Hubble Spots Flock of Cosmic Ducks

This star-studded image shows us a portion of Messier 11, an open star cluster in the southern constellation of Scutum (the Shield). Messier 11 is also known as the Wild Duck Cluster, as its brightest stars form a “V” shape that somewhat resembles a flock of ducks in flight. via NASA https://ift.tt/2CMbhhy

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

From 1 through 28 February 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 68 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 10 deaths. Of the 68 MERS cases reported in February, 19 cases occurred in cities other than Wadi Aldwasir.

This Disease Outbreak News update describes the 19 cases. Among these cases, fifteen were sporadic, and four were reported as part of two unrelated clusters. Cluster 1 involved two cases in Buridah city; and Cluster 2 involved two cases in Riyadh city. The link below provides details of the 19 reported cases.

Published on March 29, 2019
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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces saw a rise in the number of new cases this past week. At this time, response teams are facing daily challenges in ensuring timely and thorough identification and investigation of all cases amidst a backdrop of sporadic violence from armed groups and pockets of mistrust in some affected communities. Despite this, progress is being made in areas such as Mandima, Masereka and Vuhovi, where response teams are gradually able to access once again and acceptance by the community of proven interventions to break the chains of transmission is observed.

During the last 21 days (6 – 26 March), a total of 125 new cases were reported from 51 health areas within 12 of the 21 health zones affected to date; 38% of the 133 health areas affected to date (Figure 2). The majority of these cases were from remaining hotspot areas of Katwa (36), Butembo (14), and three emerging clusters in Mandima (19), Masereka (18) and Vuhovi (17), in addition to a limited number of cases in other areas (Table 1). All cases link back to chains of transmission in hotspot areas, with onward local transmission observed in a limited number of towns and villages within family/social networks or health centers where cases have visited prior to their detection and isolation.

Published on March 28, 2019
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Hubble Watches Spun-Up Asteroid Coming Apart

A small asteroid was caught in the process of spinning so fast it’s throwing off material, according to new data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories. via NASA https://ift.tt/2FDtGh5

Joan Stupik, Guidance and Control Engineer

When Joan Stupik was a child, her parents bought her a mini-planetarium that she could use to project the stars on her bedroom ceiling. via NASA https://ift.tt/2FyKdTB

Orion Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor Hot-Fire Test

A static hot-fire test of the Orion spacecraft's Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor to help qualify the motor for human spaceflight, to help ensure Orion is ready from liftoff to splashdown for missions to the Moon. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Wk4fYE

Nick Hague Completes First Spacewalk

NASA astronaut Nick Hague completed the first spacewalk of his career on Friday, March 22, 2019. He and fellow astronaut Anne McClain worked on a set of battery upgrades for six hours and 39 minutes, on the International Space Station’s starboard truss. via NASA https://ift.tt/2CG0DJf

Hubble Captures the Brilliant Heart of a Massive Galaxy

This fuzzy orb of light is a giant elliptical galaxy filled with an incredible 200 billion stars. via NASA https://ift.tt/2HBbd8y

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces has recently shown an increase in the number of cases reported by week, after many weeks of overall decline (Figure 1). This rise is not unexpected and, in part, likely a result of the increased security challenges, including the recent direct attacks on treatment centers, and pockets of community mistrust, which slowed some response activities in affected areas for a few days.

Katwa, Butembo, Masereka and Mandima account for over 80% of all cases in the last 21 days. A total of 97 confirmed cases were reported during the last 21 days from 38 of the 130 health areas affected to date (Table 1, Figure 2). This week, EVD was confirmed in an infant who died in Bunia Health Zone, but whose parents are in good health. This is the first confirmed case from this health zone; a previous case was identified from neighbouring Rwampara Health Zone in early February. While investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection, teams in place have rapidly implemented response activities including contact tracing, vaccination and heightened surveillance. Given the geographical spread of the epidemic and the high mobility in this region, the risk of Ebola spreading to unaffected areas or being reintroduced to previously affected areas remains high.

Published on March 21, 2019
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Margaret W. ‘Hap’ Brennecke: Trailblazer

Margaret W. ‘Hap’ Brennecke was the first female welding engineer to work in the Materials and Processes Laboratory at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. via NASA https://ift.tt/2FrvN8V

Waxing Gibbous Moon Above Earth's Limb

The waxing gibbous moon is pictured above Earth's limb as the International Space Station was orbiting 266 miles above the South Atlantic Ocean. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Y7zpnT

Preparing for Apollo 11

Apollo 11 backup crew members Fred Haise (left) and Jim Lovell prepare to enter the Lunar Module for an altitude test. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JkzvVU

Going Where the Wind Takes It

​Electronics technician Anna Noe makes final checks to the Doppler Aerosol Wind Lidar (DAWN) before it begins a cross-country road trip for use in an upcoming airborne science campaign. via NASA https://ift.tt/2HJufsJ

Liftoff! A New Crew Heads to the Space Station

The Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft lifted off with Expedition 59 crewmembers on a journey to the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Y35LjV

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The public health response to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak continues to make gains. During the last 21 days (20 February – 12 March 2019), no new cases have been detected in 10 of the 20 health zones that have been affected during the outbreak (Figure 1). There has also been fewer new cases observed over the past five weeks compared to January 2019 and earlier in the outbreak (Figure 2).

Currently, the greatest concern centres on the neighbouring urban areas of Katwa and Butembo, which continue to contribute about three-quarters of recent cases. Clusters in other areas of North Kivu and Ituri provinces have been linked to chains of transmission in Katwa and Butembo, and have thus far been contained to limited local transmissions with relatively small numbers of cases. A total of 74 confirmed cases were reported during the last 21 days from 32 of the 125 health areas affected to date (Table 1). Risk of further chains of transmission and spread remain high, as highlighted by the recent spread to Lubero Health Zone, and reintroduction to Biena Health Zone following a prolonged period without new cases.

Published on March 14, 2019
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The Soyuz at Dawn

The Soyuz rocket is seen at dawn on launch site 1 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. via NASA https://ift.tt/2T5b7XR

Stephanie Wilson: Preparing for Space

Stephanie Wilson is a veteran of three spaceflights--STS-120, STS-121 and STS-131--and has logged more than 42 days in space. via NASA https://ift.tt/2O22GvI

Soyuz Rollout to the Launch Pad

The Soyuz rocket is transported by train to the launch pad, Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. via NASA https://ift.tt/2HsGwBy

NASA's Future: From the Moon to Mars

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was photographed inside the Super Guppy aircraft that will carry the flight frame with the Orion crew module to a testing facility in Ohio. via NASA https://ift.tt/2UuE01e

Nancy Grace Roman: NASA's First Chief Astronomer

Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first chief astronomer, is known as the 'Mother of Hubble.' via NASA https://ift.tt/2HmRxo3

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak is continuing with moderate intensity. Katwa and Butembo remain the major health zones of concern, while small clusters continue simultaneously in some geographically dispersed locations. During the last 21 days (13 February – 5 March 2019), 76 new confirmed and probable cases have been reported from 31 health areas within nine health zones (Figure 1), including: Katwa (44), Butembo (17), Mandima (6), Masereka (3), Kalunguta (2), Beni (1), Vuhovi (1), Kyondo (1), and Rwampara (1). The emerging cluster in Mandima health zone is occurring in a previously unaffected village, with five of the recent cases epidemiologically linked and the sixth case likely exposed in Butembo; nonetheless, there remains a high risk of further spread. Similarly, recent cases (two confirmed and one probable) in Masereka stem from a Butembo chain of transmission. These events highlight the importance for response teams to remain active across all areas, including those with lower case incidence, to rapidly detect new cases and prevent onward transmission.

As of 5 March, 907 EVD cases¹ (841 confirmed and 66 probable) have been reported, of which 57% (514) were female and 30% (273) were children aged less than 18 years. Cumulatively, cases have been reported from 121 of 301 health areas across 19 health zones of the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Overall, 569 deaths (case fatality ratio: 63%) have been reported, and 304 patients have been discharged from Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs). Although declining trends in case incidence are currently being observed, the high proportion of community deaths reported among confirmed cases, relatively low proportion of new cases who were known contacts under surveillance, persistent delays in detection and isolation in ETCs (related as well to recent violent incidents), and challenges in the timely reporting and response to probable cases, all increase the likelihood of further chains of transmission in affected communities and continued spread.

Published on March 07, 2019 at 01:00AM
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Mostly Cloudy tomorrow!

With a high of 51F and a low of 42F.
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NASA Captures Supersonic Shock Interaction

One of the greatest challenges of the fourth phase of Air-to-Air Background Oriented Schlieren flights, or AirBOS flight series was timing. via NASA https://ift.tt/2UjhSa5

Light Rain/Wind tomorrow!

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The Dawn of a New Era in Human Spaceflight

"The dawn of a new era in human spaceflight," wrote astronaut Anne McClain. McClain had an unparalleled view from orbit of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft as it approached the International Space Station for docking on Sunday, March 3, 2019. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Tg1tqk

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection – Mexico

On 12 February 2019, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) received a report regarding surgical site infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa after invasive procedures performed in Tijuana, Mexico.

Published on March 05, 2019
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PM Light Rain tomorrow!

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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Oman

Between 12 and 18 February 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Oman reported eight additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Four cases were reported from South Sharquia governorate, and four cases were reported from North Batinah governorate where a MERS-CoV cluster was recently identified. Details of the additional eight cases can be found in the attached excel sheet.

Since 27 January 2019, a total of 13 MERS cases were reported from Oman, including nine from North Batinah (five cases were previously reported in the Disease outbreak News 11 February 2019) and four from South Sharquia.

Published on March 04, 2019 at 01:00AM
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Lifts Off From Launch Complex 39A

On March 2, 2:49 a.m. EST, a two-stage SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for Demo-1, the first uncrewed mission of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. via NASA https://ift.tt/2tR9vqy

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SpaceX Demo-1 Launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard launches from Launch Complex 39A, Saturday, March 2, 2019. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Tf5DPs

Rain/Wind tomorrow!

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Cloudy tomorrow!

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Mae Jemison, First African American Woman in Space

Mae Jemison was the first African Ameican woman in space. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Vuh02I