NASA Updates: March 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Celestial Mountains

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

The Tien Shan mountain range is one of the largest continuous mountain ranges in the world, extending approximately 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) roughly east-west across Central Asia. This image taken by the Expedition 27 crew aboard the International Space Station provides a view of the central Tien Shan, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of where the borders of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan meet. The uplift of the Tien Shan, which means celestial mountains in Chinese, like the Himalayas to the south, results from the ongoing collision between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. The rugged topography of the range is the result of subsequent erosion by water, wind and, in the highest parts of the range, active glaciers. Two high peaks of the central Tien Shan are identifiable in the image. Xuelian Feng has a summit of 21,414 feet (6,527 meters) above sea level. To the east, the aptly-named Peak 6231 has a summit 6,231 meters, or 20,443 feet, above sea level. Image Credit: NASA

Astronauts in Last Phase of Training for Mission

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:09:08 -0500

The six astronauts who will fly space shuttle Endeavour on its last scheduled mission are moving through the last phases of training as launch day nears. The crew is at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test known as TCDT. The work culminates with a dress rehearsal of launch day for the astronauts and the whole launch team. Endeavour, standing on Launch Pad 39A, is set up exactly as it will be for liftoff and the crew takes their assigned seats.

"This is the time when our training meets the processing of the vehicle," Commander Mark Kelly told news media during a news conference this morning. The event took place indoors instead of its traditional setting at the launch pad because of poor weather conditions at Kennedy.

Describing the mission's payload, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, as one of the premiere scientific instruments of the 21st century, Kelly said the 15,000-pound physics experiment has to potential to rewrite humanity's knowledge of the cosmos as it measures cosmic rays from a perch on the International Space Station.

"We're pretty excited about what the results are going to be," Kelly said. "(AMS Physicist and Nobel Laureate Sam Ting) told us that within an hour of attaching to the space station, they're going to start collecting data. AMS could be teaching us things about the universe that are completely unexpected."

Mission Specialist Mike Finke, a veteran station commander and resident, said the crew is ready for the two-week shuttle flight.

"We're a team, we're a family and from what we've seen so far, I don't think there's anything out there we can't handle," Finke said. "When we have our game on, this is an amazing crew."

Crew Meets Media at 8:30 a.m. on NASA TV

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:49:59 -0500

Due to storms around NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., this morning's scheduled STS-134 crew media Q&A session at Launch Pad 39A will start 10 minutes earlier than originally planned, at 8:30 a.m. EDT, and will be moved inside to Kennedy's Press Site TV auditorium. The Q&A session still will be carried live on NASA Television.

A strong storm front passed over Kennedy's LC-39 area, including Launch Pad 39A, yesterday at about 5:20 p.m. EDT. Initial reports indicate are the launch pad experienced high wind and potentially small hail in the area near the pad.

Teams will perform a lightning data review and a walk down of the pad, as soon as weather permits, to inspect for any possible damage due to hail and heavy winds. No one was injured and preliminary reports indicate there was only very minor damage to Endeavour's external fuel tank foam.

Storm Passes Over Shuttle Endeavour, No Initial Injuries or Damaged Reported

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:03:30 -0500

A strong storm front passed over NASA Kennedy Space Center's LC-39 area, including Launch Pad 39A, about 5:20 p.m. EDT. Initial reports are the Florida launch pad experienced high wind and potentially small hail in the area near the pad. No one was injured and initially no obvious damage was observed. The storm moved through the area quickly. Teams will perform a full survey of the pad to confirm there was no damage Thursday morning and verify the exact wind speeds and adverse weather conditions that were seen at the pad. Space shuttle Endeavour's six astronauts, who are at Kennedy for their launch dress rehearsal and related training known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, still are scheduled to hold a Q-and-A session with media on Launch Pad 39A Thursday morning at 8:40 a.m. The event will be carried live on NASA Television.

NASA Ames Research Center News and Features Update

NASA Extends Contract for Supercomputing Support Services

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA will exercise the third one-year option on a contract with Computer Sciences Corp. in Lanham, Md., to provide supercomputing support services at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif.

GREAT Spectrometer Readied For Flight on SOFIA
Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Scientists recently completed a series of nighttime, ground-based testing of the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies, or GREAT, spectrometer in preparation for a series of astronomical science flights on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy in April.

Michigan State University Student Helps Create Green Aviation Technology
Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

"Green" research has become a burgeoning field at NASA, and Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., is definitely on board.

NASA Extends Contract For Supercomputing Support Services

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA Satellites Eyeing 4 Tropical Systems Around the World For Possible Development

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

There are four low pressure areas in the tropics today that NASA satellites are all keeping an eye on for possible development.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

NASA Offers Schools And Education Groups Chance To Talk To Space

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA is offering opportunities for schools and educational groups to speak with astronauts aboard the International Space Station to learn about the challenges and rewards of their work.

Launch Training in Full Swing at Kennedy

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:39:42 -0500

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour's six astronauts and ground crews will begin training related to the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) today. The STS-134 crew will practice driving the M113, an armored personnel carrier.

Technicians at Launch Pad 39A will continue closing out the spacecraft's aft section.

The next media event will be a Q and A at Launch Pad 39A on March 31 at 8:40 a.m. EDT. The event will be aired on NASA TV (www.nasa.gov.ntv).

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

NASA Awards Earth And Space Science Studies Cooperative Agreement

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA has awarded a cooperative agreement to the University Space Research Association in Columbia, Md., to facilitate experimental, analytical and theoretical research in support of NASA's strategic Earth and space science objectives.

STS-134 Crew at Kennedy for TCDT

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:39:12 -0500

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour's crew has arrived and are ready to participate in the countdown dress rehearsal for the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station.

First Image Ever Obtained from Mercury Orbit

First Image Ever Obtained from Mercury Orbit
image

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

At 5:20 am EDT on Mar. 29, 2011, MESSENGER captured this historic image of Mercury. This image is the first ever obtained from a spacecraft in orbit about the Solar System's innermost planet. Over the subsequent six hours, MESSENGER acquired an additional 363 images before downlinking some of the data to Earth. The MESSENGER team is currently looking over the newly returned data, which are still continuing to come down. Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

STS-134 Crew Begin TCDT at Kennedy

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:58:16 -0500

Space shuttle Endeavour's six astronauts arrived at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility in four T-38 jets between 5:07 p.m. and 5:24 p.m. EDT. The crew is at Kennedy for their week-long launch dress rehearsal, called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test or TCDT.

TCDT will provide Endeavour's astronauts and ground crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training.

Later today STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Greg H. Johnson, will practice shuttle landings in shuttle training aircraft.

The next media event will be a Q and A at Launch Pad 39A on March 31 at 8:40 am. EDT. The event will be aired on NASA TV (www.nasa.gov.ntv).

Early Arrival for STS-134 Crew

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:05:01 -0500

The six astronauts for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission are on their way from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, slightly ahead of schedule. The crew is coming to Kennedy for the standard launch dress rehearsal known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) and related training.

The crew originally had been expected to arrive at about 7 p.m. EDT and now are set to arrive at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility at about 5:15 p.m. The arrival will be carried live on NASA Television (www.nasa.gov/ntv).

TCDT will provide Endeavour's astronauts and ground crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training.

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

NASA Ames Research Center News and Features Update

NASA Satellites Detect Extensive Drought Impact on Amazon Forests

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

A new NASA-funded study has revealed widespread reductions in the greenness of the forests in the vast Amazon basin in South America caused by the record-breaking drought of 2010.

Watercolor Canvas

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Tassili n'Ajjer National Park, a part of the Sahara Desert, has a bone-dry climate with scant rainfall, yet does not blend in with Saharan dunes. Instead, the rocky plateau rises above the surrounding sand seas. Rich in geologic and human history, Tassili n'Ajjer is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, and covers 27,800 square miles (72,000 square kilometers) in southeastern Algeria. This image from 2000 was made from multiple observations by the Landsat 7 satellite, using a combination of infrared, near-infrared and visible light to better distinguish between the park's various rock types. Sand appears in shades of yellow and tan. Granite rocks appear brick red. Blue areas are likely salts. As the patchwork of colors suggests, the geology of Tassili n'Ajjer is complex. The plateau is composed of sandstone around a mass of granite. Over the course of Earth's history, alternating wet and dry climates have shaped these rocks in multiple ways. Deep ravines are cut into cliff faces along the plateau's northern margin. The ravines are remnants of ancient rivers that once flowed off the plateau into nearby lakes. Where those lakes once rippled, winds now sculpt the dunes of giant sand seas. In drier periods, winds eroded the sandstones of the plateau into 'stone forests' and natural arches. Not surprisingly, the park's name means 'plateau of chasms.' Humans have also modified the park's rocks. Some 15,000 engravings have so far been identified in Tassili n'Ajjer. From about 10,000 B.C. to the first few centuries A.D., successive populations also left the remains of homes and burial mounds.

NASA Opens Voting For Original Songs To Awaken Next Shuttle Crew

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA is inviting the public to vote for its favorite original song to wake up space shuttle Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates during their STS-134 mission to the International Space Station.

Crew Arrives This Evening for TCDT

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:12:23 -0500

Crews at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are preparing space shuttle Endeavour for the STS-134 crew's Terminal Countdown Demonstration test this week.

Endeavour's six astronauts are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility tonight at approximately 7 p.m. EDT to begin the dress launch rehearsal and other related training. The arrival will be shown live on NASA TV.

Once at Kennedy, STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Greg H. Johnson, will practice shuttle landings in shuttle training aircraft.

Make a Wish From Space

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

In honor of those affected by the Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake in Japan, Russian cosmonaut and Expedition 27 commander Dmitry Kondratyev (center), European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli and NASA astronaut Cady Coleman are pictured with paper cranes (origami craft), which they folded to be placed in the Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2). The HTV2 is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 11:45 a.m. EDT on March 28, and re-enter Earth's atmosphere on March 29, 2011. Image Credit: NASA

Aft Closeouts Prepare Endeavour for TCDT

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:55:50 -0500

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers at Launch Pad 39A will begin closeout work on space shuttle Endeavour's aft section today in preparation for tomorrow's STS-134 crew arrival.

Endeavour's six astronauts are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility Tuesday at approximately 7 p.m. EDT to begin the full-dress launch rehearsal and other related training called Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT. The crew's arrival will be shown live on NASA TV (www.nasa.gov/ntv).

During the 14-day mission, Endeavour's astronauts will deliver to the International Space Station the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2, a particle physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays and the Express Logistics Carrier-3, a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired later this year.

Endeavour's final flight, on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station, is targeted to launch at 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

NASA Stardust Spacecraft Officially Ends Operations

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA's Stardust spacecraft sent its last transmission to Earth at 7:33 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 24, shortly after depleting fuel and ceasing operations.

NASA Makes Selection For Integrated Communications Services

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA selected Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of McLean, Va., for the NASA Integrated Communications Services (NICS) contract.

Payload Installation Set to Wrap Up Saturday Morning

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:55:34 -0500

Launch Pad 39A crews at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida briefly delayed installing space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 payload into its cargo bay today to evaluate the alignment of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer's remotely operated electrical umbilical, which provides heating and avionics power to the experiment. Installation now is expected to be completed Saturday morning.

During the 14-day mission to the International Space Station, Endeavour's six astronauts will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2, a particle physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays and the Express Logistics Carrier-3, a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired later this year.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center, STS-134 Mission Specialists Michael Fincke and Greg Chamitoff are rehearsing techniques for the mission's fourth and final spacewalk today in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

NASA Ames Research Center News and Features Update

NASA Invites Media to Open Source Summit March 29-30

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Journalists are invited to attend NASA's first open source software development summit March 29-30 at the agency's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.

"Lost" Miller Experiment Gives Pungent Clue to Origin of Life
Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Hydrogen sulfide, the malodorous compound produced by rotten eggs, may have been an important ingredient in the recipe for life, according to a recently discovered experiment performed by Dr. Stanley Miller in 1958.

NASA Invites Media To Open Source Summit March 29-30 In California

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Journalists are invited to attend NASA's first open source software development summit March 29-30 at the agency's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT on both days.

Massachusetts Students Call Space Station Astronaut

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Students in Springfield, Mass., will make a special call to Expedition 27 Flight Engineer and western Massachusetts resident Cady Coleman aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday, March 29.

NASA Stardust Spacecraft Officially Ends Operations

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA's Stardust spacecraft sent its last transmission to Earth at 7:33 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 24, shortly after depleting fuel and ceasing operations.

Imagining Mars

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

This composite of three artists' renderings from 1975 was only wish fulfillment for an unnamed JPL artist; however, the landscape and the rendered shapes took into account what was known about Mars that year. Compared to Earth, Mars is further away from the light of the sun, very cold and very arid, and had a thin atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide but little nitrogen, an environment distinctly inhospitable to complex, Earth-like, carbon-based life forms. "Life on Mars" was envisioned as low to the ground, symmetrical and simple. The artist drew silicon-based life forms, probably coached by others, perhaps scientists, who had thought about such possibilities. Peculiar saucer-like shapes stood only slightly above ground level, root-like structures reached outward for growth resources; a bundle of cones faced many directions for heat, light or food. Instead of reality, the images embodied the artist's hope and anticipation of what future Martian exploration would find. Image Credit: NASA/JPL.

Payload Installation Begins Today

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:50:31 -0500

Launch Pad 39A crews at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will install the STS-134 mission's payload into space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay today and expect to complete attaching key components on Saturday.

During the 14-day mission to the International Space Station, Endeavour's six astronauts will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2, a particle physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays and the Express Logistics Carrier-3, a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired later this year.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, STS-134 Mission Specialists Michael Fincke and Greg Chamitoff are rehearsing techniques for the mission's fourth and final spacewalk in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory today.

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

Suzaku Shows Clearest Picture Yet Of Perseus Galaxy Cluster

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

X-ray observations made by the Suzaku observatory provide the clearest picture to date of the size, mass and chemical content of a nearby cluster of galaxies.

NASA Helps Students Train Like Astronauts in Mission X Challenge

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Fourth-grade students in the College Station Independent School District (CSISD) in Texas have completed six weeks of a NASA health and fitness challenge known as "Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut."

Tropical Storm Bune (Southern Pacific Ocean)

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

It's not unusual for NASA satellites to attend the birth of tropical cyclones, and NASA's Aqua satellite was there when Tropical Cyclone Bune was born early today in the South Pacific Ocean.

NASA Administrator Presents Award To Marshall Center For Agency's Most Effective Small Business Program

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden participated in an event Thursday to highlight the contributions of small businesses to the agency's mission and the national economy at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Einstein's Theory Fights Off Challengers

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Two new studies have put Einstein's General Theory of Relativity to the test like never before, using observations of galaxy clusters to study the properties of gravity on cosmic scales. These results, made using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, show Einstein's theory is still the best game in town. Such studies are crucial for understanding the evolution of the universe, both in the past and the future, and for probing the nature of dark energy, one of the biggest mysteries in science. This composite image of the Abell 3376 galaxy cluster shows X-ray data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the ROSAT telescope in gold, an optical image from the Digitized Sky Survey in red, green and blue, and a radio image from the VLA in blue. The bullet-like appearance of the X-ray data is caused by a merger, as material flows into the galaxy cluster from the right side. The giant radio arcs on the left side of the image may be caused by shock waves generated by this merger. Chandra observations of galaxy clusters have previously been used to show that dark energy has stifled the growth of these massive structures over the last 5 billion years and to provide independent evidence for the existence of dark energy by offering a different way to measure cosmic distances. Image Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/SAO/A. Vikhlinin; ROSAT), Optical (DSS), Radio (NSF/NRAO/VLA/IUCAA/J.Bagchi)

Endeavour Payload Scheduled for Friday Installation

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:46:54 -0500

This week at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, crews at Launch Pad 39A continue preparations to install the payload into space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay.

After the rotating service structure was extended yesterday morning, the payload changeout room main doors and Endeavour's payload bay doors were opened, allowing access for spacecraft and payload inspections. Installation of the payload is scheduled for Friday.

Space shuttle program managers, STS-134 mission managers and Endeavour's six astronauts will hold preflight briefings today from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas. The briefings will be shown live on NASA TV (www.nasa.gov/ntv).

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

NASA'S Successful "Can Crush" Will Aid Heavy-Lift Rocket Design

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA put the squeeze on a large rocket test section today.

Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly Not Available For Media Interviews

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Space Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly will not be available for media interviews that had been scheduled from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. CDT Thursday, March 24, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Techs to Perform Payload and Spacecraft Inspections Today

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:05:10 -0500

Launch Pad 39A crews at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are preparing for the payload installation into space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay scheduled for Friday. Technicians will open the payload bay doors and perform inspections on the spacecraft and payload.

Meanwhile, the STS-134 crew will practice flying techniques in their T-38 training aircraft today at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.

Light Show

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

A grand ringed planet, Saturn is one of the most intriguing bodies orbiting our sun. This image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009 features Saturn with the rings edge-on and both poles in view, offering a stunning double view of its fluttering auroras. Created by the interaction of the solar wind with the planet's magnetic field, Saturn's aurorae are analogous to the more familiar northern and southern lights on Earth. At the time when Hubble snapped this picture, Saturn was approaching its equinox so both poles were equally illuminated by the sun's rays. At first glance the light show of Saturn's auroras appears symmetric at the two poles. However, astronomers discovered some subtle differences between the northern and southern auroras, which reveal important information about Saturn's magnetic field. The northern auroral oval is slightly smaller and more intense than the southern one, implying that Saturn's magnetic field is not equally distributed across the planet; it is slightly uneven and stronger in the north than the south. Image Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI/University of Leicester

NASA Challenges New York Students To Aim High, Reach For The Stars

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA senior officials led a high-voltage education forum Tuesday in New York City to mentor and encourage young people, especially girls, to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers.

NASA Ames Research Center News and Features Update

NASA Ames Wins Agency Awards for Inventions

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., has won two agency awards: the 2010 Government Invention of the Year Award and the 2010 Commercial Invention of the Year Award.

Kepler Mission Manager Update
Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Safe Mode Event March 15, 2011

NASA Ushers In New Space Exploration Era At Wallops Flight Facility

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

NASA ushered in a new era of space exploration at its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF).

Payload at the Pad

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:33:00 -0500

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the payload for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission arrived at Launch Pad 39A last night.

Crews will move the payload into the Payload Ground Handling Mechanism, or PGHM, today. The rotating service structure will then be rotated back around the spacecraft early tomorrow morning. The payload is set to be loaded into Endeavour's cargo bay on Friday.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-134 crew will practice undocking and rendezvous procedures.

Launch of Endeavour to the International Space Station is targeted for April 19 at 7:48 p.m. EDT.

Disappearing Act

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:00:00 -0500

This swirling landscape of stars is known as the North America Nebula. In visible light, the region resembles North America, but in this new infrared view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, the continent disappears. Where did the continent go? The reason you don't see it in Spitzer's view is due, in part, to the fact that infrared light can penetrate dust whereas visible light cannot. Dusty, dark clouds in the visible image become transparent in Spitzer's view. In addition, Spitzer's infrared detectors pick up the glow of dusty cocoons enveloping baby stars. Clusters of young stars (about one million years old) can be found throughout the image. Slightly older but still very young stars (about 3-5 million years) are also liberally scattered across the complex. Some areas of this nebula are still very thick with dust and appear dark even in Spitzer's view and are likely to be the youngest stars in the complex (less than a million years old). Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Kepler Returns to Science..

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