2017年6月30日 星期五

Evaporating Science At OSTP

Science division of White House office no longer staffed: report, The Hill

"While the science division had no staff members as of Friday, a White House official told CBS News that the science and technology office was still functioning with 35 staffers. Still, that compares to the more than 100 employees who worked in the office under Obama."

How Jonathan Dimock Auditioned To Be NASA White House Liaison

"My preference in positions are as follows: Office of Science and Technology Policy - This topic is a natural fit for me. A lot of narratives can be driven or disproven with scientific evidence as long as there are no preconceived ideas walking into it. The mind sees what it wants to see and science is a theory and a means of communicating with other people in the same field, not a fact."



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Vice President Pence to Visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Vice President Mike Pence will visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, July 6.

June 30, 2017
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Mike Pence Was Against Ares 5/Orion Before He Was For SLS/Orion

RSC BUDGET OPTIONS 2005 Summary and Explanation of Offsets, Rep. Mike Pence, RSC Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling, RSC Budget & Spending Task Force Chairman

[Page 6] "Cancel NASA's New Moon/Mars Initiative 2006: -1,493 5-year savings -11,511 10-year savings -44,042"

[Page 8] "Cancel NASA's New Moon/Mars Initiative In 2004, the President announced a new initiative to explore the Moon and Mars with the goal of returning humans to the Moon by 2020. NASA currently intends to use the savings from phasing out the space shuttle in 2012 to fund this program. Savings: $44 billion over ten years ($11.5 billion over five years)"

Early Retirement for Space Shuttles Unlikely, Lawmakers Say, Space.com (2005)

"A group of Republican lawmakers led by Mike Pence of Indiana last week said the $104 billion to replace the shuttles with a new spaceship and rockets to carry astronauts back to the moon ought to be canceled to help pay to rebuild the hurricane-wrecked Gulf Coast. Key Congressional leaders said there is little political support for either suggestion."



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NASA Statement on National Space Council

Statement from acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot about Friday’s Executive Order creating the National Space Council.

June 30, 2017
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Connecticut Students to Speak with NASA Astronauts on Space Station

Students at the Wallingford Public Library in Wallingford, Connecticut, will speak with NASA astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station at noon EDT on Thursday, July 6.

June 30, 2017
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Last Minute Pre-Holiday National Space Council Thing Today

White House to formally announce a space council led by Mike Pence

"Later today, the White House is expected to announce that President Trump has signed an executive order to reinstate the National Space Council. This should finally kick off the much-anticipated formulation of a space policy from the Trump administration, which will encompass military, civil, and commercial interests. The new council, led by Vice President Mike Pence, has the potential to do a great deal of good--or it could further muddy the waters of what already is kind of a mess."

Keith's note: There is an event of sorts at 3:00 pm EDT today wherein the Executive Order (which has been in existence for months) will be signed. VP Pence will be leading the NSC. But it is not expected that an executive director for the NSC will be named today although Scott Pace is widely expected to be chosen at some point. Today's event (very last minute BTW) is being orchestrated by the Alabama mafia. You can expect to see Mary Lynne Dittmar and the SLS-hugging Coalition For Deep Space Exploration in attendance. It seems that commercial space folks are being kept at arm's length for this little party. Oh yes there will an astronaut or two there as well. Stay tuned.



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NASA Television to Air Departure of U.S. Cargo Ship from International Space Station

After delivering about 6,000 pounds of cargo, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is set to leave the International Space Station on Sunday, July 2. NASA Television and the agency’s website will provide live coverage of Dragon's departure beginning at 11:15 a.m. EDT.

June 30, 2017
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How Jonathan Dimock Auditioned To Be NASA White House Liaison

Keith's note: This is how political campaign staff get a job after the campaign is over -- if you were a campaign loyalist and worked hard enough to get your candidate elected (and got noticed yourself), that is. Once the election is over the Transition Team asks you to make suggestions in terms of an agency or department you'd like to call home and then the Transition Team looks at the open positons in the Plum Book. If there's a fit you then parachute into your new position as a political appointee. In this case current NASA White House Liaison Jonathan Dimock sent an email to Molly Michael and Brian Jack at the Trump Transition Team angling for a job at NASA, or the Office of Science and Technology Policy, or maybe the Department of Energy.

Despite his claims to the contrary, I can't say that Dimock was all that familiar with NASA since he referred to it as "National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA or Deep Space Exploration Administration or DSEA)" and cited its "$105.5b budget". But, when you look at his drive-by science philosophy treatise about how "This puts the age of the world (as we have perceived it) much younger than the "millions and billions" of years that has been widely excepted" and how "oil fracking can rejuvenate the crust and make the surface flourish" I guess I am really glad that he did not end up at OSTP.

----

From: "Jonathan W Dimock" jonathanwdimock@gmail.com
Date: January 13, 2017 at 2:25:45 AM EST
To: bjack@donaldtrump.com
Cc: molly.a.michael@ptt.gov
Subject: Requested Departments

CC: Molly Michael

Hey Brian -

I've reattached my resume so you have it on hand and below you will find the quick version and the longer version with more detail. I understand that any position is ultimately a "people position" and the underlying rules of government and politics apply but the following subjects are most familiar to me.

My preference in positions are as follows:



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The ‘Face’ of Jupiter


JunoCam images aren’t just for art and science – sometimes they are processed to bring a chuckle. via NASA http://ift.tt/2u6EApm

ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/29/2017

Extremophiles:  In preparation for Session C of the Extremophiles investigation the crew wiped designated surfaces in Node 1, Node 3 and the Cupola with sterile wet wipes and placed them into a Biolab Thermal Control Unit.  Archaea and extremophilic bacteria have not been considered as significant contributors to the microbiome on the ISS. The Extremophiles experiment will add critical knowledge about the microbial diversity on the ISS.  The experiment will Isolate and characterize archaea and extremophilic bacteria by sampling selected locations inside the Station.  Changes in archaea and extremophilic bacteria over a period of at least 3 months will be assessed.  The population of archaea and extremophilic bacteria on the ISS will be compared with that of spacecraft clean rooms and visiting vehicles. Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis: The crew reviewed material on live animal return operations and discussed those operations with the Payload Developer. They then set up the Animal Transporter for return of 10 RR-5 mice on SpX-11, powered up the Transporter, installed food bars and activated water lixits.  Because spaceflight has significant and rapid effects on the musculoskeletal system, it is important to investigate targeted therapies that could ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of spaceflight. The NELL-1 drug being studied in the RR-5 investigation has the potential to slow or reverse bone loss during spaceflight.  NanoRacks Module-52:  The crew performed a status check of subexperiments inside NanoRacks Module-52.  Photographs and video were taken of the petri dishes.  NanoRacks Module-52 is a collection of 6 student-led biological experiments photo-documenting the life-cycle of various molds and bacteria on petri plates in microgravity.  NanoRacks Module-48:  The crew took photos for the NanoRacks Module-48 investigation for downlink to the ground.  NanoRacks Module-48 connects students on Earth to the space program by sending their photographs and messages to the ISS along with plant seeds that are germinated after being returned to Earth. The investigation increases awareness of humans’ ability to access space, spurring interest in the space program and encouraging students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. On Board Training (OBT) Dragon Robotics On Board Trainer (RoBOT): In preparation for SpX-11 unberth and release currently planned for Sunday, July 2, the crew completed this 70-minute training session during which they practiced 2 Dragon release runs. They also reviewed departure monitoring and procedures to prevent loss of/recovery of attitude control in the event of a loss of comm with ground teams during free-flyer release.  SpaceX (SpX)-11 Cargo Operations: The crew completed approximately 57 hours of cargo operations with approximately 5 hours of packing remaining. SpX-11 is scheduled to unberth on July 2nd, 2017.  Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation Setup JEM Airlock Depressurization Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Stow Hardware NanoRacks Module-52 Status R&R of Onboard Heating Unit (БПО) (1 ea.) in Vozdukh NanoRacks Module-48 Imagery R&R of Condensate Water Processor [СРВ-К2М] Hoses Extremophiles Session C JEM Camera Robot Cable Swap Extremophiles Photo Shooting Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Stow Operation Rodent Research 5 ARS Review Rodent Research 5 Live Animal Return Review Rodent Research Crew Conference Rodent Research 5 Transporter Setup JEM Airlock Vent Crew Medical Officer (CMO) Proficiency Training CO Partial Pressure Measurement at the Central Post using USOS CSA-CP Gas Analyzer ROBoT Software Startup JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation MSPR Combustion Chamber (CC) Valve 2 Operation [Aborted] On-board Training (OBT) Dragon Departure Review Cargo Transfer from 67P (SM Aft). IMS Update On-board Training (OBT) Dragon Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Release Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Install Completed Task List Items Genes in Space Biomolecule Sequencer Stop Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Rodent Research Transporter setup JEMAL depress/vent monitoring OBT – Dragon RoBOT Release Three-Day Look Ahead: Friday, 06/30: NanoRacks Module 9 ops, POLAR transfer to Dragon, StemCell media change Saturday, 07/01: Crew off duty, housekeeping Sunday, 07/02: SpX-11 unberth QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:   Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) Off           [СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Process Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Full up Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Off  

June 30, 2017 at 12:00AM
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2017年6月29日 星期四

Goofy Mars Conspiracies Part 2

NASA Denies That It's Running a Child Slave Colony on Mars, Daily Beast

"A report on Alex Jones' InfoWars claiming child sex slaves have been kidnapped and shipped to Mars is untrue, NASA told The Daily Beast on Thursday. "There are no humans on Mars. There are active rovers on Mars. There was a rumor going around last week that there weren't. There are," Guy Webster, a spokesperson for Mars exploration at NASA, told The Daily Beast. "But there are no humans."

Keith's note: President Trump is a big fan of this website, so I guess NASA needs to update its teen outreach (and capture) programs.



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NGC 7814: The Little Sombrero in Pegasus


Point your telescope toward the high flying constellation Pegasus and you can find this expanse of Milky Way stars and distant galaxies. Dominated by NGC 7814, the pretty field of view would almost be covered by a full moon. NGC 7814 is sometimes called the Little Sombrero for its resemblance to the brighter more famous M104, the Sombrero Galaxy. Both Sombrero and Little Sombrero are spiral galaxies seen edge-on, and both have extensive halos and central bulges cut by a thin disk with thinner dust lanes in silhouette. In fact, NGC 7814 is some 40 million light-years away and an estimated 60,000 light-years across. That actually makes the Little Sombrero about the same physical size as its better known namesake, appearing smaller and fainter only because it is farther away. Very faint dwarf galaxies, potentially a satellites of NGC 7814, have been discovered in deep exposures of Little Sombrero. via NASA http://ift.tt/2tn1Cun

Goofy Mars Rover Conspiracies Part 1

The Wild Conspiracy Theory That NASA Is Faking Its Mars Rover Missions In Canada, Mashable

"Apparently, a lot of people are convinced that NASA's Mars missions are a big hoax, and that the space agency's rovers are actually sending back photos from an island in Canada. Obviously NASA says this is complete nonsense. The conspiracy theory has been making the rounds for at least two years, with YouTube videos and blog posts on fringe websites arguing that NASA is faking the images on Devon Island."

Keith's note: I have been to Devon Island 3 times - twice for a month at a time. That's me posing with a Mars "rover" on Devon Island. His name was Quimmiq. Sorry conspiracy loons, no faked Mars rover pics.



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Another Fun Space-themed TV Ad



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Starry Night and Aurora


Expedition 52 Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA photographed the glowing nighttime lights of an aurora from his vantage point in the International Space Station's cupola module on June 19, 2017. Part of the station's solar array is also visible. via NASA http://ift.tt/2s5Udf4

ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/28/2017

Rodent Research-5 (RR-5) Systemic Therapy of NELL-1 for Osteoporosis: The two animal habitats that will remain on ISS following SpX-11 departure were cleaned and restocked with new food bars.  Because spaceflight has significant and rapid effects on the musculoskeletal system it is important to investigate targeted therapies that could ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of spaceflight. The NELL-1 drug being studied in the RR-5 investigation has the potential to slow or reverse bone loss during spaceflight. Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF):  The crew exchanged sample holders in the ELF. They also removed samples that had been lost in the Holder Cartridge to prevent interference with the subsequent experiment.  The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate, melt and solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the Electrostatic Levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved.  Food Acceptability:  The crew reviewed reference material and completed a Food Acceptability questionnaire. This investigation hopes to determine the impact of repeat consumption on food acceptability on ISS within the current closed-variety spaceflight food system. Results will be used in developing strategies to improve food system composition to support crew health and performance on long duration missions. Portable Emergency Provisions (PEPs) Inspection: The crew completed this regularly scheduled maintenance to verify that Portable Fire Extinguishers (PFE), Extension Hose Tee Kits (EHTK), Portable Breathing Apparatuses (PBA) and pre-breathe masks are free of damage to ensure functionality.  Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday evening, Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm1 to stow the Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM) in Dragon Trunk Site 2.  SPDM Arm1 then released the ROSA FRAM Micro-Square Fixture (MSF) and the SSRMS lifted the SPDM out of the Dragon Trunk and maneuvered it to a park position.   Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Controlling and Charging of Soyuz 735 Samsung Tablets Greetings Video Recording Test Video Recording for Russia Today TV Channel Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media РСПИ. File Deletion from Onboard Memory Device (БЗУ) URAGAN. Observation and Photography ECON-M. Observation and Photography Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Removal ORLAN-MK #6 Leg Shell Replacement XF305 Camcorder Setup Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Retrieval Portable Emergency Provisions (PEPS) Inspection Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Holder Exchange Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) Sample Removal ORLAN-MK #6 Leak Check Hardware Restow Electrostatic Levitation Furnace(ELF) sample Cartridge Installation Cleaning of FGB Central Fan ЦВ1 Screens O2 Repress from Section 2 of Progress 435 (DC1) Oxygen Supply Facility (СРПК) – start Polar Sample Transfer From MELFI ISS O2 Repress from Section 2 of Progress 435 (DC1) Oxygen Supply Facility (СРПК) – end Monitoring of ИП-1 Sensors Installation Switch of БКС Х322/10 on CA325 Monounits of the First and Second REGUL-OS Radio Control and Communication System Food Acceptability Reference Material Review Cargo Transfer to Dragon Food Acceptability Questionnaire – Subject Rodent Research Node 2 Camcorder Video Setup Rodent Research Habitat 1-4 Restock Completed Task List Items Genes in Space MWA Preparation Genes in Space with Biomolecule Sequencer Hardware Gather Genes in Space MELFI Retrieve Genes in Space with Biomolecule Sequencer Proof on Concept Initialization Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. POLAR/MELFI transfer to Dragon Rodent Research habitat restock T2 ground power cycle Three-Day Look Ahead: Thursday, 06/29: NanoRacks Module 48 ops, Rodent Research, Dragon departure OBT Friday, 06/30: NanoRacks Module 9 ops, POLAR transfer to Dragon, StemCell media change Saturday, 07/01: Rodent habitat stow, POLAR/DCB transfer to Dragon, Dragon egress, N2 CPA install QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:   Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) Off           [СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Process Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Full up Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Off  

June 29, 2017 at 12:00AM
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NASA Invites Public to Celebrate 100 Years of Aerospace Breakthroughs

NASA invites the public to three days of discussion and storytelling with notable aerospace experts to mark the 100th anniversary of the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Portions of the event will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

June 29, 2017
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2017年6月28日 星期三

Symbiotic R Aquarii


A long recognized naked-eye variable star, R Aquarii is actually an interacting binary star system, two stars that seem to have a close, symbiotic relationship. About 710 light years away, it consists of a cool red giant star and hot, dense white dwarf star in mutual orbit around their common center of mass. The binary system's visible light is dominated by the red giant, itself a Mira-type long period variable star. But material in cool giant star's extended envelope is pulled by gravity onto the surface of the smaller, denser white dwarf, eventually triggering a thermonuclear explosion and blasting material into space. Optical image data (red) shows the still expanding ring of debris originating from a blast that would have been seen in the early 1770s. The evolution of less understood energetic events producing high energy emission in the R Aquarii system has been monitored since 2000 using Chandra X-ray Observatory data (blue). The composite field of view is less that a light-year across at the estimated distance of R Aquarii. via NASA http://ift.tt/2tjifHw

Congress Pushes Back (Again) On Trump's NASA Budget Cuts

House Appropriators Propose $19.9 Billion for NASA, Full Funding for JPSS and GOES, SpacePolicyOnline

"Trump proposed a substantial cut for NASA in his FY2018 budget request -- from the $19.653 billion provided by Congress in FY2017 to $19.092 billion for FY2018 and the same total for each of the subsequent four years. The House CJS subcommittee recommendation is an increase not only above the Trump request, but also above the FY2017 level: $19.872 billion."



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Lightfoot Is Working on Some Plan To Reorganize Whatever

NASA Internal Memo: Agency Update - June 27, 2017

"Finally, as we work the FY19 budget process, we are preparing to submit our first response to the Executive Order on a Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch. We have a number of initiatives -- including building off several activities like the Business Services Assessment and Capability Leadership -- which are well underway. Lesa Roe and I will be doing all-hands meetings at each center in August and look forward to updating everyone on these items."

NASA's Response To That White House Downsizing Thing, earlier post



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Frank Morring Retires After 44 Years of Space Reporting

Frank Morring: A Space Reporter's Swan Song After 44 Years On The Beat, Aviation Week

"Please forgive the self-indulgence, but this is my last column for Aviation Week & Space Technology. I'm retiring at the end of the month, after 44 years as what once was called a print journalist - most of it specializing in space exploration. "Print journalist" seems anachronistic today, when you probably are reading these words on an electronic screen. Spaceflight, my favorite topic, has changed a lot since Sputnik, too. Here are some lessons I've learned about it."



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Satellite Servicing Initiative Gets a Big Boost

MDA Sells Majority Stake in its Satellite Servicing Business and Gets its First Customer, SpaceQ

"MDA, which had announced in early May the creation of Space Infrastructure Services (SIS) to handle its nascent satellite servicing business, today announced that Finance Technology Leverage LLC would take a majority stake in SIS and that global satellite communications company SES would be its first customer."

"As part of today's announcement, SIS has awarded a contract to MDA's U.S. division, SSL, a contract valued at US$228 million (CA$305 million)."



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The Niagara Falls of Mars


Various researchers are often pre-occupied with the quest for flowing water on Mars. via NASA http://ift.tt/2shuEvD

Treating Space Access As A Consumer Product

SpaceX's final Falcon 9 design coming this year, two Falcon Heavy launches next year, SpaceNews

"We are flying Block 3s right now," Shotwell said. "Block 4s start flying shortly, and then Block 5 at the end of this year. We definitely have gotten better [at] more smooth introducing of change. You don't see the big impacts to production we've had before when we've changed vehicle designs." SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk had previously stated in an online question-and-answer session in October 2016 that Block 5 would be the final upgrade to the Falcon 9 design. The Falcon 9 Block 5 is expected to be far more reusable than the Block 3. Shotwell said a Block 5 booster could relaunch " a dozen or so times." The Block 3, by comparison, has an estimated life of two or three missions. Shotwell said the Block 5 version of the Falcon 9 won't need refurbishing, but will mainly undergo inspections prior to launch, streamlining the process compared to the first reused boosters."

SpaceX will try for third Falcon 9 launch in less than two weeks, SpaceflightNow

"After back-to-back launches last weekend, SpaceX could launch its next Falcon 9 mission as soon as Sunday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a high-power Intelsat communications satellite. Liftoff Sunday will hinge on the ability of SpaceX's launch team to prepare KSC's launch pad 39A for another flight after the successful June 23 blastoff of a Falcon 9 booster with the first Bulgarian-owned communications satellite."

SpaceX Launches Two Missions in Two Days (with videos), SpaceRef

"SpaceX has upped the ante when it comes to reusable launch systems. Within 49 hours the company launched and recovered two Falcon 9 first stages while putting it's customer's payloads safely into orbit."

Keith's note: Imagine if NASA adopted the same incremental product upgrading approach - one based on operational and customer experience/feedback - with forward and backward compatibility such as what SpaceX has adopted. Imagine also that this ability to improve a product is a feature inherent to the original product design and not an afterthought. Imagine all you want. NASA is incapable of doing this or even grasping how to do it - but there were faint glimmers of it during development of the Apollo/Saturn program. Cost and performance benefits aside, having a flexible space launch infrastructure like SpaceX has (I'm sure Blue Origin is no different) with inherent design resilience launched in a steady cadence is how space will be best utilized - not by using monster rockets that NASA cannot even afford to fly more than once every year or so.



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ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/27/2017

Cardiac Stem Cells:  In support of the ongoing Cardiac Stem Cells investigation, the crew changed out the media in one of the BioCell Habitats in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG).  Cardiac Stem Cells investigates how microgravity affects stem cells and the factors that govern their activity, in order to clarify the role of stem cells in cardiac biology and tissue regeneration.  This investigation also supports research into the possible acceleration of the aging process in microgravity.  Lighting Effects: The crew set up and configured the Light Meter hardware and took readings in the Cupola, which uses the legacy General Luminaire Assembly (GLA). The Lighting Effects experiment hopes to better quantify and qualify how lighting can effect habitability of spacecraft. The light bulbs on the ISS are being replaced with a new system designed for improved crew health and wellness. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance. Results from this investigation also have major implications for people on Earth who use electric lights. NanoRacks Module 9: The crew activated mixture tubes in support of the NanoRacks-National Center for Earth and Space Science-Casper (NanoRacks-NCESSE-Casper) investigation.  NCESSE supports various schools and student-designed experiments that address challenges of living and working in space. The program is also a key initiative for U.S. science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), that strives to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to work on the space program.  The specific investigations supported today include Growth and Development of Fathead Minnows in Microgravity, Does the Structure of a Fairy Shrimp Change in Microgravity?, Soybean Germination in Microgravity, and Benefits of Mint. Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday afternoon and overnight, Robotics Ground Controllers maneuvered Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Arm1 to grasp the Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) Payload Jettison Micro-Square Fixture (MSF).  At 4:15pm CDT Controllers applied power to the ROSA Jettison Motors and the ROSA Payload was jettisoned from ISS.  Next they maneuvered the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and SPDM to release Arm1 from the ROSA Jettison MSF to grasp the ROSA Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM) MSF with Arm1 and to release Arm2 from the ROSA Operations MSF.  Finally the SSRMS and SPDM were maneuvered to position the ROSA FRAM at the Dragon Trunk threshold in preparation for stowing it later today.  Potable Water Dispenser Relocation: The crew installed a potable water tee on the Node 1 to Node 3 portion of the potable water hose to provide a connection for the PWD. The crew then transferred the PWD from ExPRESS-6 to the galley rack. Commercial Orbital Transport Services (COTS) UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Checkout:  In preparation for the upcoming SpaceX-11 departure planned for July 2nd, the crew coordinated with ground teams to activate the CUCU System and perform a Crew Command Panel (CCP) checkout. CUCU provides a command and telemetry communications link between ISS and Dragon during free flight operations in the vicinity of ISS.    Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Test Video Recording for Russia Today TV Channel Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media URAGAN. Observation and Photography ECON-M. Observation and Photography ARED Photo/TV Reminder Glacier 4 Sample Remove Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis Replacement of sleeves and leg shells on ORLAN-МК #6 – prep ARED Quarterly Inspection Crew Medical Officer (CMO) Proficiency Training ORLAN-МК #6 sleeves R&R Lighting Effects Light Meter Readings Alternate 1 СК ОРЛАН-МК №6 sleeves replacement – help European Modular Cultivation System Gas Valve Close Environmental Health System (EHS) – Formaldehyde Monitoring Kit (FMK) Deployment Operations Environmental Health System (EHS) Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations Dragon Lithium Hydroxide Filter Bag Remove and Replace ORLAN-МК #6 leak check. Countermeasures System (CMS) Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) iPad Downlink Cardiac Stem Cells SABL Insertion Cardiac Stem Cells Media Change 1 BioCell Habitat WHC Pre-Treat Tank Remove & Replace Progress 435 (DC1) stow ops for the hardware to be disposed of, with IMS update Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Setup Node 2 Nadir Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK) Gather NanoRacks Module 9 Ops Session 4 Galley Potable Water Dispenser (PWD) Installation Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification TOCA Sample Data Record Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification Crew Medical Officer (CMO) Proficiency Training Photo/TV CUCU Video Setup COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Crew Command Panel (CCP) Checkout Photo TV CUCU Video Deactivation Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Setup Completed Task List Items Crew powers down, unplugs, and stows Fast Neutron Spectrometer hardware Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. SSRMS Ops for ROSA FRAM Install into Drago Trunk CUCU Checkout Three-Day Look Ahead: Wednesday, 06/28: ELF sample holder exchange, sample transfer from MELFI to POLAR, WHC pre-treat tank R&R, Rodent Habitat restock Thursday, 06/29: NanoRacks Module 48 ops, Rodent Research, Dragon departure OBT Friday, 06/30: NanoRacks Module 9 ops, POLAR transfer to Dragon, StemCell media change  QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:   Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) Off           [СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Process Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Full up Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Off  

June 28, 2017 at 12:00AM
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2017年6月27日 星期二

Composite Messier 20 and 21


The beautiful Trifid Nebula, also known as Messier 20, lies about 5,000 light-years away, a colorful study in cosmic contrasts. It shares this nearly 1 degree wide field with open star cluster Messier 21 (top left). Trisected by dust lanes the Trifid itself is about 40 light-years across and a mere 300,000 years old. That makes it one of the youngest star forming regions in our sky, with newborn and embryonic stars embedded in its natal dust and gas clouds. Estimates of the distance to open star cluster M21 are similar to M20's, but though they share this gorgeous telescopic skyscape there is no apparent connection between the two. M21's stars are much older, about 8 million years old. M20 and M21 are easy to find with even a small telescope in the nebula rich constellation Sagittarius. In fact, this well-composed scene is a composite from two different telescopes. Using narrowband data it blends a high resolution image of M20 with a wider field image extending to M21. via NASA http://ift.tt/2tdOffI

NASA Celebrates International Asteroid Day with Special Broadcast

NASA will mark the worldwide observance of International Asteroid Day at noon EDT Friday, June 30, with a special television program featuring the agency’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office and other projects working to find and study near-Earth objects (NEOs). The program will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

June 27, 2017
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Marshall and Redstone In Lockdown - Possible Shooter

LIVE BLOG: Possible active shooter on Redstone Arsenal, officials asking people to avoid the Sparkman Center, WHNT 19



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ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/26/2017

Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA): On Sunday, three attempts to retract ROSA solar array were unsuccessful.  Imagery showed the array was not lining up correctly (“telescoping”), preventing the locking of ROSA’s latches which is required for return in Dragon. Teams met and agreed to stand down on further retraction attempts due to the risk of getting stuck in an off nominal configuration with a partially retracted array. ROSA was left fully deployed following the last attempt and jettison was approved which was completed today at 4:15PM CDT to the nadir and aft of ISS.  Seedling Growth 3: The crew completed the second of two six-day growth sessions for Seedling Growth 3 today. They removed Experiment Containers from the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS), processed the samples, and stowed them in the Biolab Thermal Control Unit. The samples from this and the previous run will be returned on SpaceX-11. This is the third part of the Seedling Growth Experiment series using the small flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate the effects of gravity on the cellular signaling mechanisms of light sensing in plants (phototropism), and to investigate cell growth and proliferation responses to light stimulation under microgravity conditions.  Microbial Tracking-2 (MT-2):  Yesterday the crew collected saliva samples for the Microbial Tracking-2 investigation and placed them in a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI).  MT-2 monitors the different types of microbes that are present on ISS over a 1 year period.  After the samples are returned to Earth, a molecular analysis of the RNA and DNA will be conducted to identify the specific microbes that are present on ISS in order to understand the microbial flora diversity on the ISS and how it changes over time.  Human Research Program (HRP): A crewmember collected Flight Day 60 urine and blood samples yesterday and today for Biochem Profile and blood and air samples for Marrow. The Biochem Profile experiment tests blood and urine samples obtained from astronauts before, during and after spaceflight.  Specific proteins and chemicals in the samples are used as biomarkers, or indicators of health. Post-flight analysis yields a database of samples and test results which scientists can use in their study of the effects of spaceflight on the body. The Marrow investigation identifies the effect of microgravity on bone marrow.  It is believed that microgravity, like long-duration bed rest on Earth, has a negative effect on blood cell production in bone marrow. Today’s Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. Test Video Recording for Russia Today TV Channel Preparation of Reports for Roscosmos Web Site and Social Media URAGAN. Observation and Photography ECON-M. Observation and Photography Marrow Breath And Ambient Air Sample Collection – Subject Reminder HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection MO-8. Hardware setup Reminder HRF Generic Urine Collection End Body Mass Measurement – BMMD HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Collection – Subject Body Mass Measurement – BMMD Body Mass Measurement – BMMD HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Double Spin Collection – Operator MO-8 Concluding ops HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Double Spin Configuration 1 HRF Generic Urine Collection Male – Subject HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion Operations HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Double Spin Configuration 2 HRF Generic Sample MELFI Insertion HRF Generic Refrigerated Centrifuge Spin Conclude Early unstow, priority, and US cargo transfers from Progress 436 (SM Aft) and IMS Ops HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Conclude Stow JEM Camera Robot Activation HRF Generic Urine Collection Stow Cargo Transfer to Dragon Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2) Cable Reconfiguration 2 Examination of bio electrical activity of heart at rest Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Experiment Laptop Terminal (ELT) Cables Connection Seedling Growth-3 Maintenance Work Area Preparation. Removal of 800А (А105) battery Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Experiment Laptop Terminal (ELT) RS485 Converter Connection Seedling Growth-3 Maintenance Work Area Configuration. JEM Camera Robot Deactivation Dragon Locker Remove 2 Removal of 800А (А101) battery Re-install 800А battery from А105 slot to А101 slot Seedling Growth 3 TCU removal Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation Countermeasures System (CMS) Treadmill 2 System (T2) Monthly Inspection SPHERES USB Stow EML Gas Valves Opening Collecting SM and FGB Air Samples Using АК-1М Sampler Seedling Growth-3 Camcorder Setup Seedling Growth-3 Run 2 EC Removal from EMCS Rotor B Request to RS1 with variable Seedling Growth-3 Sample Processing of ECs Rotor B Run 2 Seedling Growth-3 Run 2 EC Removal from EMCS Rotor A Seedling Growth-3 EMCS Cold Stowage Bag MELFI Insertion Seedling Growth-3 Sample Processing of ECs from Rotor A Run 2 Seedling Growth-3 Sample Processing with FixBox Rotor A Run 2 Tightening of DC1 – Progress 435 QD screw clamps Seedling Growth-3 EMCS Reference Experiment Container Insertion Telescience Resource Kit Laptop Setup Environmental Health System (EHS) – Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) and Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Analysis T + 5 Dragon Cargo Operations Conference Seedling Growth 3 TCU insertion Seedling Growth-3 Post-Sample Processing Cleanup after Run 2. Evening Preparation Work Habitability Narrated Task Video Setup – Subject Seedling Growth-3 MWA Deconfigure. Habitability Narrated Task Video End – Subject Completed Task List Items Columbus PK4 Hard Drive Pouch Trash [Completed GMT 176] Crew Medical Officer (CMO) Proficiency Training [Completed GMT 176] Empty three Double Cold bags and prepare them for SpX-11 return [Completed GMT 176] Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. P1UPOB ETVCG troubleshooting Seedling Growth 3 Ops Three-Day Look Ahead: Tuesday, 06/27: StemCell media changeout, OBT CMO, Dragon LiOH filter bag R&R Wednesday, 06/28: ELF sample holder exchange, sample transfer from MELFI to POLAR, WHC pre-treat tank R&R, Rodent Habitat restock Thursday, 06/29: NanoRacks Module 48 ops, Rodent Research, Dragon departure OBT QUICK ISS Status – Environmental Control Group:   Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [СКВ] 1 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV1”) Off           [СКВ] 2 – SM Air Conditioner System (“SKV2”) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer […]

June 27, 2017
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As the Sun Rises, NASA's Global Hawk is Being Prepared for Flight


Hot summer days in Southern California’s Antelope Valley force many aircraft operations to start early in the morning before the sun rises. On a back ramp at Armstrong Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, a NASA Global Hawk goes through testing of its communication components and satellite connection links in preparation for flight. via NASA http://ift.tt/2sX9zUG

2017年6月26日 星期一

A NASA Spinoff That No One Seems To Have Noticed

Hubble Contact Lenses

"Go to your exam, try out Hubble contacts, and get your prescription."

Hubble Servicing Mission 1, NASA

"After Hubble's deployment in 1990, scientist realized that the telescope's primary mirror had a flaw called spherical aberration. The outer edge of the mirror was ground too flat by a depth of 2.2 microns (roughly equal to one-fiftieth the thickness of a human hair). This aberration resulted in images that were fuzzy because some of the light from the objects being studied was being scattered. COSTAR (the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement) was developed as an effective means of countering the effects of the flawed shape of the mirror. COSTAR was a telephone booth-sized instrument which placed 5 pairs of corrective mirrors, some as small as a nickel coin, in front of the Faint Object Camera, the Faint Object Spectrograph and the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph."

Keith's note: On their visit a doctor page they refer to "Dr. Edwin". As in Edwin Hubble. Get it?



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Bolden Is Worried About Trump's Tweeting



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NASA Completes Milestone Toward Quieter Supersonic X-Plane

NASA has achieved a significant milestone in its effort to make supersonic passenger jet travel over land a real possibility by completing the preliminary design review (PDR) of its Quiet Supersonic Transport or QueSST aircraft design.

June 26, 2017
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Saturnian Dawn


NASA's Cassini spacecraft peers toward a sliver of Saturn's sunlit atmosphere while the icy rings stretch across the foreground as a dark band. via NASA http://ift.tt/2sIzUaw

2017年6月25日 星期日

Artistic Impression: The Surface of TRAPPIST 1f


If you could stand on the surface of the newly discovered Earth-sized exoplanet TRAPPIST-1f, what would you see? Presently, no Earthling knows for sure, but the featured illustration depicts a reasoned guess based on observational data taken by NASA's Sun-orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope. In 2017, four more Earth-sized planets were found by Spitzer, including TRAPPIST-1f, in addition to three discovered in 2015 from the ground. From the planet's surface, near the mild terminator between night and day, you might see water, ice, and rock on the ground, while water-based clouds might hover above. Past the clouds, the small central star TRAPPIST-1 would appear more red than our Sun, but angularly larger due to the close orbit. With seven known Earth-sized planets -- many of which pass near each other -- the TRAPPIST-1 system is not only a candidate to have life, but intercommunicating life -- although a preliminary search has found no obvious transmissions. via NASA http://ift.tt/2u2C9mW

Iridium-2 Mission

On Sunday, June 25 at 1:25 p.m. PDT, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 10 satellites to low-Earth orbit for Iridium, a global leader in mobile voice and data satellite communications. This is the second set of 10 satellites in a series of 75 total satellites that SpaceX will launch for Iridium’s next generation global satellite constellation, Iridium® NEXT.

Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 successfully landed on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean, despite challenging weather conditions.



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SpaceX Pulls Off Weekend Double Header



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2017年6月24日 星期六

The N44 Superbubble


What created this gigantic hole? The vast emission nebula N44 in our neighboring galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud has a large, 250 light-year hole and astronomers are trying to figure out why. One possibility is particle winds expelled by massive stars in the bubble's interior that are pushing out the glowing gas. This answer was found to be inconsistent with measured wind velocities, however. Another possibility is that the expanding shells of old supernovas have sculpted the unusual space cavern. An unexpected clue of hot X-ray emitting gas was recently been detected escaping the N44 superbubble. The featured image was taken in three very specific colors by the huge 8-meter Gemini South Telescope on Cerro Pachon in Chile. via NASA http://ift.tt/2t1javD

Iridium-2 Press Kit

SpaceX is targeting launch of Iridium-2 from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The instantaneous launch window is at 1:25 p.m. PDT, or 20:25 UTC, on Sunday, June 25. A backup launch opportunity opens at 1:19 p.m. PDT, or 20:19 UTC, on Monday, June 26.



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2017年6月23日 星期五

BulgariaSat-1 Mission

On June 23, 2017, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the BulgariaSat-1 satellite into orbit—the first geostationary communications satellite in Bulgaria’s history. This mission marked the second reflight of a Falcon 9 first stage, having previously supported the Iridium-1 mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in January of this year.



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NASA Awards Contract for Institutional Support Services

NASA has awarded the Kennedy Space Center Institutional Support Services IV (KISS IV) contract to Apache-Logical Joint Venture of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

June 23, 2017
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Media Accreditation Open for Launch of NASA’s Newest Communications Satellite

Media accreditation is open for the launch of NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-M. Liftoff on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is targeted for 9:02 a.m. EDT Aug. 3, at the opening of a 40-minute launch window.

June 23, 2017
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This giant, flower-shaped starshade creates an artificial eclipse to see distant exoplanets

Jason RhodesJune 23, 2017

This giant, flower-shaped starshade creates an artificial eclipse to see distant exoplanets

Excitement is building over the total solar eclipse that will occur in the US on August 21, 2017. This is a rare opportunity to witness a visually stunning celestial event. Many of my astronomer colleagues will be traveling to places along the path of the eclipse, which runs from Oregon to the Carolinas. My wife and I will watch from Nashville.

For most of history, total solar eclipses—when the Moon blocks out the light from the Sun— were rare occasions when astronomers could study the Sun's atmosphere. This atmosphere— called the 'corona,' from the Latin word for crown—is much fainter than the Sun itself. That means the corona is impossible to see unless the Moon blocks out the Sun's glare, which is about a million times brighter than the corona.

We are lucky because the apparent size of the Moon on the sky is almost exactly the same size as the Sun. Thus, the Moon is almost perfectly able to block out the Sun when the alignment is just right. But this only occurs occasionally, and over small areas of the Earth. However, in 1931, the coronagraph was invented. This instrument allows astronomers to block the light from the Sun in order to study the corona at any time. Coronagraphs are inserted into a telescope to block the light from the Sun, but not from the corona, making an artificial eclipse. Recently, improved coronagraphs have allowed us to block the light from other stars in order to see the significantly fainter planets orbiting those stars. We call planets outside of our solar system 'extrasolar planets,' or more simply 'exoplanets'.

I have previously written about WFIRST (Summer 2015 Planetary Report). This NASA mission, planned to launch into space in the mid-2020s will have a coronagraph at least 1,000 times more powerful than any existing coronagraph. The power of a coronagraph is measured by the 'contrast ratio'—the ratio of the brightness of the central star to the brightness of the planet being studied. Current coronagraphs have a contrast ratio of about 100,000-1 million, which means that astronomers can see objects that are 100,000-1 million times dimmer (less bright) than the central star. WFIRST is being designed to achieve a contrast ratio of one billion to one! The primary difficulty in designing any coronagraph is in blocking all of the starlight. Once light has entered the telescope, it is extremely difficult to block it all with a coronagraph, partly due to a process called 'diffraction.' This is a process in which light is bent around corners or is scattered at the edges of objects. An analogy would be when you close the curtains, but there is a little gap and the light spreads as it passes through the small gap. In a telescope, this scattered light sometimes finds its way to the camera recording the telescope observations. So, achieving a contrast ratio of one billion to one requires us to keep that scattered light level very, very low. 

Artist's concept of the Starshade

NASA / JPL-Caltech

Artist's concept of the Starshade

An artist’s depiction of the fully-deployed Starshade spacecraft (left) next to the space telescope it supports. The two spacecraft must fly in almost perfect alignment to allow the telescope to stay in the shadow created by the Starshade.

One way to circumvent the problem caused by diffracted light within the telescope is to create an artificial eclipse in a way that is more like the eclipse we will witness in the USA this August. A Starshade—a large, free flying spacecraft that looks like a giant flower with petals—could fly between a telescope (in space) and the star being observed. The Starshade would block the star's light before it ever got to the telescope, but allow the exoplanet's light to reach the telescope. By avoiding the problem of diffracted and scattered light inside the telescope, a Starshade could reach contrast ratios of 10 billion to one or better. This 10-billion-to-one contrast ratio is the 'magic number' that would allow us to study in detail Earth-like planets in the habitable zone—where liquid water might exist—around stars that are similar to our Sun. Astronomers think this may be one of the best ways to search for the telltale signs of possible life—called biomarkers—in the atmospheres of those planets.

The Starshade would have to be large, about 25–40 m across for a telescope the size of WFIRST, and even larger for a bigger space telescope that could follow WFIRST, and would fly 30,000-50,000 km away from the telescope. Building a structure that large and doing the precision flying needed to align the telescope and Starshade are no small tasks, but some of our best minds are on it. The peculiar 'flower with petals' shape of the Starshade is to deal with the diffraction of light. A circular Starshade would cause some of the star's light to be bent (via diffraction) directly into the telescope. However, the petals are designed to diffract the light away from the telescope, allowing us to reach that magic 10 billion to 1 contrast ratio.

Why, you might ask, is the Starshade so big, and the telescope so far away? Why not build a smaller Starshade and move the telescope closer? There are two competing effects in play. The Starshade needs to be large enough to block out the light and have any diffracted light bent away from the telescope. This pushes us to a large Starshade. However, a large Starshade would also block out planets close to the star unless it is far enough away. This pushes us to a distant Starshade. For a telescope like WFIRST, the sweet spot is a Starshade of the dimensions mentioned above.

A Starshade is a long way off (possibly mid to late 2020s). Starshade technology is still actively being matured and the astronomical community would need to weigh a possible Starshade mission concept against other priorities in the coming decades. However, excitement is building over the possibility that a Starshade might one day create an artificial eclipse that would allow us to examine a Pale Blue Dot and perhaps find an answer to the question, "Are we alone?" 

VIDEO


Author note: This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

MER
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Hubble Uses Gravitational Lens to Capture Disk Galaxy


By combining the power of a "natural lens" in space with the capability of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers made a surprising discovery—the first example of a compact yet massive, fast-spinning, disk-shaped galaxy that stopped making stars only a few billion years after the big bang. via NASA http://ift.tt/2t2PLCd

NASA's Planetary Science Division Needs To Explain its Reorganization

NAS Report: Review of the Restructured Research and Analysis Programs of NASA's Planetary Science Division

"Recently, PSD reorganized the R&A program to provide better alignment with the strategic goals for planetary sciences. The major changes in the R&A program involved consolidating a number of prior program elements, many of which were organized by subdiscipline, into a smaller number of thematic core research program elements. Despite numerous efforts by PSD to communicate the rationale for the reorganization and articulate clearly the new processes, there has been significant resistance from the planetary science community and concerns in some sectors regarding the major realignment of funding priorities. ... This report explores whether any specific research areas or subdisciplinary groups that are critical to NASA's strategic objectives for planetary science and PSD's science goals are not supported appropriately in the current program or have been inadvertently disenfranchised through the reorganization."



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Hollywood Space Spinoff Flops

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop gets called out by NASA over healing stickers, CNN Money

"NASA just called out Goop, the movie star's lifestyle brand, over wearable healing stickers that it promoted on its website. In a post on Thursday, Goop said that the stickers, which are sold by a group called Body Vibes, are "made with the same conductive carbon material NASA uses to line space suits so they can monitor an astronaut's vitals during wear." The wearables, which cost about $60 for a pack of 10, come "pre-programmed to an ideal frequency" and "promote healing" by tackling "imbalances," the website claimed. But NASA told CNNMoney it doesn't use carbon material to line its suits, and its current spacesuit has no carbon fibers in it at all."

Body Vibes

"Body Vibes use an exclusive material originally developed for NASA. This waterproof, carbon fiber compound can hold specific frequency charges that naturally stimulate the human body's receptors."



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2017年6月22日 星期四

Solstice Conjunction over Budapest


Before a solstice Sun rose on June 21, brilliant Venus and an old crescent Moon posed together over Budapest, Hungary for this predawn skyscape. In the foreground the view looks across the Danube river from Buda to Pest toward the dome and peaks of the Hungarian Parliament building. Low clouds are in silhouette against a twilight sky. But far enough above the eastern horizon to catch the sunlight shines another seasonal apparition on that solstice morning, noctilucent clouds. Seen near sunrise and sunset in summer months at high latitudes, the night-shining clouds are formed as water vapor in the cold upper atmosphere condenses on meteoric dust or volcanic ash near the edge of space. via NASA http://ift.tt/2sSU41V

NASA's Official Alternate History of Mars Exploration

Why No One Under 20 Has Experienced a Day Without NASA at Mars, NASA

"Without Mars Pathfinder, there could not have been Spirit and Opportunity, and without Spirit and Opportunity, there could not have been Curiosity," Pathfinder Project Scientist Matt Golombek of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, said of the subsequent generations of Mars rovers. JPL is now developing another Mars rover for launch in 2020."

Keith's note: Here we go again. NASA wants you to think that everything it does always works and that its path (thus far) on the whole #JourneyToMars thing was logical and paved only with success. As such, this happy piece neglects to mention a billion dollars worth of Mars missions; Mars Observer (blew up in 1993), Mars Climate Orbiter (crashed in 1999), and Mars Polar Lander (crashed in 1999).

Oddly, it is these three unmentioned intermediate missions that had a substantial impact upon the way NASA now explores Mars. This press release is supposed to be all about how one mission contributed to the next mission. Yet without these three mission failures NASA would arguably not have had the subsequent string of successes that it has had.

When Mars Observer was lost NASA went back to the drawing board to reboot its Mars exploration strategy. When MCO and MPL were lost within months of each other NASA did a larger policy reboot. To maximize success with the Mars Science Rover mission plan, two rovers were launched - most explicitly with the intent that if only one of them worked - and only for 90 days - both missions would have been seen as successful. Two landers based on MPL hardware benefited directly from problems on MPL. Looking back these three failures we now see a more careful and instrumented approach used in traveling to, entering orbit, and landing on - Mars. NASA has learned its Mars exploration lessons and has learned them well - the hard way.

But now NASA Public Affairs is trying to pull a fast one and rewrite the history books. In so doing they obscure the timeline wherein these lessons that were so hardly learned. In so doing PAO helps to sow the seeds for future mistakes. The people listed as contacts and who wrote and reviewed this release at NASA HQ and JPL know better. Alas, they now have a new, younger generation who was not around when the hard lessons were learned (the other main point of this release) so why not just leave the bad bits out, eh?

Indeed, this selective memory PAO exhibits is akin to trying to describe the history of American human spaceflight while neglecting the tough lessons learned (and unlearned) from Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia. No one is well-served by this edited, sanitized version of NASA's long path outward into space.



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NASA Awards Contract for Atmospheric Trace-Gas Monitoring Mission

NASA has awarded a contract to the University of Oklahoma in Norman for a first-of-its-kind Earth science mission that will extend our nation’s lead in measuring key carbon-based greenhouse gases and vegetation health from space to advance our understanding of Earth’s natural exchanges of carbon between the land, atmosphere and ocean.

June 22, 2017
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NASA Selects Logistics Management Services Contractor

NASA has selected Lockwood Hills Federal, LLC of Herndon, Virginia, to provide institutional logistics management services for the agency’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

June 22, 2017
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NASA's Response To That White House Downsizing Thing

Interior Secretary Advocates For Cutting Up To 4,000 Jobs At Agency, Huffington Post

"In written testimony submitted Tuesday to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke noted that President Donald Trump's 2018 budget request would slash funding by $1.6 billion - to $11.7 billion - and support just shy of 60,000 full-time staff, a reduction of roughly 4,000."

Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce, OMB

"This memorandum provides agencies guidance on fulfilling the requirements ofthe Hiring. Freeze PM and the Reorganization EO while aligning those initiatives with the Federal budget and performance planning processes. It requires all agencies to: Begin taking immediate actions to achieve near-term workforce reductions and cost savings, including planning for funding levels in the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Budget Blueprint; Develop a plan to maximize employee performance by June 30, 2017; and Submit an Agency Reform Plan to OMB in September 2017 as part of the agency's FY 2019 Budget submission to OMB that includes long-term workforce reductions. An initial, high-level draft ofthe Agency Reform Plan is due to OMB by June 30, 2017."

Keith's note: NASA was required to draft and submit a plan to OMB by the end of the month. Sources report that it is done and is in the process of being prepared for submission to OMB. If the Secretary of Interior can talk about his agency's plan to reduce their workforce in open congressional hearings, one would think that NASA could - and should - do the same. Given that NASA fared much better than virtually all of the Federal government in terms of its FY 2018 budget proposal, the need to resort to draconian personnel cuts is simply not there. Indeed, if Congress does what it did in response to the FY 2017 budget request, NASA will be funded more or less at current levels.

As such, sources say that NASA's plan is what all these plans are: a bunch of words in response to direction from the White House about things no one really expects to implement. But there has to be a lot of words - and the right words too - so as to make OMB think that NASA actually has a plan. At most NASA will feature buyouts, early outs, and reliance upon attrition. That's all. As long as NASA thanks the President for the opportunity to #MakeNASAGreatAgain the details are not all that important.

But NASA is like all other agencies: they never pass up an opportunity to do one thing in response to being asked to do another thing. So you may see a bunch of phone book revisions and reporting changes within/between field centers and directorates and HQ tossed into the mix since no one is really going to notice - and it lets NASA HQ hide some things it has been wanting to do anyway. Orion, SLS, and ISS workforces may get tweaked as a result - with HQ pointing to these changes as their way of dealing with budget problems and schedule slips. The net result is going to be more of the same - with a flat budget.

Of course, even if Congress is generous to NASA, doing the math and adding up all of the things NASA is on the hook to do - plus all that it wants to do - will show that the money is simply not there. Not to worry. That won't really be an issue until after the new administrator is in place and the actually FY2019 budget is submitted.



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NASA Opens Media Credentialing for Sept. 15 Cassini Saturn Finale

Media accreditation is now open for events around the conclusion of Cassini's mission at Saturn. The spacecraft, which has explored the ringed planet and its moons since 2004, will make a fateful plunge into Saturn's atmosphere on Sept. 15, ending its long and discovery-rich mission.

June 22, 2017
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The White Cliffs of 'Rover'


This image was acquired by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on April 18, 2017, at 14:04 local Mars time. It reminded the HiRISE team of the rugged and open terrain of a stark shore-line, perhaps of the British Isles. via NASA http://ift.tt/2rGyUke

Planetary Society volunteers host SpaceUp London 2017

Harriet BrettleJune 22, 2017

Planetary Society volunteers host SpaceUp London 2017

On Saturday 10th June, The Planetary Society brought together space enthusiasts at Queen Mary University of London for “SpaceUp London 2017”—the first large-scale event organized by Planetary Society volunteers in Europe.

Because this was an ‘unconference’, the participants largely decided the discussion topics on the day of the event. The day was packed with quick-fire 5-minute talks, breakout discussion sessions, keynote talks, brainstorming sessions, and other opportunities for guests to challenge each other. Attendees came from a wide variety of backgrounds, and included medics, theatre students, virtual reality experts, amateur astronomers, satellite company representatives, and more. This fostered lively discussions and inspiring conversations. 

The SpaceUp London organising team

Harriet Brettle

The SpaceUp London organising team

Tom Kerss, an astronomer from the Royal Observatory, kicked off the day with a talk entitled What We Are Made Of. Breaking us down to the core elements, Tom explained how we are forged in the centers of stars and truly are part of the cosmos that surrounds us. 

Post-it notes quickly filled the discussion board, and we split into two rooms for the first breakout sessions. Conversation jumped from the importance of mental health for astronauts, to the issue of light pollution in London, to space satellite imaging. The atmosphere was lively as people discussed the ethics of habitability. Mars alone or get started on planet 2.0? One of the rooms was split on whether we should terraform Mars or not.

In the quick-fire presentations that followed, participants gave a brief insight into their favorite space topics. An amateur astronomer explained the latest crazes from exoplanet research, quickly followed by another attendee proposed that Titan should be our focus for exploration. Next up was the energetic founder of Mars Nation who talked about her group that meets to brainstorm solutions on the challenges of inhabiting mars. After jumping around the solar system, we landed safely on the Moon. Lunar Mission One trustee David Iron explained his vision to leave a permanent archive of human life under the Moon’s south pole.

Next up was Daniel Grant, a doctor at the Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine, who delivered a keynote on the effects of space on the human body. Using chocolate bars, Daniel explained that in space, human legs go from being like crunchy bars to more like foamy Aero chocolate bars over time. The audience might have been skeptical, had he not tossed so many bars into the audience to help illustrate the point. He also demonstrated the challenges of balance in space with one lucky volunteer. Try spinning with your eyes closed. Not hard enough? Try spinning with your eyes closed and your head tilted to one side. Much trickier. You can try this at home, kids!

Lunchtime gave everyone time to check out some solar observing with telescopes outside, and check out other exhibits. The European Space Agency’s ‘Couture in Orbit’ project had a fantastic display of fashion pieces inspired by and incorporating space technology. The Square Telescope Array also provided virtual reality headsets for people to experience an immersive perspective of the array.

Virtual Reality experiences at SpaceUp London

James Edwards Marks

Virtual Reality experiences at SpaceUp London

For the third keynote, I had a conversation on stage with Jon Culshaw, a comedian, impersonator, and astronomy enthusiast. Guests were treated to a range of fun anecdotes complete with impersonations of Brian Cox, Sir Patrick Moore, Carl Sagan, and David Attenborough. It was as if they were in the room.

For the second round of participant-led sessions, attendees were again spoiled for choice between topics that included the ethics of going to Mars, space debris, asteroid mining, satellite applications, human evolution in space, and more. The highlight was seeing attendees bridging across different parts of the space community. Virtual reality experts connected with psychologists to talk about using technology to deal with the challenges of human spaceflight. The organiser of a local star gazing club got some tips from the Royal Observatory to address light pollution in London.

SpaceUp London attendees

Harriet Brettle

SpaceUp London attendees

There were a number of Planetary Society members present, including Board member Bee Hayes-Thakore, who delivered the final keynote of the day. Bee introduced the audience to the roots of the Planetary Society, talked about the excitement of the upcoming LightSail 2 launch, and reminded us of Carl Sagan’s words about this pale blue dot we call home:

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”

It was inspiring to hear how the Planetary Society has grown into a global organization educating, advocating, and innovating across the world.

The day finished on a high note with prizes for the most active attendees. There were awards for best tweet (check out #spaceuplondon for the whole list) and best space pun. The winner: How do you organize a space party? You planet! The top quick-fire presenters were also congratulated, and one winner, Athos Athanasiou, re-performed his space poem that perfectly summarized the day.

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SpaceUp London embodied the Planetary Society’s mission to ‘empower the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration’. SpaceUp events can be organized by anyone, anywhere. Check out the website to find your nearest event and advice to get one started yourself. SpaceUp London enabled the local space community to forge its own unique event and discuss the topics attendees were truly passionate about. New friends were made, great ideas born and new links forged. London is getting to know the cosmos and SpaceUp has helped us to find our place within it. 

MER
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Emily Lakdwalla
The Planetary Fund

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