- NASA Home
- > Archive
-
Herschel Observatory Finds Mega Merger of Galaxies
05.22.13 -
A massive and rare merging of two galaxies has been spotted in images taken by the Herschel space observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA participation.
The findings help explain a mystery in astronomy: whether elliptical galaxies built up slowly over time through the acquisitions of smaller galaxies, or formed more rapidly through powerful collisions between two large galaxies. -
Leland Melvin Honored for Making a Difference
05.22.13 -
NASA Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin was honored Tuesday night for his ongoing commitment to inspiring America's students. CITYarts recognized Melvin with the For Making a Difference award during its 45th anniversary gala in New York City.
Melvin leads NASA's education efforts, particularly those related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Recently, he has expanded his message to students and teachers to include the arts. -
Satellites See Oklahoma Tornado Storm System
05.21.13 -
On May 20, 2013, NASA and NOAA satellites observed the system that generated severe weather in the south central United States and spawned the Moore, Okla., tornado. Before, during and after the tornado, satellites provided imagery and data to forecasters. NOAA's GOES-13 satellite provided forecasters with images of the storm system every 15 minutes. -
NASA and the White House Pay Tribute to Sally Ride
05.08.13 -
NASA and President Obama are honoring the life and legacy of Sally Ride on the day a national tribute was held for the first American woman in space. The president announced Monday afternoon Ride will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House later this year. Monday night, NASA further paid tribute to Ride by creating a new agency internship program in her name and renaming a science instrument aboard the International Space Station. -
Forecast for Titan: Wild Weather Could Be Ahead
05.21.13 -
Saturn's moon Titan might be in for some wild weather as it heads into its spring and summer, if two new models are correct. Scientists think that as the seasons change in Titan's northern hemisphere, waves could ripple across the moon's hydrocarbon seas, and hurricanes could begin to swirl over these areas, too. The model predicting waves tries to explain data from the moon obtained so far by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. -
Curiosity Rover Drills Second Rock Target
05.20.13 -
Curiosity has used the drill on its robotic arm to collect a powdered sample from the interior of a rock called "Cumberland." Plans call for delivering portions of the sample in coming days to laboratory instruments inside the rover. This is only the second time that a sample has been collected from inside a rock on Mars. -
Asteroid Sample Return Mission Into Development
05.16.13 -
NASA's first mission to sample an asteroid is moving ahead into development and testing in preparation for its launch in 2016.
The Origins-Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) passed a confirmation review Wednesday called Key Decision Point (KDP)-C. NASA officials reviewed a series of detailed project assessments and authorized the spacecraft's continuation into the development phase. -
Scientists Investigate Engine Ice Crystal Icing
05.17.13 -
How does ice accumulate inside hot turbofan jet engines during flight? NASA scientists at the Glenn Research Center, working with engine manufacturers, are closer to answering that question thanks to the only test facility in the world capable of creating a high altitude ice crystal cloud during a full-scale engine test. -
SNC Dream Chaser Testing Begins
05.15.13 -
Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) Space Systems Dream Chaser flight vehicle arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., Wednesday to begin tests of its flight and runway landing systems.
The overall goal of CCP is to achieve safe, reliable and cost-effective U.S. human access to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. -
Kepler Mission Manager Update
05.15.13 -
During the semi-weekly contact on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, the Kepler spacecraft was once again in safe mode. As was the case earlier this month, this was a Thruster-Controlled Safe Mode. The root cause is not yet known, however the proximate cause appears to be an attitude error. The spacecraft was oriented with the solar panels facing the sun, slowly spinning about the sun-line.
The communication link comes and goes as the spacecraft spins.
Powerful Midwest Storm System