Month: May 2024

NASA astronauts practice ‘moonwalking’ in the Arizona desert (photos)

NeRD

Moonwalking in the Arizona desert? No, it’s not a remake of Michael Jackson’s signature move; it’s a training exercise for NASA astronauts that will be part of the future Artemis Program of missions to the lunar surface. The week-long expedition across the San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff, AZ, will give NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas the opportunity to enact moonwalk scenarios in replica spacesuits on a landscape that’s similar to the moon.  Throughout the training, the team will rehearse lunar operations from start to finish and will…

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Who is the ‘Doctor Who’ villain Maestro? And what’s their relationship with the Toymaker?

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There’s a bum note at London’s Abbey Road Studios. The Beatles are recording their 1963 debut LP as planned, but their music is nothing to (twist and) shout about, and they can’t wait to finish the album and get back to Liverpool. It’s not the Fab Four’s fault, however. In “Doctor Who” episode “The Devil’s Chord”, the malevolent Maestro is sucking all the music out of the world, and even the Doctor may be powerless to stop them. (Need a guide on how to watch Doctor Who? Check out our…

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Hubble Views the Dawn of a Sun-like Star 

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This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image captures a triple-star star system. NASA, ESA, G. Duchene (Universite de Grenoble I); Image Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America) Looking like a glittering cosmic geode, a trio of dazzling stars blaze from the hollowed-out cavity of a reflection nebula in this new image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The triple-star system is made up of the variable star HP Tau, HP Tau G2, and HP Tau G3. HP Tau is known as a T Tauri star, a type of young variable star that…

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NASA Awards Contracts for Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition Services

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NASA has selected four companies to provide spacecraft and related services, including acquiring spacecraft components and equipment, in support of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The multiple awards, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity base contracts, are firm-fixed-price with a total combined value of $6 billion. These multi-agency contracts may support other NASA centers and federal agencies. The performance period is through Aug. 31, 2025, with the potential to extend the effective ordering period until Aug. 31, 2030. The spacecraft designs, related items, and services may be tailored, as needed, to meet…

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Dr. Lori Glaze to begin six-month Detail as Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for ESDMD

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3 min read Dr. Lori Glaze to begin six-month Detail as Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for ESDMD May 17, 2024 I am pleased to share some exciting news regarding senior executive detail backfills to provide broadening opportunities for some of our leadership team. Agency leadership has chosen Dr. Lori Glaze to begin a six-month detail as the Acting Deputy AA for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) due to the transition of Kelvin Manning back to KSC at the end of May 2024. It is expected that this detail…

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NASA Around the World: Interns Teach Virtual Lessons in Kenya

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2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Video Credit: NASA/Dennis Brown, TechLit Africa When it comes to inspiring the next generation, NASA interns know no bounds. Interns at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland taught students 7,600 miles away in Mogotio, Kenya, but thanks to technology, they didn’t travel a single mile. Collaborating with TechLit Africa — a non-profit organization that teaches digital skills in Kenyan rural primary schools — interns shared virtual lessons on robot simulation, artificial intelligence, and drawing and modeling applications. Nelly Cheboi,…

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Sols 4186-4188: Almost there…

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3 min read Sols 4186-4188: Almost there… NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on the turret at the end of the rover’s robotic arm, on May 14, 2024, Sol 4184 of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission, at 06:58:35 UTC. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Earth planning day: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 The rover planning engineers yet again did a great job navigating through the large bedrock blocks that litter the terrain in front of us. We are getting ever closer to being able to cross…

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Hubble Views Cosmic Dust Lanes

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2 min read Hubble Views Cosmic Dust Lanes This Hubble Space Telescope image showcases a nearly edge-on view of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4753. ESA/Hubble & NASA, L. Kelsey Featured in this new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is a nearly edge-on view of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4753. Lenticular galaxies have an elliptical shape and ill-defined spiral arms. This image is the object’s sharpest view to date, showcasing Hubble’s incredible resolving power and ability to reveal complex dust structures. NGC 4753 resides around 60 million light-years from…

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Autel EVO Max 4T drone review

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Key specs Weight: 3.57 lbs / 1620 g Dimensions: Folded 10.1 x 5.71 x 5.16 in / 257 x 145 x 131 mm / unfolded 12.52 x 15.75 x 5.79 in / 318 x 400 x 147 mm (excluding propellers) Battery: 8070 mAh / up to 42 minutes Charger type: AC/DC charger Modes: Slow, Smooth, Standard, Ludicrous Video transmission range: Up to 12.4 miles/20km (FCC), 4.9 miles/8km (CE) Video resolution: 4000×3000 px Frame rates: 30 fps These days, drones are aimed at a wide range of uses with specific features…

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NASA’s Mars sample return mission is in trouble. Could a single SLS megarocket be the answer?

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Boeing has put forward its own idea to help NASA get its Mars Sample Return project back on track and on budget. NASA issued a solicitation for new ideas to get scientifically invaluable Martian material to Earth after being told the current plan is too expensive (about $11 billion), while also being too complex and facing scheduling issues.  Former NASA Chief Scientist Jim Green presented Boeing’s vision for a rejiggered Mars sample return mission concept at the annual Humans to Mars Summit last week.  Related: NASA’s Mars Sample Return in jeopardy…

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