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Space X rocket en route to ISS with space laser cargo

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A Space X Falcon rocket lifted off Friday afternoon for the International Space Station (ISS) from the Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida.

The mission is the third commercial resupply flight for Space X to the ISS and part of NASAs push to use private launch companies for routine space flight.

The Dragon cargo capsule that sat atop the Falcon rocket was successfully deployed into space about 10 minutes after the 3:25 p.m. Eastern time launch. It is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Sunday.

Dragon is carrying more than 2 tons of cargo and experiments including several cubesat micro satellites and a pair of legs for the Robonaut robot on the ISS. It will also carry four HD cameras that will be placed on the ISS for streaming live video of the Earth on the Internet.

One of the most interesting items of cargo is NASAs Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) test bed, which will test the feasibility of using a laser to transmit data from space to Earth.

Data and video links from the ISS and other NASA spacecraft to Earth are currently carried over radio waves, but the use of a laser could mean much greater bandwidth. NASA says OPALS could realize speeds of around 50Mbps, about the same or faster than that available on many home broadband connections.

The OPALS unit will be robotically taken from the Space X Dragon capsule and mounted onto the exterior of the space station. Once in place, it will begin a three-month mission that will consist of a series of 100-second long tests.

Each will begin when a ground station fires a laser beam towards the OPALS module on the ISS. When that is detected, the unit will use it to lock onto the ground station and fire up its own laser to send back data modulated on the laser beam.

The eventual goal of the tests is a multi-gigabit per second data communications system.

Martyn Williams covers mobile telecoms, Silicon Valley and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. More by Martyn Williams

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Space X rocket en route to ISS with space laser cargo

NASA's moon-orbiting robot crashes into lunar surface early, likely vaporized

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NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Centerenables NASAs mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a lea" title="In this artist's concept provided by NASA the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft is seen orbiting the moon as it prepares to fire its maneuvering thrusters to maintain a safe orbital altitude. NASA's small moon-orbiting spacecraft LADEE (pronounced LAH'-dee) is no more. Flight controllers confirmed early Friday April 18, 2014 that LADEE crashed into the back side of the moon. (AP Photo/NASA, Dana Berry) Credit: NASA Ames / Dana Berry ----- What is LADEE? The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is designed to study the Moon's thin exosphere and the lunar dust environment. An "exosphere" is an atmosphere that is so thin and tenuous that molecules don't collide with each other. Studying the Moon's exosphere will help scientists understand other planetary bodies with exospheres too, like Mercury and some of Jupiter's bigger moons. The orbiter will determine the density, composition and temporal and spatial variability of the Moon's exosphere to help us understand where the species in the exosphere come from and the role of the solar wind, lunar surface and interior, and meteoric infall as sources. The mission will also examine the density and temporal and spatial variability of dust particles that may get lofted into the atmosphere. The mission also will test several new technologies, including a modular spacecraft bus that may reduce the cost of future deep space missions and demonstrate two-way high rate laser communication for the first time from the Moon. LADEE now is ready to launch when the window opens on Sept. 6, 2013. Read more:http://www.nasa.gov/ladee NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Centerenables NASAs mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a lea" height="367" width="648" border="0">

NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Centerenables NASAs mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a lea">Enlarge Image

In this artist's concept provided by NASA the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft is seen orbiting the moon as it prepares to fire its maneuvering thrusters to maintain a safe orbital altitude. NASA's small moon-orbiting spacecraft LADEE (pronounced LAH'-dee) is no more. Flight controllers confirmed early Friday April 18, 2014 that LADEE crashed into the back side of the moon. (AP Photo/NASA, Dana Berry) Credit: NASA Ames / Dana Berry ----- What is LADEE? The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is designed to study the Moon's thin exosphere and the lunar dust environment. An "exosphere" is an atmosphere that is so thin and tenuous that molecules don't collide with each other. Studying the Moon's exosphere will help scientists understand other planetary bodies with exospheres too, like Mercury and some of Jupiter's bigger moons. The orbiter will determine the density, composition and temporal and spatial variability of the Moon's exosphere to help us understand where the species in the exosphere come from and the role of the solar wind, lunar surface and interior, and meteoric infall as sources. The mission will also examine the density and temporal and spatial variability of dust particles that may get lofted into the atmosphere. The mission also will test several new technologies, including a modular spacecraft bus that may reduce the cost of future deep space missions and demonstrate two-way high rate laser communication for the first time from the Moon. LADEE now is ready to launch when the window opens on Sept. 6, 2013. Read more:http://www.nasa.gov/ladee NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Centerenables NASAs mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a lea

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's small moon-orbiting spacecraft LADEE (pronounced LAH'-dee) is no more. Flight controllers confirmed early Friday that LADEE crashed into the back side of the moon.

Researchers believe the robotic explorer vaporized upon contact because of its high orbiting speed of 3,600 mph, possibly smacking into a mountain or side of a crater. As of late Thursday afternoon, the spacecraft was flying 300 feet above the lunar surface. Its altitude had been lowered on purpose to ensure a crash by Monday.

LADEE short for Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer was launched in September. It completed its main science mission last month and was on overtime.

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NASA's moon-orbiting robot crashes into lunar surface early, likely vaporized

Vitamin B3 May Have Been Made In Space, Delivered To Earth By Meteorites

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Image Caption: Karen Smith crushing meteorites with a mortar and pestle in Goddards Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory to prepare them for analysis. Vitamin B3 was found in all eight meteorites analyzed in the study. Credit: Karen Smith

Bill Steigerwald, NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center

Ancient Earth might have had an extraterrestrial supply of vitamin B3 delivered by carbon-rich meteorites, according to a new analysis by NASA-funded researchers. The result supports a theory that the origin of life may have been assisted by a supply of key molecules created in space and brought to Earth by comet and meteor impacts.

It is always difficult to put a value on the connection between meteorites and the origin of life; for example, earlier work has shown that vitamin B3 could have been produced non-biologically on ancient Earth, but its possible that an added source of vitamin B3 could have been helpful, said Karen Smith of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa. Vitamin B3, also called nicotinic acid or niacin, is a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is essential to metabolism and likely very ancient in origin. Smith is lead author of a paper on this research, along with co-authors from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., now available online in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

This is not the first time vitamin B3 has been found in meteorites. In 2001 a team led by Sandra Pizzarello of Arizona State University, in Tempe discovered it along with related molecules called pyridine carboxylic acids in the Tagish Lake meteorite.

In the new work at Goddards Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, Smith and her team analyzed samples from eight different carbon-rich meteorites, called CM-2 type carbonaceous chondrites and found vitamin B3 at levels ranging from about 30 to 600 parts-per-billion. They also found other pyridine carboxylic acids at similar concentrations and, for the first time, found pyridine dicarboxylic acids.

We discovered a pattern less vitamin B3 (and other pyridine carboxylic acids) was found in meteorites that came from asteroids that were more altered by liquid water. One possibility may be that these molecules were destroyed during the prolonged contact with liquid water, said Smith. We also performed preliminary laboratory experiments simulating conditions in interstellar space and showed that the synthesis of vitamin B3 and other pyridine carboxylic acids might be possible on ice grains.

Scientists think the solar system formed when a dense cloud of gas, dust, and ice grains collapsed under its own gravity. Clumps of dust and ice aggregated into comets and asteroids, some of which collided together to form moon-sized objects or planetesimals, and some of those eventually merged to become planets.

Space is filled with radiation from nearby stars as well as from violent events in deep space like exploding stars and black holes devouring matter. This radiation could have powered chemical reactions in the cloud (nebula) that formed the solar system, and some of those reactions may have produced biologically important molecules like vitamin B3.

Asteroids and comets are considered more or less pristine remnants from our solar systems formation, and many meteorites are prized samples from asteroids that happen to be conveniently delivered to Earth. However, some asteroids are less pristine than others. Asteroids can be altered shortly after they form by chemical reactions in liquid water. As they grow, asteroids incorporate radioactive material present in the solar system nebula. If enough radioactive material accumulates in an asteroid, the heat produced as it decays will be sufficient to melt ice inside the asteroid. Researchers can determine how much an asteroid was altered by water by examining chemical and mineralogical signatures of water alteration in meteorites from those asteroids.

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Vitamin B3 May Have Been Made In Space, Delivered To Earth By Meteorites

Vitamin B3 might have been made in space, delivered to Earth by meteorites

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

17-Apr-2014

Contact: Bill Steigerwald william.a.steigerwald@nasa.gov 301-286-5017 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Ancient Earth might have had an extraterrestrial supply of vitamin B3 delivered by carbon-rich meteorites, according to a new analysis by NASA-funded researchers. The result supports a theory that the origin of life may have been assisted by a supply of key molecules created in space and brought to Earth by comet and meteor impacts.

"It is always difficult to put a value on the connection between meteorites and the origin of life; for example, earlier work has shown that vitamin B3 could have been produced non-biologically on ancient Earth, but it's possible that an added source of vitamin B3 could have been helpful," said Karen Smith of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa. "Vitamin B3, also called nicotinic acid or niacin, is a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is essential to metabolism and likely very ancient in origin." Smith is lead author of a paper on this research, along with co-authors from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., now available online in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

This is not the first time vitamin B3 has been found in meteorites. In 2001 a team led by Sandra Pizzarello of Arizona State University, in Tempe discovered it along with related molecules called pyridine carboxylic acids in the Tagish Lake meteorite.

In the new work at Goddard's Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, Smith and her team analyzed samples from eight different carbon-rich meteorites, called "CM-2 type carbonaceous chondrites" and found vitamin B3 at levels ranging from about 30 to 600 parts-per-billion. They also found other pyridine carboxylic acids at similar concentrations and, for the first time, found pyridine dicarboxylic acids.

"We discovered a pattern less vitamin B3 (and other pyridine carboxylic acids) was found in meteorites that came from asteroids that were more altered by liquid water. One possibility may be that these molecules were destroyed during the prolonged contact with liquid water," said Smith. "We also performed preliminary laboratory experiments simulating conditions in interstellar space and showed that the synthesis of vitamin B3 and other pyridine carboxylic acids might be possible on ice grains."

Scientists think the solar system formed when a dense cloud of gas, dust, and ice grains collapsed under its own gravity. Clumps of dust and ice aggregated into comets and asteroids, some of which collided together to form moon-sized objects or planetesimals, and some of those eventually merged to become planets.

Space is filled with radiation from nearby stars as well as from violent events in deep space like exploding stars and black holes devouring matter. This radiation could have powered chemical reactions in the cloud (nebula) that formed the solar system, and some of those reactions may have produced biologically important molecules like vitamin B3.

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Vitamin B3 might have been made in space, delivered to Earth by meteorites

State of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Key Programs, Budget to be Presented April 17 at Marshall 2014 Update

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The state of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and key programs such as the Space Launch System (SLS) will be discussed during the "Marshall 2014 Update" from 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

Marshall Center Director Patrick Scheuermann will be available to news media at 3:15 p.m. in the downstairs lobby of the Davidson Center.

Among the speakers will be Scheuermann, Marshall Deputy Director Teresa Vanhooser, SLS Program Manager Todd May, Science & Technology Manager Daniel Schumacher, Chief Engineer Lisa Watson-Morgan, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Rhega Gordon and Office of Strategic Analysis & Communications Director Bobby Watkins. Topics to be discussed will include Marshall's economic impact; the fiscal year 2015 budget; improvements to Marshall buildings and other facilities; support for the International Space Station and a variety of science programs; and the importance of science, technology, engineering and math education the STEM fields -- from kindergarten through college to prepare the next generations of scientists and engineers.

The theme for this year's event is "Together We Make Bold Things Happen." Exhibits highlighting Marshall's technical capabilities, SLS, Advanced Manufacturing, Technology Demonstration Missions and more will be on display for elected officials, community and business leaders and other invited guests.

News media interested in covering the event and/or interviewing Scheuermann should contact Marshall Center Public Affairs Officer Angela Storey at 256-544-0632 no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 16.

For more information about NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, visit us on the Web:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall

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State of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Key Programs, Budget to be Presented April 17 at Marshall 2014 Update

Active Shooter Emergency Exercise Today at Marshall Space Flight Center

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Posted on: 6:30 am, April 17, 2014, by Amanda Redfoot, updated on: 09:11am, April 17, 2014

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT) Today, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center will be conducting a full-scale active shooter emergency exercise.

The event will involve a mock shooter and victims, simulated emergency radio traffic, alerts and announcements. Marshall, Redstone Arsenal and all emergency responders and response teams will be involved in the exercise.

Todays exercise will test the centers emergency response and communications preparedness.

During the event, Emergency Notification System announcements and other messages will be preceded by Exercise.

The event will be held at the centers facilities on Redstone Arsenal.

Marshall Space Flight Center Officials want to remind the community that any unusual activity that might be seen or heard is part of the test and not an actual emergency.

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Active Shooter Emergency Exercise Today at Marshall Space Flight Center

Launch delayed for new ISS experiments

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MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. (WAAY) - A big space launch was postponed Monday.

And the delay is adding extra time to what many hope, will lead to a medical breakthrough.

Those experiments will be sent up to the International Space Station.

Not only will they be monitored from right here in Huntsville, one of the experiments themselves was designed here.

"We've been in business here for 13 years, so we've been in business pretty much since it started," says Ricardo Rodriguez, the Payload Operations Manager.

Here at the Marshall Space Flight Center, these workers are kept busy studying science.

"We are in charge of the science that happens on ISS. This control room you see behind me is where we manage all of the science that is going on on ISS, Rodriguez says.

Part of that science is from right here in North Alabama at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

"There's a payload going up, it's a protein crystal growth payload, and what that means is they're growing crystals of our human proteins on orbit, says Rodriguez.

Which could have big implications here on earth.

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Launch delayed for new ISS experiments


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