This Week in NASA History: First Use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle – July 31, 1971

This week in 1971, Apollo 15 became the first mission to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle. via NASA https://ift.tt/2YuDDoN

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 – Africa Region

The summaries below provide a situational update on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. No wild poliovirus has been detected on the African continent since September 2016.

In the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) sub-region, multiple cVDPV2 outbreaks continue to spread. All the countries that comprise the sub-region (Niger, Cameroon, and Nigeria) have reported outbreaks in either human or environmental samples.

Published on July 31, 2019
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Viewing the Mediterranean Coasts of Tunisia and Libya from the Space Station

The Mediterranean coasts of Tunisia and Libya and the Italian island of Sicily across the sea are pictured as the International Space Station orbited 260 miles above north Africa. via NASA https://ift.tt/32ZCby6

NASA Pilot Rich Rogers: "All Good Things ..."

For NASA Wallops Flight Facility research pilot Rich Rogers, July 26 brought an end to one of the things in his life that he has greatly enjoyed – flying Navy and NASA aircraft. via NASA https://ift.tt/2ZimWOn

Hubble Snaps a Galactic Potpourri of Particles

The sharply angled perspective in this Hubble image of spiral galaxy NGC 3169 makes it seem as if we, the viewers, are craning our necks to see over a barrier into the galaxy's bright center. In the case of NGC 3169, this barrier is the thick dust embedded within the galaxy's spiral arms. via NASA https://ift.tt/2YlsJFR

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 in Democratic Republic of the Congo is ongoing amidst a complex crisis, and we continue to observe sustained local transmission and a high number of cases.

Published on July 25, 2019
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Seeing the World With a Drone

A drone moves high above downtown Reno, Nevada on the afternoon of June 23, 2019 as part of NASA’s TCL-4 (Technology Capability Level) operation. via NASA https://ift.tt/2GrZFlS

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

From 1 through 30 June 2019, the National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 7 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) infection. These cases were from Al-Qassim (3 cases), Riyadh (2 cases), Madinah (1 death) and Eastern (1 case) regions. One of the newly reported cases is a health care worker, contact of a case included in the Disease outbreak news published on 16 July 2019 (Case no. 14). Two deaths were reported, one (Case no. 5) from the current reporting month, and a second death (Case no. 13) previously described as a case in the Disease outbreak news on 16 July 2019 .

The link below provides details of the 7 reported cases :

Published on July 24, 2019
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50 Years Ago Today: Apollo 11 Command Module Recovered After Splashdown

The Apollo 11 Command Module is hoisted aboard the USS Hornet, the prime recovery vessel for the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. via NASA https://ift.tt/2y6PJJI

Christopher Kraft at Flight Console

Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., who died July 22, 2019, created the concept of NASA's Mission Control and developed its organization, operational procedures and culture via NASA https://ift.tt/2M5U1cB

Visions of Apollo 11: Command Service Module Orbits the Moon

This image shows the Command Service Module orbiting the Moon as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the lunar surface. via NASA https://ift.tt/2O89ewv

Apollo 11 and Landing Site 2 in the Sea of Tranquility

This photographic illustration compares the size of Apollo 11 Landing Site 2 with that of the metropolitan New York City area. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JPCliF

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

On 17 July 2019, the Director-General convened the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to review the situation on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It was the fourth time the Director-General convened the Committee for this event since the declaration of the outbreak in August 2018 (previous meetings were held in October 2018, April 2019, and June 2019). The Director-General accepted the Emergency Committee’s recommendation that the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The decision was based on the recent developments in the outbreak, including the geographical expansion of the virus. The declaration of the PHEIC is not a reflection on the performance of the response team but rather a measure that recognizes the possible increased national and regional risks and the need for intensified and coordinated action to manage them. The Committee and WHO do not recommend any restrictions on travel or trade, which can hamper the fight against Ebola by affecting the movement of people and supplies. Further information, including temporary recommendations advised by the Emergency Committee, is available in the statement, speech by WHO Director General, and news release.

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces continued this past week with similar transmission intensity to recent weeks. While the stability of the transmission intensity of the outbreak is an indication of the strong response efforts to limit local transmission in affected health zones, the spread of EVD into new geographical areas and continued insecurity in the affected regions continue to complicate the control of the outbreak.

Published on July 18, 2019 at 01:05AM
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Soyuz Heads to the Launch Pad in Black and White

In this black and white infrared image, the Soyuz rocket is seen as it transported to the launch pad by train, Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JMTJod

Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins Talks to Apollo 11 and Artemis 1 Launch Teams

Then and Now: Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins talks to Apollo 11 and Artemis 1 Launch Teams in Firing Room 1 at Kennedy Space Center. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JBx67u

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

From 1 through 31 May 2019, the National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 14 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) infection, including five deaths. Of the 14 cases reported, four cases were associated with two separate clusters. Cluster 1 involved two cases (case no. 6 and case no. 7) living in the same household in Alkharj, Riyadh, and cluster 2 involved one patient (case no. 9) and one healthcare worker (case no. 11) in Riyadh.

The link below provides details of the 14 reported cases:

Published on July 16, 2019
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50 Years Ago Apollo 11 Launches Into History

At 8:32 a.m. EST, July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Florida on a mission to the Moon. via NASA https://ift.tt/2lweTyp

Artist Russ Arasmith's Visions of Apollo

Artist Russ Arasmith's vision of Apollo was a potent vision of the program that shows in the works he created. via NASA https://ift.tt/32qhsTK

Hubble Peers at Galactic Cherry Blossoms

The galaxy NGC 1156 resembles a delicate cherry blossom tree flowering in springtime in this Hubble image. The many bright "blooms" within the galaxy are in fact stellar nurseries — regions where new stars are springing to life. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JEsoof

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

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo continues this past week with a similar transmission intensity to the previous week.

Published on July 11, 2019 at 01:05AM
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Delivering Saturn Test Hardware to Marshall in July 1964

In July 1964, the first Saturn V S-IVB, or third stage test hardware, was delivered to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center via NASA https://ift.tt/2NMBt3C

Growing VEGGIEs in Space

Leafy greens are growing in space! via NASA https://ift.tt/2YMyx84

Jupiter Abyss

NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured this view of an area within a Jovian jet stream showing a vortex that has an intensely dark center. via NASA https://ift.tt/2XwvNPI

Total Solar Eclipse Darkens the South Pacific

On July 2, 2019, skywatchers in the beach city of La Serena, Chile, looked up at 4:38 p.m. local time to see a black circle in the sky. via NASA https://ift.tt/32iyof4

Earth's Glow, the Moon and a Starry Night

This was the view as the International Space Station orbited 256 miles above the Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Hawaiian island chain. via NASA https://ift.tt/2XtkkAl

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

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo continued with a steady transmission intensity this week. Indicators demonstrated the early signs of transmission easing in intensity in some major hotspots, such as Butembo and Katwa. The current hotspots are the health zones of Beni, Mabalako, and Mandima, with some cases being exported from these hotspot areas into unaffected health zones. There is a slight but notable increase in the number of new cases occurring in areas that previously had lower rates of transmission, such as the Komanda, Lubero, and Rwampara/ Bunia health zones. On 30 June, a case who had travelled overland from Beni was confirmed in Ariwara, more than 460 kilometres north of Beni, towards the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. This is the first confirmed case in this health zone, and a response team was deployed from Bunia to investigate and implement public health actions in Ariwara. Uganda and South Sudan have mobilized quickly, building on the preparedness efforts during the last months. Arua district in Uganda shares a border with Ariwara health zone, with high volume of trade and population movement. The Arua District Task Force in Arua mobilized on 2 July to agree on a plan of action, the Ministry of Health (MoH) immediately dispatched the National Rapid Response Team for needs assessment, and the vaccination team from Kasese was also dispatched to Arua district on 3 July to start vaccinating the front-line health workers. In South Sudan, WHO and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) convened a joint meeting with implementing partners on 2 July to plan and coordinate field missions. Joint teams were dispatched to Kei State on 3 July to support operational readiness activities.

In the 21 days from 12 June through 02 July 2019, 73 health areas within 20 health zones reported new cases, representing 11% of the 664 health areas within North Kivu and Ituri provinces (Figure 2). During this period, a total of 285 confirmed cases were reported, the majority of which were from the health zones of Mabalako (30%, n=85), Beni (27%, n=76), Mandima (8%, n=23), Lubero (6%, n=16) and Kalunguta (5%, n=14). As of 02 July 2019, a total of 2369 EVD cases, including 2275 confirmed and 94 probable cases, were reported (Table 1). A total of 1598 deaths were reported (overall case fatality ratio 68%), including 1504 deaths among confirmed cases. Of the 2369 confirmed and probable cases with known age and sex, 56% (1334) were female, and 29% (691) were children aged less than 18 years. Cases continue to rise among health workers, with the cumulative number infected rising to 130 (6% of total cases).

Published on July 04, 2019
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NASA's First Rover on the Red Planet

This 8-image mosaic of the Sojourner rover on the surface of Mars was acquired during the late afternoon on Sol 2. Sojourner arrived aboard the Mars Pathfinder on July 4, 1997. via NASA https://ift.tt/329iMdG

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: HIV cases-Larkana district,Sindh province, Pakistan

On 25 April 2019, the local administration in Larkana district was alerted by media reports of a surge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among children in Ratodero Taluka, Larkana district, Sindh province, Pakistan. A screening camp was initially established at Taluka’s main hospital. Later, screening was expanded to other health facilities including selected Rural Health Centers (RHCs) and Basic Health Units (BHUs). HIV rapid test kits that were initially used were replaced with pre-qualified WHO test kits.

From 25 April through 28 June 2019, a total of 30,192 people have been screened for HIV, of which 876 were found positive. Eighty-two per cent (719/876) of these were below the age of 15 years. During the screening, several risk factors were identified, including: unsafe intravenous injections during medical procedures; unsafe child delivery practices; unsafe practices at blood banks; poorly implemented infection control programs; and improper collection, storage, segregation and disposal of hospital waste.

Published on July 03, 2019
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Taking to the Skies: Orion Test Brings Moon, Mars Missions Closer

A launch abort system (LAS) with a test version of Orion attached soars upward on NASA’s Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test atop a Northrop Grumman provided booster on July 2, 2019, after launching at 7 a.m. EDT. via NASA https://ift.tt/2xskIji

Orion "Go" for Launch

A test version of NASA’s Orion crew module is ready for rollback at Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. via NASA https://ift.tt/2LBjc6u