WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced leadership changes Friday for the agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Johnson Space Center in Houston.

James Free will succeed Ramon (Ray) Lugo as Glenn's center director when Lugo retires in January. Free has served as Glenn's deputy director since January 2011.

Ellen Ochoa will succeed Michael Coats as Johnson's center director when Coats retires at the end of the year. Ochoa has served as Johnson's deputy director since September 2007.

"Ellen and Jim are experienced, outstanding leaders who I know will continue to do great things as they take the helms of their field centers," Bolden said. "I also want to thank Mike and Ray for their years of leadership and dedicated service at NASA, most recently while guiding Johnson and Glenn through pivotal times for those centers. I am sad to see Mike leave, as he and I have been close friends and allies since coming together in the summer of 1964 as new plebes in the Great Naval Academy class of 1968. I also want to thank Ray for his years of tireless work at NASA, for a long while on the team at the Kennedy Space Center and, most recently, while leading Glenn."

Free began his career in 1990 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. as a propulsion engineer and later as a systems engineer on NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites. He joined Glenn in 1999 as the International Space Station liaison for the Fluids and Combustion Facility. His other NASA assignments have included director of Space Flight Systems at Glenn, Orion Service Module manager at Glenn and chief of the center's Orion Project Office. He also worked at Johnson as the Orion Test and Verification manager.

Ochoa is a four-time space shuttle astronaut who previously served as director and deputy director of flight crew operations at Johnson. She managed the Intelligent Systems

Technology Branch at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1990. Ochoa flew on space shuttle missions STS-56 in 1993, STS-66 in 1994, STS-96 in 1999, and STS-110 in 2002, logging a total of 978 hours in space.

Lugo's retirement brings to a close a 37-year career at NASA. In 1975, he began working at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as a cooperative education student. His first assignment was in the Construction and Modifications Branch as an engineer responsible for construction modifications to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for the first space shuttle mission. His other NASA assignments included serving as Glenn's deputy center director and deputy program manager for NASA's Launch Services Program.

Former space shuttle commander Coats was selected as an astronaut candidate from the U.S. Navy in 1978. He flew on three shuttle missions, serving as pilot for STS-41-D in 1984 and commander for STS-29 in 1989 and STS-39 in 1991. Following his final shuttle mission, Coats retired from the Navy and NASA's Astronaut Office in August 1991 to join the private sector. He returned to NASA in 2005 to become Johnson's 10th center director.

For more information about NASA missions and programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov

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NASA Announces Leadership Changes at Glenn Research Center and Johnson Space Center

November 16, 2012

NASA

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced leadership changes Friday for the agencys Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Johnson Space Center in Houston.

James Free will succeed Ramon (Ray) Lugo as Glenns center director when Lugo retires in January. Free has served as Glenns deputy director since January 2011.

Ellen Ochoa will succeed Michael Coats as Johnsons center director when Coats retires at the end of the year. Ochoa has served as Johnsons deputy director since September 2007.

Ellen and Jim are experienced, outstanding leaders who I know will continue to do great things as they take the helms of their field centers, Bolden said. I also want to thank Mike and Ray for their years of leadership and dedicated service at NASA, most recently while guiding Johnson and Glenn through pivotal times for those centers. I am sad to see Mike leave, as he and I have been close friends and allies since coming together in the summer of 1964 as new plebes in the Great Naval Academy class of 1968. I also want to thank Ray for his years of tireless work at NASA, for a long while on the team at the Kennedy Space Center and, most recently, while leading Glenn.

Free began his career in 1990 at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. as a propulsion engineer and later as a systems engineer on NASAs Tracking and Data Relay Satellites. He joined Glenn in 1999 as the International Space Station liaison for the Fluids and Combustion Facility. His other NASA assignments have included director of Space Flight Systems at Glenn, Orion Service Module manager at Glenn and chief of the centers Orion Project Office. He also worked at Johnson as the Orion Test and Verification manager.

Ochoa is a four-time space shuttle astronaut who previously served as director and deputy director of flight crew operations at Johnson. She managed the Intelligent Systems Technology Branch at NASAs Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1990. Ochoa flew on space shuttle missions STS-56 in 1993, STS-66 in 1994, STS-96 in 1999, and STS-110 in 2002, logging a total of 978 hours in space.

Lugos retirement brings to a close a 37-year career at NASA. In 1975, he began working at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida as a cooperative education student. His first assignment was in the Construction and Modifications Branch as an engineer responsible for construction modifications to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for the first space shuttle mission. His other NASA assignments included serving as Glenns deputy center director and deputy program manager for NASAs Launch Services Program.

Former space shuttle commander Coats was selected as an astronaut candidate from the U.S. Navy in 1978. He flew on three shuttle missions, serving as pilot for STS-41-D in 1984 and commander for STS-29 in 1989 and STS-39 in 1991. Following his final shuttle mission, Coats retired from the Navy and NASAs Astronaut Office in August 1991 to join the private sector. He returned to NASA in 2005 to become Johnsons 10th center director.

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Leadership Changes At Glenn And Johnson Announced By NASA

NASA's planet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope has begun its extended mission, which should keep the prolific instrument searching for alien worlds for another four years, agency officials announced today (Nov. 14).

Kepler officially embarked upon the extended mission after completing its 3 1/2-year prime mission, which aimed to determine how common Earth-like planets are throughout the galaxy. The extended phase, which NASA announced this past April, funds the instrument through at least fiscal year 2016.

Kepler is staring at more than 150,000 stars continuously. It detects exoplanets by noticing the tiny brightness dips caused when they transit or cross the face of these stars from the telescope's perspective.

The instrument generally needs to observe three such transits to spot a planet. So the extra hunting time is vital, scientists say, allowing Kepler to discover smaller planets and worlds that orbit relatively far from their stars. (A hypothetical alien Kepler, after all, would need to observe our solar system for several years to witness three transits by Earth.) [Gallery: A World of Kepler Planets]

Kepler has already made a series of impressive discoveries. Since its March 2009 launch, the telescope has detected more than 2,300 exoplanet candidates. Just 105 of them have been confirmed by follow-up observations to date, but the Kepler team estimates that at least 80 percent will end up being the real deal.

Confirmed discoveries include Kepler-10b, the first unquestionably rocky planet ever found beyond our solar system, and Kepler-22b, a world 2.4 times larger than Earth that orbits in its star's habitable zone that just-right range of distances where liquid water could exist.

And the Kepler candidates include hundreds of Earth-size worlds, as well as a number of habitable-zone planets.

"The initial discoveries of the Kepler mission indicate at least a third of the stars have planets and the number of planets in our galaxy must number in the billions," Kepler principal investigator Bill Borucki, of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., said in a statement. "The planets of greatest interest are other Earths, and these could already be in the data awaiting analysis. Kepler's most exciting results are yet to come."

The $600 million Kepler mission is a big part of the burgeoning field of exoplanet science, which is compelling many people to reassess humanity's place in the cosmos. Scientists with many different research teams have already confirmed more than 800 alien planets since the first was found around a sun-like star in 1995.

"The Earth isn't unique, nor the center of the universe," said veteran planet-hunter Geoff Marcy, a professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley. "The diversity of other worlds is greater than depicted in all the science fiction novels and movies. Aristotle would be proud of us for answering some of the most profound philosophical questions about our place in the universe."

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NASA's Prolific Planet-Hunting Mission Goes Into Overtime

NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope discovered more than 100 confirmed planets in its just-completed main mission and will now begin to hunt for Earth-like planets on an extended mission that could last to 2016, the space agency announced this week.

The Kepler space observatory was launched on March 7, 2009 atop a Delta II rocket and has spent the last three-and-a-half years scanning more than 150,000 stars for signs of planetary activity from an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit.

Kepler measures the brightness of stars, looking for interruptions in their light that indicate a planet may be crossing the star's face. So far, the telescope has identified more than 2,300 possible planetary bodies, of which more than 100 have been confirmed to be planets orbiting their own suns.

"The initial discoveries of the Kepler mission indicate at least a third of the stars have planets and the number of planets in our galaxy must number in the billions. The planets of greatest interest are other Earths and these could already be in the data awaiting analysis," William Borucki, Kepler principal investigator at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., said in a statement.

"Kepler's most exciting results are yet to come," he added.

Among Kepler's discoveries are Earth-sized planets and planets orbiting their stars at a similar distance from their suns regarded as the "habitable zone" based on our own planetary home's particular ingredients for life, such as the existence of liquid water.

NASA said no candidate planet discovered thus far by Kepler "is exactly like Earth," but noted that the spacecraft "has collected enough data to begin finding true sun-Earth analogsEarth-size planets with a one-year orbit around stars similar to the sun."

Kepler's first major discoveries were five exoplanets called "hot Jupiters," enormous bodies orbiting their stars very closely, the space agency said. Over the next months and years, the spacecraft beamed back data pointing to a wide variety of planet and planetary system types, including multi-planet systems, small rocky planets, densely packed solar systems, and even a planet that exists in a binary star system like the desert planet Tatooine from Star Wars.

Last December, the space telescope identified its first Earth-like planet located in the habitable zone, dubbed Kepler-22b, which paved the way for an extension of Kepler's mission for as much as four years beyond its primary task.

NASA extended the Kepler mission in April.

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NASA's Kepler Renews Hunt for Earth-Like Planets

All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Saturday - Crew half-day off. Preps for Soyuz 31S Undocking

After wakeup, FE-4 Malenchenko performed the routine inspection of the SM (Service Module) PSS Caution & Warning panel as part of regular Daily Morning Inspection.

FE-1 Novitskiy completed the daily reboot of the Russian RS1 & RS2 laptops, and FE-2 Tarelkin rebooted the RSS1 & RSS2 laptops.

After wake-up, FE-3 Ford swapped out the battery of the EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) equipment at the Lab WORF (Window Observation Research Facility) rack, then re-activated the NIKON D2Xs (50mm lens) plus software. Later in the day (~6:45am EST), Kevin terminated the EarthKAM session, shutting down the equipment, stowing the gear (except for the power string) and returning the SSC13 (Station Support Computer 13) to its nominal operations position. [This was the 5th use of the NIKON D2Xs camera by EKAM and the 4th time that any images are being taken from the WORF. EKAM will have a week-long session (until 11/17) which started on 11/12 with system checkout and targeting calibration. Students around the world, anxiously awaiting use of the higher resolution images, will begin taking their images today by remote commanding. D2Xs batteries (3 per day) need to be fully charged for camera operation.]

In preparation for his return to gravity tomorrow evening (5:26pm EST), FE-4 Yuri Malenchenko undertook Part 2 of his 5th and final exercise/training session of the Russian MO-5 MedOps protocol of cardiovascular evaluation in the below-the-waist reduced-pressure device (ODNT, US: LBNP) on the TVIS treadmill with Evgeny Tarelkin assisting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer). Yesterday's ODNT run was Part 1 (not Part 2 as reported here). [The assessment, lasting 90 min., supported by ground specialist tagup (VHF), uses the Gamma-1 ECG equipment with biomed harness, skin electrodes and a blood pressure and rheoplethysmograph cuff wired to the cycle ergometer's instrumentation panels. The Chibis ODNT provides gravity-simulating stress to the body's cardiovascular/circulatory system for evaluation of the crewmembers' orthostatic tolerance after several months in zero-G. The closeout exercise generally consists of first imbibing 150-200 milliliters of water or juice, followed by two cycles of a sequence of progressive regimes of reduced ("negative") pressure, set at -20, -25, -35, -40 mmHg (Torr) for 5 min. each, followed by -10 mmHg for 1 min., -20, -35, -40 mmHg for 10 min. each, and a final 30 mmHg for 5 min. and drop to 0 mmHg, while shifting from foot to foot at 10-12 steps per minute, while wearing a sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure, medically monitored with the Gamma-1M hardware. The body's circulatory system interprets the pressure differential between upper and lower body as a gravity-like force pulling the blood (and other liquids) down. Chibis data and biomed cardiovascular readings are recorded. The Chibis suit (not to be confused with the Russian "Pinguin" suit for spring-loaded body compression, or the "Kentavr" anti-g suit worn during reentry) is similar to the U.S. LBNP facility (not a suit) used for the first time on Skylab in 1973/74, although it appears to accomplish its purpose more quickly.]

FE-6 Hoshide downloaded the accumulated data from his 4th and final 24-hr ICV (Integrated Cardiovascular) Ambulatory Monitoring session (11/13-11/14) from two Actiwatch Spectrums and two HM2 HiFi CF Cards to the HRF PC1 (Human Research Facility Portable Computer 1). The laptop was then powered off. Some science was lost due to charging failure of Makita power tool batteries. [For the ICV Ambulatory Monitoring session, during the first 24 hrs (while all devices are worn), ten minutes of quiet, resting breathing are timelined to collect data for a specific analysis. The nominal exercise includes at least 10 minutes at a heart rate >=120 bpm (beats per minute). After 24 hrs, the Cardiopres/BP is doffed and the HM2 HiFi CF Card and AA Battery are changed out to allow continuation of the session for another 24 hours, with the Makita batteries switched as required. After data collection is complete, the Actiwatches and both HM2 HiFi CF Cards are downloaded to the HRF PC1, while Cardiopres data are downloaded to the EPM (European Physiology Module) Rack and transferred to the HRF PC1 via a USB key for downlink.]

FE-1 Novitskiy completed the regular weekly maintenance inspection & cleaning of Group E fan grilles in the SM (VPkhO, FS5, FS6, VP), and also inspected the running SKV air conditioner and adjacent structural elements for moisture.

Oleg & Evgeny removed, photographed & transferred the following Russian biotech payloads to Soyuz 31S for return: * BTKh-29 Zhenshen-2 (Ginseng-2) in its Bioecology case #7-3 from MRM2, * BTKh-41 BACTERIOFAG (Bakteriophag) in Bioecology case #8-1 from SM, * BTKh-6, 7 ARIL/OChB from the +4 degC TBU-V incubator, * BTKh-5 LAKTOLEN from Bioecology case #8-3, and * BTKh-42 STRUKTURA (Structure).

FE-3 Ford performed regular (~weekly) inspection & maintenance, as required, of the CGBA-4 (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 4) and CGBA-5 payloads in their ERs (EXPRESS Racks) at Lab O2 & O1, focusing on cleaning the muffler air intakes.

Kevin also took his first session with the MedOps psychological evaluation experiment WinSCAT (Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows), logging in on the MDLT (Medical Laptop Terminal) and going through the psychological evaluation exercise on the PC-based WinSCAT application. [WinSCAT is a monthly time-constrained questionnaire test of cognitive abilities, routinely performed by astronauts aboard the ISS every 30 days before or after the PHS (periodic health status) test or on special CDR's, crewmembers or flight surgeons request. The test uses cognitive subtests that measure sustained concentration, verbal working memory, attention, short-term memory, spatial processing, and math skills. The five cognitive subtests are Coding Memory - Learning, Continuous Processing Task (CPT), Match to Sample, Mathematics, and Coding Delayed Recall. These WinSCAT subtests are the same as those used during NASA's long-duration bed rest studies.]

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NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 17 November 2012

NASA scientists launched a small telescope into space this month to study faint flares on the sun. But there's a twist: The mission took less time than it takes to hard-boil an egg.

The solar telescope flew atop suborbital sounding rocket on Nov. 2 during the short 6-minute flight, which launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico aboard. The rocket, which is designed to fly experiments into space but not orbit the Earth, carried the Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (or FOXSI) to study small changes in the sun's weather.

Though short-lived, the 200-mile (321 kilometers) rocket flight could provide new data on mysterious solar nanoflares tiny, sudden bursts of energy that constantly erupt on the sun's surface. As their name suggests, nanoflares are much smaller and thus harder to see than the massive solar flares that get attention for wreaking havoc on Earth's electronics and communications networks.

"Most people like to look at the really big flares. They're complicated and do crazy things," Steven Christe, project scientist for FOXSI at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., said in a statement a day before launch. [Amazing Solar Flare Photos]

FOXSI, however, was geared to check out at very faint events using a next-generation X-ray telescope with extra sensitive optics. During the six minutes of intense data gathering, the telescope was to focus on an active region on the sun with big, dancing solar flares before fixing on a quieter region to glimpse an unobstructed patch of smaller flares, NASA said.

Scientists at the space agency hope the mission will shed light on the makeup of nanoflares and their relation to their bigger, more boisterous counterparts.

"There are two basic possibilities," said Christe. "One is that small flares are similar to large flares. But then we'd have to explain why they appear at a different rate and in different places than the big ones. So we need to determine whether these small events are really happening all the time, all over the sun."

The other possibility, Christe said, is that nanoflares are fundamentally different than large flares, which would be "extremely interesting" and would suggest a difference in the physics of the two types of flares.

Data gathered by FOXSI also might help explain how the sun's atmosphere gets so much hotter than the surface.

"If you think of a stove, the surface of the stove is hotter, and the air gets cooler as you move farther away," Sm Krucker, the principal investigator for FOXSI, explained in a statement. "But with the sun, something else is happening to make the atmosphere 1,000 times hotter than the surface."

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6-Minute NASA Rocket Launch Tracks Solar 'Nanoflares'

Hinode Observatory #39;s View of the Solar Eclipse | NASA Sun Space Science Moon Video
Visit my website at http://www.junglejoel.com - two solar eclipses were witnessed by the Hinode observatory on Nov. 13, 2012, both are represented here. The first was a total eclipse, and the second was a partial eclipse -with the moon skimming the left limb of the sun. Please rate and comment, thanks! Credit JAXA / NASA / SAOFrom:CoconutScienceLabViews:4 1ratingsTime:00:35More inScience Technology

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Hinode Observatory's View of the Solar Eclipse | NASA Sun Space Science Moon Video - Video

LASCO C2 Combo 11/12-11/16/2012 03:25 UT
Solar Flares 6-hr max: C1 0756 UT Nov16 24-hr: C1 0756 UT Nov16 GOES X-ray Flux plot (updates every 5 minutes) http://www.swpc.noaa.gov Sunspot number: 132 9 active regions. Region 11614 has many spots but lacks significant magnetic complexity to produce large flares. Current view from this region: http://www.solarmonitor.org Region 11610 decayed significantly after producing a long duration C6.3 event peaking at 04:37 UTC. Region 11613 decayed further and produced only a few small C flares. New region S2056 rotated into view from the East. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels on days one, two, and three (16 Nov, 17 Nov, 18 Nov), with Regions 1610, 1614 and 1613 (S24E08) most likely to produce moderate activity. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for the next three days (16 Nov, 17 Nov, 18 Nov) as effects from the current coronal wane while a new, positive, coronal hole becomes geoeffective on days 2 and 3 (17-18 Nov). Catch the Leonid meteor shower tonight: http://www.9wsyr.com Planetary K-index Now: Kp= 1 quiet 24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet Estimated 3-hour Planetary Kp-index (Updates every 5 mins) http://www.swpc.noaa.gov Sources:NOAA/ http://www.spaceweather.com http SOHO (ESA NASA) Biomaterials, preserving mussel diversity, early hunting technology,Science podcast: http://www.sciencemag.org Airborne Particles Smuggle Pollutants Worldwide ( Including radiation from Fukushima carried through the jet ...From:MichelleHill711Views:53 0ratingsTime:00:11More inScience Technology

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LASCO C2 Combo 11/12-11/16/2012 03:25 UT - Video

Cyberport Speaker Series: The Cloud is Open (6 Nov)
Cloud computing has become an increasingly common topic of interest for almost every organization in Hong Kong, though not everyone understands exactly how cloud computing works, what its benefits might be and also what might be any risks of using such technology. As part of our "Cyperport Speaker Series", Cyberport arranged for Mr. Lew Moorman, President of the US firm Rackspace, to share his views on the future of open cloud computing, a vision for the open cloud model, the need for an industry standard and explained how service vendors can "lock-in" customers within proprietary cloud environments. Rackspace has been working with NASA to develop OpenStack, an open-source project that is set to become a big industry standard on open cloud computing. Its mission is to create an open platform that will meet the needs of both public and private needs by being simple to implement yet fully scalable. In his talk, Mr. Moorman explained more about the open cloud project, which is intended to free cloud computing users from being tied down by proprietary cloud solutions. If you are interested to be a member of Hong Kong OpenStack User Group, please email to : tc@cyberport.hkFrom:HongkongCyberportViews:1 0ratingsTime:03:36More inScience Technology

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Cyberport Speaker Series: The Cloud is Open (6 Nov) - Video

3MIN News November 16, 2012
All Images and Information found at the Links Below, with gratitude. TODAY #39;S LINKS Iron Dome: http://www.youtube.com Iron Dome 2: youtu.be Iron Dome 3: http://www.youtube.com UFO DEBUNKED: http://www.youtube.com *** State of the Climate: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov Warm Records: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov Statoil Halts North Sea Platform: phys.org Red Auroras: www2.gi.alaska.edu REPEAT LINKS Spaceweather: spaceweather.com [Look on the left at the X-ray Flux and Solar Wind Speed/Density] HAARP: http://www.haarp.alaska.edu [Click online data, and have a little fun] CERES JPL: ssd.jpl.nasa.gov SDO: sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov [Place to find Solar Images and Videos - as seen from earth] Helioviewer: http://www.helioviewer.org SOHO: sohodata.nascom.nasa.gov [SOHO; Lasco and EIT - as seen from earth] Stereo: stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov [Stereo; Cor, EUVI, HI - as seen from the side] SunAEON: http://www.sunaeon.com [Just click it... trust me] SOLARIMG: solarimg.org [All purpose data viewing site] iSWA: iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov [Free Application; for advanced sun watchers] NASA ENLIL SPIRAL: iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov NOAA ENLIL SPIRAL: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov US Wind Map: hint.fm NOAA Buoys: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov RADIATION Network: radiationnetwork.com NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory: http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov RSOE: hisz.rsoe.hu [That cool alert map I use] GOES Xray: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov JAPAN Radiation Map: jciv.iidj.net LISS: earthquake.usgs.gov Gamma Ray Bursts: grb.sonoma.edu [Really? You can #39;t figure out what this one is for?] BARTOL Cosmic Rays: neutronm.bartol.udel.edu ...From:Suspicious0bserversViews:1 0ratingsTime:03:01More inNews Politics

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3MIN News November 16, 2012 - Video

NASA Approves Laser Eye Surgery for Astronauts
http://www.opticalexpress.co.uk - Top laser eye surgeon Steve Schallhorn discusses the approval by NASA of LASIK surgery for astronauts.From:OpticalExpressUKViews:348 0ratingsTime:00:54More inEducation

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NASA Approves Laser Eye Surgery for Astronauts - Video

UFO Fleet? 15 Nov. 2012.
Ufos fly past SOHO satellite. One million miles out from Earth. SOHO Satellite Photo. Lasco C3. These pictures are easily checked at Link - sohodata.nascom.nasa.gov Facebook - http://www.facebook.comFrom:Streetcap1Views:47 1ratingsTime:00:22More inScience Technology

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UFO Fleet? 15 Nov. 2012. - Video

The Most Astounding Fact - Neil deGrasse Tyson.wmv
Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This is his answer. Please subscribe above! Watch the definitive version on Vimeo: vimeo.com In 15 languages, Click CC! Watch in HD! Special thanks to: Reid Gower saganseries.com Carl Sagan http://www.hulu.com Neil deGrasse Tyson http://www.facebook.com NASA http://www.nasa.gov ...for their inspiration. CREDITS Narration: TIME Magazine #39;s "10 Questions for Neil Degrasse Tyson" http://www.youtube.com Music: "To Build a Home" by the Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson http://www.cinematicorchestra.com Video (in order of appearance): IMAX: Hubble 3D (Orion) http://www.imax.com Yellowstone: Battle for Life (Tree Waterfall) http://www.bbc.co.uk Supernova to Crab Nebula http://www.spacetelescope.org BBC: Wonders of the Solar System (formation of the solar system) http://www.bbc.co.uk Accretion and First Eukaryotes from the 2011 film "Tree of Life" directed by Terrence Malick en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org http://www.wired.com http://www.twowaysthroughlife.com BBC: Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life http://www.wellcometreeoflife.org "Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia" by Ayrton Orio (Model: Xharon Kendelker) vimeo.com "Afghanistan - touch down in flight" by Augustin Pictures vimeo.com lukasugustin.de "mongolia!" by wiissa http wiissa.com Excerpt from "Outside In", Copyright Stephen van Vuuren Studios (Saturn #39;s moon Mimas) http://www.outsideinthemovie.com IMAX Hubble 3D (Inside Orion Nebula) en ...From:FeelingtheEarthViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:34More inEntertainment

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The Most Astounding Fact - Neil deGrasse Tyson.wmv - Video

Are we alone The NASA Administrator says that Aliens are real!
Visit our blog: http://www.aliensblog.netFrom:AliensBlogViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:35More inScience Technology

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Are we alone The NASA Administrator says that Aliens are real! - Video

ISIS MOTHER NATURE HAS RIZED 13
NAMASTE PEACE GOD HOTEP 13 70VE SHALAM U SEE DIS ENERGY I KNO U KNO WUTS GOING ON MOTHER NATURE HAS HERD THA OM OVER TONE OF HER 13 NATRUAL NETERUS U HERD MEN WOMEN CHI7D WI77 PUT DA DEVI7 IN ITS PLACE UNITE MY G #39;z GO7DEN CHILDREN PUT ON UR IRON SHIRTS N CHASE 7UCIFER OUT OF EARTH SEND IT OUT OF SPACE GO FIND ANOTHER RACE NASA/NAZi YA HERD?? STOP FINDING THINGS TO DISAGREE UPON N FIND OUT WUT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON DA 7OVE RA #39;SPEK DA HOLL SPECTRUM OF DA ISRAE7-7IGHT RAINBOW CHILDREN STAR CHI7DREN WHERE U AT? "WE HERE" PEACE GOD 13TH OVATONE OOOOOMMMMMMFrom:K7aSsikTHUG13Views:2 1ratingsTime:01:28More inEducation

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ISIS MOTHER NATURE HAS RIZED 13 - Video

[YTP]Assassin #39;s creed revelations - Ezio #39;s dirty little secret
we get know that is one more sister of ezio - the pervert one - Hoish nu and we get know that Sofia is a nasa-space fan and Sofa.From:Anontori DerpKnightViews:6 0ratingsTime:01:04More inPeople Blogs

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[YTP]Assassin's creed revelations - Ezio's dirty little secret - Video

Its still only a model, but NASAs X-48 recently passed a major milestone with its 100th flight. The blended wing body aircraft is a joint project between NASA and Boeing to explore the flight characteristics of a design that may become the efficient airliner of the future.

We first saw the X-48 three years ago when we spoke with one of the test pilots who fly the 8.5 percent scale model. This is not, however, your typical R/C plane. With its 21-foot wingspan, its packed with a host of sensors much like its larger X-plane cousins. Back then the X-48 was in its B configuration with much of the flight testing aimed at learning more about the slow speed flight characteristics typical of take off and landing.

The current model, X-48C, is the same plane but modified to investigate noise-shielding concepts with a blended wing body design. The goal is to make airplanes that are quieter on the ground. One key change being tested is mounting the engines on top of the fuselage and shielding them with both the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces.

The first 92 flights of the X-48B used three small, 50-pound-thrust turbojet engines that extended beyond the back of the aircraft. Eight more recent flights, including the milestone 100th, with the X-48C used two 89-pound-thrust engines. The vertical surfaces that had been winglets on the X-48B were moved to the tail, and the back of the aircraft was extended two feet to completely shield the engines from the ground.

Reducing the noise footprint of airplanes, especially airliners, is a key driver of new aircraft designs. Boeings newest airplanes, the 787 and 747-8, and the Airbus A350 incorporate several features aimed at making them quieter from the perspective of people on the ground.

NASA says the joint X-48C research project with Boeing will likely include 20 more test flights before the blended wing body program is completed. With funding tight, its looking like the agencys plans for a 737-sized, piloted blended wing body X-plane are going to be put on hold.

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NASA ’s Mini X-Plane Marks a Milestone

Synopsis - Nov 14, 2012

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNH12ZDA015J Posted Date: Nov 14, 2012 FedBizOpps Posted Date: Nov 14, 2012 Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No Original Response Date: N/A Current Response Date: N/A Classification Code: A -- Research and Development NAICS Code: 541712 Set-Aside Code:

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

NASA announces the upcoming Common Instrument Interface (CII) Guidelines Working Meeting, scheduled for December 13, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street, SW, Washington, DC.

The purpose of the Working Meeting is to discuss technical aspects of hosting NASA science instruments and technology demonstration payloads on civil and commercial spacecraft. The principal organizations participating in the Working Meeting are the Earth Science Division (ESD) of the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) Program of NASA Space Technology Program Directorate.

ESD's flight portfolio includes the Earth System Science Pathfinder Program (ESSP), which comprises a series of relatively low-to-moderate cost; small-to-medium sized; competitively selected; Principal Investigator-led missions that are built, tested, and launched in a short time interval that accommodate new and emergent scientific priorities. The Earth Venture Instrument (EVI) line of missions is ESSP's hosted payload component. The Common Instrument Interface (CII) Project supports ESSP by identifying a common set of technical guidelines for Earth Science instruments that will improve their success of becoming hosted payloads.

The TDM Program bridges the gap between proof of concept and experimental testing stage and the final infusion of the technologies into NASA missions, providing needed flight demonstration in relevant environments to mature laboratory-proven technologies to flight-ready status. It focuses on technologies with strong customer interest that meet the needs of NASA and industry by enabling new missions or greatly enhancing existing missions. TDM is currently developing two hosted payload missions: the Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) and the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD).

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NASA Common Instrument Interface Guidelines for Hosted Payload Opportunities Working Meeting

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA was informing employees this week that a laptop computer with personnel information such as social security numbers was stolen from a locked car two weeks ago, potentially putting thousands of workers and contractors at risk.

The laptop, issued to an employee at NASA headquarters in Washington, was password protected but its disk was not fully encrypted, NASA wrote employees in a letter dated Tuesday and distributed this week.

"Information on the laptop could be accessible to unauthorized individuals," wrote Richard Keegan, the agency's associate deputy administrator.

The security breach affects thousands of employees and contractors at NASA facilities around the United States.

The agency is investigating the theft. It also has hired ID Experts, a data breach specialist, to follow up with individuals whose information was on the computer.

"Because of the amount of information that must be reviewed and validated, it may take up to 60 days for all individuals impacted by this breach to be identified and contacted," Keegan said.

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden banned the removal of unencrypted laptops containing sensitive information from any NASA facility and ordered security software upgrades to be finished by December 21.

The agency also warned employees about storing sensitive data on smart phones and mobile devices.

The agency is offering employees free credit-monitoring services and other support.

The laptop theft is the latest in a string of NASA security breaches over the past few years. In March, a Kennedy Space Center worker's laptop that contained personal information on about 2,300 employees and students was stolen.

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Laptop with NASA workers' personal data is stolen

NASA told its staff this week that a laptop containing sensitive personal information for a large number of employees and contractors was stolen two weeks ago from a locked vehicle.

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NASA Says Staff Information Was on Stolen Laptop