%Now, ten years after Katrina, #NASA plans to deploy eight microsatellites in space to help forecast any incoming #hurricane.% - http://clapway.com/2015/08/22/nasa-hurricane-tracking-microsatellites-110/

Over the years the technology that offers information on weather prediction has improved, but we are still missing accurate measurements to help us predict how intense the storms are going to be.  Now, ten years after Hurricane Katrina, NASA plans to deploy eight microsatellites in space to help forecast incoming hurricanes.

HOW WILL THEY TRACK A HURRICANE?

The microsatellites will orbit 317 miles above the Earth and will be positioned 35 degrees to the equator, measuring the oceans surface winds in the eye of a storm. The first test mission is going to launch in late 2016 from Florida and the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), NASA’s weather prediction project, will be the first to study the interior of a hurricane. This mission is going to provide the space agency with more detailed information on the rapid intensification of the hurricanes.

The technique used in the past to measure wind speed over the oceans is called scatterometry for which a satellite sends a signal to the ground to measure its strength once reflected back. However, this technique is more expensive than the one being developed right now by the University of Michigan, because the microsatellites will only receive signals from GPS satellites already in orbit around Earth. Those signals will bounce off of ocean surfaces measuring the height of waves and the speed of the wind of a hurricane. The data will be shared with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) helping emergency managers make decisions during extreme weather conditions.

NASA HAS STARTED DEVELOPMENT

The eight satellites will extend the range on Earth that can be measured and they are going to be deployed separately around our planet. Also, the first microsatellite, which weighs about 64 pounds, began assembly on August 14th. The other seven are to follow in the next few weeks.

Their initial testing is scheduled for early 2016 and the authorities are hoping that they are going to be fully operational by 2017’s Atlantic hurricane season.

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START THE DAY RIGHT WITH THE SMELL OF MONEY.

NASA Developing Hurricane-Tracking Microsatellites

Atlas Five Rocket to Launch Before Noon - http://clapway.com/2015/07/15/atlas-five-rocket-to-launch-before-noon678/

Right now, the Atlas Five Rocket is set to launch from the Cape Canaveral before at eleven thirty. However the rocket won’t be alone in its travel; it will have a very technologically advanced passenger aboard.

Some background info

While everything is underway for the rocket launch later today, the 2nd Space Operation Squadron in Colorado is celebrating a milestone this week. What milestone is that? It is the twentieth anniversary since the Global Positioning System (GPS) emergence was announced on July 17, 1995. On Friday, is the day twenty years ago, the GPS make its dent in technological history and changed the nation’s everyday life forever..

Today, we use GPS technology in a multitude of ways and integrate it into our everyday lives without even thinking twice about it. Whether it is finding your way to a hole in the wall bite to eat, or exploring a trail to a sweet secret fishing spot, helping you get back onto the interstate, GPS is there for you. This goes to show you how we have become accustomed to having it.

To get an idea of how valuable and treasured the GPS is in monetary value, the system is estimated to be valued over twenty-six billion dollars by next year.

The companion aboard the Atlas Five Rocket

A press release that was put up yesterday announced that Colorado’s United Launch Alliance will launch the GPS IIF-10 mission from the Atlas Five 401 rocket launch in Cape Canaveral. This GPS will be the companion up to the stars with the rocket.

The GPS IIF-109 is the tenth of twelve block which will eventually replace the older satellites in orbit when the time comes to retire the old fellas. All good things must come to an end after a while, and at least they had a good run and have stories to tell when home.

The president and owner of ULA commented that the company was proud to help in its role in the advances GPS has done and will do. They look forward to keeping the hundred percent successful launch history today with the GPS IIF-10’s launch.

Governor of colorado declares friday “GPS DAY”

To continue with the celebration measures, Governor Hickenlooper will declare Friday, “GPS Day” in Colorado in honor the GPS and all the things it continues to do and will do.Also the ULA plans on launching the Delta IV rocket on the 22nd with a military communications satellite if all goes well with this week’s launch.

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Take the perfect selfies with the dealstock selfie stick!

Atlas Five Rocket to Launch Before Noon

Classic #Pac-man -- eating up all the junk in space! - http://clapway.com/2015/07/06/switzerland-wants-to-send-pac-man-to-space-to-eat-space-junk-224/

The Swiss have devised a plan to clean up space junk and it involves sending Pac-Man to do the job.

SPACE IS COVERED IN GARBAGE

Space is littered with all sorts of garbage like old satellites and used rockets. NASA continually tracks more than 500,000 pieces of space debris. Many of these pieces are small, but they still pose a large threat to spacecraft and to the International Space Station.

NASA and other space organizations, both public and private, are developing ideas and technologies for dealing with the growing problem of space junk.

THE PAC-MAN SOLUTION

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) launched its CleanSpace One project in 2012 to facilitate the goal of removing space junk from orbit. After exploring possible ways to remedy the problem, EPFL has devised its “Pac-Man” solution.

The idea behind this solution is to launch a special satellite into space. Once there, a net is deployed, enabling the satellite to gobble up a piece of space junk.

“This system is more reliable and offers a larger margin for maneuvering than a claw or an articulated hand,” explains Michel Lauria, professor of industrial technology at Hepia Geneva.

GOING OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY

After this “Pac-Man” satellite captures its target space junk, the two objects will go out in a blaze of glory. The objects will de-orbit and combust in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The interesting design and function of the giant Pac-Man satellite was a collaboration between microengineering students from Hepia Geneva, and students and professors from the University of Applied Science Valais and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland.

LAUNCHING IN 2018

Researchers say the CleanSpace One Pac-Man solution could be ready to launch as soon as 2018. The development team has already passed the prototype stage and is ready to develop engineering models for extensive testing.

The target space debris for this mission will be EPFL’s own SwissCube satellite that has been in orbit for more than five years.

Featured Pac-man in Space image also by writer Jason McClellan.

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How will Pac-man even have the energy for cleaning up space in all that darkness? Sun LifeLight would be his bestie:

Switzerland Wants to Send Pac-Man to Space to Eat Space Junk

If knowledge is power, NASA and #Raytheon make power. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/06/nasa-contracts-with-raytheon-for-earth-science-data-system-124/

The Raytheon Company secured a contract with NASA that enables the continued support of NASA’s Earth science data system.

FIVE YEAR CONTRACT

A five year Evolution and Development contract was awarded to the Raytheon Company by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on Tuesday, July 6.

This contract ensures Raytheon’s continued support of the Earth Observing Systems Data and Information System (EOSDIS). The company was first awarded this contract in 1992. This recent contract is the third time NASA has selected Raytheon to play a main role in the development, maintenance, operation, and improvement of its system.

NASA’S EOSDIS

The Earth Observing Systems Data and Information System was launched by NASA in 2009. The system gathers Earth science data from a variety of sources including aircraft and satellites (both NASA operated and international satellites) and makes that data available to scientists around the world.

The system can also command and control its network of satellites.

The data gathered and made available by this system includes information related to climate, geophysical processes, ocean weather, human interaction with the environment, and the sun’s interaction with Earth.

IMPROVING THE SYSTEM

Although Raytheon has been involved with the EOSDIS since 1992, the latest contract charges the company with the task of further improving the system, making it more user-friendly, and enhancing the system to accommodate the ever-growing amount of data collected and accessed.

“Raytheon is tasked with making all of NASA’s earth science data available online for scientists and researchers around the world,” says Raytheon’s vice president for Mission Modernization and sustainment Todd Probert. He continues, “The latest contract award demonstrates Raytheon’s ability to deliver innovation on a key data processing system that has grown exponentially to 9.1 petabytes of data. Our focus is on making an enormous amount of data –the equivalent of 910 copies of Wikipedia—available to researchers any time so they can continue their important work.”

The latest contract is valued at $240 million.

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NASA Contracts with Raytheon for Earth Science Data System