Jan 11 2013

From The Space Library

RELEASE: 13-019 - NASA SELECTS HIGH-PERFORMING INTERNS AS STUDENT AMBASSADORS --WASHINGTON -- NASA has inducted 86 top-performing interns into the 2013 NASA Student Ambassadors Virtual Community, a vital component of the agency's ongoing effort to engage undergraduate and graduate students in science, engineering, mathematics and technology (STEM) research and interactive opportunities. This fifth group of student ambassadors, Cohort V, includes interns from 32 states and 70 different universities. I want to congratulate the Cohort V members on their selection to become NASA Student Ambassadors, said Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin. "We are proud of their commitment to excellence and their willingness to use creativity and innovation to help NASA inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers." NASA managers and mentors nominated the recipients from the hundreds of current interns and fellows across the agency. NASA's goal is to provide internships that are among the most exciting research and education opportunities available to college students. This online initiative further recognizes exceptional students. The NASA Student Ambassadors Virtual Community aims to elevate the experiences, visibility, and contribution of these students; leverage their presence and input for recruitment; and provide increased involvement with the agency's exploration and STEM education missions. The NASA Student Ambassadors Virtual Community will serve as an outreach vehicle to the nation's students as well as a way to engage exceptional NASA interns, fellows and scholars, said Mabel Jones Matthews, director of the Infrastructure Division in NASA's Office of Education. "This innovative activity is a leading effort to help NASA attract, engage, educate and employ the dynamic next generation." Members of this virtual community will interact with NASA, share information, make professional connections, collaborate with peers, represent NASA in a variety of venues, and help inspire and engage future interns. Through the community's Web site, participants will have access to tools needed to serve as a NASA Student Ambassador, as well as the latest NASA news, blogs, and announcements, member profiles, forums, polls and NASA contact information, and links to cutting-edge research and career resources.

RELEASE: C13-003 - NASA SELECTS SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT --WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected Computer Science Corporation of Falls Church, Va., to support the Computational and Information Science Technology Office (CISTO) at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The computing and technical services contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum ordering value of $103 million. The performance period begins March 1 and ends Feb. 28, 2018. The contractor will provide high-end computing and data support and general support services for CISTO and information technology and computational services to support Goddard's Sciences and Exploration Directorate. This includes access to high-performance computing, networking, mass storage, information systems technologies, computational science expertise, real-time transmission of satellite data, and support for the high-end computing program.

MEDIA ADVISORY: M13-011 - NASA, BIGELOW OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS SPACE STATION EXPANDABLE MODULE --WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded a $17.8 million contract to Bigelow Aerospace to provide a new addition to the International Space Station. The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module will demonstrate the benefits of this space habitat technology for future exploration and commercial space endeavors. The International Space Station is a unique laboratory that enables important discoveries that benefit humanity and vastly increase understanding of how humans can live and work in space for long periods, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said. "This partnership agreement for the use of expandable habitats represents a step forward in cutting-edge technology that can allow humans to thrive in space safely and affordably, and heralds important progress in U.S. commercial space innovation." Garver and Bigelow Aerospace Founder and President Robert Bigelow will discuss the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module program at a media availability at 1:30 p.m. EST (10:30 a.m. PST) Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Bigelow Aerospace facilities located at 1899 W. Brooks Ave. in North Las Vegas.

MEDIA ADVISORY: M13-013 - NASA SETS TDRS-K/ATLAS V LAUNCH EVENTS COVERAGE --CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- News conferences, events and operating hours for the Press Site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are set for the launch of Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K) aboard an Atlas V rocket Tuesday, Jan. 29. The 40-minute launch window extends from 8:52 to 9:32 p.m. EST. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Launch commentary coverage, as well as prelaunch media briefings, will be carried live on NASA Television and the agency's website. TDRS-K is the first of three next-generation communications satellites designed to ensure vital operational continuity for NASA. The seven TDRS spacecraft currently in orbit provide tracking, telemetry, command and high-bandwidth data return services for numerous science and human exploration missions orbiting Earth. These include NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. TDRS-K has a high-performance solar panel designed for more spacecraft power to meet growing S-band communications requirements. On Monday, Jan. 28, NASA TV will carry the TDRS-K prelaunch news conference and mission science briefing live beginning at 1 p.m. On Jan. 29, NASA TV launch coverage begins at 6:15 p.m., and concludes after the TDRS-K spacecraft has separated from the Atlas V, which occurs one hour, 46 minutes after launch.