News From "NASA"

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Image: This composite of the giant barred spiral galaxy NGC 6872 combines visible light images from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope with far-ultraviolet (1,528 angstroms) data from NASA's GALEX and 3.6-micron infrared data acquired by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. A previously unsuspected tidal dwarf galaxy candidate appears only in the ultraviolet, indicating the presence of many hot young stars. IC 4970, the small disk galaxy interacting with NGC 6872, is located above the spiral's central region. The spiral is 522,000 light-years across from the tip of one outstretched arm to the tip of the other, which makes it about 5 times the size of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Images of lower resolution from the Digital Sky Survey were used to fill in marginal areas not covered by the other data. (Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/ESO/JPL-Caltech/DSS)

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SLS model 'flies' through Langley wind tunnel testing

NASA's Space Launch System buffet model in NASA's Langley Researcher Center's Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The SLS is America's next heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth's orbit. Credit: NASA/LaRC

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Just 96 days since their launch, NASA's twin Van Allen Probes have already provided new insights into the structure and behavior of the radiation belts that surround Earth, giving scientists a clearer understanding about the fundamental physical properties of these regions more than half a century after their discovery.

A graphic depicting the twin Van Allen Probes in orbit within Earth's magnetic field. Credit: JHU/APL

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"Kalpana Chawla "

Kalpana Chawla was born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal, Haryana, India. Called “Montu” by the family, she chose the name “Kalpana” at age three years old upon starting school. She attended Tagore Bal Niketan school, followed by Dyal Singh College and DAV College for Women, all in Karnal. Kalpana had decided on a career in aeronautical engineering at an early age, and in furtherance of this ambition attended Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh.
In 1982 Kalpana went to the USA to undertake a master’s degree programme at the University of Texas at Arlington, followed in 1984 by a doctorate programme at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Despite the loss of space shuttle Challenger in January 1986, she decided to apply for the NASA astronaut corps once she became eligible. After graduating in 1988, she took up a research scientist position at NASA Ames Research Center in Sunnyvale, California.

In the shadow of Ames’ massive wind tunnels, Kalpana specialized in computational fluid dynamics to develop methods to predict the behaviour of air as it flowed around aircraft. She simultaneously earned various pilot and flight instructor qualifications at a flying club in nearby Palo Alto. In 1993, Kalpana responded to a NASA announcement for astronaut candidate applications. We found out later that she had made it fairly far along the selection process, but was not chosen that year. She reapplied in the summer of 1994 and that December received an invitation to join the 1995 NASA astronaut candidate class.

In February 1995 we moved to Houston, Texas, whereupon Kalpana started the astronaut training programme. Her class graduated one year later, and in November 1996 Kalpana was assigned to the STS-87 mission aboard space shuttle Columbia. The mission flew in November – December 1997 during which Kalpana spoke with Prime Minister Inderjit K. Gujral from orbit. After a two-year interlude, she was assigned to the STS-107 mission in the summer of 2000. This mission launched on 16 January 2003 aboard space shuttle Columbia. After a very successful flight, Columbia was lost with its crew during reentry into Earth's atmosphere on 1 February 2003.

Kalpana’s name has been given to a hill on Mars, a star in deep space, college, scholarships, and awards. Her story is an example of the success that can be earned from hard work and persistence, and her life serves as an inspiration to Indian school children and youth who see themselves reflected in her.

STS087-E-5026 (November 22, 1997) Astronauts Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; and Kevin R. Kregel, mission commander, onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during flight day 4 activity. Dr. Chawla works at the Microgravity Glovebox. The photograph was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) at 21:47:32 

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ScienceAlert 05

A team of researchers have found evidence that the western long-beaked echidna isn't extinct in Australia and may still be roaming in the West Kimberley region. There is a small and declining population of western long-beaked echidna in Papua New Guinea [pictured] - finding a surviving population in Australia could help researchers save the species.

This microscope image shows the scales on the wings of a Prola Beauty butterfly, which reflect light to produce an amazing display of colour. 

Genes can jump from snakes to cows, according to new research. An Australian study suggests a quarter of a cow's genetic makeup originated in reptiles, challenging conventional thinking that DNA in complex organisms is only passed from parent to offspring. The scientists aren't sure how the DNA passed between the species, but suggests ticks may be responsible.

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NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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PHOTO CREDIT: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, carrying NASA’s twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, is rolled back from Space Launch Complex 41 to the Vertical Integration Facility. The rocket and spacecraft will be secured and protected from inclement weather due to Tropical Storm Isaac. RBSP will explore changes in Earth's space environment caused by the sun -- known as "space weather" -- that can disable satellites, create power-grid failures and disrupt GPS service. The mission also will provide data on the fundamental radiation and particle acceleration processes throughout the universe. The launch is rescheduled for 4:05 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30, pending approval from the range. For more information on RBSP

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PHOTO CREDIT: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An unfavorable weather forecast as a result of Tropical Storm Isaac approaching Florida kept NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, on Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Managers decided to roll the Atlas V rocket off the launch pad and back to the Vertical Integration Facility to ensure the launch vehicle and RBSP spacecraft are secured and protected from inclement weather. RBSP will explore changes in Earth's space environment caused by the sun -- known as "space weather" -- that can disable satellites, create power-grid failures and disrupt GPS service. The mission also will provide data on the fundamental radiation and particle acceleration processes throughout the universe. The launch is rescheduled for 4:05 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30, pending approval from the range. For more information on RBSP

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, heads to the launch pad after rolling out of the ULA Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 at 1:59 p.m. EDT. The Atlas V rocket had been rolled back to the facility on August 26 to ensure the launch vehicle and RBSP spacecraft were secured and protected from inclement weather caused by Tropical Storm Isaac. RBSP will explore changes in Earth's space environment caused by the sun -- known as "space weather" -- that can disable satellites, create power-grid failures and disrupt GPS service. The mission also will provide data on the fundamental radiation and particle acceleration processes throughout the universe. The launch is rescheduled for 4:05 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30, pending approval from the range. For more information on RBSP,

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Pictures....

• Description: Colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) from an acinar cell in the pancreas.

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