KSP: the road to #39;Serious #39; part 9 - Mun Rescue/3rd space station module
In this part the Pegasus 3 crew set out to rescue the stranded Pegasus 2 crew in Mun orbit and we add a 3rd part to the Space Station Orbiting Kerbin Additional music by Kevin Macleod and...
By: GameDev Byrne
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KSP: the road to 'Serious' part 9 - Mun Rescue/3rd space station module - Video
Time lapse Video of Earth From Space : The International Space Station ISS: Flying Around The Globe:
Time lapse of Earth From Space: This video features a series of time lapse sequences photographed by the Expedition 30 crew aboard the International Space Station. This video takes viewers...
By: Amazing Space
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11/13/2014
The only two radio amateurs on the International Space Station (ISS) were among three crew members who returned to Earth on November 10, and another ham-astronaut won't arrive onboard the ISS until later this month. But an exciting 2015 appears to be in store.
NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, and European Space Agency Astronaut Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO, joined Expedition 41 Commander and Russian Cosmonaut Max Suraev on the flight home this week. Traveling in a Soyuz space capsule, the trio touched down safely in Kazakhstan after some 6 months on station. Wiseman and Gerst were active on Amateur Radio during their time on orbit, handling questions from curious Earthlings during Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) educational contacts and, in Wiseman's case, his first ARRL Field Day in June an activity he discussed in a recent #askAstro YouTube post.
This was the first mission for both Wiseman and Gerst. While in space, the pair carried out a spacewalk to relocate a failed pump module and configure the station for upcoming additions. Wiseman completed a second spacewalk with fellow NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, now the ISS Expedition 42 Commander.
According to ARISS, there will be no US Operational Segment hams on the ISS until December 7, and the ARISS Russian team will conduct any school contacts in the interim. European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, heads to the ISS on November 23. She will be the sole radio amateur on orbit until next March. Thats when Cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, and Mikhail Kornienko, RN3BF both space veterans will arrive. A key research focus during Expedition 41 was human health management for long-duration space travel, as NASA and Roscosmos prepare for Kornienko and NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly to remain aboard the ISS for 1 year.
Several call signs are available for use on the ISS. NASA astronauts use NA1SS, while Russian cosmonauts operate under RS0ISS. Other call signs include DP0ISS, OR4ISS, and IR0ISS, available for use by European Space Agency astronauts. UK telecoms regulator Ofcom recently issued the call sign GB1SS for assignment to UK space travelers while aboard the ISS.
NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Astronaut Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH, will head to the ISS next May. Astronauts Tim Kopra, KE5UDN, and Tim Peake, KG5BVI, will be part of a crew increment heading into space a year from now. Peake, who is from the UK, may use the GB1SS call sign.
British pop singer Sarah Brightman is currently scheduled to travel to the ISS in October 2015 for a 10-day visit as a fare-paying "spaceflight participant;" her website has adopted an otherworldly theme. While it is not known if she will participate in any Amateur Radio contacts during her short ISS stay, she apparently would be eligible to do so using GB1SS.
ARISS has announced that the deadline is December 15 for schools and educational institutions and organizations formal and informal to submit proposals to host an Amateur Radio contact with an ISS crew member. ARISS is especially interested in arranging contact events that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the radio contact into a well-developed educational plan. ARISS anticipates that the ham radio contacts between students and the space station will take place between May 1 and December 31, 2015. The ARRL website has more information.
Contact ARISS with any questions or for additional information. NASA has posted more information on the International Space Station and its crews.
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International Space Station Briefly Ham-less After Crew Members Return to Earth
Space exploration is the ongoing discovery and exploration of celestial structures in outer space by means of continuously evolving and growing space technology. While the study of space is carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, the physical exploration of space is conducted both by unmanned robotic probes and human spaceflight.
While the observation of objects in space, known as astronomy, predates reliable recorded history, it was the development of large and relatively efficient rockets during the early 20th century that allowed physical space exploration to become a reality. Common rationales for exploring space include advancing scientific research, uniting different nations, ensuring the future survival of humanity and developing military and strategic advantages against other countries.
Space exploration has often been used as a proxy competition for geopolitical rivalries such as the Cold War. The early era of space exploration was driven by a "Space Race" between the Soviet Union and the United States, the launch of the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, the USSR's Sputnik 1, on 4 October 1957, and the first Moon landing by the American Apollo 11 craft on 20 July 1969 are often taken as landmarks for this initial period. The Soviet space program achieved many of the first milestones, including the first living being in orbit in 1957, the first human spaceflight (Yuri Gagarin aboard Vostok 1) in 1961, the first spacewalk (by Aleksei Leonov) on 18 March 1965, the first automatic landing on another celestial body in 1966, and the launch of the first space station (Salyut 1) in 1971.
After the first 20 years of exploration, focus shifted from one-off flights to renewable hardware, such as the Space Shuttle program, and from competition to cooperation as with the International Space Station (ISS).
With the substantial completion of the ISS[1] following STS-133 in March 2011, plans for space exploration by the USA remain in flux. Constellation, a Bush Administration program for a return to the Moon by 2020[2] was judged inadequately funded and unrealistic by an expert review panel reporting in 2009.[3] The Obama Administration proposed a revision of Constellation in 2010 to focus on the development of the capability for crewed missions beyond low earth orbit (LEO), envisioning extending the operation of the ISS beyond 2020, transferring the development of launch vehicles for human crews from NASA to the private sector, and developing technology to enable missions to beyond LEO, such as Earth/Moon L1, the Moon, Earth/Sun L2, near-earth asteroids, and Phobos or Mars orbit.[4] As of March 2011, the US Senate and House of Representatives are still working towards a compromise NASA funding bill, which will probably terminate Constellation and fund development of a heavy lift launch vehicle (HLLV).[5]
In the 2000s, the People's Republic of China initiated a successful manned spaceflight program, while the European Union, Japan, and India have also planned future manned space missions. China, Russia, Japan, and India have advocated manned missions to the Moon during the 21st century, while the European Union has advocated manned missions to both the Moon and Mars during the 21st century.
From the 1990s onwards, private interests began promoting space tourism and then private space exploration of the Moon (see Google Lunar X Prize).
The first steps of putting a man-made object into space were taken by German scientists during World War II while testing the V-2 rocket, which became the first man-made object in space on 3 October 1942 with the launching of the A-4. After the war, the U.S. used German scientists and their captured rockets in programs for both military and civilian research. The first scientific exploration from space was the cosmic radiation experiment launched by the U.S. on a V-2 rocket on 10 May 1946.[6] The first images of Earth taken from space followed the same year[7][8] while the first animal experiment saw fruit flies lifted into space in 1947, both also on modified V-2s launched by Americans. Starting in 1947, the Soviets, also with the help of German teams, launched sub-orbital V-2 rockets and their own variant, the R-1, including radiation and animal experiments on some flights. These suborbital experiments only allowed a very short time in space which limited their usefulness.
The first successful orbital launch was of the Soviet unmanned Sputnik 1 ("Satellite 1") mission on 4 October 1957. The satellite weighed about 83kg (183lb), and is believed to have orbited Earth at a height of about 250km (160mi). It had two radio transmitters (20 and 40MHz), which emitted "beeps" that could be heard by radios around the globe. Analysis of the radio signals was used to gather information about the electron density of the ionosphere, while temperature and pressure data was encoded in the duration of radio beeps. The results indicated that the satellite was not punctured by a meteoroid. Sputnik 1 was launched by an R-7 rocket. It burned up upon re-entry on 3 January 1958.
This success led to an escalation of the American space program, which unsuccessfully attempted to launch a Vanguard satellite into orbit two months later. On 31 January 1958, the U.S. successfully orbited Explorer 1 on a Juno rocket. In the meantime, the Soviet dog Laika became the first animal in orbit on 3 November 1957.
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November 12, 2014
Image Caption: NASA astronaut Steve Swanson grows vegetables on the International Space Station in the Veggie facility located in EXPRESS Rack 8 during Expedition 39. Credit: NASA
Provided by Bill Hubscher, International Space Station Program Science Office, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center
Getting more from less is no clich aboard the International Space Station, its necessity. With six people living, working and conducting science in the space of a single-family house 240 miles above Earth, square footage is at a premium. NASAs EXPRESS Rack helps ensure theres room for research on the orbiting laboratory.
EXPRESS is a multipurpose rack system housing and supporting research. On Oct. 4, EXPRESS Rack 1 marked 100,000 hours of operation. There are eight EXPRESS racks on the station, each filled with multiple studies.
The versatility of EXPRESS is what makes it so valuable to NASA and scientists, said Tara Ruttley, associate program scientist for the space station at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. Not only can it house experiments, but it also provides a customized environment for each, allowing proper working conditions for each investigation. It helps us learn more about living and working in space, which leads to new advances in science and medicine on Earth.
EXPRESS allows investigators to perform research across scientific disciplines by providing common structural interfaces, power, data, cooling, water and other items needed to conduct experiments in space. Since 2001, the racks have housed dozens of investigations leading to ground-breaking science discoveries, Earth benefits and technology innovations that are aiding future space travel.
Its rewarding to see our EXPRESS Rack reach this milestone and continue to play an integral part of space station research, said Annette Sledd, space station office manager at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The versatility of the racks to provide standard communication interfaces and utilities is key to their success and expanded use in support of station research, technology demonstrations and housing payload support equipment.
[ Watch the Video: ExPRESS Rack ]
Payloads flown in EXPRESS Racks range from Protein Crystal Growth experiments to the Advanced Astroculture (ADVASC) investigation to refrigerators and incubators, to name just a few examples. One investigation in the racks includes 20 mice and is part of the Rodent Research investigation. The fourth SpaceX cargo resupply service mission delivered the first rodent studies to the station. Studies on the space shuttle indicated rodents make good research models for physiological changes similar to those experienced by humans. The investigation will provide information about changes occurring during spaceflight and could lead to discoveries in basic biology and offer insight into human aging and disease on Earth.
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Pioneering Space Station Breakthroughs: NASA's EXPRESS Rack Reaches 100,000-Hour Milestone
PRESS RELEASE
Barrios Technologys Jessica Nimon was recently presented the coveted Space Flight Awareness Trailblazer Award. Nimon is the International Space Station (ISS) Research Communications Managing Editor on Barrios Mission and Program Integration (MAPI) contract. The award was presented to her in recognition of her leadership in the development and implementation of cross-center research communication products such as web stories, ISS Science blogs, and ISS science news features that engage stakeholders in the benefits of space station research.
Nimon has used her talents as both an exceptional writer and integrator to develop and implement new and innovative processes to coordinate ISS communication products across the various NASA centers and the Headquarters Public Affairs and Outreach (PAO) office. Her space station science web stories, blogs, and news features have been timely, relevant, interesting, amplifying ISS science messages. Sharing the benefits of ISS utilization to stakeholders such as the public, Congress, NASA management, and astronauts is a major goal for NASA. Nimon articles are used in such communication products as congressional packages, ISS scientific awards, astronaut training, and ISS science press conferences. Her ability to utilize social media has improved ISS research and technology web page views to over 500,000 per month, the@ISS_Research Twitter account which Nimon created and manages was nominated for a Twitter Shorty Award in Science (social media recognition for promoting science).
Nimon joined the Barrios team in February of 2013. She holds a Masters in English from University of Dallas and a Bachelors in English and Photography from Sam Houston State University. Nimon has received other honors for her work on the MAPI contract including the NASA Group Achievement Award for The ISS Research Web and Social Media Team.
The SFA Trailblazer Award is presented to employees in the early stages of their career who demonstrate strong work ethic and creative, innovative thinking in support of human spaceflight. The SFA Program is a NASA-managed motivational and recognition program with invited representation from NASA and contractors having major responsibilities for human spaceflight mission success. SFAs goal is to ensure each and every employee involved in human space flight is aware of the importance of their role in promoting astronaut safety and mission success in the critical, challenging task of flying humans in the hostile environment of space by communicating and educating the Government/industry workforce about human space flight.
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Barrios Nimon presented Space Flight Awareness Trailblazer Award
November 13, 2014
by William Leong Jee Keen
Morpheus: It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.
Neo: What truth?
Morpheus That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.
Morpheus:This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. (The Matrix)
Malaysians have taken the road of racism for 57 years because our minds have been imprisoned. A leader may show us a path to a better tomorrow but we will miss the turning if we cannot liberate ourselves from the prison of our minds. Only by choosing good over evil can we see the true path. The time for choosing has come.
He will not be silenced
After seven days hearing submissions from the defense and the prosecution, the five Federal Court Judges will decide whether to acquit or convict Anwar Ibrahim. If Anwar is convicted, he will be imprisoned for a term that will end his political career. The Opposition Leader said this is his final sacrifice, his last final service for Malaysians. He will not be silenced. But will Malaysians grasp the opportunity he paid for with his freedom?
Whether there are flying carpets, briyani suits and what happened to the missing KY jelly is for the court to decide. The target audience for the remake of the stage production of Sodomy I, updated by DNA forensic investigation replacing the old fashion mattress prop, is not the court. It is always the Malaysian public especially the Malay Muslims. The impresario, whoever he or she may be, thought Malaysians are either gullible or easily intimidated or both. Now Malaysians will show whether they are indeed a timid and feeble-minded audience or they are bold and resolute judges firmly punishing evil and rewarding the good. Malaysians will have to decide whether to take the red pill or the blue pill.
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Hawaii is no stranger to natural disasters, from lava and hurricanes to tsunami.
Click here to watch Paul Drewes's report.
Destructive waves have hit before, but now emergency personnel want to makesure people are prepared for a massive tsunami.
It is not a doomsday scenario, it is actually something that has happened before.
Now plans are in the works for a worst case scenario: the possibility of a huge tsunami hitting Hawaii head on.
Hawaii has been hit by destructive waves, but one of the biggest was 500 years ago, when a massive tsunami (similar to the Japanese tsunami of 2011) slammed into our shores.
"A large magnitude 9.2, 9.3 event right in the eastern Aleutian Islands. If you look at a map that area in the Pacific Ocean points directly at us," said Rhett Butler with the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology.
Tsunami generated by earthquakes in Alaska and Kamchatka Peninsula have caused damage in Hawaii, but those waves weren't directly aimed at our islands.
If an extreme tsunami came from the Aleutians north-facing beaches would see the biggest waves, but other shores would not be spared.
"The wavelength of tsunami is huge. We're looking at a fault 600-700 kilometers that breaks. That is on the order of the whole Hawaiian islands, so the wave will wrap around the whole islands," added Butler.
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NASA Rolls Out Orion Spacecraft
Subscribe for more Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/AssociatedPress On Tuesday, NASA #39;s Orion spacecraft was moved to Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
By: Associated Press
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Hudhudh Super cyclone in Andhra and Odissa warned by NASA 10
A cyclonic storm is currently brewing in Bay of Bengal and is expected to be named Hudhud after an Afro-Eurasian bird by Oman, whose turn it is to name the next cyclone. Hudhud may hit Odisha,...
By: k devi
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Hudhudh Super cyclone in Andhra and Odissa warned by NASA 10 - Video
The Pee-ew #49: DJ Scotto, Pacha, Page Six, James St. James, NASA
Michael Alig and Ernie Glam welcome Scotto and discuss his Maskarave party at Pacha and Michael #39;s return to clubland, why James St. James left Scotto out of Disco Bloodbath, Scotto #39;s club NASA...
By: The Pee-ew
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The Pee-ew #49: DJ Scotto, Pacha, Page Six, James St. James, NASA - Video
NASA 360 - The Future of Human Space Exploration
NASA is entering an extraordinary new era of human spaceflight as we begin looking toward a future that includes visiting asteroids, deep space and the surface of the red planet. Please join...
By: NASA 360
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Timelapse video: NASA rolls out Orion Spacecraft
NASA #39;s Orion spacecraft was moved to Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts into deep space. An unmanned test flight is...
By: USA TODAY
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NASAs Orion Spacecraft Set to Roll out to Launch Pad for its First Test Flight
NASA #39;s Orion spacecraft rolled out of the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at NASA #39;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to its launch pad at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station #39;s...
By: NASA
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NASAs Orion Spacecraft Set to Roll out to Launch Pad for its First Test Flight - Video
Comet Landing - What #39;s NASA #39;s Role? | Video
The space agency is a "junior partner" int he European Space Agency #39;s Rosetta mission and has contributed 3 instruments to the #39;mothership #39;. They have also delivered telemetry on the probe.
By: VideoFromSpace
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Gemini Test Article Arrives at Virginia Air Space Center
Nov. 10, 2014 More Information: http://www.nasa.gov/larc/gemini-test-article-to-vasc/#.VGPCtlfF_FQ.
By: NASA Langley Research Center
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Gemini Test Article Arrives at Virginia Air & Space Center - Video
Rosetta Mission: NASA Project Manager Update
Art Chmielewski, NASA #39;s Project Manager of the US Rosetta Project, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, on the mission so far SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more great videos: ...
By: Sky News
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Get Ready to Celebrate 25 years of Hubble!
April 24, 2015 marks the historic launch of the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Join in the celebration and stay in the loop with #Hubble25.
By: NASA
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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.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 to bring NASA into your classroom.MAVEN: Red Planet -- Read, Write, Explore! Audience:Pre-service and In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-5Event Date:Nov. 13, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. ESTParticipants will learn about the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, mission to study the atmosphere of Mars and will receive a set of educational activities called Red Planet: Read, Write, Explore! The resources include six standards-based science lessons incorporating reading, writing and art activities for grades 3-5.NASA's New Horizon's Mission: Pluto up Close and Personal Audience:Pre-service and In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-8Event Date:Nov. 19, 2014, at 4:30 p.m. ESTParticipants will explore the mystery of Pluto and will learn exciting ways to bring the fascination of Pluto into the classroom while also integrating the Next Generation Science Standards into curriculum.For more information about these webinars and to register online, visithttps://paragon-tec.adobeconnect.com/admin/show-event-catalog.Questions about this series of webinars should be directed to Clarence Jones atClarence.F.Jones@NASA.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________2015 NASA Space Technology Research FellowshipsNASA is seeking applications from U.S. graduate students for the agency's Space Technology Research Fellowships. The research grants, worth as much as $74,000 per year, will coincide with the start of the 2015 fall academic term.Applications will be accepted from students pursuing or planning to pursue master's or doctorate degrees in relevant space technology disciplines at accredited U.S. universities. The grants will sponsor U.S. graduate student researchers who show significant potential to contribute to NASA's strategic space technology objectives through their studies. To date, NASA has awarded grants to 247 student researchers from 79 universities located in 35 states and one U.S. territory.Sponsored by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, the fellowships are improving America's technological competitiveness by providing the nation with a pipeline of innovative space technologies.The deadline for submitting applications isNov. 13, 2014.For more information, visithttp://tinyurl.com/oemporz.Please email any questions about this opportunity tohq-nstrf-call@mail.nasa.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________National Science Foundation's East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellowship ProgramThe National Science Foundation, or NSF, is accepting applications for its East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes, or EAPSI, Fellowship Program. This program provides U.S. graduate students in science and engineering with an opportunity to spend eight weeks (10 weeks for Japan) during the summer conducting research at one of seven host locations in East Asia and the Pacific. Host locations are Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. The program is a collaboration between NSF and counterpart agencies in each host location.EAPSI is open to graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are enrolled in a research-oriented master's or doctoral program in science or engineering. Applicants must propose a research project in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field supported by NSF. Applicants identify and contact host researchers on their own prior to submitting their EAPSI proposals. Lists of prospective host institutions are available at the opportunity website.NSF provides EAPSI Fellows with a $5,000 stipend and roundtrip airplane ticket to the host location. The program's foreign counterparts provide in-country living expenses and accommodations (arrangements vary by host location).The application submission deadline for summer 2015 isNov. 13, 2014.For additional information about the program, including location-specific handbooks, a How to Apply guide and helpful tips for applicants, visitwww.nsf.gov/eapsi.Questions about this fellowship opportunity should be directed tooiia-ise-eapsi@nsf.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________2015 NASA High-Altitude Student Platform OpportunityNASA is accepting applications from students at U.S. colleges and universities who want to send experiments to the edge of space on a high-flying scientific balloon.The annual NASA project provides near-space access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments to be carried by a NASA high-altitude research balloon. The flights typically last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 23 miles. Experiments may include compact satellites or prototypes.The experiments are flown aboard the High-Altitude Student Platform, or HASP, a balloon-born instrument stack launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility's remote site in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The goals of the project are to provide a space test platform to encourage student research and stimulate the development of student satellite payloads and other space-engineering products.HASP seeks to enhance the technical skills and research abilities of students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The project is a joint effort between NASA and the Louisiana Space Consortium. The Science Missions Directorate Astrophysics division manages the NASA scientific balloon program; Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia oversees Balloon Flight Operations.A question-and-answer teleconference will take place onNov. 14, 2014, at 11 a.m. EST. Groups who have previously flown experiments on HASP, as well as new organizations, are encouraged to attend. To participate, dial in to 1-866-717-2684 a few minutes prior to conference time. When requested, enter the conference ID number 6879021 followed by the # key.The deadline for applications isDec. 19, 2014.For application information and technical details about the program, visithttp://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp.Questions about the High-Altitude Student Platform opportunity should be directed to T. Gregory Guzik atguzik@phunds.phys.lsu.edu.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Student Spaceflight Experiments Program -- Mission 8 to the International Space StationThe National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education, in partnership with NanoRacks LLC, announce an authentic science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, opportunity for school districts across the U.S. and space station partner nations. The newest flight opportunity, Mission 8 to the International Space Station, or ISS, gives students across a community the ability to design and propose real experiments to fly in low-Earth orbit on the ISS. This opportunity is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, or SSEP.Each participating community will receive a real microgravity research minilaboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment and all launch services to fly the minilab to the space station in fall 2015 and return it to Earth. An experiment design competition in each community -- engaging typically 300+ students -- allows student teams to design and proposerealexperiments vying for their communitys reserved minilab. Content resources for teachers and students support foundational instruction on science in microgravity and experimental design. Additional SSEP programming leverages the experiment design competition to engage the community, embracing a learning community model for STEM education.This competition is open to students in grades 5-12 and college. Informal education groups and organizations are also encouraged to participate. Interested communities must inquire about the program no later thanNov. 15, 2014. The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education is available to help interested communities in the U.S. secure the needed funding.To learn more about this opportunity, visit the SSEP Mission 8 to International Space Station National Announcement of Opportunity athttp://ssep.ncesse.org/2014/10/new-flight-opportunity-for-school-districts-announcing-student-spaceflight-experiments-program-ssep-mission-8-to-the-international-space-station-starting-february-2015/.SSEP is enabled through a strategic partnership with NanoRacks LLC working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a national laboratory. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (http://www.iss-casis.org/) is a national partner on SSEP. To view a list of all SSEP national partners, visithttp://ssep.ncesse.org/national-partners/.If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email SSEP National Program Director Jeff Goldstein atjeffgoldstein@ncesse.org.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Virginia Space Grant Consortium's STEM Takes Flight ProgramVirginias community college students pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, also known as STEM, fields have access to new scholarships, research experiences, internships and courses thanks to a two-year NASA grant to the Virginia Space Grant Consortium. Community College faculty in STEM fields will have access to professional development at NASA.The Consortiums new program, STEM Takes Flight at Virginias Community Colleges, provides $5,000 mentored scholarships, paid industry internships, NASA research experiences and new courses to foster STEM career awareness and workplace skills. The goal is community college retention in STEM academic tracks through graduation with an associates degree or transfer to a four-year institution.Application deadlines are as early asNov. 17, 2014.For more information, visitwww.vsgc.odu.edu/stemtakesflight.Please email any questions about this program tovsgc@odu.edu.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Free Smithsonian's "STEM in 30" Webcast Series
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is presenting a series of free education webcast events called "STEM in 30." This new program consists of live, fast-paced 30-minute webcasts designed to increase interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, for students. To enhance the learning experience, students can get involved with the content through the interactive "Cover It Live" feature, including poll questions and classroom activities. The webcasts will be available live on the National Air and Space Museum website as well as on NASA TV, and will be archived for on-demand viewing.Vacuum-Packed Space Food: It's What's for DinnerNov. 19, 2014, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ESTFrom John Glenn's food in a tube to the shuttle astronauts' candy-coated chocolates, space food has come a long way. In this fast-paced webcast designed for students in sixth to eighth grades, students will learn about the history of space food, how food is prepared and packaged for space, and the changes in nutrition over time."STEM in 30" webcasts are online learning experiences, but are filmed in front of a live audience. If you are interested in bringing your school group to a live filming of "STEM in 30," please contact Myra Banks-Scott atbanksscottm@si.edu.For more information about the Smithsonian's "STEM in 30" Webcast Series, visithttp://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/stem-in-30/.Questions about this series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________NASA's ESTEEM "Ask US" Online Professional Development SeriesNASA's Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, is sponsoring a series of Google Plus Hangout professional development events for K-12 educators. The Earth Systems, Technology and Energy Education for MUREP, or ESTEEM, team will lead the monthly sessions that will cover a variety of climate topics. This month's webinar topic is:Change Over Time: Investigate Climate Change Impacts in the Southeast U.S. -- Nov. 20, 2014, at 4 p.m. ESTThe National Climate Assessment, released in May of 2014, summarizes the impacts of climate change on the United States, touching on many disciplines: earth science, biology, human health, engineering, technology, economics and policy. Explore the document with Dr. Fred Lipschultz from the United States Global Change Research Project, and then learn about educator resources that will enable you to bring this topic into classroom lessons, engage students in data collection and analysis, and share visualizations and citizen science projects. The focus this month will be on the Southeast and Caribbean region. Watch for additional regions of the U.S. to be featured in upcoming Ask US sessions.Certificates of professional development hours are available upon request.For more information on this event and upcoming webinar sessions, visithttps://nice.larc.nasa.gov/asknice/. Questions about this series should be sent to Bonnie Murray atbonnie.murray@nasa.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Museum Alliance Webcast: Beyond Earth Orbit With the Orion SpacecraftThe Orion team invites home school families, museums and schools to participate in an interactive webcast featuring Lockheed Martin engineer Joe LeBlanc. In this interactive webcast onNov. 20, 2014, at 4 p.m. EST, LeBlanc will broadcast live from the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. He will share NASAs efforts in deep space exploration and the importance of Orions first flight.You may view the webcast as an individual at your personal computer or set up audio visual equipment in your museum or school for a large group to participate.LeBlanc will take questions from a live audience at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as from webcast viewers nationwide. Questions may be submitted before or during the event tojsc-orion-outreach@mail.nasa.gov.To view the webcast, visithttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-jsc.To learn more about the upcoming Orion mission and to learn how you can plan an event to celebrate the launch, visitwww.ExploreDeepSpace.com.Additional Orion resources may be found athttp://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/andhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/nasaorion.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.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program Accepting Applications for 2015-2016 Fellowship YearThe Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, or AEF, Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend 11 months working in a federal agency or U.S. congressional office, bringing their extensive classroom knowledge and experience to STEM education program and/or education policy efforts. Program applications are dueNov. 20, 2014, and must be submitted through an online application system.To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens who are currently employed full time in a U.S. public or private elementary or secondary school or school district, and must have been teaching full time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a STEM discipline.Federal sponsors have included NASA, the Department of Energy, or DOE, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The DOE sponsors up to four placements in U.S. congressional offices.The AEF Program is managed by the DOE Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, in collaboration with the Triangle Coalition for STEM Education and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.Information about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits, application requirements and access to the online application system can be found athttp://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/.Inquiries about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program should be directed tosc.einstein@science.doe.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________NASA's Balance Mass Challenge: Using "Dead Weight" on Mars Spacecraft to Advance Science and TechnologyThe Mars Balance Mass Challenge seeks design ideas for science and technology payloads that could potentially provide dual purpose as ejectable balance masses on spacecraft entering the Martian atmosphere.The payloads may serve two roles: perform scientific and/or technology functions that help us learn more about the Red Planet, and provide the necessary mass to balance planetary landers.Submissions are dueNov. 21, 2014. All potential solvers submitting ideas must be 18 years of age or older. A winner will be announced in mid-January 2015 and receive an award of $20,000.For more information about the challenge, visithttps://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9933607.The Mars Balance Mass Challenge is managed by NASA's Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, or CoECI. CoECI was established in coordination with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to advance NASA's open innovation efforts and extend that expertise to other federal agencies. The challenges are being released on the NASA Innovation Pavilion, one of the CoECI platforms available to NASA team members, through its contract with InnoCentive Inc. Also please visit the newNASA Solvewebsite to watch avideoon the Mars Balance Mass challenge and to learn more about all NASA challenge and prize-based activities.Questions about the contest series should be directed to NASAs Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation atnasa-coeci@mail.nasa.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________NASA CubeSat Space MissionsNASA has opened the next round of its CubeSat Launch Initiative, part of the White House Maker Initiative, in an effort to engage the growing community of space enthusiasts that can contribute to NASA's space exploration goals.The CubeSat Launch Initiative gives students, teachers and faculty a chance to get hands-on flight hardware development experience in the process of designing, building and operating small research satellites. It also provides a low-cost pathway to space for research in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education or operations consistent with NASA's Strategic Plan.Applicants must submit their proposals electronically by4:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 25, 2014. NASA will select the payloads by Feb. 6, 2015, but selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity. Selected experiments are slated to be flown as auxiliary payloads on agency rocket launches or to be deployed from the International Space Station beginning in 2015 and running through 2018. NASA does not provide funding for the development of the small satellites, and this opportunity is open only to U.S. nonprot organizations and accredited educational organizations.One goal of the CubeSat Launch Initiative is to extend the successes of space exploration to all 50 states by launching a small satellite from at least one participant in each state in the next five years. During this round, NASA is particularly focused on gaining participation in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 21 states not previously selected for the CubeSat Launch Initiative. These states are: Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.CubeSats are in a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The base CubeSat dimensions are about 4 inches by 4 inches by 4 inches (10 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 11 centimeters), which equals one "cube," or 1U. CubeSats supported by this launch effort include volumes of 1U, 2U, 3U and 6U. CubeSats of 1U, 2U and 3U size typically have a mass of about three pounds (1.33 kilograms) per 1U Cube. A 6U CubeSat typically has a mass of about 26.5 pounds (12 kilograms). The CubeSat's final mass depends on which deployment method is selected.To date, NASA has selected 114 CubeSats from 29 states, 17 of which have already been launched. Nine more CubeSats are scheduled to go into space in the next 12 months.For additional information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, visithttp://www.nasa.gov/cubesats.Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Jason Crusan atJason.Crusan@nasa.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Louisiana Tech University Online Course -- Steps to STEM: NASA Education Resources for STEM EngagementLouisiana Tech University is teaming up with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to offer a 10-week course for educators interested in putting a space-themed twist on learning. The course is designed to be a self-paced, online professional development experience focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, education resources available from NASA. These resources have application methods for use in grades 4-9 classrooms with the goal of advancing high quality STEM education utilizing NASA's unique capabilities.Applications are dueNov. 30, 2014.For more information and to enroll in the course, visithttp://education.latech.edu/departments/science_technology_education_center/opeo.php.Requests for a course syllabus and additional course information, and questions about the course should be directed to Amy McDowell atamy.mcdowell@nasa.gov.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DEADLINE EXTENDED: 2014 Humans in Space Art Video ChallengeThe Humans in Space Art Program and NASA's International Space Station Program have teamed up to launch the international Humans in Space Art Challenge. How will humans use space science and technology to benefit humanity? College students and early career professionals are invited to ponder this question and to express an answer creatively in a video less than three minutes long. Video artwork can be of any style, featuring original animation, sketches, music, live action drama, poetry, dance, Rube Goldberg machines, apps, etc. Younger students may also participate, but all artwork will be judged in one age category.Individuals or teams of participants should include one clear reference to the International Space Station in their videos and may use space station footage if desired.An interdisciplinary team of space representatives and art experts will evaluate the videos. NASA and the Humans in Space Art program will make the highest scoring artwork visible worldwide through online and local touring events. NASA will also take the winning video on a trip into orbit on the International Space Station and provide montages with flown patches for winners.The deadline for submissions has been extended. All submissions must be received byNov. 30, 2014.For additional information and a complete list of guidelines, visithttp://www.lpi.usra.edu/humansinspaceart/challenge/.Inquiries about this opportunity should be directed tohumansinspaceart@lpi.usra.edu.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Beautiful Earth Program Presents: Bella Gaia, a Multimedia PerformanceNASA's Beautiful Earth Program invites educators and students to take part in a musical and visual tour of Earth from space onDec. 1, 2014, at 1 p.m. EST. During this one-hour event, composer and musician Kenji Williams will perform Bella Gaia, a multimedia experience that incorporates music and NASA imagery. Following the performance, scientist Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum from NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission will lead a discussion on extreme weather science. During the discussion, students and teachers from across the country are invited to ask questions on the theme of extreme weather. (There are only six slots available for schools to interact live.)Other participants can view and interact with the program via webcast.For more information and to register to attend, visithttp://beautifulearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/Events/.Questions about this event should be directed tovcasa@umbc.edu.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Smithsonian's Stars Lecture Series
Curious about icy bodies in the outer reaches of our solar system, the effects of space junk on deep-space observation, the latest discoveries about the origins of the universe and new ways galaxy formation is mapped? Come to the Smithsonian's Stars Lecture Series presented by Smithsonian researchers who are exploring the sun, the moon, planets, stars, galaxies and the universe. These speakers will share behind-the-scenes details about how their research is done and about technologies that advance new discoveries. The lectures will be held at the Albert Einstein Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.Each lecture begins at 5:15 p.m. EST and is followed by a Q&A session. Stay after the lecture to visit the museum's observatory, weather permitting.Dec. 6, 2014 -- Rubble Trouble: How Space Junk Impacts AstronomyThe incredible information and images gathered using space telescopes have revolutionized what we know about the cosmos. Could space junk hinder future findings? Research associate Lisa Rand will discuss this question and the impact space junk has on astronomy. Jan. 24, 2015 -- Observing the Origin of the Universe From the South PoleAfter three years of observing from the South Pole, scientists may have found confirmation that the universe underwent a burst of inflationary growth at the time of the Big Bang. Cosmologist Colin Bischoff will discuss these findings as well as the excitement of astronomy from Antarctica.Feb. 21, 2015 -- Tracing the Structure of the Universe With Galaxy SurveysStudies of galaxy formation and cosmology have exploded in recent years due to the immense data obtained from large galaxy surveys. Postdoctoral fellow Cameron McBride will discuss how observational data and theory are combined to better understand fundamental questions in our universe, and will highlight some exciting results from ongoing research.
For more information about the Smithsonian's Stars Lecture Series, visithttp://airandspace.si.edu/events/lectures/smithsonian-stars/.Questions about this lecture series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Host a Real-Time Conversation With Crew Members Aboard the International Space StationARISS-US is now accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, contact between May 1 - Dec. 31, 2015. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS-US is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Proposals are dueDec. 15, 2014.
Using amateur radio, students can ask astronauts questions about life in space and other space-related topics. Students fully engage in the ARISS contact by helping set up an amateur radio ground station at the school and then using that station to talk directly with a crew member on the International Space Station for approximately 10 minutes. ARISS provides experienced mentors and relies on local amateur radio volunteers to help organizations obtain the technology required to host this once in a lifetime opportunity for students.Interested parties should visithttp://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contactto obtain complete information including how the technology works, what is expected of the host organization and how to submit the proposal form.Questions about this opportunity should be emailed toariss@arrl.org.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Future Engineers 3-D Printing in Space: Design a Space Tool ChallengeNASA, in conjunction with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation, has issued a series of Future Engineers 3-D Space Challenges for students focused on solving real-world space exploration problems. Students will become the creators and innovators of tomorrow by using 3-D modeling software to submit their designs. Multiple prizes are available, but the grand prize winner will have the opportunity for his or her design to be printed on the first 3-D printer aboard the International Space Station while watching from NASAs Payload Operations Center with the mission control team.The Design a Space Tool Challenge is the first in series of challenges where students in grades K-12 will create and submit a digital 3-D model of a tool that they think astronauts might need in space. Future Engineers is a multiyear education initiative that consists of 3-D space challenges and curriculum videos on the site that parents and educators can use to get kids designing today.Entries must be submitted byDec. 15, 2014.For more information about the challenge and to watch an introductory video from astronaut Doug Wheelock, visithttp://www.nasa.gov/content/printing-challenges-for-the-first-3d-printer-aboard-the-international-space-station/.If you have any questions about the Design a Space Tool Challenge, please emailinfo@futureengineers.org.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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TORIBIO, COLOMBIA All it took was a roar from an angry crowd and a show of hands for Carlos Ivan Silva to get a 60-year jail sentence for murder. Minutes later, four of his collaborators were sentenced to 40 years. Two minors, one of them 14 years old, were given 20 lashes in public and sent to juvenile detention.
There was no defense attorney, no chance of a plea bargain, and no mercy from the riled-up crowd in Sundays proceedings.
Indigenous groups in Colombia have the right to mete out their own justice. And the Nasa of southwestern Colombia take great pride in their community judicial system in which the entire village lays down the law.
The crimes of these seven men seemed to rattle a community long-plagued by violence. The men most in their teens are accused of being Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas who were handing out leaflets and putting up a banner in a nearby village last Wednesday.
When members of the Nasa indigenous guard an unarmed and volunteer police force tried to force them to take down the propaganda, a fight ensued and Silva killed two guard members. Rather than withdraw, however, about 30 indigenous guards and a crowd of villagers, wielding little more than sticks, pursued the guerrillas for three hours before cornering them in the mountains.
This town is often caught in the crossfire between guerrillas, the military, and criminal groups, and eight Nasa members have been murdered this year. But Wednesdays clash has the community on edge.
Olmedo Ramos, 34, is one of the coordinators of the 900-strong indigenous guard that operates in three nearby communities. After sitting through his second funeral over the weekend, he struggled to stay calm.
Theyre acting like cowards and killing us, he said of the guerrillas. We were there as civilians, only with our sticks, which are symbols of the fact that were a peaceful people, and they simply opened fire on us.
That rage seemed to have been channeled during the trial. As the seven men sat in plastic chairs with their hands tied behind their backs, the audience shouted out its judgment.
At one point, community leaders argued that the 40-year sentences for the men who didnt kill anyone might be too harsh. But the crowd roared its disapproval and quashed the motion.
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