Tuesday, March 31, 2015

» MICHAEL SAVAGE NEWSLETTER: Under Obama, U.S. astronauts passengers on Russian rockets

http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/2015/04/michael-savage-newsletter-under-obama-american-astronauts-have-become-passengers-on-russian-rockets/


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Favorites

http://www.educraftdiversions.org/


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Keep the shuttle flying: Search results for Abbey don't go back to capsules

http://keeptheshuttleflyingc.blogspot.com/search?q=Abbey+don%27t+go+back+to+capsules


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Tragedy of the worst kind--- tremendous waste of capabilities the USA needs for survival. It is Anti American, very easy to understand, except for lib idiots, which comprise 50 percent

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y of the worst kind--- tremendous waste of capabilities the USA needs for survival. It is Anti American, very easy to understand, except for lib idiots, which comprise 50 percent

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Fwd: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW: NASA News and JSC Today - Tuesday, March 31, 2015



Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 31, 2015 at 8:27:24 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW: NASA News and JSC Today - Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Reply-To: larry.j.moon@nasa.gov

JSC Today - Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Don't forget to join us this Thursday for our monthly NASA retirees luncheon at Hibachi Grill on Bay Area Blvd in Webster at 11:30.   All retired NASA employees, civil servants and contractors, and guest are welcome to join us.   

 

Our monthly luncheon is then Followed by the monthly NASA Alumni League talk by Mark Geyer on the EFT-1 test flight results at the Gilruth Rec. Center Lone Star room at 2:30.    Then to cap off the day--- at 4pm the monthly Keg of the Month group meets out at the Gilruth Pavillion.

 

 

NASA NEWS

• Bolden: Counterpart Likely Was Referring To China In Recent Statements.

• Administration Thanks Kelly For Taking Part In One-Year Mission.

• Shelby Believes Marshall Space Flight Center Will Be Well Funded This Year.

• Op-Eds Criticize ARM's Value As Pathway To Mars.

• Regan Technologies Gets $20 Billion NASA Contract For Mass Storage.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• Air Force X-37 Launches On Its Next Mission In May.

• Ants Able To Explore Their Environment Without Gravity.

• Wilmore Most Surprised By "Mental Gymnastics" Of Zero Gravity Life.

• Ford Visits St. Raphael School.

• Student's Fossil Gets A Ride On Orion.

• Chicago Student Selected For Community College Aerospace Scholars Program.

Bolden: Counterpart Likely Was Referring To China In Recent Statements.

Aviation Week (3/30, Morring, 2K) reports that at a talk Monday at the Aero Club of Washington, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said that Igor Komarov, the head of Roscosmos, was probably speaking about future collaborations with China when he mentioned a follow-up project to the ISS. Bolden, noting that NASA was "the only federal agency with a congressional prohibition against bilateral activities with China," added, "My impression of it was, to be quite honest, that was probably what he was talking about when he talked about opening the field of exploration to many countries. ... My comment when he said that was that that's what the president asked me to do when I first became the NASA administrator." Bolden went on to say, "The way that the Russian space program is going now, part of it is unfortunately a blast from the past where almost everything is under a single organization and belongs to the state. ... My counterpart now is responsible, not only for the Roscosmos space agency, but also has responsibility for industrial development of rockets and the like and, even more importantly, actually has control of the institutes and medical organizations that are looking at medical research. The good part is he himself is an industrialist, he's a businessman with no experience in space, with very forward-leaning ideas."

        Blog Coverage. Jason Koebler at Motherboard (3/30, 10K) writes about Komarov's statement, positing that if NASA was in fact negotiating about a future project of this scale, it would not be announced "out of the blue." Such a project would be debated and involve "massive PR campaigns." Koebler even wonders whether NASA would want to develop another space station given its desire "to get out of low-Earth orbit altogether."

Administration Thanks Kelly For Taking Part In One-Year Mission.

The AP (3/30) reports that on Monday, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said that he was "fooled" for a time when astronaut Mark Kelly appeared without his mustache right before his brother Scott launched on his one-year mission to the ISS because the mustache was "the only way I can tell [the twins] apart." Meanwhile, during a phone conversation with the ISS crew, John Holdren, President Barack Obama's science adviser, said, "You guys are all heroes up there, and we're depending on you."

        The CBS News (3/30, Harwood, 8.2M) website notes that in his conversation with Bolden, Scott Kelly said that he was "looking forward" to the research he would take part in while at the station. Kelly added, "It's going to be a lot of work. ... but I really look forward to the privilege of serving NASA and our nation." Bolden told Kelly, "This is a really important step on our road to Mars. ... We're excited about having you and Mikhail [Kornienko] there as partners and excited about seeing all the things you're going to do."

        According to SPACE (3/30, Kramer, 236K), Bolden also told Kelly, "I really want to thank you for taking on this challenge. ... It really is important that we get it all right because we do plan to put humans on Mars in the next few decades. The 2030s is the target the president set, and we think we can really make that." Meanwhile, Kelly thanked First Lady Michelle Obama for her well wishes last week when he tweeted "his first photo from space during the yearlong mission."

        The Daily Mail (UK) (3/30, McLaughlin, 4.78M) and the WWLP-TV Springfield, MA (3/30, Sapakie, 65K) website also cover the story.

        UC San Diego Celebrates Kelly's Launch. The U-T San Diego (3/30, Bell, 580K) reports that UC San Diego researchers are taking part in Kelly's one-year ISS mission, with Brinda Rana leading two of the 10 research projects involving both Scott and Mark. The article notes that to celebrate Friday's launch, the school held "a launch-watching party on campus...with borscht, catered from the Pomegranate Russian Restaurant, Champagne and MoonPies."

        Cosmonauts Used Tablets Instead Of Manuals During Flight. Sputnik News (3/30) reports that when flying to the ISS, cosmonauts used tablets instead of manuals "for the first time in the history of Russian space exploration." Cosmonauts could eventually use the tablets depending on how they operated during the flight.

        Blog Coverage. Attila Nagy at Gizmodo (3/30, 1.04M) posted a picture of Kelly's launch last week, commenting that it was one of three launches that comprised "a busy weekend for space exploration."

        Sherry Valare at AmericaSpace (3/30) summarized last week's work at the ISS, which culminated in the arrival of Kelly and two other astronauts.

Shelby Believes Marshall Space Flight Center Will Be Well Funded This Year.

The WHNT-TV Huntsville, AL (3/30, Riopka, 76K) website reports that on Monday, "hundreds of business and community leaders" were at the Von Braun Center to hear a talk by Sen. Richard Shelby. As part of the talk, Shelby said that under the Republican Congress, the Marshall Space Flight Center, "which plays a real important role in NASA, will be funded well, just like it was last year."

Op-Eds Criticize ARM's Value As Pathway To Mars.

In an op-ed for Space News (3/31, Subscription Publication, 481), Paul Brower, an O3b Networks aerospace systems engineer, wonders why the development of a lunar base has become "a taboo subject" for space policy advocates. Few are willing to take what he sees as the "seemingly necessary baby steps" to a Mars mission. Brower notes that even before the Apollo program, the idea of a lunar base was discounted. The positions expressed today by advocates may be "biased by the Obama administration's" intent to distance itself from the Constellation program. To move forward, the US needs to "align our actions" with long-term goals, and "not squander these limited resources on missions that make no sense," such as the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), which he thinks has few applications. Instead, if necessary when funds are limited, the US should take "a slower pace or slight scale-back in mission scope" to continue progress.

        In an article for The Conversation (UK) (3/30), Roger Handberg at the University of Central Florida, details how the US went from the Constellation program to where it is today, considering ARM a mission "being done on the fly," suffering from "money and lack of consistent direction." To Handberg, it appears like ARM is morphing into "a US presence on the moon." However, the current uncertainty in direction is likely to continue until the US "clarifies its intentions."

        Meanwhile, in an article for the Space Review (3/30), Space Review editor Jeff Foust detailed last week's announcement of ARM's architecture. In the second half of the piece, Foust detailed the continuing opposition to the plan, especially from MIT's Richard Binzel. At the same time, some were concerned that if NASA had no deep space manned mission in the next decade, it could harm NASA's long-term plans. Astronaut Tom Jones said that without a mission like ARM, the public could "lose interest" in future missions. According to Foust, even with the recent news, NASA is not likely to "get much of a break from critics," and will have to continue to try "to justify" ARM as the best "next step" toward Mars.

        Blog Coverage. In a blog post for the Huffington Post (3/30, 281K), Chris Carberry, CEO of Explore Mars, and Rick Zucker, director of political outreach for Explore Mars, writes that "within NASA, within the aerospace community, and among policy makers," there is "far more consensus...than there ever has been before" about sending people to Mars. They contend that much of the current opposition relies "on disinformation and distraction tactics," especially when it comes to how much money a mission would cost. Even though they believe the President has a role in such a mission, the pair argue that "another Kennedy-esque presidential speech" may no longer be needed because of the grassroots program that is forming now. This and other topics will be discussed at the Humans to Mars Summit in May.

Regan Technologies Gets $20 Billion NASA Contract For Mass Storage.

The Meriden (CT) Record-Journal (3/31, 50K) reports on the Regan Technologies Corp. contract with NASA "to provide solutions for mass storage devices." Regan won the $20 billion contract, which begins on May 1. Company founder Christopher Regan said, "It's security for a 10-year period. ... We become a major federal prime contractor and we'll experience explosive growth."

Air Force X-37 Launches On Its Next Mission In May.

Spaceflight Now (3/30, Ray, 3K) reports that an Air Force X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral on May 6. Air Force spokesperson Capt. Chris Hoyler said, "Each OTV mission builds upon previous on-orbit demonstrations and expands the test envelope of the vehicle. The test mission furthers the development of the concept of operations for reusable space vehicles." Hoyler also stated that operators were considering landing the spaceplane at the Kennedy Space Center once its mission is complete.

Ants Able To Explore Their Environment Without Gravity.

BBC News (3/31, Webb, 1.66M) reports that scientists studying ants at the ISS found that the creatures, "despite falling off the walls of their containers for up to eight seconds at a time," were able to explore their environment successfully. Deborah Gordon of Stanford University said that researchers had "no idea" how the ants would behave ahead of time. In order to learn more about how other ant species explore their environment, Gordon has also just set up a website for students "to run the same experiment, using equipment they can make themselves, on whatever species of ant are local to their area."

Wilmore Most Surprised By "Mental Gymnastics" Of Zero Gravity Life.

The AP (3/30) reports that astronaut Barry Wilmore, in an interview, discussed the research he conducted at the ISS. He also mentioned that "the mental gymnastics of working in zero-gravity" was the most surprising aspect of working in space.

Ford Visits St. Raphael School.

The Naperville (IL) Sun (3/30, Baker, 19K) reports that on Friday, astronaut Kevin Ford visited St. Raphael School to speak with students about his time "piloting the space shuttle Discovery in 2009." According to the article, Ford's video and photographs amused and astounded the students.

Student's Fossil Gets A Ride On Orion.

The Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram (3/31, Smith, 479K) reports that a fossil found by a local seventh-grade student was taken aboard the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 in December. The student and her family were given a tour of the Johnson Space Center where she received a plaque. Wanda Horton, one of the student's teachers, said of the experience, "I think that NASA sending Anna's fossil is a great way to encourage other students to share her love for science and use their imagination to see what they can do."

Chicago Student Selected For Community College Aerospace Scholars Program.

The Chicago Daily Herald (3/30, Daday, 300K) reports that a local student, Hasan Fetahi, was chosen to attend the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program. Fetahi said of the program, "For me, it's exciting to think that I'll be working next to engineers and get to be around people that love chemistry and physics as much as I do." Fetahi will join 240 other community college students in a five-week course, which concludes with an event at the Johnson Space Center.

 

 

 

 

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   Organizations/Social

  1. WELL, NoBo and ConVERGE Inauguration Event

Come out and learn more about our new Employee Resource Groups! The special guest is JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa.

Please see the flyer for more information.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:3:00 PM   Event End Time:4:00 PM
Event Location: B3 Collaboration Center

Add to Calendar

Lauren Johnson x32780 https://collaboration.ndc.nasa.gov/iierg/WELL/SitePages/Home.aspx

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  1. Join the NASA-wide Fitness Challenge: NASA MOVES!

The NASA Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer at NASA Headquarters is sponsoring a three-week, agencywide fitness competition called NASA MOVES! from Friday, April 10, through Friday, May 1. All NASA employees are encouraged to join the JSC team.

To participate, you must sign up online through the NASA MOVES! portal and enter your activity steps. A wide range of physical activities can be converted into steps—not just walking—so everyone can participate.

This initiative is designed to get people moving, but it is also a competition between centers, and WE WANT TO WIN! The winning center will be calculated by taking their recorded steps and dividing it by workforce population. That means we need EVERYONE to sign up.

Only at JSC: You will be entered into a prize drawing when you sign up.

Sign up now.

Evan Thoman x42769 http://ohp.nasa.gov/health4life/

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  1. IEEE Consulting Group Dinner Meeting

Pradeep Anand, business growth specialist and adjunct faculty at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, will speak on "Seven First Steps to Grow Your Business in Recession" on Thursday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Gilruth Center. Please RSVP by close of business today, March 31.

Event Date: Thursday, April 2, 2015   Event Start Time:6:30 PM   Event End Time:8:30 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Center

Add to Calendar

Zafar Taqvi 713-392-1280 http://ewh.ieee.org/r5/galveston_bay/events/events.html

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  1. Glynn Lunney's Highways into Space - April 8

You are invited to the SAIC/Safety and Mission Assurance speaker forum featuring Glynn Lunney, former NASA flight director and director of Mission Operations.

Lunney and his team were recipients of the Medal of Freedom—awarded by President Nixon after helping return the Apollo 13 crew back to Earth safely. He joined the space program in 1958 with the NACA and Space Task Group. He supported Project Mercury in Mission Control as one of the first Flight Dynamics Officers, and was promoted to flight director in August 1964, supporting Gemini and Apollo missions, including Apollo 13.

Mr. and Mrs. Lunney will have books available for signature before and after his presentation. If you have already purchased his book, feel free to bring it for him to sign.

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location: Gilruth Alamo Ballroom

Event Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Center's Alamo Ballroom

Add to Calendar

Della Cardona/Juan Traslavina 281-335-2074/281-335-2272

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  1. Youth Brain Development Basics

Join us as we take an introductory look at two key periods in the development of youth. We will go over key changes in the brain during early childhood and discuss how the brain continues its growth and transition during the tween and teen years. Come and learn key concepts and terms that are involved in the cognitive, social and emotional development of the young person in your life. Ideas and tools for encouraging constructive and navigating troubling behaviors will also be addressed. Please join Anika Isaac, MS, LPC, LMFT, NCC, LCDC, CEAP, with JSC Employee Assistance Program, as she presents "Youth Brain Development Basics."

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Building 30 Auditorium

Add to Calendar

Lorrie Bennett, Employee Assistance Program, Occupational Health Branch x36130

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  1. JSC Praise and Worship Club Meeting

Join with the praise and worship band "Allied with the Lord" for a refreshing set of Resurrection Day praise and worship songs on Thursday, April 2, from 11:15 a.m. to noon in Building 57, Room 106. The theme for this session will be "Jesus is alive!" Prayer partners will be available for anyone who has need. All JSC civil servants and contractors are welcome.

Event Date: Thursday, April 2, 2015   Event Start Time:11:15 AM   Event End Time:12:00 PM
Event Location: Building 57 Room 106

Add to Calendar

Mike FitzPatrick x30758

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  1. Book & Gift Fair Today Through Thursday - Bldg. 3

The Books Are Fun Book and Gift Fair will be in the Building 3 café this week, today through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swing by to check out a great selection of books and gifts marked 30 to 70 percent below retail—perfect for an Easter basket or just for fun!

Ansley Browns x46487

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  1. Craft Fair & Flea Market Booths Still Available

It's a CRAFT FAIR. It's a FLEA MARKET. It's so much more!

It's a CHILDREN'S EASTER PARTY—it's a 5.05K RACE—it's an ALIENS vs. ASTRONAUTS COSTUME CONTEST—it's FOOD TRUCKS. It's ALL OF THESE THINGS combined into one giant SPRING FESTIVAL.

What better place to sell your new and used items. Rent a booth today and pack up your stuff. Then get ready to come on out on Saturday, April 4, for maximum exposure with hundreds of shoppers and loads of fun.

    • Craft fair booth - $40 (new and homemade craft items) - indoors
    • Flea market booth - $10 (used/garage-sale-type items) - outdoors
    • Tables available - $12

Register online or at the Gilruth Center.

Rent a booth—sell some stuff—run a race—eat some food—hunt some eggs—have some fun!

Cyndi Kibby

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  1. Children's Spring Fling: April 4

On April 4, Starport will have one big spring event at the Gilruth Center. Bring the kiddos out for our Children's Spring Fling, complete with a bounce house, face painting, petting zoo, Easter-egg hunt and snacks! Register at the Gilruth Center or online. The event is for children ages 18 months to 12 years old who will be participating in the Easter-egg hunt and other activities. Adults do not need a ticket.

Registrations are $5 each NOW, or $8 the day of.

* Pick up wristbands at the kids' check-in table

Egg hunt times: 

10:15 a.m. - kids 8 to 12 years

10:45 a.m. - kids 4 to 7 years

11:15 a.m. - kids 18 months to 3 years

Event Date: Saturday, April 4, 2015   Event Start Time:10:00 AM   Event End Time:12:00 PM
Event Location: The Gilruth Center

Add to Calendar

Shericka Phillips x35563 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/programs/special-events/spring-festival

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   Jobs and Training

  1. CGE Travel System Live Lab - April 1

Do you need some hands-on, personal help with the Concur Government Edition (CGE) Travel System? Join the Business Systems and Process Improvement Office for a CGE Travel System Live Lab tomorrow, April 1, any time between 9 a.m. and noon in Building 12, Room 142. Our help desk representatives will be available to help you work through your travel processes and learn more about using the CGE Travel System during this informal workshop. Please feel free to bring any travel documents to be worked. This is real-time help, not a training class. Please click on the direct SATERN link below to register and receive SATERN credit. For additional information, please contact Judy Seier at x32771.

SATERN Direct Registration Link: https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_...

Gina Clenney x39851

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  1. Understanding & Creating SysML Models: May 12-15

This course covers all nine SysML diagram types in a quick and easy-to-learn format. A consistent system modeling example is presented throughout the course to better learn how SysML concepts and diagrams work together. We will cover these concepts in a tool-independent manner, with a focus on how to interpret SysML models. This course is also hands on, where participants will learn to implement SysML concepts using a representative tool. These skills are reinforced by doing useful things with your SysML models—not just building them for the sake of documentation.

This course is designed for engineers, scientists, managers and technicians interested in model-based engineering.

This course is available for self-registration in SATERN and is open to civil servants and contractors.

Dates: Tuesday through Friday, May 12 to 15

Location: Building 12, Room 144

Zeeaa Quadri x39723 https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHED...

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   Community

  1. 2015 Yuri's Night Houston 5k: #ISS1YEAR Edition

Last Friday, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a one-year stay aboard the International Space Station. They are each scheduled to stay in space for 342 days, totaling 684 days between the two of them.

Celebrate their successful launch with $6.84 off registration today only. Promo code: ISS1YEAR

Click here to register (registration increases this Sunday, April 5).

Click here to volunteer.

Event Date: Saturday, April 18, 2015   Event Start Time:8:00 AM   Event End Time:10:30 AM
Event Location: Nassau Bay

Add to Calendar

Mana Vautier 832-422-5494 http://www.yuris5khouston.com

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  1. Application Deadline Extended for Scholarship

The NASA College Scholarship Program will award multiple scholarships agencywide to qualified dependents of NASA civil servant employees. Scholarship recipients must pursue a course of study leading to an undergraduate degree in science or engineering from an accredited college or university in the United States. Applications are available online.

The application deadline is April 10.

Travis Cooley x47222

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JSC Today is compiled periodically as a service to JSC employees on an as-submitted basis. Any JSC organization or employee may submit articles.

Disclaimer: Accuracy and content of these notes are the responsibility of the submitters.

 

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, March 30, 2015

Makes more sense than capsules landing in ocean or Siberia!

Posted by at No comments:

Fwd: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW: NASA news and JSC Today - Monday, March 30, 2015



Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 30, 2015 at 8:28:39 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW: NASA news and  JSC Today - Monday, March 30, 2015
Reply-To: larry.j.moon@nasa.gov

JSC Today - Monday, March 30, 2015

Hope you can join us this Thursday for our monthly NASA retirees luncheon at Hibachi Grill on Bay Area Blvd. at 11:30. 

 

We believe there will be a NAL first Thursday talk at the Gilrith Alamo room too but not sure who is the speaker at 2:30   ,,,if we get details will pass along

 

 

 

LEADING THE NEWS

• Astronaut Scott Kelley Begins Nearly Year-Long Mission On Board ISS.

NASA NEWS

• NASA Chooses Option B For Asteroid Redirection Mission.

• Wallops Rocket Launch Scrubbed.

• NASA Technology Discovers How Much Snow Pack California Has.

• NASA Examines Rocky Mountain Snowmelt.

• Aurorasaurus Project Recruits Observers To Help NASA Track Auroras.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• Russia-US Discussing Successor To ISS.

• Wilmore Describes Experience On ISS.

• Marks Lefty By Curiosity, Phoenix Fading.

• SETI Research Director Favors Broadcasting Internet To Space.

Astronaut Scott Kelley Begins Nearly Year-Long Mission On Board ISS.

ABC World News (3/27, story 14, 1:45, Muir, 5.84M) declared Astronaut Scott Kelley the "Person of the Week" on its Friday broadcast for agreeing to spend "almost an entire year," in space. "NASA will now study them with nearly identical genetic makeup to show what a year in space does to one brother and obviously not the other. What space does to the human body. The idea being, one day, missions to Mars might take even longer than a year."

        The CBS Evening News (3/27, story 11, 0:25, Pelley, 5.08M) reported, "A Russian spacecraft headed to the space station. American Scott Kelly and Russian Mikhail Kornienko will spend almost a year there to test how humans react to long space missions. Scott's twin, Mark Kelly, will do the same experiments on earth to provide a comparison." NBC Nightly News (3/27, story 6, 2:15, Holt, 7.86M) reported, "The longest space mission ever undertaken by NASA achieved liftoff this afternoon in Kazakhstan. On board Astronaut Scott Kelly flashed, who a flashed a thumbs up, as he embarks on nearly a full year in orbit." And "with Mark staying on Earth and Scott in space, NASA has two guinea pigs for a controlled experiment on the long-term physical effects of space." ABC World News (3/28, story 11, 0:25, Vega, 5.84M) on Saturday evening reported, "It's all systems go for NASA's Scott Kelly, the first American astronaut to spend a whole year in orbit. He's off to a solid start. He and his Russian crew mate linked up with their new home, the International Space Station."NBC Nightly News (3/28, story 11, 0:25, Alexander, 7.86M) reported, "The view from high above it all is a Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station."

      

        Chicago Schools Partner On Studying Effects On Gastrointestinal Bacteria. The Chicago Tribune (3/27, Firozi, 2.32M) reports that researchers at "Northwestern, University of Illinois at Chicago and Rush University Medical School have partnered to study how a year in space can affect human health." There are also nine other groups studying the effects. The Chicago schools "will focus on how bacteria can affect gastrointestinal health" and the effect of sleep cycles. The AP (3/28) carries a story based on that in the Tribune.

        Blog Coverage. Road Warrior Voices (3/28) comments on the differential in aging on Earth and at the space station due to its great speed and the lower gravity on the station. More coverage describing the launch and mission appeared at Universe Today (3/27, Kremer, 19K), The Verge (3/30, 876K), and Mashable (3/28, Daileda, 1.8M).

NASA Chooses Option B For Asteroid Redirection Mission.

The Florida Today (3/27, Dean, 178K) reports on the decision by NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot to send a spacecraft to an asteroid and retrieve a boulder from it and put it into orbit around the moon. Lightfoot explained the attraction of the chosen option, "I'm going to have multiple targets when I get there, is what it boils down to." Current plans are to launch the spacecraft in 2020.

        KOFY-TV San Francisco (3/28, 9:16 p.m. PDT, 10K) reports comically, "If your resume lists skills such as wielding a lasso and piloting a spaceship, NASA has an opening for you." It explains that the plan would allow NASA "to test the moon's orbit as a place to park future spacecraft for interplanetary missions."

        The Spaceflight Insider (3/28, Skocik) reports that NASA concluded that Option B would cost $100 million more than Option A, towing an entire asteroid into lunar orbit. Lightfoot said that the mission "will provide an initial demonstration of several spaceflight capabilities we will need to send astronauts deeper into space, and eventually, to Mars."

        Gizmag (3/28, Szondy, 64K) also reports the news.

        Caltech Space Challenge Takes Up Similar Problem. The Pasadena (CA) Star-News (3/27, Vuong, 87K) reports on the 2015 Caltech Space Challenge, with 32 international students participating as two teams tasked with designing "a mission where astronauts would land on an asteroid both to mine for resources and to demonstrate how the raw materials could be used."

Wallops Rocket Launch Scrubbed.

WAVY-TV Norfolk, VA (3/28, 11:15 p.m. EDT, 47K) reports, "NASA had to postpone rocket launch this morning because of high winds and seas at the Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore. The terrier-improved Malemute rocket carries experiments from students at Virginia Tech. NASA has not said when they will try again. But, due to the weather, it will be Tuesday at the earliest." WVEC-TV Hampton Roads, VA (3/28, 11:14 p.m. EDT, 19K) and WVBT-TV Virginia Beach, VA (3/28, 10:16 p.m. EDT, 25K) also provided coverage on the scrubbed rocket launch at the Wallops Flight Facility.

NASA Technology Discovers How Much Snow Pack California Has.

NBC Nightly News (3/27, story 8, 2:15, Holt, 7.86M) reported that California Governor Jerry Brown "signed a $1.1 billion relief package to address the" state's drought. NBC (Dryer) added, "NASA is using cutting edge technology, including lasers and a spectrometer, to measure snow depth in remote locations and determine how quickly it will melt." Tom Painter, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: "What we're headed for now is also simply knowing how much water there is in the mountain snow pack. That's something we've never actually known."

NASA Examines Rocky Mountain Snowmelt.

The Summit County (CO) Citizens Voice (3/27, 506) reports on NASA's research into Rocky Mountain snow levels, being led by Dorothy Hall of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Generally they found that snowmelt came earlier in most places during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and there was "less change after 2000."

Aurorasaurus Project Recruits Observers To Help NASA Track Auroras.

Gizmodo (3/29, Stone, 1.04M) reports on the "Aurorasaurus" project started by NASA this year so that people could tweet what they saw of the aurora borealis "to help NASA construct a detailed global map of the event."

Russia-US Discussing Successor To ISS.

NBC News (3/29, Boyle, 2.71M) reports that apparently, Russian and American "space officials are talking...about building a new space station" after the existing one expires in 2024. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Russian Federal Space Agency director Igor Komarov were discussing the matter in Kazakhstan where they were for Friday's launch.

        Alabama Live (3/28, Roop, 502K) said that "reports were flying" but appeared to be "a little iffy."

        AFP (3/30) reports that Komarov said that the current station "will operate until 2024," and "could be extended."

        Yet, Space News (3/29, Subscription Publication, 481) reports that while NASA "welcomed" the Russian proposal, it "indicated there were no firm plans."

Wilmore Describes Experience On ISS.

The AP (3/28) reports that Tennessee astronaut Barry Wilmore in describing his experience aboard the International Space Station said that he was "most surprised by the mental gymnastics of working in zero-gravity." He said, "You lose stuff. Things float away. You have to think about every single thing that you're doing at every moment."

Marks Lefty By Curiosity, Phoenix Fading.

The New Scientist (3/27, Aron, 11K) reports that the "scorch marks left by the Curiosity rover and Phoenix lander" on the surface of Mars as fading and should disappear completely in about 2 and one-half years.

SETI Research Director Favors Broadcasting Internet To Space.

Seth Shostak, director of the Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute, writes in an op-ed in the New York Times (3/28, Shostak, Subscription Publication, 9.97M) about SETI, "the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence," that it has been passive to date, but some scientists have suggested a more active approach "by deliberately transmitting our own messages." The suggestion has created "a storm of controversy," because some believe that "advertising our existence could be a mortal threat to the planet." The reason for the concern is the discovery that there are "tens of billions of habitable planets" in our galaxy. That has also led to suggestions that any message sent should be more representative or more valuable than a pop song or a commercial jingle. Shostak says that given the slowness of communications, we should "offer the aliens Big Data." He also says that not broadcasting would not work as advanced aliens could pick up our TV and radio signals.

 

 

 

 

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   Headlines

  1. Attention International Travelers

Prior to taking government property and/or technical information outside the United States, international travelers are required to obtain advance approval from an authorized export compliance official via your organization's Export Control Representative (ECR). This includes: memory devices, RSA tokens, phones and laptops, as well as data, emails and other information on such devices. To allow adequate review and approval time, the organization's ECRs will assist travelers with their request using the JSC Export Records Database (ERDB). Such requests should be received by the ECR at least 10 working days before your travel date. The ERDB record will reflect a "concurrence" for all government property and/or technical data the travelers intend on taking. It is recommended that travelers also carry a copy of a Composite Report of the approved request (obtainable from the ERDB). Please see JWI 2190.1D for additional information.

Ari Blum x33431

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  1. 4th Annual OCIO's NASA T&I Labs Challenge Project

Attention JSC civil servants:

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is pleased to announce that the Fourth Annual Technology & Innovations (T&I) Labs Challenge (formally "IT Labs") is now open. For new proposals this year, we have introduced a two-step approach for project submissions. The first step will be a one-page application with a few details on the project you are proposing. The one-page application will be submitted via the T&I Labs website and revealed to all after the deadline. A key change in this year's project challenge call will be to combine, and not fund, duplicate projects on the same topic. Past project leaders are encouraged to apply if their project has merit to reach production, although anyone can propose advancing a past effort if your business unit is interested in championing it. Phase 2 and above projects will require co-sponsorship and contributing funds from a business unit champion.

R. Travis Kantz 281-792-7885 https://labs.nasa.gov/SitePages/Challenge_Project_Call.aspx

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  1. Java 8 Upgrade Begins March 31

Beginning Tuesday, March 31, Java 8 will be installed on ACES computers during the Tuesday night patching window. There may be changes in the security prompts you encounter after Java 8 is installed, but it should introduce no computer or application functionality differences.

Tuesday evening, leave your computer powered on, logged off and connected to the NASA network to be automatically updated with no user interaction.

Mac users running a Windows 7 Virtual Machine (VM) should remain logged into the Mac, connected to the NASA network, and should leave the Windows VM at the login prompt. If you have a laptop and take it home, reconnect to the NASA network to receive the update.

Computers not in the above states will receive Java 8 the next time the computer connects to the NASA network.

For assistance, contact the Enterprise Service Desk at 1-877-677-2123, Option 2.

JSC IRD Outreach x46367 http://ird.jsc.nasa.gov/Lists/wIReD%20in%20The%20Latest%20IRD%20News/Lat...

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  1. Section 508 Proposed Changes – Have Your Say

The Access Board has released for public comment a proposed rule updating accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) in the federal sector covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

These proposed revisions and updates are intended to ensure ICT covered by the respective statutes is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. This "at-a-glance" accessible PDF gives an overview of the proposed rule.

Let your voice be heard by contributing your written comments here for JSC. Click "Add new item," complete the information and click save.

JSC comments are due by March 31. 

If you have problems accessing or using this SharePoint site, please forward your comments directly to Herb Babineaux, JSC Section 508 coordinator.

JSC IRD Outreach x34263 https://projects.jsc.nasa.gov/I3P/IRDDataCall/SiteAssets/RFC%20Section%2...

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   Organizations/Social

  1. What Do You Wish You Knew Then That You Know Now?

Have a special interest in bringing in and retaining the next generation at JSC?

Come on out as Emerge holds its March monthly meeting! We'll be discussing onboarding experiences and breaking into focus groups, which is intended to spark creative discussion about how our onboarding process here at JSC can be improved.

Your input is highly valued and will be used to guide our discussion, so please take a few minutes to fill out our onboarding survey: Emerge Onboarding Survey

Come be a part of something that will benefit our current and future hires.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Bldg 12/Rm 200

Add to Calendar

Elena C. Buhay 281-792-7976 https://collaboration.ndc.nasa.gov/iierg/emerge/SitePages/Home.aspx

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  1. Tick Tock Chili Cookers and Chili Lovers

Registration fees go up on April 3 for teams looking to enter the April 11 37th Annual JSC FOD Chili Cook-off. Chili lovers, get your tickets from team captains or a Starport Gift Shop. Chili will be ready at noon, and $7 gets you all the chili you can eat and all the drinks you care to enjoy. Spread the word!

Event Date: Saturday, April 11, 2015   Event Start Time:8:00 AM   Event End Time:5:00 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Complex

Add to Calendar

Elmer Johnson x32084 http://external.jsc.nasa.gov/events/chili/

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  1. Aliens vs Astronauts 5.05K - Friday w/ Food Trucks

There is still time to register for Starport's Aliens vs. Astronauts 5.05K (3.14 miles)—A BATTLE TO DETERMINE THE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM!

Race participants will register as either an alien or astronaut, with times for each species being averaged to crown the fastest life form in the universe. Gather your alien and astronaut friends and family! This 5.05K race is open to the public.

Food trucks will arrive at the Gilruth Center at the conclusion of the race.

    • Date/Time: April 4 at 9 a.m.
    • Where: Race begins at the Gilruth Center and runs through JSC
    • Prizes: Overall male and female; first-, second- and third-place finishers in each age category
    • Registration Fee: $30 (with a portion of proceeds going to the NASA Exchange Scholarship Program)

For more information and online registration, visit the Starport website. Signups are available online and at the Gilruth Center.

Event Date: Saturday, April 4, 2015   Event Start Time:9:00 AM   Event End Time:2:00 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Center

Add to Calendar

Steve Schade x30304 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/events/aliens-vs-astronauts

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  1. Integrating Perspectives for Innovation

Design + Engineering, Integrating Perspectives for Innovation  

The Human Systems Integration Employee Resource Group is proud to host Industrial Design Society of America Chair Austen Angell for a lecture on the integration of design and engineering for innovation. Formerly the director of Design Research and Innovation at Intel and the vice president of Design at Logic Technologies, Austen now serves as creative director at Modern Edge, working in the fields of wearables, mobile, medical and specialty vehicles for the world's top companies. Please join us for an engaging presentation and discussion.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: 1/620

Add to Calendar

Jame Taylor x34339 http://collaboration.jsc.nasa.gov/iierg/HSI/SitePages/Home.aspx

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  1. Open a New Door with Toastmasters

As April approaches, it's time to open a new door.

Toastmasters can help you unlock your communication, leadership, interpersonal and time-management skills and open a new door to the next level in your personal goals and your career.

Space Explorers Toastmasters meets weekly on-site here at JSC. Members are encouraging and look forward to helping you improve your communication, organization and leadership skills in a supportive setting.

Join us and learn more about Toastmasters—Where Leaders are Made.

Space Explorers Toastmasters meetings are from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Building 30A, Room 1010.

    • Friday, April 3
    • Thursday, April 9
    • Friday, April 17
    • Thursday, April 23

Jaumarro A. Cuffee x34883

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  1. Beginners Ballroom Dance: March 31 and April 2

Do you feel like you have two left feet? Well, Starport has the perfect program for you: Beginners Ballroom Dance! This eight-week class introduces you to the various types of ballroom dance. Students will learn the secrets of a good lead and following, as well as the ability to identify the beat of the music. This class is easy, and we have fun as we learn. JSC friends and family are welcome.

Regular Registration:

    • $110 per couple (March 28 to April 2)

Two class sessions available:

    • Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. - starting March 31
    • Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. - starting April 2

All classes are taught in the Gilruth Center's dance studio (Group Ex studio).

Shericka Phillips x35563 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/programs/recreation-programs/ballroom-d...

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   Jobs and Training

  1. APPEL - Risk Managament 1 - May 5

This course provides an introduction to both the Risk Informed Decision Making and Continuous Risk Management in the context of the policies and recommended practices that guide their application.

This course is designed for NASA's technical workforce, including systems engineers and project personnel who seek to develop the competencies required to succeed as a leader of a project team, functional team or small project.

This course is available for self-registration in SATERN until Thursday, April 2, and is open to civil servants and contractors.

Date: Tuesday, May 5

Location: Building 12, Room 152

Zeeaa Quadri x39723 https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHED...

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  1. Guidance, Navigation & Control: May 11-15

This course will help you understand the principles of navigation by inertial, celestial and radio (including GPS) methods; the principles of guidance and control of 6-DOF motion; the characteristics and noise models of sensors; and the dynamic behavior of controlled and guided systems.

This course is designed for engineers and scientists involved in the design or evaluation of guidance, navigation and control systems.

This course is available for self-registration in SATERN and is open to civil servants and contractors.

Dates: Monday through Friday, May 11 to 15

Location: Building 12, Room 134

Zeeaa Quadri x39723 https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHED...

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  1. Facility Manager Training

The Safety Learning Center invites you to attend an eight-hour Facility Managers' training, which provides JSC Facility Managers insight into the requirements for accomplishing their functions.

    • Includes training on facility management, safety, hazard identification and mitigation, legal, security, energy conservation, health and environmental aspects.
    • Attendees of this course must also register in SATERN for a half-day Fire Warden training. * Others who need Fire Warden training can register through the normal process. 

Date/Time: April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Safety Learning Center, Building 20, Room 205/206

Registration via SATERN required:

https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_...

Aundrail Hill x37264

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  1. Job Opportunities

Where do I find job opportunities?

Both internal Competitive Placement Plan and external JSC job announcements are posted on the Human Resources (HR) portal and USAJOBS website. Through the HR portal, civil servants can view summaries of all the agency jobs that are currently open at: https://hr.nasa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/employees_home/239/job_opportu...

To help you navigate to JSC vacancies, use the filter drop-down menu and select "JSC HR." The "Jobs" link will direct you to the USAJOBS website for the complete announcement and the ability to apply online.

Lateral reassignment and rotation opportunities have now moved to NASA Employee Talent Search (NETS). These opportunities do not possess known promotion potential.

If you have questions about any JSC job vacancies or reassignment opportunities, please call your HR representative.

Brandy Braunsdorf x30476

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   Community

  1. Want to JS(C) a Movie?

NASA would like your help in planning outdoor movie nights here at JSC! Click on the link below and complete the questionnaire to provide your feedback on what you would like to see for a fun, family movie night.

Please respond by April 8.

Crawford Jones 281-792-8481 http://strategicplan.jsc.nasa.gov/surveys.ashx/1/JSC Movie Night Survey

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  1. Co-op Housing Committee Seeks New Rental Property

Do you have an extra room in your house that you would be willing to rent to a co-op or intern? Need a roommate? Need a house sitter for an extended period of time? Co-ops and interns at JSC rely on the housing committee to provide quality, affordable housing during their work tours at JSC. If you would like to submit your property for the housing board, please fill out this form. Property eligibility will be determined by the housing committee.

Anna Seils x35068

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JSC Today is compiled periodically as a service to JSC employees on an as-submitted basis. Any JSC organization or employee may submit articles.

Disclaimer: Accuracy and content of these notes are the responsibility of the submitters.

 

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