CROSS COUNTRY | After Strong Showing at Heps, Red Heads to NCAA Regional

After strong finishes by both the mens and womens cross country teams at the Heps finals, the Red is headed to Hamonnasset, Conn. for the NCAA Northeast Regional meet. At this point in the season, coaches are restricted to fielding a squad of only seven runners for the NCAA regional meet.

According to womens cross country coach Artie Smith 96, selecting the team he wanted to field was both easy and difficult.

On the one hand its easy, but its also tough, he said. Its easy because there are certain athletes I know can run well, but its tough because we have such a deep team. Part of the reason weve been so good this year is because weve had great depth.

Mens cross country coach Zeb Lang 03 said that he based his selection on individual performances up to this point.

I selected our team based on performance up to date, he said. Its my best seven to date that Ill be taking to the NCAA Regional championships.

While hes happy that his team won the Heps, Smith spoke about how his teams goal was to remain competitive all season, even beyond the Heps.

I would say that with this group, the reason they were successful at the Heps is because they have aspirations of being successful above the Heps, he said. Theyve had the goal the whole season of being successful at the national level, and I think their focus has been consistent and straightforward all season.

Lang echoed those sentiments, and went on to describe how his team has performed according to his expectations up to this point in the season, a team he characterizes as being very resilient.

These guys have exceeded my expectations, he said. Every time weve had adversity or a bump in the road, theyve responded. Weve had younger guys step to the forefront and raise their game to another level.

As one of the top teams in the Northeast Region, the womens team is expected to fare well this weekend against the rest of the Northeast. Smith feels that his team doesnt have to do anything out of the ordinary to compete well.

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CROSS COUNTRY | After Strong Showing at Heps, Red Heads to NCAA Regional

Amazing UFO Near the Sun Captured – Video


Amazing UFO Near the Sun Captured
Here is a cigar shaped UFO captured by the Helioviewer. This UFO is very large. There have been lots of UFO craft appearing near the sun. Link to the photo here bit.ly I have to say this sighting took my breath away. Its very awesome find. Happy UFO hunting! Be sure to check out the UFO sightings blog at ufosightingz.blogspot.com and like the facebook fan page at http Be sure to follow UFO Clouds on Twitter at twitter.com Always Look Up UFO #39;s Could be flying above you! Helioviewer.org is an open-source project for the visualization of solar and heliospheric data. The project is funded by ESA and NASA. For more information, please visit our Wiki. Credits: SDO (NASA), SOHO (ESA/NASA), STEREO (NASA), GSFC, LMSAL, SDAC, Stanford University Music by UFOCloudsFrom:UFO HuntingCloudsViews:76 6ratingsTime:01:03More inEntertainment

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Amazing UFO Near the Sun Captured - Video

NASA World Wind – Wiki Article – Video


NASA World Wind - Wiki Article
World Wind is an open-source (released under the NOSA license) virtual globe developed by NASA and the open source community for use on personal computers. Old versions need Microsoft Windows but the... NASA World Wind - Wiki Article - wikiplays.org Original @ http All Information Derived from Wikipedia using Creative Commons License: en.wikipedia.org Author: Unknown Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( This work is in the Public Domain. ) Author: Unknown Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( This work is in the Public Domain. )From:WikiPlaysViews:0 0ratingsTime:13:37More inEducation

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BREAKING: Mars Curiosity Image Manipulation | NASA JPL – Video


BREAKING: Mars Curiosity Image Manipulation | NASA JPL
Here is another side by side comparison of NASA released images that don #39;t match and show obvious photoshop manipulations. Image 1 - http://www.nasa.gov Image 2 - http://www.nasa.gov High Res - http://www.wired.comFrom:SunsFlareViews:246 52ratingsTime:01:59More inScience Technology

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BREAKING: Mars Curiosity Image Manipulation | NASA JPL - Video

Xchat between NASA Icebridge from DC-8 over Antarctica and Colegio Francés Punta Arenas Chile – Video


Xchat between NASA Icebridge from DC-8 over Antarctica and Colegio Francs Punta Arenas Chile
This is a resume overview about the contact between chilean middle class students and the members of Operation Icebridge from NASA who fly over Antarctica several mission to measure and monitoring tha ice changes on November 2012. note: The grhale dialogue with camilo is an aproach due to erase texts. the topics between Nasa Icebridge and the chilean students was about ice melting, sea ice, life support affects by glacier melting, the aircraft, how OIB choose the targets, subglacier lakes, rate of melting and others. On friday november 02th was from 14:00 to 21:00 hours and on Tuesday November 06th was 12:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00. Teachers Mario Esquivel Lizondo and Claudia Vera Aburto helped the students to ask to OIB members. Colegio Miguel de Cervantes: 1 students Escuela D-17 Bernardo Ohiggins: 1 student , 1 teacher Colegio Pierre Faure: 2 students, 1 teacher Colegio Francs: 20 students, 2 teachers. Total: 24 students and 4 teachersFrom:Mario EsquivelViews:0 0ratingsTime:02:46More inScience Technology

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Xchat between NASA Icebridge from DC-8 over Antarctica and Colegio Francés Punta Arenas Chile - Video

Breaking News: Asteroid Nibiru Could Impacted Earth (Nasa) – Video


Breaking News: Asteroid Nibiru Could Impacted Earth (Nasa)
Hello, this is the no face movementbwith breaking news from cnn ireporter that an asteroid nibiru has a 30 percent chance to hit earth. This is the movement moving a movement facing off. Link ireport.cnn.com Follow Me nofacemovement.blogspot.com http://www.nofacemovement.moonfruit.com http://www.facebook.com twitter.comFrom:nofacemovementViews:60 1ratingsTime:04:35More inNews Politics

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Breaking News: Asteroid Nibiru Could Impacted Earth (Nasa) - Video

I need help in Identifying. Star? Planets? – Video


I need help in Identifying. Star? Planets?
[Sorry bad spelling in beginning] Caught these 2 bodies in a capture. Not sure what they are. I looked at SOHO planets in view. But unsure if either are listed. Planets currently visible: stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.govFrom:shaggietripViews:2 1ratingsTime:00:50More inScience Technology

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I need help in Identifying. Star? Planets? - Video

TLDR: NFC on the iPhone, Galaxy SIII Tops 4S? – Video


TLDR: NFC on the iPhone, Galaxy SIII Tops 4S?
Pirillo Vlog 199 -- I Almost Forgot You in the Fridge youtu.be Samsung Galaxy S III is the World #39;s Top-selling Smartphone http://www.lockergnome.com Optimus G: LG #39;s Latest Attempt at More of the Android Pie http://www.lockergnome.com Why I Am Ordering a Google Nexus 4 http://www.lockergnome.com Five Great Photo Sharing Sites for the Photography Beginner http://www.lockergnome.com Which Windows Browser is Best for You? http://www.lockergnome.com How to Delete Windows.Old in Windows 8 http://www.lockergnome.com Get three domains for $5.99 [expires 11/30/12] http://www.godaddy.com Save 20% on your entire order [expires 12/31/2012] http://www.godaddy.com twitter.com http://www.facebook.com google.com instagram.com Download the LockerGnome App: Android Phone: play.google.com iPhone / iPod touch: itunes.apple.com Want to remotely troubleshoot computer problems? Use our sponsor #39;s product: go.tagjag.com Need my advice for your business? Join: gnomies.com and go.tagjag.com === NEWS Twitter Resetting User Passwords After Massive Hijack Attack blog.tweetsmarter.com NASA May Unveil New Manned Moon Missions Soon http://www.space.com Foxconn Reportedly Plans to Set Up Plants in US http://www.digitimes.com JAM with Chrome: Play Music Live with Your Friends Online googleblog.blogspot.com Call of Duty: Black Ops II to Feature League Play Livestreaming Through YouTube thenextweb.com === QUESTION mutley2209 writes: Will Apple develop touch-enabled OS X and MacBooks now? lockergnome.netFrom:lockergnomeViews:303 154ratingsTime:06:01More inScience Technology

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TLDR: NFC on the iPhone, Galaxy SIII Tops 4S? - Video

Hurricabe Sandy Superstorm from start to finish from space satellite. Amazing! – Video


Hurricabe Sandy Superstorm from start to finish from space satellite. Amazing!
Hurricabe Sandy Superstorm from start to finish from space satellite. Amazing! 23-31 October 2012. Hurricane Sandy drifted up along the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean to the mid-Atlantic to become wedged between a stationary cold front over the Appalachians and a static high pressure air mass over maritime Canada. The Canadian air mass blocked the storm from moving farther northeast. Instead, the easterly winds circulating around the south side of the Canadian high amplified Sandy and drove it westward into the mid-Atlantic states. Sandy became a ferocious "Nor-easter" that brought record storm surges to coastal New Jersey and New York, and the cold front caused blizzard conditions along the Southern mountains. The storm surget at high tide created unprecedented chaos in New York City, such as darkening lower Manhattan and flooding the subway system on the evening of 29 October "Hurricane sandy","Hurricane sandy path","Hurricane sandy update","Hurricane sandy tracker","Hurricane sandy 2012",sandy,hurricane,storm,damage,aftermath,superstorm,nasa,goesFrom:horrificStormsViews:1 0ratingsTime:03:23More inTravel Events

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Hurricabe Sandy Superstorm from start to finish from space satellite. Amazing! - Video

NASA to announce new manned moon missions?

Space fever could soon reach a new high with rumblings about NASA announcing new manned moon missions with a possible space outpost on the menu.

Astronaut Eugene Cernan on the moon in 1972.

It has been almost 40 years since the Apollo 17 mission last landed a man on the moon. It may not take anywhere near that long before we send astronauts back to the moon's neighborhood.

Space.com reports that NASA is seriously looking at sending out a new manned moon mission with the purpose of creating a manned outpost beyond the far side of moon and eventually visiting an asteroid in 2025. This may not physically land a human on the moon, but it would establish a deep space outpost as a base for research and missions.

President Obama's reelection could smooth the way for plans that have already been under consideration. Back in 2010, Obama affirmed a commitment to manned space exploration despite putting an end to NASA's moon program at the time. Space.com suggests the Obama administration has already approved new mission plans that could involve parking a spacecraft near the moon.

NASA deputy chief Lori Garver spoke at a conference in September, saying, "We're going back to the moon, attempting a first-ever mission to send humans to an asteroid and actively developing a plan to take Americans to Mars."

The equipment to make the flight is already in process with the development of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule.

NASA has been riding a high lately with the success of the Mars Curiosity rover. Space.com hints that a big announcement surrounding manned missions could be made soon.

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NASA to announce new manned moon missions?

The Daily Sun -Nov. 08, 2012 – Video


The Daily Sun -Nov. 08, 2012
The Daily Sun Featured Articles earthsky.org NASA fires-up experimental space Internet for robot control http://www.networkworld.com David Talbott en.wikipedia.org Featured Video Remembering the end of the world youtu.be The Daily Sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields. It has a diameter of about 1392684 km, about 109 times that of Earth, and its mass (about 21030 kilograms, 330000 times that of Earth) accounts for about 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System. Chemically, about three quarters of the Sun #39;s mass consists of hydrogen, while the rest is mostly helium. The remainder (1.69%, which nonetheless equals 5628 times the mass of Earth) consists of heavier elements, including oxygen, carbon, neon and iron, among others. The Sun #39;s stellar classification, based on spectral class, is G2V, and is informally designated as a yellow dwarf, because its visible radiation is most intense in the yellow-green portion of the spectrum and although its color is white, from the surface of the Earth it may appear yellow because of atmospheric scattering of blue light. In the spectral class label, G2 indicates its surface temperature of approximately 5778 K (5505 C), and V indicates that the Sun, like most stars, it is an electric star, and thus collects its energy from an outside source. Electric Universe The most important issue separating the Electric Universe from conventional ...From:telluricurrentViews:21 3ratingsTime:13:21More inScience Technology

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The Daily Sun -Nov. 08, 2012 - Video

NASA may unveil new manned moon missions

NASA is serious about sending astronauts back to the moon's neighborhood and will likely unveil its ambitious plans soon now that President Barack Obama has been re-elected, experts say.

The space agency has apparently been thinking about setting up a manned outpost beyond the moon's far side, both to establish a human presence in deep space and to build momentum toward a planned visit to an asteroid in 2025.

The new plans have probably already been cleared with the Obama Administration but have been kept under wraps in case Republican candidate Mitt Romney won Tuesday night's (Nov. 6) presidential election, said space policy expert John Logsdon, a professor emeritus at George Washington University.

Space news from NBCNews.com

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: It looks as if someone is taking portraits of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars from a few feet away but who's the photographer?

"NASA has been evolving its thinking, and its latest charts have inserted a new element of cislunar/lunar gateway/Earth-moon L2 sort of stuff into the plan," Logsdon told SPACE.com. (The Earth-moon L2 is a so-called libration point where the two bodies' gravitational pulls roughly balance out, allowing spacecraft to essentially park there.) [ Gallery: Visions of Deep-Space Station Missions ]

"They've been holding off announcing that until after the election," Logsdon added, noting that Romney had pledged to reassess and possibly revise NASA's missions and direction.

New vision of human space exploration In 2010, President Obama directed NASA to work toward sending astronauts to a near-Earth asteroid by 2025, then on to the vicinity of Mars by the mid-2030s. To reach such deep-space destinations, the agency is developing a huge rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS) and a crew capsule named Orion.

But astronauts likely won't head straight to a space rock when SLS and Orion are ready to fly together in 2021. In the last year, word has begun leaking out that NASA wants to explore Earth-moon L2, a point in space that lies beyond the moon's far side, as a precursor.

Rumors currently point toward parking a spacecraft at the Earth-moon L2 gateway, so NASA (and perhaps international partners) can learn more about supporting humans in deep space. Astronauts stationed there could also aid in lunar exploration by teleoperating rovers on the moon's surface, for example.

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NASA may unveil new manned moon missions

NASA texts tell you how to see space station

NASA just made it easier to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station the largest manmade structure in space as it soars across the night sky. The best part: no telescope required.

The space agency has launched a new free service called "Spot the Station" that allows observers to sign up for e-mail alerts or text messages whenever the space station may be visible overhead, weather permitting. The messages, which will be sent out a few hours before the actual sighting opportunity, are tailored for an observer's location based on their home country, state and city, NASA officials explained in a statement.

"As the thirdbrightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon, the space station is easy to see if you know where and when to look for it," NASA officials wrote. "The space station looks like a fast-moving plane in the sky, though one with people living and working aboard it more than 200 miles above the ground. It is best viewed on clear nights." [ Photos: Spotting Satellites & Spaceships from Earth ]

Space news from NBCNews.com

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: It looks as if someone is taking portraits of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars from a few feet away but who's the photographer?

With a wingspan the size of a football field, the International Space Station is the biggest artificial structure in space today. It can be easily spotted from Earth with the unaided eye, but only if you know exactly when and where it will appear in the sky.

Station sighting opportunities from 4,600 locations around the world are identified twice a week at NASA's space station Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. The Spot the Station service will send out alerts for only the best sighting opportunities, when the space station is relatively high in the night sky and makes a long pass overhead, NASA officials said.

"This will be anywhere from once or twice a week to once or twice a month, depending on the space stations orbit," NASA officials explained. "Dont worry if there are big gaps in between sightings!"

You can sign up for NASA's Spot the Station alerts here: http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/.

The Spot the Station service is not the only way to find out how to see the space station in the night sky. The Twitter-based Twisst ISS Alerts service sends out automated Twitter messages to users during prime space station sightings over their locations.

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NASA texts tell you how to see space station

NASA Partners with IndustryWeek to Promote Tech Transfer and Innovation

CLEVELAND, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has enlisted IndustryWeek, the leading source of business information and insight for manufacturing industry professionals, to help encourage industry and stakeholders to participate in its "Technology Days" event this month in Cleveland, and accelerate commercialization of the agency's most promising new innovations.

Because "technology transfer" is part of NASA's charter, since it was established in 1958 the agency has spun-off and transferred thousands of technologies discovered in pursuit of space exploration for applications on Earth. The goal of the Technology Days event (November 28-30 at Cleveland Public Auditorium) is to raise awareness of how NASA leverages its investment in space exploration, science and aeronautics to address national priorities, and introduce the agency as a business development partner that can help make American companies more competitive.

The three-day agenda blends exhibits, presentations and networking forums to promote professional education and collaboration.

IndustryWeek was selected for its access to customers and prospects in target NASA technology markets such as automotive, advanced energy, innovative manufacturing and human health. The assignment will capitalize on the full spectrum of IndustryWeek information products and services to promote the event, with an emphasis on audiences in the Midwestern United States.

"Our team is tremendously proud to partner with NASA on this important national initiative to help America protect and extend its global innovation advantage," said John DiPaola, market leader of Penton Media's Manufacturing and Supply Chain Group. "Our unique access to the nation's manufacturing business owners and decision-makers makes IndustryWeek the perfect partner to help NASA promote and develop Technology Days."

Click here to learn more about the upcoming NASA Technology Days in Cleveland: https://www.aiaa.org/nasatechdays1/

About IndustryWeekIndustryWeek brings together manufacturing business leaders to explore the issues, strategies, trends and technologies that help them build more competitive and profitable companies. IndustryWeek is part of the Penton Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group, whose brands are the trusted resource for relevant news and measurable results. Our team of dedicated editors and thought leaders work together to integrate print, digital and in person events that deliver the return on investment you need. Learn more at http://www.industryweek.com.

About Penton Media, Inc.For millions of business owners and decision-makers, Penton makes the difference every day. We engage our professional users by providing actionable ideas and insights, data and workflow tools, community and networking, both in person and virtually, all with deep relevance to their specific industries. Then we activate this engagement by connecting users with tens of thousands of targeted providers of products and services to help drive business growth. Learn more about our company at http://www.penton.com.

Penton is a privately held company owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors.

CONTACT: Michael MadejGroup Digital Media Director Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group (216) 931-9637 michael.madej@penton.com

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NASA Partners with IndustryWeek to Promote Tech Transfer and Innovation

NASA's Next Capsule to Land Like a Helicopter?

It looks like NASA is getting a little more creative with its landing systems. A team of researchers recently tested a new rotor landing system in the 550 foot fall Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The idea is for spinning blades to take the place of parachutes to enable soft and controlled landings on land instead of the ocean.

The rotor reentry and landing system is designed for capsule-inspired spacecraft like the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle that should fly before the end of the decade. It's an appealing system because it marries the stability and control of a helicopter to the simplicity of an unpowered system; wind passing over the rotors as the capsule descends through the atmosphere is enough to make the blades turn. And keeping the airflow around the blades' hinges balanced is enough to ensure the blades don't wrap around the spacecraft when they hit the wind.

ANALYSIS: NASA's Amazing Gliding Gemini Capsules

This landing system's process is called auto-rotation, and while it's been proven on helicopters it's never been tried on spacecraft. But that's not for lack of interest.

In the mid-1960s, NASA engineers considered adding a rotor reentry landing system to the Apollo spacecraft. Seldom documented in popular histories since the possible landing method never gained much traction, the idea was for blades to spring up from the top of the Apollo command module during descent to provide lift. Then, the astronauts inside could control it like a helicopter to a soft land landing. They could touch down safely anywhere on Earth without relying of thousands of sailors for an ocean recovery. But like other proposed land landing systems, building and testing a new system when splashdowns worked wasn't worth the effort and was dropped. Now rotors are making a comeback.

ANALYSIS: NASA's First Quest for a Reusable Rocket

Right now, getting the blades deployed the right way is the challenge facing engineers. There are bombs that whose fins flick open at high speed, and engineers think a similar mechanism could deploy the blades and start them spinning almost immediately. At the same time, control fins on the side of the capsule would to keep it from revolving with the blades.

Engineers are testing ways to get the rotors to start spinning with drop tests in the VAB. With the scale model capsule suspended 480 feet above the floor, engineers can use a helicopter radio-control unit to remotely changed the rotors' pitch and slow the capsules fall.

Rotors could help recover spent rocket stages as well as spacecraft. The idea is to have rotors built into the booster frame and unfurled as the stage descends to Earth, the empty rocket just as controllable as a spacecraft for a soft landing. NASA considered this in the 1960s as well, but like the Apollo rotor reentry it never got further than the planning stages.

ANALYSIS: Armstrong and Thompson's Flying Tricycle

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NASA's Next Capsule to Land Like a Helicopter?

NASA Selects American Small Businesses for Continuation Of Innovative Research and Technology Projects

NASA has selected 39 small business proposals to enter into negotiations for Phase 2 contract awards through the agency's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR program partners with small businesses to catalyze efforts to develop new technologies to support NASA's technology needs.

NASA will award contracts to 36 small high-technology firms in 17 states with a total value of approximately $27 million. These competitive, awards-based programs encourage U.S. small businesses to engage in federal research and development, and bring new technologies to the global marketplace. "NASA's SBIR activities foster innovative approaches to technology development -- from concept to prototype to an eventual commercial product or service," said Michael Gazarik, director of the Space Technology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Phase 2 marks a major milestone for these projects; they've moved from the drawing board to the lab, solving tough technology problems that will enable NASA's future missions while bringing new, valuable products into our economy."

NASA's SBIR program enables businesses to explore new technologies and potentially profit from development of new commercial products and services. The program addresses specific technology gaps in agency missions and also strives to complement other NASA research investments. Program results have benefited many NASA efforts, including modern air traffic control systems, Earth-observing spacecraft, the International Space Station and the Mars rovers.

In addition to meeting NASA's needs, the Phase 2 proposals also provide innovative research in areas that have commercial applications. For example:

-- In support of NASA's aeronautics research, SBIR research will lead to the development of better software for verification and validation of flight-critical systems that will improve aviation safety. Selected research also will develop new cryo-cooling systems that could be used on future fuel-efficient airplanes powered by turboelectric motors. This technology also could be used for future alternative energy production using superconducting wind turbines.

-- As part of NASA's mission of scientific discovery, SBIR projects will develop new optical technology that can vastly improve our ability to detect extra-solar planets in the visible or near-infrared spectrum. These technologies will add innovation to America's multi-billion-dollar optical components industry.

-- To enable human exploration beyond Earth's orbit, NASA SBIR projects will explore new technologies for the next generation of radiation shielding materials needed to protect astronauts and spacecraft from the harmful effects of space radiation. These new radiation shielding materials could have Earth-bound applications as well, protecting first responders and our military from environments where harmful radiation might be present. New lightweight shielding also may dramatically reduce design and fabrication costs for nuclear medicine and radiation therapy applications.

The highly-competitive SBIR program is a three-phase award system. It provides qualified small businesses, including those owned by women and the disadvantaged, with opportunities to propose unique ideas that meet specific research and development needs of the federal government.

Phase 1 is a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of an idea. Awards are for up to six months. The selected Phase 2 projects will expand on the results of Phase 1 projects selected last year, with up to $700,000 to support research for up to two years. Phase 3 is for the commercialization of the results of Phase 2 and requires the use of private sector or non-SBIR federal funding.

Program participants submitted 246 Phase 2 proposals. Proposal selection criteria included technical merit and innovation, Phase 1 performance and results, value to NASA, commercial potential and company capabilities. NASA is making a limited number of new SBIR Phase 2 selections at this time, and expects to make a second round of Phase 2 awards in late spring of 2013, following passage of federal appropriations for the agency.

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NASA Selects American Small Businesses for Continuation Of Innovative Research and Technology Projects

Want to See the Space Station? NASA Text Messages Tell You How

NASA just made it easier to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station the largest manmade structure in space as it soars across the night sky. The best part: no telescope required.

The space agency has launched a new free service called "Spot the Station" that allows observers to sign up for e-mail alerts or text messages whenever thespace station may be visible overhead, weather permitting. The messages, which will be sent out a few hours before the actual sighting opportunity, are tailored for an observer's location based on their home country, state and city, NASA officials explained in a statement.

"As the thirdbrightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon, the space station is easy to see if you know where and when to look for it," NASA officials wrote. "The space station looks like a fast-moving plane in the sky, though one with people living and working aboard it more than 200 miles above the ground. It is best viewed on clear nights." [Photos: Spotting Satellites & Spaceships from Earth]

With a wingspan the size of a football field, the International Space Station is the biggest artificial structure in space today. It can be easily spotted from Earth with the unaided eye, but only if you know exactly when and where it will appear in the sky.

Station sighting opportunities from 4,600 locations around the world are identified twice a week at NASA's space station Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. The Spot the Station service will send out alerts for only the best sighting opportunities, when the space station is relatively high in the night sky and makes a long pass overhead, NASA officials said.

"This will be anywhere from once or twice a week to once or twice a month, depending on the space stations orbit," NASA officials explained. "Dont worry if there are big gaps in between sightings!"

You can sign up for NASA's Spot the Station alerts here: http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/.

The Spot the Station service is not the only way to find out how to see the space station in the night sky. The Twitter-based Twisst ISS Alerts service sends out automated Twitter messages to users during prime space station sightings over their locations.

There are also several websites dedicated to observing the International Space Station and other spacecraft. They include:

You can also find real-time satellite tracking information, including spacecraft locations over Earth at any time of day, at this website: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544.

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Want to See the Space Station? NASA Text Messages Tell You How