Installing a Room With a View

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In the grasp of the Canadarm2, the cupola was relocated from the forward port to the Earth-facing port of the International Space Station's newly installed Tranquility node. The cupola is a robotic control station with six windows around its sides and another in the center that will provide a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecrafts. With the installation of Tranquility and cupola, the space station is about 90 percent complete.

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Installing Tranquility

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NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick conducted the STS-130 mission's first spacewalk on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. The spacewalking pair finished all their assigned work and some get-ahead tasks. The Tranquility node and cupola were robotically maneuvered from Endeavour's payload bay, and then installed onto the port side of the Unity node. This was the first of three planned spacewalks for the STS-130 mission.

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NASA Extends Johnson Aircraft Maintenance Contract

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NASA will exercise a one-year extension option for a contract with Computer Science Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas, to provide aircraft maintenance and modification support. The extension is valued at $58 million.

The Aircraft Maintenance and Modification Program contract provides for the continuity of services for flight line; intermediate and depot level maintenance; repairs; and modifications and engineering support on aircraft.

The aircraft supported are operated at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston; NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.; and NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The aircraft are used for astronaut crew training and NASA flight research. Work under the contract is performed at Johnson, Dryden and Langley, as well as NASA facilities in El Paso, Texas.

The option exercised on the cost-plus-award-fee contract begins March 1, 2010, and will continue to Feb. 28, 2011. Qualified Technical Services, Inc. of Houston is a significant subcontractor for the work.

For information about NASA and other agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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NASA Sets Out of this World News Conference with Shuttle Endeavour and Space Station Crews

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The 11 crew members aboard space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station will hold a news conference at 8:39 p.m. CST on Thursday, Feb. 18.

U.S. reporters may ask questions in person from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and NASA Headquarters in Washington. A portion of the news conference will be set aside for Japanese reporters.

To participate in the news conference, U.S. journalists must call the public affairs office at their preferred NASA center by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Media must be in place at participating locations at least 20 minutes prior to the start of the news conference.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of the 40-minute news conference. For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

During Endeavour's STS-130 mission, astronauts installed the Tranquility node, a module that provides additional room for crew members and many of the space station's life support and environmental control systems. Attached to Tranquility is a cupola with seven windows that provide a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft. Tranquility and its cupola are the final major U.S. portions of the station. The orbiting laboratory now is approximately 90 percent complete in terms of mass.

For more information about the STS-130 mission and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For more information about the space station and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

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NASA’s Next Shuttle Launch Now Targeted for April 5; Media Credentials Deadlines Updated

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NASA is targeting Monday, April 5, for the launch of the next space shuttle from the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Shuttle Discovery's seven crew members had planned to lift off on March 18 to begin the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station. However, cold weather in Florida has delayed Discovery's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building to complete the shuttle's processing, which has delayed the rollout to the launch pad.

The Space Shuttle Program has specific rules against transporting the shuttle when temperatures are below a certain level for extended periods. The vehicle has thrusters with seals that could leak under cold temperatures. As a result of the new STS-131 target launch date, NASA has extended the media accreditation deadlines. Deadlines for journalists to apply for the shuttle rollout and Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test are as early as Feb. 23. To be accredited, reporters must work for verifiable news-gathering organizations. No substitutions of credentials are allowed at any NASA facility.

Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries include those with which the United States has no diplomatic relations, countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, those under U.S. sanction or embargo, and countries associated with proliferation concerns. Please contact the accrediting NASA center for details. Journalists should confirm they have been accredited before they travel.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Reporters applying for credentials at Kennedy should submit requests via the Web at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Reporters must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when applying. After accreditation is approved, applicants will receive confirmation via e-mail.

Accredited media representatives with mission badges will have access to Kennedy from launch through the end of the mission. The application deadline for mission badges is March 24 for all reporters requesting credentials.

Discovery's rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, to Launch Pad 39A, planned for March 2, follows its rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility-3 to the VAB, which is targeted for Feb. 22. The launch countdown dress rehearsal, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, is targeted for March 5. Media must apply by 5 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 23 to cover rollout and the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test.

Reporters with special logistic requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections or work space, must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by March 11 at:

laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.gov

There is no longer free wireless Internet access provided at Kennedy's news center. Work space in the news center and the news center annex is provided on a first-come basis, limited to one space per organization. To set up temporary telephone, fax, ISDN or network lines, media representatives must make arrangements with BellSouth at 800-213-4988. Reporters must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy newsroom prior to setting up lines. To obtain an assigned seat, contact Patricia Christian at:

patricia.christian-1@nasa.gov

Journalists must have a public affairs escort to all other areas of Kennedy except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Reporters may obtain credentials for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston by calling the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by presenting STS-131 mission credentials from Kennedy. Media representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need to apply for credentials only at Johnson. The application deadline for mission badges is March 19 for all reporters requesting credentials.

Journalists covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy credentials must contact the Johnson newsroom by March 19 to arrange workspace, phone lines and other logistics. Johnson is responsible for credentialing media if the shuttle lands at NASA's White Sands Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at White Sands, Johnson will arrange credentials.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

Notice for a space shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short. Domestic media outlets should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could travel quickly to Dryden. Deadlines for submitting Dryden accreditation requests are March 9 for non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship, and April 12 for U.S. media who are U.S. citizens or who have permanent residency status.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens representing domestic media outlets must provide their full name, date of birth, place of birth, media organization, driver's license number with the name of the issuing state, and the last six digits of their social security number.

In addition to the above requirements, foreign media representatives, regardless of citizenship, must provide data including their citizenship, visa or passport number and its expiration date. Foreign nationals representing either domestic or foreign media who have permanent residency status must provide their alien registration number and expiration date.

Journalists should fax requests for credentials on company letterhead to 661-276-3566 or e-mail requests to:

DrydenPAO@nasa.gov

Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for follow-up contact. Journalists who previously requested credentials will not need to do so again.

NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:

Kennedy Space Center: Allard Beutel, 321-867-2468, allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Johnson Space Center: James Hartsfield, 281-483-5111, james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov

Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893, leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov

For information about the STS-131 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Two STS-131 crew members, NASA astronaut Clay Anderson and Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, are tweeting about preparing for their mission. They can be followed at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Clay

and

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Naoko

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

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Pirates Biologists Tourists and Creationists Battle for Darwins Cradle of Evolution.

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The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes Marcel Proust1000km off the west coast of South America a lonely Albatross soars majestically just above the reach of the rolling swell. Itrsquos been a long journey and although his wings never seem to tire it feels good to be home. Las Encantadas ldquothe enchanted islandsrdquo. A meeting place

Portugual

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Hi everyone welcome to portugual We arrivied late Friday afternoon we are staying in the algarve coast which runs along the southern coast of portugual. The drive west was sadly uneventful as the weather was foggy and raining. Since Friday we have not explored too much because the weather has not been great but luckily our cheap apartment is fully stocked including a somewhat decent indoor

An Unexpected Detour

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The next planned destination for this day trip was Petaluma State Historic Park in Petaluma. However while driving along highway 101 we experienced a tire blowout a couple of miles outside of Petaluma. Unfortunately for us the blow out occurred on a pretty steep hillside so we had to drive the car a bit until we could find a level surface to change the tire. It turns out that the nearest places

I don’t think Sydney is a place for me

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I hate to say this but I am so ready to come home. While I have having a lot of fun I am so sick of the rain cockroches not having a car and too much down time. But begin I have to talk about my adventure out in Sydney the other night. As I expected the night ended up being a huge ordeal and because of that I have no desire to go out in Sydney again. So to get there we had to walk the 5 blocks

Second Day Out

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Our motel was nice enough. It had a jacuzzi tub in the floor but last night the hot water soaked away any aches from the bumpy ride and the accident. We were up this morning and in the lobby at 615 for a wildlife tour in a van taking us to the Lamar Valley. The wildlife is most active early in the morning especially the wolves so we got an early start. We were all suited up and ready to go O

Gaining perspective…

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Great things are happening in life right now. A friend told me about a VEGAN restuarant that opened up a little while ago in Siji Daegu near the yoga studio... It is called The Loving Hut... How great rightWell I am stoked and I am going there today to revel... Also I am planning on supporting this place as much as possible.The link httpwww.lovinghut.krThere are 2 other franchises in Daeg

Sunday…we’re going home and we’re not happy

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Here it is the day we've all dreaded....no not Valentine's Day although today is Feb. 14th and David did get extra brownie points for buying Lisa a card. Its the day we leave JVD and return home to the cold snowy Northeast. We packed last night and have until 10 AM to do dishes sweep up throw out the trash and leave the villa. We decided to catch the 930 AM ferry to Tortola and arranged to

The Challenges Farmers Face

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Cross posted from Nourishing the Planet. The International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD is holding the third global meeting of the Farmersrsquo Forum this week in Rome Italy. The Forummdashwhich brings together more than 70 farmers groups from around the worldmdashis an opportunity for IFAD and other groups to learn firsthand from farmers the challenges they face in the field.

Redwood National Park Very big trees

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The travel from Crater Lake to Northern California was an easy six hour drive and the change in the weather was quite significant. Where is it was beautiful sunshine it became cloudy and foggy once we entered the big forest the surrounding towns and cities are certainly not worth a visit so just keep on driving if you have that opportunity. We stayed in Crescent city which is just north of the na

You know you are a Swiss Aupair when…

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You know you are a Swiss Aupair when... you know how to 'properly' tuck mittens into coats you've picked up some bad gramatical habits instead of teaching the kids some good ones you can navigate the roads and roundabouts in zurich and find the place you need to go to...even if it happens by accident you wonder if you'll ever see sunshine again you can... carry a months worth of supplies up

Cancun es muy MUY Buen

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The clouds looked liek dollops of cream on the earth as my plane came closer to Cancun. As the plane descended I becae more aware that it was raining in paradise. I realize it must rain for the beautiful flora and fauna but NOT on my vacation I am not used to this strange keyboard. I have no idea how to make an apostrophe appear so Ill just go without. lol Oh great. I come all this way fo

Golden Moments

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I've just been out for lunch and a coffee with a guy called Dan I think that's his name. He's been travelling around south america for 6 months or so and he's heading off to Ecuador tomorrow...or is it Peru I forget. Anyway it's fun talking to these guys and picking up tips on where people have been and where they've stayed and what not.We tried to get into the Museo Botero but it was close

italy

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15th February 2010. We started our day at 700 a.m. with a trip to the Garden Restaurant for breaky. Then Noel was back to the state room to do the finer points on the blog while Gerrie did bingo. No I couldnrsquot talk Noel into this adventure ldquoJust couldnrsquot do itrdquo I must be losing my touch. This is our first full day on the ship. We have been running around exploring the

Here we go…

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Can't sit still. Gotta see what's out there.Passport checkTranscripts checkClean background check checkRestless feet double checkJob... in progressSo I'm almost there. Just the one minor technicality to go but I have a couple of irons in the fire and am applying to new places every day