Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Winners of NGA MagQuest Phase 4a Announced

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

SPRINGFIELD, Va., Sept. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency announced the results of the Demonstration Phase (Phase 4a) of MagQuest to develop novel data collection approaches for the World Magnetic Model. The challenge was conducted on NASA's HeroX platform, and all three teams who participated in Phase 4a have successfully constructed magnetometers and tested them at NASA's renowned Goddard Space Flight Center. These teams, who have been awarded millions in funding, will now advance to design, build and launch a satellite to take their magnetometers into orbit and collect data on the earth's magnetic field. The ultimate goal is for the government to buy magnetic field data from one or more of the participating teams.

Key Points: 
  • SPRINGFIELD, Va., Sept. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency announced the results of the Demonstration Phase (Phase 4a) of MagQuest to develop novel data collection approaches for the World Magnetic Model.
  • The challenge was conducted on NASA's HeroX platform, and all three teams who participated in Phase 4a have successfully constructed magnetometers and tested them at NASA's renowned Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • The ultimate goal is for the government to buy magnetic field data from one or more of the participating teams.
  • "MagQuest has been a journey of innovation, collaboration, and boundary-pushing, and we are excited to see how these solutions shape the future of geomagnetic data collection."

NASA Awards Contracts for NOAA Coronagraph Instrument Phase A Study

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

GREENBELT, Md., May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected five firms for the Space Weather Next Lagrange 1 Series (L1 Series) Coronagraph (COR) Phase A Study.

Key Points: 
  • GREENBELT, Md., May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected five firms for the Space Weather Next Lagrange 1 Series (L1 Series) Coronagraph (COR) Phase A Study.
  • The principal purpose of these contracts is to provide a definition-phase study of a L1 Series COR instrument.
  • The COR instrument will provide Coronal imagery of the Sun for detection and characterization of the Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections.
  • NOAA funds, operates, and manages the mission and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the acquisition of the Phase A Formulation contracts.

FLIGHT UNVEILS NEW AVIATION-THEME ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 30, 2022

STERLING, Va., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FLIGHT, a multi-experience family entertainment venue with 13 locations across the United States and Canada, celebrated the opening of its newly retrofitted, 26,000 sq ft park located in Springfield, Virginia last Friday on August 26th, 2022. At the grand opening event, FLIGHT was joined by Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39th), as well as famed aviators Captain Hoot Gibson, a former five-time NASA Astronaut and TOPGUN graduate, and Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the renowned hero of Southwest flight 1380 and one of the first females to fly the FA18 Strike Fighter. Captain Tammie Jo Shults and Hoot Gibson are also members of the Flight Adventure Park Advisory Council. The Springfield location is the first FLIGHT park to receive a complete overhaul, which includes the construction of new attractions and experiences inspired by human flight across air and space.

Key Points: 
  • Captain Tammie Jo Shults and Hoot Gibson are also members of the Flight Adventure Park Advisory Council.
  • The Springfield location is the first FLIGHT park to receive a complete overhaul, which includes the construction of new attractions and experiences inspired by human flight across air and space.
  • Flight Adventure Park has eight FLIGHT locations across the United States, providing year-round entertainment for parties, events, and everyday play.
  • The company also owns and operates five FLIGHT locations in Canada branded as iSaute.

Ball Aerospace-Built Spacecraft for NASA X-Ray Astrophysics Mission Successfully Launches from Kennedy Space Center

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 9, 2021

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer spacecraft built by Ball Aerospace successfully launched today aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Key Points: 
  • CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer spacecraft built by Ball Aerospace successfully launched today aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  • "IXPE is going to provide unprecedented insight into how the universe works," said Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, Ball Aerospace.
  • It is led by principal investigator Dr. Martin C. Weisskopf at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, with support from Ball Aerospace, the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at University of Colorado Boulder and other partners.
  • In addition to the mechanical and structural elements of the payload and observatory assembly, Ball Aerospace provided the IXPE spacecraft and conducted integration and testing.

NASA Launches New Mission to Explore Universe's Most Dramatic Objects

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 9, 2021

"IXPE represents another extraordinary first," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Key Points: 
  • "IXPE represents another extraordinary first," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
  • NASA Marshall manages the IXPE mission for the agency's Science Mission Directorate as a project of the NASA's Explorers Program.
  • IXPE is an international collaboration between NASA, the Italian Space Agency, along with partners and providers in 12 other countries.
  • For more information about the IXPE mission, visit:
    View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-launches-new-mission-to-ex...

Deep Neural Networks Find 301 More Planets Increasing Kepler's Total Count

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 22, 2021

The throng of planets is the latest to join the 4,569 already validated planets orbiting a multitude of distant stars.

Key Points: 
  • The throng of planets is the latest to join the 4,569 already validated planets orbiting a multitude of distant stars.
  • Deep neural networks are machine learning methods that automatically learn a task when provided with enough data.
  • ExoMiner is a new deep neural network that leverages NASA's Supercomputer, Pleiades, and can distinguish real exoplanets from different types of imposters, or "false positives."
  • The Astrophysical Journal paper explains that ExoMiner validated the 301 planets using data from the remaining set of possible planets or candidates in the Kepler Archive.

Blue Canyon Technologies Enables LASP’s CUTE CubeSat for Exoplanet Atmosphere Research

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Blue Canyon's partnership with LASP on CUTE represents a landmark mission in the process of better understanding hot Jupiters and, by extension, the discovery of exoplanets throughout our galaxy," said Stephen Steg, CEO of Blue Canyon Technologies.

Key Points: 
  • Blue Canyon's partnership with LASP on CUTE represents a landmark mission in the process of better understanding hot Jupiters and, by extension, the discovery of exoplanets throughout our galaxy," said Stephen Steg, CEO of Blue Canyon Technologies.
  • Blue Canyons star tracker-based spacecraft platform, with ultra-low disturbance reaction wheels, and advanced control algorithms, has enabled a whole class of cutting-edge missions.
  • Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, offers a diverse portfolio of innovative, reliable and affordable spacecraft that enable a broad range of missions and technological advancements.
  • For the latest news on Blue Canyon Technologies and for other company information, please visit www.bluecanyontech.com .

MAVEN Maps Electric Currents around Mars that are Fundamental to Atmospheric Loss

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 26, 2020

"These currents play a fundamental role in the atmospheric loss that transformed Mars from a world that could have supported life into an inhospitable desert," said experimental physicist Robin Ramstad of the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Key Points: 
  • "These currents play a fundamental role in the atmospheric loss that transformed Mars from a world that could have supported life into an inhospitable desert," said experimental physicist Robin Ramstad of the University of Colorado, Boulder.
  • The difference lies in the planets' respective magnetic fields, because while Earth's magnetism comes from within, Mars' does not.
  • The currents transform the energy of the solar wind into magnetic and electric fields that accelerate charged atmospheric particles into space, driving atmospheric escape to space.
  • MAVEN's principal investigator is based at the University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder, and NASA Goddard manages the MAVEN project.

NASA Awards Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 Contract

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 20, 2020

GREENBELT, Md., April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --NASA has awarded a sole source contract to the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder for theTotal and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2).

Key Points: 
  • GREENBELT, Md., April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --NASA has awarded a sole source contract to the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder for theTotal and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2).
  • This is a cost-no-fee contract in the amount of $18,044,280 with a period of performance ending with on-orbit acceptance by the government.
  • Under this contract, the LASP will provide two instruments the Total Irradiance Monitor (TIM) and the Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SIM).
  • The TIM will continue to provide a 40-year uninterrupted measurement record of the Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) which is the Earth's predominant energy source.The SIM will continue to measure the Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI) and identify the regions in Earth's atmosphere and surface that are affected by solar variability.

Ball Aerospace Completes Critical Design Review of NASA's IXPE Mission

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 10, 2019

BOULDER, Colo., July 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --The mission critical design review (M-CDR) of NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) space-based astrophysics observatory was recently completed at Ball Aerospace's Boulder, Colorado, facility.

Key Points: 
  • BOULDER, Colo., July 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --The mission critical design review (M-CDR) of NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) space-based astrophysics observatory was recently completed at Ball Aerospace's Boulder, Colorado, facility.
  • The IXPE mission is led by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, with support from Ball Aerospace, the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at University of Colorado Boulder and other partners.
  • Ball Aerospace is responsible for providing the IXPE spacecraft, mechanical and structural elements of the payload, observatory assembly, and integration and test for IXPE.
  • Ball Aerospace will leverage its BCP heritage of small, low-cost satellite buses that have a successful history of exceeding mission design life.