The International Space Station. Credit: NASA
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
"POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS NEAR-EARTH OBJECT 1998 KN3"
This image shows the potentially hazardous near-Earth object 1998 KN3 as it zips past a cloud of dense gas and dust near the Orion nebula. NEOWISE, the asteroid-hunting portion of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, mission, snapped infrared pictures of the asteroid, seen as the yellow-green dot at upper left. Because asteroids are warmed by the sun to roughly room temperature, they glow brightly at the infrared wavelengths used by WISE. Astronomers use infrared light from asteroids to measure their sizes, and when combined with visible-light observations, they can also measure the reflectivity of their surfaces. The WISE infrared data reveal that this asteroid is about .7 mile (1.1 kilometers) in diameter and reflects only about 7 percent of the visible light that falls on its surface, which means it is relatively dark. In this image, blue denotes shorter infrared wavelengths, and red, longer. Hotter objects emit shorter-wavelength light, so they appear blue. The blue stars, for example, have temperatures of thousands of degrees. The coolest gas and dust appears red. The asteroid appears yellow in the image because it is about room temperature: cooler than the distant stars, but warmer than the dust. JPL manages the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The principal investigator, Edward Wright, is at UCLA. The mission was competitively selected under NASA's Explorers Program managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The science instrument was built by the Space Dynamics Laboratory, Logan, Utah, and the spacecraft was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo. Science operations and data processing take place at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Friday, August 23, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
TESTING BEFORE TELESCOPE'S ASSEMBLY
FROM: NASA
Dropping in on a James Webb Space Telescope Clean Room Test
The James Webb Space Telescope is a large space telescope, optimized for infrared wavelengths. It is scheduled for launch later in this decade. Webb will find the first galaxies that formed in the early Universe, connecting the Big Bang to our own Milky Way galaxy. Webb will peer through dusty clouds to see stars forming planetary systems, connecting the Milky Way to our own solar system. Webb's instruments will be designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range.
Webb will have a large mirror, 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) in diameter, and a sunshield the size of a tennis court. The mirror and sunshade won't fit into a rocket fully open, so both will be folded and open once Webb is in outer space. Webb will reside in an orbit about 1.5 million km (1 million miles) from Earth at the second Lagrange point.
The James Webb Space Telescope was named after a former NASA administrator.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
NASA SHOWS ISS VIEW OF LAKE SUPERIOR
FROM: NASA
Gravity Waves and Sunglint, Lake Superior
From the vantage point of the International Space Station, astronauts frequently observe atmospheric and surface phenomena in ways that are impossible to view from the ground. Two such phenomena—gravity waves and sunglint—are illustrated in this photograph of northeastern Lake Superior. At the top of the image, the Canadian Shield of southern Ontario is covered by an extensive forest canopy typical of early summer. Offshore and to the west and southwest of Pukaskwa National Park, several distinct sets of parallel cloud bands are visible. Gravity waves are produced when moisture-laden air encounters imbalances in air density, such as might be expected when cool air flows over warmer air. This can cause the flowing air to oscillate up and down as it moves, causing clouds to condense as the air rises and cools and to evaporate away as the air sinks and warms. This produces parallel bands of clouds oriented perpendicular to the wind direction. The orientation of the cloud bands in this image, parallel to the coastlines, suggests that air flowing off of the land surfaces to the north is interacting with moist, stable air over the lake surface, creating gravity waves. The second phenomenon—sunglint—affects the water surface around and to the northeast of Isle Royale. Sunglint is caused by light reflection off a water surface; some of the reflected light travels directly back towards the observer, resulting in a bright mirror-like appearance over large expanses of water. Water currents and changes in surface tension—typically caused by presence of oils or surfactants—alter the reflective properties of the water and can be highlighted by sunglint. For example, surface water currents are visible to the east of Isle Royale that are oriented similarly to the gravity waves, suggesting that they too are the product of winds moving off of the land surface. Astronaut photograph ISS036-E-11843 was acquired on June 24, 2013, with a Nikon D3S digital camera using a 50 millimeter lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 36 crew. It has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Image Credit: NASA Caption: William L. Stefanov (Jacobs/JETS) and Michael H. Trenchard (Barrios/JETS), NASA Johnson Space Center
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
REMARKS: INTERNATIONAL SPACE RECEPTION PANEL
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
International Space Reception Panel
Remarks
Frank A. Rose
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Washington, DC
July 24, 2013
Thank you Victoria , for that kind introduction.
I also want to thank you and your colleagues at the Secure World Foundation not only for sponsoring this reception, but for your organization’s ongoing work with the governments and the private sector to – in the words of your Mission Statement -- “develop and promote ideas and actions for international collaboration that achieve the secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of outer space.” Your involvement on a range of important space issues in both domestic and international engagements has made SWF one of the Department of States’ valued partners in civil society.
So I don’t need to remind you and most of the other experts here this evening that we will soon observe the 50th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the “Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space.” This resolution, which was adopted by consensus on December 13, 1963, laid out a number of key principles, including that the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried on in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
In endorsing these principles, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed what had been key precepts of the U.S. National Space Policies of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Diplomatic historians note that the consensus on the 1963 Principles Declaration also benefited from an easing of superpower tensions after the peaceful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Just over three years later, the Principles Declaration formed the core for the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which remains the foundation of the international legal framework for space activities.
In the half century since the Principles Declaration was adopted, all nations and peoples have seen a radical transformation in the way we live our daily lives, in many ways due to our use of space. The globe-spanning and interconnected nature of space capabilities and the world’s growing dependence on them mean that irresponsible acts in space can have damaging consequences for all of us. As a result, it is essential that all nations work together to adopt approaches for responsible activity in space to preserve this right for the benefit of future generations.
Given the importance of international cooperation, I am pleased to report the achievement of consensus of the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures (TCBMs) in Outer Space Activities during meetings earlier this month in New York.
The GGE was established by the UN General Assembly to study the possible contributions of voluntary, non-legally binding TCBMs to strengthen stability and security in outer space. It included experts nominated by fifteen UN Member States. Victor Vasiliev, Russia’s deputy permanent representative to Conference on Disarmament, ably served as the Group’s co-chair in three sessions over the last twelve months. I was privileged to serve as the U.S. expert.
To help inform its work, the Group agreed at its first meeting last year to solicit inputs from other governments, other parts of the UN system involved in space activities, as well as civil society. In response, the GGE received a number of thoughtful and substantive inputs, including one provided by the Secure World Foundation.
As the GGE study progressed, the United States sought to find solutions to common challenges and problems in an increasingly contested and congested space environment. The Group’s study was a unique opportunity to establish consensus on the importance and priority of voluntary and pragmatic measures to ensure the sustainability and safety of the space environment as well as to strengthen stability and security in space for all nations.
The Group recommended that States and international organizations consider and implement a range of measures to enhance the transparency of outer space activities, further international cooperation, consultations and outreach, and promote coordination to enhance safety and predictability in the uses of outer space.
Furthermore, the Group endorsed efforts to pursue political commitments – including a multilateral code of conduct – to encourage responsible actions in, and the peaceful use of, outer space. In this regard, the Group noted the efforts of the European Union to develop an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities through open-ended consultations with the international community.(As most of you know, the United States announced its decision in January 2012 to join with the European Union and other nations to develop a Code of Conduct.)
The GGE’s endorsement of voluntary, non-legally binding transparency and confidence building measures to strengthen stability in space is a landmark development. The United States looks forward to the official issuance of the GGE study, which will be submitted by the UN Secretary General to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly. We think this report can serve as the basis for a consensus resolution on space TCBMs –which would serve as a most appropriate commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Principles Declaration.
Finally, the Group’s study endorsed efforts to pursue bilateral transparency and confidence-building measures. This highlights the importance of efforts such as ongoing discussions on space security policy that the United States has been conducting with a number of spacefaring nations. These discussions, along with U.S. efforts to develop mechanisms for improved warning of potential hazards to spaceflight safety, themselves constitute significant measures to clarify intent and build confidence.
As my colleagues on this evening’s panel will note, we are increasingly reliant on space, not only when disasters strike, but also for our day-to-day life. However, our ability to continue to use space for these benefits is at serious risk. Accidents or irresponsible acts against space systems would not only harm the space environment, but would also disrupt services on which the international community depends. As a result, we must take action now and pursue TCBMs in space. These TCBMs will enhance the long-term sustainability, stability, safety, and security of the space environment. Protecting the space environment for future generations is in the vital interests of the United States and the entire global community.
International Space Reception Panel
Remarks
Frank A. Rose
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Washington, DC
July 24, 2013
Thank you Victoria , for that kind introduction.
I also want to thank you and your colleagues at the Secure World Foundation not only for sponsoring this reception, but for your organization’s ongoing work with the governments and the private sector to – in the words of your Mission Statement -- “develop and promote ideas and actions for international collaboration that achieve the secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of outer space.” Your involvement on a range of important space issues in both domestic and international engagements has made SWF one of the Department of States’ valued partners in civil society.
So I don’t need to remind you and most of the other experts here this evening that we will soon observe the 50th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the “Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space.” This resolution, which was adopted by consensus on December 13, 1963, laid out a number of key principles, including that the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried on in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
In endorsing these principles, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed what had been key precepts of the U.S. National Space Policies of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Diplomatic historians note that the consensus on the 1963 Principles Declaration also benefited from an easing of superpower tensions after the peaceful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Just over three years later, the Principles Declaration formed the core for the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which remains the foundation of the international legal framework for space activities.
In the half century since the Principles Declaration was adopted, all nations and peoples have seen a radical transformation in the way we live our daily lives, in many ways due to our use of space. The globe-spanning and interconnected nature of space capabilities and the world’s growing dependence on them mean that irresponsible acts in space can have damaging consequences for all of us. As a result, it is essential that all nations work together to adopt approaches for responsible activity in space to preserve this right for the benefit of future generations.
Given the importance of international cooperation, I am pleased to report the achievement of consensus of the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures (TCBMs) in Outer Space Activities during meetings earlier this month in New York.
The GGE was established by the UN General Assembly to study the possible contributions of voluntary, non-legally binding TCBMs to strengthen stability and security in outer space. It included experts nominated by fifteen UN Member States. Victor Vasiliev, Russia’s deputy permanent representative to Conference on Disarmament, ably served as the Group’s co-chair in three sessions over the last twelve months. I was privileged to serve as the U.S. expert.
To help inform its work, the Group agreed at its first meeting last year to solicit inputs from other governments, other parts of the UN system involved in space activities, as well as civil society. In response, the GGE received a number of thoughtful and substantive inputs, including one provided by the Secure World Foundation.
As the GGE study progressed, the United States sought to find solutions to common challenges and problems in an increasingly contested and congested space environment. The Group’s study was a unique opportunity to establish consensus on the importance and priority of voluntary and pragmatic measures to ensure the sustainability and safety of the space environment as well as to strengthen stability and security in space for all nations.
The Group recommended that States and international organizations consider and implement a range of measures to enhance the transparency of outer space activities, further international cooperation, consultations and outreach, and promote coordination to enhance safety and predictability in the uses of outer space.
Furthermore, the Group endorsed efforts to pursue political commitments – including a multilateral code of conduct – to encourage responsible actions in, and the peaceful use of, outer space. In this regard, the Group noted the efforts of the European Union to develop an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities through open-ended consultations with the international community.(As most of you know, the United States announced its decision in January 2012 to join with the European Union and other nations to develop a Code of Conduct.)
The GGE’s endorsement of voluntary, non-legally binding transparency and confidence building measures to strengthen stability in space is a landmark development. The United States looks forward to the official issuance of the GGE study, which will be submitted by the UN Secretary General to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly. We think this report can serve as the basis for a consensus resolution on space TCBMs –which would serve as a most appropriate commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Principles Declaration.
Finally, the Group’s study endorsed efforts to pursue bilateral transparency and confidence-building measures. This highlights the importance of efforts such as ongoing discussions on space security policy that the United States has been conducting with a number of spacefaring nations. These discussions, along with U.S. efforts to develop mechanisms for improved warning of potential hazards to spaceflight safety, themselves constitute significant measures to clarify intent and build confidence.
As my colleagues on this evening’s panel will note, we are increasingly reliant on space, not only when disasters strike, but also for our day-to-day life. However, our ability to continue to use space for these benefits is at serious risk. Accidents or irresponsible acts against space systems would not only harm the space environment, but would also disrupt services on which the international community depends. As a result, we must take action now and pursue TCBMs in space. These TCBMs will enhance the long-term sustainability, stability, safety, and security of the space environment. Protecting the space environment for future generations is in the vital interests of the United States and the entire global community.
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