New Commercial Rocket Descent Data May Help NASA With Future Mars Landings

NASA successfully captured thermal images of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on its descent after it launched in September from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The data from these thermal images may provide critical engineering information for future missions to the surface of Mars.

"Because the technologies required to land large payloads on Mars are significantly different than those used here on Earth, investment in these technologies is critical," said Robert Braun , principal investigator for NASA's Propulsive Descent Technologies (PDT) project and professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta . "This is the first high-fidelity data set of a rocket system firing into its direction of travel while traveling at supersonic speeds in Mars-relevant conditions. Analysis of this unique data set will enable system engineers to extract important lessons for the application and infusion of supersonic retro-propulsion into future NASA missions."

NASA equipped two aircraft with advanced instrumentation to document re-entry of the rocket's first stage. The first stage is the part of the rocket that is ignited at launch and burns through the rocket's ascent until it runs out of propellant, at which point it is discarded from the second stage and returns to Earth. During its return, or descent, NASA captured quality infrared and high definition images and monitored changes in the smoke plume as the engines were turned on and off.

"NASA's interest in building our Mars entry, descent and landing capability and SpaceX's interest and experimental operation of a reusable space transportation system enabled acquisition of these data at low cost, without standing up a dedicated flight project of its own," said Charles Campbell , PDT project manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston .

NASA's Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project team at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia , had their eyes, cameras and telescopes trained on the Falcon with the help of two long-range aircraft provided by NASA and the U.S. Navy.

A NASA WB-57, a twin jet engine high-altitude research aircraft from Johnson, was equipped with a long-range infrared optical system to capture the images. It is a unique full-motion video camera system that is gimbal-mounted on the nose of the WB-57. It collects full-color high definition and infrared video.

A Navy NP-3D Orion aircraft from the Naval Air Systems Command Weapons Division's Air Test and Evaluation Squadron-30 at Point Mugu, California , was equipped with a long-range infrared optical system and also took thermal images of the launch.

On launch day, the WB-57 and NP-3D Orion reached their observation locations about 50 miles from the projected rocket trajectory. After launch, the rocket emitted enough thermal energy for the plane's infrared cameras to catch a glimpse. Both flight crews then worked to obtain data as the first stage descended at supersonic speeds off the coast of Georgia .

"Through our partnership with SpaceX we're gaining access to real-world test data about advanced rocket stage design and retro-propulsion," said Michael Gazarik , NASA's associate administrator for Space Technology at NASA Headquarters in Washington . "Through this partnership we're saving the taxpayer millions of dollars we'd otherwise have to spend to develop and test rockets and flights in-house. This is another great example of American companies partnering with NASA to enable our future exploration goals."

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New Commercial Rocket Descent Data May Help NASA With Future Mars Landings

Orbital Antares GO to WOW US East Coast Spectators for 1st Night Launch on Oct. 27

Antares rocket stand erect, reflecting off the calm waters the night before their first night launch from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility, VA, targeted for Oct. 27 at 6:45 p.m. Credit: Ken Kremer kenkremer.com

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VA An Orbital Sciences Corp. commercial Antares rocket was given the GO for its first night launch on Oct. 27, following a launch readiness review on Sunday, Oct. 26, between managers from Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Virginia, and NASA.

The rocket was rolled to the launch pad and erected. Technicians are putting the final touches on the rocket to prepare it for flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA and Orbital Sciences are targeting Antares for blastoff at 6:45 p.m. EDT on Oct. 27 from beachside Launch Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility on Virginias eastern shore.

There is a 10 minute launch window to get Antares off the ground as the launch pad moves into the plane of the space stations orbit. The slightly longer launch window is due to the extra thrust available from using a new, more powerful ATK built upper stage engine.

Technicians processing Antares rocket on Oct 26 to prepare for first night launch from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility, VA, on Oct. 27 at 6:45 p.m. Credit: Ken Kremer kenkremer.com

The rare spectacle of a night launch within view of tens of millions could WOW hordes of US East Coast residents in densely populated areas up and down the Atlantic shoreline weather permitting.

The current forecast calls for an almost unheard of 98% chance of favorable weather conditions at launch time.

Depending on local weather conditions, the Antares blastoff will be visible along much of the US eastern seaboard stretching from Maine to South Carolina.

Orbital 3 Launch from NASA Wallops Island, VA on Oct. 27, 2014- Time of First Sighting Map. This map shows the rough time at which you can first expect to see Antares after it is launched on Oct. 27, 2014. It represents the time at which the rocket will reach 5 degrees above the horizon and varies depending on your location . We have selected 5 degrees as it is unlikely that youll be able to view the rocket when it is below 5 degrees due to buildings, vegetation, and other terrain features. However, depending on your local conditions the actual time you see the rocket may be earlier or later. As an example, using this map when observing from Washington, DC shows that Antares will reach 5 degrees above the horizon approximately 117 seconds after launch (L + 117 sec). Credit: Orbital Sciences

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Orbital Antares GO to WOW US East Coast Spectators for 1st Night Launch on Oct. 27

Bipolar Symptoms May Soon Be Treated With New Drugs

According to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million adults in America. While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, new research may provide new drug therapies that could lessen the severity of bipolar symptoms.

Per Mayo Clinics definition of bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive disorder), the disorder is associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. While bipolar disorder onset usually occurs when someone is in their mid 20s, it can also occur in children and older adults.

Some celebrities that have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Demi Lovato, Kurt Cobain, and Britney Spears.

Bipolar symptoms are typically treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. There is no cure for bipolar disorder, unfortunately, but Northwestern Medicine scientists have recently made a discovery using super-resolution imaging on the brain that could lead to more effective treatment options in the future.

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We knew that ankyrin-G played an important role in bipolar disease, but we didnt know how, said Northwestern Medicine scientist Peter Penzes. Through this imaging method we found the gene formed in nanodomain structures in the synapses, and we determined that these structures control or regulate the behavior of synapses.

So what does this mean for treating bipolar symptoms in the future?

There is important information about genes and diseases that can only been seen at this level of resolution, Penzes said. We provide a neurobiological explanation of the function of the leading risk gene, and this might provide insight into the abnormalities in bipolar disorder. Put simply, with this new insight on brain functioning, improved treatment options are a real possibility.

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Bipolar Symptoms May Soon Be Treated With New Drugs

CeNTAB director chosen for Young Career Award

THE HINDU S. Swaminathan, Director, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB) at the SASTRA University, Thanjavur.

S. Swaminathan, Director, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB) at the SASTRA University, Thanjavur, has been selected for the Young Career Award in Nano Science and Technology for 2015.

The award, instituted by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, is a recognition for the ongoing research works undertaken at the CeNTAB under his stewardship.

The CeNTAB is involved in cutting-edge research to develop technologies for healthcare, specifically in tissue engineering, and drug delivery. At present, research was focused on the development of novel three-dimensional polymeric nano fibre scaffolds for tissue engineering of skin, cardiovascular arteries, and nerve regeneration using aligned and random nano fibres.

Dr. Swaminathan received his Ph.D. from the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S., and worked on the development low temperature setting polymer ceramic composite cements for bone tissue engineering and the thesis was nominated for the Best Dissertation Award.

He received the Deans Fellowship for his doctoral studies. After his Ph. D., he joined as a Research Associate in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, U.S., where he studied the application of low temperature setting cements for spinal fusions.

Dr. Swaminathan is the recipient of Materials Research Society of India Medal for 2009 in recognition of excellence in a particular field of expertise within the domain of material and processes. He received the Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award from the Department of Biotechnology in 2006 to develop a targeted drug delivery system for anti-cancer drugs.

The award would be presented to him in January 2015 during the Nano India Meet.

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CeNTAB director chosen for Young Career Award

Cheyenne working to speed election returns

By - Associated Press - Sunday, October 26, 2014

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Elections officials in Cheyenne are hoping to speed elections returns after a clunky August primary.

Laramie County Clerk Debbye Lathrop said the county has made upgrades so that vote tallies from its 61 precincts come out earlier.

The county has doubled the number of machines to read memory cards from individual voting machines, Lathrop told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle (http://bit.ly/1zbkIA0 ).

On primary election night in August, Laramie County was one of the last counties in the state to report unofficial election results, at 10:38 p.m.

Right now, we only have three machines that we can upload (memory) cards into, she said. We are trying to get three more dongles - thats really what theyre called - so we can connect three more machines.

On past election nights, the canvassing board has watched the process and served as the eyes to make sure everything is going right, Lathrop said.

But if they can help with loading up the cards, then we can get things done faster, she added.

Lathrop said she will keep an open mind about longer-term strategies the county can employ to improve the process.

She said she is watching a shift toward mail-in ballots. Several states, including Colorado, have adopted all-mail election systems.

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