Ice Scours the North Caspian Sea

Ice Scours the North Caspian Sea The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite acquired this large natural-color image showing a wide view of the Caspian Sea around the Tyuleniy Archipelago on April 16, 2016. Ocean scientist Norman Kuring of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center found a puzzling feature in the image — lines crisscrossing the North Caspian Sea. via NASA http://ift.tt/1SnBS6G

Morning Sunglint Over the Pacific

Morning Sunglint Over the Pacific This Earth observation composite image from the International Space Station captures morning sunglint and low clouds over the central Pacific Ocean. The image was put together at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, from a series of photographs taken by Expedition 47 Commander Jeff Williams on March 25, 2016. via NASA http://ift.tt/1SgYGou

Development of High-Power Solar Electric Propulsion

Development of High-Power Solar Electric Propulsion A prototype 13-kilowatt Hall thruster is tested at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. This prototype demonstrated the technology readiness needed for industry to continue the development of high-power solar electric propulsion into a flight-qualified system. via NASA http://ift.tt/1VE9BLL

Preparing the Vehicle Assembly Building for NASA’s Next Rocket

Preparing the Vehicle Assembly Building for NASA’s Next Rocket A view from below in High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center shows three work platforms installed for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The platforms will surround and provide access to the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for Exploration Mission 1. via NASA http://ift.tt/1Qn5o6T

Liftoff at NASA’s 16th Annual Student Launch Challenge

Liftoff at NASA’s 16th Annual Student Launch Challenge One of dozens of high-powered rockets lifts off on April 16, 2016, during NASA’s 16th annual Student Launch challenge, held near Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama from April 13-16. Nearly 50 middle and high school, college and university teams from 22 states competed in the challenge. via NASA http://ift.tt/1Sqtl1r

Early Ice Breakup of Beaufort Sea Due to Early Warm Temperatures

Early Ice Breakup of Beaufort Sea Due to Early Warm Temperatures This image of early ice breakup of the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska, was taken by the Suomi NPP satellite’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument infrared channel, at around 1148 UTC on April 13, 2016. via NASA http://ift.tt/1Vq8z5q

April 14, 1981, Landing of First Space Shuttle Mission

April 14, 1981, Landing of First Space Shuttle Mission The rear wheels of the space shuttle orbiter Columbia touched down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center (then Dryden), California, to successfully complete a stay in space of more than two days. Astronauts John W. Young, STS-1 commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, were aboard the vehicle. via NASA http://ift.tt/1TTGD8R

T-38C Passes in Front of the Sun at Supersonic Speed

T-38C Passes in Front of the Sun at Supersonic Speed An Air Force Test Pilot School T-38C passes in front of the sun at a supersonic speed, creating shockwaves that are caught photographically for research. NASA is using a modern version of schlieren imagery to visualize supersonic flow phenomena with full-scale aircraft in flight. The results will help engineers design a quiet supersonic transport. via NASA http://ift.tt/1YrJhlF