Uploads from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, with geodata

Comet Set

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:56:59 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Comet Pan-STARRS setting over GSFC Building 8.Equipment description. Date, time: 19 March 2013, 8:29:20 - 8:40:42. mount and camera, lens, focal length used: tripod mounted Canon Digital Rebel Xti with Canon 70-300 mm telephoto at 150 mm. exposure information, time, f-stop, ISO: 5 sec exposure, at f 7.1, ISO 800. location: shot from GSFC Visitor's Center.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/Wayne Robinson

Moon over Pan-STARRS

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:56:59 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

The crescent moon and Comet Pan-STARRS in the twilight. Equipment description. date, time: 13 March, 2013, 8:00:51. mount and camera, lens, focal length used: tripod mounted Canon Rebel Xti with Canon 70-300 mm telephoto at 70 mm. exposure information, time, f-stop, ISO: 2 sec, f 5.6, ISO 400. location: shot from GSFC Visitor's Center.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/Wayne Robinson

Fog Covered Morning at Goddard

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:29:28 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Fog covered the campus of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md on Monday, April 1, 2013.

Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Debbie Mccallum

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NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Baumgartner_PanSTARRS_2

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:19:00 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Comet Pan-STARRS and Washington monuments from the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, 12 March 2013

Time: March 12, 2013, 8:07pm EDT.

Equipment: Nikon D7000, 180mm f/2.8 prime lens, on a cheap consumer grade camera tripod.

Exposure: 1 second at f/4, ISO 160, auto white balance.

Processing: Contrast enhancement in iPhoto.

Credit: Wayne Baumgartner

Late March Snow Blankets Goddard Space Flight Center

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:18:47 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

A lonely plover on the Building 34 parking lot during snow that blanketed the Goddard Space Flight Center campus on March 25,2013...Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Bill Hrybyk..NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Late March Snow Blankets Goddard Space Flight Center

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:18:48 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Snow Blankets Goddard Space Flight Center campus on March 25,2013...Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Bill Hrybyk..NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Late March Snow Blankets Goddard Space Flight Center

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:18:48 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Late March Snow Blankets Goddard Space Flight Center

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:18:49 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Snow Blankets Goddard Space Flight Center campus on March 25,2013...Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Debbie Mccallum..NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Spring Snow Storm at Goddard

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:10:36 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

A spring snow storm arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md on Monday, March 25th, 2013.

Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Debbie Mccallum

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:25:34 -0800

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) is studying what makes the aurora, and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere. VISIONS Project Scientist Doug Rowland stands next to the payload during the final days of testing Poker Flats, Alaska before launch.

On Feb. 1, 2013, Rowland reports:

"Today was another great day at the range. We received final clearance to launch during our window, and completed vertical checks. The payload is in good shape, and is ready for the launch window, starting Feb. 2."

To read more about the VISIONS mission go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/visions-aurora.html

Credit: NASA/Goddard/D. Rowland

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:25:30 -0800

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

A beautiful view with clear skies greeted the science team for NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) on Feb. 1, 2013. The team was in Poker Flats, Alaska, hoping they might be able to launch their rocket on the first night of the launch window on Feb. 2, 2013. All they would need is some strong aurora.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Doug Rowland, who is a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. is providing images while the team prepares for launch. He reported on Feb.1:

"The skies were mainly clear last night, and we saw some great aurora after sunset. The solar activity / aurora forecast is looking good for tomorrow, the first night of the window. We've moved to night shift and are ready to go, hoping for a launch Saturday night, Feb.2, between 10 PM and 3 AM."

To read more about the VISIONS mission go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/visions-aurora.html

Credit: NASA/Goddard/D. Rowland

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:33:02 -0800

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Scientists have spent the end of January, 2013, getting a NASA sounding rocket mission ready for launch. NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) is studying what makes the aurora, and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere.

The VISIONS instruments are shown here on the table as the team gets them ready for flight.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Doug Rowland, who is a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. is providing images while the team prepares for launch, which could be any night with a strong aurora between Feb 2. and Feb 17, 2013.

Rowland reports on Jan. 31 Jan 31, 2013:

Had a very good day at the range today. The team worked very hard to get the payload "staged" on the rail, and we got through the first turn-on test with everything connected together, including all four rocket motor stages. We are getting ready to finish testing and arming tomorrow, and working to ensure launch clearance for the start of our window. Weather is unpredictable, winds have been good, but the clouds and snow come and go. The aurora forecast is improving, with some solar activity headed our way Saturday and Sunday.

Credit: NASA/Goddard

---

To read more about the VISIONS mission go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/visions-aurora.html

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

A team of NASA scientists arrived in Poker Flats, Alaska at the end of January, 2013. The team is patiently waiting for the exotic red and green glow of an aurora to illuminate the sky. Instead of simply admiring the view, this group from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., and The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. will launch a sounding rocket up through the Northern Lights. The rocket could launch as early as the night of Feb. 2, 2013, but the team has a two-week window in order to find the perfect launch conditions.

Armed with a series of instruments developed specifically for this mission, the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) rocket will soar high through the arctic sky to study the auroral wind, which is a strong but intermittent stream of oxygen atoms from Earth’s atmosphere into outer space. The rocket will survive only fifteen minutes before splashing down in the Arctic Ocean, but the information it obtains will provide answers to some long-standing questions.

VISIONS is studying how oxygen atoms leave Earth’s atmosphere under the influence of the aurora. Most of the atmosphere is bound by Earth’s gravity, but a small portion of it gets heated enough by the aurora that it can break free, flowing outwards until it reaches near-Earth space. The atoms that form this wind initially travel at about 300 miles per hour -- only one percent of the speed needed to overcome gravity and leave Earth's atmosphere.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Goddard's Doug Rowland is providing images while the team prepares for launch.

VISIONS is a partnership between NASA Goddard and the Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. The sounding rocket motors and payload support systems are provided by NASA Wallops Flight Facility, including NSROC, the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract. The Poker Flat Research Range is operated by the University of Alaska under contract to NASA.

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:33:13 -0800

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

NASA's VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) sounding rocket will launch in early February, 2013, from the Poker Flat Research Range – the entrance of which is shown here. The principal investigator for VISIONS, Goddard's Doug Rowland is providing images while the team prepares for launch.

The range is located 30 miles north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway. Operated by the University of Alaska, Poker Flat Research Range is the only university-owned sounding rocket launching facility in the world. NASA personnel and scientists from across the nation have launched scientific sounding rockets from the facility since the late 1960s.

Credit: NASA/Goddard

-----

To read more about the VISIONS mission go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/visions-aurora.html

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

A team of NASA scientists arrived in Poker Flats, Alaska at the end of January, 2013. The team is patiently waiting for the exotic red and green glow of an aurora to illuminate the sky. Instead of simply admiring the view, this group from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., and The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. will launch a sounding rocket up through the Northern Lights. The rocket could launch as early as the night of Feb. 2, 2013, but the team has a two-week window in order to find the perfect launch conditions.

Armed with a series of instruments developed specifically for this mission, the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) rocket will soar high through the arctic sky to study the auroral wind, which is a strong but intermittent stream of oxygen atoms from Earth’s atmosphere into outer space. The rocket will survive only fifteen minutes before splashing down in the Arctic Ocean, but the information it obtains will provide answers to some long-standing questions.

VISIONS is studying how oxygen atoms leave Earth’s atmosphere under the influence of the aurora. Most of the atmosphere is bound by Earth’s gravity, but a small portion of it gets heated enough by the aurora that it can break free, flowing outwards until it reaches near-Earth space. The atoms that form this wind initially travel at about 300 miles per hour -- only one percent of the speed needed to overcome gravity and leave Earth's atmosphere.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Goddard's Doug Rowland is providing images while the team prepares for launch.

VISIONS is a partnership between NASA Goddard and the Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. The sounding rocket motors and payload support systems are provided by NASA Wallops Flight Facility, including NSROC, the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract. The Poker Flat Research Range is operated by the University of Alaska under contract to NASA.

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:33:04 -0800

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

The VISIONS team's hotel, on the west side of Fairbanks, Alaska. This picture was taken when the air temperature was -40 C.

NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) is studying what makes the aurora, and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Doug Rowland, who is a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. is providing images while the team prepares for launch, which could be any night with a strong aurora between Feb 2. and Feb 17, 2013.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/D. Rowland

------

To read more about the VISIONS mission go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/visions-aurora.html

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

A team of NASA scientists arrived in Poker Flats, Alaska at the end of January, 2013. The team is patiently waiting for the exotic red and green glow of an aurora to illuminate the sky. Instead of simply admiring the view, this group from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., and The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. will launch a sounding rocket up through the Northern Lights. The rocket could launch as early as the night of Feb. 2, 2013, but the team has a two-week window in order to find the perfect launch conditions.

Armed with a series of instruments developed specifically for this mission, the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) rocket will soar high through the arctic sky to study the auroral wind, which is a strong but intermittent stream of oxygen atoms from Earth’s atmosphere into outer space. The rocket will survive only fifteen minutes before splashing down in the Arctic Ocean, but the information it obtains will provide answers to some long-standing questions.

VISIONS is studying how oxygen atoms leave Earth’s atmosphere under the influence of the aurora. Most of the atmosphere is bound by Earth’s gravity, but a small portion of it gets heated enough by the aurora that it can break free, flowing outwards until it reaches near-Earth space. The atoms that form this wind initially travel at about 300 miles per hour -- only one percent of the speed needed to overcome gravity and leave Earth's atmosphere.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Goddard's Doug Rowland is providing images while the team prepares for launch.

VISIONS is a partnership between NASA Goddard and the Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. The sounding rocket motors and payload support systems are provided by NASA Wallops Flight Facility, including NSROC, the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract. The Poker Flat Research Range is operated by the University of Alaska under contract to NASA.

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:33:09 -0800

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

This image, taken by Joshua Strang, USAF, shows a beautiful auroral display over Bear Lake, Alaska in 2005.

NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) is studying what makes the aurora, and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere. It will launch from Poker Flats, Alaska, on a night with a strong aurora between Feb 2. and Feb 17, 2013.

VISIONS will determine how the aurora heats and "slingshots" oxygen out of the upper atmosphere. We know from other satellite missions that near-Earth space often gets disturbed by the "auroral wind", which is this flow of oxygen from the upper atmosphere out to and beyond geosynchronous orbit. While this wind is not very dense (only one ten billionth the pressure at Earth's surface) it has important effects on the space environment. In particular, it is one factor that helps to control the behavior of the Van Allen radiation belts, which can damage satellites.

We know this wind is strongest when the aurora is active, but we don't yet know how much oxygen gets lifted out of our atmosphere, how long it takes, at what altitude the wind blows strongest, or what parts of the aurora are most efficient at driving it.

VISIONS will fly through and above the aurora, and into the region where this auroral wind is generated, up to 500 miles altitude, in order to explore how the aurora drives this important space weather process.

----

To read more about the VISIONS mission go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/visions-aurora.html

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light

A team of NASA scientists arrived in Poker Flats, Alaska at the end of January, 2013. The team is patiently waiting for the exotic red and green glow of an aurora to illuminate the sky. Instead of simply admiring the view, this group from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., and The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. will launch a sounding rocket up through the Northern Lights. The rocket could launch as early as the night of Feb. 2, 2013, but the team has a two-week window in order to find the perfect launch conditions.

Armed with a series of instruments developed specifically for this mission, the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) rocket will soar high through the arctic sky to study the auroral wind, which is a strong but intermittent stream of oxygen atoms from Earth’s atmosphere into outer space. The rocket will survive only fifteen minutes before splashing down in the Arctic Ocean, but the information it obtains will provide answers to some long-standing questions.

VISIONS is studying how oxygen atoms leave Earth’s atmosphere under the influence of the aurora. Most of the atmosphere is bound by Earth’s gravity, but a small portion of it gets heated enough by the aurora that it can break free, flowing outwards until it reaches near-Earth space. The atoms that form this wind initially travel at about 300 miles per hour -- only one percent of the speed needed to overcome gravity and leave Earth's atmosphere.

The principal investigator for VISIONS, Goddard's Doug Rowland is providing images while the team prepares for launch.

VISIONS is a partnership between NASA Goddard and the Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. The sounding rocket motors and payload support systems are provided by NASA Wallops Flight Facility, including NSROC, the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract. The Poker Flat Research Range is operated by the University of Alaska under contract to NASA.

Global Hawk on Runway

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:58:51 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Credit: NASA Wallops

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Global Hawk on Runway

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:58:56 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

Piloting the Chase Plane

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:58:46 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

NASA Wallops research pilot Rich Rogers flew a small plane that chased and took photos of NASA's Global Hawk. Credit: NASA Wallops

Credit: NASA Wallops

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Global Hawk on Runway

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:58:54 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

A photographer in a NASA chase plane captured the HS3 Global Hawk 872 just
after landing at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility airfield in Wallops Island,
Va. on Sept. 15, 2012 after completing its second science flight over
Hurricane Nadine.

Credit: NASA Wallops

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Area Residents Cheer Curiosity at Goddard VC

nobody@flickr.com (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:25:11 -0700

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center posted a photo:

About 350 area residents gathered at Goddard's Visitor Center to view a presentation on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instriument and to view NASA's coverage of the Mars Sceince Laboratory (MSL) landing. Credit: NASA/Goddard.