NASA News: NASA Exercises Ames Intelligent Systems Research Contract Option
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- NASA has exercised Option Period #2 on the
Intelligent Systems Research and Development Support (ISRDS)
contract. Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies Inc., (SGT, Inc.),
Greenbelt, Md., received the option award to continue to support
intelligent systems research at the agency's Ames Research Center,
Moffett Field, Calif.
The option period has a maximum value of $60 million. This is a cost
plus fixed fee contract. The exercised option will continue
performance from Sept. 29, 2011, to Sept. 28, 2012. The contract
consists of a three-year base period and three, one-year options.
The company will provide all resources, other than those identified as
provided by the government, as necessary to support scientific
research, develop technologies, build applications, infuse and deploy
advanced information systems technology at Ames.
The company also will provide research support in artificial
intelligence, knowledge-based systems, knowledge discovery, data
mining, soft computing (including neural networks and fuzzy control
methods), nanotechnology information processing and sensors.
The contractor will provide research support for biologically inspired
computer systems and human extensions; prognostic signal analysis;
model-based diagnostic reasoning; software fault diagnostic and
automated software methodologies; fault-tolerant computing hardware
and networking.
In addition it will provide tele-presence/control of remote, mobile
platforms; autonomous and adaptive control; integrated design;
human-centered computing; system design of a distributed
heterogeneous network of workstations; distribution of research
information in various formats and forums.
For information about Ames, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ames
For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
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Seattle Students Chat With Space Station Astronauts On Monday
WASHINGTON -- Students gathered at the Museum of Flight in Seattlewill make a long distance call to astronauts aboard the International
Space Station at approximately 1:35 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 29.
Students from Aviation High School, Puyallup High School, Civil Air
Patrol and Liberty High School will ask Expedition 28 Flight
Engineers Ron Garan, Mike Fossum and Satoshi Furukawa questions about
life, work and research in space. The event will include a video link
with the three astronauts and will be broadcast live on NASA Television.
To attend the event, reporters must contact Mike Bush at the museum at
mbush@museumofflight.org 253-307-3225.
The museum offers a variety of education activities that explore
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the space
program. It also hosts the Washington Aerospace Scholars program, a
hands-on, STEM-focused initiative for high school juniors based on
NASA's Texas Aerospace Scholars program.
This in-flight education downlink is one in a series with educational
organizations in the United States and abroad to improve STEM
teaching and learning. It is an integral component of NASA's Teaching
From Space education program, which promotes learning opportunities
and builds partnerships with the education community using the unique
environment of space and NASA's human spaceflight program.
The exact time of the downlink could change. For the latest NASA TV
schedule, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For information about NASA's education programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
For information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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NASA Moon Mission In Final Preparations For September Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior
Laboratory (GRAIL), mission to study the moon is in final launch
preparations for a scheduled Sept. 8 launch onboard a Delta II rocket
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
GRAIL's twin spacecraft are tasked for a nine-month mission to explore
Earth's nearest neighbor in unprecedented detail. They will determine
the structure of the lunar interior from crust to core and advance
our understanding of the thermal evolution of the moon.
"Yesterday's final encapsulation of the spacecraft is an important
mission milestone," said David Lehman, GRAIL project manager for
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Our two
spacecraft are now sitting comfortably inside the payload fairing
which will protect them during ascent. Next time the GRAIL twins will
see the light of day they will be about 95 miles up and accelerating."
The spacecraft twins, GRAIL A and B, will fly a circuitous route to
lunar orbit taking 3.5 months and covering approximately 2.6 million
miles (4.2 million kilometers) for GRAIL-A, and 2.7 million miles
(4.3 million kilometers) for GRAIL-B.
In lunar orbit, the spacecraft will transmit radio signals precisely
defining the distance between them. Regional gravitational
differences on the moon are expected to expand and contract that
distance. GRAIL scientists will use these accurate measurements to
define the moon's gravity field. The data will allow mission
scientists to understand what goes on below the surface of our
natural satellite.
"GRAIL will unlock lunar mysteries and help us understand how the
moon, Earth and other rocky planets evolved as well," said Maria
Zuber, GRAIL principal investigator from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology in Cambridge.
GRAIL's launch period opens Sept. 8 and extends through Oct. 19. On
each day, there are two separate launch opportunities separated by
approximately 39 minutes. On Sept. 8, the first launch opportunity is
8:37 a.m. EDT; the second is 9:16 a.m.
JPL manages the GRAIL mission. It is part of the Discovery Program
managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch
management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch
Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
For extensive pre-launch and launch day coverage of the GRAIL
spacecraft, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
A prelaunch webcast for the mission will be streamed at noon on
Wednesday, Sept. 7. Live countdown coverage through NASA's Launch
Blog begins at 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 8. Coverage features live updates
as countdown milestones occur and streaming video clips highlighting
launch preparations and liftoff.
To view the webcast and the blog or to learn more about the GRAIL
mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/grail
and
http://grail.nasa.gov
To view live interviews with lunar scientists from noon to 5 p.m. on
Sept. 8 and 9, visit:
http://www.livestream.com/
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Cygnus Space Station Cargo Carrier Arrives At NASA Wallops
WASHINGTON -- NASA's work to help develop the next generation ofcommercial space transportation systems reached another significant
achievement yesterday with the arrival at Wallops Flight Facility in
Virginia of the Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module, Orbital Science
Corp.'s spacecraft to carry supplies to the International Space Station.
"This is one more important step in our partnership with U.S. private
industry to build safe, reliable and cost effective cargo
transportation systems," said Philip McAlister, acting director of
commercial spaceflight development at NASA Headquarters in
Washington. "We are pleased that Orbital has made this accomplishment
and look forward to the company flying the Cygnus spacecraft in 2012."
During the next several months, Orbital's engineering team will
integrate the pressurized module with the Cygnus service module that
includes the spacecraft's avionics, propulsion and power systems.
The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled for a demonstration flight from
Wallops early next year on an Orbital Taurus II launch vehicle under
NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services agreement with the company.
For information about NASA's commercial space transportation efforts, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/
For images and information about the Cygnus arrival, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/
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