New Mission Ready to Extend NASA's Study of Carbon

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3, or OCO-3, sits on the large vibration table (known as the "shaker") in the Environmental Test Lab at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2GTftOU

Opportunity's Final Traverse Map

This final traverse map for NASA's Opportunity rover shows where the rover was located within Perseverance Valley on June 10, 2018, the last date it made contact with its engineering team. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2DCtIpi

Hubble Snaps a Crowded Cluster

This sparkling burst of stars is Messier 75. It is a globular cluster: a spherical collection of stars bound together by gravity. Clusters like this orbit around galaxies and typically reside in their outer and less-crowded areas, gathering to form dense communities in the galactic suburbs. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2L68mag

Station Crew Views the Frozen Southern Tip of Hudson Bay

The International Space Station crew snapped this image of the Hudson Bay's frozen southern tip. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2UI1WNP

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

This past week witnessed a notable escalation of security incidents surrounding the Ebola virus disease (EVD) response efforts. On 19 April, an attack on a hospital in Katwa by armed militia resulted in the tragic death of Dr Richard Mouzoko Kiboung, a WHO epidemiologist, and the injury of two other healthcare workers. To ensure the safety of all outbreak responders, Ebola response activities have been temporarily halted in some high-risk health areas until security measures can be reinforced.

WHO, the UN, and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are actively collaborating to review current strategic and operational security measures to ensure the protection of healthcare workers in the field, and improve effective coordination and information sharing amongst all security elements covering the response. Existing operational security measures continue to be implemented and strengthened as well, including the establishment of security perimeters around the residences of EVD response personnel, increasing security at fixed locations, enhancing the joint quick response team (QRT) capacities of local police and UN security forces, and ensuring staff compliance with tracking procedures and adherence to curfew. These measures and other security risk management processes will be continually updated to reflect the needs of the evolving security situation on the ground.

Published on April 25, 2019
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Landslides in Mars' Cerberus Fossae

Cerberus Fossae is a steep-sided set of troughs cutting volcanic plains to the east of Elysium Mons, Mars. This image was captured by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2VjCxP9

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

From 14 February through 31 March 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 22 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including four deaths, associated with the outbreak in Wadi Aldwasir.

Published on April 24, 2019
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Formation of the Southern Crab Nebula

In celebration of the 29th anniversary of the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on April 24, 1990, astronomers captured an image of the tentacled Southern Crab Nebula. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2vfDh9e

Behold the Southern Lights!

As the International Space Station orbited 265 miles above the southern Indian Ocean about halfway between Madagascar and Antarctica, the crew snapped this image of the Aurora Australis. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2IsToZH

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

The incidence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to increase this week; however, it remained confined to a limited geographical area within North Kivu and Ituri provinces. This recent trend is likely attributable, in part, to past and ongoing security issues, unrest amongst certain local populations, and lingering community mistrust towards outbreak response teams. Improved case detection and response activities have been observed in previously inaccessible hotspots.

In the 21 days between 27 March and 16 April 2019, 55 health areas within 11 health zones reported new cases; 39% of the 143 health areas affected to date (Table 1 and Figure 2). During this period, a total of 249 confirmed cases were reported from Katwa (124), Vuhovi (40), Mandima (28), Butembo (24), Beni (16), Oicha (6), Mabalako (5), Kalunguta (2), Masereka (2), Musienene (1), and Lubero (1).

Published on April 18, 2019
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A Rainbow and the Cygnus Launch

A rainbow is seen at launch Pad-0A after the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket launched, Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2Gj96De

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Yellow fever – Brazil

In Brazil, seasonal increases of yellow fever have historically occurred between December and May.

Published on April 18, 2019
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Northrop Grumman Engineers Load Final Cargo for Cygnus Launch

Mission engineers load the final cargo into the Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2V6Z15N

Northrop Grumman's 11th Cargo Launch Prepares to Launch to Station

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen during sunrise on Pad-0A, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2v8EEqk

NASA Takes Advantage of Innovative 3-D Printing Process for SLS Rocket

America’s powerful new deep space rocket, NASA’s Space Launch System, will face harsh conditions and extreme temperatures in flight when launching NASA’s Orion spacecraft and potential cargo to lunar orbit, and for that, it’ll need strong protection. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2Il3GLk

Space Launch System Ascent Testing Advances Understanding of Cargo Configuration

Space Launch System Ascent Testing Advances Understanding of Cargo Configuration via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2Z7cRUT

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

The rise in number of Ebola virus diseases cases observed in the North Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues this week. During the last 21 days (20 March to 9 April 2019), 57 health areas within 11 health zones reported new cases; 40% of the 141 health areas affected to date (Table 1 and Figure 2). During this period, a total of 207 probable and confirmed cases were reported from Katwa (83), Vuhovi (41), Mandima (29), Beni (21), Butembo (15), Oicha (8), Masereka (4), Lubero (2), Musienene (2), Kalunguta (1), and Mabalako (1).

As of 9 April, a total of 1186 confirmed and probable EVD cases have been reported, of which 751 died (case fatality ratio 63%). Of the 1186 cases with reported age and sex, 57% (675) were female, and 29% (341) were children aged less than 18 years. The number of healthcare workers affected has risen to 87 (7% of total cases), including 31 deaths. To date, a total of 354 EVD patients who received care at Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs) have been discharged.

Published on April 11, 2019
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Launching Rockets to Study Auroras

NASA successfully launched the Auroral Zone Upwelling Rocket Experiment or AZURE mission on April 5, 2019, from the Andøya Space Center in Norway. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2YYQmS9

David Saint-Jacques' First Spacewalk

David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency completed the first spacewalk if his career on Monday, April 8, 2019. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2Gfb2Ot

2019 Astronaut Hall of Fame Honorees

Astronauts Jim Buchli and Janet Kavandi are inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Class of 2019 during a ceremony on April 6, 2019. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2D489O6

Capturing a View of the Antelope Valley's Superbloom of Poppies

As Glenn Graham, director of Armstrong Flight Research Center's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance flew his T-34 aircraft over California's Antelope Valley, he beheld a once in a lifetime event--a superbloom. via NASA https://go.nasa.gov/2OUCGmA

Snow and Sand in Central Asia

In December 2018, an astronaut on the International Space Station took this highly oblique photograph of snow on the eastern Tien Shan and Taklimakan Desert in Central Asia. via NASA https://ift.tt/2G2keo3

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

This past week saw a marked increase in the number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the last 21 days (13 March to 2 April 2019), 57 health areas within 12 health zones reported new cases; 42% of the 135 health areas affected to date (Table 1 and Figure 2). During this period, a total of 172 confirmed cases were reported from Katwa (50), Vuhovi (34), Mandima (28), Masereka (18), Beni (13), Butembo (12), Oicha (8), Kayna (3), Lubero (3), Kalunguta (1), Bunia (1) and Musienene (1). WHO and partners will continue to adapt our strategies and strengthen response efforts to limit the further spread of EVD in these health areas.

As of 2 April, a total of 1100 confirmed and probable EVD cases have been reported, of which 690 died (case fatality ratio 63%). Of the 1100 cases with reported age and sex, 58% (633) were female, and 29% (320) were children aged less than 18 years. The number of healthcare workers affected has risen to 81 (7% of total cases), including 27 deaths.

Published on April 04, 2019
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Cloud Formation in the South Indian Ocean

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station snapped this image as the station flew 265 miles above this cloudy formation in the south Indian Ocean. via NASA https://ift.tt/2FXlXfm

Operation IceBridge: Exploring Alaska’s Mountain Glaciers

In Alaska, 5 percent of the land is covered by glaciers that are losing a lot of ice and contributing to sea level rise. via NASA https://ift.tt/2D16XeL

Nick Hague Completes 215th Spacewalk on Station

Astronaut Nick Hague performs a spacewalk on March 29, 2019. via NASA https://ift.tt/2HQtoXN