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NASA: Arctic Sea ice still at risk

Tue, 18/03/2008 - 21:58 by MT Bureau

Washington -- The U.S. space agency said updated satellite data show Arctic Sea ice has increased in some colder-than-average areas but continues to decline elsewhere.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists said the increased area of sea ice this winter is due to recent weather conditions, while the decline in perennial ice reflects the longer-term warming climate trend.

Perennial sea ice is the long-lived, year-round layer of ice that remains even when the surrounding short-lived seasonal sea ice melts during the summer. NASA said it is that perennial sea ice, left from the summer melt period, that has been rapidly declining from year to year.

The latest satellite data show where perennial ice used to cover 50 percent to 60 percent of the Arctic. This year it covers less than 30 percent. Very old ice that remains in the Arctic for at least six years comprised more than 20 percent of the Arctic area in the mid-to-late 1980s, but this winter it decreased to only 6 percent.

NASA awards lunar lander contract

Tue, 18/03/2008 - 20:54 by MT Bureau

Washington -- The U.S. space agency has selected five companies to receive contracts for a 210-day study to evaluate the agency's design concept for a lunar lander.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Constellation Program scientists produced the concept for the lander that will deliver four astronauts to the surface of the moon by 2020.

The awards total approximately $1.5 million, with a maximum individual award of $350,000. NASA said the recommendations will be used to increase the technical maturity of the existing design in preparation for the development of vehicle requirements.

The Constellation Program involves NASA's next generation fleet of spacecraft -- including the Ares I and Ares V rockets, the Orion crew capsule and the Altair lunar lander.

NASA prepares for Moonbuggy Race

Mon, 17/03/2008 - 21:37 by MT Bureau

Huntsville, Ala -- The U.S. space agency is transforming part of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center into a lunar landscape for the 15th annual Great Moonbuggy Race.

By the end of the month about a half-mile of cement footpaths will be ready at the Huntsville, Ala., facility to test the engineering savvy and physical endurance of about 400 high school and college students in the April 4-5 event organized by National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Students from 20 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, India and Germany, will race lightweight moonbuggies they designed, based on the original lunar rovers used during the 1971 Apollo 15 moon mission. The vehicles will encounter 17 course obstacles that will be built to resemble moon-like ridges, craters, sandy basins and lava-etched "rilles."

NASA awards Kennedy support contract

Mon, 17/03/2008 - 21:22 by MT Bureau

Washington -- The U.S. space agency has awarded Rede-Critique Inc. of Metairie, La., a $45 million contract for Kennedy Space Center support services.

The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity four-year, six-month contract includes a six-month base period and four one-year option periods. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract consolidates various current institutional support service contracts previously awarded the company, which is a joint venture of Rede Inc. and Critique Resource Consulting Inc.

NASA said offices supported by the contract include the space shuttle, international space station, launch services and the Constellation programs.

Services will include non-technical administrative support such as technical training, clerical support, financial management support, personnel program activity, employee development and training, employee benefits and records management.

Money Issues, Politics Squeeze NASA

Mon, 17/03/2008 - 12:31 by MT Bureau

Washington -- The United States' space agency reportedly is facing tough times due to tight resources and the politics of the Bush administration.

While President George Bush said four years ago the United States would return to the moon by 2020, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been left in limbo as political stresses have combined with a scientific fight over the next space destination, the Houston Chronicle said Sunday.

Former astronaut Kathy Thornton is one of a number of scientific officials who want NASA to focus on a trip to Mars rather than a return voyage to the moon.

"There is value in going back to the moon as an outpost, as a research area," Thornton said, adding "We ought to move on (to Mars) and not get bogged down (on the moon) for all eternity."

Arms Attached to Spacewalking Robot

Mon, 17/03/2008 - 12:10 by MT Bureau

Washington -- The arms of a $209 million spacewalking robot named Dextre, were attached Sunday by astronauts on the International Space Station, a report said.

The 12-foot, Canadian-built robot was created to take on some repair duties typically performed by human spacewalking astronauts, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Astronauts Rick Linnehan and Mike Foreman grunted as they worked to loosen the robot's fastened-down arms from its transport bed and attach them to Dextre's shoulders, the report said.

"It's really eerie out here, with this white humanoid-looking thing below me -- Mr. Roboto," Linnehan said.

Linnehan and astronaut Bob Behnken reportedly will conduct a spacewalk Monday night to hook up Dextre's tool-belt, cameras and lights.

NASA prepares for Moonbuggy Race

Fri, 14/03/2008 - 14:01 by MT Bureau

Huntsville, Ala. -- The U.S. space agency is transforming part of its Marshall Space Flight Center into a lunar landscape for the 15th annual Great Moonbuggy Race.

By the end of the month about a half-mile of cement footpaths at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration facility will be ready to test the engineering savvy and physical endurance of about 400 high school and college students in the April 4-5 event organized by NASA in Huntsville, Ala.

Students from 20 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, India and Germany, will race lightweight moonbuggies they designed, based on the lunar rover used during the 1971 Apollo 15 moon mission. The vehicles will encounter 17 course obstacles that will be built to resemble moon-like ridges, craters, sandy basins and lava-etched "rilles."

Venus Phenomenon Still Puzzling Scientist

Fri, 14/03/2008 - 13:15 by MT Bureau

Paris -- European Space Agency astronomers said they are puzzled by an enormous structure in the Venusian atmosphere that resembles the eye of a hurricane.

The ESA's Venus Express spacecraft has been observing the south pole of Venus and the phenomenon that morphs and changes shape within a matter of days. It was discovered in 1974 by the Mariner 10 spacecraft.

The eye of the hurricane is at the center of a 1,200-mile-wide vortex. There is a similar structure on the planet's north pole, which was observed by the Pioneer Venus mission in 1979.

Venus Express scientists studying the structure in the thermal infrared said the core of the vortex appears very bright, probably indicating a lot of atmospheric gases are moving downward in the region, which creates a depression at the cloud-tops, making the region hotter.

Endeavour Arrives Safely at the ISS

Thu, 13/03/2008 - 21:18 by Samia Sehgal

NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station after ending a high-paced race, late Wednesday. The seven astronauts aboard the shuttle were warmly greeted by the three residents of ISS.

Endeavour Docks With the Space Station

Thu, 13/03/2008 - 20:59 by MT Bureau

Houston -- The crews of space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station completed their first orbits as a joint operational team Thursday.

The crews greeted each other soon after the shuttle docked at the ISS at 11:49 p.m. EDT Wednesday and hatches between the two spacecraft were opened.

Shortly before docking, STS-123 commander Dominic Gorie guided the shuttle through a "back-flip" maneuver, giving the Expedition 16 crew the opportunity to take pictures of the orbiter's protective heat-resistant tiles. The photos were sent to engineers on Earth for analysis to determine if any damage occurred during launch or the journey into orbit.

The STS-123 and Expedition 16 crews opened the hatches between Endeavour and the station at 1:36 a.m. and began preparing for the first of five scheduled spacewalks. National Aeronautics and Space Administration controllers in Houston said that event was scheduled for 9:23 p.m. EDT Thursday.

NASA Extends Astronaut Training Contract

Thu, 13/03/2008 - 13:11 by MT Bureau

Houston -- The U.S. space agency has awarded a $78 million contract extension to support astronaut training facilities and operations.

The contract, awarded to the Raytheon Technical Services Co. of Webster, Texas, involves operations and facilities at the Johnson Space Center and Sonny Carter Training Facility in Houston.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the contract extension will prevent a lapse in spaceflight training services at the facilities.

The original contract was awarded to Raytheon in February 2003. Its current value is $111 million, but with the extension it is valued at $57 million, with one pre-priced option valued at $21 million, and a one-year period of performance, NASA said.

NASA Seeks Supersonic Research Projects

Thu, 13/03/2008 - 13:05 by MT Bureau

Washington -- The U.S. space agency released its "Research Opportunities in Aeronautics 2008" list, soliciting research in support of its supersonics project.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration project seeks to address technical challenges associated with supersonic flight over land and to develop technologies required to build future high mass entry systems to enable the exploration of Mars and other planets.

NASA said it expects educational institutions, non-profit organizations and industries engaged in fundamental research will be the primary research award recipients.

Additional information is available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.