Monthly Archives: March 2014

Soyuz docks with International Space Station

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A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut glided to a smooth linkup with the International Space Station Thursday, two days after a technical snag blocked a fast-track rendezvous and docking shortly after launch Tuesday.

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio posted this view of the approaching Soyuz from the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Rick Mastracchio With commander Alexander Skvortsov monitoring the automated approach from the Soyuz's center seat, the docking mechanism in the nose of the Soyuz TMA-12M ferry craft engaged its counterpart at the end of the upper Poisk module at 7:53 p.m. EDT (GMT-4) as the two spacecraft sailed 252 miles above southern Brazil.

"Sasha, congratulations to you and your crew on having successfully completed the first part of your mission," radioed Oleg Ostapenko, director of Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency. "Congratulations to everyone."

"Thank you, sir." Skvortsov replied.

A few moments later, latches engaged to firmly lock the Soyuz in place. After extensive leak checks, Skvortsov, flight engineer Oleg Artemyev and NASA astronaut Steven Swanson were expected to float into the station, welcomed aboard by Expedition 39 commander Koichi Wakata, Mikhail Tyurin and Rick Mastracchio.

All six crew members planned to gather in the Zvezda command module for a traditional post-docking radio chat with space agency managers, friends and family members gathered at the Russian flight control center near Moscow.

After a safety briefing, Skvortsov, Artemyev and Swanson planned to settle in, looking forward to a bit of time off after a busy, unexpected two-day rendezvous. U.S. flight controllers, meanwhile, planned to press ahead with work to load new software into the station's computer system.

The station crew originally expected to take delivery of a commercial SpaceX cargo ship next Wednesday, but the launching, planned for Sunday, was put on hold because of presumed problems with U.S. Air Force tracking equipment. A new launch date has not yet been announced.

Skvortsov, Artemyev and Swanson blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday. Shortly after reaching orbit, the spacecraft's computer began executing a planned six-hour, four-orbit rendezvous, a procedure requiring a series of carefully timed rocket firings to home in on the space station.

The first two rocket firings went smoothly, but the spacecraft was slightly out of attitude, or orientation, for the third "burn" and the rendezvous procedure was aborted.

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Soyuz docks with International Space Station

NASA's Marshall Center and Impact of Aerospace Industry on Alabama to be Focus of Events at State Legislature April 2-3

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NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be honored by the Alabama Legislature as part of "NASA Alabama Aerospace Day 2014" events April 2-3 in Montgomery. Marshall Center Director Patrick Scheuermann will meet with lawmakers and state officials, Marshall representatives will visit a variety of schools and nonprofit organizations in the Montgomery area and NASA exhibits and activities highlighting Marshall's critical role in the future of space exploration will be on display at the State House.

The NASA Alabama Aerospace Day 2014 theme is "Together We Make Bold Things Happen." The Marshall Center is partnering with the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the Aerospace States Association for a roundtable discussion April 2 titled "Economics and Education: The Impact of the Aerospace Industry in the State of Alabama." Participating in the roundtable will be Scheuermann, aerospace industry executives and state education officials. Scheuermann will be available to the media after the discussion.

The following is a schedule of events open to the public and/or news media:

Wednesday, April 2

3-4:30 p.m.: Joint Roundtable Discussion on "Economics and Education: The Impact of the Aerospace Industry in the State of Alabama," hosted by the Aerospace States Association and the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, in Senate Judiciary Room 325, State House.

Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey will open the discussion, and participants include Patrick Scheuermann, Marshall Space Flight Center director; Tony Jones, the Boeing Co., vice president and Huntsville site executive; Dr. Shankar Mahalingam, University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Engineering dean; Tracy Lamm, Lockheed Martin Civil and Army Space Systems senior manager; Dr. Jan Davis, Jacobs Engineering, vice president and deputy general manager; Stephen Cook, Dynetics, director of corporate development; and Mark Heinrich, Alabama Community College System chancellor. Greg Canfield, Alabama Department of Commerce secretary, will moderate the discussion.

4:45-5 p.m.: Marshall Space Flight Center Director Patrick Scheuermann will be available to the news media in the Joint Press Briefing Room on the 3rd floor of the State House.

Thursday, April 3

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: NASA educational activities and exhibits for school children and the public will be available on the 6th floor of the State House and on South Union Street, including models of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, a moon rock and examples of innovative NASA additive manufacturing or 3-D printing technology.

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NASA's Marshall Center and Impact of Aerospace Industry on Alabama to be Focus of Events at State Legislature April 2-3

Engineers Install Near Infrared Camera into the Heart of Webb Telescope

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Inside the world's largest clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., engineers worked tirelessly to install another essential part of the James Webb Space Telescope - the Near Infrared Camera into the heart of the telescope.

To complete this installation, the engineers needed to carefully move NIRCam inside the heart or ISIM, or Integrated Science Instrument Module that will house all of the science instruments.

"Installing NIRCam into the center of the structure is nerve wracking because of the tight clearances," said Marcia J. Rieke, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona, and principal investigator for the NIRCam. "I'm glad nothing bumped, and all the bolts are in place."

NIRCam is a unique machine because in addition to being one of the four science instruments on the Webb, it also serves as the wavefront sensor, which means it will provide vital information for shaping the telescope mirrors and aligning its optics so that they can function properly and see into the distant universe. The NIRCam instrument will operate at very cold temperatures, and will be tested to ensure that it will be able to withstand the environment of space.

The NIRCam is Webb's primary imager that will cover the infrared wavelength range 0.6 to 5 microns. It will detect light from the earliest stars and galaxies in the process of formation, the population of stars in nearby galaxies, as well as young stars and exoplanets in the Milky Way. NIRCam is provided by the University of Arizona and Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center.

Webb is an international project led by NASA with its partners the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

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Engineers Install Near Infrared Camera into the Heart of Webb Telescope

Mike Babcock passes Scotty Bowman in Red Wings wins

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Detroit Along with being a huge victory in the standings, Sundays 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay was a milestone for coach Mike Babcock.

The victory was No. 411 for Babcock in his career with the Red Wings, moving him past Scotty Bowman.

And Babcock could conceivably pass Jack Adams for No. 1 on the list this week. Adams heads the list with 413.

Babcocks respect and admiration of Bowman is well known. Babcock believes Bowmans career record of 1,248 regular season victories will never be broken.

Scotty is the greatest coach of all time in our business, said Babcock, who has 480 victories adding his victories in Anaheim. Scotty should be in a class by himself. Its not like I want to pass Scotty Bowman.

But Im honored. Hes a good friend and Im glad I can talk about him.

The primary reasons Bowmans record will never be touched, said Babcock, is because of Bowmans durability and the league is so different now, with the salary cap keeping organizations from becoming dynasties.

The amount of wins Scotty has, its impossible, its not going to happen, Babcock said. Youre not going to coach as many Stanley Cup champions. You cant keep teams together.

This particular Red Wings team is impressing Babcock with its competitiveness and determination.

Ive coached some good teams here, said Babcock, who coached the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup in 2008.

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Mike Babcock passes Scotty Bowman in Red Wings wins

Wings' Mike Babcock passes Scotty Bowman in wins

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Detroit Along with being a huge victory in the standings, Sundays 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay was a milestone for coach Mike Babcock.

The victory was No. 411 for Babcock in his career with the Red Wings, moving him past Scotty Bowman.

And Babcock could conceivably pass Jack Adams for No. 1 on the list this week. Adams heads the list with 413.

Babcocks respect and admiration of Bowman is well known. Babcock believes Bowmans career record of 1,248 regular season victories will never be broken.

Scotty is the greatest coach of all time in our business, said Babcock, who has 480 victories adding his victories in Anaheim. Scotty should be in a class by himself. Its not like I want to pass Scotty Bowman.

But Im honored. Hes a good friend and Im glad I can talk about him.

The primary reasons Bowmans record will never be touched, said Babcock, is because of Bowmans durability and the league is so different now, with the salary cap keeping organizations from becoming dynasties.

The amount of wins Scotty has, its impossible, its not going to happen, Babcock said. Youre not going to coach as many Stanley Cup champions. You cant keep teams together.

This particular Red Wings team is impressing Babcock with its competitiveness and determination.

Ive coached some good teams here, said Babcock, who coached the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup in 2008.

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Wings' Mike Babcock passes Scotty Bowman in wins

Stars sizzle in scarlet gowns at Empire Awards

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31 MARCH 2014 A host of leading ladies painted the town red on Sunday night.

Attending the Empire Film Awards in London, Margot Robbie turned heads in a showstopping scarlet jumpsuit.

The Wolf of Wall Street star, who took home the award for Best Female Newcomer, wowed in the off-the-shoulder creation, which she wore with black peep-toe platforms and a thin black waist belt.

Sarah Harding, Kate Beckinsale and Margot Robbie

Margot had styled her brunette locks, which she debuted earlier this year at the Oscars, into a simple, shoulder length 'do.

At the ceremony, the Australian actress rubbed shoulders with fellow Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale.

The British actress was flaunting her curves in a sexy scarlet mulberry-red number by Jenny Packham.

The gown featured cut-out waist panels and a gold Swarovski-crystal trim. Metallic heels and a gold python and black Christian Louboutin clutch bag finished the high-octane glamour look.

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Stars sizzle in scarlet gowns at Empire Awards

F1: Red Bull says it will not censor drivers

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By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 31st 2014, 13:29 GMT

Red Bull insists it will never censor its drivers, after Sebastian Vettel's criticism of Formula 1's new engines caused controversy in Malaysia.

Vettel labelled the sound of 2014's turbos as 's**t' ahead of the Sepang race amid the ongoing debate about the impact of new regulations.

AUTOSPORT understands those outspoken remarks have not gone down well with FIA president Jean Todt, who will have an opportunity to speak to Vettel when he attends this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

But despite Todt feeling that Vettel's remarks were unconstructive as the sport heads into a new era, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has backed his driver, and said his outfit would never choose to silence its men.

"All the drivers are allowed to express their own opinion," he said.

"Sebastian has expressed his opinion and I don't think anybody would condemn a driver for making an opinion.

"It [his opinion] is not one that he is alone on. There are differences of opinion and everybody is entitled to one."

Suggestions that Vettel could face a disrepute charge for his comments are understood to be wide of the mark, as are rumours that the FIA could use it as leverage ahead of its appeal court hearing against Red Bull over the fuel-flow controversy.

Horner made it clear that there had been no discussions from FIA representatives about Vettel's comments in Malaysia.

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F1: Red Bull says it will not censor drivers

Formula 1 – Red Bull says it will not censor drivers

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Vettel labelled the sound of 2014's turbos as 's**t' ahead of the Sepang race amid the ongoing debate about the impact of new regulations.

AUTOSPORT understands those outspoken remarks have not gone down well with FIA president Jean Todt, who will have an opportunity to speak to Vettel when he attends this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

But despite Todt feeling that Vettel's remarks were unconstructive as the sport heads into a new era, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has backed his driver, and said his outfit would never choose to silence its men.

"All the drivers are allowed to express their own opinion," he said.

"Sebastian has expressed his opinion and I don't think anybody would condemn a driver for making an opinion.

"It [his opinion] is not one that he is alone on. There are differences of opinion and everybody is entitled to one."

Suggestions that Vettel could face a disrepute charge for his comments are understood to be wide of the mark, as are rumours that the FIA could use it as leverage ahead of its appeal court hearing against Red Bull over the fuel-flow controversy.

Horner made it clear that there had been no discussions from FIA representatives about Vettel's comments in Malaysia.

"Certainly nobody has spoken to me about it over the weekend," he said. "I think he has just said what he thinks.

"And rather than others in the pitlane damning him for it, I think he should be applauded for saying what he thinks.

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Formula 1 - Red Bull says it will not censor drivers

NASA: The Proud Conquest Of Gemini VI and VII – 1966 Educational Film – S88TV1 – Video

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NASA: The Proud Conquest Of Gemini VI and VII - 1966 Educational Film - S88TV1
Astronauts Borman, Lovell, Schirra and Stafford discuss the historic rendezvous of their Gemini VI and Gemini VII spacecraft. President Johnson #39;s press confe...

By: Tomorrow Always Comes

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NASA: The Proud Conquest Of Gemini VI and VII - 1966 Educational Film - S88TV1 - Video

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for CYGNSS Mission

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NASA has selected Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., to launch the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission. CYGNSS will launch in October 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a Pegasus XL rocket from Orbital's "Stargazer" L-1011 aircraft.

This is a firm-fixed price launch-service task order contract worth approximately $55 million. Contract services include spacecraft processing, the launch service payload integration, tracking, data and telemetry and other launch support requirements.

CYGNSS will produce measurements of ocean surface winds throughout the life cycle of tropical storms and hurricanes, which could help lead to forecasting weather better. The mission, led by the University of Michigan, will use a constellation of small satellites that will be carried to orbit on a single launch vehicle. CYGNSS's eight micro-satellite observatories will receive direct and reflected signals from GPS satellites.

CYGNSS is the first award for space-based investigations in the Earth Venture-class series of rapidly developed, cost-constrained projects for NASA's Earth Science Division. NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., manages the Earth System Science Pathfinder program for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is responsible for management and oversight of the Pegasus XL launch services. Langley provides management for the CYGNSS mission.

For more information about NASA's Launch Services Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/launchservices

For more information about NASA programs and missions, visit:

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NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for CYGNSS Mission

NASA Book Reveals New Twist In Flight Research

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March 31, 2014

Image Caption: NASA's flexible-wing F/A-18 maneuvers through a test point during the second phase of the NASA/Air Force Active Aeroelastic Wing flight research project. Credit: NASA / Carla Thomas

Jim Banke, NASA

Sometimes the inspiration for innovative technological solutions comes from unexpected places.

Thats one of the key messages author Peter Merlin hopes readers will take away from reading NASAs newest book in its Aeronautics Book Series, A New Twist in Flight Research: The F-18 Active Aeroelastic Wing Project.

In this case the inspiration for the test project involving an F-18 with elastic wings came from no less than the worlds first airplane the 1903 Wright Flyer, which in turn saw its design based on observations of birds in flight dating back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci.

That first airplane didnt sport the same kind of control surfaces, such as flaps and ailerons, that todays airplanes rely on to steer through the air. Instead, just like birds, the Wright Flyer twisted its wings to change its direction in flight.

A century later, designers wondered if maybe the birds and the Wright brothers were on to something worth exploring with modern technology. The result was the F-18 Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project

NASAs new 194-page book tells the story of that flight research project, which saw an F-18 supersonic fighter modified so its wings could be warped in flight to aid in steering. It made 96 flights in two phases between November 2002 and April 2005.

AAW technology is sort of a back to the future approach to aircraft design, Merlin said. It leverages structural flexibility and the strength of new lightweight composite materials for a net benefit with regard to aircraft maneuverability.

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NASA Book Reveals New Twist In Flight Research

NASA Armstrong Center Renaming Ceremony Set for May 13

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Media are invited to a formal dedication ceremony to mark the renaming of NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, formerly the Dryden Flight Research Center, on Tuesday, May 13 at the center's campus at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The renaming ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. PDT in Hangar 4802. It is expected to include comments from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Armstrong Center Director David McBride, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California and members of the Armstrong and Dryden families.

Legislation to redesignate the 68-year-old facility, NASA's center of excellence for atmospheric flight research, in honor of the late Neil A. Armstrong was passed by the House of Representatives in early 2013, by the Senate on Jan. 8, and was signed into law by President Obama on Jan. 16. The name change became official March 1.

Rep. McCarthy, whose district includes the center, authored the resolution to rename the facility for Armstrong, a former research test pilot who flew at the center and the first man to step on the moon during the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The legislation also directed the naming of the center's aeronautical test range for the late Hugh L. Dryden, the center's namesake since 1976, who had been the director of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1949 to 1958 and NASA's first deputy administrator from 1958 until his death in 1965.

Media who wish to cover the rededication ceremony should contact the Armstrong public affairs office at 661-276-3449 or emailkim.l.lewis-bias@nasa.gov,no later than April 3 for non-U.S. citizens and May 8 for U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens. Media must work for a legitimate, verifiable newsgathering organization. No substitutions of non-credentialed media representatives will be allowed.

U.S. citizens must furnish their full name, date of birth, place of birth, media organization, the last six digits of social security number and drivers license number, including issuing state. Permanent resident aliens must provide their alien registration number and expiration date. In addition, foreign nationals must furnish their current citizenship, visa or passport number, country of issue and expiration date.

For more details the center's renaming and the lives and careers of Dryden and Armstrong, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/NewsReleases/2014/14-05.html

For more information about NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, visit:

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NASA Armstrong Center Renaming Ceremony Set for May 13

NASA Talk Highlights What's Next for Tomorrow's Airplanes

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On Tuesday, April 1 at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Mark Anderson, the director of Flight Sciences Technology for Boeing Research & Technology will present "To the Frontiers of Flight: The Role of Innovation in Developing Tomorrow's Products" at 2 p.m. in the Reid Conference Center.Anderson will review advanced aviation technology on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and focus on future air vehicles and concepts. He will also highlight NASA research contributions to the frontiers of flightAnderson will be available to answer questions from the media during a news briefing at 1:15 p.m. that day. Media who wish to do so should contact Chris Rink at 757-864-6786, or by e-mail atchris.rink@nasa.gov, by noon on the day of the talk for credentials and entry to the center.That same evening at 7:30, Anderson will present a similar program for the general public at the Virginia Air & Space Center in downtown Hampton. This Sigma Series event is free and no reservations are required.Anderson started as an aerodynamics engineer within Boeing Commercial Airplanes working in research and product development. He currently leads Boeing's advanced technology research in aerodynamics, propulsion, acoustics, guidance systems, navigation and control, configuration design and applied mathematics. In addition, he serves as chief engineer for Flight & Systems Technology.A member of the NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee, Anderson served as a member of the National Research Council Committee to Assess NASA Aeronautics Flight Research Capabilities. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and has served as Chairman of the AIAA national Aircraft Design Technical Committee and as General Chairman of the organization's New Horizons in Aviation Forum.For more information about NASA Langley's Colloquium and Sigma Series Lectures, visit:http://colloqsigma.larc.nasa.gov

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NASA Talk Highlights What's Next for Tomorrow's Airplanes