The National Space Science and Technology Center will bring together scientists, engineers, and educators to work on common goals of technology advancements. The center will provide expertise and advanced research opportunities for NASA's mission and the growing medical research sector in Alabama.
Lawanna Harris, a NASA engineering technician, is working on a rocket-based combined cycle engine to make space travel more affordable. Her research goal is to reduce the cost of payload from $10,000 to hundreds of dollars per pound within 25 years.
The report recommends creating a new NASA research program to study the effects of low-gravity environments on various technologies. This includes power generation, propulsion, and life-support systems, which will be crucial for human exploration and development of space.
Crystals grown in space may produce better semiconductor materials due to reduced gravity effects. The 'detached growth' process, performed on the space shuttle, has produced pencil-thin crystals with uniform distributions.
Nine companies have been selected to participate in a $15 million NASA Research Announcement effort titled the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Risk Reduction Definition Program. This research will explore possible Earth-to-orbit launch vehicles, in-space orbit transfer vehicles, and ground and flight operations.
Visitors to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center will enjoy live performances by country, rock, pop, and gospel artists while exploring rocket firings, space exhibits, and facility tours. The event also features appearances by NASA astronauts and real space flight hardware.
The NASA Marshall Open House offers a daylong space adventure with interactive exhibits, including a Space Shuttle Pavilion, magnetic levitation track and International Space Station mockup. Meet astronauts, robots and celebrities, and participate in activities like the Astronaut Moon Bounce.
Detecting active regions on the far side of the Sun allows for up to two weeks' advance warning of strong solar winds. The method uses Lyman alpha radiation to track sunspot activity and predict severe space weather.
Researchers have found a way to convert oil to methane gas using specialized microorganisms living beneath the earth's surface. This breakthrough could lead to safer oil exploration and more efficient extraction methods.
NASA is launching a new effort to develop a safer and cheaper reusable launch vehicle system, relying on commercial industry to meet NASA's science and exploration goals. The agency aims to reduce risk and technical challenges by partnering with industry partners.
NASA will unveil its future space transportation goals and programs at Space Transportation Day '99, aiming to lower launch costs and make interplanetary exploration feasible. The conference will cover various projects, including X-33 and X-34 rocket planes, as well as technologies for safer and more reliable operations.
The partnership will focus on materials science, biotechnology, Earth sciences, propulsion, optics, and other areas that support NASA's mission. The center aims to reduce expenses and maximize scientific return by sharing facilities and ideas.
A team of scientists from Montana State University designed an experiment to study the role of gravity on infection-fighting white blood cells. The goal is to understand why astronauts are more vulnerable to infections in space and develop pharmaceuticals to boost immune responses.
The University of Iowa is conducting a space shuttle experiment to study human cell growth and metabolism in space. The oxygen-sensing system developed by the university will be used to monitor oxygen levels and provide feedback control for optimal growth conditions.
BioServe will fly three bioprocessing payloads and industry experiments, including a National Institutes of Health experiment and two K-12 student outreach projects, on the space shuttle Columbia. The experiments focus on developing new wastewater treatments and improving techniques used to evaluate pharmaceutical compounds.
A new study found that nicotine alters activity levels and exploratory behaviors in male rats but not female rats. Female rats who lived in groups showed increased time spent in the center of an open arena after nicotine administration, suggesting reduced anxiety. The findings may reflect human sex differences in reasons for smoking.
NASA has selected 23 organizations to develop revolutionary space-based power generating systems that harness the Sun's energy for Earth and space. The selected teams will receive $6.4 million in funding to create commercially viable space solar power technologies.
Spann will present the latest information from the UltraViolet Imager project, which studies how space storms develop and affect Earth's space environment. The presentation aims to provide insights into directly driven auroral signatures resulting from interplanetary pressure points.
The Inner Space/Outer Space II Symposium will explore questions of the hour in particle astrophysics, including the origins of the universe and dark matter. The four-day agenda includes presentations on Extra Dimensions, the Accelerating Universe, and Beyond the Standard Models.
Scientists experiment with materials in space to study structure, properties and processing methods. These experiments have led to new understanding of semi-conductors, metallic-electronic crystals and improved X-ray and infrared sensors.
The University of Michigan's VORTEX experiment, launched on the Space Shuttle Endeavour, investigates fluid atomization in microgravity. The study aims to answer fundamental questions about the process by which liquids are converted into tiny droplets.
Deep Space 1, a miniaturized space probe powered by solar-electric propulsion, will navigate through space and analyze charged particles and magnetic fields surrounding an asteroid and two comets. The mission, led by CU-Boulder Professor Fran Bagenal, tests innovative technologies and aims to explore the outer solar system.
Researchers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center aim to demonstrate a propellant-free propulsion system using a tether system similar to those used on earlier SEDS missions. The ProSEDS flight could enable shorter tethers for propulsion or electrical power generation, and even de-orbit satellites with minimal cost and weight.
Scientists are using NASA Bioreactors to culture breast cells on Earth, learning what controls their growth and how to thwart malignancies. The research has the potential to improve healthcare for women, including those traveling to Mars, by developing new therapies that target cancer's genetic weaknesses.
Researchers from NASA and French-American teams crystallized thaumatin in space, producing larger and more defect-free crystals with improved x-ray diffraction properties. This breakthrough paves the way for better understanding of the molecule's shape and function, potentially leading to new treatments for diabetes and obesity.
Scientists discuss ways to use lightweight materials like hydrogen, boron, and lithium for radiation shielding. Researchers also explore using composites and polyamide binders for efficient protection against space radiation.
Researchers at NASA have developed innovative methods to study molten metals in space, including electrodes and magnets to measure fluid flows and dendrite growth. These techniques will help improve manufacturing processes on Earth by understanding subtle phenomena affected by gravity.
Materials scientists will use microgravity conditions to study material formation and behavior, producing high-value products. The U.S. Laboratory Module will house three Materials Science Research Racks, with each rack capable of conducting various experiments.
The conference will bring together over 100 principal investigators to discuss recent microgravity materials science research, including results from the Microgravity Sciences Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. Researchers will also preview plans for the International Space Station and its Materials Science Research Facility.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have identified crucial elements for successful international cooperation in future space programs. These include scientific goals, clear communication among teams, and regular assessments to ensure mission vitality.
The meeting explores hyperbaric oxygen therapy's potential in minimizing damage from strokes and preventing paralysis after spinal cord injuries. Dr. Mary Anne Frey will discuss the results of the Neurolab Space Shuttle Mission, while Sen. John Glenn will talk about his upcoming space-based research on aging.
Scientists from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center discuss approaches to building lunar and Martian bases using in situ materials. Processing materials will be a challenge due to low gravity, which affects metal behavior and microstructure formation.
Researchers will present findings on prevention, treatment of neurological problems like stroke, epilepsy, and brain injury. The meeting aims to develop international collaborations and transfer lessons learned in space and undersea research to patient care.
Researchers aim to address wave front errors caused by vibrations and thermal stresses in large space telescopes, affecting their clarity and focus. They've developed software-based solutions to detect and correct these aberrations, enabling better performance for space exploration.
A team of Cornell experts is creating a database of food-processing information and menu items for NASA's future lunar and Martian colonies. The recipes, which include vegetarian options like seitan tacos and pasta primavera, will be grown hydroponically in space farms using crops such as wheat, potatoes, rice, soy, and peanuts.
Researchers grew viable cartilage tissue from bovine cells on polymer scaffolds, but found that tissues grown in space were smaller and mechanically weaker than those on Earth. This study demonstrates the feasibility of cultivating cells and tissues in space over long periods.
Researchers found that people demonstrate territorial behavior in parking lots, delaying departure times when another car wants the space, and becoming more aggressive with honking cars. This behavior is counterproductive, wasting time and effort.
Researchers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center are experimenting with Aerogel, the lightest solid material known, in space to learn how to make it transparent. The goal is to create an insulating material for energy-efficient windows that conserve energy and save money.
The two miniature water worlds, designed by former Biosphere 2 crew members, have been safely transferred to the American space shuttle Atlantis for comprehensive testing of their effects on plants and animals in space. The experiments aim to provide insights into long-term human spaceflight and pharmaceutical research.
Microgravity researchers Michael Paulaitis and Kathleen Stebe are developing stable suspensions to create polymers in Earth-based labs. Their findings could shape space station materials, fuel pumping systems, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.