ISS International Space Station transit on Sun (March 13, 2015) – Video

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ISS International Space Station transit on Sun (March 13, 2015)
ISS International Space Station transit over the Sun. March 13th, 2015 - Hour 11:29:44 (italian time). Location: Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena), Italy. Transit duration 0.89 seconds. Video...

By: Osservatorio Astronomico Universit di Siena

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ISS International Space Station transit on Sun (March 13, 2015) - Video

One-Year Crew Set for Launch to Space Station; NASA TV to Air Live Coverage

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The first one-year crew for the International Space Station is set to launch Friday, March 27. NASA Television will provide extensive coverage of the launch and the crews arrival to the orbital laboratory.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will spend a year living and working aboard the space station and will launch with cosmonaut Gennady Padalka. The trio will become part of the stations Expedition 43 crew.

NASA TV coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT March 27, with launch scheduled for 3:42 p.m. (1:42 a.m. Saturday, March 28 in Baikonur) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio will ride to space in a Soyuz spacecraft, which will rendezvous with the space station and dock after four orbits of Earth. Docking to the space station's Poisk module will take place at 9:36 p.m. Friday. NASA TV coverage of docking will begin at 8:45 p.m.

Hatches between the Soyuz and the station will be opened at approximately 11:15 p.m., at which time Expedition 43 Commander Terry Virts of NASA and his crewmates, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency), will greet Kelly, Kornienko and Padalka. Hatch opening coverage begins on NASA TV at 10:45 p.m.

Kelly and Kornienko will spend a year on the space station to better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to the harsh environment of space. Data from the expedition will be used to determine whether there are ways to further reduce the risks on future long-duration missions to an asteroid and eventually Mars.

The crew will support several hundred experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science -- research that impacts life on Earth. Data and samples will be collected throughout the year from a series of studies involving Scott and his twin brother, former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. The studies will compare data from the genetically-identical Kelly brothers to identify any subtle changes caused by spaceflight.

Padalka will spend six months aboard the outpost, during which he will become the first four-time station commander and record holder for most cumulative time spent in space.

For the full schedule of prelaunch, launch and docking coverage, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For more information about the one-year crew, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/oneyear

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/station

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One-Year Crew Set for Launch to Space Station; NASA TV to Air Live Coverage

NASA Womens History Month Profile Cecile Saltzman (Stennis Space Center) – Video

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NASA Womens History Month Profile Cecile Saltzman (Stennis Space Center)
Ccile Saltzman is a Human Resources Specialist at NASA #39;s John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC) in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. She leads SSC employee relations, including the broad impact areas...

By: NASA

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NASA Womens History Month Profile Cecile Saltzman (Stennis Space Center) - Video

Red Hot Right Now: Rita Ora turns heads in glamorous gown at Coca-Cola bar launch

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SPLASH

The hitmaker oozed glamour as she sipped on a bottle of fizzy soda outside the brand's new Contour Centenary Bar in the capital - but little did she know the wind brought her dress up.

Walking along, the 24-year-old flashed her bottom as the split on her dress shot up before photographer's eyes.

With her blonde tresses worn down and straight, Rita made sure all eyes were on her in her peplum creation by Veni Vici Couture, which came complete with a strapless neckline.

The shiny gown also featured a long train and lengthy hem, which the Hot Right Now singer teamed with matching lipstick.

She tweeted prior to the fun event: "Good morning London I love my Sophia Webster Coca Cola shoes see you soon #pressday."

GETTY

SPLASH

Rita had the honour of officially opening the pop-up, which is celebrating 100 years of the iconic Coca-Cola glass bottle.

The British star appeared to have a busy day in store, after tweeting her 4.41 million followers about her movements.

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Red Hot Right Now: Rita Ora turns heads in glamorous gown at Coca-Cola bar launch

Shailene Woodleys 12 best red-carpet looks

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Since bursting on the scene in ABC Familys The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Shailene Woodleys star has been on the rise. From her turn as George Clooneys daughter in The Descendants to a cancer-stricken teen in The Fault in Our Stars, theres no stopping the 23-year-old powerhouse.

With the second film in the Divergent series, Insurgent, set to hit theaters Friday, Woodley has been on a whirlwind press tour promoting the action-packed flick. And with every red carpet she steps foot on, the brunette beauty rocks it every single time.

Whether shes sporting a printed Mary Katrantzou sheath or an embellished Marchesa gown, Woodley always leaves us wanting more. Take a look at the actress 12 best red-carpet moments so far.

Photo: WireImage; AP

Photo: Reuters; AP

Photo: AP (2)

Photo: WireImage; Getty Images

Photo: Startraks Photo (2)

Photo: Startraks Photo; AP

Photo: Startraks Photo; AP

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Shailene Woodleys 12 best red-carpet looks

DC: Don't take Red Bull threats lightly

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David Coulthard has warned that Red Bull's threat to quit F1 needs to be taken seriously as F1 "can't afford" to lose four cars from the grid.

In the wake of the season-opening Australian GP, a race in which Mercedes picked up where they left off in 2014 and trounced their rivals, Red Bull warned they could walk away from F1.

Helmut Marko, who is a staunch critic of the 1.6-litre V6 engines, said there is a danger that team owner Dietrich Mateschitz could lose "his passion for F1."

He added: "These power units are the wrong solution for F1, and we would say this even if [Red Bull supplier] Renault were in the lead.

"The technical rules are not understandable, much too complicated, and too expensive."

Marko's comments were met with some derision from F1 fans while Toto Wolff says Red Bull, Renault and all Mercedes' rivals should put their heads down and "work hard."

Coulthard, though, says people must not scoff at Red Bull's threats as they would not be saying it if they wasn't a possibility they would carry through on it.

"These guys are empowered and are in control, so they are not saying anything that they don't have the position to act on," the former Red Bull driver told Motorsport.com.

"So you take any of these guys seriously because history has shown that manufacturers come and go, teams can and go, and if Red Bull go, they take with them four cars, and you can't afford to just close the door.

"They probably wouldn't. They would probably try to make sure there was something for the mechanics and the engineers."

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DC: Don't take Red Bull threats lightly

Russian Space Pioneer Discusses the First Spacewalk in History 50 Years Ago – Video

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Russian Space Pioneer Discusses the First Spacewalk in History 50 Years Ago
Former Russian cosmonaut Alexey Leonov relived the highlights of the spacewalk he conducted 50 years ago the first spacewalk in history --- during an interview with NASA Public Affairs...

By: NASA

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Russian Space Pioneer Discusses the First Spacewalk in History 50 Years Ago - Video

NASA orbiter detects ultraviolet auroras on Mars

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Just a day afterskywatchers at mid- to upper-latitudes around the world were treated to a particularly energetic display of auroras on the night of March 17 as a result of an intense geomagnetic storm,researchers announced findings from NASAsMAVENmission of auroral action observed on Mars although in energetic ultraviolet wavelengths rather than visible light.

Detected by MAVENsImaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument overfive days beforeDec. 25, 2014, the ultraviolet auroras have been nicknamed Mars Christmas lights. They were observed across the planets mid-northern latitudes and are the result of Mars atmosphere interacting directly with the solar wind.

While auroras on Earth typically occur at altitudes of 80 to 300 kilometers (50 to 200 miles) and occasionally even higher, Mars atmospheric displays were found to bemuch lower, indicating higher levels of energy.

Whats especially surprising about the aurora we saw is how deep in the atmosphere it occurs much deeper than at Earth or elsewhere on Mars, said Arnaud Stiepen, IUVS team member at the University of Colorado. The electrons producing it must be really energetic.

To a human observer on Mars the light show probably wouldnt be very dramatic, though. Without abundant amounts ofoxygen and nitrogen in its thin atmosphere a Martianaurora would be a dimblue glow at best, if not out of the visible spectrum entirely.

This isnt the first time auroras have been spottedon Mars; observations with ESAs Mars Express in 2004 were actually thefirst detectionsof the phenomenon on the Red Planet. Made with the spacecrafts SPICAM ultraviolet spectrometer, the observations showed that Mars auroras are unlike thosefound anywhere else in the Solar System in that they are generated by particle interactions with very localized magnetic field emissions, rather than a globally-generated one (like Earths).

(So no, its not a total surprise but its still very cool!)

In addition to auroras MAVEN also detected diffuse but widespread dust clouds located surprisingly high in the Martian atmosphere. Its not yet understood what process is delivering dust so high 150-300 kilometers up (93-186 miles) or if itis a permanent or temporary feature.

Read more in the MAVEN news release here.

Source: NASA andNature

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NASA orbiter detects ultraviolet auroras on Mars

NASA Education Express Message — March 19, 2015

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Dawn Missions Imagine Ceres ProjectShare in the anticipation and excitement of NASAs Dawn spacecraft's arrival at Ceres in March 2015!Can you imagine what the Dawn mission might discover at Ceres in the next few weeks and months? What does this vast world hold for explorers and scientists today? What do you imagine the surface of Ceres will look like? How do you imagine that Ceres formed? When do you imagine Ceres came into being? Over what time frame?NASAs Dawn mission wants you to share your ideas! Send in your creations in the form of art, music, poetry or video. Selected submissions will be featured in the Imagine Ceres gallery.To learn more about the Imagine Ceres project, including how to submit your ideas, visithttp://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/dawncommunity/imagine_ceres_about.asp.For more information about the Dawn mission, visithttp://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/.Please email any questions about this opportunity to Joe Wise atjwise1972@gmail.com._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles Available for Educational UseNASA invites eligible U.S. educational institutions and museums to request space shuttle thermal protective tiles and other special items offered on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last. Organizations previously allocated thermal protective tiles may request an additional three tiles.There will be a nominal shipping fee that must be paid online with a credit card. To make a request for special items online, visithttp://gsaxcess.gov/htm/nasa/userguide/Special_Item_Request_Procedure.pdf.Questions about this opportunity should be directed toGSAXcessHelp@gsa.gov._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Museum Alliance Webcast -- Journey to Mars Museum Kit ResourcesAre you looking for resources and products to enhance your exhibits and education programs? TheJourney to Mars Museum Kitincludes a variety of digital resources designed to assist museums in sharing NASAs Journey to Mars story and can easily be found on theNASA Museum Alliance Website. This kit includes the top 5-10 best presentations, graphic files, videos, print products, activities and the most recent talking points available. The resources are selected and designed with museums in mind and can easily be incorporated into exhibits and programs.NASA invites you and your institution to join us on the Journey to Mars! Tune into the webcast onMarch 19, 2015, at 4 p.m. EDTto hear from NASA Museum Liaison, Patricia Moore, to learn more about how these resources can be used in museums, science centers, planetariums and other informal education institutions.To view the webcast from your computer, visithttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-jsc. Or dial in to the conference line at 1-888-323-4924, passcode museum.Questions for Patricia may be asked on the conference line or via email atPatricia.L.Moore@nasa.gov.After the webcast, presentation materials will be posted on the Museum Alliance member site athttps://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/Conversations. A downloadable copy of the webcast and transcript will be posted a week or so later at the same location. Username and password are required to access the member site.To learn how to become a Museum Alliance member, visithttps://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/About.

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Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional DevelopmentNASA Educator Professional Development is presenting a series of free webinars open to all educators. Join NASA education specialists to learn about activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources that bring NASA into your classroom. Pre-registration is not required for these webinars. Simply go to the link provided for each webinar approximately 15 minutes before the session begins. Sign in as a guest using your first and last names.Weather and Climate: Exploring a Storm of STEM in Your Classroom Audience:Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-8Event Date:March 19, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDTThis webinar will explore our understanding and forecasting of weather, and how weather and climate differ. NASA missions, STEM resources, curriculum and integration of the Next Generation Science Standards will guide participants through a storm of classroom activities.https://connect.its.txstate.edu/stennisnasaepd/Our Solar System: Classifying, Graphing and Modeling the Neighborhood Audience:Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-8Event Date:March 23, 2015, at 5 p.m. EDTLearn about lessons involving classification, graphing and models that help students better understand and visualize our solar system. Next Generation Science Standards will be explored and integrated into this out-of-this-world webinar.https://connect.its.txstate.edu/stennisnasaepd/Art and the Cosmic Connection Audience:Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-CollegeEvent Date:March 24, 2015, at 7 p.m. EDTGeology meets art in this webinar featuring ways to inspire your inner geologist to use art to recreate craters, mountains, rivers, wind-driven landscapes and more. Learn how to read planetary images as well as Earth images. Activities featured meet Next Generation Science Standards.https://connect.its.txstate.edu/jplnasaepd/Solar System and the Periodic Table of Elements Audience:Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-CollegeEvent Date:March 25, 2015, at 7 p.m. EDTLearn about an engaging lesson that introduces the periodic table and why it is important to us. The lesson includes a game and a short writing prompt for understanding. Activities featured meet Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. Participants need crayons or colored pencils and the following periodic table left blank (http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/documents/toe5.pdf).https://connect.its.txstate.edu/jplnasaepd/Robotics on a Budget Audience:Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-8Event Date:March 26, 2015, at 5 p.m. EDTWhat are robots and how are they used at NASA? Using NASA robotic missions, curricula and online resources, participants will explore how to use robotics economically in the classroom to enhance students understanding of STEM.https://connect.its.txstate.edu/stennisnasaepd/Questions about this series of webinars should be directed to Steve Culivan atStephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NASA Request for Information: NASA Centennial Challenges -- Space Race ChallengeNASAs Centennial Challenges program is seeking input on a Space RACE (Rendezvous And Capture Experiment) Challenge concept being considered for a future prize competition. The challenge would require competitors to build vehicles capable of autonomous rendezvous, capture, and manipulation of small objects at high speeds with applications for the Mars Sample Return campaign, lunar sample return missions and many other commercial venues.The purposes of this request for information are (1) to gather feedback on the competition being considered, (2) to determine the level of interest in potentially competing in this challenge and (3) to understand the applicability of the technology developed by the competition for other nongovernment applications.NASA welcomes replies from all segments of industry, academia and government, including associations, innovators and enthusiasts. This request for information is for informational and planning purposes only, and the government will not be responsible for any cost associated with preparing information in support of this request. This request for information is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into any agreement or other obligation, or to conduct a Space RACE challenge.Responses are requested byMarch 19, 2015.For more information, visithttp://go.usa.gov/33Zyw.For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program, visithttp://www.nasa.gov/challenges.Please direct any questions about this opportunity to Sam Ortega atsam.ortega@nasa.gov.

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NASA Space Technology Grants for Early Career University FacultyNASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate is seeking proposals from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of outstanding early career faculty members who are beginning their independent careers. The grants will sponsor research in specific, high-priority areas of interest to the U.S. space program.NASA expects to award approximately six to eight grants this fall, funded up to $200,000 each per year for as many as three years, based on the merit of proposals and availability of funds. Funded research will investigate unique, disruptive or transformational space technologies in areas such as dynamic tensegrity technologies for space science and exploration, high-temperature solar cells, fundamental aero-thermodynamic model development, and synthetic biology technologies for space exploration.Notices of intent to submit proposals to the Early Career Faculty Appendix of NASA's Research Announcement "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration and Infusion 2015 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2015)" are dueMarch 20, 2015. The deadline for submitting final proposals isApril 17, 2015.For information on the solicitation, including specific technology areas of interest and how to submit notices of intent and proposals, visithttp://go.nasa.gov/1vwtqZz.This solicitation is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in future missions. For more information about the directorate and Space Technology Research Grants Program, visithttp://www.nasa.gov/spacetech.Please email any questions about this opportunity to Bonnie F. James atHQ-STMD-SpaceTech-REDDI@nasa.gov.

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Library of Congress 2015 Summer Institutes -- Teaching With Primary SourcesThe Library of Congress is now accepting applications for its week-long summer programs for K-12 educators. Held at the Library of Congress in the District of Columbia, this professional development opportunity provides educators with tools and resources to effectively integrate primary sources into K-12 classroom teaching, with an emphasis on student engagement, critical thinking and construction of knowledge.The Library is offering five programs this summer: three of the programs are open to teachers and librarians across all content areas, one focuses on civil rights, and another concentrates on primary sources in science. Tuition and materials are provided at no cost.General Institutes:Open to K-12 teachers and school librarians across the content areas-- Session 1: June 22-26, 2015-- Session 2: July 6-10, 2015-- Session 3: July 27-31, 2015Civil Rights Institute:Open to K-12 teachers and school librarians with teaching responsibilities related to civil rights-- Civil Rights Institute: August 3-7, 2015Science Institute:Recommended for K-12 educators who teach science or collaborate with science teachers-- Science Institute: July 20-24, 2015Applications are dueMarch 24, 2015, and require a letter of recommendation.For more information and to submit an application, visithttp://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/teacherinstitute/.Questions about this opportunity should be directed toteachinglcsummer@loc.gov.

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NASA Education Express Message -- March 19, 2015