Oral History with Stephen G. Jurczyk, 1962 – 2023Steve Jurczyk’s NASA career began in 1988 at Langley Research Center as an engineer in the Electronic Systems Branch. During his time at Langley, he served in other roles, including director of engineering and director of research and technology. Jurczyk was named as director of Langley in 2014, then in 2015 he left Langley to […]
Oral History with Mary L. Cleave, 1947 – 2023A veteran of two space flights, Dr. Cleave served as a mission specialist on STS-61B and STS-30. She went on to join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and worked in the Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes as the Project Manager for SeaWiFS, an ocean color sensor which is monitoring vegetation globally. Dr. Cleave next served as […]
The Cast and Crew of “Ain’t Too Proud” Visit NASA LangleyGet Ready! Members of the cast and crew of the Broadway national touring production of “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations,” visited NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia on Nov. 6, where they learned more about the center’s work in air, space, and science. The show was in the […]
NASA Shares Space Food Insight with Commercial Food IndustryNASA recently welcomed more than 50 commercial food and commercial space companies to learn about the evolving space food system supporting NASA missions, including unique requirements for spaceflight, menu development, and food provisioning – essential elements for human spaceflight and sustainable living in space. The event, held at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, […]
Oral History with Jon A. McBride, 1943 – 2024Selected as an astronaut in 1978, Jon A. McBride served as the pilot for STS 41-G, launched October 5, 1984, the first shuttle mission to carry a full crew of seven. His other NASA assignments included lead chase pilot for the maiden voyage of Columbia and CAPCOM for three early shuttle flights. Read more about […]
Earth BelowEarth’s city lights streak by in this long-exposure photo taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit on Oct. 24, 2024. The green glow of Earth’s atmosphere is also visible on the horizon. Since the station became operational in November 2000, crew members have produced hundreds of thousands of images like this one through Crew Earth Observations. […]
Hurricane Helene’s Gravity Waves Revealed by NASA’s AWEOn Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene slammed into the Gulf Coast of Florida, inducing storm surges and widespread impacts on communities in its path. At the same time, NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment, or AWE, recorded enormous swells in the atmosphere that the hurricane produced roughly 55 miles above the ground. Such information helps us better […]
NASA to Transform In-Space Manufacturing with Laser Beam Welding CollaborationBy Wayne Smith As NASA plans for humans to return to the Moon and eventually explore Mars, a laser beam welding collaboration between NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and The Ohio State University in Columbus aims to stimulate in-space manufacturing. The multi-year effort seeks to understand the physical processes of welding on […]
Student-Built Capsules Endure Heat of Re-entry for NASA ScienceIn July 2024, five student-built capsules endured the scorching heat of re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere as part of the second Kentucky Re-Entry Probe Experiment (KREPE-2). Scientists are now analyzing the data from the KREPE-2 experiments, which could advance the development of heat shields that protect spacecraft when they return to Earth. The mission was designed […]
NASA-Funded Study Examines Tidal Effects on Planet and Moon InteriorsNASA-supported scientists have developed a method to compute how tides affect the interiors of planets and moons, which will help interpret data from missions like NASA’s Europa Clipper.