Be An Astronaut

In March 2017, Peggy Whitson broke the then-spacewalking record for female astronauts. via NASA https://ift.tt/2yfuV6b

Celebrating NASA's Astronaut-Physicians

Today is National Doctors' Day! via NASA https://ift.tt/2QWrJTM

Hubble Hooks a One-Arm Galaxy

Located about 21 million light-years from our galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici, NGC 4618 has a diameter of about one-third that of our Milky Way. Together with its neighbor, NGC 4625, it forms an interacting galaxy pair, which means that the two galaxies are close enough to influence each other gravitationally. via NASA https://ift.tt/3bGuO2f

Denman Glacier in East Antarctica

This photograph shows ripples in the surface of Denman Glacier in East Antarctica that throw shadows against the ice. via NASA https://ift.tt/2WMGbRF

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

No new cases have been reported in the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 17 February 2020 (Figure 1).

Published on March 26, 2020
View on website

Tracking Methane Sources and Movement Around the Globe

NASA’s new three-dimensional portrait of methane concentrations shows the world’s second largest contributor to greenhouse warming. via NASA https://ift.tt/3am6OkG

Astronaut Christina Koch Services a 3-D Biological Printer

Christina Koch handles media bags that enable the manufacturing of organ-like tissues using the BioFabrication Facility (BFF), a 3-D biological printer on the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/2QDVHLW

Viewing Our Galactic Center

The central region of our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains an exotic collection of objects. via NASA https://ift.tt/3dpMosD

Celebrating Women at NASA: Aerospace Engineer Michelle Lynde

Michelle Lynde is an aerospace engineer who conducts aerodynamic analysis of configurations using Computational Fluid Dynamics tools, wind tunnel experiments and flight tests. via NASA https://ift.tt/2IZYVoH

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

There have been no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 17 February 2020. However, because there is still a risk of re-emergence of EVD, it is critical to maintain surveillance and response operations until and after the end of outbreak declaration – as outlined in the WHO recommended criteria for declaring the end of the EVD outbreak.

Unfortunately, the response faces increasing limitations that could result in delayed detection and control of flare-ups. These limitations include a funding shortfall, ongoing insecurity and lack of access to some areas, and limited staffing and resources amidst other local and global emergencies.

Published on March 19, 2020
View on website

Remembering Apollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden

Former astronaut Al Worden, command module pilot on the Apollo 15 lunar landing, passed away March 18, 2020, in Texas.​ via NASA https://ift.tt/2xKO0wO

Alligators and Rockets: Sharing the Kennedy Space Center

An alligator lurks in a marshy waterway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The center shares a border with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. via NASA https://ift.tt/38ZzqhW

Test Version of Orion Capsule Recovered in the Pacific Ocean

With the USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) in the distance, helicopters from the HSC-23 squadron fly by a test version of an Orion capsule during Underway Recover y Test-8 in the Pacific Ocean. via NASA https://ift.tt/39X3agV

Next Space Station Crew Takes a Break From Training

Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA (left) and Anatoly Ivanishin (center) and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz trainer. via NASA https://ift.tt/3d69iFi

Michun North: My Everyday Extraordinary Is Helping Launch America into Space

Michun North is a program analyst, who helps manage finances for the Commercial Crew Program. via NASA https://ift.tt/2U1SLd0

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

It has been over 21 days since the last confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been reported (Figure 1). On 9 March, the last 46 contacts finished their follow-up. These are important milestones in the outbreak as over one maximum incubation period has passed without any confirmed cases of EVD. However, there is still a high risk of re-emergence of EVD, and a critical need to maintain response operations – as outlined in the WHO recommended criteria for declaring the end of the EVD outbreak.

Extensive surveillance, pathogen detection, clinical management and other response activities are currently ongoing. These include, but are not limited to, investigating and validating new alert cases, supporting appropriate care and rapid diagnostics of suspected cases which continue to be detected each day, and supporting survivors through a multi-disciplinary programme to help mitigate potential risks of re-emergence. Over the course of the past week (4–10 March 2020), over 32 000 alerts were reported and investigated, and 2584 alerts were validated as suspected cases; requiring specialized care and laboratory testing to rule-out EVD. From 2 to 8 March, 2818 samples were tested including: 1574 blood samples from alive, suspected cases; 376 swabs from community deaths; and 868 samples from re-tested patients. Overall, this was a 16% decrease in testing compared to the previous week.

Published on March 12, 2020
View on website

Apollo 9 Takes the Lunar Module for a Test Drive

When Apollo 9 in March 1969 human spaceflight, it was the second crewed mission and the countdown to Apollo 11. via NASA https://ift.tt/2vczcpQ

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

On 18 February 2020, the National IHR Focal Point for Qatar reported one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection (MERS-CoV) to WHO.

Published on March 12, 2020
View on website

A Slice of Polar Layer Cake

The Martian ice cap is like a cake with every layer telling a story. In this case, the story is one of climate change on Mars. via NASA https://ift.tt/38NzNMI

Image of a Supermoon

A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closet (perigee) to Earth. via NASA https://ift.tt/2TCqsCM

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Dengue fever – French Territories of the Americas – French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy

On 12 February 2020, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported an increase in the number of cases of dengue infection in French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint-Martin. In January 2020, health authorities in the region declared a dengue epidemic in Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin and indicated that Martinique is also at-risk of an epidemic.

Dengue epidemics in these territories usually occur when there is a shift in the predominant circulating DENV serotype, and non-immune populations (e.g., tourists, new immigrants, or people not previously exposed to the circulating serotypes) are exposed to the new serotype through human movements within the territories or across neighboring countries. Local transmission occurs through the Aedes mosquito vector present on the islands and in French Guiana.

Published on March 10, 2020
View on website

SpaceX's Dragon Launches to Space Station

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft lifted off on its way to the International Space Station after launching at 11:50 p.m. EST Friday, March 6. via NASA https://ift.tt/331eeqD

Celebrating the Life of Katherine Johnson

A Celebration of Life service was held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 for NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson at the Hampton University Convocation Center. via NASA https://ift.tt/330FXYq

Hubble Spies Galactic Traffic Jam

NGC 3887 is one of many galaxies in our universe with spiral arms, just like our own Milky Way. Until the 1960s, the behavior of spiral arms was an astronomical puzzle. The arms emanate from a spinning core and "should" therefore become wound up ever more tightly over time. Instead, they move more slowly, like an interstellar traffic jam. via NASA https://ift.tt/3cLNcrM

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

No new cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported since 17 February, and on 3 March, the only person confirmed to have EVD in the last 21 days (Figure 1) was discharged from an Ebola Treatment Centre after recovering and testing negative twice for the virus. This is an important milestone in the outbreak. However, there is still a high risk of re-emergence of EVD, and a critical need to maintain response operations – as outlined in the WHO recommended criteria for declaring the end of the EVD outbreak.

As of 3 March 2020, a total of 3444 EVD cases were reported from 29 health zones (Table 1, Figure 2), including 3310 confirmed and 134 probable cases, of which 2264 cases died (overall case fatality ratio 66%). Of the total confirmed and probable cases, 56% (n=1927) were female, 28% (n=973) were children aged less than 18 years, and 5% (n=171) were health care workers.

Published on March 05, 2020
View on website

Jupiter as Never Seen Before!

See Jupiter’s Great Red Spot as you’ve never seen it before in this work of art. via NASA https://ift.tt/3cwVUKd

Artemis I's Orion Capsule Undergoing Testing

NASA’s Orion spacecraft, a critical part of the agency’s Artemis I mission, is nearing the end of a three-month testing campaign at the agency's Plum Brook Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/2PNnj0G

Artemis I's Orion Capsule Completes Testing

NASA’s Orion spacecraft, a critical part of the agency’s Artemis I mission, has completed three months of testing at the agency's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Ijh94n

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Measles - Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) has experienced an upsurge in measles cases as a result of outbreaks since 2019.

Published on March 04, 2020
View on website

Amelia Earhart Visits the NACA (And Gets Her Coat Caught in a Wind Tunnel!)

Amelia Earhart visits Langley in November 1928. via NASA https://ift.tt/32Tqrxy

Astronaut Jessica Meir Configures the Light Microscopy Module

NASA astronaut and International Space Station Expedition 62 crew member Jessica Meir configures the Light Microscopy Module inside the Fluids Integrated Rack. via NASA https://ift.tt/2TiRCPb