Month: January 2024

NASA Collaborating on European-led Gravitational Wave Observatory in Space

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4 min read NASA Collaborating on European-led Gravitational Wave Observatory in Space The LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, led by ESA (European Space Agency) with NASA contributions, will detect gravitational waves in space using three spacecraft, separated by more than a million miles, flying in a triangular formation. Lasers fired between the satellites, shown in this artist’s concept, will measure how gravitational waves alter their relative distances. AEI/MM/Exozet The first space-based observatory designed to detect gravitational waves has passed a major review and will proceed to the construction of…

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Shrinking Moon Causing Moonquakes and Faults Near Lunar South Pole

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4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) As NASA continues to make progress toward sending astronauts to the lunar South Pole region with its Artemis campaign, data from a NASA-funded study is helping scientists better understand this strategic part of the Moon. The study presents evidence that moonquakes and faults generated as the Moon’s interior gradually cools and shrinks are also found near and within some of the areas the agency identified as candidate landing regions for Artemis III, the first Artemis mission planned to have…

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NASA Sets Coverage for Northrop Grumman Cargo Space Station Mission

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Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft is pictured from the International Space Station as it approaches while orbiting 261 miles above the coast of the Garabogazköl Basin in Turkmenistan. NASA NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are targeting 12:29 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 29, for the next launch to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station for the agency and its partners. This launch is the 20th Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory for the agency. Live launch coverage will begin at 12:15…

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NASA, Sierra Space Invite Media to See Spaceplane for Cargo Missions

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NASA and Sierra Space team members move the Dream Chaser spaceplane into NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. Credits: Sierra Space/Shay Saldana As part of NASA’s efforts to expand commercial resupply in low Earth orbit, media are invited to view Sierra Space’s uncrewed commercial spaceplane ahead of its first demonstration flight for the agency to the International Space Station in 2024. The Dream Chaser event is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 1, at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. For the first…

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NASA to Discuss Science, First Intuitive Machines Artemis Moon Flight

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This artist’s concept shows Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander on the surface of the Moon. This robotic delivery, part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign, will transport agency science and technology demonstrations to the Moon for the benefit of all. Intuitive Machines NASA will host a media teleconference at 3:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 31, to discuss its science and technology demonstrations flying aboard Intuitive Machines’ first flight to the Moon as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign.  Audio…

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NASA Selects Winners of Third TechRise Student Challenge

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4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Pictured here from left to right, Zephyr Proffitt and Tayah Day of Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona work on building their experiment during last year’s TechRise Student Challenge. Red Mountain High School NASA is announcing 60 winning teams for its third TechRise Student Challenge, a nationwide contest to engage students in technology, science, and space exploration. The student teams will work together to turn their proposed science and technology experiments into reality ahead of NASA-sponsored suborbital flight…

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This Hubble Telescope photo of a spiral galaxy will take your breath away

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Just when we think we’ve seen it all with astronomy photos, the Hubble Space Telescope takes our breath away yet again with a trip to a galaxy far, far away. I don’t know about you, but when images like this are released, it brings up not only a wave of emotions but also a few moments of pause in even the busiest day to marvel and take in the power of a space telescope and just how captivating our universe is. It doesn’t matter what we are seeing or what…

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See the stars in 4K: Vaonis Vespera II smart telescope

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What is the Vaonis Vespera II The world of smart telescopes has grown even larger this year with Vaonis releasing their next generation smart telescope. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV earlier this month, smart telescope manufacturer Vaonis unveiled the significantly upgraded second generation of the Vaonis Vespera, the Vaonis Vespera II, sometimes written as the Vaonis Vespera 2.  Alongside Vaonis, other smart telescopes were announced or launched at CES. Celestron launched the pricey Celestron Origin, and french manufacturer Unistellar launched the Unistellar Odyssey and Odyssey…

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Celebrating Pride: Meet Bob Lutz

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Celebrating Pride: Meet Bob Lutz At NASA, diversity and inclusion drive workplace creativity, innovation and mission success. For #PrideMonth we’re celebrating the stories of our #LGBTQ community. Bob Lutz skiing in St. Anton, Austria. What is your role at NASA?I’m a computer engineer. I’m presently leading a task performing sustaining engineering for flight software on launched Earth and space science missions. I had worked for 10 years in the development of ground systems for two weather satellites: the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite and the Joint Polar Satellite System. I’m also…

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