Oct 26 2012
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 12-379 NEW NASA ONLINE SCIENCE RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS
WASHINGTON -- NASA has a new online science resource for teachers and students to help bring Earth, the solar system, and the universe into their schools and homes. Called NASA Wavelength, the site features hundreds of resources organized by topic and audience level from elementary to college, and out-of-school programs that span the extent of NASA science. Educators at all levels can locate educational resources through information on educational standards, subjects and keywords and other relevant details, such as learning time required to carry out a lesson or an activity, cost of materials and more. "NASA Wavelength not only lets users find nearly everything they want to know about NASA science, but it also allows them to provide direct feedback to NASA to enhance our products," said Stephanie Stockman, education lead for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in Washington. "This truly is a living, digital library of resources that will allow educators to find and share the best of NASA science education resources to advance their teaching." NASA's SMD funds a nationwide community of education and outreach professionals that develop and deliver resources for all levels of formal and informal education and public outreach activities using NASA content, expertise and facilities. NASA Wavelength features peer-reviewed resources developed by this community, including award-winning curriculum tools, activities that allow students and teachers to learn about and participate in NASA missions, exhibits and planetarium shows and more. The site offers an innovative way to keep up with the latest developments in Earth and space science education. Users will be able to received email updates on new content, and share the latest information through social media and email. Through featured selections highlighted on the homepage, educators can identify resources relevant to specific themes and current events, such as Mars-related activities and lessons for educators interested in teaching about NASA's Curiosity rover or using Earth science resources to celebrate Earth Science Week all year. The Space Sciences Laboratory and Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, and the Adler Planetarium worked with educators across the country to define, test and launch NASA Wavelength. Scientists and educators who comprise SMD's education and public outreach community coordinate the continued development and upkeep of the site. "This site further demonstrates NASA's commitment to share our science with everyone," Stockman said. NASA's Science Mission Directorate seeks new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the sun, solar system and the universe from the vantage point of space. The directorate also constantly looks for inventive ways to reach out to the public using museums, classrooms, science centers and home schools.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-207 NASA TV TO AIR LIVE COVERAGE OF DRAGON SPACE STATION DEPARTURE SUNDAY
HOUSTON -- NASA Television will provide live coverage of the release and departure of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from the International Space Station on Sunday, Oct. 28. Coverage will begin at 6 a.m. CDT and conclude approximately three hours later after Dragon has left the vicinity of the orbiting laboratory. Space station Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams and Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide will be at the controls of the space station's robotic arm as they back Dragon away from the complex. Dragon is scheduled to be released by the crew at 8:26 a.m. and will conduct its first departure burn one minute later. The Dragon capsule has been attached to the station's Harmony module since Oct. 10. The spacecraft delivered 882 pounds of cargo, including 260 pounds of crew supplies, 390 pounds of scientific research, 225 pounds of hardware and several pounds of other supplies. This included critical materials to support 166 scientific investigations planned for the station's crew, including 63 new investigations. Dragon will return 1,673 pounds of cargo, including 163 pounds of crew supplies, 866 pounds of scientific research, and 518 pounds of vehicle hardware and other hardware. Not since the space shuttle has NASA and its international partners been able to return considerable amounts of research and samples for analysis. There will be no live NASA TV coverage of Dragon's reentry and splashdown, which are scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Mission updates and images of splashdown will be provided when they become available on the SpaceX and NASA websites. To join the conversation on Twitter, follow the hashtags #CRS1 and #Dragon.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-208 NASA TO HOST OCT. 30 TELECONFERENCE ABOUT MARS CURIOSITY ROVER PROGRESS
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 11:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. EDT) on Tuesday, Oct. 30, to provide an update about the Curiosity rover's mission to Mars' Gale Crater. The Mars Science Laboratory Project and its Curiosity rover are almost three months into a two-year prime mission to investigate whether conditions may have been favorable for microbial life.
