CAPE CANAVERAL --

In all, the unmanned Dragon capsule is delivering more than 5,000 pounds of space station supplies for NASA.

Dragon should reach the space station Tuesday. It's the fifth station shipment for the California-based SpaceX, one of two new commercial winners in the race to start launching Americans again from home soil.

The space station was soaring over the South Pacific when the SpaceX Falcon 9 thundered into Florida's pre-dawn sky. Sunday's weather was ideal for flying, unlike Saturday, when rain forced a delay. The rocket was visible for nearly three minutes as it sped out over the Atlantic, with the Orion constellation as a backdrop.

"What a beautiful morning it was," said Sam Scimemi, NASA's space station division director.

Sunday was a red-letter day for NASA in more ways than one.

Besides the flawless launch, the space agency's Maven spacecraft was on the verge of reaching Mars. The robotic explorer was scheduled to go into orbit around Mars late Sunday night.

The space station-bound 3-D printer was developed by Made in Space, another California company. It's sturdier than Earthly models to withstand the stresses of launch, and meets NASA's strict safety standards. The space agency envisions astronauts one day cranking out spare parts as needed. For now, it's a technology demonstrator, with a bigger and better model to follow next year.

A $30 million device for measuring ocean winds is also flying up on Dragon, along with 20 mice and 30 fruit flies for biological research and metal samples for a golf club manufacturer looking to improve its products.

Much-needed spacesuit batteries are on board as well, along with the usual stash of food, clothes and electronic gear. Routine U.S. spacewalks were put on hold following last year's close call with an astronaut's flooded helmet. That problem was solved, then the battery fuses were called into question. NASA hopes to resume spacewalks next month.

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SpaceX launches 3-D printer, other station gear

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The 3-D printing boom is about to invade space.

NASA is sending a 3-D printer to the International Space Station in hopes that astronauts will be able to one day fix their spacecraft by cranking out spare parts on the spot.

The printer, made by a Northern California company called Made in Space, is among more than 5,000 pounds of space station cargo that's stuffed into a SpaceX Dragon capsule that was supposed to lift off before dawn Saturday. Rainy weather forced SpaceX to delay the launch until Sunday.

Besides real-time replacement parts at the station, NASA envisions astronauts, in the decades ahead, making entire habitats at faraway destinations like Mars.

"If we're really going to set up shop on Mars," we have to do this, Jeff Sheehy, NASA's senior technologist, said Friday. "We really can't afford to bring everything we need for an indefinite amount of time. We'll need to get to the point where we can make things that we need as we go."

At Kennedy Space Center, the company showed off a number of objects made by its 3-D printers. On display was a scaled-down model of an air filter that the Apollo 13 astronauts devised to survive their aborted moon mission in 1970. It took five hours to print the model in a lab.

SpaceX is making the supply run for NASA, the same California company that just won a huge contract to deliver U.S. astronauts to the space station. Its Falcon 9 rocket with an unmanned Dragon is scheduled to blast off at 1:52 a.m. Sunday; slightly better weather is expected.

Other Dragon payloads high on the cool or curious factor: a mouse X-ray machine and 20 mice; 30 fruit flies expected to have a population explosion in orbit, metal plating samples for a private research effort to build stronger golf clubs, and a $30 million instrument to measure the surface wind over Earth's oceans and improve hurricane forecasting.

The small 3-D printer on board is a demo unit meant to churn out sample items made from the same type of plastic used for Lego bricks.

It was designed to operate safely in weightlessness inside a sealed chamber. The printing process is the same as on Earth, creating an object with layer upon layer of plastic.

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Astronauts getting 3-D printer at space station

Space #39;s 10 Most Gigantic Disasters
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New York, Sep 18 (IANS): Nurse a desire to travel in a space taxi but wary of the space flight and its impact on high blood pressure or diabetes? Take heart.

The aerospace medicine group at the University of Texas' medical branch, Galveston, has studied how average people with common medical problems would be able to tolerate the stresses of commercial space flight.

"This study further supports the belief that, despite significant chronic medical conditions, the dream of space flight is one that most people can achieve," lead author Rebecca Blue said.

Historically, space flight has been reserved for the very healthy.

"Physiological stresses of flight include increased acceleration forces or 'G-forces', during launch and re-entry as well as the microgravity period," said Blue.

"Our goal was to see how average people with common medical problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and back and neck injuries who are not necessarily as fit as a career astronaut would be able to tolerate the stresses of an anticipated commercial spaceflight," Blue added.

In a simulated flight environment, researchers wanted to see if centrifuges were equally tolerable for individuals with complex medical histories or whether there were certain conditions that would make it more difficult for them to handle the flight.

Overall, they found that nearly everyone with well-controlled medical conditions who participated in this project tolerated simulated flight without problems.

The study appeared in the journal Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine.

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Chronic medical condition no bar to space travel

On September 20 at 2:14 AM ET, the first 3D printer intended for in-space use will depart aboard a rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., headed for the International Space Station (ISS).

This machine shop for space will mark the first time that a multi-purpose manufacturing device will be utilized off-world to create parts, tools and emergency solutions. Developed by Made In Space, Inc., under a contract with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the 3D printer is part of a technology demonstration intended to show that on-site, on-demand manufacturing is a viable alternative to launching items from Earth.

Everything that has ever been built for space has been built on the ground. Tremendous amounts of money and time have been spent to place even the simplest of items in space to aid exploration and development, said Aaron Kemmer, Chief Executive Officer of Made In Space. This new capability will fundamentally change how the supply and development of space missions is looked at.

Following delivery to ISS, the 3D printer is scheduled to be installed in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) to conduct its series of prints. The printer will create a series of test coupons, parts, tools, use case examples and even STEM project designs by students as part of the 3D Printing in Zero-G Experiment. This experiment, intended to demonstrate additive manufacturing capabilities in space, was developed through a partnership between Made In Space and NASA MSFC. Made In Space is working with business partners to formulate additional use case examples to demonstrate printer capabilities.

Made In Spaces additive manufacturing technology creates 3D objects layer by layer from filament through an extrusion method specifically adapted for the challenges of the space environment. In addition to designing and building the hardware, Made In Space will be operating the printer from a mission control ground station.

There were dozens of specific problems we had to solve in constructing a 3D printer for the Space Station. From thermal process adjustments to rigorous safety requirements, the challenges our team had to overcome were numerous, and were deeply proud to see the results of the work done by the Made In Space and NASA MSFC team now head out for a grand field test, said Kemmer.

This first printer will be using ABS plastic while the second generation unit, scheduled for delivery to ISS in 2015, will offer multiple material capacity and an increased build volume. The second Made In Space printer will be available for use by businesses, researchers and anyone who wants to create in-space hardware rapidly, affordably, and safely.

Placing additive manufacturing in space will lead to similar capabilities on every future space station, deep space exploration vehicle, and space colony, said Kemmer. Rapid construction of important materials is a critical need if humans are going to establish a greater footprint in our universe.

Made In Space developed the zero-gravity printer through NASAs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The prototype unit was tested on Zero-G Corporations modified Boeing 727 parabolic airplane, made possible by NASAs Flight Opportunities Program. The flight unit passed NASAs extensive safety and operational standards on the way to being deemed flight ready.

Kemmer said, This is more than a 3D printer. Its more than a machine shop in space. Its a landmark for humanity. For the first time in the history of our species, we will be manufacturing tools and hardware away from the Earth. Now that weve made this breakthrough, the sky is no longer the limit for additive manufacturing the era of off-world manufacturing has begun.

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Made in Space Announces Launch of First Zero-Gravity 3D Printer to the International Space Station

Congressman Stockman congratulates NASA, Boeing, and Space X for inaugurating a new era in commercial space ventures with todays award of contracts to launch American astronauts once again on American rockets.

The selection of the Boeing CST-100 spacecraft and the Atlas V rocket, plus Space Xs Dragon spacecraft and Falcon-9 rocket offer vital redundancy in the event of problems with any single system.

Stockman applauded the efforts by both companies in building the next generation of spacecraft to transport astronauts to the International Space Station.

Boeing has been building spacecraft since the dawn of the space age, and I am excited to see their spacecraft selected in this competition. Space X has created an exciting space industry from scratch, which is bringing the satellite launch market home to the United States, and we will see more exciting commercial space ventures from them in coming years.

Stockman warned of increasing tensions with Russia over Ukraine: I urge both companies to find ways to launch a year earlier than planned, to counter any potential threats by Russia against launching our astronauts.

Stockman also offered encouragement to Sierra Nevada for their innovative Dream Chaser mini-shuttle, and expressed hope they would continue development for the commercial space market or future NASA contracts.

Stockman represents the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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Stockman congratulates NASA, Boeing, and Space X for launching new era in space flight

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USA GOING BACK TO MAN SPACE CRAFT CNN NEWS
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NASA on Tuesday awarded a pair of much-anticipated contracts, worth up to $6.8 billion combined, to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station to Boeing and SpaceX in a deal that would allow the U.S. to launch astronauts into space from U.S. soil for the first time in years.

Speaking from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said the contracts set "the stage for what promises to be the most ambitious and exciting chapter in the history of NASA and human spaceflight. Relying so heavily on contractors to take astronauts to space would allow the agency to focus on an even more ambitious mission--that of sending humans to Mars, he said.

The announcement of the commercial crew awards is a big step toward allowing the U.S. to end its reliance on Russia, which has been ferrying American astronauts to the space station since the retirement of the space shuttle three years ago. The arrangement hasnt been cheap: the Russians currently charge $71 million per seat, and NASA has in a single year sent more than $400 million to Russia for these taxi rides. If the schedule doesnt slip, and Boeing and SpaceX prove their vehicles are safe, NASA should see its astronauts launched on U.S. soil with American rockets by as early as 2017.

The awards represent a significant shift for NASA, which has long owned and operated its own rockets. Instead of going to space on government-owned vehicles, NASAs astronauts would essentially rent space on ships provided by Boeing and SpaceX.

The contracts highlight what commercial companies can accomplish and we are counting on them to deliver our most precious cargo, said Kathy Lueders, NASAs commercial crew program manager.

In addition to continuing to develop and test the companies vehicles, each contract calls for up to six flights to the space station once the ships are certified by NASA.

Boeings contract is worth up to $4.2 billion; SpaceXs is valued at $2.6 billion. Lueders would not say exactly why Boeing received more but indicated that SpaceX proposed doing the work for less. Both contracts have the same requirements and the companies proposed the value for which they were able to do the work, and the government accepted that, she said.

For SpaceX, which is already the first private company to deliver cargo to the space station, the award is further evidence that it has transformed from start-up to a major a player in an industry long dominated by large, traditional companies, such as Boeing.

The two companies represent vastly different cultures in the space industry. Boeing is a so-called old space stalwart with decades of experience, contacts and lobbying might. SpaceX is the upstart California-based company founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk that has gleefully played the role of disrupter.

Musk, who also runs Tesla Motors, sued the Air Force earlier this year on a separate contract to launch military payloads, such as satellites, into space. He argued that SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket was a less expensive alternative that should be able to compete against the United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which currently holds the contract.

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NASA awards space contracts to Boeing and SpaceX

The United States took its first major step to returning to manned space flight as NASA awarded up to $6.8 billion to aerospace giant Boeing and California-based SpaceX to launch astronauts into space.

In a throwback to the golden age of space flight, the contracts call for Apollo-like capsules that would ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. The space agency chose not to return to the winged space shuttle design, electing instead to build vehicles that would be lifted into space atop a rocket, travel to the space station, and then splash down in the ocean.

The contracts one to an aerospace stalwart and another to an upstart also reflect new realities of funding space missions: They must be affordable.

NASA, which has preferred in the past to own and operate spacecrafts, will now rely on commercial vehicles that it will essentially rent.

"Turning over low-Earth orbit transportation to private industry will also allow NASA to focus on an even more ambitious mission sending humans to Mars," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said Tuesday at a news conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The contracts return Southern California, once the epicenter for Apollo and space shuttle development, to a prime role in space flight.

It was a major announcement for NASA, but even bigger for SpaceX and its founder, Elon Musk.

The company is only 11 years old, with more than 3,000 employees, most building rockets, engines and the Dragon spacecraft at its Hawthorne factory. SpaceX, short for Space Exploration Technologies Corp., had already won a NASA contract to ferry cargo to the space station.

But this is another mark in Musk's favor as he lobbies to level the playing field of governmental space contracts, which have long been dominated by Boeing, Lockheed and other aerospace powerhouses.

For Boeing, hundreds of employees in Huntington Beach and El Segundo will be involved in designing and testing the spacecraft it has proposed to NASA, said John Mulholland, vice president of the company's commercial programs for space exploration.

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NASA contracts with SpaceX and Boeing for space transport

In the latest step toward commercial human space flight, Boeing and SpaceX havebeen chosen to carry the next NASA astronauts into space, the agency announcedtoday.

NASA awarded $4.2 billion to Boeing and $2.6 billion to SpaceX to send astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely home, with the goal of meeting all of NASAs safety and performance requirements by 2017.

Despite the discrepancy in contract amounts, both companies must meet the same standards, showing that they can safely ferry crew and cargo between Earth and the space station. The spacecraft must also be able to serve as a lifeboat that can evacuate the space station in an emergency.

The certification process includes a test flight to send at least one NASA astronaut to the space station. Once the companies are certified, they will conduct two to six service missions to the space station with a crew of four astronauts. Because these missions will increase the number of crew at the space station, the amount of scientific research done on the space station will double, said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew program.

Both companies use capsule spacecraft designs: Boeing with its CST-100 and SpaceX with its Dragon V2 spacecraft. Sierra Nevada Corp., whose Dream Chaser shuttle-like spacecraft was considered a major contender, lost out on its bid. Still, Lueders said, NASA is committed to its previously established agreements to continue working with Sierra Nevada and other companies such as Blue Origin, which was founded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

As part of its Commercial Crew Program, NASA has already invested tens of millions of dollars over the past few years to help companies develop their own human spaceflight designs.

Since the space shuttle was retired in 2011, NASA has relied on Russia and its Soyuz spacecraft to get to and from the space station. The newly announced partnerships with Boeing and SpaceX will enable the U.S. to end its dependence on Russia by 2017, said NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden.

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NASA Taps Boeing, SpaceX to Transport Astronauts to Space Station

NASA on Tuesday awarded a pair of much-anticipated contracts, worth up to $6.8 billion combined, to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station to Boeing and SpaceX in a deal that would allow the U.S. to launch astronauts into space from U.S. soil for the first time in years.

Speaking from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said the contracts set "the stage for what promises to be the most ambitious and exciting chapter in the history of NASA and human spaceflight. Relying so heavily on contractors to take astronauts to space would allow the agency to focus on an even more ambitious mission--that of sending humans to Mars, he said.

The announcement of the commercial crew awards is a big step toward allowing the U.S. to end its reliance on Russia, which has been ferrying American astronauts to the space station since the retirement of the space shuttle three years ago. The arrangement hasnt been cheap: the Russians currently charge $71 million per seat, and NASA has in a single year sent more than $400 million to Russia for these taxi rides. If the schedule doesnt slip, and Boeing and SpaceX prove their vehicles are safe, NASA should see its astronauts launched on U.S. soil with American rockets by as early as 2017.

The awards represent a significant shift for NASA, which has long owned and operated its own rockets. Instead of going to space on government-owned vehicles, NASAs astronauts would essentially rent space on ships provided by Boeing and SpaceX.

The contracts highlight what commercial companies can accomplish and we are counting on them to deliver our most precious cargo, said Kathy Lueders, NASAs commercial crew program manager.

In addition to continuing to develop and test the companies vehicles, each contract calls for up to six flights to the space station once the ships are certified by NASA.

Boeings contract is worth up to $4.2 billion; SpaceXs is valued at $2.6 billion. Lueders would not say exactly why Boeing received more but indicated that SpaceX proposed doing the work for less. Both contracts have the same requirements and the companies proposed the value for which they were able to do the work, and the government accepted that, she said.

For SpaceX, which is already the first private company to deliver cargo to the space station, the award is further evidence that it has transformed from start-up to a major a player in an industry long dominated by large, traditional companies, such as Boeing.

The two companies represent vastly different cultures in the space industry. Boeing is a so-called old space stalwart with decades of experience, contacts and lobbying might. SpaceX is the upstart California-based company founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk that has gleefully played the role of disrupter.

Musk, who also runs Tesla Motors, sued the Air Force earlier this year on a separate contract to launch military payloads, such as satellites, into space. He argued that SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket was a less expensive alternative that should be able to compete against the United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which currently holds the contract.

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NASA to award space contract to Boeing and SpaceX to ferry astronauts

Washington, D.C. - House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) gave the following remarks at the today's Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee meeting.

Chairman Smith: "I am happy to be here to share my thoughts on human space flight, the future of commercial space flight, and space legislation before Congress.

"Human history is punctuated by great advancements in the exploration of the world around us. Within the last 60 years, we have launched our first satellites, then Apollo missions to the Moon, then robotic probes across our solar system. Using our space-based telescopes like Hubble and Kepler and with the help of breakthroughs in adaptive optics for ground-based observatories, we have detected worlds orbiting other stars.

"I am fortunate to represent a congressional district in the Texas Hill Country that five astronauts now call home. These astronauts serve as role models for students today to become future astronauts, scientists and engineers. Even if all of these students do not become astronauts, the skills and knowledge they learn can be applied to make technological breakthroughs in many other fields. These accomplishments boost our economy and keep the United States globally competitive.

"At a fundamental level, space exploration is about inspiration. This inspiration fuels our desire to push the boundaries of the possible and reach beyond our own pale blue dot. Americans are fascinated by the cosmos. There is a reason why the National Air and Space Museum is the most visited museum in America.

"Space exploration captures the imagination of people around the world and encourages future generations to dream big, work hard and shoot for the stars. This fascination is a driving force for why the American people largely support space exploration and our leading space agency, NASA.

"This support is reflected in Congress as well - on both sides of the Capitol and on both sides of the aisle. For example, the NASA Authorization Act of 2014 overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in June of this year. Over 400 Republicans and Democrats came together to endorse the consensus bill the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee developed.

"The work done by Space Subcommittee Chairman Steve Palazzo and Ranking Member Donna Edwards is an example of how bipartisanship can prevail in Congress--despite what you might read in the media. This authorization bill contains many provisions that are important to those of you in this room. We were able to strike a reasonable balance between investments in the commercial crew program and appropriate oversight of safety. Unfortunately, like many other bills reported out of the Science Committee in this Congress, the NASA Authorization Act awaits action in the Senate.

"These are anxious times for our nation's space program. With the retirement of the Space Shuttle, and the cancellation of the Constellation program, NASA is forced to pay Russia $70 million per seat to transport American astronauts to the International Space Station.

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House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Smith Addresses Commercial Space Meeting

Boeing's CST-100 will be bringing US astronauts to the International Space Station. Boeing

In a surprise move, NASA picked both Boeing and SpaceX to be the first private companies to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. The agency announced Tuesday that the aerospace companies were awarded contracts worth a combined total of $6.8 billion.

"We know going to space is hard," NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager Kathy Lueders said during a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Tuesday. "We are counting on them to deliver our most precious cargo."

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Dragon V2 in May 2014. Tim Stevens/CNET

Chicago-based Boeing and Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX beat their other competitors for the NASA contract, which entails building space taxis that will take astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit. The new contract is essential since NASA shut down its Space Shuttle program in 2011.

The spacecraft to be used by NASA are Boeing's CST-100 and SpaceX's Dragon V2. Both spacecraft can carry a crew of seven astronauts and launch on a variety of rockets. Boeing will receive $4.2 billion and SpaceX will get $2.6 billion. NASA said the difference in the amount of the contracts is based on the companies' proposals.

"Today we're unveiling two new spacecraft," astronaut and former ISS Expedition crew member Mike Fincke said during the press conference. "It boggles the mind to imagine the possibilities of what we're going to accomplish."

Over the next couple of years, both Boeing and SpaceX will go through NASA's certification reviews and rigorous testing to ensure that the spacecraft can safely transport people to and from space.

"The challenge of a CDR [Critical Design Review] is to ensure all the pieces and sub-systems are working together," Boeing Commercial Crew Program manager John Mulholland said in a statement. "Integration of these systems is key. Now we look forward to bringing the CST-100 to life."

According to NASA, the first flights under the new contracts could take place as early as mid-2017. During Tuesday's news conference, agency administrators seemed confident that these awards are the first step toward commercial flights to space for all members of the public.

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NASA taps SpaceX, Boeing to carry astronauts to space

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.(Sept. 16, 2014) --The Space Foundation today called NASA's selection of The Boeing Company and SpaceX to build commercial crew transportation systems for low Earth orbit "an important step forward in restoring human space flight capabilities to the United States."

"By continuing to pursue a path of Orion and Space Launch System (SLS) for deep space missions and commercial crew for low Earth orbit missions, NASA is assuring that the United States can return to meaningful human space flight programs in the post-shuttle world," said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham. "This dual path forward is critical to maintaining U.S. engagement with, and leadership in, commercial, federal and international human space flight programs. NASA and all the contractors who have participated in these programs are to be congratulated for the investment, discipline, foresight, leadership and innovation that they have brought to this challenge."

The Space Foundation publishes the annual reference book,The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity. The 2014 version includes a section on commercial human spaceflight and a chart that details NASA commercial crew funding for 2010 -- 2014 for Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, Paragon Space Development, Sierra Nevada Corporation, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. For information aboutThe Space Report 2014visitwww.TheSpaceReport.org.

In a report released in December 2012, the Space Foundation made a number of recommendations for strengthening the focus, oversight and funding of NASA and strengthening the U.S. civil space program. The 70-page report -PIONEERING: Sustaining U.S. Leadership in Space-- is available atwww.spacefoundation.org/research/pioneering.

About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is the foremost advocate for all sectors of space, and is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs and major industry events, including the annualSpace Symposium,in support of its mission "to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity." Space Foundation World Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA,has a publicDiscovery Center,including the El Pomar Space Gallery and the Northrop Grumman Science Center featuring Science On a Sphere, and is a member of the American Alliance of Museums. The Space Foundation has a field office in Houston, and conducts government affairs from its Washington, D.C., office.It annuallypublishesThe Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activityandthrough itsSpace CertificationTMandSpace Technology Hall of Fame programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-basedinnovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Visitwww.SpaceFoundation.org, follow us onFacebook,LinkedIn,PinterestandTwitter, and read our e-newsletterSpace Watch.

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Space Foundation Congratulates NASA's Commercial Crew Transport Choice

Image Caption: NASA's unmanned Global Hawk No. 872 on a runway at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Credit: NASA's Wallops Flight Facility

Ellen Gray, NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center

Looking out the window of a commercial plane during takeoff is like taking the nickel tour of the profile of the atmosphere. As the plane ascends, what may start as a gloomy day on the ground, can turn into rain streaking across the window as you pass through the white-gray cloud, and then sunny skies above once the plane reaches cruising altitude.

NASAs Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) instrument, flying aboard an unmanned Global Hawk aircraft in this summers Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel, or HS3, mission, is studying the changing profile of the atmosphere in detail to learn more about how hurricanes form and strengthen.

CPL profiles the atmosphere to get a two-dimensional picture of cloud and aerosols, from the top down, said Matt McGill of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who led the instrument team that designed and built the CPL. Its data, presented as if it were a curtain hanging from the sky, shows whats in the atmospheres different layers.

From about 60,000 feet on the Global Hawk, twice the altitude of a commercial plane, 94 percent of the atmosphere lies below the instrument. The lidar works by sending rapid pulses of light that, like a radar beam, bounce and scatter off any particles they encounter, such as cloud droplets or dust particles. Some of the scattered light returns to the instrument where it records how long it took for the photons to leave and return giving the altitude of the particles.

[ Watch the Video: Making Saharan Air Apparent ]

CPL sends out 5,000 pulses of light per second in three different wavelengths, allowing the science team to discriminate between different types of particles, McGill said. Is it a cloud made of water? Is it a cloud made of ice or mixed [water and ice]? And we can say something about what type of airborne particle we are seeing. Is it dust or smoke or pollution?

For the scientists studying hurricanes, those distinctions are important. One of the major areas of study is how Saharan dust off of Africa travels across the Atlantic and affects hurricane formation and intensification. CPL data have been used to verify model projections of Saharan dust in the tropics. The CPL data showed dust layers had a vertical distribution different than models predicted. Instead dust layers occupied narrower altitude ranges. The finding led to an improvement in the dust models, which then feed into hurricane models.

Situated in the nose of the Global Hawk flying over the storm environment, CPL also has a role in on-the-fly mission planning. While in flight, the CPL sends its data back to the team on the ground. The mission scientists involved in the flight planning can sit there and watch the data with us in real time and say, Oh, were not getting what we want. Then they can go work with the flight planners and pilots to reroute the aircraft into different areas, said McGill. They love that.

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NASA HS3 Instrument Views 2 Dimensions Of Clouds

Washington, D.C., September 16, 2014 TheCoalition for Space ExplorationcongratulatesNASA on the announcement of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract awards today. This is a significant achievement for human space flight as this commercial effort for transporting crew to the International Space Station will allow NASA to place even more focus on addressing the unique challenges of deep space exploration. NASAs efforts aboard the station in low Earth orbit are demonstrating capabilities needed for deep space exploration, fostering ground breaking research to improve life on Earth.

We have only just begun to scratch the surface of the discoveries we will make by venturing deeper into our universe and sending humans farther than we have ever traveled before. NASAs Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, which will enable human exploration throughout deep space, are progressing on schedule toward the first Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1) in December of this year. The James Webb Space Telescope, which will play an important role in our quest to better understand our own planets origin and what lies beyond our solar system, is on track to launch in late 2018.

These efforts are made possible by the continued bi-partisan support for Americas space program within the Congress. Thanks to their commitment and understanding of the positive impact space exploration has on our society, our nations space program will continue to boost our national economy, create high-tech jobs, inspire students and provide a greater understanding of our own planet.

About the Coalition for Space Exploration:

TheCoalition for Space Explorationis a group of space industry businesses and advocacy groups that collaborates to ensure that the United States remains the leader in space, science and technology by reinforcing the value and benefits of space exploration with the public and our nations leaders, and building lasting support for a long-term, sustainable strategic direction for space exploration.

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Coalition for Space Exploration Statement on NASA CCtCap Contract Awards

Orbiter Simulator: NASSP - Transposition and Docking
Orbiter Space Flight Simulator 2010 addons: NASSP (Project Apollo) SIV-B Separation followed by 180-Degree Pitchover and docking.

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becixmat - Relax 673 - Let priestorom - Space flight - Dance
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