Articles tagged with Space Flight
The first four GOES-R instruments - ABI, SUVI, EXIS, and SEISS - have been delivered to Lockheed Martin for integration. These instruments will improve NOAA's ability to observe weather in near real-time, providing critical data on weather patterns, oceans, and space weather.
The NASA Wallops Flight Facility successfully deployed a record-breaking 29 small satellites into orbit, also testing a new autonomous flight safety system that promises to eliminate expensive down-range tracking and command infrastructure. The system's first certification test was deemed 'positive' with initial data indicating it sent...
Tropical Cyclone Guito intensifies as ragged eye develops, moving south at 10 knots/11.5 mph. The storm is expected to recurve southeastward due to a mid-latitude trough of low pressure approaching from the southwest.
The TRMM satellite measured intense feeder bands producing the heaviest rain near La Reunion and Mauritius Islands, dropping 175mm/hour at a rate of over 6.9 inches.
TRMM satellite data revealed moderate to heavy rainfall rates of over 31 mm/h as Tropical Storm Dylan approached the Australian coast. The storm made landfall on January 30 and was quickly weakening as it moved inland.
NASA has identified a developing tropical system in Mozambique's Nampala Province, characterized by strong storms and potentially heavy rainfall. The system, known as System 91S, is expected to track southwest in the Mozambique Channel, with forecasters predicting a high chance of it becoming a tropical depression within the next day.
The LLCD mission demonstrated error-free communications during broad daylight, operating as well as any NASA radio system. It also showed that wind and atmospheric turbulence did not significantly impact the system, enabling reliable communications through thin clouds.
Tropical Cyclone Amara weakened significantly after encountering wind shear, dropping from Category four hurricane to a minimal tropical storm. The cyclone lost maximum sustained winds near 35 knots/40 mph/62 kph and is expected to dissipate into a remnant low-pressure area in the next day or two.
The Solar Ultra-Violet Imager (SUVI) is a new telescope that will observe the sun in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, identifying active regions, solar flares, and eruptions. This will improve space weather forecasting, enabling earlier warnings for potential impacts on Earth's power grids, communication systems, and orbiting satellites.
A recent study by Arizona State University researchers found that spaceflight alters the global gene expression of Candida albicans, a fungus commonly found in human bodies. The results indicate changes in cell aggregation, biofilm formation, and resistance to stress and antifungal drugs.
System 90L's chances of tropical development dismissed after hostile upper-level winds and diminished showers; no longer considered a threat by NASA. Upper-level conditions made it difficult to identify the low-pressure system, leading to its fizzling out.
The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) has completed its commissioning phase, with all three science instruments deemed healthy. The LADEE spacecraft is now in a high-altitude preliminary orbit, preparing for its 100-day science mission to gather information about the moon's structure and composition.
The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) mission aims to demonstrate reliable optical services. It will conduct a two-year demonstration of optical relay services to collect long-term performance data and provide necessary knowledge for future mission-critical systems.
Tropical cyclone Lehar is gaining intensity in the Bay of Bengal, heading toward India's east-central coast. Rainfall rates reaching up to 64 mm/hour were measured by NASA's TRMM satellite, indicating a powerful storm with strong thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Extra-Tropical Storm Melissa has weakened and is headed towards the Azores Islands with sustained winds near 45 knots. The storm's core temperature change indicates a transition from warm to cold, similar to a mid-latitude low-pressure system.
Tropical Storm Melissa formed on Nov 18 and underwent rapid transformations under NOAA's GOES-East satellite imaging. After becoming post-tropical later today, the National Hurricane Center forecasts gradual weakening over the next two days.
NASA presents cutting-edge computational achievements, including insights into galaxy formation and climate modeling, as well as advancements in quantum computing and space launch system design. The agency's expertise is key to mission success, enabling research on oceanic climate change and space weather.
The Philippines has experienced devastating heavy rains from Super Typhoon Haiyan and Tropical Storm 30W, resulting in over 2300 confirmed fatalities. The storm surge caused catastrophic flooding, with waters rising up to 5.2 meters in Tacloban.
Cyclone 03A has made landfall in Somalia, causing heavy rainfall and powerful surge, with NASA satellites tracking its movement and impact.
A new study suggests that Phobos' surface contains tons of Martian debris, including dust, soil, and rock blown off the Martian surface by large projectile impacts. This finding could enable a sample-return mission to Mars to be flown as part of a single mission, with the Russian space agency planning to launch its second attempt in 2020.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected multiple bushfires in Wollemi National Park, located northwest of Sydney, on November 4. The MODIS instrument captured images showing a large area of smoke and heat from the fires.
Tropical Storm Sonia formed on Nov. 1 and made landfall in western Mexico by Nov. 4, with NASA capturing its brief life in a 36-second animation. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 45 mph, but it weakened as it moved over rugged terrain.
Typhoon Krosa strengthened after passing over northern Philippines and expanded its eye by 10 nautical miles. The storm's center moved into the South China Sea, where NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image revealing its 35-nautical-mile-wide eye.
Bushfires continued raging in New South Wales, with over 116,000 hectares burned. The MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite detected heat from the fires and showed a large area of smoke in the Wollemi National Park.
Typhoon Lekima's eye shrunk to just 4 nautical miles on Oct. 25, according to NASA data. Heavy rainfall was observed around the storm's eyewall, with rain rates reaching over 130mm/hour in the outer eyewall.
NASA's GOES-East satellite image captured the oval-shaped remnants of Tropical Storm Lorenzo east of a frontal system. The remnant low-pressure area is moving northeast at 10 mph and has a 20% chance to redevelop before being consumed by the approaching cold front.
Hurricane Raymond caused extreme rainfall amounts of over 560mm/~22 inches in open Pacific waters, with totals exceeding 125mm/~4.9 inches along Mexico's coast. The storm's copious rainfall also dropped abundant precipitation in areas already hit by deadly flooding and landslides.
Tropical Storm Raymond has started moving away from the coast of south-central Mexico, with a west-southwesterly direction indicated in microwave satellite imagery. Weakening storm expected to drop more rain on already drenched state of Guerrero.
Typhoon Lekima's rainfall rates were found to be heavy, with rates over 2 inches per hour north and east of the center. The typhoon is forecast to continue on a northwesterly track before making a turn to the northeast as it reaches the island of Iwo To.
Typhoon Francisco is a large storm with a tightly wound center and small eye, approaching Japan with maximum sustained winds near 75 knots. The storm is expected to turn northeast in the next day or two and slowly weaken after passing southern Japan.
Hurricane Raymond, a Category 3 hurricane, is bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to western Mexico. The storm's center is located near latitude 16.2 north and longitude 102.3 west, about 165 miles south-southwest of Acapulco.
The 13th Atlantic tropical depression formed on Oct. 21 near Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph/55 kph. The NOAA GOES-East satellite captured its development in a 29-second animation, showing strengthening thunderstorms and convection.
Typhoon Francisco passed west of Guam on October 18 as NASA's TRMM satellite measured its heavy rainfall, with rain falling at over 113 mm/hour in powerful storms. The storm is forecast to become a super-typhoon, reaching maximum sustained winds of at least 130 knots/150 mph.
NASA's Global Hawk aircraft is investigating a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico that has high chances of becoming a tropical depression. Another area near Bermuda is also showing signs of development.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Humberto resembling the letter "A" due to a cloud-free southern quadrant. The storm has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and is moving north-northwest with possible strengthening in the next 48 hours.
TRMM satellite data revealed heaviest rainfall in the Gulf of Mexico, with rates reaching 2 inches per hour, and moderate rainfall stretching inland over eastern Mexico. The remnants of Ingrid are expected to produce significant flooding and mudslides in eastern Mexico, with totals ranging from 10-15 inches.
Tropical Storm Ingrid has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall and flash flooding to eastern Mexico. The storm is expected to move slowly along the coast, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and 10-15 inches of rain forecasted over a large part of eastern Mexico.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle regained strength after being weakened by southwesterly wind shear. Another low-pressure system, System 93L, is expected to develop in the Gulf of Mexico, with favorable environmental conditions for its formation.
Researchers at NASA and the University of Florida create single fixation protocol to study plant growth in space, allowing analysis of both molecular and morphological features. The new method uses RNA later and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy to preserve tissues without damage.
Tropical Storm Lorena is expected to bring heavy rainfall along Mexico's west coast, with the heaviest rain falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour near Culiacan. The storm's powerful thunderstorms are also producing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Tropical Depression 8 has formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1009 millibars. The depression is expected to become a remnant low-pressure area over the weekend due to its short-lived nature as it moves over land.
Tropical Depression Seven strengthened into Tropical Storm Gabrielle just 70 miles south of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The storm brought heavy rains to Puerto Rico and adjacent islands on September 5.
Extra-Tropical Storm Toraji brought heavy rainfall to Japan's big island, with coldest cloud top temperatures and strongest thunderstorms detected by NASA's AIRS instrument. The storm has increased in forward speed and is now being carried by a fast-moving frontal boundary across Japan.
Tropical Storm Kiko formed on Sept. 1 and intensified quickly, with maximum sustained winds reaching near 70 mph. However, cooler waters and wind shear weakened the storm, leading to its dissipation by Sept. 4. Meanwhile, another low-pressure system is forming near Mexico's southwestern coast.
Tropical Depression Juliette weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, with its remnants producing showers over Baja California. Two low-pressure areas developed in the Eastern Pacific, one with a 20% chance of becoming a tropical depression and another with a 10% chance.
Tropical Storm Fernand's heavy rain caused mudslides in Mexico, resulting in 13 deaths. NASA's TRMM satellite gathered data on the storm's precipitation, which was used to estimate TMPA rainfall totals and monitor damages across 19 municipalities.
Tropical Storm Fernand's remnants are still streaming moisture over eastern Mexico, causing heavy rainfall and cloud cover in the region. The National Meteorological Service of Mexico expects intense and heavy rain to hit northeastern states, east and central Mexico, with a warning remaining in effect for heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Kong-Rey is experiencing strong thunderstorms in its southern and western quadrants, while the northern quadrant shows weaker development due to northeasterly wind shear. The storm is expected to pass east of Taiwan before weakening in the next couple of days.
Heavy rainfall in Typhoon Utor's thunderstorm feeder-bands was detected by NASA's TRMM satellite, with rain falling at rates of over 73mm/hour. The storm strengthened over the South China Sea before making landfall in China, with maximum sustained winds reaching 95 knots/109.3 mph.
Hurricane Henriette weakened to a depression in the Central Pacific Ocean on August 11, with NASA's TRMM satellite observing its decline. Two other low-pressure areas, System 93E and System 92E, are being monitored for possible development in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Eastern Pacific Ocean has become extremely active, with NASA tracking Hurricane Gil and two developing tropical low-pressure areas. System 91E is expected to slow down as it approaches the Central Pacific, while Hurricane Gil is expected to weaken over cooler waters and stronger wind shear.
Tropical Depression Flossie's remnants brought strong winds to Hawaii, causing power outages on the islands of Maui and Molokai. The storm's low pressure area was centered near Honolulu, Hawaii, about 140 miles west-northwest.
NASA's GOES Project captured images of Dorian's remnants using GOES-13 satellite data, showing an elongated shape stretching a few hundred miles east and northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The National Hurricane Center notes that re-development is unlikely over the next couple of days as the remnant low moves west to northwest.
Tropical Storm Dorian's remnants are producing showers and thunderstorms northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. The low pressure area is moving westward towards Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, with a medium chance (40%) of regeneration into a tropical cyclone.
The Sunnyside Turnoff Fire in northern Oregon burned over 48,916 acres by July 26, 2013, with 40% containment. The fire was caused by human activity and affected the Warm Springs area, leading to evacuations and public closures.
The heaviest rainfall was observed at a rate of 1.2 inches per hour north of the storm's center, with most remaining rainfall being light to moderate. The storm is moving west-northwest towards Hawaii, prompting residents to monitor its approach.
Scientists studied Tropical Storm Dorian's infrared image, revealing thunderstorms as cold as 195 Kelvin, indicating very high clouds. The storm maintained strong thunderstorms around its center before moving into warmer sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Depression 4 (TD4) formed on July 24 in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph. The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 mph and has a minimum central pressure of 1008 millibars.
Forest fires are burning north and east of Russia's Irkutsk Oblast in southeastern Siberia, affecting recreational areas and the nearby town of Mirny, home to the world's largest diamond mine. The MODIS instrument detected heat from various wildfires using its infrared capabilities.
Tropical Storm Cimaron strengthened into a tropical storm on July 17, generating 14-foot-high waves in the South China Sea. The storm is forecast to make landfall in eastern China approximately 200 nautical miles northeast of Hong Kong.