50 Years Of NASA Spacewalks!

June, 1965. Edward H. White II becomes the first American spacewalker, floating outside Gemini IV. NASA

See the best photos from 50 years of NASA spacewalks:

http://www.wired.com/2015/06/nasa-spacewalking-50-years/

Rocket Launch Scheduled For Tonight From Wallops

Rocket Launch Scheduled June 4 From Wallops

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA – A Black Brant XII suborbital rocket carrying the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER)is scheduled for launch between 11 and 11:59 p.m. EDT, June 4, from NASA’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The backup launch days are June 5 through 10. The rocket may be visible to residents in the mid-Atlantic region.

With CIBER, scientists will be studying when the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe and how brightly they burned their nuclear fuel.

Jamie Bock, CIBER principal investigator from the California Institute of Technology, said, “The objectives of the experiment are of fundamental importance for astrophysics: to probe the process of first galaxy formation. The measurement is extremely difficult technically.”

This will be the fourth flight for CIBER on a NASA sounding rocket. The previous launches were in 2009, 2010 and 2012 from the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. After each flight the experiment or payload was recovered for post-calibrations and re-flight.
For this flight CIBER will fly on a larger and more powerful rocket than before. This will loft CIBER to a higher altitude than those previously obtained, thus providing longer observation time for the instruments. The experiment, which will safely splash down in the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 miles off the Virginia coast, will not be recovered.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 9:30 p.m. on launch day for public viewing of the launch.

The mission will be available live on Ustream beginning at 10 p.m. on launch day at: http://www.ustream.com/channel/nasa-wallops

Mission status on launch day can be followed on Twitter and Facebook at:http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops or http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF

Mission status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.
More information on CIBER and the NASA Sounding Rocket Program is available at:http://www.nasa.gov/soundingrockets

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/ciberla.html

Rocket Launch Scheduled June 4 From Wallops

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA – A Black Brant XII suborbital rocket carrying the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER)is scheduled for launch between 11 and 11:59 p.m. EDT, June 4, from NASA’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The backup launch days are June 5 through 10. The rocket may be visible to residents in the mid-Atlantic region.

With CIBER, scientists will be studying when the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe and how brightly they burned their nuclear fuel.

Jamie Bock, CIBER principal investigator from the California Institute of Technology, said, “The objectives of the experiment are of fundamental importance for astrophysics: to probe the process of first galaxy formation. The measurement is extremely difficult technically.”

This will be the fourth flight for CIBER on a NASA sounding rocket. The previous launches were in 2009, 2010 and 2012 from the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. After each flight the experiment or payload was recovered for post-calibrations and re-flight.

For this flight CIBER will fly on a larger and more powerful rocket than before. This will loft CIBER to a higher altitude than those previously obtained, thus providing longer observation time for the instruments. The experiment, which will safely splash down in the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 miles off the Virginia coast, will not be recovered.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 9:30 p.m. on launch day for public viewing of the launch.

The mission will be available live on Ustream beginning at 10 p.m. on launch day at: http://www.ustream.com/channel/nasa-wallops

Mission status on launch day can be followed on Twitter and Facebook at:http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops or http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF

Mission status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.

More information on CIBER and the NASA Sounding Rocket Program is available at:  http://www.nasa.gov/sounding rockets.



www.nasa.gov

Antares Rocket Rehearses For Countdown On Wednesday

NASA Photo

On Saturday, Orbital Sciences Corporation conducted a wet dress rehearsal for the Antares rocket in preparation its Test Flight scheduled for later this week on April 17.

 Late in the countdown, at about T-16 minutes, the test was halted because the launch team had detected a technical anomaly in the process. Orbital has determined that a secondary pyro valve aboard one of the two first-stage engines used in the propellant chilldown process was not functioning properly.

 A replacement unit will be installed within 24 hours with the goal of maintaining the April 17 launch date.

To stay updated:
NASA.GOV

Antares Test Flight Scheduled for April 17

We've waited a while for this!  Should be spectacular and I can't wait!!

 Antares Rocket

The Antares rocket in vertical position, following roll-out maneuvers on

 April 6, 2013, at Wallops.  Credit: NASA/Brea Reeves

 

 

 

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. -- Orbital Sciences Corp. completed roll-out of the first fully-integrated Antares rocket to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Saturday, April 6. Orbital has confirmed an April 17 target launch date for the rocket test flight with a planned liftoff of 5 p.m. EDT.

Orbital is testing the Antares rocket under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. NASA initiatives like COTS are helping develop a robust U.S. commercial space transportation industry with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the space station and low-Earth orbit.

For more information on the launch, Wallops, and NASA initiatives like COTS, see:http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/antares.html.

NASA ~ Rescheduled

 
 
 

UPDATE: The engine test for Orbital Sciences Antares rocket on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s pad-0A at NASA Wallops Flight Facility has been rescheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13.

U.S. Navy Will Do Landing Operations At Wallops

NASA'S Wallops Flight Facility has been chosen for Navy Practice Landing.

Officials say the Navy has  determined the operations of field carrier landing practice at Wallops Island would have no significant environmental impacts on the local area.

Wallops was selected over the Emporia-Greensville Regional Airport and will begin practice at the NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore this summer.

The Navy says the  aircraft (E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound) will conduct up to 20,000 passes annually at the Wallops Island site.

The twin engine, turboprop aircraft are said to be quieter than jet aircraft.

Rigell Applauds Navy's Selection of Wallops Flight Facility for E-2/C-2 Field Carrier Landing Practice     

             
Washington, DC – On Thursday, the Navy announced it had selected Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for E-2/C-2 Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) for aircraft stationed at Naval Station Norfolk. The announcement came after a two-year consideration period. The Navy recently completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) which determined there would be no significant impact on nearby communities as a result of landing practice.

Congressman Scott Rigell (VA-2), a member of the House Armed Services Committee represents Virginia’s entire Eastern Shore, including Wallops Flight Facility. Rigell said he was pleased with the Navy’s decision and looked forward to seeing flight operations begin.

“NASA Wallops Flight Facility is a world class operation and I am encouraged that the Navy has chosen it as a partner to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice for E-2/C-2 aircraft,” Rep. Rigell said. “Home to more active duty and retired military personnel than any other district in the country, VA-2 is proud to support our military in any way we can, and welcomes the Navy’s business to the Eastern Shore.”

NASA Rocket Launch from Virginia

Photo/Wikipedia

NASA Rocket Launch from Virginia Scheduled July 21

NASA will launch an inflatable aeroshell/heat shield technology demonstrator on a Black Brant XI sounding rocket July 21 from the agency’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

NASA researchers are working to develop a new kind of lightweight inflatable spacecraft outer shell to slow and protect vehicles as they blaze through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.

Based on the approved range schedule, the rocket is set for launch between 6 and 8 a.m. EDT. The backup launch days are July 22 - 24.

The Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3), developed at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., will be flown on a suborbital flight test ride on a three-stage launch vehicle. Approximately 20 minutes after launch, the test article is projected to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, NC.

The rocket launch may be visible to residents in the Wallops and southern Chesapeake Bay region.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 4:30 a.m. on launch day for viewing the launch.

The launch will be webcast beginning at 5 a.m. on launch day at: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-wallops

Launch status can be followed on launch day on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops and Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF

Launch status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.

Further information on the IRVE-3 is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/hiad

NASA To Launch 5 Rockets In 5 Minutes

NASA is scheduled to launch five suborbital sounding rockets in just over five minutes March 15 from the Wallops Facility in Virginia as part of a study of the upper level jet stream.


Based on the approved range schedule, the launch window for March 15 is between midnight and 1:30 a.m. EDT. The backup launch days are March 16 through April 3.

The Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment (ATREX) will gather information needed to better understand the process responsible for the high-altitude jet stream located 60 to 65 miles above the surface of the Earth.

As part the mission, the five rockets will release a chemical tracer that will form milky, white clouds that allow scientists and the public to "see" the winds in space. These clouds may be visible for up to 20 minutes by residents from South Carolina to southern New Hampshire and Vermont.

The NASA Visitor Center will open at 10 p.m. on March 14, 2012 for public viewing.

Launch status also is available on the Facility’s Facebook page and its launch status line at 757-824-2050.

The mission will be web cast beginning at 10 p.m. on March 14, 2012 at:

http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast

Mission status on March 14 can be followed on Twitter at:

http://www.Twitter.com/NASA_Wallops

More information on the ATREX mission is available on the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex.html

Navy To Study Using Wallops For Practice Landings



E-2 Hawkeye



NORFOLK (AP) -- The Navy will consider using the runway at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility as a site for practice landings by pilots.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that the Navy announced its decision Thursday. E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound pilots would practice touch-and-go maneuvers and low-altitude passes.

Pilots of the propeller planes now use Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field in Chesapeake and also practice in Jacksonville, Fla. To ease congestion at Fentress and save travel costs, the Navy is trying to find a field closer to home.

The Navy also is looking at using Emporia's local airport.

A pilot involved in the search, Cmdr. Matt Baker, had complained that the Wallops option was being ignored.

Fleet Forces Command spokesman Ted Brown says an investigation found that none of Baker's allegations were substantiated.

Source;  http://www.wvec.com/news/military/Navy-to-study-using-Wallops-for-practice-landings-132305898.html

The UARS Has Fallen Back To Earth

It seems the dreaded satellite no longer needed  by NASA has fallen to the Earth. 


I awoke in the middle of the night a few nights ago to a humming in the sky and my first thought was this research satellite (as BIG as a bus) was heading towards my yard.  Then I remembered I was a day early in my thoughts and figured then it must have just been an alien saucer landing and leaving a fresh supply of mosquitoes.  I would deal with that later in the morning and fell back to sleep.


People were worried sick about the landing location of this mass and I have to admit I may have been more concerned if  I had seen Chicken Little being interviewed on CNN.


You can  remove your hard hats now.  You can walk into the street and your own backyards.  It's not here. 


And I must admit that if I had known about this 14 years ago I had forgotten it.  That's why I don't work for NASA.  I would have forgotten about it........besides what did we learn about chemicals in atmosphere?


Here's a release from NASA that's pretty interesting.......  Read it and find out exactly where "the bus" did land...........

NASA's UARS Re-Enters Earth's Atmosphere

WASHINGTON – NASA’s decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 23 and 1:09 a.m. Sept. 24, 20 years and nine days after its launch on a 14-year mission that produced some of the first long-term records of chemicals in the atmosphere.


The precise re-entry time and location of debris impacts have not been determined. During the re-entry period, the satellite passed from the east coast of Africa over the Indian Ocean, then the Pacific Ocean, then across northern Canada, then across the northern Atlantic Ocean, to a point over West Africa. The vast majority of the orbital transit was over water, with some flight over northern Canada and West Africa.


Six years after the end of its productive scientific life, UARS broke into pieces during re-entry, and most of it up burned in the atmosphere. Data indicates the satellite likely broke apart and landed in the Pacific Ocean far off the U.S. coast. Twenty-six satellite components, weighing a total of about 1,200 pounds, could have survived the fiery re-entry and reach the surface of Earth. However, NASA is not aware of any reports of injury or property damage.


The Operations Center for JFCC-Space, the Joint Functional Component Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., which works around the clock detecting, identifying and tracking all man-made objects in Earth orbit, tracked the movements of UARS through the satellite’s final orbits and provided confirmation of re-entry.

“We extend our appreciation to the Joint Space Operations Center for monitoring UARS not only this past week but also throughout its entire 20 years on orbit,” said Nick Johnson, NASA’s chief scientist for orbital debris, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This was not an easy re-entry to predict because of the natural forces acting on the satellite as its orbit decayed. Space-faring nations around the world also were monitoring the satellite’s descent in the last two hours and all the predictions were well within the range estimated by JSpOC.”

UARS was launched Sept. 12, 1991, aboard space shuttle mission STS-48 and deployed on Sept. 15, 1991. It was the first multi-instrumented satellite to observe numerous chemical components of the atmosphere for better understanding of photochemistry. UARS data marked the beginning of many long-term records for key chemicals in the atmosphere. The satellite also provided key data on the amount of light that comes from the sun at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. UARS ceased its scientific life in 2005.


Because of the satellite's orbit, any surviving components of UARS should have landed within a zone between 57 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south latitude. It is impossible to pinpoint just where in that zone the debris landed, but NASA estimates the debris footprint to be about 500 miles long.


For more information about UARS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/uars/index.html

The Sky Is Falling.............???

Defunct NASA Satellite To Crash To Earth This Week

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A defunct NASA science satellite is expected to fall back to Earth on Friday, showering debris somewhere on the planet although scientists cannot predict exactly where, officials said.


The 6.5-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, was carried into orbit during a space shuttle mission in 1991. It operated for 14 years, collecting measurements of ozone and other chemicals in the atmosphere.

Since completing its mission in 2005, UARS has been slowly losing altitude, tugged by Earth's gravity. On Friday, the 35-foot-long, 15-foot diameter (10.6-metres long, 4.5-metres diameter) satellite is expected to plunge into the atmosphere, NASA reported on its website


While most of the spacecraft will be incinerated, scientists expect up to 26 pieces, with a combined mass of about 1,100 pounds (500 kg) to survive the fiery re-entry and fall down somewhere on Earth.


The satellite's orbit passes over most of the planet, from as far north as northern Canada to the southern part of South America.


NASA said the chance a piece of UARS debris will strike a person is about one in 3,200. The debris will mostly likely fall into an ocean or land in an uninhabited region of Earth.


Satellites as large as UARS re-enter Earth's atmosphere about once a year.


NASA said there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries to people from falling debris.


The largest chunk of wreckage from UARS is expected to be about 331 pounds (151 kg), says Nicholas Johnson, chief scientist of NASA's Orbital Debris Program office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.


As of Sunday, UARS was in a 133-mile by 149-mile (215-km by 240-km) high orbit around Earth. Re-entry is expected some time on Friday, although it could happen as early as Thursday or as late as Saturday.


The agency is posting updates on its website,  http://www.nasa.gov/uars.

Source;  http://www.wtkr.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-space-debris-nasatre78i5ge-20110919,0,5888967.story

Test Flight From NASA On Thursday

A test flight of a NASA Terrier suborbital rocket motor will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 from the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, officials announced.

The backup launch days are Sept. 9 and 10.

The rocket will only be visible in the Wallops area. The NASA Visitor Center will open at 8:30 a.m. on launch day for viewing the launch.

This launch will not be webcast since the Terrier motor burn will be visible for only 6 seconds, according to officials.

Launch status is available on the Wallops launch status line at (757) 824-2050.

Photos Of The Last Launch Into Space For Atlantis

Thursday July 21, 2011 at 5:56 AM the Atlantis, along with the four astronauts touched down after its last 13 day mission to the International Space Station. A perfect landing and I guess a perfect end to the space travel as we know it. For 30 years we've watched astronauts take off and land and never once thought there may come a time such as this.

Can you remember 30 years back? Can you remember where you were and if you watched the first launch? I was at work seated in front of the television with my boss. Remembering back over the years that is probably where I saw most of the many, if not all, of the launches. Being there and seeing a launch from Cape Canaveral was just as the moon and the stars have been for many of us - never within reach.

But what is important to me know is NOT the landing of Atlantis today, except for the fact that the four aboard the Atlantis returned to Earth without one horrible incident that would have marred it's voyage forever.

I prefer to remember the beginning - that first day of Atlantis' last trip into space- kind of like the beginning to the end.
What so many do not know is that a local young woman and her husband traveled to Florida to actually witness this last launch of Atlantis. Keep in mind that this couple weren't even born when the Atlantis headed for space 30 years ago.

Cindi (nee Major) and husband Dave Pietroski spent a few days touring the Kennedy Space Center taking in the sights and with Cindi of course, snapping photos. Both of them are true lovers of excitement and I sort of think Cindi was afraid her husband would board the Atlantis for the final flight! Just kidding, of course. But I would't be afraid to bet that if asked to go they'd go in a heartbeat!

She has given me permission to post a few of her photos of the last flight into space for Atlantis.

First please listen to the video salute the astronauts aboard Atlantis sent to the workers at Wallop's Space Flight Facility.

Here are just a few of the many photos taken by Cindi. What a wonderful way to remember the last Atlantis space flight.

THANKS, CINDI!

Last Space Shuttle To Launch On Friday - Weather A Factor

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s last space shuttle launch this week may have to contend with lousy weather.

There’s a 60 percent chance that rain or thunderstorms will delay Friday’s planned liftoff of Atlantis, Kathy Winters, the shuttle weather officer, said Tuesday. The weather improves with each passing day, as the launch time gets slightly earlier.

Friday’s launch time is 11:26 a.m.

The countdown clocks were set to start ticking Tuesday afternoon. The four astronauts assigned to the 12-day flight arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Monday.

Atlantis will make one final supply run to the International Space Station before retiring. As many as a million spectators are expected to jam the Cape Canaveral area for the historic send-off.

Jeremy Graeber, NASA test director, said the launch team is doing its best to put off any emotions associated with the end of the 30-year shuttle era, until Atlantis flies.

“The team gets into the mode of this-is-launch-countdown, and that’s really the focus that everybody has,” Mr. Graeber told journalists. “The rest of the emotion that really comes with the end of the space shuttle program, I think, will really kind of roll in as launch is completed.”



Astronaut Chris Ferguson (left), commander of the last space shuttle mission, looks on as his fellow crew members, (from left) pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, wave American flags after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday, July 4, 2011. The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to lift off Friday morning on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris



Mr. Graeber, for one, can’t wait to take his seat in Launch Control. “It’s a really cool job … and [getting] to do it one more time is a great feeling,” he said.

Atlantis is loaded with thousands of pounds of food, clothes, experiments and other supplies for the orbiting complex. NASA wants to stockpile a year’s worth of provisions in case commercially sponsored cargo ships get delayed. The first such launch is targeted for later this year.

NASA is under orders to get out of the Earth-to-orbit business and focus instead on trips to true outer space: an asteroid and Mars.

This will be the 135th flight for the shuttle program and the 33rd for Atlantis, the last shuttle to be retired. Discovery was first in March, followed by Endeavour at the beginning of June. Each shuttle will head to a museum.

NASA said it must launch Atlantis by Sunday — choosing the best two out of three days — otherwise it will have to wait until at least July 16. That’s due to an unmanned rocket scheduled to lift off next week.

If the crowds are as huge as anticipated, NASA said, it will try Friday and then probably wait until Sunday to give launch controllers enough time to deal with the heavy traffic and get some rest.

Source;  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/5/storms-may-wash-out-last-space-shuttle-launch/

Third Attempt To Launch Rocket Today

NASA decided to scrub Wednesday's rocket launch from its Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore.

The launch attempt was for two NASA sounding rockets carrying experiments to study the ionosphere, according to Keith Koehler with the NASA Office of Communications.


The next launch attempt will be Thursday, July 7 with a launch window from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m.


The facility will not attempt a launch on the Space Shuttle launch day which is currently scheduled for Friday, July 8.


Koehler said the Wallops tracking systems will be supporting the shuttle launch.

The webcast for the July 7 launch attempt at Wallops will begin at 8:30 a.m. and can be followed at

 http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast

Launch status also is available at the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.

Rocket Launch At Wallops Island

WALLOPS ISLAND

NASA is planning to test several new rocket technologies with a launch Thursday of a Terrier-Improved Orion suborbital sounding rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility.

The new technologies include the Small Rocket/Spacecraft Techonology platform, or SMART; Autonomous Flight Safety System, Low Cost Telemetry Transmitter and an electrohydrodynamic-based thermal control unit, a news release says.

The launch is scheduled to happen between 7 and 10 a.m. and can be viewed by a webcast that will begin at 6 a.m. If weather prevents the launch, the backup days are June 10 and 11.

The launch also can be viewed at the NASA Visitor Center, which will open at 6 a.m. Launch status updates will be provided by NASA on Twitter and by phone at (757) 824-2050.

To learn more about the rocket program, visit  http://www.nasa.gov/wallops. 

Source; http://hamptonroads.com/2011/06/nasa-schedules-rocket-launch-wallops-island

Moon Rock Woman Tried To Sell Must Be Tested For Authenticity

 NASA officials have not yet determined whether the chunk of rock a woman was trying to sell in Lake Elsinore for $1.7 million is, in fact, genuine moon rock as she claimed.

"It's possible this is a moon rock, but it has to be tested first," said Gail Robinson, deputy inspector general at NASA.

The woman, who has not been identified, was taken into custody on Thursday morning as part of an undercover sting conducted by NASA investigators and aided by local police. She was not arrested, Robinson said.

The investigation, which spanned several months, led to a covert meeting in a Lake Elsinore restaurant on Grape Street where undercover NASA officials agreed to buy the rock for $1.7 million, according to a report by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

When the woman produced the artifact, several Lake Elsinore police investigators and NASA agents swooped in.

Moon rocks are classified as "national treasures'' and federal law prohibits the sale of the artifacts.

Robinson said "it's not all that unusual" for someone to try to sell a piece of the moon.

Twice a year, the space agency's inspector general's office issues a report outlining what space trinkets were found on the black market. A recent report detailed the recovery of two rocket motors from the Apollo missions that put man on the moon; the motors were on sale on the Internet.

Astronauts who landed on the moon collected 2,415 samples of moon rocks weighing a total of 842 pounds. Most of these rocks were collected during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions. In addition, three unmanned Soviet Luna spacecraft brought 0.66 pounds of lunar samples back to Earth, according to NASA's website.

Source; http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/05/nasa-moon-rock-sell.html

College Teams Will Launch Rockets From NASA On Saturday

Teams from three southeastern colleges will try to launch rockets 10,000 feet in the air from Wallops Island and survive a water recovery.

Students from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Mississippi State University in Starkville, and Mitchell Community College in Statesville, N.C., will participate in the event sponsored by NASA on May 21.

As part of the challenge, each team will design and build its own rocket and operate it during flight. Each team is also required to develop a project website and write progress and post-launch analysis reports.

Teams also develop space- and exploration-themed educational projects to share with schools and youth organizations in their communities.

Source; http://www.shoredailynews.com/

NASA Joining Forces With Military Families For Education Programs

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NASA's Office of Education will kick off a new campaign on Thursday, April 28, focused on reaching out to America's military families and engaging them in agency activities to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

This initiative supports the Joining Forces campaign announced by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, earlier this month.

During the NASA Education Pre-Launch Summit at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin will lay out the agency's plan to share educational resources and programs with students of military families.

Bolden will deliver the keynote luncheon address at 12:30 p.m. EDT and join invited military families afterward for hands-on STEM education activities. Military families also will attend the launch of space shuttle Endeavour on Friday as NASA's guests.

This outreach to military families is just one of many programs NASA education offers using the excitement of exploration to engage the nation's youth in STEM-related studies. The goal is to open the door to exciting future career options.

For more information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education