• 3D Printing: Food in Space

    3D Printing: Food in Space

    05.23.13 - 
    As NASA ventures farther into space, whether redirecting an asteroid or sending astronauts to Mars, the agency will need to make improvements in life support systems, including how to feed the crew during those long deep space missions.

    NASA's Advanced Food Technology program is interested in developing methods that will provide food to meet safety, acceptability, variety, and nutritional stability requirements for long exploration missions.

  • Galaxies Fed by Funnels of Fuel

    Galaxies Fed by Funnels of Fuel

    05.24.13 - 
    Computer simulations of galaxies growing over billions of years have revealed a likely scenario for how they feed: a cosmic version of swirly straws.

    The results show that cold gas -- fuel for stars -- spirals into the cores of galaxies along filaments, rapidly making its way to their "guts." Once there, the gas is converted into new stars, and the galaxies bulk up in mass.

  • Hubble Reveals the Ring Nebula’s True Shape

    Hubble Reveals the Ring Nebula’s True Shape

    05.22.13 - 
    The Ring Nebula's distinctive shape makes it a popular illustration for astronomy books. But new observations by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of the glowing gas shroud around an old, dying, sun-like star reveal a new twist.

    The Ring Nebula is about 2,000 light-years from Earth and measures roughly 1 light-year across. Located in the constellation Lyra, the nebula is a popular target for amateur astronomers.

  • Herschel Observatory Finds Mega Merger of Galaxies

    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

    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

    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.

     Powerful Midwest Storm System

  • NASA and the White House Pay Tribute to Sally Ride

    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

    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.

  • Asteroid Sample Return Mission Into Development

    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

    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.