Pegasus Unleashed

Pegasus being released from the jet.
Credit: NASA

How Pegasus and IRIS Prepared to Launch

Recent Sun Activity

Early this morning, June 28, 2013, two sunspots erupted. AR1777 and AR1778 produced one CME and two C-class solar flares. The CME could hit the Earth's magnetic field this weekend.

IRIS Launch

This is the beginning of NASA's coverage of the IRIS launch from earlier this evening.
Credit: NASA You can watch the rest of the launch right now live at NASA TV

IRIS Launches Today

IRIS is launching today, June 27, 2013. The solar observatory will monitor the sun. IRIS stands for the Interface Region Imaging Spectograph. It will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. IRIS will be on a Pegasus XL rocket which will be carried on a modified L-1011 airliner. The airliner will carry the rocket up to 39,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. It will then drop the Pegasus so it can begin it's launch. All this will occur at 7:27 p.m. PDT.

Space Station News June 26, 2013

Low Chances of Solar Flares Today

The chances of solar flares occurring have drastically decreased. Yesterday, June 26, 2013, the chances of an M-class solar flare dropped to 205. Today, the NOAA forecasters believe there is a mere 10% chance of an M-class solar flare to occur today.

Space Station News June 25, 2013

Another NASA IRIS Vdeo

Here is another video detailing information about the upcoming IRIS mission.

IRIS Mission this Month

The Sun has been very active lately, especially today. NASA's next mission, IRIS, will monitor the lowest level of the sun's atmosphere. Hopefully, this will help scientists to better understand how the energy interacts with the upper atmosphere. Here is NASA's more detailed explanation of how this mission will occur.

Solar Flare Yesterday

Sunspot AR1778 produced an M2-class solar flare yesterday, June 23, 2013. It occurred at 20:56 UT. Today, there is a 40% chance of M-class flares and a 5% chance of X-class flares.NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the intense flash. Here is the image:

NASA Explains What will happen on the Spacewalk

Here is a preview of the Spacewalk.


Credit: NASA

Radiation Storm Alert!

A proton storm is currently underway around Earth. However, it is only minor. It has registered as an "S1" storm by the NOAA. It is not currently strong enough to have an effect upon air planes or satellites. The storm is gaining intensity, so check back for more updates.

The Bedrock Beneath Antarctica

Solar Wind Alert

  A stream of solar wind is hitting the Earth's magnetic field this weekend. It is moving at approximately 600 km(s). The NOAA is estimating that there is a 40 percent chance of polar geomagnetic storms today, June 22, 2013.

Chris Hadfield's interview with NASA after his return

Watch the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station discuss his experience.



Credit: Canadian Space Agency

Watch the June 24 Space Walk Live on NASA TV

      Russian flight engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Alexander Misurkin of the Expedition 36 crew  aboard the International Space Station will conduct a space walk on June 24, 2013 at 9 a.m. EDT. Make sure you have plenty of snacks ready, because this walk will take 6 hours to conduct. The walk is meant to help the crew prepare the International Space Station for the addition of a Russian module, which will occur later in the year.

What They Will Be Doing
      They will replace a fluid flow control panel on the station's Zarya module and install clamps for future power cables as an early step toward swapping the Pirs airlock with a new multipurpose laboratory module. The Russian Federal Space Agency plans to launch a combination research facility, airlock and docking port on a Proton rocket.  In addition to these tasks, the engineers will retrieve science experiments which are located on the outside of the Zvezda service module.

The Numbers:

• This is the 169th spacewalk related to support of the station's assembly and upkeep. 
• It is the sixth space walk for Yurchikhin.
• It  will be Misurkin's first. 
• This is the second of six Russian spacewalks scheduled this year. 
• Two U.S. spacewalks by NASA's Chris Cassidy and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency are scheduled in July. 

What They Will Be Wearing:

    Yurchikhin will wear an Orlan-MK spacesuit with red stripes while Misurkin will wear a suit with blue stripes. Both spacewalkers will be equipped with NASA helmet cameras to provide close-up views of their work.


Credit: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_M13-099_Russian_EVA.html

NASA's Press Release For the Mission to Mercury

Here is a copy of NASA's press release about the results from a meeting in which NASA agreed to participate in a mission to Mercury.

"NASA and Italian Space Agency Sign Agreement on Exploration of Mercury

WASHINGTON -- At a meeting in Rome Thursday, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Enrico Saggese signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the European Space Agency- (ESA) led BepiColombo mission to Mercury, strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between NASA and ASI in planetary exploration.

Bolden and Saggese also discussed NASA's plans for a new asteroid initiative, previously announced in President Obama's fiscal year 2014 budget proposal. Saggese expressed the strong interest of Italy for the initiative and welcomed the opportunity to discuss potential ASI participation in a long-term exploration strategy."

Credit: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-178_NASA_ASI_Agreement.html 

Space Station Live 6/21/2013

This is the Space Station live NASA news video from today, 6/21/2013. It discusses more upcoming space walks planned for the crew of the International Space Station.



Credit: NASA

Summer Solstice Flare

The sun celebrated the summer solstice today. It has already produced an M-2 class solar flare. This flare occurred at 3:15 UT. Luckily, this particular flare was not directed at the Earth. The NOAA is estimating that there is a 30% chance of more M-flares occurring and a 5% chance of X-flares today.

Here's a link to a picture of the beautiful flare this morning:
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=21&month=06&year=2013

IRIS

NASA announces it's next mission! IRIS will begin at the end of this month, June, 2013. This mission will monitor the recently active sun. Here's a more detailed explanation of the mission.
Credit: NASA

NASA weekly news

NASA's weekly news for the week of June 16, 2003. It includes information about the next group of astronauts.

Space Station News From 6/19/13

Here is a NASA video containing news from the International Space Station. It was created on June 19, 2013.

Summer Solstice Alert

Guess what today is! It's the first day of the northern summer. At 1:04 a.m. EDT, the sun reaches the highest point in the celestial sphere. It is officially the start of summer in the north.

Coronal Hole

A coronal hole has opened up in the sun's northern hemisphere. A coronal hole allows the sun's solar wind to escape. This means that plasma is escaping into space. Said plasma is expected to reach the Earth's magnetic field sometime June 23 through 24, 2013. This also means there is a higher chance of seeing Auroras.
Credit: SpaceWeather.com
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=20&month=06&year=2013

Low Chance of Solar Flares

There is a low chance solar flares again today. More sunspots, however, are emerging. Most of these are located on the eastern limb of the sun. This means that we ought to expect the estimated chances of solar flares to begin rising in the near future.

Chris Hadfield and Co in Kazakhstan

This video depicts the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield shortly after returning to Earth in Kazakhstan. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency.)

Dry Ice and Gullies on Mars

This video details a NASA experiment concerning carbon dioxide and the gullies on Mars.

Space Station Recap for the week of June 9-15, 2013

This NASA video discusses space station news from the week of June 9, 2013

Low Chance of Solar Flares Today

Today the NOAA is reporting that there is almost no chance of strong solar flares occurring. The odds of an M-class flare are at a mere 10 percent. The odds of an X-class solar flare are at less than one percent.

NASA's Microbiome Experiment

This Week at NASA

Asteriod to Pass by Moon's Orbit

Another asteroid is going to make an appearance near our planet. Asteroid 2013 LR6 is going to pass by the moon's orbit this weekend. Scientists are confident that it will pass a safe distance away from the Earth. It will be passing by at 4:59 pm EDT. You can track it live at Space.com.
http://www.space.com/19195-night-sky-planets-asteroids-webcasts.html

Space Weather Enterprise Forum

TRMM shows Tropical Storm Andrea

NASA's weekly Wrap-up

Asteroid 1998 QE2

NASA's radar footage from asteroid 1998 QE2, which passed by Earth last Friday. This asteroid was so large, it had its own moon.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UPDATE 6/03/13

More news from the International Space Station was released by NASA today.

SPACE STATION RECAP FROM THE WEEK OF MAY 31

NASA's recap for last week regarding news from the International Space Station

SPACE NEWS FOR JUNE 2013

Space news for this month by NASA

William Shatner Narrates Curiosity's landing on Mars

Here's a video narrated by William Shatner about the Mars landing of the Curiosity rover, which is now making headlines.

The Curiosity Mars Rover

A photo of the curiosity Mars Rover, which has caused quite a stir. It has taken photos of possible rats, and proven that there was once water on the planet.

Mars Rat?

 Fox News is reporting that the Curiosity rover has taken photos of a possible 'Mars rat.' Some believe the image is proof of life on Mars, which as also been recently proven to have water. However, many experts believe the photo is actually that of a rock, which looks similar to a rat.

Here's a link to the full story:
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/05/29/mars-rat-spied-by-nasa-curiosity-rover/

NASA's Weekly Recap

NASA has recapped this past week's news. This video includes information about the White House, the QE2 flyby, space radiation, and more.


Credit: NASAtelevision

Proof of Water on Mars

Curiosity has proof of water on Mars. It viewed rounded pebbles on the "Gale Crater." This crater is 150 km wide, and match those found in streams on Earth. The pebbles where first discovered in September of last year. Researchers have been studying these images since then, and will publish these results in Science Magazine.
For more information, visit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22708902