECRETARY LEAVES FOR D.C. COMMUNICATIONS FIRM

WASHINGTON - NASA Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant Administrator
for Public Affairs Dean Acosta is leaving the agency to become a
managing director at Qorvis Communications, LLC in Washington,
effective Jan. 2.

Acosta led NASA's public affairs and communications activities during
one of its most challenging periods following the space shuttle
Columbia accident in 2003.

"Dean has provided valuable guidance, strategy and leadership during
his time at NASA," said Administrator Michael Griffin. "He has been
an integral part of my team and provided a steady influence during a
challenging time in this agency's history. Dean has done everything I
have asked and more. He will be missed."

As part of the senior leadership team, Acosta served as chief
spokesperson, press secretary and senior adviser to the NASA
administrator and deputy administrator. He became deputy assistant
administrator for public affairs in 2003 and added the title of press
secretary in April 2005.

"My nearly four years of public service at NASA have been the most
rewarding of my career," said Acosta. "It has been an honor to serve
the President, represent America's space agency, and work with the
best and most talented public affairs people in the business."

Prior to arriving at NASA, Acosta spent 12 years as a television,
radio and print journalist, earning an Emmy Award for investigative
reporting. He has hosted his own radio show, written his own
newspaper column and covered the energy industry in the United
States, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Austria and England.

Upon Acosta's departure, Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs
David Mould will assume the additional duties of press secretary.

For more information on NASA on the Internet visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov

Discovery Doing Well So Far, NASA Says

Shuttle Looks to Have Blasted Off Without Damage, NASA Says; More Time Necessary for Checks
By RASHA MADKOUR

HOUSTON Dec 10, 2006 (AP)— Space shuttle Discovery looks to be in good health so far, NASA managers said Sunday, although it will be at least two days before engineers can rule out any possible damage from the program's first night launch in four years.

"So far so good," said lead flight director Tony Ceccacci as Discovery's astronauts wrapped up a meticulous inspection of the shuttle's heat shield, looking for any possible damage from liftoff....

"[Meteors] are fallin' on my head"

Lunar Leonid Strikes from PhysOrg.com

Meteoroids are smashing into the Moon a lot more often than anyone expected. That's the tentative conclusion of Bill Cooke, head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, after his team observed two Leonids hitting the Moon on Nov. 17, 2006. "We've now seen 11 and possibly 12 lunar impacts since we started monitoring the Moon one year ago," says Cooke. "That's about four times more hits than our computer models predicted."[...]

"Oh, when you [munch] upon a star..."

NASA Telescope Sees Black Hole Munch on a Star from PhysOrg.com

A giant black hole has been caught red-handed dipping into a cosmic cookie jar of stars by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. This is the first time astronomers have seen the whole process of a black hole eating a star, from its first to nearly final bites.[...]

Space Spin-Offs Alter Life on Earth

Sunglasses, Quartz Watches, Cordless Tools Among 30,000 Products with Roots in Outer Space
By LINDSAY HAMILTON

Dec. 10, 2006 — Cars can't fly and Scotty won't be beaming anyone up soon, but from food to footwear, space exploration has generated many earthly benefits.

Since the 1950s, space technology has been applied to more than 30,000 commercial products. Sunglasses, quartz watches, and cordless tools are all products with roots in outer space.

Add to that list global communications systems, personal computers and satellite technology, and it's fair to say that most Americans don't make it through a day without using a space spin-off....

China and U.S. May Team Up on Space Exploration

Because of the High Cost of Continued Manned Missions to Space, the U.S. Is Looking for a Partner
By GINA SUNSERI

Sept. 25, 2006 — The United States has opened unprecedented conversations with the government of China in order to create cooperation on space exploration. ...
story

Planned Obsolescence? Space Shuttle Program Winding Down

By JOHN NANCE

Sept. 20, 2006 — As the Space Shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth in the next day or so, every astronaut and much of the aerospace community is going to be distracted by the fact that the shuttle program is ending — something the average American may not realize.

In fact, Atlantis and its remaining sister ships Discovery and Endeavor are scheduled to be parked for good by 2010, if not before.
story

Space-bound electricians..

Discovery Crew to Help Fix Space Station from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Space-bound electricians lit up the skies on their way to make a cosmic nighttime house call. After a fiery ascent late Saturday that turned night into day, space shuttle Discovery and its crew headed to the international space station to rewire the orbital outpost. It was the first nighttime launch in four years.

[...]

Discovery heads for space station

Discovery heads for space station after liftoff (Update) from PhysOrg.com

The US space shuttle Discovery headed for the International Space Station after a spectacular nighttime liftoff from Florida which NASA described as its most technically challenging.

[...]

Shuttle Crew Among the Most Diverse

Shuttle Crew Among the Most Diverse from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Discovery's seven astronauts are among the most culturally diverse of any space shuttle crew. There are two black astronauts, an astronaut of Indian descent, the first Swede in space, a British-born mission specialist, an Alaskan and a New Jersey boy.

[full story]

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Successfully Completes Critical Design Review

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Successfully Completes Critical Design Review from PhysOrg.com

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) on Thursday, November 9, 2006.



[Story]

NASA's Shuttle Discovery Begins Mission to the Space Station

Dec. 9, 2006

Jessica Rye/Katherine Trinidad
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 06-367

NASA'S SHUTTLE DISCOVERY BEGINS MISSION TO THE SPACE STATION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The space shuttle Discovery and its
seven-member crew lifted off Saturday from NASA's Kennedy Space
Center at 8:47 p.m. EST on one of the most complex missions ever to
the International Space Station.

Shortly before launch, Discovery's Commander Mark Polansky said he and
his crew were excited to continue assembly of the station, "We look
forward to lighting up the night sky and rewiring ISS."

After hearing of the successful liftoff, Expedition 14 Commander
Michael Lopez-Alegria told Mission Control in Houston "We'll leave
the light on," in anticipation of the space shuttle crew's arrival,
now scheduled for Monday.

Low clouds delayed Discovery's launch on Thursday night. After
standing down on Friday, weather was much better for Saturday's
launch.

During the 12-day mission, designated STS-116, a new structural
component will be added to the station. Shuttle and station crews
will work with ground teams to install the P5 truss. This latest
addition to the station's backbone weighs 4,000 pounds and will
extend the left side of the truss to allow future solar panels to
rotate.

The mission also includes extensive work to reconfigure the station's
electrical and cooling systems from temporary to permanent mode.
During the mission, ground control will shut down and reroute the
station's power in stages so that the astronauts can reconfigure the
power system and make the P4 solar arrays delivered during the last
mission fully operational. This complex operation has never been done
before. Part of an existing solar panel will be retracted to allow
the P4 arrays to track the sun for a full 360 degrees and provide
power to the rest of the station.

As part of these operations, the station's temporary cooling system
will be deactivated and a permanent system will become operational.

The station's newest resident will also be traveling aboard Discovery.
Astronaut Sunita Williams joins the Expedition 14 crew. Thomas
Reiter, a European Space Agency astronaut who has been aboard the
station since July, will return to Earth with the Discovery crew.
Williams is scheduled to spend six months on the station.

Discovery's crew is Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein and mission
specialists Bob Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick,
Williams and Christer Fuglesang, a European Space Agency astronaut.

For the latest information about the STS-116 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov